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Aahhhh....I wish I could've seen the Senior Bowl. I also believe the Bills will be looking hard at improving their linebackers. There's little chance they bet on Merriman being back - enough not to get insurance, anyway - to full form. And besides, his contract is only 2 years. I think it is important - very important - to notice how Edward's Defense played with what we might call a level playing field, talent-wise. And, the difference a really powerful, lane clogging DT like Phil Taylor can do for a run defense. I've got to think that our staff will look very hard at him if he's available in the second. To me, it seems a real lane clogger in the middle would be of much more value to us than another DE - since we have Carrington and Edwards, as is... and could take an OLB like Miller or Karrigan to generate pressure off the edge. This draft will be tricky. I think, considering our needs, we'd be better served to have a lower first round pick and another second - as Astro suggested. Guys we might really like - as we sit now, like Taylor, for instance, might be picked up a few spots ahead of our high second and third round picks. Nevertheless, in the first 4 rounds, as it stands, we have 4 picks. If we don't make any moves, and we draft wisely and get lucky, then we should be able to walk away with 3 or 4 starters. You figure 1st and 2nd will be starters. If the 3rd is a QB, then I think he'll probably sit behind Fitz for a year or two. But, if we get a TE in the third or fourth, there's a good chance he could be starting - if what we have doesn't start producing real quick. But, that second round is looking like a nice round to load up on linebackers.

I respected the Troupe pick, as well as the Carrington pick. Carrington looks like he's going to be a beast, and Troupe, if I'm not mistaken, was coveted because he had the stamina to play through the whole game, as opposed MT. Cody, who could only stand in there for 2 downs. Troupe should only get better for the next few years, and that bodes well for us. He is one of those football players that is just going to be consistent and solid - a lot like K. Williams. Those three are going to be good for us. I would like to add a real behemoth NT, if that fella on our P.S. doesn't look good enough to pan out. And, another good DE would be nice, too, since a healthy rotation is necessary for the full season. Due to the rarity of good big men, I suspect we might spend an early pick on one, even though our linebackers need upgrading more than anything. I just think - and, I suspect Nix agrees somewhat - that it's easier to find good linebackers in the middle rounds, if you know exactly what you want. There are always the smallish DE's from small schools that are capable of, and could potentially be great, OLB's. Yes, I think our 2010 draft was aimed at being productive in 2011 and beyond. I also think our D is only 4 good players from being very good. I only hope that one or two of them bring a bit more nasty to our team, attitude wise. We already have guys that play hard all game long, and play as a team. Go Bills!

I think there are a few QB's they'd like after round 1. I even am beginning to think they might go for Kaepernick in the 2nd and be glad for it. He seems like the kind of QB Chan could have success with. Or Locker. Or a few others that have multi talents. It seems to me that there are more QB's coming out these days that have the skill set that five years ago only a very rare athlete had at the QB position. So, maybe they can get someone good in a later round. I can only trust they know what they're doing - and, I hope they are throwing off smoke right now, and not really planning on being so transparent. Some part of me thinks that the guy they're looking at is someone they aren't openly being tied to - at least, someone they aren't mentioning. But again, you never know with these guys - last year they played it pretty straight.

That article echoes things I've said here before. We simply don't have an identity - and, combined with the turnover in staffs, there's no way we could have successful drafts. Point: 4-3 defensive players that are good draft picks turn into busts on a 3-4 team. Now, I believe it does start with Wilson - and has been there forever with this franchise. He doesn't approach - in all appearances - the Bills organization with the passion of a football man. He doesn't come to town and demand excellence from the team, Championships. Instead, he is content with monetary viability. He oversaw this franchise through decades of irrelevance, ineptitude, and then got lucky with Levy and Butler/Polian. Then after that brief period of success, which stamped Buffalo and the Bills with a has been moment in Sports history, he's ridden that brief fortune through another decade and a half of inept football. I believe he sees football as a game that doesn't deserve serious attention. I just don't think he appreciates what it takes to be successful - as is evidenced in his decisions over the lifetime of the team, and especially now, as he's fallen prey to outdated notions of what is possible. If the Bills have success it is only because he's lucked out with Nix. It is only because of luck, akin to playing losing poker - long enough, with a big enough stack of chips, you'll get a winning hand eventually - but, the great players win with bad hands, too. And, to make it worse, I don't think he's ever cared enough to demand excellence, and what it takes to achieve it. I think it has been secondary for him for most of his ownership. Maybe approaching the end of the road he'll throw it all down/in - let's hope he does, and let's hope Nix is good enough to develop a Philosophy.

