thewildrabbit

On NFL Network "path to the draft" Mayock was asked what Buffalo should do at # 3 if Carolina has taken Newton, and Buffalo is looking at Darius-Miller-Peterson or Blane Gabbert While Ryan Fitzpatrick is good (Mayock thinks Fitz is a good QB), If Buffalo coaches are not 100% convinced that Gabbert can be a "franchise" QB ...then they draft Von Miller with that #3, If he is gone at 2 by Denver then its either AJ Green or Marcel Darius Mayock states that he would "bang the table" for his top four players, if your drafting at #3 you had better get one of them, Darius-Peterson-Von Miller-AJ Green because they are the best four players in the draft. I concur

Mike Mayock graded Newtons performance for the NC game and gave him a "C", some bad reads and throws, but everyone seems to have forgotten that the coaches called a play at the end of that game and Newton changed the play, almost fumbled the ball away....he could have lost that game for them. Auburn coaches were very upset at Newton after that play.

You didn't post a link.... figures. You don't really look at mock drafts do you. Most of the draft experts like Kiper that have Newton graded as a mid first round pick also have him being drafted #1 overall by Carolina because they are desperate! if he goes in the top 3 its because the team that drafts him that high either has bad talent evaluators-HC-GM, they are outright desperate for a QB, they want to sell tickets or all three. How exactly is Maybin an awful comparison, he was a one year wonder at Penn St just like Newton was at Auburn. Maybin had only one great ability and that was his burst off the line and running the arc, the kid has speed which you can't teach and he put on 20 lbs of muscle from the end of the season to the combine. Everything he did up to the draft was all the right moves, saying the right things and talking the talk. I'd say Maybin is a perfect example of a team reaching for a project because of his great physical ability. Maybin needed to learn more then his one move in pass rushing, he needed to learn cover skills to play OLB. He was drafted because he was thought to be a great pass rusher, so far after 2 years he has zero sacks. Maybin was actually a much better prospect because he had a much cleaner background, he doesn't have any character issues like Newton has. Some GM's have openly stated they don't even have Newton on their draft board because of his character issues.

Post one link to one mock draft of any value that has Newton rated in the top 3, he is a mid first round pick on almost every board Ive seen and not even the highest rated QB in this draft. The ONLY reason he is projected to be taken by Carolina at #1 is because they are desperate for a QB, Clausen didn't come close to getting the job done last year. It is easy to be wowed by stats, every year guys creep up the boards because they have great measurable s, its his unmeasurable s that worry me. The guy is a PROJECT, he never called plays, they coaches held up a card with one number on it and that was the play they ran, he never was in the huddle, has no understanding of reading pro style defenses or NFL verbiage. Plus the fact that he was caught cheating on exams at Fla leads me to think he isn't very bright in many ways, so his ability to learn a complete new language and absorb it at all makes me think this kid could take years to absorb it, if he ever does. This Bills team needs players that will have an impact this year, not 3 years down the road. Aaron Maybin was and still is a project at DE-OLB, how did that first round pick turn out?

I don't hate the guy, I just think that his character issues are a huge concern, and because of that it scares me thinking about what will happen once he gets his 20 million dollars guaranteed, or more if he signs with Carolina. Like I've stated in other posts, the last thing this team needs is another 1st round pick sitting on the bench. Newton is a developmental project and he may or may not ever succeed as an NFL QB, very few running QB's ever make it to a starting position much less the playoffs or SB. The one thing he will do right away is sell tickets...for awhile.

