Buffalonian-at-Heart

Nope, this team will be re-built through the draft.

I don't think they are conceding, I think they are staying true to their plan. Buddy Nix couldn't have been more clear when he said you build a team through the draft and stated not to expect anything but depth players in free agency.

I understand what your saying, but what Left and Right tackles do you wish we would have been more active with in free agency thus far? There hasn't been a single LT to even look at. The activity you seek on the offensive line will be depth type players in free agency after the market is determined and via the draft, and I emphasize the draft. The issue with our team right now in my opinion is high end talent to build around. There really aren't those type of players on the roster. Some would argue Poz, Byrd, Wood, or even Jackson. But each one of them have question marks in regards to being cornerstone players. The Nix regime is going to have to work hard to find these players in the draft, that's why I believe we are in total rebuild mold. Not just because we have a new front office and coaching staff, but because we don't have any identity based on our need for core players. We are 2-3 years away from having FA signings making us a team that can begin contending for even a wild card. And that's if Nix and company do it right. Signing guys like Ben Watson at this point or almost moot, he would get lost in our disarray and you wouldn't even notice a contribution. Our free agent signings will be to put a tourniquet on our situation and for depth.

You can't look at it that way when a new front office and coaching staff has been put into place. It's starting over (for them). Obviously for the fans it isn't like starting over, because we've been here for the last decade going through all this. The fact is, none of what the previous staffs have done has anything to do with the people in charge now. So unfortunately our only option is to start over with them. For them its getting the team together, for us its getting our emotions together and hope this regime gives us something to get excited about. To your point about Ben Watson, I totally disagree. I would rather give Schouman, Stupar, and Nelson all the playing time and have them ready to be good "in their prime" players, and skip the whole bring in Watson and when he sucks cut him at age 33 or 34 then be left with inexperience again.

I didn't think you had a list of 10 guys we should have signed. What players didn't we sign that have you so frustrated? I'm frustrated too, but its only because there aren't many viable FA's to sign. I'm also frustrated because it's going to be at least a 2 year wait before signing high priced FA's even makes sense for this team. So patience will be my biggest obstacle. But, I am not frustrated we haven't signed any high priced FA's this off season, because it doesn't make much sense for two reasons. One is there weren't any that fit our rebuilding situation or our extreme positional needs, and second this years crop is as low as its been in a decade.

Not addressing the offensive line in the first 4 rounds sounds like a great freaking day.

I think the jury is still out of Sanchez. He obviously benefited from a great defense, a real good running game, and excellent coaching approach. 53.8 completion %, 12TD and 20 Int., 2444 yds, and a 63% QB rating isn't exactly impressive even for a rookie. Heck Stafford had almost identical stats in 10 games played.

I'm not saying these 3 players wouldn't be fine FA signings, but they aren't impact players to take this team over any sort of proverbial hump. Say its 3 years from now that we become a team with a legitimate chance to be over 500. These players will be 31-32-or even 33, by then we will be in a situation with their 4-5 year contracts and be stuck, and for what?, sign these players and win 4-6 games still? I don't get the point.

The reason we are not signing FA's is the same reason most of the other teams aren't. The available FA pool this year is shallow, due to all the tender offers that were available to teams. There have only been 2-3 free agents available that would be top free agents regardless of the CBA situation. Most teams have decided to keep their picks instead of signing tendered players. Most of the FA's worth a grain of salt were over 30. This team is in full blown rebuild mold. Why spend significant money on any player over 30 when you're rebuilding? Rebuilding means you start getting rid of players that don't fit into your future (we did that). Second you only sign FA's that are young that you feel will become good players or are good and will still be, at the time your team is ready to legitimately contend (there hasn't been any FA's that fit that bill). Or sign free agents that stop the bleeding (hence Green). Lastly you build through the draft. In addition the second and third tear FA's are still out there. The market is determining their value as we speak. If you disagree, list the top ten free agents you wish we would have signed.

How many times does this have to be said? The reason we are not signing FA's is the same reason most of the other teams aren't. The available FA pool this year is shallow, due to all the tender offers that were available to teams. There have only been 2-3 free agents available that would be top free agents regardless of the CBA situation. Most teams have decided to keep their picks instead of signing tendered players. In addition the second and third tear FA's are still out there. The market is determining their value as we speak. If you disagree, list the top ten free agents you wish we would have signed.

