R. Rich

Bleedsoe the starter fro next year?????

*Did the season ever end? I wonder. I see a whole lot of the same issues from the season being passionately debated (seemingly non-stop) here. The tone has gotten a bit more acerbic, but the content is much the same. I took a look at Harvey's post about the "clueless" Losman fans/bashers. By the way, good post, Harv. There was one in there I found that summed up the tone of the debate quite nicely: You're onto something there, Nanker. **I've read a few different posts about what the Bills should do in free agency and the draft. I'm sure a lot of you know that I think it's important to upgrade the offensive line. That should be first and foremost. I just hope this is the year we aggressively pursue this. We haven't had a dominant OL here in Buffalo since we let Will Wolford and House Ballard go. Which brings me to another point... ***Draft a kicker with our highest draft pick??? That just doesn't make sense to me. I guess I could see it IF we were to go out and do something like: 1. Sign Tra Thomas to play LT 2. Sign a top LG prospect like Jermaine Mayberry or Marco Rivera 3. Sign a good CB like Jason Craft, Aaron Beasley, or Gary Baxter to give us a solid nickel CB to help out against multiple WR sets 4. Sign a pass rushing LB to either replace Posey or be a situational player If we still have any of these issues going into the draft, selecting a kicker first would solve nothing. After all, the 3 kickers who are arguably the best in the NFL-David Akers, Mike Vanderjagt, and Adam Vinatieri-were all UNDRAFTED!!! ****Happy birthday to Drew Blesoe. I don't think he should be our starting QB, but he is a great guy and did have some success leading our team. Happy birthday to Jim and Hunter Kelly. Jim is the best QB we've ever had and a guy whose leadership we truly miss. I hope both are well and enjoy thier day.

Barnes is okay, even though he seemed to struggle a bit at the Senior Bowl. Still, he's got good upside and I wouldn't be upset to see Buffalo take him. I'd rather have Wesley Britt, but I'm sure he'll be gone by our pick. He's the first player taken in the 2nd round in this mock. It was interesting to see Michael Boley taken after our pick. He's a terrific pass rusher and should at least be considered with the 2nd round pick if the guys they like are gone. We certainly could use a great pass rusher and I'm sure the Bills won't draft another DE, which would be like admitting they blew it with Denney and Kelsay.

No, it certainly doesn't make sense to disregard needs in the pass rush, secondary, and on the OL for the sake of another WR. If the Bills can find a steal at WR, that would be fine. But, they really need to address the OL this year. We're looking pretty good at the so-called 'skill positions' and we're not on the line. We're not that talented and certainly not very deep. I still hope we land a good free agent at either LT or LG. I would prefer to see us sign Tra Thomas at LT, then look to draft a good LG prospect in the 2nd or 3rd round. I'm also hoping we land a center to either push for the starting job or to provide quality depth. Before the Senior Bowl, I would've said a guy to look at that might be available for the Bills at WR was Fred Gibson, but he had a very good game and looks to be playing himself out of the Bills range. But, you never know.

You can forget Clayton dropping to the late 2nd, Norfan. With the way he's been producing (great week of practice before the Senior Bowl and played okay in the game), he's first round material for sure. I could see a team like Baltimore taking him if he's available and guys like Braylon Edwards and Mike Williams are long gone.

Iowa is getting better at recruiting in PA than Penn State! They were able to get 2 guys from my hometown of Erie PA and both have had stellar college careers. Bob Sanders is now with the Indianapolis Colts after an All-America career at Iowa and Jovon Johnson is currently an honorable mention All-Big 11 corner for the Hawkeyes. They also seem to do pretty well recruiting in Ohio and New Jersey as well.

Nice. I like both Boley and McCune. I've had the opportunity to watch both players this past season and I would be happy to see the Bills end up with either or both. If Gibson has as good a combine workout as he did a Senior Bowl, you can count him out as a 3rd round option. He was impressive in that game. I still like Jason Brown better than the other options at center, but if he's gone, I'd consider Junius Coston of North Carolina A&T before Mruczkowski. Here's how I'd rate them: 1. Brown 2. Chris Spencer of Mississippi 3. Ben Wilkerson of LSU 4. Coston 5. Mruczkowski I'm still not too sure of Wikerson due to his knee injury. If he's completely healed, he'd be a steal in the 3rd. Otherwise, I'd go after Brown.

There are LSU fans who are saying F*** Perrilloux as well, ever since it was discovered that he's driving around in a $50,000.00 (or so) SUV and was reportedly kicked out of one high school for behavior problems. I hope he's past all that and plays up to his potential.

Jones sounds like a real find, though he is light for a college DE. I wonder if he'll bulk up or if he'll move to LB? Maybe he'll be redshirted? I'll be watching to see what happens with him.

PSU did very well recruiting this year. PSU Recruits 2005 They were able to get Jerome Hayes' LOI today, and that was huge. This kid can play! He was a two-way star in high school (also played RB), but will probably be used at LB. With him and Sean Lee coming aboard, Penn State is getting some solid depth at LB. I like the direction they're heading. Cushing, from what I've heard, faxed his LOI to USC today around noon. We weren't even in the running (down to Miami, USC, and Boston College).

Where was Perrilloux the top recruit overall, Cajun? In the Rivals top 100, he is the 2nd QB they have listed. If you have a link to another scouting site, let me know. Also, see what you can find out about Al Jones, a DE that has committed to the Tigers.

