Bflojohn

Just a thought, but the reality is that there are quite a few free agents that probably haven't heard their phone ring yet! Go to ESPN or Pro Football Weekly and the list of free agents is staggering. I think that the Bills will sign players that they've targeted, it just takes time. Every player thinks, deep down, that they are $100,000,000 talent too!! Reality will set in for these guys in the next week or two, and then pass judgement. By the way, my buddy is a diehard Packers fan and they NEVER sign free agents under Ted Thompson. His blueprint is undoubtedly the draft, but the right players MUST be picked to allow that method to work. The Bills have been "sketchy" in the draft, so let's hope for better (MUCH BETTER) results!

T.J. Houshmandzadeh Formerly Cincy- This will be the prime target Jahri Evans, OG, Formerly New Orleans- Had a phenomenal rookie season and would help solidify O-Line Rocky Benard, DT, Formerly Seattle- Good, solid DT to play next to Stroud. Chris Canty, DE, Formerly Dallas- They could sniff around this player, but he wants HUGE money right now, maybe they wait out his expectations versus reality and get him in week three!! Fred Taylor will come to Bufalo, I believe. There will be more sightings at the airport, but these are my guesses!

I LOVE Peria Jerry and Robert Ayers as the first two picks. Excellent trade down scenario. The question in my mind is the absolute steal you project in the 4th round getting Cornelius Ingram? I am NOT thinking he will last anywhere near that long. Did you see him at the combine? He is directly out of Gods' mold for a TE!!

Just a thought, but Aaron Maybin is 20 years old and NOT at all unlike Omobi Akoye who Houston took with a realitively high pick. His growth is far from finished, and potentially he prbably could hold another 10-15 pounds of muscle mass without hurting his main attribute....speed! He has tested well, and tape doesn't lie, his production at Penn State was nothing short of great. I, just like many here am leery of Michael Johnson and in his case, unlike Maybin, I agree with Mike Mayock here.... Buyer beware!!!!

Tcali, I feel that 3 strikes you're out, and Marshawn Lynch has had two mighty cuts "at bat" in Buffalo, and he's down to one left! The major issue is that he committed this latest snafu so early after his hit-and-run accident.... what is he learning if he's NOT disciplined for his many indescretions soon? I am fairly sure the NFL will turn a jaundice eye towards his problem before the season kicks off. Somewhere north of 4 games is my guess!

The fence sitting crowd would say, see you about April 27th or so! The proof is a needed element, but I will always be like you.....eternal optimism!!

I actually believe that the Bills will have a fairly successful offseason and here's why..... the draft is loaded with centers who could be Pro Bowl quality starters in time. Additionally DE is a strong consideration with Larry English, Everette Brown, or Brian Orapko the likely first rounders (IMO). The Bills will make some sort of "splash" this free agency period due to the relative unrest within the fan base, so essentially, the liklihood is good that the 2009 season will very much be a contending year! Expect TE and OLB to be addressed this year too, either in FA or the draft. Tight End is deep in April with Pettigrew, Nelson, Coffman, Casey, and Beckum etal.

The combine will provide some answers and the best of these is their work habits! A number of programs in Arizona and Florida prepare these athletes for the "scrutiny" the combine puts them through. I'll take one guy, like Everette Brown as an example. He just might come out of Indianapolis with the scouts absolutely drooling because he's literally put on noticeable muscle mass, increased his stamina, lowered his reported 40 time and benched the world like Charles Atlas!! Now. IF his game film matches his output there, he shoots past us at 11, and earns himself a tidy sum of money. This stuff matters to these guys and may the best man win..... or get drafted by the Buffalo Bills ideally!! Oh, by the way, Brian Orapko is my choice here.

10.) The maturation of our Quarterback 9.) Lynch destined for 1800 yards 8.) Lee Evans making the Pro Bowl 7.) Donte Whitner again predicts Playoffs 6.) Turk studies tendancies and improves playcalling 75% 5.) Fewell has a top 5 defense with new talent at OLB and DE 4.) Dick Jauron fools 'um all 3.) Ralph is rewarded for spending in free agency 2.) The fans prepare for the home playoff game in January 1.) IT'S BUFFALO BILLS FOOTBALL..... get serious!!!!! never stop billieving.... EVER!

Sorry, I took the "sped redding" course and I missed the reference to the Rams.....

