Justice

We didn't have anyone to get to the QB before the change. So what's your point?

Since the vast majority of college programs run a 43 defense, most kids are asked to switch positions in the NFL in order to play in a 34. DE's are typically converted to OLBers. In Buffalo's case, Danny Batten and Arthur Moats both played DE in college, so they already have experience there. So yeah, we are more suited to run the 43.

@tgreg The Bills just drafted Marcell Dareus last year. Maybe they saw that this kid has way more to offer as a 43 DT than an end on the 34 and that he was worth blowing up the plan for.

Just finished reading the entire thread and I would like to chime in on some of the things that were said. Switching to the 34 defense wasn't a mistake. The execution, or lack thereof, was the problem. We could have drafted much better, but we didn't. Brooks Reed and Justin Houston should have been the picks, last year, and Terrence Cody over Troup in 2010 would have been the wiser pick, as well. Those moves would have put us right on schedule to be a very good 3-4 defense. Now the Bills want to move to the 43. Two drafts were wasted on 34 personnel, but it is what it is. At least we made the right decision to switch back to a 43 and didn't waste another draft. You have to build your team around its greatest strengths, which is Kyle and Dareus. Those two can form the strongest DT combo in the NFL. We didn't have the OLBers to run a 34, so what does it hurt to switch now? Either way, we had holes to fill.

I love the fact that we're switching back to the 43, for some many reasons. The main reason is may finally take advantage of Dareus and Williams' strengths, which is rushing the passer from the middle and collapsing the line. The next reason that it's simply too hard to find guys that fit in a 34 defense. Most colleges play out of a 4-3, therefore we have more guys to choose from. Kelsay is better off as a 43 end and during passing downs we can substitute Kelsay for Merriman. Now if we can just draft Whitney Mercilus, we should have the makings of a formidable front four. With Merriman, Williams, Dareus and Mercilus on the line and Moats(on passing downs), Sheppard and Barnett at LBer, we should be able to put plenty of pressure on the quarterback making our entire defense better. I fully expect about 45 sacks, next year, if this were to go down like this. Can't wait!!!!

According to Joe B, CG will be holding a press conference at 3pm, today, to discuss changes to the coaching staff.

That's funny, I don't recall ever saying I wanted Upshaw. Whitney Mercilus is the guy I covet most.

Coples lacks explosion. I don't like him at all. I'll take Mercilus.

I'd take MW over VJ any day of the week. I realize he'll run the Bills about $6Million a year more than VJax, but it's worth it. Elite pass rushers are harder to find than receivers.

Once upon a time the Bills took a kid in the first round that had three sacks in the Senior Bowl that turned out to be a bust. His name is Erik Flowers. I wouldn't put too much stock in a one game performance.

Not necessarily. Brooks Reed, JJ Watt, Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing make Williams expendable because they're all young and they are playing at a very high level. Signing MW to a huge deal may impair their ability to re-sign some of these guys when their contracts are up.

I'd sign Lindell to a three year 7.5 million dollar deal if I were Buddy. He deserves it.

Isn't it funny how people call Fitzpatrick, Fitzgerald, all the time? Or is it just sad? They got his name right, at first, but towards the end they called him Fitzgerald. What gives?

I hope it's true! If the Bills are serious about spending money then they need to start with the pass rush. Mario Williams and Robert Mathis should do the trick!! We'd have the sickest d-line in football of this were to happen. Buddy doesn't negotiate contracts, but he should at least have some say in how much money should be spent on free agents. I've heard him say that he has told RW to calm down on spending, in the past. I don't know if he's just protecting his boss when he says stuff like that, but he is claiming responsibity for the lack of spending. If the Bills were to acquire Mario Williams, Robert Mathis, and Vincent Jackson and re-sign our own, do you think we'd have a chance at a Super Bowl next year? I do.

Sounds like some of you oppose of the re-signing of Bell. Nix insinuated as much, as well, but I believe that's just GM speak. Buddy will say what ever it takes to keep DB's price low, but you can't deny that kid has talent. Is he an injury risk? Sure, but hopefully he can finally stay healthy and live up to his potential. I, for one, would not like to see the Bills use an early pick on a tackle. We have far too many bigger needs than that.

It is what it is. We're not big spenders and this is one of the reasons why. Cash to cap doesn't work. Just saying.

