BillsVet

He apparently did for 2 years and we know how that went. The NFL isn't going to be a 16-17 billion dollar business in 9 years by embracing blue collar folks, so they're taking it upon themselves now to "clean up" as much as possible. It's already difficult for working people to attend games, and now they're chipping away at the tailgating. It may have happened already, but they'll cite improved game-day experience and safety as motivation for making these changes now. Russ "Mr. Smithers" Brandon is toeing the NFL corporate line and implementing changes under the auspices of helping fans. He could run for office with that PR background. Now, if only the team he works for could win more than they'll lose. At some point, this will impact ticket sales, especially when Buffalo is sinking in December and playing meaningless games.

From National Football Post this morning: "The Bills have a crowd at the receiver position after the acquisition of Brad Smith. The former Jet joins Lee Evans, Steve Johnson and Robert Parrish, so don’t be surprised if the Bills part ways with Evans. The veteran had a down year in 2010 with only 37 catches, and he could have some trade value. Interesting parties have been sniffing around." Nice to know Buffalo has a 7 footer, though older receiver on their roster.

[http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/132595-fox-merriman-article-plus-a-repeat-of-nix-philosophy/page__view__findpost__p__2206017[/url] To respond SJBF: The ability to remain objective should not be confused with being negative. And I vehemently disagree that having the audacity to criticize a franchise that has promised more and delivered less is somehow what "losers" do. This is argument suppression at its finest. It's one thing for someone to criticize, be wrong, and go away. Problem is, the criticizers seem to be more right than wrong and each season affirms it's the non-objective crowd that either goes on a board hiatus or manufactures excuses for why things didn't go well. I want to see it on the field before I heap praise onto an organization, regardless of who the GM or HC is, that has been without any significant success going back more than a decade. If that's negative, well, so be it.

Cash to the cap and the NFL salary cap are exclusive of one another. The salary cap is not calculated using Buffalo's strategy, which is basically an accounting method to cover up that they're below the cap. Actual cash paid out is a much different figure than a cap hit, especially when bonuses are involved. The Bills immediately apply a bonus payment to the year it was paid, whereas the cap amortizes that amount over the life of the contract. When a player is released, the bonus is immediately charged to the team's next league year's salary cap and the team has dead cap money. