RuntheDamnBall

Tell me this: if you're a free agent LB looking at teams, do you pick the team that held onto Jairus Byrd as your last line of defense, or the team that let him walk away for nothing?

Actually, it's much more like comparing a top-5 second baseman and a fringey #2-3 starter. Smith is no ace. But circumstances made him easier to trade. Had he been franchised, he still would have been tradeable but they may not have lined up on value. The big point is that it's easier to trade a QB who isn't franchised. Regardless, my response was to your point that "we've sucked with 'em, we can suck without 'em." (not quoting you, but the gist of it IMO.) I think that's a silly approach. You need more good players, always, in the NFL. What is different about this year vs. last? Again, it's their right. It's business. You do this in hopes of negotiating something better for both parties. The upshot of all of this is that Byrd doesn't want to be here and that the Bills are respecting that... which may be admirable in the book of some. To me it signals a compromised commitment to winning.

The Niners sucked for most of Alex Smith and Vernon Davis' tenure. Did it not make sense to keep one of them and to turn the other into a trade chip? False correlations here. This is less about the specific player and more about a team that is at a distinct disadvantage NOT using all of the advantages the system affords them. I don't understand how anyone can make it about anything else. Take a 6th rounder for him for all I care. Taking the chance on the comp pick market is rolling the dice.

The focal point of the defense isn't on an expired contract. You use the franchise tag on a player whose contract is up, that you want to keep control over. Whether you use that control to broker a trade or to maintain exclusivity is your prerogative. I've still heard no one explain why they wouldn't use the non-exclusive tag, where they are afforded the right of first refusal on an offer. If they think their offer is competitive, they can match another team's in this scenario. If they don't, they at least give themselves a chance and they do not forfeit the chance to earn compensatory picks.

1) Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart. 2) Johnny Football.

I like that it appears to fully clothe the players. Other than that, it's pretty revolting.

Why isn't it? It's within the rules. I agree it is not the best option, but until it's eliminated from the CBA, it should be an option. If you don't use it, you are not protecting your assets. I think too many people are hung up on the idea that it's a safety paired with the notion that safeties aren't worth that much. I think many of those same people wish we still had Levitre. Swap Levitre for Byrd in this conversation. What if? Maybe it's simply that the Bills picked the wrong player to play hardball with...

It is. Even a guaranteed fourth or fifth round pick would be better than rolling the dice on the comp pick situation. It isn't. I am not sure how involved Whaley is in this decision, but if he is, this is his first big misstep in my opinion. Why not sign him to a non-exclusive franchise tag and give themselves the option of matching any offer? This is ludicrous.

On the bright side maybe they can get these guys to spell "boobless" or "hell" upside down as a team.

At this point they have to be looking at their relationships with incoming FAs. If this is viewed as a place that is unfriendly to players, it means the Bills are playing a few cards shorter than they already are - and they are already not a prime destination. I am annoyed with the situation but spite can't rule the day. The tag is a fair number for one year, and an unfair number to a player expecting 20M guaranteed. I am surprised they cannot meet in the middle here. If they really can't, it must have something to do with the franchise itself, in which case recouping something on the loss via even a low draft pick would be preferable to this.

Your Buffalo Bills: bringing knives to gun-fights since 1999, and probably earlier. This should work out about as well as when they let Nate Clements go for nothing. If a team gave us a fourth round pick it would still be better than the compensatory pick shakeout, presuming the Bills will sign some FAs that will offset the reward. So damned frustrating.

What if Byrd wants to be able to weigh that offer against others on the open market? To my chagrin, the Bills look to give him that chance rather than protecting an asset -- as is their right via the tag. If they are offering that kind of money, I get the sense that we're looking at one of three scenarios: 1) the guaranteed money is not enough 2) he doesn't want to play for the Bills, or 3)he simply wants to test the market before making any decision, which may yet include the Bills. If I am Buffalo, I don't leave that offer on the table long and wait for him. The comp pick would be what, a 3rd?

