BillsVet

Guy was fired three plus weeks after Nix was hired. And given that Brandon couldn't fire Jauron when he was GM, it stands to reason it wasn't all Nix's to make when Guy's job was on the line. What's ironic is just 2 years previous, both Guy and Modrak were promoted to be Vice Presidents at OBD. And, this was after they signed Dockery and Walker to those big contracts. No matter who the public face of the franchise is, there are still people lurking behind them who have power. The names are familiar, but the result remains the same and until new ownership comes on board, those 12 years of sheer futility will be grouped together.

The starting DE's on the roster are Shawne Merriman and Chris Kelsay. One is chronically injured and most likely wouldn't be on an NFL roster without Buffalo and the other will be 33 during the season. Neither are known as guys who put pressure on the QB as DE's in a 40 front, with Merriman having never played the position before. Buffalo needs 2 DE's, especially now that Carrington will be a backup 1 or 3 tech DT and won't revert to his college position as a 40 front DE.

Allow me to play you for a moment: Prove me wrong. And what prompted that outburst from RW after Tebow was selected in the first round? Argue if you will, but owners do not call out other teams after draft day about what they've done wrong. Bizarre behavior from an elderly man who clearly had something in mind when he made that statement.

Well, season ticket sales will most likely be taking another hit after last year. They signed TO after RW ordered Brandon, so it's not out of the question. That goes especially for Tebow, who RW wanted and then came out and said he didn't. Shanahan takes a lot of risks and needs significant resources to be successful and never would get that here with the club to be sold mentality. I just wish the Bills would reward their fan base by signing a big name UFA in lieu of waiting for Buddy's 4 year plan after a then 10 year hiatus from the playoffs. We'll see when the clock hits 4PM on 3/13.

Main difference between Rico's quote was that this year the inevitable decline happened a little later than normal. When a player, like a Jason Peters leaves those same pollyanna's say the team was bad with him. When Buffalo retains someone, in this case SJ, everyone runs to the mountain top to shout how things are now different. Well, keeping SJ was something that both sides needed. As good a deal as it appears for team and player, they need to add to him beginning Tuesday at 4PM. Just saying you'll build through the draft while signing some scrub UFA's, and picking up cast-offs isn't enough to be more than 7-9. Ah well, it's the off-season. 2011 is a distant and nearly forgotten for some.

So you're replying to your own post of nearly a month ago to, yes, call a me out because Scott Chandler and SJ have re-signed? Awesome. For the record, I'm not a "Ralph is Cheap" type, nor can anyone unilaterally be described that way who understands the motivation at OBD. It's much more nuanced than being pro or anti-RW as you're attempting to portray it. Before we get all giddy, let's see how UFA opens up. RE: the latest signings...Buffalo absolutely needed to retain SJ, if nothing else because no one else behind him is close to being a 1 or a 2 receiver. Scott Chandler is a slightly above replacement level TE who struggles to separate between the 20s, totaling less than 50 yards receiving in 11 of 14 games. Sure, someone will cite his 6 TD catches, but he also had 8 games of less than 30 yards receiving. Two years of rebuilding and needs all over the field: WR, LT, RDE, DE depth, TE not to mention a long term answer at QB. Those just happen to be the hardest to find positions in the modern NFL. They have a long way to go and we'll see if they're all-in like Buddy makes it sound.

I get it BC. You believe in Buddy Nix and don't understand why others don't. My opinion is based in their 10-22 record in 2010-11, starter and depth needs all over the field, and a history the past 4 off-seasons of not spending on free agents. It is for these reasons and others that I don't trust the organization to do the right thing, not just Nix. Buddy ultimately reports to Jeff Littmann, who controls RW's piggy bank. If you think Nix operates unilaterally and with a budget comparable to the average team, you'd be wrong. And it's mystifying why you're concerned with RW's money, as this is the built-in excuse why Buffalo can't be in the sweepstakes for a key free agent. No one's talking about spending 100M on a guy like Mario Williams or otherwise the off-season being failure. I want to see the team build, not merely replace players and keep on a flat trajectory and there are a few players who might fit and get them above being mediocre. Because that's what they've been since 2000.

I would hope that "being aggressive" isn't conveniently confused with "trying" come 3/13. It's not enough to try to sign top UFA's, it's finishing the deal and not letting the guy out of the building if you get a visit. There are starter and depth positions of need all over the field. Retaining SJ is encouraging, but it cannot be their only significant transaction. They still need a significant upgrade at the DE and WR spots, though it appears OT can be addressed in the draft as there's little to nothing available in the UFA market.

