Dr. Trooth

Rather than the "next Stevie", I'd prefer the Bills set their sights higher. 70 snags a season doesn't cut it any more for a #1 wr. I'm thinking 95+ is where it's at for a #1... and the Bills could sure use one.

WASTE? It is not likely to come down to a Fitz-Jax competition. Bills will draft their future qb on day one. You suggest that it would suck if the defense turned it around and their record was 6-10 or 8-8. Well, even if Fitz were to be the QB, it is virtually the same offense with perhsps an upgrade at wr and te. So, if Bills have the same offense and the D kicks it into a top 10 or 12, there is no way in hell the Bills could not win at least 9 games. They would have won 9 this season if the D had at least ranked in thetop 20.

True. They need lbs. But who is to say Anderson & Kelsay do not fit into the mix. If they lined up today, the two afore mentioned plus Bradham would be in the mix on the outside with Shep, Moats, White, and potentially Bradham inside. Also, the Bills can fill holes at lb via FA, short and longterm. Example... Bills could fill short term holes at lb with Bart Scott & Cal Pace, or look longer term with Ellerbe, Krueger, Barwin. And they could supplement whatever direction they take in FA regarding lb by drafting some lbs. At QB the Bills don't really have that option in FA because there really isn't a qb out there that you'd want, short or long term. Lastly... there aren't a whole lot of Bills fans out there that would be enamoured with Anderson & Kelsay lining up at olb and Sheppard & Moats inside, based on their performances over the past 3 seasons. You can't totally disregard that, but looking forward, are those guys better suited to playing in Pettine's attacking downhill style of defense rather than the read and react defenses they've been playong in? Or, are at least some of them better suited to Pettine's defense, and which ones. Marrone and Pettine will sort that out. I will say this. If the Bills grab Nassib @ #8, it would not surprise me at all if Fitz is cut in June if he doesn't take a cap friendly pay cut. That way, the cap hit would roll to 2014 and would be only be in the $4m range.

True. And, neither was the class of 2000. Pennington was the only clear cut #1. A qb wasn't drafted til rd. 3 after he was taken in the 1st. Redman was a journeyman and Pennington was beset by arm/shoulder inuries. Only one standing is Brady. Brady has avg. arm strength and limited mobility. His football mentality is off the charts and that is what makes him elite. Fast forward to 2013. Similar scenario. Lean year for QB. Consensus seems to be pointing to Geno Smith as the clear #1. But there is one qb out there that, 1 - has a higher fb mentality than any of them as well as IQ. And 2 - is physically stronger than any of them. And based on Whaley's comments about fitting, Bills will draft him at #8 because he won't be there at 41. He's likely to put up excellent measurables at the combine as well. Nassib.

I read into it that there's a new coaching staff in the beginning stages of assembing 85 players which they believe will yield 53 productive players by Sept. 2013. And, I bet I'm spot on.

Justin Pugh is an LT

You can make cases for both. Looks like both will command around $6m and Bills could Tag Byrd, then potentially sign Landry, then remove the tag from Byrd. On one hand, Byrd is a known ballhawk, but not very physical playing down in the box as well as up top, a requirement in Pettine's scheme. Byrd hasn't missed a game in the past two seasons, although he's been dinged up a bit. On the other hand, Landry is a known hammer and will go down in the box and jack people up. And, although not known as a balhawk, he does well in coverage and, obvioulsly fits Pettine's scheme. He's also regarded as a top 5 or 6 safety... a cross between Reed and Polomalu. He missed games due to injuries the past three seasons... half the season in 2010 and 2011 with the skins and one with the Jets last year. So, health has to be a consideration. Landry is considerably bigger... by two inches and 20 lbs. and faster. He's also exactly 2 yrs. older. Might be a tougher decision than we believe it to be. You have the rules changing about hitting defenseless players, as well as defending the read option. Also, Byrd has played in a read and react scheme for the past four years and may or may not be a good fit for what the Bills want to do going forward. However, he's not played in attack mode before, so there's no history to say that he can or cannot. But, I just get this sense that the Pettine scheme needs their safeties to be a cross between a lightweight 3-4 LB and a safety.... something that I might add may bode well for Bryan Scott. It's gonna come down to best "fit" for the scheme. If you were to weigh five year deals, Landry will be 33 at the end and Byrd 31. Landry is in his prime, Byrd is just getting there. So what's it gonna be?

2 year deal according to KFFL.

A chance to what? the dude has less than a 78 career QB rating. Hecould never hold on to a starting position. He took 42 sacks in 2011. If he has to play, it's gonna suck. More training camp fodder.

