Albany,n.y.

Thanks. What do you think of Terry & where he'll go in the draft? I think he's the player TD's targeting with the move to 44, but he might be gone by then.

I've still got a lot of work to do before the draft, but I wrote my Bills needs analysis 1st draft today. Subject to change in the next 2 weeks with trades & other FA signings occurring in the next week & 1/2. Quarterback J.P. Losman has been named the starter. With the signing of Kelly Holcomb as the veteran backup, the Bills are looking for a 3rd stringer. That 3rd stringer will be a guy with a minimum salary. I don’t see that need being addressed in the draft. Right now the team has four QBs on the roster, including street free agents Tory Woodbury and Kevin Thompson. Thompson has elevated his status with some impressive work in NFL Europe. If the Bills decide that they want to bring in an undrafted player to compete for the 3rd stringer’s job, Woodbury won’t be around much longer. Just as likely is that the team lets Thompson and Woodbury battle it out in camp and if neither impresses, a QB is plucked off the waiver wire like the team did several years ago with Travis Brown. Running Back Willis McGahee is the starter. Currently behind him on the roster are returnees Shaud Williams, Joe Burns, and Dante Brown. With veteran free agents like Garrison Hearst on the market, there isn’t an immediate need to draft a backup running back. Factor in the depth needs at other positions and the chances of a drafted RB in camp are slim. If Travis Henry isn’t already gone, he will be very shortly from now. Fullback Damon Shelton is the only fullback on the roster, although Joe Burns is behind him on the depth chart. There will be at least one rookie in camp, but chances are he’ll be an undrafted free agent. As with QB and RB, the team has more important needs and the front line player or players are entrenched in the position. Tight End Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus both suffered knee injuries late last season. Ryan Neufeld is a marginal talent. Unless a veteran free agent is signed, the Bills will be drafting a TE, probably fairly early in the draft. Wide Receiver Lee Evans is an emerging superstar. Eric Moulds is still a star, but every year his contract has to be renegotiated because of high salary cap numbers. Eventually that will stop. As a result, the Bills may be thinking of drafting a receiver somewhere in this draft. However, he has to be the right receiver, otherwise no receiver will be drafted this year. Josh Reed has been a disappointment and could be cut if Sam Aiken beats him out for the #3 receiver’s spot. Freddie Smith should make the roster as a punt returner and backup receiver. If a receiver is drafted it will be on day 2, not day 1. If the team doesn’t get a receiver this year, they can always get one in free agency or the 2006 draft. This is not an immediate need in this year’s draft, so it may not be addressed due to other needs. Offensive Tackle The team loves Syracuse’s Adam Terry. Even if the Henry for Shelton trade is made, he might still be the pick. If he is on the board when the Bills pick, pencil him in as the pick. If Henry is traded anywhere but Arizona, Terry is the pick, even if they have to trade up to get him. Drafting Terry gives them flexibility down the line if Mike Williams doesn’t play up to his lofty salary in 2005. If the Shelton trade is made and Terry isn’t available, the team might not draft a pure tackle but look at another player like Dylan McFarland, who can play several line positions. The only way Trey Teague moves to left tackle is if the Shelton trade falls apart and Adam Terry is drafted before the Bills can make a move to get him. Look for Albany’s Geir Gudmundsen to get a camp invite if he goes undrafted. If they don’t get Terry, he might be the team’s 6th or 7th round pick. Guard I can’t see the team drafting a pure guard after signing Bennie Anderson. The team has starters Anderson and Chris Villarrial as well as 2004 starting LGs Ross Tucker and Lawrence Smith. Toss in Mike Gandy, Justin Bannan and even Ben Sobieski and you can see why this is one of the least likely position to be addressed in the draft. If the team drafts a guard it means he’ll go to camp as a center candidate. There is no room for another guard on the roster. Center Trey Teague is an unrestricted free agent after the 2005 season, so a center may be drafted. However, there may be no need to worry if they determine that Teague can be resigned or that Ross Tucker can be his replacement. I don’t see the team drafting a center, just like I don’t see the team drafting a guard. Jon Dorenbos