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I'm not miserable at all, just annoyed by couch coaches that believe they think they know what they are talking about when discussing player performance. posters here are kidding themselves if they don't think that competing with the Patriots- Jets- Dolphins isn't the highest priority, and most of the O linemen currently on the roster might be good enough for a minor league team, just not nearly good enough to compete against some of the best teams in the NFL ...that reside in the AFC East. Perhaps many posters here enjoyed last years 4-12 season, and can only see this team getting better. I hate losing and I can only see this team repeating last seasons ugly performance with the very same players One would have to be delusional to think that this college coaching staff is going to suddenly be good enough to develop top players out of trash found on the waiver wire.... or that players plagued with constant injuries year after year and play lousy with those injuries will suddenly play better. Here is something to consider, every NFL player suffers thru injuries every year, its how they cope and play with those injuries that defines them. An example was Thurman Thomas who was always in pain with two bad ankles, from college to the pro's, it didn't stop him from having a HoF career. What transpires in free agency when it opens will show if this team is determined to win in this division this season. RT-G or C for the line should be the priorities, if they ignore the line or bring in more Cornell Greens, then don't expect much improvement from last seasons 4-12 record. I've been there and felt that way about the Bills in the past decade+. After being absolutely man-handled by the Patriots just one time like we've endured consistently would've been enough for other team's HC's or Owners to step in and say, "we can't lose like that again to those guys. We're professionals, we're men, we've got pride, we gotta do something." It did seem, though, that Juaron was able to swallow that embarrassing beat down time and again and it did seem like he brought similar teams back year in and out with maddeningly similar approaches, expecting different results. However, this year and this team is not our recent Bills. This team has a H.C. who at least has shown he knows how to score points - and he, or the GM - went out and got a very credited addition to our defense in Wannstedt. Our coaching staff is quite large and, I think, trying to be innovative in today's NFL. Buddy brought in some O-linemen who played alright for us at times last year, and some of the others looked to have potential. Livetre plays pretty good ball. Bell, I think, has deserved this year to prove his capabilities. Wood is a good O-lineman. I'd say we have Wood, Bell, and Levitre, not to mention Hangartner - on our O-line who could all be starting on other NFL teams. They might not represent the very best, but they are not the worst, either. Now, I'm one who believes we shoudl aspire for the best, especially in professional sports - but give Buddy a chance. This is year 2. This Bills team will probably be quite decent this year. Who knows what type of restrictions he has with Wilson, but I think this staff and this team is set to become good. Whether they have what it takes to get to great is another matter - and I think that is something we will see beginning with this Free Agency period. We know we have holes, we know we aren't as good as our competition in certain areas, and we are entering one of the biggest Free Agency period, if not the biggest, ever. We've got to go out there and bring in some guys who are good enough and young enough to help improve this team. If we do nothing in Free Agency, then I'd say that does go to show that our Front Office knows - not believes, but knows - that it doesn't have to win to sell tickets. I don't want a Front Office that doesn't have winning as it's number one goal. (The Patriots have been getting younger, so to believe the Bills can sit back, draft good for 4 years and ascend the division by virtue of our opponents age is ridiculous, we've got to go after it to make it happen)

It's still early, without Free Agency and injuries - after all, if Brady got hurt badly early, then our division would look considerably different. I was thinking, though, that my earlier prediction of 7-9 to 9-7 was pretty much based on where teams are at now. To begin with, I think our offense is set to be outstanding. In my opinion we have one of the best recieving corps in the league, although we don't have a very good recieving TE, which hurts that position, but our RB's and recievers are outstanding, I think. Our running game is going to get much, much better with Fred as the designated starter from day 1, with Spiller one year stronger, smarter in regards how the NFL is, and more prepared, and our O-line will feature Bell and Wood with a full offseason of healthy rest and strength rehab. I believe if we could add a good RT, maybe a good enough backup LT, and a good TE, we could be featuring one of the top offenses in the league. I know a lot of that has to do with Fitz being more accurate, the line being more consistent, Spiller improving, etc. I know it could go the other way and that it usually falls in the middle, but I think we're destined to have a very potent offense here very soon, whether it is this year or next. If it can happen this year, we could be playing meaningfull games in December. Just imagine how different our offense would look with: Tyson Clabo, Z. Miller, and Vince Young Crazy? Sure. But, Young will probably be easily had - I don't think we'll go for him, though. My point is just that anything can happen still, and we're maybe a long way from knowing how we're going to look in September. Let's hope our Front Office wants it as bad as we do.