This one is just a slight variation on my first one. I'm taking into consideration that we sign a new LT, hopefully Tra Thomas, and acquire a veteran CB to help us match up against 3-4 WR sets-preferably someone like Jason Craft or Aaron Beasley. Here's my latest mock draft for the Bills: 2nd round: Rian Wallace (LB; Temple) A very good pass rusher who may develop into a good every-down LB and push Posey for the starting position on the strong side. 3rd round: Jason Brown (C; North Carolina) Strong as a bull and technically sound. His footwork will need work (he's slow), but he's a solid prospect. 4th round: Anthony Bryant (DT; Alabama) Big guy who can be a monster run stuffer. He's not a great pass rusher, but will definitely help shut down the interior rush lanes. 5th round: Junius Coston (C; North Carolina A&T) Solid athlete. Raw, but full of potential. He has played center, guard, and tackle, so he's versatile enough to provide depth at all 3 line positions. 6th round: Karl Paymah (CB; Washington State) Big, physical corner with pretty good coverage skills. The knock on him is his speed (4.5 range), which will drop him some, but shouldn't rule him out. As a nickel/dime back, especially when not used in press man coverage, he can do well. 7th round: Rhys Lloyd (K; Minnesota) Strong leg and is clutch. What he needs is a good coach to get him focused on being a solid kicker and KEEP him focused. Any doubts that Bobby April can't accomplish this?

Some are players at positions of need (hence the large number of OL/LBs listed) while others are players I think could be available for the Bills in the draft.

Here's a few players I'll be watching closely: QB Charlie Frye RB Kay-Jay Harris RB Zach Tuiasosopo WR Craig Bragg WR Fred Gibson OL David Baas OL Wesley Britt OL Elton Brown OL Jason Brown OL Junius Coston OL Marcus Johnson OL Chris Myers DL Anthony Bryant LB Michael Boley LB Alfred Fincher LB Robert McCune LB Lance Mitchell LB Kirk Morrison LB Cornelius Wortham DB Alphonso Hodge

I'm no fan of Mack Brown, especially after the shameless lobbying crap he did this year to get into a BCS bowl. I do, however, recognize that he did a great job of getting the 'Horns stocked with talent. He probably will do enough to keep them competitive for the next few years. Now, does that mean he'll be able to get over the hump in the Red River Shootout? Time will tell, but that's where he needs to excel. People know he can recruit; now he has to show everyone he can hold his own coaching against the likes of Stoops.

BGIM, who did you have in mind in free agency as far as offensive line help? If they do sign Pat Williams, that would probably rule out guys like Walter Jones and Orlando Pace. Not that they were actual options anyway, with the kind of cash they will want-and probably get.

Your link doesn't seem to work, Astro.

Yeah it would be nice, wouldn't it? Still, I haven't been overly thrilled with the way Donahoe and company has addressed the OL talent issue. Maybe this is the offseason where they do go out and get a stud LT or LG; maybe not. If they do, it'll really get me psyched about next season, that's for sure.

If we were to pick up a 2nd round pick for Travis and used both 2nd rounders to get a stud LG AND a pass rusher like Wallace, that would be awesome. The only way I wouldn't try that (if we had 2 picks in the 2nd round) would be if the OL was addressed properly in free agency (maybe getting LT Tra Thomas of Philly and a LG like Cosey Coleman). If there's no upgrade to the line via free agency, it should be done early in the draft. Getting Wallace would be nice also. He could give us a solid pass rush and I also think he will develop into a solid every down LB.

You can use this thread for anything related to the keeper league (trade offers, entry fees for next year, etc.). So far, 8 people have paid the entry fee for next season: The Avenger (Wu Tang Financial) B-Don (Shop Wreckers; formerly justgivemedamoney) Ima90sJezus (Buffalo Backers) R. Rich (Absolut Power) BuffBills#1 (BuffBills#1) ExWNYer (Blitzing Barracudas) BigDaddy12 (Pro Bowler) soljc (Saratoga Swingers) Still waiting on email addresses on the following: KansasBillsFan (Punt Catchers) Please get back to me ASAP. I'd like to set up our online draft for late August.

Are you asking if he'll be drafted at FB or at HB? I think he'll get better consideration at FB and if so, his size and speed may move him into the 3rd or 4th round. As a HB, he'd be around in round 5. Then again, he could have a good workout and considering he's a big back with 4.55 speed, his workout could push him even higher. My guess is he'll be taken somewhere between the late 3rd to the 5th round, but that's purely a guess until we see what happens with the Senior Bowl and the combine.

I'd say go after Moats, but he'll more than likely be gone by round 5. Then again, if we were to acquire another pick in the 2nd or 3rd (if Henry is traded), maybe we could go after Moats then. I'd also look into free agents like Chester Taylor of Baltimore or Derrick Blaylock of Kansas City. Taylor won't command much in free agency, I don't believe. Blaylock would cost more, but the Chiefs also have Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson to be concerned with.

If my presence there, twice, hasn't jinxed it, nothing will.

This year, the 3rd year we've done this, I'm looking to renting some space at a park and have a picnic. This way, more people w/families can feel welcome to join us. There are some details to work out, such as cost of space, materials, etc., but hopefully I'll get that squared away soon. We've had good weather for these meetings the past two years, so doing a picnic should work out fine. More than likely, it will be held around the time of the NFL Draft, either the weekend just before or just after the draft.

More power to them. Considering the Jennings situation, we can't afford to be wrong about whoever we select at tackle. Check out my scenario; I had us going after Tra Thomas in free agency, but drafting a guy like Britt or Kaczur would be fine too.