Dawgg

Two points. First, the media takes Donte Whitner's word as gospel, despite his questionable play, his big mouth, and failure to live up to expectations. This is the same guy who guaranteed a playoff berth. It's also the same guy who blamed last year's Arizona loss on JP, stating that if Trent had not been injured, the Bills would have still been undefeated. For someone whose play is relatively mediocre (if that), he has an awfully big mouth. Second, the media rarely writes anything about the sub-par performance of the front office over a sustained 5-year span. While, as you rightfully pointed out, Sully has been poking stones at the franchise for years, the rest of the local media seems to focus its attentions squarely on the QB and the Head Coach. That the front office refuses to talk shouldn't preclude one from calling to attention the fact that this is arguably the worst front office in the NFL. The poor drafts, ill-advised free agent acquisitions and awful roster management speak loudly and clearly enough. In other markets, I feel like they would be roasted by the media. In Buffalo, they are seemingly insulated from criticism.

What do you expect? A Super Bowl parade? Last I checked the franchise hasn't sniffed the playoffs in over 10 years.

Not all DB's are created equal. Corners command huge salaries (and their salaries are rising at a fast pace) and thus top corners can go early in the draft. Small safeties, on the other hand, are a dime a dozen and are rarely taken in the top 10 (and for good reason).

If you think Phillips made that call, you're wrong.

Great move. Might as well bring in as much QB talent as possible.

Pretty accurate.

Donte Whitner: From top 10 pick to meaningless playoff guarantee to backup. Is he still hosting pizza parties?

True that Rico!

Just as childish as he was when someone tried to paint a realistic picture of the franchise. Along with Dean, etc...

Marv was a HOF coach. He was a horrible, beyond bad GM. He didn't understand how the draft works and reached tremendously on picks. He didn't know how to build a team, choosing to rebuild this team around Donte Whitner. And he didn't know how to choose a head coach. You were wrong about Marv then, you continue to be wrong about Marv now.

And as usual, C. Biscuit makes an absolute idiot out of himself

Haven't posted since the offseason, but thought i'd drop in and share my thoughts. 1. If it's not evident now how badly Marv Levy screwed up this franchise in his 2 short years in Buffalo, you'll never get it. Both of his first round picks (Whitner and Lynch) are being outplayed by undrafted free agents. Another first round pick (McCargo) has secured himself a spot in the Erik Flowers Hall of Shame. Marv's expensive efforts to fix the offensive line were lauded when Dockery and Walker came to town. 3 years and $28M later, they are no longer on this squad. Marv's choice of head coach... we all know how that one went. 2. Speaking of the head coach... It's a cycle that repeats itself every 3 years in Buffalo where everyone calls for the coach's head under the guise that a new coach will suddenly change things for the better. Jauron is awful, there's no doubt, but there is absolutely no head coach that can win with this team. This team was built poorly from top to bottom, has no depth, and the talent level is abysmal across the board, except for maybe WR and CB. Firing Jauron is a temporary fix. Cleaning house in the front office is what is truly needed. 3. Yesterday, Donte Whitner, the Bills' prized first round pick of 2005, was standing on the sideline watching an undrafted free agent and converted wide receiver take his place. Yes, folks, Donte Whitner was benched in favor of George Wilson. The excuses for Whitner over the years have been nothing sort of amazing. Dean, Ramius, C.Biscuit and even the venerable Tim Graham have had all kinds of excuses in their back pocket ready to justify Whitner's sub-par play and lack of impact: no pass rush, his supporting cast sucks, he's a leader, he holds pizza parties in his basement, he's my friend on Facebook! Folks, the play on the field doesn't lie. Whitner is not even one of the top 3 safeties on this team and his play has been abysmal. He's had a few good days, but that certainly isn't saying much. It's unfortunate that Marv Levy reached for this player when so many blue chip players were available. The 2005 draft was one of the deepest in years. 4. Poz is just not very good. Again, why Marv traded up and overpaid to move up a few slots instead of letting David Harris fall to his lap is beyond amazing. This team needs a new middle linebacker. A few years ago, fans were ecstatic that they let London Fletcher go. Be careful what you wish for... 5. I see a lot of fans directing their anger at TO and his "body language." WTF do you expect him to do??? He's wants to win badly and he's sick and tired of the ineptitude that pervades this team. It's high time someone blew up and started letting it be known that this is not acceptable. It sure doesn't seem like anyone else on this team cares. 6. Trent Edwards has been playing awful football. I certainly thought he was the real deal at QB and now... not so much. Having said that, it's not doing him any favors that (a) the offensive line sucks and (b) he has no QB coach and a first-time offensive coordinator, who 2 years ago was a quality control coach. Could a Norv Turner-like coach get more out of him? I tend to think so, but that doesn't mean he's the long-term solution behind center. 7. Fred Jackson is awesome. He's everything that's right about the game and he showed it again yesterday. While Marv really crapped the bed as GM, signing Fred Jackson is one of his truly stellar moves. Why Fred Jackson isn't starting over Lynch is beyond me. I hope they keep him in Buffalo until he retires.

