RuntheDamnBall

What gives you that feeling? They have been pretty adamant about keeping their own in general since Nix has come in. I don't agree with everything Nix has done but on this promise he has pretty much delivered (one reason many still believe in him).

FOUR FREAKING PAGES IN and no one has mentioned Mike Pucillo? FOR SHAME. PUCILLO THE WORST.

I'll buy that. I'll also admit that I am intrigued by Smith in part because he proves my thesis that there is a class of players that isn't destined to succeed or fail, but whose success is entirely dependent on the right fit with coach and system. We use the term "system QB" derisively, or that Harbaugh is steroids for QBs and the like, but some players are really transformed by that connection with a system and coach that works for them (paired with the player's work ethic). Kurt Warner comes to mind. It seems like a lot of these players also fail when partnered with defense-first coaches with a weak OC.

Well, with the caveat that he ARRIVED in that playoff game against the Saints. So couldn't one argue he is getting better and better and is on the rise, and is hence a hotter commodity than Fitz? We have really seen that Alex Smith at least can reach a ceiling that is higher than anything Fitz has accomplished. And despite only a year or so of evidence, I just don't see how they are remotely equal right now.

For real? Does defense make a QB more accurate? SF's defense was ranked top-5 in 2009, when Smith put in a very "Fitz" year. These past two years he was more accurate likely in part due to Harbaugh's coaching and his offensive system. If you want to argue against Smith, argue that Fitz would excel with Harbaugh (though I don't see it) and that without Harbaugh, Smith is nothing (I think a guy doesn't necessarily lose what he's learned from a good situation).

He has been the same player he was in Buffalo - nothing more, nothing less. It's his cast and his coaches that are making a difference. Even his superior teammates and coaches cannot compensate for a guy with middling coverage skills matched up against an athletic TE or a WR with moves. I don't care if he's confident. It's just that most of us would shut up and get back to work if we got roasted in the SB instead of talking about how we're a step away from greatness. One can be quietly confident (see J. Rice, B. Sanders, J. Flacco).

Showed flashes, pulled down some very tough catches after getting hung out to dry by Fitz, but he is not a reliable target. That said, if Ruvell freaking Martin can carve out a career in this league, Jones can probably bounce around and make himself some money.

Sounds like he is finally prepared for a career in Buffalo, then.

Buffalo Bills: either getting screwed by cheaters or sucking at cheating again!

Belicheck: "THIS IS IMPORTANT, PAY ATTENTION, NUMBSKULL."

I think you are missing dude's point. Fitz's money already-earned hits the Bills no matter what if they cut him, and they will be practically forced to cut him due to the upcoming bonus. What restructuring does is potentially allow them more cap room to sign the important players, than would cutting him outright. I am not a Fitz fan either, but I see some monetary value in it. Personally, I'd rather roll the dice on cutting him earlier and washing our hands of him, but he has to know that is a threat anyway, as there are few guaranteed contracts in the NFL.

There it is. There hasn't really been a "program" to get with. Here's hoping that changes.

Fitz makes losing teams look promising, but that's about it. Can't deliver.

I guess I've just (sadly) accepted that these guys are self-centered half-grown men playing a kid's game for absurd money and I check my grown-up expectations at the door. Realistically, you need other players - not coaches - to give you that kind of instruction. Brady does it sometimes quietly, sometimes vocally. I know Belicheck sets the tone but you don't see him chewing someone out on-field that often. His is a fairly quiet and boring rage that seems to always loom beneath. People raged about the bickering Bills but I think there is far too much agreement on this team. I think if Eric Wood could stay healthy he could be a catalyst and a guy who challenges his teammates to man up, but thus far he hasn't been able to do so. Ditto Kyle Williams on the other side.

I guess we just fundamentally disagree based on the fact that what I've witnessed is that Stevie is, in the games themselves, performing at a very high level. It'd be stupid to say I don't want to see more, but until he has a QB that is really elevating his play, I can't believe that his training methods are holding him back. He might say that, but Stevie has always been the kind of guy who is unfiltered and says what's on his mind even though it might get him in trouble. I don't think that's cause for celebration, but I do think we can avoid overreaction. In other situations, as with his teammates, being candid can actually be a pretty important thing. So if he is being himself, but being challenged by the team to improve himself, I say that's a better-case scenario than, say, that of a guy like Donte Whitner whose ratio of talk to results is pretty poor. I don't love what he said but I don't see the personal results to prove that his training methods are keeping his numbers down, especially when the guy is constantly playing with injury. You mean like when he regularly beats one of the best cover corners in the league?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? We literally have no idea what conversations have transpired between OBD and these two players.

That bunch of dimwitted GMs includes those of all 32 teams, even the Seahawks, a couple of times over. I am glad to see Wilson defy the odds and challenge conventional thinking but he would have been a top-5 pick if he were 6'4". Every team held these reservations. Take height out of the equation and no team would have passed on him three times.

Did it really indicate he's satisfied, since he indicated that he is going to work harder than ever this offseason? I just don't get this obsession. I also think his numbers would be better if his QB had been able to hit the broad side of a barn from 20+ yards. The plays were there and it was not the team's #1 receiver leaving them on the field. I don't disagree that they really need to add to the WR talent on this roster, but Stevie is a player you want, and it's just no secret that WRs are generally weirder than most, personality-wise. There are the guys like Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald who more quietly produce, but CJ hasn't won much himself, yet. I don't think it's much wiser to attribute the Lions' failures to him than it is to attribute the Bills' failures to one of their finest players.

Yeah, he played like a real loser the past two seasons. You've pretty much discredited any argument you have here. His team went 13-3 last season and 8-2-1 this past year before he lost his job to injury. His team beat Super Bowl Champion QB Drew Brees and the Saints in last year's playoffs, in no small part due to a great game from Smith. But you're right, 21-5-1 sounds exactly the same as 12-20 over the past two seasons.

How would this fit into the "cash-to-cap" accounting scheme? Or is the team done with that?

I think the thing that really sucks is that this signals that the team wouldn't be making a run at Alex Smith or any other veteran upgrade on Fitz. Fitz is an OK backup but I had really hoped they would just turn the page and let him find that ideal backup job elsewhere. Hopefully they find the rookie they want and don't blow it. The real nightmare I'm having is that Marrone took the job with the thought that he might be able to fix Fitz.

How about Pat Moran? Would he run over his daughter to get one?

LOL! And when he isn't giving up runs he is getting bailed out by great defense. He'll consistently load the bases and then induce a clutch double play. Of course, probably not, given that the D'Bags have roughly 6 guys with DH bodies and range in an NL lineup.

His skill set works until his opponent figures out how to isolate and target his coverage in the passing game. That's kind of an alarming deficiency in his skill set that directly led to first downs and touchdowns for this year's Super Bowl champions. What, do they just need to give Donte safety help over the top? Oh, wait.

Some good work here. I do wonder a bit about "stars" and our definition of them, though. First, it's all built on past repertoire and not a pure indicator of future success with injuries and aging curve factored in. Second, there are players one could characterize as stars like Wes Welker, where the presence of other stars (Brady) "made" the guy into a star. As in, he might not be one on his own merits with another team. Also, having stars at positions like QB or MLB is more important than having a star CB (just in terms of how the player alters the landscape around him).