biggerdaddynj

We're Bills' fans--of course, the year that Buddy finally concedes that we need a QB is the year the QBs are mediocre at best (frankly, the guy should have already been fired--the miscalculation on the Fitz extension and not admitting/correcting his mishandling of the QB situation were sufficient justification--it made no sense to keep him around Whaley is more than ready and is surely qualified and is knowledgeable about the roster so there is institutional knowledge for the new coaching staff to rely on). We're not snake-bitten to the degree Cubs' fans or Red Sox fans are (or "were" in the latter instance) but we get f'ed on a regular basis. Sure some of you old-timers and those with better memories than me can come up with a load of examples--from "wide right" to "The Music City Miracle" (on a massive scale) to bad luck with the draft (imagine if the Niners hadn't picked Patrick Willis one spot ahead of us the year we needed a MLB, imagine if Seattle hadn't "over-reached" and drafted Russell Wilson in the 3rd round last year when we were allegedly ready to nab him in the 4th), etc...

Need one SOLID free agent signing who fits Pettine's scheme (not an old, slow Bart Scott--only sign him on the cheap and just expect him to serve as a "player-coach", if you will). Then in the draft I hope to God we go LB at 8 (Jarvis Jones if he's there is worth the risk--"Von Miller-lite"),or Dion Jordan (I think he will be a freak and is SO versatile) or Ogletree (there is a dearth of ILBs and he is the only one worthy of a top 10 pick), ASSUMING he made it through the interview and they feel he's safe). Then we grab another later (3-4) and hope for the best--e.g., Zaviar Gooden, Sean Porter at OLB or a Bostic, Alonso at ILB.

Now if Fitz would restructure his deal... Just saying, we gave him a chance to be the man and he failed. Now man up and give us some more cap space so we can love you while we groom our QB of the future. He already hauled away a nice chunk of change. Plenty of other guys doing it (I know the situation is different but he does owe something to us for giving him a chance and a Brinks Armored car!).

Funny how we could grab a really talented OT at 8 (e.g., Lane Johnson or Fisher) but we don't need one badly enough. Hope someone else does and we can cash in with a trade back. There is surely going to be one of the top three OTs there at 8--someone might bite, the drop is big. Warmack might be there too and someone might get hot for him.

If we take him in the 5th after grabbing (in no particular order--BPA) OLB, ILB, WR and a TE, I could live with it. Then you can take a gamble next year on a QB with a higher pick. I just feel there is far too much CERTAIN value at positions of need other than QB...

He was indeed buried on the depth chart. With our $$ situation (i.e., prioritizing re-signing Byrd and Levitre), he might be in our price range. Wouldn't he also meet Buddy's desire for an "open when he's covered" WR? Here's an article from the Daily News about him (there are others out there in the NYC area press): http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1276125

We can also help our QB out by getting a TE who can take some pressure off the WRs (remember Chandler is coming back from an injury and is really not a top TE--he's a nice piece).

I can't stand the fact that this is the year Buddy committed to drafting our franchise QB. We can't get a break! Bray is a tool so let's draft Matt Scott in the 5th, hope Fitz will achieve mediocrity and take value picks in every other round. We sure have enough holes--LB, WR, CB, OL (depth), do I have to go on? Then we can draft another QB next year! Blows, huh?

Every expert indicates there is no high first round value at QB but that, as in past years, QBs will go higher than they should. Does that mean we need to drink the Koolaid? We all know we need a QB but if there is no value there why buy high? In stark contrast, we know there is high first round value on D. Why not draft where you are getting value ... at D? I'm fine with taking a guy like Bray later (I'd love to go QB in the third) and developing him while drafting a D player who we know can play (and there will be one there for sure at 8). Where are all of the guys on this board who always vehemently objected to "reaching"? 'Cause that"s what we're doing by taking a QB at 8.

I would be OK with Woods in the 2nd. I think he will be a quality NFL receiver. We are in desperate need of help there. Gotta go D in the 1st (value for the pick is there as opposed to the QBs). Also, don't forget we need a TE so that might dictate how we take care of the WR need (i.e., do we draft a Woods in the 2nd if we sign a quality TE in FA?).

