2003Contenders

Let's see... Bledsoe's cap hit for his signing bonus from last year alone is close to $2.2 M. The league minimum for a 10+ year veteran is $750K (only $450K counts against the cap). So, we are looking at a minimum cap hit of about $2.9M. This would have to be TD's starting point. IF the team cuts Drew, then they eat the remainder of his signing bonus -- and we're looking at a $4.3M cap hit. So, if I'm Bledsoe, knowing that the team has to pay (against the cap) that much for me NOT being there, I wouldn'st settle for anything less for me TO BE THERE. One thing to remember is that Drew is due a $1.05 M roster bonus on March 2. Since the issue of a paycut is coming up at all, if I were him, there is no way I'd wave this money and take ONLY a base salary, as that money isn't guaranteed. That is, from his perspective, why should he wave the roster bonus -- knowing that the Bills may just be waiting until after June 1 to cut him and spread his $4.3M cap hit over two years? Thus, the best deal I can imagine the Bills making would be to allow Bledsoe to keep his roster bonus -- but to ask him to drop his base salary down to the league minimum. Such a move would change his cap number to: $2.2M + $1.05M + $450K = $3.7 M.

Note that the Colts article says: "The Colts are expected to have approximately $20 million in salary cap space by the start of the league year (March 1). " That implies that there are certain, expected moves that the team could make between now and then that would free up as much as $20 M under the cap.

How about Thurman misplacing his helmet in SB XXVI?

We're not talking about a $200 jersey here. We're talking $75K.

Considering that Jack (at least once) put a gun to Tony's head and played a role in his being arrested for treason, it is interesting that Tony was the "one person" Jack knew he could trust. Still, I love Tony and literally stood up and cheered when he came to Jack's rescue. Also, after Jack made that comment about the "one person", my wife and I started trying to guess who it may have been. Chase? Palmer? My guess is that it will turn out that Jack went to bat for Tony after he got arrested and helped him get off for "treason".

Our biggest problem is the schedule -- and the division in which we play. The bridge between the Bills and Pats is vast and wide. I think we are pretty much on pace with the Jets (depending on off-season moves). I also think that the Dolphins, while still likely to be odious next year, will be improved in 2005. Note that we didn't have a particularly easy time of it in either victory that we had over them last year. Until we can win at least 4 games in our division, it is going to make it hard convincing me that we are Super Bowl bound.

My only fear is that if TD waits TOO long (i.e. right up until the draft) then the RB market may have saturated by then with a number of quality FAs -- and a reportedly deep RB class in this year's draft.

Good point, Nanker. People forget that what we did was spend a 2nd rounder (and a 5th I believe) to make THIS year's first round pick LAST year. With the sheer crap that this class (especially at QB) appears to be, major kudos to the Toms for pulling the trigger. I doubt that a QB of Loseman's quality would be there for the taking with the #20 pick. Time will tell (about both Loseman and the 2005 QBs). Now, let's assume that they stay pat THIS year... Since the DL class looks weak this year, I think you can rule out either a DT or DE (as of now) for our second round pick. The CB class looks to be the deepest -- and there sould be a quality player there for us. So I'd bank on CB... if not, then OL.

Remember, Wyche is the one who scouted him at the "Manning" workout and sold the team on drafting him, insisting he had a better workout than Eli.

Don't put too much stock in what this clown says. He's one of the "Sports Reporters" (along with Andy Poland) here in DC -- and he knows very little. Really just loves to hear himself talk.

Maybe when it's all said and Travis sees what he is REALLY worth in the market -- and comes back to the Bills with his tail between his legs.

Looking back, I think part of the gidiness about the 2002 draft was the acquisition of Drew Bledsoe -- and that the Bills managed to get him WITHOUT having to give up a draft pick THAT year. While I know that DB's time in Buffalo has been mostly bad, there is no denying that his presence in 2002 brought INSTANT credibility to the team. Without that, I doubt that we attract the likes of Takeo and Big Sam via free agency. Also, without Bledsoe, Price's value does not get inflated and we don't obtain a 1st rounder for him via the Franchise Tag. Thus, while it is arguable that the specific trade for Bledsoe was a good one, I think that the related benefits I mentioned above would have to label it as such, thereby improving TD's 2002 draft grade. And, if Mike Williams continues to improve and Josh Reed remembers what he used to do in college, we MAY actually look back on it is a rather GOOD draft.

Could it also be that the Travis Henry that the Raiders saw first hand in Week 2 -- the one who stumbled and fell tryng to punch it in from the 1 (which replays show he did anyway, but that's a different story) -- has given them ample reason to look elsewhere?

20th overall

I agreee theNose76. That actress is perfect -- and I love her husky voice. I have to say that I laughed out loud when Jack put on that ski mask prior to entering the convenience store.

