Kelly the Dog

That's precisely my reasoning though: Hock or Fant, etc. - Cook - Kroft = Wow Hock of Fant, etc - Kroft - Croom = Pretty damn good #2-3 pick - Cook - Kroft = Pretty damn good and maybe wow. #2-3 pick - Kroft - Croom = Pretty damn iffy and maybe good #4-5 pick - Cook - Kroft = Still pretty decent #4-5 pick - Kroft - Croom = Ugh

Everyone wants him?

Another thing about good blocking TEs, or guys who are sometimes considered good blocking TEs, quite a few of them are split out a large portion of the plays, and are all but WRs, and aren't really blocking to the effect that an inline TE who is a good blocker will help the run game. And even if this TE is a good blocker for the run plays while split out, the defense is likely to have one more LB or S in there if he is in there and split wide, which is a harder block than a CB. There are not a lot of dual threat TEs in the league. Cook would be a nice little weapon to add to our revamped passing game. Kroft is average and Croom is not good.

I didn't imply he was an Academic All-American. I agree he just may not be a process guy.

And also why there is only a handful that can do both at a high level.

We have seen Cook for years. He's almost always been an underachiever. I don't think he is in the top 10 TEs or anything, but we have like the top 39th and the top 87th. He would make a lousy group into a decent group. Team him with Kroft and a talented rook and suddenly we may have a good room. Right now we are at the very bottom of the league still.

Because when he is having back problems he is not a great or very willing blocker, which is a lot of the time. Kelce is a decent blocker. He's quite good for a great receiving TE but that doesn't mean he's any Lee Smith.

It's great to have but there are so few of them, like none, except Gronk when he wants to be and is healthy, which ain't often.

When he wants to be, yes, he is very good, and when he is available. So half the time he is a good blocker.

Let me think about that no.

That may be why no one has given him a big contract, and neither would I, but I believe we are past that point now. So he can be had for a reasonable deal, and we have Kroft as the willing blocker and dual threat. Cook, Kroft and Hock would be fantastic. And there would be room for them.

He hasn't signed yet so I doubt he is going to get serious money. I know he is older but I am thinking just a 2-3 year deal. He is a solid player who can open up the field for the WR and RBs. Kroft is a solid #2 and weak #1. Croom is average at best. A trio of Cook, Kroft and a 3-4 round draft pick with a lot of potential seems very good to me, and if they don't get a TE in the first four rounds we still have Croom as the #3. We have a lot of money left and not a lot of guys to spend it on barring a big trade. Cook and Kroft together, along with our two speed guys, Brown and Foster, on the outside, plus Beasley, makes for a lot of possibilities and interchangeable parts in what Daboll likes to do.

Yep. We started the offseason with a huge number of holes to fill and open roster spots. The signing of these 9-10 FA if you count Long and Kevin Johnson, drops that roster spot opening number dramatically. I think that Beane would love to trade down in the first and then trade back up maybe twice, using the extra picks, and maybe only 4-5 of the rookies make the final day roster. I would look to do that if I were him.

It's surely something to monitor, and certainly something the Bills seriously checked out with doctors prior to giving him an 11m a year contract that made him the highest paid C. Another way to look at it is that he has had one in three years. I believe he had two his rookie season. While four is a lot any way you look at it, and again, a cause for concern, if Morse got the first two in his last year in college, and had only one in his three years in the NFL, teams and fans wouldn't seem to have the same worry. Obviously, it is something the Bills discussed at length and came to the conclusion it wasn't a disqualifier. If he gets one this year, however, then there is reason for deep concern.

The interesting thing to me on those pages, because it led credence to my suspicions, was that Antonio Brown demanded to be the top paid WR in football before the trade was completed. Despite all of the dismissals, I still believe that the Bills and Beane agreed to compensation and the trade for Brown, but that Brown would not agree to go unless he got his contract extension wish. Beane and the Bills were not willing to pay the 19m a season 4-5-6 years from now that the Raiders did, and that is why the deal fell through.

I don't really trust NFL GM's public quotes about players, especially their ex-players, in general, and John Elway's in particular. Still interesting stuff and worthy to read though. Thx.

Is that more of what one might consider a Donte stall worth or a John stall worth?

He looks like he would be a solid get. While there is the adage of never having enough good DL, this signing would likely end the idea of Oliver. They are keeping Star. They are very likely keeping Harry and Phillips. And they are definitely keeping Philon if he is signed. Sure, it's possible they would release Phillips on last cuts but I doubt they keep 5 DTs. I would like the signing and then go get an LT in round one.

Plus, his grandmother played lacrosse at Yale.

Agreed. And with that combination a big play TE makes this offense, Josh and Shady quite dangerous.

PFF rankings should be taken with a quarry of salt.

I see this guy like I see Edmunds. Freakish athlete. Would like if not love the pick. But I don't see him taking the league by storm or being all that great as a rookie. I think any big smart OG or C will smother him a lot early in his career despite the freakish athleticism. I also don't think the Donald comparisons are smart. Donald is a total freak of nature in ways that Russell Wilson is a freak of nature. There isn't anyone like him and I don't think Oliver will be like him.

To be a solid team, as of right now, we need a solid if not stud OL, DL, TE, and LB. We have a top pick and still 30m in cash. I think Beane is looking for a big trade. I don't think you can count on any #2 pick to start and perform well immediately although some do. One or more of those four guys may be here before the draft. I'd love a trade down to 15 or so and take Hock, then try to package and move up to late first for another top prospect. I would be happy with Oliver or Jonah though. Hock does a lot of things. He helps in pass and run game. He helps Kroft be more valuable. He helps Brown and Foster stretch the field. A good TE in this offense combined with what we have now could make Josh very dangerous. Kroft is not that guy. I still wouldn't mind adding Cook.

This really sucks because I love Fitzy even though he isn't very good. For the smartest guy in the league he sure throws the most dumb passes. Mostly because I think that his head writes checks his arm cannot cash. But now I have to root for him to fail before he eventually does. I assume, like others, that he will play well at first, they will win a few games, and when he fails their top pick will come in and play the last 9-10 games or so.

Does he have a son?