Acantha

First, I can't see any of the TE's jumping that far. They just aren't that talented this year. Running fast will get you more consideration, but you have to be able to play to be a top 10 pick. Second, the mock draft you have in your sig has comp picks for Clements and Fletcher in it. We won't get those until next year.

I agree with what you're saying in regards to Clements and a whole team outlook. The scary part is we are currently weak at all of the important positions you mentioned. QB: Losman is an X factor. He played much better at the end of the season and the jury is out until we see him next season. While he played better and I'm excited about his potential, if he doesn't keep improving he won't be the QB that can make up for a weak secondary. OL: Also improved last year, but again they are still quite a ways from being enough. IMO it will take improved play from both guards and RT. That improved play may come from the young players we already have on the roster or through FA/Draft, but 3 positions on the line are currently weak, and that isn't good. DL: Right now, AS is the only impact player on that line. I think the the guys that are left are capable of playing better, especially Williams and McCargo entering their second year, but again, we have 3 positions on that line that need better play than we saw last year...especially if you are trying to cover for the lack of Clements. LB: Losing London is going to hurt. We currently have no MLB that can take his place. Takeo is another big question mark. Can he play like we have seen him in the past? Who knows. How about Crowell and Ellison? Are these guys ready to move their play up another level? They have both shown promise, but they need to get better if this team is going to succeed. The one area where I think we are going to get some great help is the Safeties. In a cover 2, the safeties can help cover for weak CB's, and with a full year of starting under their belts Whitner and Simpson can help close the gap losing Clements will open up. So while I agree with you on Clements, can we expect to see enough changes to be that successful team your talking about? Honestly, I don't think so. IMO, the best possible scenario is to get vastly improved play from Losman, Preston, McCargo, Williams, Crowell and Spikes along with solid additions to LG, RT, MLB, DE, and CB (at very least we'll need more depth here). And this doesn't even take into account McGahee's ups and downs, lack of true number 2 receiver, an unproven TE, no real FB to speak of, and any real depth at most of the positions on the team to take over in case of injuries. (These are all areas where I think we will be okay at if we can fix the other stuff, but are scary when looking at the big picture) It's a lot to expect.

You know, you keep saying things like this...why? You say we are completely missing the point, yet you go on to give a pretty decent answer to the question that was raised. We are not missing the point, we're discussing how this impacts the spending we will do. More specifically, is "cash under the cap" a way for the Bills to use a run a round answer to spending less than the rest of the league, or is it just a different way to keep the books. So assuming your answer is correct, it would only make sense for the Bills to give roster bonuses. If they don't do that, then they are simply doing nothing more than being stingy and spending less than everyone else (because on the books they will have to account for money twice). If they do give roster bonuses, they will essentially be spending the same amount of cash, just in a different way. Good to know. If you're sick of giving answers, then stop. It's really not that important, it's just discussion. If you think you have a better understanding of what they are talking about and want to dish out that information, great.

I don't the specific laws of Georgia, but there are normally few acts that can be classified as "felony" animal abuse, and they are reserved for the most heinous acts of cruelty. Unless he he did something minor and it happened to be a police dog/horse, etc..., whatever he did must have been pretty bad. So without further clarification of what happened, he can be pretty sure that it is something he wants the dude to be punished for. Maybe he would be wrong, but it's pretty doubtful.

The one main question I have, and the one that would clear up your question, is what does the league accept when reporting salaries. The only thing I've ever heard about signing bonuses is that you are allowed to spread them over the term of the contract. I've never heard that you must do that. If the league is okay with the Bills reporting all the bonus money in the first year of contracts, then all is fine. If not, then like you said, it gets confusing. But really, it will all kind of equal itself out. The bonus money that the league counts in the second year of a players contract will be offset by the full bonus money we will be paying to a first year FA. Either way, hopefully the league will let the Bills report their money the way they want to, it will erase all the confusion. BTW, if that does work, this will essentially get rid of "dead cap space". If they are paying all that money up front, we won't have to count the leftover bonus money after cutting players anymore. When you think about, this type of financing has the potential to really simply things once it gets going.

For starters, I think it's a bad question. Given the way this staff works, the better question would be, "How do you grade the Bills front office". Only grading Marv, I would give him a high grade so far. He came in with a plan and has been following it through. He brought in a HC that he knows he can work with, and he is a smart enough man to know that he has to let the most knowledgeable people on his staff do what they do best without constant interference. Marv's title is GM, but he doesn't follow the norm of what we expect that to be. He has come in as an overseer. He's got everyone on the same page and understanding what direction the team is going in and what is needed to achieve their goals.

From what I understand, and putting it as simply as possible, it works like this: The Bills sign a FA for 5 years, 5 mil per year, with a 5 million dollar signing bonus. (don't pay attention the numbers, I'm just trying to make it simple). Normally (without a back-loaded contract), the breakdown would be 2 million dollars per year (1mil for salary and 1 mil for bonus). Easy enough. Now, the first year of the contract would be 6 mil. (1 year salary plus all 5mil bonus), and then 1 mil a year for the rest of the contract. As SoCal said, nobody really knows how this is all going to add up given the difficulties dealing with the past players and how they all factor together. This is just how it will work from now on.

On a side note, Sherman still doesn't have a job.

Actually, despite all the arguing...and take away a couple of people, most of the posts about the subject since the press conference have been people trying to get a clear understanding of what exactly cash to the cap means.

Normally I would agree, but Norv has earned it.

To add more fuel to the fire....found this on Digg. Mencia gets caught stealing material Pretty long...

I know you're using "ballparks", but where did the ballpark of 54 for salary and bonuses come from? Looking at the numbers he quoted from Billszone, that number would be closer to 75. I know Billszone could be wrong (but are normally fairly accurate for this info), I'm just wondering where all the numbers, including yours, are coming from. EDIT: Trying to re-read all this, I think your 54 number comes from the salaries and "additional bonuses", but leaving off the amortized bonuses since under the new logic those number would have already been accounted for. Is that it?

Wow is right. Absolutely insane!

I have a question. Is it cooler to call it a presser?

If you're looking at a full size, there are only two I would recommend, and they have both already been brought up...the Tundra and the Titan, with a strong nod to the Titan. IMO, they are the only two out there worth looking at. I can't stand Dodge, and Ford and Chevy don't have anything that compare with quality you get from Nissan and Toyota (it took me a long time to admit that). I've driven a Titan for a couple weeks and loved it. It's comfortable, rides great, tough as hell, and looks awesome. I got a buddy who got the Tundra a few weeks ago and he loves it. Other than the price tags, I don't think you can go wrong with either.

DD is WAY better than Starbucks.

He's a BIG high motor black guy. Moss has the ability to bull rush or get around the outside and make plays in the backfield. He's also very good at stretching the field making it harder for RB's to turn the corner. On the other side, while he can do all those things, he doesn't really do any one thing extremely well. I think his talent warrants a very late first or early second round pick. If he were still available at for our 2nd round pick (I highly doubt it), I would be pretty excited with that pick.

I've always stacked them.

David Hasselhoff...same show.

I suppose I should also throw in Donnie Darko. One of my favorite flicks.

While I think Requiem is the best, another good one is House of Sand and Fog. Jennifer Connelly sure can make a depressing flick.

That's too bad. It'll be tough teaching him the I formation.

Everybody Hurts

Even better, go dig up the Bruschi (WE'RE NOT WORTHY) thread. THAT was classic.