I was talking to a long time Bills fan/season ticket holder tonight, and he was utterly disgusted with the Bills, and said he might not renew his tickets next year. He also said he thought Nix was a disaster and totally unfit for G.M., and that the Bills entire organization had turned into a laughingstock - citing the loss of talent - Peters, Pat Williams, Winfield - and coaches - April and Lebeau - all of which left and were replaced by inferior talent. Coaches don't want to come here - turn down one of only 32 like jobs in the world. And finally, the Lynch fiasco - not making calls and getting proper value for him, and also not making upgrades in F.A. when teams like the Jets, who are already way better than us, go off and make real upgrades while we sit still... and then there's the money to Kelsay. And all the first round busts. I listened to this loyal fan who'd spent probably 25,000 dollars over the last 20 years on the Bills, going to games and merchandise say all this. I said, "well, I'm going to give Nix another year and see what he does. I think he knew last year we weren't close, so he gave Gailey one year to see what he really had to work with, to find out if there was any hidden talent, and to see where he needed to chop. I also think that explained their approach to F.A., and to the draft. I think Spiller, Troupe, and Carrington were all picked with their sights on 2011 and 2012. So, now they know what they have, now Nix is calling the shots, now Gailey can pick his QB from the draft to mentor, and Wanny can help with the defense. We have a bunch of Free Agents coming up that will be available. Between the draft and F.A. we will see, regardless of what is said, by their actions, whether or not this team has been righted." He looked at me and shook his head. They stink. I'm done with them. They aren't good, and they aren't even close to being near as good as the good teams. In fact, I'll bet there'll be a further gap between them and the Jets and Patriots after this year, when those teams actually do get even better. I'm an optimist - but, reading that article, I can see both sides.

I've been a little confused about this also. In the 3-4, I think Williams is best as a DE. In the 4-3, I think Troup is good enough to line up next to Williams and be effective for the middle. Carrington looked for real, and should be better this year at DE. Edwards should be counted on as a rotational player. I think what we really lack, glaringly, in a 3-4 is a true NT - like the Phil Taylor, who is in the Senior Bowl, and who is projected in the 2-3 rounds. So, that would make our line look like: K.Williams, Phil Taylor/Troupe, Carrington/Edwards for the 3-4. Now, I could see us taking Dareus in the first, and Taylor in the second, and we'd have K.Williams, Phil Taylor, and Dareus as our 3-4 starting line - with Carringot, Troupe, and Edwards as our back-ups. Now, that would really give us the deepest line in the NFL, I'd say. But, I'd have to agree with other posters - we do already seem to have 3 legitimate starters at DE, and only Troupe as a legitimate? starter for the true NT position. I think in terms of must, we must get bigger at NT before we do anything else on the line, at least priority wise. There just isn't a D-lineman of the NT size/type ranked before the 2nd round this year.

I thought Locker would be hard for Gailey to pass up - and we never know till it's over - but, it looks like there are going to be 2-4 QB's in this draft that Gailey might enjoy working with - and, after watching an interview with Kaepernick? I think Gailey might rather go with him in the third - if he'll be there - than Locker in 1... and, as I said, whoever Gailey ends up choosing will be worth getting excited about, because we've all seen what he can do without being able to choose the pupil; imagine what he can do if he can hand-pick his QB. I'm going with either Locker or Kaepernick.