Uh whut? We all wanted a guy who has never been a head coach above the high school level to take the job? Pettine runs a decent defense, has run one on his own for exactly one season in the NFL, and still couldn't stop the run. I liked him, but let's be serious and not reactionary here. I think you mischaracterize the board's majority opinion without having sampled it. Finally, even if there was universal board agreement on Pettine's ability to do the job better, it still wouldn't make him better. What do the past RB picks - of players now gone, save for Spiller - have to do with future success? You can argue about all the "studs," but they still haven't put it together. Both teams need vastly improved QB play and the jury is out as to whether franchise QBs are even on their rosters. Even if Cleveland is in a better position to take a shiny new QB, they will be dealing with the learning curve a year behind the Bills, with a defensive-minded HC and an OC who flamed out in Washington. Watkins, Gordon and Cameron would make a terrific receiving trio, but their OL has underachieved for all the high picks on the line. Cleveland is in year one of a rebuilding project, and on their third coach in three years. The Bills at least have some continuity in 2014. I am not saying they are better or that everything will come up roses, but if I were going with my gut I'd say the Bills have a better shot than Cleveland unless the Browns get a QB who sets the world on fire. That's not a sure bet with Hoyer coming off of injury, or a new QB being handed the job.

I'm with you till the end, there, Buftex. I think Drury gave what he had. The "ifs" to really look for are: 1) If Tyler Myers had developed into the all-world Dman we needed 2) If players like Drew Stafford showed up for all 82 games every year, instead of off and on. 3) If they'd had better health at some critical times - Miller's finger injury, the blueline massacre the year of the Canes ECF loss. 4) If they had made a move to get a player like Ott around the times that they were getting pushed around by the likes of the Senators, then the Bruins. 5) If they had kept Briere, who wanted to stay here. If they had not let Brian Campbell go. Blame Darcy Regier for a lot of it. Blame Pegula coming just after the team had already lost a lot of its best talent and leadership. Blame player development, to some extent. Blame coaching for some of it. I do want Ott back, desperately. And though I loathe Ken Hitchcock, I'm rooting for the Blues so that a player like Ott wins his Cup. I want him to feel good about coming back to lead a growing and learning Buffalo franchise - instead of feeling like he is being cheated out of his last Cup chances.

I don't get it. I do love Ott, and I think I'll miss him just as much - and even hope he'll return. But Miller was the last line of defense for some of the very best Sabres teams we've seen. And I would put that team that lost to the Canes up there. They were a "not having to play Rory frickin' Fitzpatrick" away from playing for the Cup that year. The kid gave his very best to the team and the city and they really over-relied on him. This team would have looked even worse without Miller stealing games for them and keeping them in them. Anybody who says Miller isn't an all time great Sabre, and their second-best goalie ever, is delusional.

I expected better of a fellow who calls himself "Mr. Design Junkie."

I don't "like" being straight any more than I like being brown haired or flat-footed. They are facts of my existence. I love my wife, but I don't think by being married to her I am forcing anyone to like our marriage. Doesn't this all sound absurd? No one is trying to force you to like anything. Except Led Zeppelin. You really should like Led Zeppelin. They were great.

It would be just like the Bills to pick a deceased quarterback.

No doubt. I work in public radio and it's enervating to hear them tease the next segment where Mr. Gladwell is going to educate us about why creativity happens. I think I'd rather listen to a belt sander for 30 minutes.

We are looking back... to the future.

Oh, god, my eyes.

Kind of like that, except for Ramius actually did his own research instead of cherry picking others' to generate a pop science theory and make himself the darling of a certain set of intellectuals.

Really? I think most people would realize the charm of a place where the lake once caught on fire. I think perhaps only a person who viciously hated Full House would choose Cleveland.

Thank you.

It's funny how extortion is a praised act when it comes to the draft.