Don't forget about Linehan and the St. Louis Rams. He got the ax right after the Bills won in St.Louis.....

Direct from the "I'll put a positive spin on things" department, the Bills will HAVE TO spend some serious cash in the offseason to appease the natives! My thinking is that this does set up well for a BIG splash in the free agency pool. Mr. Ralph Wilson already asserted the lack of talent, so he has his foot precariously close to his mouth on this one... I would venture to say that he's going to give Dick Jauron some help, and the obvious positions needing an upgrade will in all likelihood get a face-lift. Probably something like this: DE/OLB Terrel Suggs ORG Jarhi Evans WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh Then April's draft: 1st round- (trade down with Lions @20) Alex Mack,C, California 2nd round- Chase Coffman 2nd round- (from Lions) Fenuki Tupou, OLT, Oregon 3rd round- Vance Walker,NT/DT, Georgia Tech 4th round- Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech 4th round- (from Lions) C.J. Davis, OG, Pittsburgh 5th round- Laurence Sidbury, DE, Richmond This type of solution is very feasible if Ralph intends to supply the roster with actual players! Dick Jauron was 5-1 with this outfit in 2008, what is he capable of with this hypothetical lineup in 2009. Personally, I could coach this team the way I constructed it, so we'll see about ALL THE IF'S?!?!?! Oh, add the veteran QB of your liking.......

In the world of the NFL, don't blink, or the story will fly right by you! This Bill Cowher story is probably far from over.... By the way, it is Chuck Noll, no "K" in his name!!!

On here, I sometimes don't really know whether to laugh or cry! Otherwise, splended pick Dongo! Bring in Marty Morningwig and we'd be set.....

I agree with the concensus here. We'd be better off, for example, drafting his WR and TE at Oklahoma to provide Trent Edwards targets in the passing game. Oh, by the way, throw in a quality center while we're at it!!

Interestingly, by losing we are rotating with S.F. in each round, so essentially we draft 10th in the first round, then 11th in the second round, then 10th again in the third round and so forth. If we had gone 8-8, we'd have rotated with Denver, Houston, New Orleans, and Washington. Talent wise this should provide better position, hence, better players! Let's hope!!!

The economic burden of the national recession will likely impact Ralph Wilsons' plan to sell his franchise after he passes from this earthly coil. If the Rams are disheartened about the offer(s) they've fielded, imagine the muddled picture for the Buffalo Bills going forward. It could shift the thinking corporately and within Ralph's family. They may have to "run" this business regardless. My worry is that I don't think Mary Wilson and daughter Linda Bogdan will be as staunchly in the fans corner, and could easily be persuaded to move, lock stock and barrel.

If the Bills lose, then they're no better than #9 or worst than #11. The only two teams they could "climb over" would be San Francisco and Green Bay. The 49ers and Packers still have a chance at 7-9 for the season. If G.B. win tonight, they host Detriot next Sunday, so I'd say 7-9 would be as close to assurred as can be. San Fran. plays the Washington Redskins next weekend.

Let's examine this from Jason Peters perspective.... He wants a new contract or fat extension, so what are his options? His ONLY option is another holdout, and frankly he is stuck in quicksand again because the Buffalo Bills made him "happy" once upon a time 3 years ago! The prevailing sentiment at One Bills Drive is that they don't have to pay Peters a nickel until he proves that he is willing to play first, then negotiate when he's in camp. The Bills said this all along during OTA's, camp, and just prior to the regular season. Who won? The Bills gained the upper hand because another lengthy holdout, this year, will undoubtedly cause the two sides to really entrench themselves and in that scenario no one wins!! The other factor Jason better come to grips with is that Walter Jones got franchised something like 5 times by the Seahawks, so the Bills really have quite the hammer in any further ploys Jasons' people might come up with. The final bit of the equation is that Peters proved that his own self-motivation to stay in shape during a holdout was next to nonexistant! It's his career, let's see if he's smart enough to report and play for his pay this offseason. My personal response would be no to the likelihood.....