I can live with Kelsay as a 43 end, as well, as long as we're strictly a 43 front team with Dareus and Kyle using their skill set to do what they do best which is penetrate and attack the opposing O-Line. If we do that then Kelsay might actually find his way to the QB more often with his looping style pass rush. Dareus and Kyle can and will collapse the interior of the offensive line and that's what they should be doing. Anything other than that and you're just wasting their talent.

That's why I have Stevie's signing bonus spread out over a three year period, for cash to cap purposes. The signing bonus, according to my plan, is more like guaranteed money rather than a large bulk of cash paid up front. I'm pretty sure my numbers are off. They're probably way off. Just having fun.

I got my salary cap figures from this site: http://nyjetscap.com/Bills/bills2012.php None of those players you mentioned count against the cap. Kelsay can't find his way to the QB. Whether it be a 34 front or 43. He's gotta go. PERIOD. $5M a year for Chandler? No way, let him go. One can dream, can't he? This would be great. It's not official, yet, but there has been talk that it will be set at $120M

If I'm the GM of the Bills and Ralph is giving me a $14.5 million budget (the Bills' remaining cap space in 2012) to sign and re-sign some free agents, this would be my plan: CLEAR CAP SPACE The very first order of business would be to dedicate ourselves to the 43 defense. Once I've done that, I can proceed to cut the fat on the roster. I'd release Mcgee($2.1M), Kelsay($3.55M), Spencer Johnson($3.5M), Dwan Edwards($3.975M), and Merriman($5.25M). That gives us another $18,375,000 in actual cap savings for a grand total of $32,875,00 in cash to cap. RE-SIGN OUR OWN I'd sign Stevie Johnson, first: 5 year $40 Million dollar deal with a signing bonus of $20m paid over three years, essentially guaranteeing a little over half his total contract in the first three years of his deal. SJ would like a contract like this because it gives him a crack at another big payday. Cap hit will be $8M. Demetrius Bell will receive a 4 year $20M deal with a $10M signing bonus paid over two years. Cap hit: $5M. Rian Lindell: 3 year $7.5M. SB: $3M. Cap Hit: $3.25M. Scott Chandler 2 year $3M. Cap Hit: $1.5M Kraig Urbik 4 years $12M. Cap Hit: $3M Chad Rhinehart 3 years $6M. Cap Hit: $2M $22,750,000 spent. $10,125,000 Balance. 2012 NFL DRAFT Last year the Bills spent about $7.5M on it's rookie class and we were picking 3rd overall in every round. I'd expect about the same this year, with wage increases, plus another $2M for street free agent pick-ups. Leaving the Bills with only $625,000 to spend on free agents. As you can see, this cash to cap method makes life extremely difficult on the Bills' front office to sign any outside free agents. If I were GM, I'd draft a DE in the first round (Mercilus) to play the 43 end spot, I'd go OLB in the second, another OLB in the 3rd, CB and WR in the 4th, OL in the 5th, another LBer in the 6th and another DE in the 7th. FREE AGENCY With only $625,000 left in cash to cap, the Bills would have to rework some deals and adjust some of my cap hit figures for the first year of these new contracts just to sign a free agent or two. My #1 priority if I'm GM is to acquire a pass rusher. I would target Robert Mathis and go after him hard. A D-Line of Mathis, Dareus, Williams, and Mercilus can be a force to be reckoned with and give the Bills the kind of pass rush that will make the rest of the defense better. If the Bills were to go with this plan we would basically field the same team as last year with the addition of a Robert Mathis type pass rusher and the 2012 draft class. If we can stay healthy, and have success in the draft the Bills should be able to fight for a playoff spot in 2012. Our schedule is favorable, as well. What do you think?

Can't pass judgment on that, now. I need to see the Bills pick up some elite free agents and have a great draft, before I can answer your question. If the Bills actually pull this off and re-sign Bell and SJ, and stay healthy than there's no reason not to think he can lead us to the playoffs.

How weird is it that Lee Evans dropped a TD that would have won the Ravens the game and a guy named Kyle Williams is responsible for San Fran's loss?

Cundiff is mostly to blame, but Evans had the win in his hands.

Lol!! Lee's drop hurt the ravens bad!!! Lol

Correct me if I'm wrong, but every NFL team must spend up to the cap by the 2013 season. If true, then we should expect the Bills to spend some of that money during this off-season. It would be stupid of them (the Bills FO) to force themselves to spend it all in one off-season while the other teams that are way under the cap are also trying to reach the league's minimum, as well. So the question is, will we spend big this off-season and on whom?