bartshan-83

So do you think signing a player to a big, multi-year deal and then cutting him before it expires is just as dishonorable? Interesting how no one criticizes GMs for not "honoring" the contracts they make with their players. A player holds out for more money, we have no sympathy because he signed the contract and he should honor it. GM wants to cut a player for salary cap reasons, and no one bats and eyelash because its "part of the game." I'll never criticize a player for doing whatever he has to in order to receive the highest financial return on his career. I might think he is overvaluing himself and I might be angry because he is hurting the team I like, but those are just my selfish reasons that are completely unimportant.

I think they are realizing that they need to seriously upgrade their receiving corps if they want to go back to the bowl. I think Stallworth is a bona fide #1 threat and I think Welker is a great match for a smart, efficient QB like Brady. I look for those two + Ben Watson to be a serious thorn in our sides next year. Kelley Washington is completely unconcerning to me. Yes, he was somewhat buried in the Bengals depth chart, but I think his attitude will keep him squarely on the bench in New England.

I can respect saving it for marriage, but didn't anyone else think it was very strange that he never even kissed her until the wedding vows??

Fair enough, only most of the cars will be trying to beat you to work. The rest will just do obnoxious driver things like get in the left lane and slow down or put on their turn signal, but never turn for 5 miles. Maybe throw in a few brake-tappers and those special people who don't pull their cars all the way up to a red light and then the sensor never trips! It's gonna be fun...

I'd say it's a sport if every other car on the road is also going to your job and trying to beat you there.

No doubt. I'm no NASCAR fan myself, but I'd bet my last dollar on the "least athletic" driver on the circuit finishing 18 holes vs. squeezing John Daly's fat ass into a stock car and letting him sweat out a 500 mile race.

While I don't mean to shoot the messenger, why does anyone bother with this kind of stuff? I swear, Mel Kiper, John Clayton, Mort, Berman, Peter King and the rest of the sporting world could all write a story tomorrow morning that said: "BILLS SET TO TAKE MARSHAWN LYNCH" ...and it wouldn't mean a thing. No one in the media knows anything substantial about who is going to draft who. They might know a TINY bit about who WANTS to draft who, but that means nothing as well. And even if it did, it still wouldn't matter because not even the GMs know what is going to happen until, quite possibly, the draft has already begun. Marv doesn't know who we will draft, Jauron doesn't know, Marshawn Lynch doesn't know. Mel Kiper's hair, John Clayton's skinny neck, Lenny P's belly, Peter King's white hair patch and Jim Rome's fake tan and Chris Berman's cab driver all don't know who will draft. And I'm pretty sure Staff Writer #6 at the Trenton Times doesn't know either.

I've given my opinion extensively on DW in various threads, so I will just summarize. I basically agree with ndirish and KD, except I'm a little more generous. As stated, his lack of elite speed will be his biggest hurdle in the NFL. He was noticeably average in speed even by college standards. However, I've seen slow RBs be successful in the league and I think his feel for the game will earn him a roster spot and some decent PT. The guy just sees the field better than any RB I've ever seen in college. He beat out a number or RBs on NDs squad who were better athletes. You'd think an undersized, slow RB wouldn't rush for 2500 yards and catch 100 balls in 2 years. He didn't need Reggie Bush-speed because he was great at finding the crease and maximizing the gain. This is why I think he will forge a solid NFL career because he knows how to pickup yards. He almost always made the "correct" decision with the football...whether it was the time to take the gamble and cut back a run, or whether it was time to dive forward for the extra three yards. Doesn't make boneheaded plays, and PROTECTS the football very well. Finally, his best asset is his receiving skill. Great after the catch, and a thing of beauty on screen passes. If there is one place where we can throw Thurman's name into the mix, it's the comparison of their screen pass abilities. Darius ran screens like Thurman, plain and simple. Yes, it was in college, but it was still a great talent to watch. He is very patient with his blockers and yet extremely decisive when he needs to be. His lack of speed will keep him from ever hitting a homerun on a screen, but I guarantee that he will rack up several key 1st downs in this regard if he used correctly. All that being said, I would take him in the 3rd. I believe that some people just know the game better than others and that this can't be measured with a stopwatch or in a cone drill. Darius will not be a star because he simply is not athletic enough. But he will contribute and could develop very nicely into a 3rd down back. I'd definitely use a third round pick on that kind of player.

Actually, you are right. My judgment on UL was a little off because I just watched them almost (should have) lose to WVU in the second round and then play an unimpressive, streaky game vs. Pitt. Their stretch leading into the tourney was very impressive and they were the wrong team to compare ND to for seeding sake. Our big losses to Villanova and G-Town, combined with our bizarre losses to So Florida and St. Johns are what ultimately sunk us. I just think it was a little strange to give the top 2 BE teams a #2 and #3, and then saddle us with a #6. We also sport a nice road victory at #4 seed Maryland on our resume. I guess I put more stock into the "what have you done lately" column. I think ND was playing as well as any team in the Big East leading into the tournament, and we proved it this week. I can only give my opinion obviously, but if Russell Carter's 3 goes in on Friday, I think we beat Pitt and win the BE. I also think Syracuse got jobbed on this same notion. Save a 3 point away loss to a desperate Villanova team, and they enter the ND game on a 7 game win streak. I'd put them in the tourney over an over-matched Villanova who basically got embarrassed in their last game (the G-Town game wasn't nearly as close as the final).