is coming off a knee injury and Mike Gomez is 2nd on the depth chart at LS. If a rookie LS is brought in he’ll be a free agent, not a draft choice. Defensive Tackle Sam Adams is getting older and Pat Williams is gone. Ron Edwards can be a free agent after the season and Luvale Sape has limited ability. Even if Tim Anderson turns into the next Tim Krumrie, the team will be looking to get a DT who can start by 2006. This position could easily be addressed in the 2nd or 3rd round. If the team goes OT and CB 1st, they’ll have to draft a DT with their 1st or 2nd pick in 2006 because the cupboard will be bare after the 2005 season, plus Adams will be a free agent after 2006. Defensive End I can’t see this being addressed on day 1 because OT, CB, DT, TE and K are all priorities that need TD’s immediate attention. Once you get to rounds 5-7 anything is possible because best player available really starts to apply. Aaron Schobel is locked in as one starter. Because of more immediate concerns, the team will go with Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney again opposite Schobel. However, they could pick up a veteran free agent to compete here. This position just cannot be addressed in this years draft. Linebacker I don’t see a linebacker being taken. Once again, anything goes in rounds 5-7, but there are just too many other needs on the roster. Cornerback This could become a major area of need in a hurry. Nate Clements is an unrestricted free agent after this season, Travis McGee is a restricted free agent after 2005. The only protection that the Bills have is that they could move Troy Vincent back to corner, but that would severely weaken the safety corps. A CB or S is almost guaranteed to be a high priority unless they shock us all and announce a contract extension for Nate Clements before the draft. Safety Lawyer Malloy is set at SS, Vincent is set at FS. Backups Coy Wire and Rashad Baker are close to set. The only way a S is drafted is if they can’t get a CB and are thinking of shifting Vincent back there at some point by 2006. Kicker If you look at stats, like some of the national writers do, the team looks set with Rian Lindell. If you watch the Bills at all, you know Rian Lindell is a liability who must be replaced. If the team’s opening day kicker is Lindell, the team is in big trouble. Don’t kid yourself, team management is fully aware of the situation. Coach Mularchy has shown how little confidence he has in Lindell past 40 yards. Lindell will not be back. He’s also too expensive with a salary of $825,000 and a cap number over $1.3 million. For less than $300,000 cap hit, he can be cut after June 1st. So, what are the options? The team could shock the draft and pick Mike Nugent with its 1st pick in round 2. It’s unlikely, but if he’s the best player on the board, I could see them locking up the kicker's job for the next decade. If Owen Pochman is kicking up a storm in Europe I could see them just letting him beat out Lindell in camp. The most likely scenario is this: bring in a rookie K either drafting one in the 7th round or getting an undrafted free agent into camp. Pochman, Lindell and the rookie battle it out in camp. If Pochman is bombing in Europe by the draft, he’s a goner before camp and Lindell battles the rookie. If Pochman is lights out in Europe, Lindell may be gone before camp opens. Then it’s Pochman vs the rookie. The season’s kicker might not even be in camp, but could be a veteran who gets cut by someone else. Believe it, one way or another Lindell will not be back, they can’t afford him. Punter Bryan Moorman is the punter. Anyone brought in is camp fodder. As I said last year, this is one position that I can guarantee will not be addressed in the 7 round draft. Conclusion The Bills have major needs to address at several positions, but most of those needs are preemptive strikes against future free agent defections. They must have a new kicker by opening day 2005. Cornerback and defensive tackle have to be addressed since there are potential free agent losses after the season. Tight end and offensive tackle are also areas where the team has to look for immediate help. Since the Bills only have 6 total picks, there’s not much room to address other positions in the draft. This could be an elite team in 2005 since the only positions that need an immediate upgrade are offensive tackle, kicker and possibly tight end. This draft, for the most part is for 2006, not 2005. Once Travis Henry is traded, the draft picture will become a lot more focused.

Good! Spending a top pick on a guy who will be changing positions to something he never did before is insanity.