While I wholehearted agree with you that Newton has some awesome physical ability, all those plays he made in college were against....well, college kids.... at 6'5'' 250 lbs he was bigger, stronger, faster them most of those he played against, that won't be the case in the NFL. The guy only played one season at Auburn, Maybin like scary- He has a very shady past with some talk about cheating on exam papers, IQ scary-He never called plays or ran plays from a huddle at Auburn, and in fact did more running then throwing-huge learning curve scary While Cam Newton may or may not eventually develop into a franchise QB, in all reality he is rated by most draft analysts as a mid first round pick and not a top 5 player. Only a team desperate for a QB would even think about drafting him in the top 5 IMO. Plus they would need to revamp the entire offense into a simplistic wildcat / pistol style if they want to utilize him his first year. Stating that last part I can understand how this kid could easily be HC Chan Gaileys dream QB to develop. I just think the poor man is over tasked as it is just being the HC without adding a bigger load to what he already needs to deal with, setting up the offensive game plans, calling plays and basically running the entire offense himself. What made Marv levy so successful as a HC in Buffalo was his ability to hire great assistants to run the offense and defense, more particularly OC Ted Marchibroba, who trained Jim Kelly to call his own plays and built that no huddle / k-gun offense, Levy was a special teams guy. I was not a big fitz fan at first but the guy won me over with his play against some very good playoff teams last season and I believe Chan Gailey when he states he can win with Fitz. This Buffalo Bills franchise has been in dire need of a better defense for years as I have come to loath the Tampa 2 defense under Jauron, and its inability to stop the run. If this Buffalo Bills team is desperate for something its a run defender-pass rusher- and some O line help as Fitz can't continue to run for his life forever. My dream scenario is Darius or Miller- Peterson or AJ Green and a ROT or TE kyle Rudolf in the 2nd

Thanks Ngu However I disagree with the bolded part, kinda scary to me you stated that "Newton/Darius at the top of the board", all I can do is pray that Newton goes first to Carolina....If the Bills select Darius-Miller-Peterson-AJ Green they will get a top player, future pro bowler, perhaps even a HoFer Newton has way to many holes and red flags...can you say another Andre Ware-Joey Harrington- David Carr-JaMarcus Russell-Ryan Leaf-Tim Couch-Matt leinart-Jack Thompson-Kelly Stouffer-Cade McNown-Jim Druckenmiller-Dan McGwire-Todd Blackledge-Akili Smith-David Klinger-Rick Mirer-Heath Shuler-Todd Marinovich-Art Schlichter The Bills are not desperate for a QB right now, they have a serviceable QB in Fitz....if they draft Newton at 3 this year ....then they will have to pass on Luck next year and really screw themselves outta a true franchise QB

The Patriots had a 3rd string QB behind Doug Flutie, a guy in Matt Cassel who hadn't started a football game at QB since high school and he takes over for an injured Tom Brady in the season opener who tore his ACL-MCL and would be out for the season. This kid goes on to take the Patriots to an 11-5 season and in the final game he beats the Buffalo Bills 13-0 in a mini hurricane at RW stadium. The point is the Patriots could probably plug in QB's JP Losman or Trent Edwards and still have a winning season and sweep the Buffalo Bills,they will find a replacement for Brady and keep winning. The Pats didn't get where they are by screwing themselves over draft picks, in fact the opposite. They wouldn't give up that many picks because nobody this year grades high enough for them to do that, Suh graded way better last year then anyone does this year. Besides, I think it would blow up their pay scale thinking. They are always trading back and outta the first round to save money and still obtain quality talent. Lastly, due to the total ineptitude of this franchise and their respective decade of bad drafting, poor scouting and overall wrong choices. What makes you think this Buffalo Bills staff would obtain even one starter with those 3 choices, about the best player the bills have selected the last few years was a guard who they took with a first round pick. Not venting at you BR, just frustrated by how one team can be so damn good all the time and the team I root for so damn bad...