What if our good luck with rookie free agents were something that is self propelling? I mean, if I'm a rookie free agent, thinking I'm good enough to play in the NFL and wanting a chance to prove it, where would I look to? The really good teams are usually so loaded that even a good rookie sometimes has to wait for a few years to get a chance to play - and, at rookie free agent money, that's not as appealing as going to a team like Buffalo, that has a history, of late, of giving rookie free agents an equal chance to compete next to everyone else, and to get playing time. So, our lack of dominant talent and our willingness to play the best performers has - What do you think? - given the Bills an edge in the college free agent market. Also, a sort of converse effect might be taking place, at least a little, in Buffalo. I'd bet a guy like Wood, if he got drafted to N.E., or to Pittsburgh, would be a pro-bowler, and would be on everyone's list as a top young G/C. Maybin - what if Baltimore nabbed him, and just let him go out there and rush the QB on certain situations? These good rookies, on good teams where everyone is making plays, would have more of a chance to make their own plays because of that, and wouldn't be relied on as heavily as the bad teams tend to rely on their high drafted rookies. What do you think?

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Trooths. The future is up for grabs. We could turn it around in a year, with exceptional drafting, F.A. aquisitions, and luck. Or, it could be two, three years before we're solid enough for contention. Or, we could go another 5-10 years without making the playoffs. Anything is possible. Certainly, our front office structure hasn't produced in the last 15 years. I am usually very down on Ralph and the Bills brass. I have envied the Patriots, Green Bay, and Baltimore - teams who seem to mine gold every year (N.E.'s 6 picks in the first three rounds is evidence of that, and their defensive overhaul in 2 years, from old to young without missing much of a beat). But, Buddy is now running the show - and I am not going to believe he is no good until he proves it - because I like his track record, and I think last years draft was aimed at 2011 and 2012, players like Spiller, Carrington, Troupe, Easley, Moats, Batten - all, I think, will be players in the years to come, and all, I'd say - especially Spiller - drafted not for this past season, but with an eye for putting it all together this year and next. So, yeah, I like Nix and I think he can do for us what San Diego and Pittsburgh have done, which is to build a good foundation. He brought in Whaley, who would've been considered a good pick up for G.M. outright. Then, Gailey does good with the offense he had. We were in some games. And, now they've brought in Wanny, so the D should improve. Yes, I'm concerned at what seems like a slow player evaluation ability from the coaches last year, but, they did take over the team, maybe they thought they might get more out of the guys and wanted to see for themselves. And, finally, I think we could have a great Defense in this offseason - with the right moves. Likewise, the offense could be made very good, too - but, I don't think we can do both in this year. And, since the draft looks heavy in the defensive personnel we need, I'd say fix the D this year, and wait till next year for the offense (although, I'd pick up a T.E. and R.T. in F.A. this year). Say we go back to a 4-3. We draft Bowers or Fairley. Line him up next to Williams, Troup, and Carrington/Edwards. Linebackers you have Batten/Moats/Merriman and whoever else they bring in, and Poz, if he's resigned. Byrd played good in the 4-3... let Wilson shine, Scott for running downs, and let's say we add Asamugha in F.A. to go with McKelvin and McGee. That would be a shutdown secondary with exceptional turnover capabilities. Maybe get Bailey for safety? Those are some pricey F.A.'s - only a few, but, my point is - I know it isn't exactly realistic for us to get either of them, but my point is that with the right scheme, and the right key additions, we could have a very good unit. It is just having the vision, the determination, and the right scheme and coaching. But, it is possible for us.

