mountainwampus

I've got faith in Nix. Even if he's not signing players left and right, overall, he's done a better job than anyone else here in the last 20 years. His draft last year was strong. None of the picks were "reaches" and it worked out better than the years with reaching picks (like Maybin). If he can stockpile some decent WRs, DEs & OLBs this year through draft and FA, The Bills will have a serious shot at a Wild Card playoff game.

Has anyone ever noticed how many NFL players go into decline after huge pay increases? Remember how the Patriots let Deion Branch walk after being the Super Bowl MVP? He was earning 1M/y, Pats offered 4M/y, eventually left for 7M in Seattle where he failed to live up to the hype (less production, injuries). Eventually, Branch comes back and gets the 4M/y (avg) that the Pats originally offered. Seems like the Pats have the smartest front office in the business.

Hairston

Also in defense of Gronk: His stats

Not sure why you doubt Nelson. He's #2 in WR stats on this team and right behind SJ. That's what really matters. There is no chance other NFL teams aren't game planning for him, especially on 3rd down and in the redzone. He may not be a "deep threat" or a "playmaker" but neither is Stevie. He was used as an H-back early in the season, so he's likely the best run-blocker of the WRs. What has he done wrong? Other than give that ball to his gf?

While this is a slight exaggeration I'm totally with you. Nelson has been impressive. He's caught most everything that has come his way.

It seems that support for Nelson is higher than any other WR on this board. I like it. He always did his job over 2 seasons. I think he should be "married" to that #3/4 WR/H-back role for the next decade. Such an upgrade over Josh Reed, IMO.

Anyone but Kelsay. He has done squat for last 2 years and next to squat before that. Only QB he could get to was Tebow. I think Carrington has gobs of potential.

If he was a top 3 before the combine, but was picked #3 after the combine, how did it help him? No links have been produced. Just a TBD poll showing 23 posters picked Dareus. I'm looking for a real article or published mock that shows Dareus higher than 5th. As for Sheppard, I just don't think he did much last year.

Well, your memory is flawed. I posted 4 mock drafts, and none of them have him higher than 6. If you look at post-combine mocks, they all have him in top 4. The combine helped Dareus more than any other D-line player. THAT IS ALL I'M SAYING. Just post some proof if I'm wrong.

My thought is that Chan's offense (or maybe it's Fitzy's style) doesn't require the same quality of pass blocking that Brady needs. I'm not saying Fitzy's better than Brady, but he's definitely tougher and makes quicker throws. Also, since he was the least sacked QB last year, and they were a top rushing team, do we really want to spoil the chemistry? Yeah, all I was trying to say is that the combine helped him. I never said he wasn't a top prospect. I'm not an idiot. How am I the troll? I'm actually discussing the topic brought up by the OP. Props to you for picking Newton.

Dude. I never questioned that you weren't the guy to post the short arm thing. That's why I said "CONGRATS" and "thanks for bringing that up." I said that Dareus wasn't a top 5 until the combine, and you insisted that I'm wrong. I'm asking you to show me a link from feb 11 that proves you knew Dareus was a Top 5 prospect. I'm calling BS. Hindsight is 20/20. I know Mayock had him at #2 on an early mock, but he was the only "expert" willing to rate him that high. Every other analyst jumped on the Dareus bandwagon AFTER the combine. As for Hightower. One scout report said he can play "any position on the field." I'd like him at SS OLB. Also, I'm not too big on Sheppard at MLB. Can he handle that? I'm gonna say no. So, maybe Hightower ends up there.

That's a pretty weak poll considering it's only between Dareus, Quinn and Newton, and many posts say their guy is not there, but still, I'd give you props if you were one of the 23, which you aren't.

LOL. Typical hipster. Has to point out that he noticed the short arms first! Congrats! Well, honestly, thanks for bringing it up! Short arms sounds like too big a risk. And, I'll admit, I thought Fairley was going 2nd and we'd get Bowers at 3rd back in 2010, and the emperor wears no clothes. I must be the only one. Everyone else on this forum is a draft genius like Mayock. Can any of you produce links from Feb 2011 to back up your Dareus claims? If it was so obvious?

