BillsVet

A player from outside the South? Maybe Nix isn't making the call anymore.

Then I don't know what to tell you. The league is trending away from bigger linemen and teams aren't taking them, save Fluker in the first. And there aren't too many teams winning by running the ball. Peterson ran for 2k+ and Minnesota barely made the post-season. I'd say, probably as a result of the spread's proliferation in the college game, that athletic linemen are going to become more common. The bigger types are going the way of the dinosaur and Nix, at least from 2010-12, was behind the curve.

It seems, at least from 2010-12, that Nix differs significantly with the rest of the NFL on what to look for in lineman. Of the 8 OL picked 1-20, only Fluker goes above 320. OTOH, Nix drafted Cordy Glenn as a tackle who is about 345 and picked Hairston who goes about 330. Bottom line is, the league is getting smaller and more mobile at OL to support pass first offenses. Nix, at least in those drafts and via the UDFA/waiver wire market, has gone bigger. The premium placed on pass blocking to support these pass first offenses is increasing. Most teams aren't looking for 330 pounds who might win in a phone booth but struggle with speed. And it's why teams are going earlier with blockers and not just this year. You just don't typically find athletic lineman who can handle edge rushers and in late rounds and via UDFA, street FA's, or the waiver wire.

Did they not have "buzz" last year when Mario came to town and then signed? It's nice to have the football world mention you and your QB selection. But I couldn't care less about "buzz."

No, they're not. I just can't see Nix pulling off something like this.

The Bills don't typically acquire top 5 or top 10 position level talent. And so, it's rare they have to negotiate a contract extension with these caliber of players. It was only 4 years ago when Jason Peters' camp demanded too much and Russ had him traded. If, and it's only an if right now, Buffalo trades Byrd it sends a message that they're not willing to pay for their own drafted and developed types to play here. And while Steve Johnson got a good size contract, he's just not top-5 or top-10 at his position. Byrd can be considered that and will expect to be paid as such. If you trade players to get out from under their contracts it's impossible to build a football team. Eugene Parker may be a tough agent to negotiate with, but running away from him is not the answer here either. I would be more confident they had a decent rebuilding strategy if the team president weren't a football neophyte and the GM had a shred of management credibility.

Another item. It's well-known that the Jets have a need for another QB and I doubt their new GM Idzik wants to go with Sanchez regardless of inheriting the HC. And so, does Buffalo pass on Nassib and allow their division rival to have a shot at him?

You have to wonder what precipitated the Nassib hype the past month. Is it everyone just following the next person or did he really improve during the off-season that much? I wasn't enamored with his Senior Bowl effort nor the combine performance, but perhaps people know that someone is using a high first round pick on him and these draftniks want to say they ranked him highly when he's picked. Either way, teams need QB's as is the case every season. Problem is, there are moderate issues with each top prospect. I think Nassib appeals because he's a safe pick to some, but he does have issues that might prove hard to overcome at the pro level. JMO.

Bills ticket selling strategy in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2013. The coaching failures are a symptom of the root cause that is Bills management failure, which includes the GM, president and/or owner. I think HC's get blamed because to the casual surface level fan, they're visible and so are their game-day decisions. Meanwhile, GM's typically are rarely seen and most of their work is done in a conference room or away from a camera I doubt it. Teams that change defenses typically need time to adjust to and learn the scheme. Part of the reason this organization has been on the merry-go round of defensive ineptitude has been the constant changing of their scheme. 4-3 Cover 2 from 06-09, 3-4 (followed by the amazing 5-2) in 2010-11. Then a 4-3 under by Wannstedt. To think they'll ace the next defensive change because they've played everything before is extremely remote. Going to take time to acclimate for the players to Pettine's scheme.

Buddy was pretty silent after his meltdown on WGR in November. Thought I'd read someone talked to him about keeping quiet. But yes, Nix isn't the most adept at subterfuge and tends to shoot too much from the hip. I'm sure Berchtold is working untold hours this off-season keeping their hopefully lame duck GM from saying anything advantageous to the other teams. Of course, when you put yourself into a hole at QB, talk about taking one, never do, and then have your back against the wall it's not hard to figure out what Buffalo will do. That is, unless Nix is now a figurehead and others are making decisions now. Who knows.

Not quite. Those teams, Cincinnati and San Francisco (both with 2 playoff appearances in 2011-12) picked A.J. Green and Aldon Smith respectively with their first round picks. I'd say they had a better handle on the draft than most teams did and managed to get outstanding value thus far with their top two selections.

Moving Williams to safety is not cause for celebration. It's further indictment that talent evaluation, at least in the 2011 draft, ain't what it was cracked up to be. What makes it worse is two now starting QB's were taken directly behind Williams and neither team felt the need to trade up in front of Buffalo to take them. I'm not sure how they knew or whether they just have great poker faces. IMO, moving a CB to S is like moving an OT to G. The former positions are harder to find, and moving them to the latter is an indication the player needs help. Nix drafted Williams to play CB and the new coaching staff is saying he can't play there after only 2 NFL seasons. They can't get rid of Nix soon enough.