I consider myself a realist. I want to be optimistic, though, when I look at Buffalo. It's easy to be down on certain aspects of the team, as well. If I were to say, "Wilson is the main fault with this team", there would be people here who would say, "sure, you're right - it starts at the top". But, there would be people who say, "Just like a dimwitted Buffalo fan, always blaming the owner, this and that, when it's really -" My point here is that on this site there are such a wide range of views that it's impossible to get agreement about anything, where optimism is usually seen as ignorance, and where skepticism is seen also as being too negative. I don't think, though, that this team is years away from contending. I just don't see us that far off. It always comes back to coaching and personnel management when you figure on what makes Championship teams. That is the bottom line, and that is the magic bullet. You take this same roster and transplant it to Pittsburgh next year. With their Coordinators and coaching philosophy, and ownership, you would have a playoff team in a few years - two, maybe, and it could remain good indefinately. They'd find good players all over our team, and they'd also get rid of a bunch. Same goes with Green Bay. My point is, when you have good management and coaching in place, with a definite philosophy - you can much better identify players that will succeed/fit with what you're doing. It's always the case where players that play great - like Farrier in Pittsburgh - in one place, because of scheme, go elsewhere and don't play as well. With the right system in place you know exactly the kind of players you need for each position, and it is easier to find the types in any round of the draft, and free agency. You take the physical builds the way you like them, and over the course of a few years you mold that physical talent into the kind of player you want. With our team, of late, you have so much turnover everywhere on the coaching staff that each new coach spends his first two years phasing out the talent he's aquired and bringing in the new "types" he wants - but that phasing out and bringing in takes up to four years to see a total transformation. By that time the fan base has been sick of the wait - not to mention the drafting hasn't been that good. As long as Nix and Gailey know what they want to achieve, team identity and philosophy wise, then we can expect to start to see a competitive team in 2011, I think. I truly believe you could make a powerhouse out of either our offense or defense this offseason, with the right moves, and that you could have a legitimate top NFL team in 2 years, if we draft and manage the F.A. process right. It starts at the top - as long as we have a good structure in place, the rest will follow - and I think we have that now.

Yeah, this year it wasn't our O-line's fault. Sure, it needs improvement. Our run game needs improvement. Mostly, though, that will come with better Defense, so we don't feel - and it seemed Gailey felt, like QB's do, the pressure to score, even when we weren't down by much - the pressure to outscore everyone so early, and just abandon the run. But, Roethlisburger's amazing ability to move around and to evade tackles has to be a consideration. If Brady were their QB, he'd of been beaten up. I commented on this yesterday: Both Pittsburgh and Green Bay have Franchise QB's; Yet, they have, it seems, only last year spent a first rounder on trying to protect them. Both those team's lines have been pretty bad over the last few years. Either the Front Office of those teams thought since our QB's are so good, we'll let their talents out match the deficiencies on the line? or, maybe that is why they get so good elsewhere, because they didn't have to focus so much on the line? Whatever the case may be, imagine how good both of those QB's would be - those teams - with stellar offensive lines?

There is no doubt about it with Green Bay - Aaron Rodgers and that defense are the main reasons for their success. Having a great defense - which Pittsburgh also demonstrated, but which Green Bay has, too, is so important for the length of the season, especially if we go to 18 games. Offenses, and offensive players like QB's, can have up and down games, but the Defense is usually a constant, and can win you games. But, Aaron Rodgers, throughout this playoffs, has been just invincible. I really love that that whole team is just about drafted and raised up in Green Bay. Anyway, they do something real important in Green Bay in the passing game - and, when you listen to Chan Gailey it sounds like he wants to emmulate that: it's that their recievers are all similar and can be mixed and matched, so they don't really have a number 1, 2, 3 etc.; instead, they have 4-6 WR's who can line up anywhere and do the same stuff, in the same way. I believe that was also New Orleans edge last year, why they were so good offensively. What can we learn from this? I say with our recievers, and with Easley coming back healthy, and our RB's - who are good, we should really finally add to our Defense in any way possible so that the coaches have the special players needed to run a good defense. I think with the right combination of additions, we could have a special defense with the additions of only about 3 - 4 players. Here's just an example of the kind of thinking we need: Hypothetical - we grab Asamugha, DB from Oakland in F.A., pay him instead of four or five nobody's who would make 1-3 million a year. Line him up with McKelvin and McGee and have a wicked secondary. Draft Bowers or Fairley if he's there, and go back to the 4-3, so our D-line could be Bowers/Moats/Maybin, K. Williams, Troupe/Stroud, and Edwards/Carrington, while our LB's could be Merriman, Poz (if we resign him, or that ILB a lot of people have us grabbing in the 2nd round), and Batten, or one other F.A. - my point, though, is with a few additions, in the right places, our personnel could look pretty nasty. Just figure out what we need to run, and get a few playmakers to add to the group. On the offense - maybe add Kaepernick? or Dalton - whoever, in rounds 3-4 as a groomer, and get a RT in F.A., along with a T.E. Either way, just make sure the O-line is steady, and wait till next year to add the finishing pieces. We could do it in two years if we do it right. Still, that QB spot should get upgraded. Let's hope there's a special QB hidden in this year's draft.