I thought I remember reading that Batten was initially planned on being converted to ILB, but that the team now sees him as an OLB prospect. I'd love to see him on the inside, though, because if he has the speed and quickness to get to the QB off the edge, then I think we could count on him covering TE's, not to mention I'd like to see our ILB's hitting their gaps a little quicker and with more accuracy.

Going nuts in F.A. at this point would be a waste, I think. We have a very young team with players at a lot of positions who could be quality guys - we should let the young guys play and see where we really need the help, with the exception of a few spots where we know we need help, like TE, Backup QB, and RT - in those cases, we should go get the best players that fit what we're looking for as possible. Thigpen, Moore, or Gradkowski for QB, Clabo for RT, and Zack Miller or Boss for TE. If we could do that, we'd have a pretty solid team, IMO. I don't like the idea of spending money of Free Agency just to get bodies. Like Cornell Green, for example. I think, for this team, being that we're probably targeting a 1st round QB next year and looking to begin a lengthy playoff run from next year on, we should spend the money we have left over on the younger guys who are promising, so we don't get out-bid for them when they would otherwise hit F.A.

I want the Bills to win a Super Bowl - as do we all, but I really want them to be just all around excellent again - I want them to be deep, tough, and when they win it, I'd like them to look like the Green Bay Packers did this year - so deep that they did it without some of their best players, so that next year they'll be even better. But, since we're still at the other end of that rebuild (at least, I think we're entering year 2 of what will be really peaking in year 4), I would like to see this year, if we're not going to the playoffs, at least that we get to be good enough where teams no longer look forward to playing us. For a few years there it got to be where the Bills weren't even considered NFL talent; they were like an arena team. You could see it beginning to change last year, we were getting better and better and more disciplined, so that by the end of the year we were scrapping with most anyone. So, I see us: L @ Kansas City Chiefs W Oakland Raiders L New England Patriots W @ Cincinnati Bengals L Philadelphia Eagles W @ New York Giants - Bye W Washington Redskins (Tor) W New York Jets L @ Dallas Cowboys L @ Miami Dolphins L @ New York Jets W Tennessee Titans L @ San Diego Chargers W Miami Dolphins W Denver Broncos W @ New England Patriots And we finish 9-7, and one game out of the playoffs, finally beating the Patriots, although they aren't, in this scenerio, playing for anything and we are finally playing consistently good football. My long shot games, IMO, are the Giants and Jets games - because both those teams have periods where they play poorly, and then where they play superbly.

There've been similar posts... but those were aiming, I think, at more realistic projections. If I were throwing money around... well, still, you have the overall make-up of the team to consider, chemistry, and I don't think you'd just go nuts on any one or two guys, but rather have a real direction on trying to be the most balanced and deepest team possible. So, I'd go: 1. For an offensive tackle, someone, ideally, who could play either left or right tackle. In this case I think Washington's guy, who they signed from the Saints last year - Jammal Brown - would be perfect. He's definitely good enough to take over the right side, but also good enough to sufficently cover the left, should Bell get hurt. I think we have to either have a swing tackle in the event of Bell getting hurt, or both a left tackle and a right tackle. The Bills seem to covet guys who are versatile. 2. I go Tight End. If Mercedes Lewis is still available from the Jaguars, then I think I throw as much at him as I'd consider throwing at a very good WR. A stud, multi-purpose TE doesn't come along that often, and despite people saying Gailey doesn't use them much, if he had a real threat like that, I think it would just make us that much better. In the event the best aren't available, I'd go Zack Miller - who is also not a compromise, or Boss, who'd be an upgrade. 3. A backup QB would be good. I like Bruce Gradkowski, Matt Moore, or Dennis Dixon for that role - or, the more obvious, Tyler Thigpen. Any of these guys would be capable of coming in and winning games for us, and each might potentially be as good as our own starter, given the right direction and opportunity. We can't exactly bring in a Vince Young or a Donovan McNabb and have the guy be a backup, but still, you'd like the backup to be young enough to be around for a while, and good enough to win if depended on. Those are what I think we need to have a rounded football team, that, with the right breaks, the right determination, coaching, could be a winning team. Now, if our coaches and front office really think their job is to win and win at all costs this year, as opposed to letting the young guys grow, learn, and mature - in other words, if they're not just planning of drafting a winning team that we wont see for another year or two (it looks to me like they aren't expected to win yet, and aren't actually planning on being a serious contender for another year or two - however that could really be the case in such a professional league is frustrating for us in Buffalo, as it has been the case every three years for the last 12 or so - I mean, every time a new staff has come in, they are given a grace period of 2-3 years, and when they stink in year 3 and 4 like they did in year 1, it's been back to scratch, and still...) I like our linebackers - I think we might have starter potential in our young squad - but to get that experience needed to be relied upon, they'll need to be thrown in, and it might make us susceptible for a season or so - which is fine by me if we're planning on going the draft in three years a winner approach. But, if it is now, then we should bring in another LB in case Merriman can't come back, and in case Maybin also remains a bust.

