Florida Bills Fanatic

I think "Depends could have a market for an athletic fit version". Just sayin

Depending on who is picked in 1 through 8, it is possible that he could be the BPA. I don't think it will fall that way, but it is possible. It wouldn't be horrible but I'm hoping for better.

As much as we all like to throw rocks at Roger the dodger, the restrictions on off season workouts and practices are the result of the demands of the NFLPA. This was negotiated in lieu of benefit and monetary demands. The owners gave this and kept more cash. Can't say as I blame them. As many have pointed out, many of these restrictions are really stupid. I'm sure that as players gather for their own private offsite workouts, defensive players are catching balls, etc. I can't wait for real football to start.

You got it! BPA because the Bills need better talent in all of those areas.

I think that you nailed it. Nobody would argue that the guy has freakish athletic ability. The problem is that he has not been a dominating player but wants to get paid like one. I hope Beane sees it the same way.

I don't see any of the WR draft prospects being worthy of a selection at #9. Based on the FA receiver signings, I don't think the Bills do either. With the 11 guys they have under contract, it seems unlikely that they will draft one unless a good receiver plummets during the draft. It is looking more like d-line with or without a trade down. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm going to stock up on beer and chips and get ready to hunker down on the 25th. I can't wait to see the threads that erupt after the first picks. We'll have the whiners and the self proclaimed experts that guessed what Beane did. No matter what happens, the Bills will have a better roster at the end of the draft and we'll all have new material to write about.

Like some others on this thread, I'm sure that some of the recent FA signings won't make the 53 man roster nor will all of the draft picks. I'm sure that is part of the plan. They brought in a bunch of FA guys with active game experience to compete for a job. Their contracts can be easily dumped by the team. The result should be a better roster from top to bottom. Working with a better roster next year, this process should be easier and easier with each successive year. Keeping the CAP in a manageable position is the key to making this possible.

I don't know whether there is really a sweet spot for trading up or not. It seems to me that things like teams moving up to draft QB's or a serious run on a particular position create the opportunities to trade up or down. Nine may not be high enough to get one of the coveted QB's and it may be so high that the run on a particular position has not materialized. Some posters act as though Beane merely needs to decide to trade up or down and it will happen. It takes two teams with agreement over the price of the trade. After reading a lot about this draft class, there are about 12 guys that look to be very high quality picks. The next tier seems to be valued more than other years and may include the next 40 players. If you can get one of those top 12 and two of the next 40, you've done a good job. This would require a move up toward the end of day one or early on day two. I'm hoping for teams moving up to snag a QB. This may create a chance to move down and still get one of the players that they value but with a lower pick (plus gaining an extra day two pick).

No Jerry Butler, Reggie McKenzie, Joe Devlin, Jim Braxton, Tom Day, John Tracy, Ben Williams?

He was a good guy and a high effort guy. He was not a game changer that could justify the money that the Cheatriots paid him. Contrary to the revisionists, there were large numbers of people that were apoplectic over his loss. Even the local and national news media pushed the narrative that this was a big loss. At the time it seemed more important than it was because the Bills' roster was fairly weak. His effort had been a positive on a team that had a shortage of effort and results. I hope he does well ( just not against the Bills )and stays healthy.

Great summary! I think you nailed it in a very concise manner. I also know a person that overcame this diagnosis to lead a productive and happy life over the last 15 years.

I agree with you in that exact order of preference.

Dumb manifests itself in many ways. Many good people do a dumb thing in their life but they learn from it. To repeat dumb acts takes stupidity to a new level. His performance on the field has not been good enough to warrant putting up with his behavior. I'd pass on him.

I seriously doubt that the backers of this league have any personal liability unless they were officers of the company and committed an illegal act causing specific harm to Schmidt. As others have said, the AAF is probably an LLC where the owners are merely stockholders. If the LLC files for bankruptcy, employees (players) usually fall in line with other debt holders (and are usually at the end of the line). It is highly improbable that Schmidt will get anything. Just because an attorney agreed to file a lawsuit, it doesn't mean there is any legitimate enforceable claim. My bet is the owners of the league have more money, better lawyers, and therefore better legal protection in the existing contracts. The whole thing seems to really s*** for the players and coaches that committed a lot of effort to the league.

I agree. I think that they aren't counting on an elite edge guy falling to them. This indicates to me that they believe a DT will be the BPA for them at #9 and they will pick one.

It seems like we go through this "hand wringing" exercise every year. We all try to project what other teams above us will do and fret over the players that remain. It is good to remember that there are always unpredicted moves made by teams. Last year it was Cleveland taking a CB with pick #4 instead of B. Chubb. Some GM's who are on the hot seat will select a player strictly for need and some will have players ranked differently than the popular opinions. The over drafting of QB's helps as well. When I look at the top 25 players, we could do alright with about 12 of them at pick #9. I have confidence that Beane and company will play their hand well to get a player that they value and get some extra draft capital if they have the chance. None of these players are a sure thing. I remember being pleased with the Dareus selection and we all know how that turned out. Teams with weak rosters have a propensity to trade down in round 1 to gain picks in rounds 2 and 3. They also tend to move around on day two to fill specific holes. I don't see the Bills locked into this approach. Beane has great flexibility this year and it is going to be fun to watch. It's been a long time since Buffalo has had a GM as capable and daring as Beane.

When OJ planted his foot and turned the run up field, it was like he was shot out of a gun. He just accelerated away from everyone. Great memory!

Your mate may have some insight into the linemen's non-football activities. Just sayin'.

That's okay, I bit him first.

I heard that Frank Lewis, Eric Moulds, Jerry Butler, and Don Bebee are available.

I don't think her game score predictions are really any better or worse than many of the other so-called experts. The use of math models rely on past performances to predict the future. The weakness of this approach exists because coaches like Bellicheat vary their game plans significantly from week to week.

Later round picks have always been a crap shoot. Although I believe they will use some of the current picks to move around, I don't expect the Bills to drastically reduce the total number of players drafted. I expect them to select 5 to 7 players. I don't get too upset over the players that the team cuts. I trust that the coaches that see these players everyday at practice know who the best performers and that they will keep the best players. Too many fans get emotionally attached to a player and think the sky is falling if their guy gets the axe. Every year there seems to be some surprising veteran cuts and some surprising late round draft pick stars. It's one of the things that makes the NFL so fascinating. Good thread and good analysis.

Not an unlikely scenario but at this point who really knows?

If you are going to create some bogus reason for fans to buy a hat, it better not nauseate the prospective buyer on the way to the cash register. The design of this hat is way overdone.

What about: Larry Csonka Floyd Little LeRoy Kelly Jim Taylor OJ Anderson