Good post - props to Nix/Gailey & Co.. There seems to be a serious, no nonsense, I wont call it impatience, but these guys are making moves and decisions, it seems, primarily to make this team respectable and competitive as soon as possible. The personnel moves they made all year were aimed at immediately improving the team, without the usual, and dreadful patience we see in most recent Bills coaches (a guy gets hurt or isn't playing well, and you might as well consider that position a weakness the rest of the year; and, in years past, you might have an underperforming player come back for another year or two, chasing "potential") - whereas, here, it seems, if you aren't playing well, you won't be playing long. I believe that urgency is a reaction to the consensus belief amongst Buddy and Gailey that what this team needs more than anything is confidence; i.e., it needs to win so that it learns to expect to win. Anyway, you get the feeling that although the Bills were a laughingstock when they took over, they're now taken seriously and are expected to be a competitive team henceforth. I'm happy with these moves, as a fan, I think they're all a sign that we can expect the moves being made in Buffalo to all be made in the direction of improvement, stability, and towards a Championship. I think we'll be much like an East Coast Chargers team here very soon. My only complaints - I was complaining not long ago that Wilson hasn't seemed to lay it all on the line to get a winner here before it's too late with him. Well, it looks like I was, at least, probably wrong - and I can only hope he lets Nix bring in whoever he deems necessary to get us back to respectability soon, F.A. wise. And two - it seems like Nix's strong suit is college scouting - becuase he hasn't shown a real flair for trades and for pro player management - both in the player value department, and also in the modern trade dept., although, after last year (his first) he might have learned some things. But, I think he's brought in some unproductive players the money we paid them could have been spent better elsewhere; we overpaid for Kelsay - something that is a real issue, because it sets a bad precedent; and the Lynch trade - a good example of how he needs to improve. I don't remember, did Whaley come in after the draft? Either way, I hope Nix's trading capabilities have been refined, some - but, one the whole, we've got to be happy fans, our franchise looks promising again.

It's been a long standing belief of mine that the best teams emphasize teaching/coaching above anything else, and second they create "team" teams, players doing their job/roles, as opposed to trying to buy the Super Bowl every year by signing big name F.A.'s - like New England, of course, but also like Green Bay, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Indy - all teams that don't generally sign the big name F.A.'s, who draft good, develope their own, and coach them up - not to mention, they stick with their system, because it works. Well, I believe we might have the biggest coaching staff in the NFL - and that is a direct reflection of Nix/Gailey understanding that success comes from having the players understand their job, and having that team mentality. I trust Nix in drafting. I trust Gailey in coaching an offense - in fact, I think he is capable of developing one of the better offenses in the NFL - I mean, we almost beat the Steelers, Ravens, etc. without having very recognizable talent on offense... I like what he has shown he's capable of, and I like that he uses the talent he has, rather than trying to misfit players into inappropriate systems. And now, we have a Defensive staff to match the offenses in experience, and in proven talent. To make it better still, all these coaches know each other, are friends. And, better still, I get the feeling that Wilson is giving the keys to the kingdom over to Buddy - I think Wilson wants to do whatever is within reason to win before he is gone. And, Nix is at an age where, as I've said before, this team is going to be his legacy. Gailey - well, if he finds success here, it, too, can redeem his career and if he is successful here, then all of a sudden the work he did in Dallas becomes better, too. Wannstedt - they all share this in common - now is their time. For this group of men, the circumstances couldn't be much better. They have the control, and if Wilson gives them the money for the F.A.'s, then they have everything they could ask for. I think they are going to build this team the right way - and I'm excited about the next few years... it's a good time to be a Bills Fan.

I'd take that draft in a heartbeat. I just love the idea of filling up on Defensive front seven. Nice work on finding lesser recongnized talents - because, in the draft, it always ends up that a lot of guys get drafted out of the positions they'd been mocked at leading up to the draft. So, yours is as likely as any other, really.