In the last ten years or so we've been fortunate to have had (and then let walk) some very consistent CB's. Winfield, Clements, McGee - until the last few years, during which it seems to me we've been led to believe that cornerback is still a position of strength for us, despite some real breakdowns when they've been called upon to shine. If we didn't address CB this year I'd be thinking we don't know what we have at CB - McGee's durability is a question, McKelvin's consistency is a question, and of the rest, Florence is the best of all of them right now and he might not be back. I'm frustrated with McKelvin - being picked where he was, in the company of some really talented CB's, he should be at the point now where we know he is a lock-down guy, I mean, I don't think we know, yet, what we have with him... so, I'm glad we brought in guys who can play, who can stabalize the position, and if McKelvin turns out the way we hope, then maybe we can say again we've got that position covered - but, without those draft picks, and still, without either Florence or another addition, we probably would've had a weak position there.

That is why I'm all for drafting tough CB's and keeping Florence - I'm not at all convinced of our secondary until we are able to force teams to throw it consistently, and we can stop them despite their attempts. Too many times teams like New England would chip away at our defense, lining up and taking passing plays at will. As for all that, I'd like to see us be able pressure the QB! Nothing disrupts a passing game like the jumpy QB's who know the heat is coming. Bruce Smith used to have that pleasant effect on opposing QB's. Even Schobel had some good times with Brady. We need a consistent sack man. Let's hope one of our young LB's has a little Clay Matthews in him, and maybe Dareus, Williams, and Troupe/Carrinton can force a lot of pressure on their own! I'm really psyched to see how disruptive Dareus can be after knowing that he played hurt most of last year, and that in his junior year he had more of the dominant, all around probowler type attributes, and that last season he seemed a little more run stuffer - but he performed better in the science show than Suh did, so I'm hoping he is going to be too much for single blocking assignments, especially after NFL training and conditioning. Add to that Williams needing double teamed, and someone should get open lanes.

Well, all the talk on our linebackers is always Poz, Moats, Merriman, and then the new guys Sheppard, White, and Batten in his first healthy season, and even perhaps Maybin, wondering if he'll "get it" under the tutelage of Wanny - and there is also the lesser talked of Coleman, who I thought looked pretty good. You know, when you look at it one at a time, we might have some pretty good linebackers on our squad, young guys that could be a really solid group in a year or two - just in Moats, Coleman, Batten, Sheppard, White - and that isn't mentioning Merriman or Poz, if they turn out for us. That isn't mentioning whether Maybin could turn it around. Kelsay isn't mentioned. And, after all that, we still have guys like Torber and Davis. I like Davis. I like that he can be plugged in, when healthy, and he won't be a weakness. He could show up on a lot of good 3-4 defenses and not stand out negatively (although he probably wouldn't make too many big plays, either). I've read that in the 3-4 defense you can't really hold a bad run game against the linebackers when the D-line are letting the O-linemen get to the second level and hold up the blockers. Well, I think that applies to our D last year. Here's to thinking our Defense might go from a weakness to a strength! I see us a top 12 defense this year.

