Fan in Chicago

$1 MM this year http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns

Ganesh, I am going to stop our discussion as we have hijacked this thread a bit. Maybe we can pick it up in a more relevant thread.

We dis-agree and that is perfectly fine. If he was seen as a key piece of the offense going forward, the management (specifically DJ) would have taken steps to pacify the current situation. Him being opened for trading appears to be a pro-active move by the Bills management - not one initiated by WM. This by itself implies that the management is down on his abilities as an individual and team player - not a vote of confidence in favor of him. Consider how they handled the Nate Clements situation last year. The team needed his services for one more year while the coaches evaluated personnel and Levy did the best thing possible at that time. I realize that the WM situation is not the exact opposite but isn't it telling that they are willing to let him go a year before his contract is up ? If they valued him enough for the 2007 season, they would not be worried about him hitting the open market next year.

Not denying that he is the starting running back. I am just not sure the team is gelling behind him or that he is a 'big' part of the offense ...

McGahee ????

Burning bridges is generally not a good thing to do but that is exactly what EM did on his way out of here. Secondly, as I have been saying this administration prefers guys in their 20s. Lastly, which current WR do we displace to make room for EM ? I think EM's recent performance makes it difficult for him to displace Reed, Price, Parrish. Aiken maybe but it is a stretch. All in all, I highly doubt we show any interest in him. The Jets or NE may sign him up for a 1 or 2 year deal and EM may go for it just to spite the Bills. If he had kept his attitude and expectations in check and gone with the program, he could have gracefully retired a Bill.

Pakistan is in the Middle East ?

A few additional thoughts: The current management is true to its word - they have professed that they prefer to sign their own before looking in free agency. They did exactly that with the Kelsay signing (and Josh Reed before that, and Lindell .....). I like the fact that they have a strategy and they stick to it. Also lost in all these numbers is the fact that Kelsay is happy to be here in Buffalo and has said he would like to end his career here. How many free agents are going to have that attitude ? While, at this point, it doesnt look like we got a hometown discount, that attitude with all the other positive points brought up in this thread, alone make this a good signing.

Same thought crossed my mind. He is on the wrong side of 30 and the current staff does not like that. If we lose NC, I think we will go with Youboty and draft another corner because the choices in FA are not very attractive.

Yep, right after her wrote this (already quoted on this board): "My upset special for a no-name guy who will get the richest: Buffalo defensive end Chris Kelsay." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ.../26/indy/1.html

.. thus confirming the Bills will not take Willis even if he is available

Kelly, just nitpicking here - Marv said they will be bringing in 4-5 guys. I heard that as 4-5 interviews and not actual acquisitions (unless we have a 100% strike rate which is unrealistic). Even if we get 2 really good guys from the outside, I will be happy.

Agreed. I thought him giving the example of balancing the need to get a good guard and keeping your own at a high price was quite telling. Quite clear they will balance the budget between pressing needs (guard) against his preference to keep your own (NC). The reason this is significant to me is that he will not let his overall philosophy get in the way of making a practical choice.

I did not intend to make the leap that his demeanour necessarily implied good ability to improve the team. I purely meant it as a comment on him as an individual.

He was corrected by someone from the audience about that. Marv meant that JP is on the border of that fictitious demarcation and will only rise higher with a better supporting cast.

General comment - I was pleasantly surprised by how well he has aged. Someone not knowing Marv could peg his age in the mid-60s. He is so unbelievably cohesive with his sentences, bright and energetic. People taking pot shots at his age can only wish they grow up to be as young looking as him at that age.

.... or a good position for average to above-average coach to come in and win them a Superbowl (think Gruden with the Bucs after Dungy was let go). I for one am not surprised. Marty's pathetic post-season record had to catch up with him sometime. I don't care if people say the players did not play hard enough or whatever other excuse they can think of for the loss to NE. You have to seriously doubt the HC if his teams consistently underachieve in the post-season. The coordinators may have left knowing MS was going to be fired. Wade landed himself a nice job which, had he waited for the MS firing, he may have lost out on.

Nice ! I love your optimism

Well, and succinctly, put.

What is with the first name Ben as related to pass catching TEs ? Coates, Watson and now Patrick ?

I am missing something basic here. Isn't McCargo in rotation with Tripplett ? So Okoye would be competition/rotation with Kyle Williams not with McCargo/Tripplett.

I would rather he reaches the Superbowl with Romo and then plays DB against us.

Jerry Jones may be a stuck up arrogant guy but I think he ultimately is a business man. TO is too mercurial and not many teams would prefer such a player compared to a more reliable performer. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if JJ has already thought about getting rid of TO. Maybe, just maybe, that could have been one of Wade's conditions before coming on board.

Good guy, good DC, questionable HC. All the best to him even though that implies good wishes for the Cowboys. I hate the Cowboys too, will I hate them a bit less because of Wade being their HC ? naahhhh.....