ThreeBillsDrive

They have a lot invested in him. But the Fins have better insight into what the current and projected medical reports are saying on his recovery. Will they be willing to run with Cleo Lemon or some other 2nd stringer if Culpepper needs more time to recover?

That's a good point. If we get the Ravens 2nd rounder, it will virtually be like a high 3rd round pick.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/footbal...sports-football The Ravens have expressed interest in a trade for the Buffalo Bills' Willis McGahee, and Lewis has begun to set up visits, beginning with the Cleveland Browns. Although neither the Ravens nor Lewis has ruled out a return, the tone was drastically different from last Wednesday, when the Ravens cut Lewis to avoid paying him a $5 million roster bonus. "At this point, I'm less optimistic than I was last week," Lewis' agent, Mitch Frankel, said yesterday. The Ravens have maintained that their preference is to keep Lewis and have a standing one-year offer on the table to the franchise's all-time leading rusher. "They have made an original offer that hasn't changed and one that Jamal won't accept," Frankel said. It is believed the next candidate on the Ravens' running back list is McGahee. It probably would take a first-day draft pick to acquire McGahee, who has averaged 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the Bills. One possibility for the Ravens is reuniting McGahee with his starting fullback, Daimon Shelton, a free agent whom the Ravens also have shown interest in. Buffalo appears willing to part with McGahee immediately because it brought in free-agent running backs Dominic Rhodes and Chris Brown for visits yesterday. At this point, the presumed pecking order for the Ravens is Lewis, McGahee and Corey Dillon. Compared to Lewis, McGahee runs with similar power, is two years younger at 25 but is more expensive. McGahee will earn $2.15 million in 2007 (the final year of his contract) and is seeking an extension. A first-round pick out of the University of Miami in 2003, McGahee is coming off his worst season, rushing for 990 yards and six touchdowns. In his first two seasons, he averaged 91.3 yards in games he started. The Bills are listening to trade offers for McGahee because he is expected to be a holdout in training camp if he doesn't get a contract extension. McGahee also didn't endear himself to Buffalo this offseason with a run of bad publicity. He was hit with his third paternity suit in two years and then suggested in an interview with Penthouse magazine that the Bills should move to Toronto (though he later said his comments were taken out of context). If the Ravens acquire McGahee, it would be logical to bring in Shelton to replace Ovie Mughelli, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons. A 10-year veteran who has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and Bills, Shelton fits the Ravens' fullback mold. He is a mauling-type blocker at 6 feet, 262 pounds. But the Ravens' priority is finding a starting running back. The hope is to have that spot resolved this week because a thin free-agent group is dwindling. Besides Lewis and McGahee, the other options would be Dillon, Brown and perhaps Rhodes. A free agent from the Indianapolis Colts, Rhodes met with the Bills yesterday and the New York Giants on Monday. He is then expected to travel to Tampa Bay and Oakland.

Green wants to be a starter. If the Fins get Green, it may signal what early medical reports are signalling about Culpepper's recovery. It may be going much slower than expected.

While it's unlikely, I hope Marv holds out somehow for a 2nd round pick. It's doubtful based on how the Bears-Jets Thomas Jones deal was structured, but let's try to salvage something for the guy.

If the RCA Dome comes with the package, that alone is a deal-breaker for me.

Let him be a Fins problem not a Bills problem

Maybe Pioli can take a break from the Patriots box next season and return kicks for the Pats in their two Fin games. That'll allow the Fins to extract some sweet revenge on his dirty dealing using the dreaded poison pill.

LSI Cadets, are you kidding here. You can't be serious with that statement. Our #1 RB????????

The key is that DJ likes him a lot so I think the team will make a way to keep him in the fold somehow. But as a starting, feature back? Never.

He needs to work his @ss off for 16 games behind the new behemoth O-line to increase his market value so his snake oil salesman agent can better peddle him around the league in March 2008.

Never. Anthony Thomas will not be the starter for the Bills.

We can call it the "Bills Control Center"! ... a great service that keeps all of us up-to-date on breaking Bills news, by the second

The problem with Anthony Thomas is that he doesn't allow holes to develop. He attacks holes too early. Instinctually, he's not a class A back in the NFL. He's a good backup. He is excellent when we need a blocking back as well. DJ likes him so he's not going anywhere.

Don't fret Lad he will.

Very good.

Thanks for that. Does that put to rest the claim by the "Oakland radio station" that Moss was "traded" the Pats?

ESPN's "NFL Live" show on Tuesday night reported that it was doubtful that the Patriots would make a trade, so I'd question the credibility of what you hear on that Oakland radio station in the future.

I'd take Bledsoe back as our #3 before Weinke now that the Cowboys have cut him.

But you gave Lewis a hearty thumbs up in your post in this thread: http://www.stadiumwall.com/index.php?showt...60780&st=20 Is that a flip-flop or are you talking out of both sides of your mouth?

I agree .... Rhodes won't sign with us My guess is that he'll sign with the Giants after meeting with them on Wednesday

You hit the nail on the head perfectly.

Why are you surprised? Team managements have to prioritize their time and decisions. The team has had a very active free agent period. The combine recently ended. Any management, whether a football team or company, needs to establish priorities with limited time resources. We know DJ likes A-train. The team's desire to keep him has likely been communicated to him. They'll get it done. So relax a bit and get back to your homework.

They blew up their whole front office and coaching staff last season so we'll see if things will change.

He had zero impact on the team during his year here.