I've always felt Fitzpatrick was the perfect backup because he was so smart he really knew the offense as a coach would - and he shows how well he can identify and diagnose the defenses he faces - but, his perpetual inability to be consistently accurate was what gave him that backup role. He could come in and make big plays and have good games, even string together a few, and rally a team. But, eventually, and repeatedly, he'd just make throws that were so far off that it would leave me scratching my head, wondering who he was even throwing to. Now, he doesn't have to be ever-accurate. All he needs to do is become less inaccurate. Frankly, even as he was last year, if our defense was better we'd of had a much higher ranked offense. And, if he'd of started every game, he would have had some of the best stats a QB has had for the Bills in a long time. Because of his intelligence, and his intangibles, if he can find a way to control his physical issues - and maybe Gailey can help that - then he can become quite good enough to lead us to a 10 win season. I think, almost as much as his mechanics, that a consistently good running game, and better protection, would also lead to more success on his part. So, as we've all chimed in on, his story is perfect for Buffalo. If he can pull it all together, then we have a QB without a bloated ego, with great intelligence, and if he fails as a starter, I think he'd make a really good mentor, almost a QB coach, if you will. "It isn't conceivable at all Wanny wanted a stress free coaching position . . " Wanny should fit right in with the rest of the underachieving slackers that Chan found for his staff why get a talented, hungry coach on the rise, when a burned slacker is available for cheap I bet Wannstadt had multiple offers to coach for other teams. I do wonder, though, what prompted him to pick Buffalo over the others - I don't think it was a Linebacker Coach position, and the assistant HC title, I doubt, did it either. He must have plans on either taking over the Defense if Edwards falters again, or of parlaying a successful turnaround of the Buffalo defense into another prominant gig. I do think that Gailey, Nix, Whaley, and Co., represent a group of men that will inevitably turn this team around, that it isn't a matter of if, but of when, so with Wannstatd choosing Buffalo, the team is already on the rise, and is probably projected by most as going from 4-12 last year to 8-8 range this year, to being in the playoff race in 2012. He really has no chance to get labled as responsible for failure here, since it was already the case before he came. If it continues to be that way, he's not the D.C., and if it improves, it will surely be attached to his presence as much as anything else. I like that Wanny was with Jimmy Johnson in Dallas and Miami. I think Johnson was a heck of a coach, and knew talent as well as anyone. Wanny is not a bum, IMO, and will only help us to match up against the likes of the Jets and New England.

If the Front Office believes Poz is good enough to be a starter and sees him as part of the future, then I say go get him, no brainer - he wants to be here, and that kind of attitude is needed. However, we're still young enough that if they really believe he isn't the type of player they want, they can let White, Batten, Coleman, Maybin, Moats, and Sheppard get valuable experience... but, in my opinion, with a better D-line Poz might just look as good as he was always hoped to be - and he's never been terrible. Add to all that, if they are going to throw money at Kelsay, then they'd be blind and foolish to let Poz walk for equivalent dough.

I don't have anything but reasoning to go on here - but, as others have mentioned, Ralph Wilson keeping the Bills in Buffalo has been profitable for him, and he might also have a certain personal motive for keeping the team here despite being able to profit largely by the team's sale (unless it is borrowed heavily against, as another has tossed out there), but, to this point, he appears to be going to the grave as the sole owner of a team in an ever dwindling market. He knows how much the fans here love the Bills, but he's been on record saying the market here, as it is, cannot sustain a profitable competitive fanbase without regionalization. That sounds like he is doing all he can while he can to keep the team here - but he only has to do that for a few years until his death. If he were planning on making sure the team stays here, I think he would have put everyone's fears and worry at ease. So, there are only two options I can think of - either he is going to let the market dictate where the Bills will go after his death, and that will more or less exclude Buffalo, unless there is a very, very wealthy buying group wanting to buy it and keep it here. Or, whatever Ralph has done to ensure the team remains here after his death is better served by remaining unknown until the time comes to make the move. I'm no lawyer, and I don't follow that end of the business, so I can't imagine what rules there might be, both outside the NFL, and inside it, that govern this type of business transaction, but there might be reason for silence. Either way, Jim Kelly, who knows Ralph better than 99% of people, I'd say, believes it is possible to keep the team here. So do other people, like Russ Brandon. He's mentioned that the Bill's fanbase, considering Southern Ontario, Rochester, and WNY, is one of the league's biggest. I happen to think that the fanbase isn't the problem. This is a Historic team, with a name that is well known, and if the Bills had been winning over the last two decades, or had superstars on the team - if we would've been fun to watch, we might have a fan base that covers the world. People don't need to live here to buy the Bills merchandise. If we win, and are fun to watch, or memorable in some way, we will sell. So, lets take care of that, first. Who cares about the Bills being here for another twenty or thirty years if we only have a few years of good football between 15 years of garbage? I want a winner. The rest will take care of itself a lot better if we do.