Everytime I hear Buddy speak, it reminds me of Taggart played by Slim Pickens from Blazing Saddles:

Don't put words into my mouth. I'm referring only to the most recent rebuild attempt these past three years which resulted in 4, 6, and 6 wins. The team spent considerably on free agents, had 3 years of draft picks, and a coach who we were told was better than his predecessor. If you want to quibble over my comment, so be it. But don't tell me what I think.

Is anyone, name or not, allowed to say bad things about the Bills? I'm wondering because winning 1/3rd of your games probably means your roster is pretty bad. And considering that there is 1 NFL WR on the roster, TE is thin, they just lost a starting guard, and have little at QB beside journeymen, I'd say Mr. No-Name is fairly right on. Seattle began a turn-around the same year Buffalo started their ill-fated rebuilding attempt. The Seahawks prioritized larger corners, invested heavily in the pass rush, and traded for some RB that another unnamed team took a 4th and 5th for who happened to be in the middle of his career. Why are the Bills unable to rebuild across multiple GM, HC's, QB's, and team presidents? Could it be that their organizational structure prevents rather than permits improvement? We'll see what Marrone gets out of this roster come September, but people above him have a huge say in on-field performance and none of those people have changed.

The name Eugene Parker should ring a bell around here. He's Byrd's agent and just happened to be Jason Peters' representative. Good luck Russ/Overdorf. http://www.kval.com/sports/Former-Ducks--194387051.html Buffalo spent a boatload on UFA's last year in hopes of getting over the edge. Now that Buddy's first rebuild has failed miserably, it looks like they're unable to re-sign one of their own draft picks as those contracts are inhibiting them. And before anyone says you can't sign them all, Byrd has been on the radar for more than just one season.

After 6+ years and 5k+ posts do you have to ask? I guess this is your response when facts get in the way of your optimism for optimism crusade. Sorry if we're not all unicorns and rainbows because you tell us we should be.

There are several people who "bang the drum" on RW going before the team wins again. And for those like you promoting Brandon in his new role as the move to end all moves, why could he not create a winner in his 2 seasons as GM? But things have changed now? As for the Bills stinking, well, if 16-32 isn't that I don't know now what is. Are we only allowed to complain to your omniscience when Buffalo is win-less or picking top 5 three years running?

Turnover in the front office? Where? The same GM is there. The same assistant GM is there. The same college scouting and pro personnel directors are there (both hired in 2011). What's changed? That the owner's golden boy is team president? That a bad HC was replaced with a more unknown entity? Frankly, there's a lot of unknowns. One predictable thing is fans in their homer-dom ascribing far too much credit before anything significant happens. This is another rebuild and it's going to be painful.

Let's be clear. You're citing severely flawed franchises, most of which are drafting top 10 this year, to illustrate Buddy isn't alone in his ineptness? In other words, other bad teams really do what Buddy does, therefore Buddy isn't wrong. Outstanding. And BTW, you didn't answer my question, choosing to hide behind merely conflating the argument. Are we allowed to be cynical when the team team wins only 1/3 of their games? Do tell. I need someone to define my fan-hood for me.

Considering the Browns, Jags, Panthers, and Raiders all replaced the GM's, I don't think the comparisons carry weight. And are we allowed to be cynical when the team wins 1/3 of their games, or are we just not good fans for wanting more? You tell me.

Buddy is the only one who adheres to this plan of build up the lines and insert QB at the end. No other team in the NFL does this. And given that QB's are set up for success better than at any other time in NFL history with PI and roughness liberally called, it makes no sense. The greatest force multiplier on any team is the QB and with that in mind, you get the guy first and, perhaps simultaneously, build the OL. Atlanta did it drafting Matt Ryan and trading up to get his LT. That's how a real GM operates. Buddy's plan has been a flip-flopping horror show. On defense he tried to convert to a 3-4 without the pieces, wasted resources building it, then scrapped that scheme for a 4-3 only 2 years later. He signed core players to contracts like Fitzpatrick and Kelsay who are now gone. Frankly, no one cares about buzz, and it was Buddy himself in that infamous press conference back in early 2010 who said show me the baby. Well, this has to be the longest pregnancy on record.

Even for you this generalizes a lot. Bills fans don't have collective ADD. They just want a winner after waiting so long and it ain't happening in 2013. As for the Redskins, Snyder started getting better when he hired a real NFL HC who brought with him a real NFL GM and got rid of Vinnie Cerrato. And they haven't spent tremendously in UFA, building through the draft and reaching the playoffs. I'd also point out they (along with Seattle) both began their massive rebuilds the same year Nix did in Buffalo. And what of a franchise QB? Do you blame Nix for that situation and the Bills perpetual rebuilding continuing this year?

Completely different scenario in Jacksonville. New GM came in and fired the previous (and failed) GM's HC hired the year before. New GM's typically want their own HC and aren't going to wait around for someone else's guy to succeed or fail. They act now because their rep is on the line. And then there's Buffalo, who do everything in their power not to ensure substantive change takes place. Sure, they'll fire a HC or get rid of a college scouting director who served 4 GM's, but they'll never blow up the operation. They never hire anyone from outside the organization, like Jacksonville did straight to the GM job. And right now no team in the NFL needs a fresh set of eyes on the franchise more than Buffalo. No one.

Gotta have something to hype for 2013. Coaching changes and last year's big ticket UFA probably don't carry over into 2013.