BuffaloRush

Almost all of that promotion (with the exception on Lamar) comes from the sports agency they sign with. They are trying to brand them early to introduce them to the public.... but more importantly introduce them to advertisers early for potential marketing deals in the NFL. I’m guessing this was probably done in the past but we just have a chance to see it.

I saw Reggie briefly in a few games and against the Bills earlier this season. I think he is exactly what he was projected to be coming out of college. Very solid in run support and average at best against the pass. With that being said, I don’t see him ever becoming a “star” given how often teams pass now. Which probably means he’s a 2 or 3 down player, at a time when Likebackers are getting faster and more athletic. I do think that the Bills could have gotten more for him than the 2018 4th rounder. Theories like this are just plain silly. He did want to gut the roster and build a team in his and McDermott’s image. But it had nothing to do with spiting Doug Whaley. Two different approaches to building a team both in the front office and at GM

Yeah but just because you turn down the Pro Bowl doesn’t mean you lose the designation. As far as your point, name recognition does certainly help, but as you’ll see from this year’s Pro Bowl most of the players on the list deserved the honor

I can answer that one easy.... The Bills have had 2 Pro Players in 3 Decades. The only player relevant to this discussion is Terrance McGee and like most Pro Bowl players, he deserved a spot that season.

It won't happen. Nothing that Brandon has said publicly would indicate that he wants a QB like Jackson. I think they are more inclined to draft Manson Rudolph at 21.

Ok you wanted it. You got it. Here are the Bills GM's percentage of drafting Pro Bowl talent in Rounds 1-3 General Manager Years as GM # of Drafts # of Pro Bowl Players Drafted Total Picks Rate of Success Players Marv Levy 2006-2007 2 3 6 50% Poz, Lynch, Whitner Bill Polian 1986-1991 5 6 17 35.3% Thomas, Wolford, Odomes, Conlan, Jones Tom Donahue 2001-2005 4 5 17 29.4% Clements, Schobel, Henry, McGahee Russ Brandon 2008-2009 2 2 7 28.5% Wood, Byrd John Butler 1992-2000 9 5 27 18.5% Winfield, Cowart, Wiley, Moulds,Brown Buddy Nix 2010-2013 4 2 13 15.3% Gilmore, Dareus Doug Whaley 2014-2016 3 0 20 0.0% - #1 on the list again. Damn I was good in the draft. Never should have re-tired Takeaways: Marv Levy had a 50% accuracy rate of drafting Pro Bowl players, but none of the 3 he drafted made the Pro Bowl with the Bills Polian fared well drafting in rounds 1-3, the additional picks in the longer drafts seemed to hurt his overall percentage. Buddy Nix and Doug Whaley struggled with hitting on high draft picks. The overall success rate of a pick in Rounds 1-3 is closer to a 25% chance of developing into a Pro Bowl talent

Last month he said he wouldn’t trade out of that “premium” picks

Again though does it really matter? what’s the difference between a Pro Bowl DE and Pro Bowl S? Outside of maybe FB or P, a successful pick is a successful pick. I can tell you without even looking that no Buffalo GM on that list has ever drafted a Pro Bowl QB. Really that’s the only position that matters Also none of the Buffalo GM on that list have drafted a Pro Bowl P, K, or FB. So your point means nothing to the group of Buffalo GM’s. I think it’s clear what it mean. The draft is a crap shoot. The food GM’s hit about 10% of the time. The crappy GM’s are in the single digits....or lower

Some but take a look at this year’s 1st and 2nd team Pro Bowl players that were announced in-season. Just about all of the names deserved to be there. There’s always a few veteran lineman who get in because of their name value, but they already have developed a reputations for being one of the best in the past. Yes there will always be “Mike Tolberts” but for the most part being named to a Pro Bowl is still valued and rightfully so.

I don’t think that happens. Teams know the Bills have more picks and are desperate to make a deal, so they’ll demand more. Still it would be great come away with a QB and MLB Alf the future in this draft

It’s 100% objective and quantifiable. Those haters just are arguing because I’m the one who started the thread

I understand what you are saying but it’s all relative. 2013 was regarded as a very poor draft class. The 2nd best QB in 2013 is nowhere near as valueable as the 2nd best QB. Also what team team do you know of that traded down to get their franchise QB? It’s usually the other way and that probably speaks to the success of the EJ selection Thats a stiff sentence is there ever was one. I agree that that the actual Pro Bowl game is a joke but it’s still an honor to be named, and the majority (again the majority...not al) of players get in because they are the top at their position in the conference. I will do that Rounds 1-3 coming very soon

But remember the Pro Bowl means nothing to some of the scholars at TBD

Well what exactly do you want to know? The percentage of drafting Pro Bowl players in Round 1? Or Rounds 1-3? I can definitely do this Yet many will defend his selections as good draft picks because of “longetivity.” LOL

He has a job because he’s good at selling tickets. At least for the Bills. It sounds like Russ is far removed from Football Operations and that’s a good thing

Trash thread? You’re logic certainly far from flawed. Anyone who argues that drafting a failed QB that was a 3rd round projection in the 1st round was a success because the team picked up an additional first is out of their mind. This was my point exactly. More times than not the majority of players named to the Pro Bowl deserve the designation. That’s why it’s not a joke like some in this thread have stated. Alternates really shouldn't count IMO.

So you are arguing bag drafting EJ Manuel as a 1st round draft pick was a good selection? Come on man. He was ranked as a prospect in the 3rd or 4th round. In my opinion, that’s not how you evaluate the success of a selection Sorry but in my opinion, your “longetivity” argument is irrelevant. I guess that Steve DeBerg is a Hall of Fame QB in your book. On his HOF it will read “gainfully employed for 21 seasons.” In certain situations your longetivity argument can be a good indicator, but there’s far too much context within the years played in the league. To say that a player who plays 5+ years in the NFL alone should be considered a success is laughable. I don’t agree that. a QB drafted in mid-first round is successful if they are a career backup. What you did highlight is why it is so hard to “hit” in the NFL draft on players. Injuries, scheme, and a number of different contribute to how successful players are in the NFL.

He also drafted 2 more Pro Bowl players as GM than Doug Whaley did ?????

So by definition EJ Manual is a good draft pick as a first round pick? No, I can’t get behind that Prescott

Longevity on its own does not define success. There’s many examples of players who have hung around in the league as backups. It doesn’t make them good picks. If your first round OT end up as a career backup for 7 seasons how does that it make it a successful pick? But again it goes back to it being impossible to define what constitutes a “successful” draft pick.

And staying in the league as a 3rd string prospect after 5 years does? That makes no sense

Being named to the 1st or 2nd Team Pro Biwl is not a joke. Pro Bowl alternates can be. The Pro Bow game itself is a joke. If the designation is such a joke, then why are Pro Bowl appearnces counted? Why are players getting bonus and contract extensions for making the Pro Bowl? It’s still considered an honor in the NFL Because that a hollow stat that really doesn’t mean anything. How long was Todd Collins in the NFL as a 3rd string QB? That’s hardly an indicator of a successful draft pick.

I can’t see be idea described in the article as being successful. But I spelled out exactly why as above. I would agree that their best chance is start a Bills-focused podcast. Ditch the live audience from McFadden’s idea.

Ok the sense I got the sense that you were taking a shot at me. And yes the data is correct

Yeah I know.... it’s just that night games in general are a really awesome atmosphere in Buffalo