biggerdaddynj

Amen! Can't ignore the impact of pressure--look at the annointed one in NE and you'll see a common denominator with most of his losses ... pressure followed by more pressure. And, Denison did nothing in the second half to to help him. Anyone who can't give TT a pass for last night with what he was subjected has no credibility. He's not the future of our franchise but give the guy a friggin' break. Lucky he's not on the IR--I almost felt as sorry for TT as I did for Tuel that night in Cleveland!

It took them over five years or so but the Bills finally got the wide receiver Buddy Nix was looking for ... one “who is open when he’s not open” (and this one actually has the potential to be a good one if he can stay healthy and has the drive to be successful (something the guy we just traded didn’t seem to have!). ***excuse me if I’m repeating anyone but I didn’t have time to read 57 pages!

Russell Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round with the 12th pick (the 75th overall of the 2012 NFL Draft). Many folks here were very upset the Bills missed out on him for TJ Graham. I wouldn’t get too excited about a 6th round pick. As many have opined, I think this is a clear “addition by subtraction” move—FO must have felt like he was such a cancer in the locker room that it was worth the $14 million hit next year. And, his conduct didn’t make anyone too comfortable with the potential suspension for his next screw up. Wasted potential (should have had a tremendous career with his talent but that’s where it looks like he’s headed).

I went cold turkey after the purge but I relapsed and if he keeps it up, I might believe in The Process as my higher power!

It is sad, I used to come here for educated opinions and mature debates on differing opinions--now it's angry personal attacks. As much as I used to enjoy the off-season and TBD, baseball season has me now (poor Mets but look at those Yanks!).

Thanks for sharing this wealth of information and insight. I'm really even more excited now about McD after hearing what you had to say--he's like the anti-Rex!! Seems like the kind of guy we need here--change culture in locker room (if we could only do that with entire FO!). However, I'm not as optimistic about Beane but I hope it's much ado about nothing because I think the roster is close if everyone is healthy and plays up to McD's standards (which I was delighted to hear about). Hope I'm wrong about Beane even though his role is really to be McD's man--which is fine--speak with one voice... However, as far as Beane's past "success"--I just don't see it. Here's the results of the draft boards Beane was credited with being heavily involved in setting (our recent failed drafts have been heavily affected by injuries--even Sammy, what if he'd been 100% healthy for his entire career?): http://www.panthers.com/team/history/college-draft-history.html And, as for Beane's off-season moves (FA, trades, etc.) they're much less impressive than what we've accomplished of late (drop down and search by year): http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/car/carolina-panthers Hope my concerns are entirely baseless because like everyone else, I want to root for a winner again--waited way too long to get to the SB years--and this wait has been even more painful. Thanks again for the insight!!

. And in the 2017-2018 offseason, they would be excited about the pontentisl impact he'd have on the D. On a different note, heard one of the big guys on Sirius NFLN (not Gil Brandt but in that league) talking about how Saban's program takes a toll on all his players (Ragland hits close to home 😉).

Looks like they didn't want to pay him when an escalator clause in the CBA more than doubled his salary from about $800K to $1.9 million (there are other FA safeties they apparently like better for the money): http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/24824/escalator-clause-gives-panthers-safety-tre-boston-huge-bump-in-salary Here's a list of currently available FAs at safety (notice something, other than where Boston is listed and it wasn't in alphabetical order--it's a stroll through our esteemed franchise's history): http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/safety/available/

My concern, like many others, is whether or not a top candidate for GM, which is what we all want and deserve, will want to walk into a situation in which he is knowingly taking a back seat to a HC (it's hard enough to sell the job to begin with after the way things have been up here for the past two decades). Being entirely objective, that's my biggest concern with having McD, or any coach without a legacy of winning, respect and experience, making the final calls--put yourself in the shoes of a potential GM candidate--do you want the current situation with the Bills to be your (first) GM gig? We probably wind up on the outside looking inside when it comes to the next anointed genius GMs (hopefully, none of this will have any bearing on how well McD will be as the HC--I hope he's the second coming of Vince Lombardi but I don't see any future Paul Browns coming aboard this ship!).

Not sure if anyone has already posted a link to this December '16 article from Albert Breer on the "short list of GMs for 2017"--came across it as I'm trying to educate myself on who the most well-respected top candidates are for a new GM gig. I apologize if someone has already posted the link and if any candidates are gone: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/12/15/nfl-general-manager-candidates-2017

The Pegulas did Whaley a favor--he never had a real opportunity to do the job the right way--he was always trying to put out a house fire with a cup of water. I'm sure he'll land on his feet and will hopefully get a chance to be a GM again and to be a GM who actually gets to do the job his way (and has the dumb luck to be in a position to draft a franchise QB instead of a being a stand up guy and backing Buddy's legacy QB). And, this wasn't a house cleaning--look a little higher up the food chain and you'll notice some people still around who, unlike Whaley, have been here for a lot more of the losing than Whaley. Also, for those who are so enamored by the prospect of Brandon Beane taking over--take a look at the Panthers' drafts during the last few years, with draft boards he was credited with being heavily involved in setting, and tell me what you think of them: http://www.panthers.com/team/history/college-draft-history.html#2012 And, take a look at his off-season moves in FA, via trade, etc, and tell me how you they stack up compared to Sheppard for Hughes; (used up) Kiko for (HOF) Shady trades or Gillislee/Zach Brown/Lorax signings (use the drop down tab to change the seasons to review Panthers' transactions): http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/car/carolina-panthers Here are some examples from the Panthers own PR machine that tout Beane's best known accomplishments (circa 2015 but look for yourself at last year and this year's moves--equally unimpressive): "Beane has also been responsible for directing portions of the NFL Draft, including executing trades that netted cornerback Bene Benwikere, wide receiver Devin Funchess and offensive tackle Daryl Williams in the past two years. Beane has played a role in putting together the team's draft board over the past four seasons and participated in the evaluation of collegiate prospects in preparation for the draft." And with this said, I turn the page. As a Bills' fan, my loyalty to the team is greater than my loyalty to any one person in the organization. I wish McD all of the luck on the world and hope he is the first man in years to be left alone to build a team.