After the Bills select Cam Newton and pass on either Darius or Miller ....It might be your time is better spent praying that Carolina selects Cam Newton #1 overall

No worries, the Pats almost never trade up, they trade back to get more 2nd round picks and to obtain more draft choices for the next year. Look at the recent history of the Patriots 2nd rounders, they get more starters and value out of all those 2nd rounders then the bills do with their 1st round top 10-15 draft choices

agreed, although as long as the top 3 are Darius-Von Miller Peterson and the bills draft any one of those it would be a win for Buffalo. In my view I don't see Denver taking Miller, they need a DT more then a LB, more specifically with a 4-3 defense they need a run stopper more then a pass rusher. but then if Darius is gone, then I can see them talking Miller....or Peterson Shefters last words are no matter who Carolina and Denver take, if Cam Newton is there at 3 Buffalo will take him.... Like last year, it almost seems fitting this team would take a player in an area they don't really have a need and one who will sit on the bench next to McCargo Spiller and Maybin

Except that the GM is calling the shots, not the HC. But! the GM will be openly stating he made a mistake last year in the 2nd round with Clausen if he selects Newton. Personally, I don't see how any team desperate for help at QB would even contemplate Cam Newton, although it is a passing league he is NOT a pocket passing QB, he is a running QB that can also throw. Any team that selects him will need to revamp their entire offense to suit him, make it a very simple one read and run wildcat / pistol. On one hand I'm so hoping that Carolina takes him so Buffalo doesn't have a chance to make their usual bonehead move with their #1 pick. OTOH, I'm thinking that if all the teams are "smart" they will draft for the strongest area of this years draft and go defense. Should that happen, Newton could pull a Brady Quinn and slide to a late first. Newton is the 16th rated Player on ESPN's draft board, I just can't see a Carolina paying this kid 50 million dollars guaranteed as the 1st overall, not with so many red flags and not for a developmental QB.

Locker had a horrid team around him and still took them to a bowl game and won it. He stated his stats weren't as good this year because he was throwing it away rather then try and force it. The guy has amazing accuracy out of the pocket and considering he really had no pocket most of the time he did pretty well. The thing that I've heard and read about this kid is he is burning to be a great NFL player, when he gets around someone who has played with a superstar NFL QB like John Elway all he does is ask endless questions about how he did things in every aspect. After reading this article it just enhances what I've thought about Locker all along, I like the kid and would like to see Buffalo take him, but I highly doubt he will last to the second round. He will go 25 in the first round where Seattle covets him, I've also heard he might go as early as Washinton,Minn, Miami or Tenn. Dalton is another guy I like better then Newton or Gabbert.

Kinda tough to get excited for me just knowing that my team usually makes the bonehead pick every year... from Donte Whitner who was rated as a second round pick to the 8th pick overall ....to the Redskins sprinting to the podium right after Buffalo selects Maybin.

Did he fail a drug test ever, and if so when, and where!

Mallett has visited the Miami Dolphins about 6 times recently, kinda tells me they are looking to draft this kid with their first pick at 15. Jake Locker won't make it past Seattle in the first, and will probably be gone before then.... so I see 5 QB's going in the first round this year....10 of the first 16 teams all need a QB. Bills 3-Dolphins 15 -Raiders(NE 17) -Bengals 4-Titans 8 -Panthers 1 -Vikings 12 -Seahawks 25 -Cardinals 5 -Redskins 10 are all lacking a true franchise QB, plus the Colts-Patriots are both looking for top QB prospect replacements for Manning-Brady. Alos who knows what the 49ers will do this year, new HC Harbough might want a new QB to develop his way. Ryan Mallett is the one QB who is most ready to start in the NFL his first year, he ran a pro style offense, and clearly has the best arm of everyone. His biggest fault is his immobility, and not the off the field stuff, the team that drafts him will need a top pass blocking O line

We fans have no control over anything so why get emotional about it....I gave up even thinking this franchise can evaluate talent properly after the Maybin pick Look at the franchise history of the last decade of drafting... pretty bad huh... the Bills have done nothing to show me that they will suddenly change and start drafting top talent. BUT! This year the Bills are in that special area where if they just follow most draft boards they can basically draft a blue chip -can't miss player-"IF" they go defense. Darius-Von Miller-Peterson Just knowing that this mostly same scouting crew signed on John McCargo-Aaron Maybin-CJ Spiller-JP Losman makes me think the Bills will get a sudden brain fart and draft Cam Newton with that first pick should Carolina pass on him. Buddy Nix states that he needs things to "fall" the right way to obtain the right players, I say BS! A great GM would make things happen to get the players he wants, and believes in.