I commented on this topic a few days ago, and my overall point was that Wilson should give everything he can, in terms of financial support, to this team, to attempt to have a Championship won before he's passed on. To have seen the team come so close, and to watch it fall so far over the years, it seemed inexcusable not to make a final attempt, a sort of all in, at success. Well, he has done one of the two things I have hoped he would. He's gone and made Buffalo one of, if not the most, numerously coached team in the NFL. I have always said, why pay all that money to players when you aren't spending what you can on good coaching? Well, we have a very well coached team, now. I am starting to believe he is giving it a last effort, and I like that it is Nix who is in charge of building the team.

I was just commenting on Wilson not trusting people anymore - Well, it looks like Nix might be someone whose opinion he's finally settled on trusting. This move is obviously Gailey's wish, and Nix's planning/orchestrating. I agree, as well, about Wanny now being the Def. Coordinator in all but name. Sure, at first I can see the two (Edwards and Wanny) working together to decide on a plan for the system going forward. I think by draft time we'll have the players decided on, who's staying, who's going, and they'll work out game-planning together, and a concensus. But, I can see Edwards doing the actual game calling on game day, or Wanny, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were Edwards at first. Only, if our defense looks as bad as it did this year, or is ineffective, then I'd bet it wouldn't last two full games before Wanny was calling the plays, and then actually taking over. So, we can rest, now, knowing that there is experience and there will be a game plan going forward on both sides. And, I think we do have some weapons in place that an experienced coordinator can use and build around - Carrington, K.Williams, Troupe, Moats, Byrd, McKelvin - these guys have potential, in the right system, under the right guidance. I think we have a lot of coaches, now, who will help the young guys get into shape, stay in shape, and learn the systems. I give it up to Wilson for letting them hire on, and I hope he continues to let some F.A.'s come to town, too. I think we'll see at least 3 nice additions - RT, TE, LB.

I like that strategy. It always bothers me when a team doesn't seem to be trying to create an identity with their offensive and defensive units. I think a team is much better served when the F.O. goes into building a team with a specific model in mind. It allows them to target exact fits, and to recognize players that will work. With our defense from 2010, you have a unit that is in-between. We aren't a good example of any successful model of defense. So, with your approach, you isolate what you have that fits the type of defense you want (and, I think most of us fans want - an attacking, nasty defense). We know we have players on the defense that just aren't good enough - so, rather than keep them here, and pay them - WHEN WE COULD GET RID OF THE PLAYERS THAT WE KNOW AREN'T GOING TO GET US TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO, TAKE THE ACCUMULATED MONEY THERE AND PUT IT TOWARDS A FEW VERY GOOD PLAYERS, and then load up on undrafted free agents - who we have a knack of finding quality talent in. I mean, go aggressively after the yound guys on smaller teams, when in number we're likely to find a few keepers. Anyway, get rid of the trash, and what we have left is a decent group on the D-line - missing one excellent DE or NT, depending on the style we want to play. We're lacking two quality starting LB's. And the secondary depends on F.A. losses - but, I'd worry about that last - and next year, if need be. Fix the front seven now. Likewise, on offense, fix the O-line this year, with a F.A. RT, and the T.E. position, too. That way, next year we just need to settle the QB spot and patch up the secondary.

Those kinds of questions are easy to argue either way, and totally depend on the context of the specific draft class and even then, the teams drafting. It is relevant to ask whether the 2011 Buffalo Bills should consider taking Peterson or Prince with their #3 pick in the draft. I say only on condition. If either one is as good as Revis, and can be counted on to take away the other team's number one reciever, then sure. A corner with that kind of impact comes along once or twice a decade, I'd say. But, if there were a Bruce Smith type defensive end, or a Warren Sapp type, high impact DT on board, also once a decade, then, in our case, you go D-line over secondary. Why? Because, secondary is almost exclusively pass related - it has to do with one half of the offense. A great D-lineman, though, can alter the opposition's game plan in both pass and run game. The Giants are a perfect example, with their win over the Patriots in the Superbowl, of a team whose D-line is so dominant it can take away the passing game, too, for lack of enough time to throw. Seeing as how we cannot pressure opposing QB's that much, nor stop the run, if we have a chance to land a real monster on the D-line who can pressure the QB and stop the run, then we should jump on him. It would help us maximize K. Williams's talent, too. There's nothing worse than seeing talent like his go wasted on a team that has no one surrounding him to help. I think we've got 2 quality D-linemen in Williams and Carrington, and another two contributors in Edwards and Troupe. Throw in a real beast and it could be a strong suit. Then there's the argument for drafting a QB, also, although to draft one as high as 3 he should be the next Rivers, Rodgers, Payton Manning, and not just a Sanchez or Flacco.