I love this team... they are mine and ours. I will NOT get caught up in the mindless bashing, although I agree that the last decade has been extremely hard from a fans standpoint. I can't live my life without this passion of mine, and everyone who knows me knows THAT. I'll wear the colors, I did today to the Veterans Hospital here in Phoenix, and it draws great conversation and football talk. I'm a football fan and that encompasses the entire NFL. I do not hate other teams (well except the Jets, Dolphins and Pat*riots) and have admiration for Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City fans. The reason is that I think that their fans are JUST the same as Buffalo fans. NUTS!!! Since these players, administrators, and owners consider this "entertainment" I will always believe that the Bills will win the Super Bowl in my lifetime (I'm 52 years young), even though I hate that distinction. It is win at all cost and smashmouth football or nothing for me, and eventually we will see this in Buffalo. The Bills will remain in Buffalo because I choose to believe that, and if NOT, I'm through! Yes, I yell at the T.V. and rant all day long about this play or that, but once Monday, Tuesday etc. arrive, I truly think that they will win every stinking game thereafter! Just the way I'm built, I guess!

MARK MY WORDS everyone and repeat after me... The Colts will NOT let Jeff Saturday go anywhere! When they were 3-4 they were without their center and they paid the price for it dearly. Peyton Manning would have a breakdown if he ever left. He will be siged, quite likely before free agency "kicks off" in March. Otherwise they would franchise or transition him. Matt Birk is cemented in Minneapolis! He anchors a line with Steve Hutchinson and I highly doubt that duo gets split up either!

Digest this from Ourlads Scouting service....#1 Center, Alex Mack 6' 3 1/2" 316 lbs. Powerful and mobile with good awareness and hustles to block on the perimeter. Good effort to finish his blocks and stays engaged with the defender. Plays with a good base after a quick initial step. Takes good angles to cut off the linebackers on the second level. Plays with a good knee bend and body control. Explosive, smart, and competitive in his play. Can be a dominant player with his strength and quickness. Uses his hands effectively to punch and control target. Plays square in pass protection to wall off and position rusher. Does both the shotgun and conventional snaps. Moves his feet on contact in both the running and passing game. Bottom line is that he blocks his man. Pac-10 defensive linemen voted him the Morris Trophy, best blocker in 2007. P.S. Hope that helps! YES, take him unless Orapko is available also. If Brian Oropko is available, give up 2010 1st rounder to add Mack too!!!!!!

Billsnutinphoenix, where are you in the city? I'm in the south end bumping against South Mountain. How long have you been here? By the way, I like your thinking, but Peria Jerry is sounding an awful lot like a bonified first rounder in the scouting I'm reading! Personally, I'd be fairly happy with any of these approaches, so far....

I'll admit one thing here, I'm transitioning into offseason mode (Yes, I'm going to watch the last two games!) and wondering if the team really needs to be "blown up" as I believe some would want. My contention is that a core of players are available to Dick Jauron or whoever coaches next season. I know that posters ALL seem to have their own "master plan" for success, but what really is needed and how do they go about it? I'd guess that the free agency period will, in my mind, yield defensive reinforcements and the draft will bolster the offense. When I look at who is available as opposed to who gets franchised and so forth, the pickings look slim. My feeling is that the Bills could venture into the OLB ranks and nab a guy like Mike Peterson. The DE position is bleek for March, so maybe the Bills will find their DE in the VERY early rounds. I don't think that they are too far from contending, so here is my layout for a playoff push (legitimate one) in 2009. Free Agents: OLB Mike Peterson OG Jahri Evans Draft: 1st round (pick #8) Brian Orapko, DE, Texas Trade 2010 first rounder and 4th rounder this year, 2009 for later first round pick 1st round ( say pick # 25) Alex Mack, C, California 2nd round (pick # 41) Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri 3rd round (pick #74) Evander Hood, DT, Missouri 5th round ( ? ) Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech 6th round ( ? ) Javorskie Lane, FB/RB, Texas A&M 7th round ( ? ) Terrill Byrd, DT/DE, Cincinnati Personally, I don't want to start over when the possibilities of putting this type of team together exists!! Side note: For the members who might be aware of CFL players, are there any QB's that would warrent a look? Thoughts?

Worst case scenario with two running plays that fail to pick up a first down.... Time outs are utilized by the Jets, so they are left with the ball, and the need to advance the ball to the Buffalo 35 yard line realistically. The Jets offense had fizzled in the 4th quarter and didn't have a first down to show for nearly 13 minutes of football. I still maintain that with Moorman punting and the Bills coverage units doing what they usually do, the decision should have been run the ball, and the likelihood is the Jets would have had 1:10 or so (maybe less) to matriculate the ball down the field. I like the Bills chances of winning with this plan. No question the wrong call was made!!