You gotta concede DW inherited a bad situation that only got worse and most people seem inclined to think he had no control over much of what made his job so difficult (just read the thread I responded to, sums it all up). Bottom line--the Pegulas are continuing to run this team like a second rate organization. Whether or not you like DW, McD or anyone else who is here or who comes here, it doesn't bode well for anyone--especially not for us, the fans who have been suffering for far too long.

Was hoping for better with Pegula but we are apparently destined to be a second rate organization. Check back in a few years and compare DW's moves to those of his successor and I have a feeling even his haters will concede he did as well as anyone could under the same circumstances (and, if you saddle him with being responsible for EJ during Buddy's draft, you gotta give him credit with the picks this year and that includes whatever the extra first rounder we got in 2018 nets us).

+1

You are indeed correct (I myself misspoke, shame on me), though I know I never wanted Ross as our pick at WR because we wanted more size (to realize Buddy's dream of having a WR "who was open even when he was covered") not a smaller, injury risk WR with track star speed (because everyone knows size matters, right ladies )--and I know Ross is much more than a track guy who happens to play football, he's a guy Al Davis would take with a top five pick over a franchise QB or bookend LT. That was Mayock's point--he essentially said Zay used the draft process (Senior Bowl, Combine, etc.) to show he was more than originally viewed--said he and Reddick were the two who made most of draft process.

He was virtually everyone at TBD's number three WR after Davis and Williams. Don't like to have to trade up but remember this is a deep draft so going down from the third to fifth doesn't hurt as much as giving up a pick outright and we got our guy (remember, didn't JuJu say we was scared of the snow?). Two picks and two needs met with an extra first next year and without sacrificing anything of substance. Pretty friggin' good Mr. Whaley (oh that's right, if you like it then it wasn't him, it was McD, sorry about that). If we get OLB or o-line pick next, I'll be VERY happy.

Also with the other midnight oil burning trade down folks. I'd be interested in considering it but not too far if Cunningham and Robinson are gone (Williams seems like a punk--failed drug tests, guns, "simplified playbooks" and RT just scares me with Millls and the Victor Ducasse Project--especially with the health issues of our o-line "depth"). Might be someone looking for Kizer, Mixon, Kamara, etc. After my top two, I'm really torn at WR between JuJu, Zay, and Kupp. Wish we had two twos and one third so we'd get the best combo of OLB, WR, OT (if the right one is still there) or a real McD zone scheme CB. Adding another pick might enable us to take a gamble on a medical player like Jones or Moreau...

Maybe not, remember Shanahan and Cousins--so maybe the Browns get Cousins and then take in a massive haul for the number one next year (maybe Cousins is their franchise QB--he's already proven it as opposed to a college QB). And, the Browns will have enough picks to fill two rosters if they keep it up!! EDIT--got a little revved up in the excitement last night--I know, I know, Shanahan is Niners' coach not with the Browns (which is why it was genius move to get Bears to trade and still get their man in Thomas)--my subconscious was trying to find a way to convince me someone will trade a Darnold pick next year! 🤡 Guess the only hope is if Browns take Kizer tonight and are happy. Or, if the Niners stink it up and sign Cousins like they're supposed to.

Watching NFL network. I have a question, have any of the "experts" opined on our trade? It seems like I either totally zoned out (and I'm sober unfortunately) or they don't care. No respect. As usual.

That's why it's unrealistic to think we could have gotten more. Please remember that before you have s stroke. With the extra third we can get a zone CB and maybe the luxury of a good TE too or a RT) and at 27 we can get the WLB we need. Next year we will have TWO first rounders and even one of them should get us a QB who is AT LEAST as good as this year's crop. If we package the two firsts who knows how great it might be.

Trade down please so many players

We can wait for a zone CB--get Hooker if he's there or maybe trade down to team looking for Allen (if he's there) or OJ or the next QB or even Foster if someone is ok with him. Trade down might be in our best interest as Board falls the way it has it might also be an option.

Maybe Adams or Hooker falls to us--please!!! Everyone claimed SF wanted him (Adams).

Think a trade down would end up with Reddick as our pick--he seems to fit the Panthers' LB "type"--though I get worried about those guys whose draft stock rises so much so late in the process (before the Senior Bowl he was a mid to high second and now he's a potential pick at ten--but I'm just some schmuck!!!). With the extra pick, we can target a CB that will fits the McDermott zone scheme well (King or Tankersley) after we nab the top available WR with pur original pick two--like Zay Jones or JuJu, etc.

That adds up very well--does seem like Cousins to SF is predestined and that would mean SF can avoid this weak QB class (none are worthy of being the second pick--barring some boneheaded desperation) and then they can grab the BPA--the early talk I'd heard was Thomas going to them at two--he's a stud, good high character kid and he's from Stanford--that seemed predestined! I'll keep my fingers crossed and get ready for the inevitable disappointment. Thanks for the intel.