It's a good question. I just heard Jim Rome ask Roger Goodell about a stadium in L.A. - and the impression he left with me was that it is an eventuality. So, either they add a few more teams - I know the NFL would like there to be an NFL team in Europe, Mexico, and perhaps Canada - or, they move some of the existing teams. Hmmm.... which teams seem likely to be moved? I hate not knowing what is going to happen to the Bills after Wilson passes.

It is my opinion that Wilson views the Bills as a business, that he doesn't even identify with the actual team, but rather only the profits and or losses in earnings. Or, he is an old man who has lost his touch with reality, has very misguided people in charge of advising him, and he is afraid to lose his hold on the organization by changing much or any of its structure. Perhaps a little of both. One would think if he took the team's overall success personally, then he'd do whatever he could to win. He can't take wealth with him. It seems to me he'd rather spend the last years of his life watching this team he kept in Buffalo all these years turn into a Champion, than watch it slide away into mediocrity and ridicule. That should be considered: a man owns a team its entire life - created it - and he is dying. He can take the money he has all around him and pinch pennies, and calculate profits, and watch the team that in his entire life has never been at the very top, go out in a sad state. Any of us fans - in that situation - what would we do to try to make the team a success? Not just a success, but great. I guess even at the end, for some people it is not more than a business. The dysfuntion certainly begins and flows out from the owner. Sure, if it weren't for him we'd not have the team. NO doubt about that. But, there is also no doubt that he could put all his chips in on it, and he hasn't yet.

Who knows anymore what our F.O. is thinking. A member here recently remarked that last year we were all clamoring for the need to bring in a F.A. or high rookie LT and QB - and we did not change those personnel at all and now no one is really talking about replacing the LT or QB. I think the point being made was that players can develop, and we don't know how our staff thinks about certain players' future. On the flip side, those players were playing for a new staff this year, under a new system, and one was coming off injury. Anyway, it is possible that we already have what our staff believes to be a starting O-line combination. Maybe they think Pears is the man at RT. We would mostly be screaming they're insane, but then next season, if it were true, the guy could very well play all season and do alright. So, when I look at our roster and try to pin-point areas that definitely need upgrading, indisputably so, I'd have to say Linebacking corps, Tight Ends, and overall secondary (considering F.A. departures). I think the F.O. will bring in a F.A. Tight End - one who is potentially capable of staying on the field at all times - something Gailey admits is a real problem for us, since many of our TE personnel packages make us somewhat predictable. Also, I see them bringing in a LB for the inside - and, probably a rather high end one, at that - someone to orchestrate the D. As for our secondary, I worry that Peterson will be the pick at #3. If not, then I'd guess they try to weather the year with McKelvin, McGee, and Corner, and see where they are after next season with that position. My guess is we'll see at least 3 F.A.'s brought in. An upgrade at T.E., an upgrade at ILB, and (I hope) a RT - (we'd be so lucky if it were Clabo)