1990 James Williams, the DB that had a vision problem with depth perception.... BPA, no way! Funny how Emmitt Smith was taken by Dallas one pick after this kid, Smith had a very high YPC avg, and the only guy I can think of who was around his level was Bo Jackson. I knew the Bills already had TT but I was really hoping they would have taken Smith with that pick.

exactly... I don't get all the optimism about players drafted last year that should have stepped in and become starters already, not one player from last year is starting.... and on one of the worst defenses in Buffalo Bills history! Oh, Spiller was named starter, for about 3 plays... This years draft should be all Buddy Nix, lets hope he actually took the time to grade the players himself instead of relying on Tom Modrak, he should now be fully aware of how inept Modrak is after the Cornell Green debacle. Buddy Nix muttering to himself about TM....how does this man still have a job here?

Only Ralph Wilson would keep someone like Modrak after so many years of complete failure, then again the Detroit Lions kept Matt Millen around for 7 years, and needed to go 0-16 before they finally fired him. Is that what it will take to get this man / scouting department replaced I wonder? The owner open states that the team fails to win games because of the lack of talent, and yet he fails to change the man responsible for all those years of lack of talent. Clearly this franchise still needs change as I look at last years draft and have to think nobody became a starter from that draft class, the first round pick was supposed to make the O line block better... instead he made the bench shiner.

First of all, it was more then just his father, he cheated on his exams 3x , bought exam papers and tried to turn someone else s paper with his name on it, and got caught! Plus he was involved with a stolen laptop. This guy has so many red flags shooting off him its almost blinding. History shows that when it comes to player character you stay away from guys like this. How on gods green earth are you so convinced this guy is NOT another JaMarcus Russell, would you be willing to put up that 20 million guaranteed dollars to sign him? BTW, don't compare this kid Donovan McNabb, he had no shady past history like this guy does. If Newton didn't have the shady past and was clean as Gabbert he still wouldn't be rated higher simply because he is not as NFL ready. Any team that selects this kid is going to need to revamp their entire offense to suit him if they want to utilize him his first year. Whats curious is Chan Gailey has been noted for setting up the pistol offense, and perhaps this kid is Chan's dream QB. Anyway, I don't see Carolina as being stupid enough to draft Newton at #1 overall, so if Buffalo wants him, I think he will be there...I just hope they go defense. OTOH, Newton certainly would sell tickets, and that would have ole Ralphie grinning from ear to ear.

If the kid is soooo great then why is he the #2 rated QB in the draft this year? I watched the kid play, he is a 6'5'' 250 lb QB who ran more then he threw because that was the way they setup that Auburn offense. He was bigger, stronger faster then most of the players he played against in college, that won't be the case in the NFL He won't have a great career in the NFL running the ball, he will get killed if he doesn't learn to throw from the pocket. Looking at his history how can you be 100% positive this guy can even learn an NFL offense when he tried to cheat on his exams in college. The amount of college QB's that win national championships and then go on to great success in the NFL are few and far between, meaning that just because a guy plays great at the college level doesn't mean that skill and ability will translate to the NFL level. The 10 last NC QB's before newton Josh Heupel, Oklahoma, 2000-2001 Ken Dorsey, Miami, FLA 2001-2002 Craig Krenzel, Ohio State, 2002-2003 Matt Mauck, LSU, 2003-2004 Matt Leinart, USC, 2004-2005* Vince Young, Texas, 2005-2006* Chris Leak, Florida, 2006-2007 Matt Flynn, LSU, 2007-2008 Tim Tebow, Florida, 2008-2009* Greg McElroy, Alabama, 2009-2010 There is a reason as to why Blane Gabbert is rated ahead of Cam Newton on most everyone's draft boards, and the guy would be the 3rd rated QB if Andrew Luck chose to declare. This Buffalo Bills team needs some immediate help on defense in both pass rush, and run stopping more then they need another first round draft pick sitting on the bench ....a player that may or may not ever develop into a decent NFL starter PS as to that line about a horrible way of thinking, my take on what that poster was trying to say is, wouldn't it be great if the Bills could just get an actual starter with that #3 and not some developmental player or a scrub who rides the bench because he stinks, like McCargo-Maybin