I was thinking the same thing - how can any team have had "the best" draft when no one's even played yet? At best, we could say, "I liked this team's draft best, for this or that reason...". I, too, liked Tampa's draft. Of course, that largely hinges on whether or not Bowers stays healthy and regains form, but considering many of the pre-draft websites had him going top 5-10, getting him and Clayborn was a great complement to their two D-tackles they took last year. That is why I think Detroit might have had one of the better drafts, too, although this guy only gives them a what? D? Anyway, I'm all about accentuating talent, or multiplying it, by concentrating playmaking ability - because one elite aspect of a team can carry a team quite far if it is coached right - and with Suh, one of the best DT's to come out of college maybe ever, to then put Fairley next to him - man! Suh had 10 sacks as a rookie -from the tackle position! And Fairley's specialty is getting penetration! Man, that is going to be one tough team to game plan for. QB's are not going to want to face that team. If they can get a really solid DE or OLB to make teams concentrate on both the inside and the outside, it'll be fun to watch. By the way, for all that Suh did and is, Darius got better power numbers in a pre-draft science exercise, so I imagine we'll be quite blessed to have him and K. Williams on the same line, too - and I happen to think Carrington is going to be one of the better 3-4 DE's, who looks to be capable of getting pressure as well... I like our D-line just as much as any in the league.

If I'm running a team from scratch and can bring in five pro-bowlers, that, to me, is a no brainer, too. QB - a great one can elevate the rest of the offense. Defense - NT, a great one can eliminate runs up the middle. OLB - a great one, like Mathews, just scares the devil out of QB's. And, finally, two CB's - to do much like the Jets did last year and just shut down the opposition's offense. If they can't run up the middle, and can't pass much, well...

Anybody see that picture on Bills official site, or Buffalorumblings, where the bills wideouts were all together with Fitz during a summer lockout practice, and Easley had his shirt off and looked enormous. I don't know how much weight he's gained since his injury, but the players mentioned that he is still as fast as he was - which is very fast. I think he has to come out this year and just light things up, becuase Jones and Nelson are too good, which to me means he either has to look really good to get playing time over them, or he'll sit a lot. I think he has the potential to be a star, so I'm listing him, and here's the rest, in order from most to least - Johnson Parrish Evans Easley And that leaves out both Neslon and Jones, not to mention Roosevelt. I think we have to keep seven wideouts this year, because if we put any of these guys on the practice squad, they'll be gone. Jones and Nelson might either one have a break out year. Spiller could also have a bunch more receptions. This hasn't even brought into the mix Shawn Nelson or any other catching TE we might pick up. I just love the talent we've assembled on offense - with Gailey's familiarity and skill, I think we end up a top ten offense this year.

That is a good point, about the contribution of players recently drafted. In my opinion, one of the hardest things about watching this franchise these past 12 plus years has been the apparent constant shifting, fluctuating of game plans and strategies to try to REACT to our opponents, rather than what we need to do, which is decide on a philosophy, find the right mold of players to fill the roster, and go out there and perfect the approach, so that opponents are forced to find ways to beat you. I just couldn't stand seeing us half-committed to identity over this past decade, which has resulted in Fans not even knowing who our Bills are, as a team, nor what they are trying to do, other than lose gracefully. So, another positive from this year will be seeing the aquisitions of this Front Office from the point of it's taking over all growing more and more productive in the same system, so we begin to see just what kind of football team the Bills are trying to be. I like the identity we're looking to create on defense, where it'll be hard to run on us, and I'm looking forward to seeing Gailey's "new" offense that will take the league by storm.