NFL Network hand-timed him at 4.25 -- WOW!!! That said, he ain't gonna be a Bill.

The more I look at the players who are available in the draft the more I think we go and draft according to the strength of the drafty--defense in the first two or three rounds followed by a TE/WR and then draft a QB. Reaching for a QB will set us back. We have enough holes to fill and can do so with quality players. If we are going to develop a QB let it be one we draft later after we acquire quality defenders who can start and play. I don't see a QB who can do that. BPA!!!!!!

Keister--think you hit it on the head. Hope the FO is on the same page. One thing we all agree on is that any FA signings are not "the answer" but are merely going to be complimentary pieces. We shot our wad last year on Super Mario. There will be no Bowe or Wallace signings at WR and no Kruger or Spencer at LB. We'll be lucky with a Nick Barnett ala '11 and a number 4 WR. The draft is our real shot--let's hope we hit with the QB because as long as Fitz is at the helm we will be hurting on Sundays (as much as I like the guy he just ain't got it). I think Buddy can't screw up too much if he goes defense with our pick at 8.

Bowe made $9.5 million last year. Add up the salary he will command as a FA plus the prorated portion of the big signing bonus and can one of our capologists tell us how much we have left for Byrd, Levitre and other roster needs? I don't think you can get a decent LB and we need that more than Bowe. The one I hope we pick in the 1st round won't be enough to make us competitive. I think Bowe is too rich for our blood especially since we have more holes to fill.

Thought it would be fun to expand the discussion from potential draftees and current FAs to rumored soon to be FA salary cap casualties. Figured we could have a good time throwing out names and mocking one another for wanting other teams' cast-offs. Here are two guys at positions of GREAT need who I just heard might be cut and I think we be GREAT pick-ups for the Bills: (1) Denver LB D.J. Williams--does come with some baggage but I couldn't find anything negative about him as a teammate (i.e., he's no cancer). Guy is "only" 30 yrs old , was a former 1st round pick and before his suspension he led Denver in tackles 4 of the last 5 years. He might also be a good fit because he is versatile--played weakside, strongside and middle linebacker (Pettine might like that). When Denver switched to a 3-4 he played ILB ("Jack" like the LB we had stolen from us in the '07 draft by the Niners, Patrick Willis). (2) At WR, how about Brandon Lloyd--with a QB (to be drafted) who can go downfield he would be nice complement to Stevie, et al. Should be cheaper than the big names out there now. Word is that NE is letting him and Welker go (guess they don't need WRs with Gronk and Hernandez). Any thoughts on my throws or how about some of your own???

Hopefully, Chandler comes back in 6-9 months. If they think he's OK save the cap money left after Byrd and Levitre and go after a much needed quality LB (to teach the guy(s) we draft and Bradham, Sheppard and whoever else we keep back there). If Chandler is slow to return--1 year deal for stop gap like Dallas Clark, Ben Watson, Ed Dickson, etc... Regardless, definitely draft a developmental guy in the 4th or later--I like Fauria and Toilolo, McDonald or Kelce. There is some depth there.

Amen! We need quality people (not just players) in order for the new staff to successfully change the culture of the team. Our young players need to around the right players on AND off the field (even role players can be leaders). With the soon to be commitment to drafting and starting a rookie QB we're in this for the longhaul. Though we don't have to rebuild the entire team, we need to be careful about the character of the players we add. I'd rather root for a team of blue collar, lunch pail guys than a team with a few primadonnas and punks at the skill positions. Even if that means it will take us an extra year or two. We don't have a team that can absorb and integrate a punk like Harvin (he couldn't play for and fought with a coach who was player friendly--speaks volumes). .

Really enjoy listening to Mayock's analysis and the manner in which he explains how (he believes) the players' performance in the drills will extrapolate to performance on the field in the game. For an uneducated chump like me, it's fun. I also like Casserly. Lombardi doesn't do it for me (no man crush there!). Not impressed by the players' input. Eisen is fun!