Jeez.... Bryan Bulaga didn't start until game 5, but then he started in every game the rest of the season at RIGHT TACKLE! He beat out two vets that were not injured to get the start in game 5. He went on to be named to the NFL ALL-Rookie team and when the Packers won the SB he became the youngest player to ever win a super bowl. The Packers drafted him to eventually become their starting left tackle, but for now he is their starting RT. The Bills could have plugged this kid in from day one, and that RT position would have been solid all year, instead of having to bring in walk-ons off the street.

amen Did anyone watch Jon Gruden talk with Cam Newton on ESPN, and ask him questions about his play calling as QB at Auburn? Gruden asked him to call a play they ran at Auburn, he couldn't! because he never called the plays! They never huddled...he states their method was "simplistic = fast" all he did was look to the sideline where they held up a card with one number on it....that was the play call. The entire team would read the play and then run it. So when people say he was a one read and run QB ....they aren't kidding. This kid is so far removed from ready to run a pro style offense in the NFL its not funny, he doesn't know the verbiage, he doesn't know how to call a play in the huddle, he doesn't know how to set protections, formations, routes, alerts! He doesn't even know the fundamentals of NFL play calling, never mind reading the different defensive reads 'Red right, A right stop, 322 scat, y stick line... a rip or ram call ...forget about it The only way this kid plays right away is running a wildcat or pistol shotgun, I see him easily slipping to the Redskins at the 10th pick, even then I kind of doubt Shanny will draft a player that needs so much developmental work. If I'm the Redskins I'd take Ryan Mallett before Newton, at least he played in a pro style offense and has much less to learn, just get a wall of good blockers in front of him http://sports.yahoo....scouting_report ""Negatives: Played in a simplified, run-first, dive-option read offense with very basic high-low reads. Worked exclusively out of the gun and was very quick to run at the first flash of coverage. Limited field vision — does not process the passing game. Inconsistent throwing mechanics with a flick delivery — generates all of his power from his upper-body strength and too often arms the ball. Streaky passer with spotty accuracy."" ""Was arrested in late November and charged with felony charges of burglary, larceny and intimidating a witness, informant or victim after stealing a laptop computer from a student's dorm room and throwing it out the window when police arrived at Newton's for questioning. Charges were dropped upon his completion of a pretrial diversion program. Reportedly transferred rather than face possible expulsion stemming from three incidents of academic cheating, including two as a sophomore when he put his name on someone else's paper and purchased a paper online, attempting to pass it off as his own work."" Yea sure, draft him at #3 and give him 20 million dollars guaranteed...he can sit on the bench with McCargo, Maybin and Spiller

I don't hate the guy, I do hate it when the Bills waste a pick on a player that needs so much development, it is just that last season he didn't learn how to block on running or pass plays, he couldn't find the hole to save his life, didn't learn his receiving routes and was a liability every time he took the field. For the first RB selected a with such a high pick he should have been a force in the running game, he wsn't. And ya know what, if the kid doesn't learn how to do his job properly this off season he will be another Aaron Maybin bust, we will find out once the season starts. So IMO right now the Bills have one RB in Fred Jackson. Special teams used to be a strength in past years, they regressed badly this season, not a strength anymore- Currently the Bills have only two notable receivers in Lee Evans, and Stevie Johnson. Evens is in decline and is simply not getting open as often as a premier WR should, Johnson was the only bright spot in the receiving corps last year with 1000 yards receiving and 10 TD's. The Bills have no viable TE, so I'd have to say this receiving corps is not a strength. Just because DT Kyle Williams went to the pro bowl last year, one player does not make that D line an area of strength.