No takers? Well, obviously it was the pass rush for the Giants that was the key to beating the Pats* Also, when I mentioned how Dareus improved his draft stock at the combine last year, I had a player in mind that will do that this year: Dont'a Hightower. I think most mocks have him at 12-20 overall right now (not sure where Mayock has him), but after he runs a 4.6 40 and lifts and dominates in the position drills, I could see him rising to the Bills. I was high on Upshaw til someone mentioned he has short arms.

I was very specific when I said "Dareus wasn't even considered a top 5 pick until he dominated at the combine" and was called "COMPLETELY WRONG" but I'm just telling it as it is. Can we drop all the nit-picking and football hipsterisms?? Anyone care to comment on this years draft? How about, what won the Super Bowl, pass rush or O-line?

Here are some pre-combine mocks. Trying to find one that has Dareus in the top 5, but not finding any, even from Mayock. SI has him at 6 Draft Monsters has him at 6 He's at 11 here

I disagree. This is nothing but football Hipsterism "I knew about this guy before he was cool" talk. He was on every top 5 AFTER the combine. The talk of the combine was how good Dareus did and how his stock shot up. His early scout reports said there wasn't much film on him because he was only a 1 year starter. There was lots of talk about Bowers or Fairley being #1 overall. Am I the only one that remembers this? Here's a pre-combine mock. Sure, Mayock had him, but he was the only one. Are you saying Mayock is the only one that matters? Hindsight is 20/20

Whatever dude. Before the combine, all the attention was on Nick Fairley as the top DT, plus Cam, Bowers,Peterson, Quinn, Gabbert, etc. Dareus was rated 5-20 overall on the pre-combine mocks. I studied them. Dareus beat out every other big guy at the combine, is that wrong? Because you say I'm completely wrong.

I say follow the Dareus philosophy. Wait til AFTER the combine and draft the pass rusher who "wins." Dareus wasn't even considered a top 5 pick until he dominated at the combine. After watching the Super Bowl, did the Giants win because of good OL play or because of good pass rushing??

When I click on the picture, it crops the lower half

As far as I'm concerned, they still cheat. They are just hiding it better. If you are willing to do something as risky as videotaping your opponent, wouldn't you be also cheating in less visible ways? OF COURSE YOU WOULD!! Spygate was just the tip of the iceberg. Every team and player that plays them seems to find out sooner or later. Many even speak up about it. Whether it's just poor sportsmanship like booting punts at the other team during pregame warm-ups or slamming or QBs head into the turf to stop the clock, to soft-cheating like the time keeper forgeting to flip the downs on the scoreboard. There are countless allegations of them using radio frequencies outside of the NFL sanctioned bandwidth. The Jags even accused them of jamming their radio signals once. Why wouldn't they? How can it be proved? Then there's the flags. The fact that they get EVERY SINGLE HUGE MOMENTUM SHIFTING HOLDING PENALTY is proof that something is going on with the refs. I have lost count of how many games they won because of some BS call on 3rd down (either extending their drive or killing their opponents drive). They even got the typical BS call in the Super Bowl, but it wasn't enough to make up for the Giants dominance. They only beat 1 winning team all season. If the Bills get some decent pass rushers and the Jets replace Sanchez, the AFC East will no longer be owned by the Pats*.

It was frustrating at first, but the chance to see Brady get pummeled by the pass rush one more time made it all worth it.

The refs clearly wanted to give the game to the Pats*. Sterling Moore got away with pass interference twice on 3rd downs. That holding call against Boothe was SHADY on 3rd and inches.

Exactly what I've been thinking. The 3-4 was talked about but it never really materialized. They never had the personnel. And Kelsay is horrible. I've never seen a guy over-commit to outside rushing so many times without getting any pressure, tackles or sacks (except Tebow) all while allowing huge holes against the run. He needs to stop rushing and just hold the edge, but I'm not sure he's capable.