I feel for Cuse....they had a sweet run down the stretch and I think should have slid in. Not too thrilled with ND's #6 seed either. Two point loss to G-Town in the semis and we draw the same a UL who loses by 6 to Pitt who gets THUMPED by G-Town. Plus we got stuck in by far the hardest bracket, IMO. I would have liked to see a #5 or at least a draw in the East or South bracket. Compare it with Duke who has how many decent wins? One?. Lost in the first round of the ACC and ended the season with a blistering 4-7 stretch. Should have gotten an 8.

That is actually an EXCELLENT idea. You'd never make it out of the 1st round though. I might give it a shot and see how far I can make it. Cheers! As for other rules, I like: - take a drink every time they cut to a war room - finish your drink every time Mort criticizes our pick or mentions "value" - take a drink every time they show a highlight of a player - take a drink every time Berman makes a play on someones name and my personal favorite: - chug a beer every time ESPN cuts to commercial while the Bills are on the clock. (hell you might get 2-3 beers per pick!

Fair enough...I wasn't trying to be a smartass. I just see a lot of posts/mocks where we trade up or down and I'm always curious if it is just a generic idea or if there was a "willing" trade partner in mind. I made a mock where I thought we could trade down to #20 (Giants) because they need a RB. Trading for Droughns doesn't necessarily change that. I'd love to scoop Leonard in the 3rd and I'm a big fan of Hunt.

Not bad...only two comments/questions: 1. I don't think Leonard will be there in the 3rd 2. Who does NE want that they will trade up 12 spots for?

Hilarious intro and awesome highlights. Good find!

My sentiments exactly.

Now, that's funny.

I'd doubt that because I believe Dockery talked about how he knows Spikes (share the same agent?) and that Spikes was talking up Buffalo like crazy. Made it sound like he was very happy with the team and was encouraging potential FA signees.

*This assumes we sign Chris Brown/A-Train/Dillon to be the main guy in a RB by committee. It also assumes that Marshawn Lynch is available when we are on the clock at #12. RD1: Trade down with NYG for their RD1 (20) and RD2 (51)...(this evens out nicely on the all-powerful value chart so don't worry). Giants need a RB so maybe they want Lynch. Our selection: CB Darrelle Revis (Pitt) RD2 (43): ILB Buster Davis (FSU) RD2 (51): DT Quinn Pitcock (Ohio St) RD3 (74): I'd go RB here...depending on who's available 1. Tony Hunt (PSU) 2. Darius Walker (ND) 3. Lorenzo Booker (FSU) RD3 (93): OG Manuel Ramirez (Texas Tech)...I've seen him as high as mid-2nd and as low as 4th, so who knows? This would give us a legit CB, a young replacement for MLB, a RB to complete the committee as well as some help on both lines. Thoughts?

I think if we sign two veteran RBs (Brown and A-Train perhaps) AND draft a high round RB, then Shaud will be cut. Either that or we only carry one fullback. Three scenarios, IMO: ONE 1. Vet RB 2. Vet RB 3. Rookie RB 4. Vet FB 5. Rookie FB TWO 1. Vet RB 2. Vet RB 3. Rookie RB 4. Shaud 5. Vet/Rookie FB THREE 1. Vet RB 2. Vet RB 3. Shaud 4. Vet FB 5. Rookie FB

21st.

Very much agreed. This whole idea that Marv didn't like Willis because he "has children out of wedlock" is the goofiest thing I have ever heard. As if any GM/coach gives a sht about who/how many chicks his players are banging. Marv wants guys who are committed to winning and committed to being Buffalo Bills. That is character. Go out a smoke an ounce, have an orgy, steal your neighbors newspaper and take the last donut. But when it is time to contribute to the team, you better give 100%. That means giving a sht about being a good teammate and doing whatever you can to make the team more successful. I loved Willis too. But I completely agree that for whatever reason, he was through with Buffalo. Maybe he never wanted to be here. Maybe he soured on the team/coaches. I think he didn't care very much last year. Maybe a change of scenery lights his fire. I think he is very capable of 1600 yds and 10 TDs....but he is also just as capable as mailing it in for 1050. We'll see how it goes, and I wish him the best. But I'm glad we made a choice and made it quickly. Time to move forward.

I'll admit I've only seen Lynch play twice and I only saw JJ Arrington play twice as well, but I'm wondering how much of Lynch's production was a product of Jeff Tedford's offense. Over the past four years, RBs at Cal have had a lot of success. JJ Arrington churned out a 2000 yard season two years ago. Some dude named Adimchinobe Echemandu (7th round pick with 25 career yards in 3 years) ran for 1200 a few years back. Lynch's backup (Justin Forsett) ran for 1000 in addition to Lynch's 1200 in 2005. JJ Arrington was the hot pick to be the sleeper of the 2005 draft. He was projected by some to be a late 1st rounder and was hailed as a steal in the mid-2nd. Last year he had 14 carries...(less than Marcel Shipp)...while serving as backup up Edge. I think Lynch looks pretty sweet and he was impressive in the games I saw of him this year...but I am a bit leary. Anyone else with more exposure to Lynch (or not) who has some insight? Something to think about at least...

I think I'm going to buy a throwback of our 1st round pick if he is a RB. Then at least I'll know he will be around for about 4 years (barring injury or complete sucktitude). LYNCH #22 sounds nice...

Rufus, the 13th apostle? Dogma? anyone?