I am excited by Moats - I like the way he plays, and he looks a lot bigger out there than he is. I've been wondering about this, if Merriman does get well and regains form, who would be our two starting OLB's? It seems like we'd want them to be Merriman and Moats. That leaves out Kelsay. And, with all of us (myself included - I know it is because we don't trust Merriman to come back to his golden years productivity) clamoring for a high round OLB - are we even going to see Moats on the field much this year as is? Because, it seems to me that Kelsay is making too much money to be benched - although I would just get rid of him. That brings me back to this: if Merriman is healthy, then our OLB spots are not as bad as our ILB spots. Now, Poz is o.k., and I think we should try ot resign him at a reasonable cost - but, doesn't it seem like he'd want more than Kelsay, since he's been a better player? That would mean he'd be making at least 6 million a year. That, to me, seems outrageous. Something to be hopeful about: Danny Batten was supposed to have a quicker step off the line than even Maybin, I think, and is as highly regarded as Moats, at least coming in last year. So, if he pans out at ILB, that would be a really nice break for us. I love the idea of these LB's coming into a nice, solid group over the next few years - Moats, Batten, Coleman. I hope.

Dareus, I think, is the safest D-lineman to pick. Of Bowers, Fairley, Dareus, Quinn, I think the only sure pick is Dareus. Fairley will be good, if not great -but, with all the hype he's been getting, if he isn't a monster pro-bowl force then he'll be a disappointment. Bowers and Quinn could be terrific, could tear it up, but, there are concerns with each, depending on where they land, if they'll be able to duplicate the success they had in college - much the same concerns people had with Maybin. But, Dareus has been doing it all along, on a pro-style team, and even when he's been down, or off, he's still pretty good. If we get Dareus we'll be getting a lock down player for as long as he's here. The question is, what type of defense do our coaches see us playing? That, and if Bowers is as great as they say, or Quinn, for that matter - if one of those guys is actually capable of being a 3-4 end, like Bruce was - or, Quinn being a 12+ sack a year OLBer, then we would be good to get one of them, too, as Dareus is similar is size and style to Williams. Either way, the experts say - and it surely appears to be true - that this draft is heavy on defensive front seven talent. I think we should consider ourselves lucky and get as many of these talents as possible, and look to F.A. to fix what we don't get in the draft. I'd hate to see us pass over defensive talent just to add to the offense.

Principally, it is very different whether we are drafting for a 3-4 or a 4-3, and it confuses me when our Coach talks of running a bit of both. Some teams can do that, but I believe they do it successfully because they have a mammoth who can occupy two O-linemen in the center; a true NT who can play alongside another DT in a 4-3, if need be. I thought Troupe was going to be that guy for us, but he didn't end up that good - although he can still grow. So, I say if we don't have the big NT and we're still running the 3-4, then we need excellent ILB's who can stuff the run. We also need another OLB - which, I believe, will leave Kelsay as a back-up? A what? Six million a year backup? Or - our braintrust might say that his salary is too high to merit the bench, and then leave him out there on account of it. Let's hope not. I'd like to know what our LB's would if we did run a 4-3. I question the Dareus pick if we're running a 3-4, too, because he would be similar to Williams, and would leave us still lacking the extra large NT... As for our D-line being pretty solid when healthy as it is now - I agree, especially if Carrington comes along faster. But, we do need more pressure on the opposition's QB - and if we could get a 3-4 end who could (like Bruce of old) penetrate on his own, then it would do us wonders. It depends on who leaves via F.A. in our secondary as to whether or not we need more there, too. It's almost sickening to think we might draft Peterson when it seems like we've been drafting CB's for a decade. I, personally, would rather us sure up our front seven - I think with the correct combination of players we could have an excellent front seven, one of the best in the league, and young, with maybe only 3 additions - but, they'd have to be the right combination. Offense is easier this year. RT is necessary, but, I'd like to see Clabo from Atlanta - he looked perfect for us. A TE would be nice, in the mold of Finnegan in Green Bay. Here's my overall: I'd trade down a little and with the top 3 picks make it OLB, DT, ILB Then, in the 3rd - 4th rounds I'd grab a QB, TE, and another LB After that it'd be BPA I think we can address the O-line in F.A., and probably get a LB there, too. So, once again, if our Front Office is planning on getting, say, Harris, Woodley, and Clabo in F.A., then our draft needs would change, and getting Peterson at #3 would make a lot of sense. I believe, if our Front Office is serious about getting as good as they can get as soon as they can get there, then they have the opportunity this offseason to add a lot of the missing pieces.