richNjoisy

The age-old problem with a trade is finding the right partner. Ideally, the Bills would like to trade down only 3-6 slots to assure themselves of one of the top 1-3 WR's. A trade down from pick 11 to, say pick 16 is worth about a 3rd. To pick 18 is a 3rd and 4th. If someone dangles a decent player too at a desired position (CB or WR), then the pick charge can be lowered. Of course, there would then be the issue of cap hit(s) etc for each team. I, too, would like the see the Bills trade down since the top WR's are rated to go starting around pick 15. Top CB's, on the other hand, should start going around picks 6-8. At pick 11, we are probably looking at, at best, the 3rd best CB. I see no reason to trade up this year in round 1 unless the top CB is knocking their socks off. Will Malcolm Kelly ever run a 40? Without one, I can't see the Bills risking drafting him at pick 11. -RnJ

You are really oversimplifying his response - to your own detriment since it is upsetting you. Marv did not "shout" anything close to that. What he did say is that the answer to the question is not a simple "yes" or "no" which means exactly that. Thus, IF the Bills were to give up their 1st this year then a number of things have to happen - not only a pre agreement on an acceptable deal with Turner - but also players of interest for the Bils not on the draftboard at pick 12 and players of interest ON the draftboard for the Chargers. Plus, there will undoubtedly be other compensation to the Bills (such as the Chargers 1st or the chargers 2nd etc etc)/ The list is long of possibilities. Informing the media of this would simply help other potential trade partners (Tennesee). Therefore, it would be FOOLISH for Marv to answer the question. relax, man. Marv is a pretty savvy guy. and his 1st draft was , arguably, one of the best in Bills history.

Here's a link I found: http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/sto...19/daily19.html

Here is how Rick Gosselin's 2006 mock draft looked - he seems to be one of the most accurate guys out there: http://forum.signonsandiego.com/archive/in...hp/t-60251.html Now, here is his latest 2007 mock: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ft.2dc3375.html

I have been following this a bit over theyear's and one guy DOES seem to get it better than the others. Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning Times. He whipped Mel again last year. Here's a report from the Pittsburgh tribune (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_450235.html): Mel Kiper Jr. might be the self-proclaimed guru of the NFL draft, but he has nothing on Rick Gosselin and Clark Judge. Gosselin, of the Dallas Morning News, and Judge, of CBS Sportsline.com, easily outscored Kiper in mock draft predictions for the first round of last Saturday's draft. Gosselin and Judge had the highest scores among national prognosticators, according to an informal study conducted this week by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Credit was given if the expert had the player going to the correct NFL team -- even if that team's draft slot changed because of a trade. Gosselin correctly identified 15 of the 32 first-round selections, including nine of the first 10. He even predicted that Santonio Holmes would fall into the Steelers' lap, although Gosselin didn't take into account that the Steelers would trade up to the 25th pick in order to get the Ohio State wide receiver. Judge was next with 13 correct submissions. He hit six of his first seven picks and nine of the top 13. However, he erred when he had the Steelers picking Miami wide receiver Sinorice Moss with the final pick of the round. Kiper? He had only seven picks identified, although to be fair his mock draft was submitted two days before the Houston Texans decided to make North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams the No. 1 overall selection. And Kiper did have USC quarterback Matt Leinart falling to Arizona with the 10th pick. Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline.com ranked third on our list with 10 correct predictions in his mock draft. Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated should be awarded an asterisk next to his score of eight. Dr. Z admittedly was at a disadvantage because he had to submit his picks to the magazine a week before the newspaper/online pickers made their selections. Being affiliated with the league apparently didn't result in NFL.com experts Vic Carucci and Pat Kirwan acquiring too much inside information. Carucci had just five correct picks, misfiring on 26 of his final 28 picks. Kirwan had only four right after whiffing on his first 18 selections. It also was a long day in the war room for Tribune-Review columnist Mike Prisuta, who correctly identified just five of the 32 selections in his mock draft. ****************************** Here's the link to Gosselin's latest mock - he has us taking Lynch: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ft.2dc3375.html

