GA BILLS FAN

Right, as well as that rule that said the Bills could only draft TWO QB's in 1st and 2nd rounds over the past 19 years. I think the Bills think franchise QB's just appear magically.

How many 1st or 2nd round picks have the Bills used on a QB in the past 10 years ? --- ONE. That's not trying, that's giving up. I want them to make the most important position in the NFL a freaking priority and stop this nonsense of trading away 1st round picks for a WR. We need a QB. I know it's not easy, but come on, ONE TIME in a decade of drafts we use our 1st or 2nd round pick on a QB and we all scratch our collective a$$es and wonder why we don't make the playoffs. Come on, wake up, it's all about the QB !!

If people think that Sammy made a 1-6 team a 4-3 team this year, it sure isn't saying much for the rest of the roster. The key is the QB, until we solve that position the ceiling for this team is no better than 7-9, 8-8 or 9-7. This organization needs to focus on the QB position above all else. Get a franchise QB and then build the rest of the roster. I'd much rather be sitting at 1-6 with Zach Martin at guard and starring at the prospect of picking Mariotta in the 2015 draft than finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs for the 15th straight year.

Yep, and don't get me wrong, if I'm Whaley I want to say the same thing or worse, I just think he needs to show more restraint.

BTW, I didn't like Whaley's passive aggressive comment about if we get a #1 receiver compensation. Whaley needs bite his tongue. I'm sure he was pissed after MW's agent s**t all over him for deactivating his client, but, in the end, those comments do not serve the Bills best interests.

I get those that want to defend Watkins the player. But, liking Sammy as a player doesn't mean you have to like the trade. If you spend 2 1's and a 4 to get a WR and you don't use him or don't have the QB that can use him or the OC that can use him, than the trade SUCKS, plain and simple. To me, it's too early to suggest whether Watkins is boom or bust, however, it's not too early to figure out that the trade was made for the wrong reasons with the wrong assumptions.

True (we think). This latest deactivation might have something to do with an off the field issue, after all, as irrelevant as he's been in the offense, he's still better than several players who were active.

To level set expectations, I'd be SHOCKED if Bills were able to get anything but a 5th round or lower pick for him. SHOCKED ! After all, he's shown NOTHING as long as he's been here and the Bills only traded a 6th to get him in the first place.

I think Mike Williams' wanting a trade is just another symptom of a failed offensive scheme and lack of franchise QB. If you are a top notch WR, tell me why you would want to be a part of this offense ? Now, Mike Williams is taking it to an extreme, but don't you think Watkins is as frustrated ? All WR's want to play for teams with franchise QB's, because they make them better. What MW is starring at is a dismal season statistically, probably less than 30 catches and getting waived and losing the rest of his big contract -- if he goes to a team like the Chargers or Steelers or Colts or Patriots with a true franchise QB throwing him the ball, he could easily catch 80+ balls and score 10+ TD's Mike's looking out for Mike --- we can fault him, but what he's doing is very rational

I didn't have an issue with the Bills drafting EJ -- my issue is that over the last 7 drafts, the Bills had 33 picks in the 4th round or higher and the ONLY QB they drafted was EJ --- to me, if you don't have a franchise QB in a sport that requires one to succeed, you invest a whole lot more -- to me that's an organizational failing, not just a Nix failing

The big notable difference between the two scenarios (assuming Bills make playoffs), the Bills don't have a franchise QB and it's very rare to win the ultimate prize (the SUPERBOWL) without one. I suspect the Pegulas understand that and will put the organizational focus where it belongs, getting a franchise QB.

The issue with the Watkins trade is that it actually was all about the QB, not the WR ! You don't get the expensive toy until you have a QB. If 1/2 of what OCinBuffalo posted is accurate, it proves that point. Why go out and spend a couple 1's to get a potentially great WR and not have a QB that can throw him the ball ? We saw that EJ couldn't, not it looks like Orton can't. And don't tell me it's Hackett, QB's have reads and progressions, there were a lot of times rton actually had time and still didn't pull the trigger. So, where are we ? We have a struggling O Line, a mediocre QB, potentially very good or great WR's/RB's and a strong defense (albeit one that struggled in the 2nd half) --- translation: 7-9, 8-8 or if we are lucky 9-7 !! Not good enough to end playoff drought and too good to land a legit 2nd round QB prospect at, what the 48th overall pick !! That's why I don't do the Sammy trade -- I do EVERYTHING, yes, EVERYTHING to get the franchise QB FIRST and then I build, not the other way around.