I'm starting to think that Andrew Walter may have pushed himself back into the 1st round. I could see him going before Frye, Orton or Campbell. Remember when Kelly was injured in college & still went in the 1st round. Here's the latest on Walter: 04/07/2005 - ANDREW WALTER RETURNS TO ARIZONA STATE WITH AN IMPRESSIVE WORKOUT ON PRO DAY TEMPE, ARIZONA (April 6, 2005) - After four months of intense rehab, the Sun Devil quarterback who set almost every Arizona State University career and single season passing record, returned to Arizona State for an anticipated and impressive workout. Scouts and QB coaches from various NFL teams eagerly waited and studied each throw of the 6’6” Quarterback who experienced a 3rd degree separation of his AC joint in his right shoulder during the final game of the 2004 season. At his pro day Wednesday, Andrew ran in the low 4.8’s in the 40, and threw approximately 65 balls in front of an audience that included NFL quarterback coaches from the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears. Prior to the injury, Andrew Walter was considered one of the top QB prospects in the upcoming draft. Many feel Andrew deserves to still be there. According to Darcy Norman of Athletes Performance Institute, who was in charge of Walter’s rehab, “Walter is way ahead of schedule for recovery. He is on schedule to be able to fully participate in his upcoming mini camp. That’s amazing after only five months”. Norman also added that, “he is a hard working, diligent athlete who has treated this process as a true professional”. This is a guy that has a history of playing against long odds and winning. In a high school varsity basketball game he once played an entire game with a broken finger, while scoring 20 points and hitting four clutch free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win! Injury or no injury, this is a talented player who was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and the semi finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award last season. Walter also earned second-team All- Pac-10 honors, breaking Jake Plummer's career passing marks by 1,790 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also broke the Pac-10 career touchdown record with 85, ending the previous 21 year old mark held by Stanford great John Elway (77 TDs). Walter is the only QB in school history to have 3,000 passing yards in a season while being voted co-captain in each of those three seasons. Elite Sports PR Management 04/07/2005 - (Pro Day note, Next Level Scouting, Inc) - ARIZONA STATE (April 6th) senior quarterback ANDREW WALTER ran between 4.85 and 4.88 in the 40... some had him a little faster; 4.82... weighs 6054, 235 pounds... showed good footwork and moved fairly well through his intial positional drills... able to do a full assortment of passing drills (30 minutes)... threw from both the drop back and roll out, which may have helped him more than anything... as some came away more impressed with his footwork/mobility than previously... did not show too much wear on his arm strength, considering he is only four months removed from surgery to correct a third-degree separation of his throwing shoulder... a few of his (deep) passes wobbled and were less accurate than normal... but he did a good enough job to convince teams that he will be back or near full strength by the start of training camp... plus the team that drafts him will be able to decide how to best complete his rehab and how much throwing he will actually do in early rookie camps... also received an updated and positive evaluation last weekend at the Combine's medical re-check.

Here's the Devil's Advocate answer to why Jacko may get off: He's not on trial for any of the past deeds that these people are testifying about. He may be guilty of all his past deeds, but if the jury is convinced that he is not guilty of the crime he is charged - molesting a child who is from a family of lying grifters, he may legitimately get off. This family has been shown to have lied to get money out of a store & it's not much of a stretch to think they saw Jacko as an easy mark. If he gets off, it's because they never prosecuted him for the crimes against the honest & believable witnesses. Want to blame someone for Jacko being a free man-blame the DA's office for choosing the worst possible case to prosecute, not the jury if they let him go.

There won't be many nasty signs hanging around because security will make them take it down. In the 1/91 AFC Championship Game someone hung a sign that said "Bo knows the Raiders suck" It was gone ASAP. The team wants to portray itself as family friendly even though we all know it's BS, so the easiest way is to take down offensive signs because that stuff shows up on the TV cameras a lot easier than drunk, cursing, fighting fans do.

Lenny P: "He's traded, he's not traded, he's traded, he's not traded-my @ss is covered, I'm right again, I'm an NFL Savant!"