In my field (meteorology) one tool used in a forecast is "persistence" - if it's 2 degrees above normal today it will be 2 degrees above normal tomorrow (for example) But, quite obviously, it is only one bit of information used otherwise this would be an easy business. These so-called football "experts" seem unable to look beyond last year's records and/or their personal biases (Miami and Dallas always seem to get extra weighting) I can guarantee you , the Bills will not END UP having faced the second hardest schedule. Going in, based on last year's records, it is the 2nd hardest. That is not the end all. One reason is...SURPRISE!.... teams improve or degrade from year to year. Every time the Bills beat a team from last year's "elite", then the number swing both ways (our strength of schedule decreases while our opponent's increases). Simply put, use the schedule from last year as one means of predicting a team's final record but one must also consider where each team is heading. Not to mention how injuries will come into play as they always do. The Bills, regardless of what the experts say, have improved the offensive line which was already showing improvement the latter half of last year. The loss of Willis is not a big deal - he was very unimpresssive. Our run game did not degrade when A-train came in. Our defensive line is improved. JP improved markedly last year and there is every reason to expect him to continue to improve ESPECIALLY if he has more time to throw. The draft is important though - we need a new RB and a new LB. I am hoping for Willis or poluzny (sp) and Pittman -RnJ

When can season ticket owners purchase extra tickets (individual) for select games?

What he said. Yep, this is the stupidest mock I have seen so far. He may have only 1-2 picks right in the top 10

Schobel was signed to a five-year contract extension on Sept. 8, 2004 The contract was worth about $23 million, including a $6.75 million signing bonus, which locked him up through the 2009 season.

If you are posting this in reponse to the very negative comments coming from the out of town media (particularly ESPN), then I am with you. But, the jury is truly still out on a few of your points. Yes, Marv didn't overpay for Fletcher or Clements as the Redskins and 49ers did respectively. The coaching staff is clearly the best the Bils have had since Marv's days. I agree that he drafted well last year but we should assess this by watching them play for at least one more year (but, it is my expectation, that the 2006 draft will eventually be rated one fo the best in Bils history round-for-round). As to the offensive line, this is one place where the pundits are (mostly) blasting the Bills decision to pay so much to Dockery and Walker. Again, we need to see them play to see if they give JP more time to throw and open up holes for whomever is carrying the rock. I certainly am content with what Marv has done this offseason and if I have to choose whose opinion to trust (Mortenson/Kiper or Marv's), I think I will trust Marv. RichNJoisy

We all have to be careful assuming we undertsand the Levy-led draft strategy based on only one year. Yes, last year's #1 pick was considered a reach by the "experts". But proof in the pudding has shown that the selection of Whitner was a good one (at least so far). Let's see how this draft plays out - we can continue to speculate but the Bills are only showing us that they are INTERESTED in filling the RB role and that they like fast, to-the-line-of-scrimmage LB's. One can assume they are interested in CB's too but they may simply play with the cards they already have (youboty, simpson, whitner and McGee) BTW - I have finally lost all respect for mort and kiper etc. Did they watch McGahee play? Without the jets games, he positively reaked. -RnJ

Our and your bad! At a;most every tailgate, Lisa and I would take a stroll over to the pinto - hopefully in time for the "ketchup toss" I love the balling bowl "ploy": drink (what is it? whiskey?) out of the ball and then drop it keeping the holes UP. If you fail you drink again (who supplies the booze?) Goal is to get opposing fans to "play" and then get too drunk to attend the game. gotta love it.

This is reasonable - however, how high would YOU offer as the conditional? If as high as #1 - forget it - unless the condition is we win the super bowl. I'd make it a 3 and maybe 3/4 with as high as 2 on something ridiculous like 1600 + yards. But We have other posters going with John's offer of a 1st swap (McBride and apuszczalowski) I'd be willing to bet you all this will not happen. I never bet unless I am really really certain. So, I gues you know how I feel, huh?

No way The value of a RB is not a 1st rounder. Swapping with the chargers (pick 30) is more costly than trading them our 2nd round pick PLUS we will have to pay turner a ton more $$ than drafting, say, Lynch No way. The game of "chicken will be won by levy. or like they say inthe movie Wargames, "the best way to win is to not play the game" trading picks is a dubious practice at best and for a fiscally conscious team (like the Bills) it is even more unlikely. I still predict IF a trade takes place, it will be a third at the highest.