They'll give Whitner every chance to succeed... they should given his salary and draft status.

I'm sure Whitner will be moved back to strong safety... but unless he outshines Bryan Scott (which he has failed to do thus far), it's hard to imagine he'd be retained beyond his expensive rookie contract.

So let's get this straight... Whitner was moved to free safety because he's not suited for SS, the very position he was drafted for. Then we draft our free safety of the future in the second round, a player known for making plays (unlike Whitner). Bryan Scott was more effective at free safety than Whitner. I wouldn't be surprised if Whitner is let go after his expensive rookie contract expires. All depends on how Byrd pans out.

That's the truth.

After Marv's shoddy drafts, this draft is a breath of fresh air. They got value at every single selection. - Best pass rusher in the draft. - Best guard in the draft (Levitre) - A top-notch center (Wood) - Tight End with receiving skills - Durable performers from big-time, winning programs (Nic & Cary Harris, Byrd) Nice work Russ.

Most NFL people don't even bother talking about Whitner because he has little-to-no impact on a game. He does know how to market himself though

That alone shows how little credibility this article has.

Par for the course, Dean-o showing he's incapable of independent, objective thought. It doesn't matter what move the Bills make, Deano-o is first in line with effusive praise. Considering they have missed the playoffs 3 years in a row, it's pretty apparent that Marv's tenure as GM was shoddy, at best. It's also pretty apparent that most of what Dean-o said after Marv's numerous illadvised moves were wrong. When they signed Dockery, Dean-o praised the FO. Two years later, Russ Brandon had to clean up the mess. Dean-o was wrong (again). Dean-o argued that McCargo was the real deal and was worth the draft-day trade that cost the Bills valuable picks. Dean-o was wrong (again). The Bills tried to trade him for pennies on the dollar. Dean-o argued that Simpson would turn out to be a solid starter. That was hardly the case Dean-o were wrong (again). Russ Brandon had to clean up Marv's mess by drafting Byrd. Simpson has probably played his last game as a Bill. Dean-o, if it makes you feel better to get off on the words of a GM like Casserly, who himself was a disaster like Marv, feel free. Bottom line, 3 straight 7-9 seasons speak loud and clear about the job Marv did as a "talent evaluator"

I was initially upset with this pick seeing that he was a cornerback. But now that they are playing him at safety, I couldn't be happier. We need a playmaker back there and Whitner and Simpson just don't make plays.

Umm... maybe just maybe it's because their team is so stacked that they can afford to draft positions like long snapper? nah, that can't be it.

Quote from another article. After reading more about him and realizing that he's projected as a safety, I've come around on the pick. He can fill a major area of need and I think that Ko Simpson or George Wilson will not make the team this coming season.

They also could have acquired the Panthers' first round pick next year. Instead, the 49ers snapped up that deal. Picks like these are why the Bills continue to finish 7-9 / 8-8.