I'm surmising that he heard there's a new sheriff in town that doesn't take s#it. Maybe he's concerned that after the staff graded film on him and ran the analytics they weren't impressed.

Dudes.... CHILL!! Bills are just doing their job. They take 85 to camp. 32 of them end up being fodder. Corp is one of em. I'm damn certain that every team in the NFL does this. That's how all teams end up with 85 in camp.

A lot of ya are still missing the point. I get that Fitz sucks and, for the Bills, change is necessary at QB. But, if Fitz were cut it's basically cap neutral and the Bills would still have to pay at least $7m for a starting QB (and potentially a draft pick). There is no one out there that is a significant upgrade over Fitz unless the Bills chase Flacco in FA... and that will bury them cap wise for a few years). And, please, Alex Smith aint an upgrade and neither is Flynn. Biting the bullet on Fitz for one more season. The real problem with this team is on defense anyway... and not just a little problem. They haven't been ranked higher than #23 in years... that's pathetic and that causes problems for any offense... especially one that has been playing with a QB who has limitiations, only one competent wr, a barely adequate TE, and an offensive line that seemingly can't play a full season without losing three starters for a significant # of games. Considering the circumstances this year, the offense is the only reason the Bills won 6 games. Had they played down to the level of the defense, we'd easlly be looking at the #1 pick right now.

Gil Brandt is as old school as they come. The game passed him by 20 years ago. Can you sight me any examples of his accuracy on anything?

Dudes. Bills aint cutting Fitz. Come back and show me the love on March 4th. The logic? 1) Cutting Fitz gives the Bills only a 450k benefit this year. So, virtually no cap relief this year. 2) Cutting Fitz gives the Bills no qb at all. No qb at all means Bills have no leverage in trades, no leverage in negotiating for a FA qb, and no leverage in any potential trade up in the draft. With that, my friends, do you think the Bills are really that stupid to cut Fitz without having a SIGNIFICANTLY better option at qb RIGHT NOW???... like before he's cut.

Great. I guess the message is let some other team show Andy the money and let him disappear ala Mario. On a side note, but definitely related , I can't think of any player on the Bills in the past 10 years that the Bills showed the money to and they played much better than they played before they got shown the money. Roscoe, Kelsay, Fitz, Fred, Wilson, Merriman, Stevie, Chandler, Kyle. Aint seen any of them lead the team to a playoff game or even make 1st team AFC. Can anyone help me out here? If the Bills show Andy & Byrd the money, say $13m between them, are they gonna kick it up a couple notches or are the Bills paying for the same level of play they've been getting? Is there an upside to these two? Are they gonna get better & better each year? Mario had a reputation. Outside of Buffalo Andy & Byrd never commanded the type of attention Mario did and arent really considered in the top 5 at their position, otherwise we'd be looking at 1st team probowlers.

So what if Philly picks Smith. What do you want the Bills to do, lose their #8 & 40 pick and possibly a 4th rounder to move up to #3 in front of the Eagles? Whose to say KC or Jax won't pull the string on Smith?

True. However, there is a difference in stripping the ball and physically jacking up the ball carrier. Pettine prefers that receivers have a certain doubt about going over the middle for fear of getting knocked cold. Byrd doesn't frighten too many receivers.

Gees guys. Based on Pettine's flavor in safeties I'd have to say he prefers 4-3 linebackers at safety. That sure doesn't bode will for Byrd. He does not like the box and he does not play physical.

Moore is a UFA, Moats is under contract. Moore is a UFA, Moats is under contract. So, only one can be cut.

Ridiculous and absurd. He's got two yrs. left on his contract for one and won't be a cap causulty. Why would the Jets let him go when they are already going to dump Scott and Pace. Do the Jets just S#it LBS?

Will they add a 12th player and nix 4th down?

Kelsay aint a bad player. The bigger question is value... can you get what he brings to the table for a lot less money?

Moats has been mishandled from the beginning. He's a downhill player that is not good in space. He's got good size, strength, he is physical and I have a hunch he'd excell at ilb and especially blitzing up the middle. Pettine will figure it out.

Maybe not. He has significant experience at de in the 4-3 and two full years as olb in a 3-4. Most everyone believes him to be worthless as a olb in the 3-4, but everyone in Edwards defense looked worthless. It was also a read and react 3-4, not an attacking downhill 3-4 that Pettine will deploy. So, Kelsay, more than anyone on the front 7, gives Pettine the most versatility of any player. As with any 3-4, I don't care who lines up where, if you don't have a quality NT, you will suck. The Bills do not have a quality NT on the roster. It has to be a high priority in the offseason.

Shep will do much better as an ilb in a 3-4. I also see Moats pairing with him at the other ilb.