Our plan is to get the hell out of dodge for like February and March (post football season of course!)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17662270/site/newsweek/ I never have to worry about the word getting out about how great a place Buffalo is. The only people who believe me are former Buffalonians and the very very very few people who "get it" Hopefully, the recent NFL deal will mean it is more likely than not, I will have a local NFL football team in red-white and blue with Buffaloes on the helmet to cheer for when I settle in my new digs enjoy the article. -RnJ

That IS a risk but looking at the Niners needs - my guess is that they need a DE more than they need a LB. Jamaal Anderson or Gaines Adams seem to be their likely pick...depending on who is still there. Trading up is very costly this high up. Trading up out of the 2nd into the lower part of the 1st is nowhere near as costly and can be highly beneficial.

This is absolutely correct - the Tampa 2 defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_2) -- not a bad writeup -- is designed for speed and gang tackling. Fast D-linemen shoot the gaps and disrupt the play call. Meanwhile, the LB's are supposed to attack to the line of scrimmage going to the ball. So many people here are hung up on having to have a HUGE Sam Adams-type to clog the middle. I also agree with ganesh about Kyle Williams. I was AMAZED to see a rookie defensive lineman play so well. He has nothing but upside folks. What a great draft Marv had last year. Seems to me that Patrick Willis would fit in very nicely in this defense. He SHOULD be there at 12. should be.....

1st off: No way Marv's trades a 1st round pick for a RB - and a backup RB at that - on the last year of his contract. No way 2nd off: VERY low chance Marv's trades a 2nd round pick for a RB - and a backup RB at that - on the last year of his contract Maybe a third and something else. I betcha Marv is offering a 4th or a 5th.

Wait a second - I thought the patriots already won the division in 2007. At least that is what the "experts" have all but declared. Now I'm confused......

Thanks! I am cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. Can you remember the last time the Bills had an offensive line that other teams FEARED? Unless you were watching the game in utero - you had better be at least 30 years old! Maybe this will be a first for a lot of the "young" Bills fans. (young in quote since my definition of this term seems to be changing. I wonder why....) Aging in Joisy, RnJ

great post, Nanker I wish I could say that my cynicism could finally limit my amazement / shock at how worshiped belicek is and how reviled Levy is Your points about Polian are valid and once you pointed it out, the comparision between Marv's moves the past two years and Polians do come out. The recent Patriot moves have been, without question, declared as Godlike and the rest of the league might as well give the Lombardi Trophy to New England right now. And yet, this past offseason's move contradict the kind of moves New England made prior to the three SB wins. The Patsies have spent gobs of money on some good but some questionable players. They have borrowed from the future to pay for today. They have actually LIMITED their depth while increasingly their injury risks (older players). Is this the formula for success? It is unclear if the Bills overpaid for Dockery/Walker/Whittle. I highly doubt the McGahee trade was bad for Buffalo (regardless of how the "experts" have reamed the Bills for the trade - I wonder sometimes how many games the "experts" actually watch or are they just stupid?. In any event, last year the Bills played much better than the year before while facing the toughest schedule in the entire league. It is possible, JP will be determined to be the best QB drafted in 2004 (not Manning, not Rivers, and not Roethlesberger). Last year's Bills draft MAY be the best draft the Bills have had in 20 years. Again, it remains to be seen but so far it looks like it was beyond fantastic. All this makes me give Marv the benefit of the doubt - if he thinks the three OL signed are worth it, if his 2006 draft is indicative of the skills he has in evaluating rookie talent then he has my support. screw the experts. what skilll have they shown? -RnJ

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...art1/index.html purrrrrr

I don't know about you, but it is kind of hard to imagine a Bills line that opens up big holes. wow, a hole. Next, can you imagine a Bills QB going back to pass and having the time to throw that, say, Tom Brady always has? wow, time to throw. People here are SO concerned about the RB position. But all you need is someone who can hit the holes (see, "wow..." above) quickly -not to mention how a good passing game makes running easier. this all sounds good (but hard to imagine) to me

sorry for the delay Lisa and I are in! Walk my man Walk! -RichN and RevN JOISY