Gabe Northern

FACT: The Bills would like to trade Schobel. No one is debating that. The issue is CAN they trade him?

This is totally wrong. The Bills have decided they're not going to pay his 2010 salary and roster bonus. End of story. There's more than a 90% chance he'll get released. He might not play (slim probability) and he might get traded (probably about a 1-in-10,000 proposition because no one is going to trade for someone priced at $8 million all-in if they can sign him to a better contract once he's released). I know this may be difficult to comprehend, but the Bills really are so dysfunctional that we've reached this point.

I cited your story on this thread and others. Very important point. The question is: why did BB.com put out the statement, found here, that the team would "explore trade options" after it became clear Schobel was still interested in playing?

Exactly! This isn't bad-mouthing the Bills. It is not unreasonable as a fan to think your team is not going to end up with worst possible outcome -- outright release once training camp has started! Absolutely PLAYED.

If they did explore a trade, why did BB.com have to release the clarification about him going on reserve/retired list? The initial statement was "he won't be a Buffalo Bill in 2010." The response from him (in JW's article) was that he was still interested in playing. So the Bills immediately clarified that he was on reserve/retired and a trade attempt would be made if he decided he was going to play football in 2010.

Yeah, the Bills would love to get something for him... unfortunately when you come out and say you're not going to pay someone, everyone else realizes that they'd be better off waiting you out and signing the player after you cut him. This was BADLY mishandled. They should have had contact with teams and gauged interest first before making this announcement.

Come on. As soon as you announce you won't pay the player, why would a team interested in acquiring him send a draft pick? Especially when there's no chance they'll have to pay him $8 million?

But they ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD? All teams have to do is wait him out. The Bills will NOT pay him his $8 million. Only way to avoid that is trade or cut.

Until no one is willing to trade for him. Why give up a 6th rounder to pay a guy $8 million when you can keep the pick and sign him for $4 million after the Bills cut him?

They told him he would still be cut if he reported to camp. This is about dollar dollar bills. http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/...obel-599366.php

As proof of this: Schobel told The Associated Press in a phone interview that he learned Monday morning he would have been released even if had reported to camp. JW all over it: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/...obel-599366.php

Funny how the announcement comes just as it's clear he wants to come back. "Take as much time as you need...to decide you're not coming back and collecting on that $8 million we ain't gonna pay you."

The Bills' roster is exceptionally weak except for 2 areas: secondary and RB. The Ravens just lost Domonique Foxworth for the year. Youboty was arguably our best defensive player in the first 4 weeks of 2008. Corner has shown signs of promise as a nickel. Lankster seems to have what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Yet, one of these guys is likely to get cut. Trade Corner or Youboty for a 4th round pick that can turn into a 3rd rounder based on very high performance thresholds. A team with UFL-type depth at offensive line can't afford to cut ANY player that has a good chance of making it in the NFL.

No. They need to cut the cord. Give his reps to Arthur Moats. The odds of him turning it around are really low. Doesn't have the physique and doesn't seem to have the capacity to learn the playbook.

The fact that Maybin is not penciled in as the starter is hugely damaging to any hopes this guy will hack it in the NFL. 1. This looks a lot like Vernon Gholston, Mike Mamula, and countless other busts. While their combine performances sparked their rise up draft boards, it was Maybin's pro day that cemented his status as a top tier pick. The problem? The freakish increase in muscle mass between the combine and the pro day was highly unusual and likely the result of juicing. That workout was so critical to him because from the pictures we've seen, the borderline shock from people who've seen him in person, and the 30 inch waist all point to a guy who didn't have an NFL physique. 2. He doesn't seem to know what the hell he's doing. Chris Brown -- Bills emissary to the public -- says he lacks "a firm grasp of the scheme." Last year, Maybin didn't get snaps at OLB despite the injuries we experienced. They actually moved Bryan Scott to OLB instead of Maybin. This was a clear sign that they didn't trust him (Perry said as much). The "one year wonder" has only performed in one scheme: running around slow Big 10 tackles for 10 Saturdays in the fall of 2008. 3. Cut the cord. Move Arthur Moats to weak OLB. Give him a chance to be the pass rusher we need there. He's James Harrison. I know, here's where everyone goes crazy, saying you can't judge him after one year, how Bruce Smith had a rough rookie year, etc. You can sit down and brainstorm 10 reasons why he could turn out to be a great player, but it's not what's probable at this point. Look at the guy. Listen to what's said about his ability to pick up schemes. Be honest about what's most probable. History shows that guys who don't look like they can cut it in the NFL generally can't.

Much less.

You are including lots of 4-3 DTs who play a completely different position. Totally unfair. The 3-4 "1" techniques on that list are gigantic fat people.

At the post-draft press conference Modrak said that Troup's lower body suggests that he could easily put on significant weight. They drafted him with the expectation that he won't play anywhere near 314. Of course, my money's on Lonnie Harvey making the team and being active.

People love the Bills and hate that aching feeling in their gut when the Bills lose and suck consistently. Having no choice but to continue watching and supporting the team, they chose to pin the blame for that aching feeling on one person. That one person -- rather than the organization or team itself -- is responsible for their heartache. He has wronged these fans on a personal level and must be jettisoned from the roster. No surprise that some of the posters with the most unrealistic expectations for this team are also those who will accept nothing other than "Trent sucks and must go" when the topic of QB comes up.

The guy is going to get his chance this year. It will put this question to rest, just as JP's 2007 season was his make-or-break year. You could be right about him, but I cannot hold him accountable for 2009. Some QBs can succeed in any circumstance, but they're few and far between. All we know is that Trent is not one of those guys.

More of the Shanny turned down more money from Ralph nonsense, eh? Sure. I bet Shanny and his agent had no role in conjuring that $10 m figure. Also didn't hurt Russ' efforts to sell tickets to this st show to have people think Ralph was willing to write that kind of check. Don't people read JW? Remember his interview where Ralph basically answers "never heard of him" to questions about Shanny? This guy was never close to seriously considering anything close to the actual contract Shanny got from the Skins let alone something much greater than that.

My point is that the concussion explanation for his troubles doesn't make sense. Arguably his best game came after he returned from concussion.

What about the Chargers game after the bye where he went 22 of 28 and was ruthlessly efficient?

He was super talented, that's why he was an 11 overall selection. "Developed" means he improved from that already lofty status.

just to be clear: Lee Evans brought him up, not me. My opinion is that it was crazy to trade him without a legit Plan B in place. Not sure if that's what Lee meant or if he was just opposed to it entirely.