Let me respond to each item one by one. - Against Jacksonville and the Jets, the defense allowed a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter This is true... But for 3+ quarters the offense had done NOTHING. The defense was understandably out of gas for that final drive. Yes, the 1985 Bears defense would have found a way to preserve the win, but no one is arguing that the Bills D is THAT elite. - The defense allowed New England to score 24 points in our first meeting, and suffered a complete collapse the second time the two teams played. Recall that Terence McGee was pressed into action for the first time in that game when Troy Vincent went out. That left just one quality starter in the secondary (Nate Clements) as Milloy was out too. Suffice to say that a QB of Tom Brady's cailber was set to have a field day under such conditions -- and giving up 24 isn't THAT bad considering such circumstances. Regarding the second game, you are right. It was a team-wide collapse against the defending Super Bowl Champs on the road in primetime against a team that seems to have our number. - The defense allowed a back-breaking nine minute drive to Pittsburgh. Prior to that drive, the time of possession for both teams was about equal. The defense gets 100% of the blame for that drive. Can't argue here... Again, this was an example of another game when NOTHING went right. Those types of days occur a few times a year, which is why NO TEAM has gone undefeated in the modern era. -- That leaves just two losses--Baltimore and Oakland--in which the defense wasn't part of the problem. Neither of those teams are exactly known for having a great offense. This defense is good enough to get by with. But it's not good enough to carry the team. I disagree about the Raiders. They were a much different team with Rich Gannon in there. In fact, the week before he had led them to 21 points on the road against the Steelers. Holding them to just 13 in Oakland was quality. As for the Ravens game, the defense can be blamed for 10 points. The other 10 game DIRECTLY from turnovers. The old rule is that if the offense can score 17 -- and not turn over the ball, a good defense will ensure a victory. If the offense could have lived up to their end of the bargain each time out, the team would have gone 13-3. 'Nuff said.

The main thing that I noticed from this weekend was that the Colts are an elite team -- while the rest of the teams that played on Saturday or Sunday are not. In fact, we stack up well against any of the other 7 teams that competed. Think about this for a minute... If the Rams beat the Falcons this week, they will be in the NFC Chamionship Game. The same Rams that we pounded just a few weeks ago...

Think Plaxico may want to play for his old OC? I'm dreaming, of course, because we could never afford him... But imagine Plaxico, Moulds, AND Evans...

With no real glaring needs, I think the success of both the Patriots and Steelers have shown us that quality depth is more important than having high dollar stars. Both of these teams got there by having a series of very strong drafts -- and often going for quantity, rather than "quality". I'd like to see TD and TM do the same, and approach this draft with an eye for improving the depth at OL, DL, WR, DB, and LB. Bottom line, we can't afford to pass up the best available player at practically any position.

The NFL has a complicated formula for figuring out compensatory picks based on each team's specific losses and acquisitions of free agents. Guys of JJ's and PW's claiber, assuming they remain starters with whatever team acquires them, could possibly net 3rd round (the maximim) compensation, provided that we don't counter the moves with similar quality starters. From where I stand, I'd rather try to work out fair deals with both of these gusy and keep them rather than hope for compensation picks in 2006.

I'm not sticking up for this sheriff, but the story does go onto to talk about a former sheriff's plot to kill one of his successors. Is it possible that this new sheriff identified these 27 individuals as being in cahoots with the former one? If so, he may have been justified in trying to get rid of certain individuals whom he felt may have been out to get him.

BTW, did you all catch Jennings on the Eric Moulds Show? If so, did you notice the hat he was wearing?

The problem is that his arm will be less a liability in the Rams' climate controlled confines on Sunday.

The main distinction I see is that Big Ben was placed in a somewhat controlled situation (good OL, run-first philosophy, and pick-me-up defense), and to his credit he hasn't hurt the team's cause. Meanwhile, Evans has played a role in not only jump-starting the Bills' offense, but he has also taken over as the team's top receiver. Not too shabby, considering the team's (over)reliance on Moulds. Thus, he not only found himself in a less favorable situation than Big Ben -- but he also had to contend with building up the respect of teammates (Drew in particular) to FORCE his own production. All in all, it is very difficult to say which one I would rather have. Considering that Evans' emergence has also served to salvage Bledsoe's season -- and ostensibly his career -- we are no longer in the dire straights at QB that I once thought that we were. Thus, I can hardly complain about how things have worked their way out.

Personally, I think that with the emerging chemistry on this team -- and especially on the OL -- Jennings has become a must-sign. Since we are in decent cap shape, TD shouldn't try to low ball him -- and should present him with a fair contract. With that said, we can't afford to overpay for him if some team throws out a ridiculous offer like the Jets and Vikings did with Winfield last year. That's why it's important that TD work out a fair deal before the season is over.