I disagree with Spiller being a bad pick merely because he is a RB and other positions are harder to fill, or more cornerstone to a franchise - certain players, no matter their position, are good enough to be picked very high. I believe, and have since the Spiller pick, that Gailey envisioned his offense consisting of certain critical components - a type of RB, a type of QB, and a set of certain types of WR's. I think when their pick came in, they looked at the available players, and they didn't see a QB that fit the mold, but they saw a RB who looked to be the right guy. They weren't drafting for last year. They were drafting Spiller to be the man they envisioned this year, and even more so next year. I mean, if they could get Chris Johnson type production out of Spiller, or, to say it more clearly, if Chris Johnson were in last year's draft, and every team knew what he'd end up being capable of, I doubt very much he'd of made it to Buffalo. As for needing to get to 8 wins - I think if we lost 12 games next year to tough teams, and we took all 12 teams right to the end, or into overtime, and the games we won we won convincingly, then that would be a situation where one might think, the Bills are a few pieces away from turning it around. A team can improve by 8-10 wins in a season, given the right circumstances. I just want to see a team that is in every game, whose young players are showing promise and improvement, a team that gets better and tougher every week (much like the Patriots before they won their first Super Bowl with Bellicheck, they were a bunch of mostly no-name guys who just played really tough and very good team football). Also, and I think this is as much an indication of where we are and where we can go, is whether or not our team is as prepared as the opponent. Our coaches must be able to put together winning game plans. We did that a lot last year, but there were also games - especially against New England - where we just looked way out smarted. I hate that more than anything. Our coaching staff must be able to surprise even the best coaches, because we face some awfully good coaches in this division. I like where we're headed. I think with a good Free Agency period this year, and the right draft next year, followed by another good Free Agency period, and we could be seeing the next round of Bills dynasty football. We'll probably get the young signal caller next year, and as someone earlier pointed out, I think with this Free Agency period being as full as it will be with players, we must be active in it to get to wehre we want in the next few years.

I think our team will be more competitive this year than people might think. I believe we'll be hovering around .500 in either direction, unless the long lockout really takes a toll on getting our young squad up to speed. But, I like where we're at, and I think we have young talent that is flying under the radar nationally speaking, and that young talent is capable of being as good as some other team's more recognized talent, which in sum gives us a better squad than our record of last year would suggest we now have. Our D-line, I believe, is set to be one of the leagues younger, better ones. Our secondary is, I'd say, in the upper half of the league. Our linebacking corps is young and I think is where we'll see what we have this year, but Moats, Coleman, Batten, and White might prove to be capable. On offense, I think our recieving corps is top ten in the league. We might have the worst TE situation, and our tackles aren't that good, either. But our interior O-line and running back situation is upper half of league. Our QB, well, that will be determined this year, but I think Fitz will end up in the upper half of the league in stats. So, Nix and Co. are on their way with the rebuild, and I believe he'll keep us improving with each draft, but, I just would like to see the free agents we bring in be actually helping us get to where we want to be, and not just filling holes - that seems to be a waste of money. I agree with what others have said, a TE and a RT will make us set to make the tansition into respectability. We might be there by the years end either way, because this team was playing good football the last half of last year, and they'll be older, more mature, more experienced with the system, and we brought in some good young talent in this draft, which I think will prove to be one of our best, and one of the best of this year's teams.