It's not a Nix strategy to draft OT's and then if they can't play there to kick them inside to G. That's a league-wide concept because on the interior players are covered up more, particularly if their footwork and agility aren't good enough to handle the edge. Robert Gallery comes to mind as someone who couldn't handle OT but played well as a G. It's noteworthy to review San Diego's drafts for insight into what Nix might do. Not until 2006 did the Chargers take an OT before Round 5, and it was Marcus McNeill who was pretty good for a stretch there. Size alone isn't going to make their pass protection any better. They have no one signed for 2012 who I'd want handling blind-side protection, even the new version of Demetrius Bell, Chris Hairston. The skill set for playing RT and not facing an opponent's best pass rusher is far different than being a LT where finesse is more important than pure brawn. Of course, the Bills once had an All-Pro there, but they chose to trade him for their current starting center and some spare parts. And so now they're back to replacing departed players with draft picks.

It's disappointing when the team you want to win is not giving their football people the requisite authority to improve the team. The jury's still out on the Nix/Gailey rebuild, but when you look at other teams and how they've rebuilt, it's in stark contrast to Buffalo. Going 10-22 isn't a good start. The fact remains that the Bills are simultaneously attempting to set the team up for sale and rebuild a roster that's probably the least talented it's been since 2001. Doing both is impossible with people in Detroit making more of the calls than most teams' financial people do. But I digress, and if the Bills do not acquire 2-3 solid veterans in UFA, then the rookies they take in April aren't quite that important beyond the 1st and 2nd round pick. They need immediate (EDIT: veteran) starters for their roster.

Buddy Nix does not control the purse strings. At all. If you don't understand that, go on keep believing they'll be signing quality types at 4PM on 3/13. The Bills GM can't even sign his own WR who they've had producing for 2 years. So why would it make sense that they're all of a sudden going to sign other team's free agents? This is a team that gives decent guaranteed money to Chris Kelsay, Shawne Merriman, and Ryan Fitzpatrick. I don't know what's going on with SJ's contract, but they're taking their sweet time. The Detroit contingent has a lot more say in the operation than the GM does. When you understand that, it'll make free agency less of a disappointment.

Nix isn't scared, rather he's working under the restrictions of a team geared more to be sold. Buffalo made nearly 41M in profit during 2010, but I doubt that Nix/Gailey/Whaley, et al are afraid. The front office could improve significantly on draft day and free agency, but when they struggle to sign their own it's not for any other reason than money. Charley Casserly mentioned on his recent interview on WGR that Buffalo struggles to sign their own. When he was Pro Personnel Director for SD, they signed big money guys like David Boston. The dynamic has changed considerably in his role as Buffalo's GM.

2010's (edit: top) draft picks should be outright starters in their 3rd season. Period. Instead they have none, and while Spiller's going to share carries, they didn't get much in rounds 2-3. Those are the places to hit on picks, especially small markets who aren't active in free agency finding quality veteran talent. Troup won't start over Williams or Dareus, and Carrington isn't going to be their base end over the overpaid Chris Kelsay. I remember this board gaga over Levy's first draft when it looked like Whitner, K. Simpson, Butler, Williams, and Ellison would be long term starters. Now, they have 1 of those guys and 3 are out of the league. And I love that a draft can be declared good after 1 season, but if it doesn't look promising (2010) you don't dare say it was below average. If's, hopefully's, and maybe's aren't good enough. 2012 is playoffs or bust and the 2010 draft should be a foundation draft. Instead it features a bunch of spare parts. If the rebuild is going so swimmingly, why does Buffalo have so many needs heading into the personnel acquisition phase of the off-season?

There isn't much margin for error on draft day for NFL teams, whether it's the GM's first or 30th draft. You don't get mulligans for the draft, and when you swing and miss a lot (2005-2008) it hurts the team in the long run. Even batting .500 on 1st-3rd round picks isn't good enough for a small market team that outright brags about not spending in UFA to mitigate their ineptitude on draft day. This team needs a Jerry Reese or Ted Thompson, not someone like Marv Levy, Russ Brandon, or perhaps even Buddy Nix.

