Dan

After some considerable contemplation of our draft, here's my take on the first round "reaches": Sure we all wanted O-linemen. The O line has sucked and continues to suck and will forever suck until we get high draft picks starting at most positions. However, the D-line also sucked - sucked badly. And you can't draft all players for all positions, so you have to prioritize. Furthermore although the O-line FA pickups may not be pro bowlers, they are at least an improvement and may even be "adequate". However, the D-line was still competely lacking. Hence, you take someone on the defensive side over an offensive guy. What about that reach at #8 - well, all I have to say is Coy Wire. The fact that he's been able to win a starting roster spot for years is testament to the suckiness of our DBs. Given our division rivals passing games and the new defensive scheme being installed, upgrades to the secondary were perhaps the most imperative needs on the team. Wire in the cover 2 is an unimaginable recipe for failure. Consequently, we went with a DB and a D-lineman in the first round because they were the biggest needs on our team; not the only needs, but the biggest and, perhaps, most pressing needs to any success for this team.

I'd rather be a doomed Buffalo fan than a Superbowl/Stanley Cup winning [insert winning team here] fan .

A "nit" (as I know it) refers to eggs of the common head or body louse. They are usually attached to a hair follicle and can be difficult to remove, even with a very fine comb. I would assume the reference as used here would imply that people are picking at small details.

I thought Mike Willams went to Jacksonville?

How could anyone possibly vote for Thurman at this juncture in the competition?? Inconceivable.

For me, its Thurman - hands down. He exemplified all that I'd like to see in a player. OJ was great, but before my time. So I don't really feel justified.

not yet.

I concur on your sentiment. In my opinion, removing the previous GM, head coach, and the majority of their staff is the single best thing to have come out of this off season. Everything else is just gravy at this point. I was proud of our team in the 90's - not because they won, but because of HOW they won - and lost. I'll take a team like that any day over a team like Dallas that wins multiple superbowls with crack heads and general malcontents.

Definitely one of the best, if not THE best, player interviews I've ever seen. It called them all out and said he was ready to defend Bret on national TV if he had to. Whether or not you agree with him, you've got to love this guy if he's on your team! Now that's what I call leadership.

Yep, its almost sad. That is if he headn't forced it all along. I can see him wanting to trade back in 2 years just to retire as a Bill.

Exactly. He probably thought he could go to this young team drafting Bush. And be this huge superstar with them. In the end, his contract wasn't all that big; no other teams really wanted him; now there's no Bush hype. As bad as our offense was last year, I still think we have more potential than the Texans.

I don't get it.

What I find interesting about Moulds, is when people talk about Houston becoming a good offense - no one mentions Moulds. You have to wonder if he regrets forcing the trade?

Get er done, Marv!

According to Bills web site: 5 more picks (2 in 5; 1 in 6; 2 in 7).

I'd call that a reach, that he'll turn around. I just saw an interview and he said he felt like he must have broke a mirror when he was young - that's why he's got all this bad luck. Nothing at all sounding regretful for his BS actions. But, it'd be great to see Mort pop a blood vessel on camera.

I agree. That be worth it just for the shock value. I'd totally do it. I guess that's why I'm not an NFL GM.

Exactly. Why not develop a few linemen? I've thought of this a draft to develop players. So I thought with 10 picks, we'd get players in a variety of positions - hopefully favoring the Oline, and then let them develop under the FA we've brought in. All I can think is that, the consensus at OBD is that our line problems aren't as severe as we all think. It just seems odd that the vast, vast majority of the fans and media analysts see one area of need and the coaching staff see something completely different. I understand they know our players better than anyone, but it just seems odd that there's such an apparent huge difference of opinion.

I agree. I really kinda like this philosophy. And I've always thought this would be a "build for the future" draft and not a "get players that will start and excell next year" draft. However, I was hopeful we'd be getting linemen with potential that we could develop into starters for a few years. That's my only beef. I like the players we got, I like the philosohy, I just thought we'd target a different part of the team.

Not that I remember all the mock drafts. But, I think its fairly safe to say that no one on this board, nor the "experts" in the media had our draft looking like this. So, so much for all the mocks. I suppose in a few years I'll post again and let ya know who was right. Looks like everyone was wrong about our lines, as well (myself included in this one). I was really hoping for all linemen in this draft. Apparently, our lines are fine and our secondary has been the problem for the last several years. I'm just dazed and confused.

Why not. One more DB and one more WR and I think we're good to go.

You, sir, make alot of sense. Unfortunately, the Jets, as of today, seemed to do very well.

I have to agree. That's why I'm so depressed tonight. Not really about the picks we got - these guys may be great. And I'm sure they'll fit into our team and produce. However, were there NO first day offensive linemen worth taking? I would feel so much better if we'd have taken at least one guy for the O line. I understand he may not contribute next year and all, but if anything, it at least shows that we understand the problems on this team and are willing to try and fix it. Now, maybe we'll take 3 OL guys tomorrow and then I'll change my opinion. But for now, I'm in my all to familiar Bills mode - crossing my fingers and hoping things work out. I guess I just saw us as having the 8th pick and then so many others that we'd of had at least one new guy with alot of promise on the OLine to develop y now. So, here I sit still in wait and see mode - fingers crossed on one hand; beer firmly grasped in the other. In Marv I do trust. But, for the first time this off season, I'm a little concerned.

exactly. How can you pass to streaking recievers if you're on your back? This is getting depressing.

I'm officially depressed now.