A couple of posts got me thinking... ouch... no, kidding. We're talking about building through the draft, and not using free agency, or using free agency. Well, you've got to build a team through the draft, because that is where you can pick up ten to fifteen new players a year who are physically, mentally, and attitude-wise the way you want them, players in the mold you want, and ideally, over three to four years, you have brought in enough of those guys to have a team that is competitive. That's starting from scratch. Gailey and Buddy came into a team that were in "rebuild" mode for 10 years. So, unless the team was totally different than what they envision a team to be, they shouldn't have to replace the whole squad. Yet, it seems like they almost are planning on that. Let's see, they keep Fred Jackson, but draft his eventual replacement, they keep the line from bell through to RT, and they bring in a bunch of WR's. They keep K. Williams, but bring in a new D-line, mostly. They keep Poz (We'll see for how long) and bring in new LB's - hopefully getting rid of Kelsay. The secondary? They've already drafted a safety and a corner... so, I'd say they're only replacing one half of the roster, to get it to competitive, play-off caliber football. But the one half? A QB - two years, and not yet. Potentially a LT, and cerainly a RT. OLB's - that is also a big time position. Some of the biggest positions are left open. Now, looking at who they brought in in F.A., and how much they played, or how effective they were last year. Here is the question, really (and, I think, Nix's weak point as a General Manager - because I really like his drafting, and his "mold" or what he envisions a team to be) of those F.A. aquisitions last year, that should have moved this team toward the WE'RE FINALLY READY TO COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP level, we paid out how much money to guys that didn't even end up playing, or guys that could as easily been replaced by UDFA's. Cornell Green, Dwan Edwards, Merriman, and the plethora of linebackers that came in and went down... I'm not saying we shouldn't bring in F.A.'s, but what I am saying is if we're going to bring them in, and if our goal is to get great as soon as possible without jeopardizing the quality of the makeup of the team, then why bring in and spend precious money on guys like that, who don't even end up making a difference? I bet we spent somewhere near 12-15 million dollars last year on players that didn't positively effect the outcome of our games. A good GM can build through the draft, and must do so. But the Great GM's build through the draft, and they isolate F.A.'s before they're in their prime, and bring them in. They don't go out and pay guys like Cornell Green 3+ million dollars to sit on the bench.

There was another post saying how we need to finally get someone at RT - well, I think from the Front Office's perspective, we might already have a RT on the roster in Pears. Our line wasn't the worst in the league last year. Frankly, I think our LT position is just as vulnerable and weak as our RT position, and we are much, much thinner at LT than at RT. If Bell gets hurt again - we are in serious, serious trouble on the left side. Who would go in then? Wang? Levitre? That is why I think the F.A. tackle to pursue would be Jammal Brown. He could play either tackle position for us, and that kind of versatility would really help us out, because it is likely that Bell will miss some time this season. Secondly, I think if you look at our offense as a whole, a TE is more of an urgent upgrade than O-line. I really hope we add a guy to each, because I think with a reliable O-line and a good TE we could have a top 10 offense. As it is, though, our O-line coming back, if healthy, has a decent set of tackles and a very good interior. Our backup guards are good enough to get a look at starting on some teams, so when healthy we can keep our QB from being sacked enough to get the job done (don't get me wrong, we need to keep getting better, until we have dominance), but our TE position is awful. We really, badly need a good TE in the mold of a Zack Miller or Green Bay's stud, or like Mercedes in Jacksonville. If I'm Buffalo's Front Office, I go and get Zack Miller right away and just give him a little more than anyone else will, because it won't break the bank, and if we do get a rookie QB next year, he'll need that kind of a TE to be successful early. As for Defense, I like our D-line group, and I think we have a good young core of linebackers in Coleman, Batten, Moats, White, and Maybin has this year to show if he can do anything. As vets we've got Poz (if he comes back), Davis, Kelsay, and Merriman. We don't know if Poz will be back, we don't know if Merriman will be able to play, and we don't know if Kelsay can improve... so I think we need another vet, someone who is coming into his prime, to help with the group. I'd be comfortable with Moats, Coleman, and two vets, until Batten and White can show what they've got, so I think we need another LB. As for our secondary, if we don't bring back Florence we'll need to get a CB. I'd say just bring him back. We're good at safety, in my opinion, with Searcy, Byrd, Scott, and Wilson.

It seems to me that we've overpaid for guys in recent years - although, I can't think of anyone we've overpaid since Nix actually took office, except Green at RT - which was perhaps his worst move to date. Anyway, I'm of the opinion that if we are going to bring in three or four rather pedestrian free agents and pay them better than anyone else would even consider (Cornell Green as an example), I'd much rather not bring in three or four free agents, and just take all that money we would pay mediocre talent and put it towards overpaying (if need be) for a few really good talents. Less is more, in that regard, for me. And, let the holes created by not adding a few mediocre free agents (like the group of linebackers we brought in last year, who didn't really add much to our team) be filled with rookies and young guys, so we can at least see how they actually fare, and let them develop, like Moats and Coleman of a year ago showed, they were capable of becoming as good or better than the free agents we brought in. That's what I think. Go a little higher for the good ones, and stay away from guys that are "fill in". Anyway, if we are only going to attract average talent at the free agent level, then why not go with rookies and young guys, let them develop, let us see what they have - and, if we are going to lose with mediocre free agents, then who cares if we lose a little worse with the young guys, because at least we get rewarded in experience and draft picks that way. I think that is how a team avoids being constantly 7-9, or 8-8, always just missing the right draft picks, etc. Go all the way or don't bother!

