BillsVet

Ruh roh.

PANDA WATCH!

Anyone who thinks the weather or the city is the main culprit for so far not signing MW is delusional. Now that they're offering big money to UFA's it's a step in the right direction. However, the team needs to show this isn't a one-shot deal and a plan is in place to contend immediately. If players don't believe their plan isn't good enough, they'll move on. Williams' deal will probably be the last major one of his career and he wants to win as well.

David Nelson and Robert Meachem are about as different as you can get at the WR position while playing on completely different offenses. Apples to oranges.

If averaging 10.4 yards per catch is good enough, why did Buffalo pursue Meachem? Check how many games Nelson was completely a non-factor, like for example the second half of the first NE game. Meachem may not be a game changer, but he averaged almost 5 yards more per reception and stretches defenses. Nelson on a good day is a #3 receiver.

The options are dwindling. They bet the farm on signing him and he went elsewhere. The WR depth chart is littered with former UDFAs, practice squad types, late round picks, and guys who've played on multiple teams. It's not looking good.

I love Derek Hagan, David Nelson, Donald Jones, David Clowney, Naaman Roosevelt, Kamar Aiken, Marcus Easley and Brad Smith too. How many career catches do those guys have?

You have to wonder what numbskull said the Bills were sure they'd sign both players within 24 hours. It's anyone's guess, but losing out on Meachem despite getting him in the door is harsh. At least they've got Donald Jones, David Nelson, Marcus Easley, Derek Hagan, David Clowney, and Naaman Roosevelt. Those guys are probably loving the non-signing. I don't think there was a Plan B with what's transpired.

Big Mike "68" Williams would be a huge signing. He's gotta be back to around 400 pounds by now, so Buddy technically wouldn't be lying if they signed him.

Don't be so hard on yourself DIUT. All of us have been led up the mountain by the Bills in the past 12 seasons only to be disappointed. I think it's only prudent to take a wait and see approach.

Sounds like Nix and Brandon have upped expectations a tad today. If they don't sign someone of consequence, the reaction will be similar if not worse than when they courted Cowher and Shanahan while ending up with Gailey. We'll see in about 4 hours.

Why do fans work themselves up about free agency every year when all evidence points to the exact opposite? I'm not saying they won't pursue some mid-level guys, but their free agency history from 2008 forward shows they don't sign big name free agents who'll cost big money.

It'll be midnight in the Middle East at 4PM. Something tells me they're not following the NFL activity too closely there. I can't recall doing so when I was there.

Free Agency begins at 4PM eastern tomorrow.

And a lot will be demonstrated come Tuesday at 4PM. I don't expect them to sign Mario Williams or Vincent Jackson, but it's hard to differentiate the end results from earlier this decade compared to 2010-11. We'll know after this season whether the decisions made in the front office, in coaching, and players are significant progress or just a re-arranging of the deck chairs. After all, it's hard to go 12 seasons without a playoff appearance. The last team that Buffalo was tied with for this mark of futility had the Matt Millen millstone around their neck.

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.