afcfan1

Actually, if he simply refuses to take the physical, as opposed to failing it, he will not get credit for this year, and he will be under contract with the Raiders next year instead of being a free agent. The Patriots are in the process of getting much younger and faster. Going into the 2010 draft they are set up with a first and 3 seconds, and in 2011 they will have 2 firsts (with one probably a top 5). The reason they wanted a 2011 1st instead of 2010, is because the NFL is expecting to have some form of rookie salary structure in 2011 making a top 5 pick much easier to fit in your cap. They are so far ahead of the curve it's scary.

In watching Bills games, it seems clear to me that Edwards does not have the mental toughness to play QB in the NFL. At the first sign of the slightest pressure he throws to his bail out receiver. He does not seems to be able to stand in the pocket, with bodies flying around him, and go through his progressions. If his first option is not open, he dumps the ball off. You combine the inability to stand in the pocket in the face of pressure with a terrible OL, you have the Bills 2009 season. I will be shocked if Edwards is the starter for the entire season. Also, the DL of the Bills looked terrible. If the ball is not ran right at Stroud, he shows no desire to go after the ball carrier. He looks like a guy that got his contract. Teams are going to run the ball on the Bills all year long, just watch.

I would keep that receipt considering this guy has shown nothing that should get a Bills fan excited. The back of his jersey didn't say "Check Down" on it by chance did it? The second this guy sees any pressure at all, as light as it may be, he throws the ball to his check down option. He does not show the ability to hang in the pocket and go through his progressions. If his first option isn't open, he gets visibly nervous in the pocket. I firmly believe this guy is a bum, and because of this a TO blow up is only a couple of months away.

What is with this love for Wood? Because he does well against the stout Bills D-Line in practice? I don't think Wilfork is sitting up worrying about this guy, especially since Wood was completely mauled by Myron Pryor (the Pats 6th round pick) in college.

One-eyed Willy hears you.

I think your rose colored glasses need to be a little stronger. You keep banking on hopeless optimisim, and I'll take reality. Bad OL - bad DL - unproven QB - aging, skills declining, cancer causing WR - suspended RB - weak LB core - weak secondary - etc. At least the Bills have Fred frickin Jackson. I know Bills fans are very enamored with him.

Judging by his 40 time, I would not expect him any time soon. He's not real quick.

If the OL is as bad as many expect it to be, the Bills will be well into the bottom 1/3 and T.O. will blow up by November. I don't understand where all of this enthusiasm about the O is coming from. As of right now the Bills have 3 proven producers (Lynch, Ownes and Evans) on the entire offense, and one of them is 35 yrs old and another is suspended for a few games. So you're expecting guys that haven't proven anything to be stellar and T.O. not to age at all. Talk about wishful thinking.

As long as the Bills have a below avg QB and a below avg OL, they are going to be a below avg offense. I don't see how either of these positions have improved.

You had the 25th ranked O in the NFL last. You have added a 35-36 yr old, skills diminishing, cancer causing WR / you have added a rookie 4th round TE who may or may not start / you have an OL where not a single player is playing where they were last year / and you have a QB that has proven (to this point) to be closer to JP Losman than Jim Kelly. Please explain how this offense is supposed to be so impressive.

You are right about the Pats LB core. A lot of the success of that unit will depend on the development of Shawn Crable on the outside. Guyton had a solid year in the middle last year, and I would hope he would make the "year 2 jump". Lenon is going to be a role player and no more. He also racked up tackles on a bad D. However, I completely disagree with your assessment of the Bills secondary. I do not think McGee is a very good corner and like I said, Leodis is unproven. I don't think looking at Bodden's last year in Detroit is fair as I don't think any CB could have had success in that D. If you look at his time in Cleveland (while in the same defensive system he will join in NE) he was a stud. He is still young so I think he can get back to that level. As for third CB, T Wheatley was showing solid signs last year and got hurt in the Colts game where he was playing very well. BB was very high on him, and he is very high on this years 2nd round pick D Butler. Wilhite showed signs last year, but is a serviceable player, nothing more. Sanders has been solid, not great, player at S for three years. That is more than I can say for whoever is going to play opposite Whitner. Patrick Chung is going to take over that role to add more speed and explosiveness. I just don't see where the talent is in the Bills secondary. With a limited pass rush, and the inability of the front 7 to stop the run, I think teams are going to be able to go over the top of the Bills all season long.

Please let me know who has "proven anything" in the Bills secondary. Like I said before, McGee is a quality return guy, but is an avg corner and is typically targeted by the Pats. Leodis is unproven, Whitner does nothing and there is nobody else. If Springs is aging, what is TO doing? At all 3 levels, DL, LB and DB the Pats have better talent. That is why they continue to not only beat the Bills, but crush them. I honestly thought Greer was a better cover guy than McGee. Not sure why they let him walk. Do the Bills even have a 3rd corner considering teams play about half the time in nickel?

Curious, who are these castoffs/aging guys in the secondary? The Pats secondary this year should consist of Springs, Bodden, Wheatly, Wilhite, Butler, Meriweather, Sanders and Chung. With the exception of Springs, that is called getting younger and faster. The only guys on their defense that will be considered older for their positions will be Springs and Tedy.

Bodden and Springs are both better than McGee or Leodis. McGee is a solid KR but nothing special at corner. Leodis had a couple decent games last year, but is not proven by any means. I would take Meriweather over Whitner any day of the week. Whitner was a high draft pick, nothing more. Compare their stats from last year, and let me know the next time Whitner makes a play (except for getting run over by Sammy Morris). I don't know who your other safety is going to be(Simpson?? / Byrd??), but I'll take Sanders over either. The Pats also drafted Patrick Chung at safety and Darius Butler at CB for additional depth.

2 Quality LBs is better than none - Especially when you actually have a D Line in front of them. As a Bills fan, I wouldn't expect you to know anything about having a D Line (or an O Line for that matter).