Buddy said they received 35 calls a day for the HC job. Buddy said the media reports during the HC search were 80% false. Buddy says a lot of things that are typical hyperbole and lacking substance. As Ramius said above, when he controls the purse strings (currently held tightly by Littmann via Overdorf) I'll believe they're going to be active in UFA. Until that time, Buddy is blowing smoke up fans collective hind quarters. One pass play demonstrates deep accuracy? From 2+ seasons ago? Fitzpatrick deep accuracy If they lose SJ it's a first round pick and a combination of Marcus Easley, David Nelson, Donald Jones, Derek Hagan, and whomever comes cheaply in UFA they can hype.

Carrington bulked up to 304 to play the 5 technique. Bruce cut fat to get down to 270 or so to be a 5 tech 25 years ago. There's a big difference, and it's not a given Carrington can cut muscle. This is the price you pay to jump between defenses 3 times in 4 seasons. Buddy's first draft features 0 starters entering their 3rd NFL season. It's interesting to note that even if you exclude Spiller, the 2nd and 3rd round picks will not start. Where's the value and drafting expertise from Nix? He's the type GM who is so-so on draft day, and the team he works for doesn't spend in UFA to make up for it. So you get a host of UDFA's, street FA's, low round draft picks, and low cost UFA's playing when their draft picks can't.

If you're looking for certainties, taxes and death are your only ones. Sometimes it behooves a franchise to take a calculated risk based on research and experience. The Bills were never going to commit to trading up for even a QB, despite having no long term solution on the roster. They've wedded themselves to a journeyman for at least 2012. The Bills organization hasn't traded down in a draft since Tommy D in 2001, which IIRC, is the longest streak without moving back. Nix is set on his guy and doesn't move up or down, as evidenced by his drafts in 2010 and 2011. It's simply amazing this team has so many starter and depth needs after 2 solid years of rebuilding. Changing defenses has exacerbated the problem as new schemes require new players, while holdovers now have perhaps their 3rd scheme to learn in 4 years. Last year, the Bills became a fortress of solitude and weren't speaking to anyone per Peter King. They practice no subterfuge to convince a likely trade partner they could take their player. And if they could do this, it might get them more value for their pick in a trade. I just don't think Nix is very savvy and draft day indicates that to me.

Are injuries set to on? And if so, do they allow him to play like this? Too bad Merriman's legs won't hold up like Jennings' did in Madden.

How in hades do you know 2 months before the draft?

It is playoffs or bust in 2012. You don't take 3 off-seasons and 48 games to go 8-8 or 9-7. Every player in the draft is unproven. Even Andrew Luck, and I'd deal 2 #1's to get him.

First, the Bills aren't one of the great drafting teams in the NFL. Second, from 2006-11, there have been 7 players drafted in rounds 3-7 who had 5 sacks or more that I could find, 4 of them in 2011: Klug, Houston, Acho, and Pernell McPhee. So in 30 rounds of drafting at 32 picks per, you have 7 guys out of almost 1,000 picks who were adequate or better rushers their first NFL season. And let's say half of those were offensive picks, so that's 7 out of 500. Not very good odds in my book.

You're not finding a situational pass rusher in the mid rounds, for 2012 at least. I can't remember the last time a rookie from rounds 3-5 came in and contributed in that part of the game to the point of improving that area much. A line featuring Kelsay and Carrington as the RDE and LDE respectively generates as much pass rush as their personnel inadequate 3-4 with no OLB's. One of the reasons this team fails in the pass rush game is they're trying to find those players on the cheap or create pressure through scheme. None of it has worked and while I have reservations about hoping a first or second round type is impact from Day 1, it's where you find top pass rushers. There's no sense signing an Abraham type without grooming the next guy. You just don't get pass rushers without spending significant resources on them.

Buffalo doesn't need any 7 or 9 tech DE's at the top of the draft. They need depth at the position because their starters will be perennial pro-bowl DE's Chris Kelsay and Shawne "IR" Merriman. Unless of course they've set their sights on someone in UFA who'll be their RDE and can get to the QB more than once in a blue moon. And this concept of drafting a DT who weighs 300+ to play DE in a 40 front is mind-numbing.

Tagging SJ, even at 9.4M for 2012, also serves to minimize the commitment Buffalo has should the team be put on the market. I realize that's somewhat macabre considering the ownership situation, but I've never felt they have a vision, but rather reflect successive one year plans.

The Bills know how much flack they'll take from this fan base by not keeping SJ. They'll bite the bullet and franchise him to help ST sales and team interest for 2012, even if it means having a possibly disgruntled player making 9.4M up for a deal in 2013.