One factor which you haven't accounted for: How much do you downgrade a player's trade value when he's in the final year of his contract? Travis Henry is definitely worth a 2nd if he's got 2 or more years left on his contract. But, would you give up a 2nd-where you can draft a player who you can lock up for 4 years for a player who can be 1 & done?

I think Bannan makes it due to ironman capabilities, Smith maybe, Sobieski has to be healthy & improved. Until I hear Euhus is advancing as well as Campbell, I only see 1 NFL TE on the roster. OL will be easy to address next year when we have a 1st round pick. Gotta get ready for Idol @ 8, like Seacrest says-Out. It looks like Scott the abuser's last stand.

Thanks, it looks like you like my football posts better than political ones

If we get Shelton then the OL does not become immediate need & we still have Tucker to backup G/C. Gandy for backup G/T and McFarland/Bannan/Sobieski/Peters/Smith as backup depth. Only Teague & Bannan would be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. We would have added 3 linemen in the offseason prior to the draft. Meanwhile, both our starting CBs are in the final year of their contracts, Nate's unrestricted. We have to have a plan if one (or both with good compensation for McGee) leaves. CB has to be our biggest need going into the draft unless Nate is signed to an extension. Additionally, both starting caliber TEs are coming off knee surgery. TD said after the season that due to this TE would be addressed in offseason. If we move up it's for CB or TE, not OL. Also any dreams of Nugent are gone.

That was the 1st Bills road game I ever saw. I went with a group a Jets season ticket holders who were friends of a co-worker & had an extra seat. The Jets had gotten trounced by the Raiders 31-0 on opening day & I thought we had a legitimate chance of winning. When we went up 3-0 I was smelling victory. Next thing I knew the Jets kept scoring & everyone but a handful of people left the stadium. All the Jets fans around me went home & I was about the only one left in the section-all I wanted was the Bills to score a TD before the game ended. At least it was an easy ride home since by the end of the game the parking lot had already emptied out. My 1st Bills game was December 9, 1973, the Bills last home game of the year. They beat the Patriots 37-13, O.J. rushed for 219 yards and didn't murder anyone. The thing I remember most is the lousy weather. It was a very wet snow & even with the blanket I brought in we got totally soaked (the blanket was wet & steaming by the 4th quarter) & then had to drive back to Fredonia. I took all my clothes & the blanket & put them in the dryer as soon as we got back to the dorm.

$3 million dollar salary to play the Marcus Price role...NO!

The main problem with trading for Henry is you only have him under contract for 1 year, but...he's a cheap $1.25 million in salary and cap for 2005 if you trade for him. So, if you need a RB & are thinking about seeing how Travis fits in with your team at very little risk, then Travis is worth trading for. If you want to have a RB locked up for the next few seasons-don't trade for Travis. Shelton has value as well, since he plays a position where a guy of his talents is usually overpaid. Since Arizona gave him big upfront money & he has a few years left on his contract, you get him at a reduced price. In addition, he is low risk because he counts $3 million in salary & cap for 2005 & with his present contract, if he doesn't work out in 2005, you cut him with no cap ramifications in future seasons. Also, by trading for him instead of waiting for him to be released, you have him locked in, rather than getting into a bidding war where you'll have to pay him at least $3 million this year & could get hit with cap hits in future years if he doesn't work out. Both players are on 1 year trials with their new team, but I'd rather have the player who, if he works out in your system, you don't have to worry about losing in 1 year. Because of the contracts involved, I believe Shelton has more value than Henry. Both lost their jobs and neither team really wants them back in 2005. The trade helps both teams stay within cap constraints & fill a void in the lineup. If TD can get the switch of #2s thrown in, he's doing very good. He can then pick the top TE or CB left on the board in the 2nd round. Odds of finding a good one increases when moving up to Arizona's spot.