Those are the very three I was going to mention. Thigpen seems like a no-brainer. Moore did a lot with a similar structure of offense, and Gradkowski looked terrific at times, much like Fitz, but I believe (I didn't usually watch all of their games, so I just am going on what I recall from highlights and passing stats) that he was less prone to interceptions.

There are some really good suggestions out there! I think about this year's F.A. in a few ways; first, this year we are set to lose a few guys that I think we should try to keep - Florence, Poz. But, what is more important, I believe, are the guys who are scheduled to be free agents next year. Look and see there are a number of recievers coming up, and in all I think a good portion of our "young core" that we are trying to build around are going to be entering contract years. So, my thinking is, why not avoid that final year, playing for big money contracts while we can, and sign the guys that we know are looking like steals in the last few year's drafts to longer extensions, before they make it to the final year of their contracts and then expect top dollar. I think that is the smartest way to avoid losing the really good talent to free agency, because once they end their contract without a new one in place, there are almost always other teams out there ready to out bid us. Secondly, once we know, as a team, that the guys we really want to keep around are in place - and for us I think that is the young O-lineman, the secondary, and the recievers. Our D-line is going to be tops in the league, but I think we've got a few more years before we need to worry there. Anyway, going forward, I believe Gradkowski? Oakland's former QB, would be a really good QB to have as an excellent young backup, who has the talent to win games when needed. Vince Young - I believe Gailey could build a really dynamic offense with him if Gailey believed he was smart enough to learn the nuances of whatever system will be ran, but if he is just not smart enough, then there are going to be really good QB's available next year in the draft. And, speaking of next year's draft - with a shortened offseason, our rookies might not get a chance to really impact the team this year. We might be looking at another high pick next year, so QB, I think could be settled there much more cheaply, and with better talent, than in F.A. now. But, if we are going to go get "The QB" next year, he will come into a good WR corps, but he'll need a good TE - and that, I think, we should get in F.A., if he's there. We really need one. Add RT to the list, and LB, if there's a fit, and I think with 3-4 F.A.'s we could be set to add a franchise QB next year and be a contender for a while.

Fred was injured, and CJ was seen as a secondary RB - so Lynch was given an opportunity to be the featured back, and was either playing for his job as a Bill, or they had already decided his fate and he was just playing to increase his overall value. The big question, I think, that needs answered in regards Lynch isn't so much his being traded or played early, but that he was traded for too little compensation. It appears that Nix didn't maximize his returns on Lynch, and that is worrisome, if only that it is an indication that Nix isn't as capable a GM as others might be, as far as stretching the value of his resources. Don't get me wrong, I like Nix and I like the direction the team is heading in. I just think he's shown some vulnerability in the trade department. I really thought there were teams last year that were all but destined for the postseason, that were loaded everywhere but at RB - teams like Green Bay, for instance, who might have been willing to trade more, or maybe would have parted with a player. I'm still holding out hope that Nix shows us some real genius with this year's F.A. market. And I do think Lynch and his circumstances last year are all attributed to Nix, and not Gailey.

I absolutely agree that the Bills did the right thing in this year's draft. I didn't mean we should've taken a QB high this year. There weren't guys talented enough at that position to justify passing on Dareus, or Williams in the second - which I love, I think he'll be a perfect CB for us - and all the way through the draft. I do think we should have given a shot to Alabama's QB in the later rounds, because I think he'll prove better than people predicted, but what I was saying earlier was that we should go after one of the three or four QB's in next year's draft that are projected to be very good, and worthy of a 1st round selection. I think we should do anything it takes to land the best one, and if we can't, then go after the second best one. I know there aren't sure things in picking guys, but some guys are very close to certain to be good in the NFL - guys like Rothlisberger, Rivers, last year's Bradford. We should take the risk on one of the top QB's next year, because we've so far put together enough pieces to surround a good rookie QB with a winning team, and if we're lacking an O-lineman or TE next year, we can pick on up in F.A. if need be.