The Pegulas are taking the next logical step in a process that they've managed flawlessly from the start. They were the model bidders, keeping their mouths shut and respecting the NDA, the Wilson's, the NFL and the trust. Now, they are doing exactly what they should be doing and I expected them to do. Hire a couple outsiders to come in and help them evaluate the entire organization, it's processes, roles/responsibilities and, most importantly competence. I fully expect the Pegulas to identify areas where the Bills under invested and areas where there is dysfunction and try their best to correct both of them. This is where deep pockets and spending money is an advantage, they will spend what I takes to fix these issues to the best of their abilities. Will it be perfect, no organization is perfect, but, I'm confident it will be an improvement. This is an important step in establishing a first class franchise.

This might be the most ridiculous post I've ever read. I have to admit, it did make me laugh though.

I'm not a Sully fan, most of the time I find him to be too negative too quickly, unfortunately, he's usually been proven right especially over the past decade. However, his question at the presser was legitimate and was asked in a respectful way, he didn't press the issue with a follow up and I'm sure he wasn't expecting some great revelation by TP. I was surprised that TP said he'd never met Ralph and i was also a bit disappointed we didn't get to hear from Kim. Other than that, what's not to love about TP, wears his emotions on his sleeves and has his heart in the right place. I know he's a very competitive person and wants nothing more than to win, so I trust he'll do what it takes to get this franchise on the right path.

I wasn't a fan of Schwartz being carried off the field, however, that douche Tate changed my mind ! . . . . too bad we don't play Detroit again next year, I'd love to see Tate try and put his money where his mouth is !

Maybe 2016 1st for a solid starter ?

I did say, Fitz 2.0 ;-) If Orton is better than Fitz, what an indictment of Nix/Brandon for signing Fitz to that ridiculous contract --- they could have had Orton back then for a prayer !

Orton is Fitz 2.0 He's had a large enough body of work that you know his ceiling is at the top end of average. He is not a franchise QB. He is a solid backup, meaning he can play a few games and hold his own. Barring some sort of late career aberration, Orton will be a .500 QB. Don't get me wrong, he's an upgrade vs. EJ and a backup most teams would covet (for the right price, as teams with franchise QB, are limited in cap $$ for backups) If the goal is to WIN the Super Bowl, Buffalo needs to keep looking aggressively (i.e. high draft picks) for their true franchise QB, you can't WIN a Super Bowl without one !!!

What a great day for Buffalo !!

Let me ask the pro-Brandon crowd a different question, if the Pegulas fire him, would you be mad at the Pegulas or accept it as simply that they want to start fresh with their own guys ? I'm sure it wouldn't be positioned that way in the press, probably more like a mutual decision. I realize that Brandon is very polarizing on these boards, while everyone seems to love T Pegs (at least for now), so, if the new owner, whom you love, fires the CEO, whom you love, how do you feel toward the Pegulas ?

Over the past 14 seasons, the Bills have had a few years of early season success, only to be exposed in the later part of their schedule. I think it's natural as a fan to be cautious and not celebrate too early that this team is indeed playoff caliber. I think there are a couple spots that are encouraging, 1) the defense is very good, probably top 5 in league if (big if) they can stay healthy. 2) they've had success on the road against good teams, winning against Detroit and Chicago The QB situation is still troubling, color me someone who wants to see more than 1 game from Orton -- and the offensive line is a disaster. Cautious optimism

Fixed.

Wasn't intending to offend or divide by saying "pro-Russ", I was just more interested in hearing from folks that like him and want him to stay versus those that do not like him.

Not sure if you guys have noticed, but Brandon has sounded very reflective in his last few interviews, he's clearly still very emotional about Ralph being gone. He's gone as far as describing Ralph like a second father, spoke to him everyday, sometimes several times a day for years. On top of that, he's faced with a new owner who will bring in some of his own people and at a minimum Brandon would have reduced power and fewer decision rights. I wouldn't be surprised if he left the organization at the end of the season of his own volition. I think he's done a masterful job networking and establishing trust with the other owners and I still see him in the league offices with ambition to be commissioner at some point in the future. And PLEASE, I don't want to make this a LIKE or DISLIKE thread on Brandon, we all know where that goes.