Here's to hoping that finally having good coaching and an exciting scheme will bring out the best in him and the rest of the defensive unit. Leadership does make a difference. Our team has had none for far too long! Here is an interesting article from before the 2011 draft about Williams and how he was viewed (I assume it's possible that he still has a chance to turn out OK): http://www.burntoran...-aaron-williams

Here's a "real" rumor that will make you want to puke--Ed Reed hitting the open market in March and being signed by the Pats. PFT cites Peter King.

This is proof positive that hindsight is always 20/20 when it comes to drafting QBs (aside from Luck and RG III). I recall watching the '09 draft and at least one of the so-called expèrts called the Freeman pick a bad one (it was ESPN so it must have been Kiper or McShay and I think the rest of the crew were of similar opinions). The folks in TB were also leery--he was "raw", "developmental", etc... Maybe one of this year's "raw, developmental" QBs is another Freeman or perhaps better. Perhaps, not. Since I don't have a crystal ball, I for one can't tell. I would happily take Freeman but just because TB isn't extending him right this second doesn't mean he's available. Why would TB trade him if this year's crop of QBs is that bad? Guess they're not as smart as we are. It's like everyone thinking a few months back that we could get a 3rd rounder for Fitz (I remember one poster thinking we coud get a 2!!). Since Freeman won't be traded, I would grab one of the talented defensive players that will be there at 8 and then go BPA and draft a "raw, developmental" QB later on. If we hit, great. If not, we try again next year.

The Bills missed the boat on Danario Alexander, I believe they worked him out on September 24th and passed. Now he's a restricted free agent and SD will tender as hgh as a first rounder. Wonder who had the vision to pass on him after the work out? Same guy who thought Fitz was a franchise QB? Nice move!!!

Last year Buddy said he wanted big receivers like the ones you guys are talking about ones who are "open even when they're not". His solution last year was to reach too high for a burner wIth bad hands who had a QB who couldn't get him the ball deep. Last year we couldn't make a real play for V Jax who fit that bill. Looks like we're nce again not going to be able to get someone like that in free agency--would have loved Danario Alexander but the 1st rd tender kills it. That means it's bidding too much for Bowe who might want to stay with Reid there. You're left going for Jennings (not big but a legit outside WR) or taking a risk on Jerome Simpson or making some other unexciting move (Ramses Barden). We have a better chance at supplementing the offense with a pass catching TE--Bennett, Keller, Cook. Sadly, that means we're drafting a WR along with the franchise QB and some LBs.' We need more picks!! It would be nice to have a young QB WR tandem developing together. Maybe we can use FA to address our LB needs--looks like there are plenty out there--Wheeler, Kruger, Smith, Barwin at OLB, Spencer as a DE/OLB and the ILBs are weak except for Brad Jones, Maualuga and Dannell Ellerbe. Then we can trade down and go WR or QB in round one and vice versa in round two. In the end, we'll be lucky te re-sign Byrd and Levitre, and use FA to add one solid LB along with a mediocre WR and mediocre second LB.

Drafting Dareus was not horrendous. Google nfl mock draft 2011 and you'll see that most mock drafts had him going at 2 to Denver and Miller going to us at 3. There was even a time when Dareus was slated to go 1. In hindsight, I agree with you 100% that it would be great to have one of the players you mentioned instead of Dareus but drafting one of them at 3 wasn't even a consideration at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20--198 guys were drafted before Tom Brady so all of those picks were horrendous? In regard to Dareus, with some real coaching and a new scheme he could still turn out to be a beast. Give the kid a chance (and a break--going through what he did). As for Troup, THAT was indeed horrendous!!!.

I know, I'm not proud. That said, you'll see. There are also other people out there who like to watch practice squad rosters to see what happens to the longshot guys we followed during our draft prep who are now bargain basement UFAs. Many of them were late round picks, undrafted UFAs or are reclamation projects--like former Raven OLB Sergio Kindle a 2nd rd pick who never completely recovered from a fall down some steps--he "coulda been a contender".