6th round, pick 150 in 1987 draft

All it means is, if it's something like what round a player was drafted or how many yards a player ran for in a given game if I'm not 100% sure I look it up to be sure I'm accurately stating something that happened. If I vaguely remember something but can't verify it I'll say something like "he fumbled in the double digits" as I did recently referring to Henry since his fumble stats weren't readily available. Since I have access to about 20 Bills media guides & draft orders publications since the merger, I prefer not to wing it when discussing absolute events. The post's origin really had nothing to do with ego. It was the result of viewing a lot of inaccurate statements over the offseason on a variety of boards that I visit & in the media. Unfortunately, Pac_Man's post was the one I specifically cited, although I didn't see his post as any different than other's which had me building up to my post. (Sorry for singling you out Pac_Man) The frustrations of an offseason of people saying things a lot worse than Pac_Man got me to the point that I had to say something. The members of the national media are among the biggest offenders & I'd had enough. There was nothing I feel that was egotistical about demanding an attempt at accuracy when someone makes a statement. Most things stated on this board are opinions, and anyone is entitled to think & post whatever they want (Although if someone says we're going to trade the team to SF to draft a QB they should expect a lot of negative feedback). But when you are stating historical facts, you should be more careful. If you're stating an absolute but can't verify it just say "I think" before the statement & that tells others you recall to the best of your abilities but didn't verify it.

He's on the outs with Denny Green. Green came to Arizona & didn't like his OL. Why I don't know (other than Shelton reported to camp overweight), but the 1st thing he did was bounce Pete Kendall, who had a solid year with the Jets in 2004. Shelton for Henry is low risk because Henry is in the final year of his contract, while Shelton's $3 million salary is reasonable for a starting LT. As long as TD doesn't do something stupid, like restructuring Shelton (like he did with Bledsoe), if Shelton bombs we can cut him with no cap hit in future years since Arizona is taking the full hit on his bonus. With Shelton it's an upgrade over moving Teague or going with an untested LT.

I was with you until you put Peters in there. Peters will be a ST player & not see the field at all at TE as he attempts to learn the T position. I still don't get the board's love of a guy who is really nothing more than (potentially) the Mark Pike of the 21st century. He's not a good enough TE & he's too raw at OL-ST are his ticket to the 2005 roster. He'd have no chance of making the team without his special teams play.

That's why I limited my statements to NFL/Bills. You can find anything in print to support a political view, be it totally true or totally false, but if a guy was drafted in the 1st round or rushed for 100 yards on a given Sunday, you can't revise history-call him a 2nd day pick or say he rushed for 40 yards and find anything to support your statement.

No, I don't agree that you should blame the media. What has happened is that political parties have moved away from center, coveting the lunatic fringes of the right & left as their hard core supporters. As a result each party has about 20-30% of the vote that will never vote for a candidate from any other political party but their own. These people tend to make more noise than the centrists and therefore get more media coverage, resulting in the perception of a divided America when it is not nearly as divided as is perceived by some.

A disturbing trend I've noticed is a lot of posters wing it on their memories and post totally erroneous information as facts in their posts when discussing NFL drafts/games/stats/history. The latest example today is a post which names 3 out of the 5 players who were 1st day selections by TD in Pittsburgh as 2nd day selections. My question is: how many of you don't give a rat's @ss what the truth is & will post anything to increase your # of posts & how many feel some sense of responsibility to get it right when you post "facts" This obviously does not apply to opinions, only stuff you can look up somewhere. I feel posters should have a sense of responsibilty. Whenever I'm posting facts, I try to look it up if I have any questions as to the accuracy of my statements about the Bills/NFL. If I can't find the answer in one of my publications, I'll say something that clearly gives the reader the information I'm not 100% sure of my statement about history. We need to be a little more diligent when giving out information.

Rod Woodson 1st round Dermontti Dawson-2nd round Greg Lloyd-6th round Barry Foster-5th in a 12 round draft Bam Morris-3rd round Your statement about 2nd day players is an astonishing 60% wrong. Next time look things up before making unfounded statements

Here's the whole list http://www.stadiumwall.com/index.php?showtopic=19781

Is LP available? Can't be any worse than Green, unless he's in jail somewhere. Dayne & Green? I'd rather have Shaud Williams & Joe Burns. Why is it that no matter how bad a player is, the minute he's available, or becomes unavailable people on this board believe we can turn another team's trash into our treasure