Well we all know we are going to draft a QB. I think Bradford is the closest thing to a sure thing, and then there's the rest in my opinion. My next guy is Tebow. There's just something I don't like about Clauson, but I can't put my finger on it. So if we feel like he won't be there in the second we may be forced to consider him at #9, if we aren't sure we can package something to get back in the first round. I think its entirely possible the following teams could be looking at a guy like Tebow in the first round: 49ers with their second first round pick - pick 17 Seattle with their second first round pick - pick 14 Arizona - 26th pick Vikings - 30th pick

I understand what your saying, but I disagree on a couple of points. First, "steady pressure on the QB" would not be an accurate description of Kelsay's pass rush. Second, I don't think "all you can ask of him is to play within himself" is entirely true. I think you can ask a player who isn't very good, to get better or you're not going to play - let alone start for 7 years. I like Kelsay because he gives maximum effort. Unfortunately there's not enough results to make the money he's making and be awarded a starting NFL position. Your post is a microcosm of why the Bills are in the position they're in. They don't have top end starting talent, they don't ask them to be, and don't replace them when they're not.

I hope we draft Tebow. I'll be proud to have him as our QB, the kid is a pure winner and its hard to picture him failing. For all the people with the hateful comments about God and more specifically Jesus, I pray you open your mind to the possibility of needing him in your life.

I am not saying that ALL the other players are irrelevant to winning. I'm simply saying the Bills are talented, and our QB play doesn't allow that to manifest. Matt Ryan turns Lee Evans into Roddy White.

Atrocious? The defense wasn't atrocious. Of course its conjecture, but I think this team becomes dangerous with Manning.

Ignorant is a strong word, but maybe that makes you feel like your point is taken more seriously (its not). Just state your opinion without the rhetoric. Your point on TEAM READY isn't applicable for all the teams. The Saints and Chargers weren't nearly ready. So that's my point. The reverse argument can be made. When you get that franchise QB he can make a team that appears not very good, very good indeed. Then you plug a hole here and there like the saints did and go. Without Brees this doesn't happen. We have a fundamental disagreement. I think our team is better and more talented than our QB play will allow. You think no matter what QB comes in here, we're not talented enough to win.

I seriously like this kid. "It" factor comes to my mind when I watch this kid play. The throw at the 2:54 mark is a very important throw you need in the NFL. The play is a role out, the defender sniffs out the play, you avoid the defender and make an accurate throw down field.

We need a franchise QB to lead this team. I know that's an obvious statement, but here's my take. Anything else in my opinion isn't worth draft picks at all, especially before round 5. We are one of the many teams in the NFL that need to keep trying to find that guy, and never settle. Even if its painful we need to just recognize when a player isn't going to be that guy and move on quicker. We just haven't been lucky enough to land that guy. Why even think about guys like Jackson, Campbell, Orton, Pennington, etc? The only reason to go after these types are to claw your way to 9 wins to just be respectable. It just seems like the Bills haven't been focused on this obvious goal enough. I hope the new regime spends the necessary time needed to solve this problem. I would support them on any bold move they would make. If they evaluate Bradford has a franchise QB, then give up what ever it takes including 2 first round picks. What QB in the first list below would you not give that up for (except Favre of course)? When you have a franchise QB all the glaring holes mysteriously get smaller. San Diego lost some RB's, but it doesn't matter they will win with Rivers. Put any of these QB's on the Bills roster and we are a dangerous playoff team: Manning Brady Brees Favre Rivers Roethlisberger Rodgers I think we make the playoff's with these guys: Ryan Romo Schaub Cutler Eli Flacco Palmer Mcnabb

There isn't a scenario where this would happen.

here, here. +1

I agree with this poster and also Hangartner is a major liability at Center if Wood can't come back. He just can't handle the 3-4 nose tackles in our division. Our situation is probably worse than most of us make it out to be.

me too

The Bills are in need of top end talent. This draft doesn't satisfy that. It would be another decent draft, but another failure at getting players this team can build around.

Interesting take, I was thinking some of the same things. Especially when the one poster said he had "good foot work". I know Buffalo's offensive line has been bad, and a QB that could get out of the pocket and run would have helped, but that's not the eventual goal. The goal is to build an offensive line that can protect, and find that pocket aware QB that can lead this team. Drafting a running QB to solve the offensive line issue is not what we need. In saying that, this kid is very talented.

I agree with C. Biscuit. How have you determined who and who doesn't love the game? It looks like you've picked the players you like and said "they love football", and then picked our low performers and said "they don't like football". What you need to do in order to justify your argument is to evaluate all the other 31 teams and come up with a list of love/don't love players on those teams. Then we need to determine where the Bills rank in the "don't love" category. Then we can start to have a conversation about how this is a direct correlation to our performance over the last decade. In other words; I'm skeptical you will be able to ever prove the point your trying to make.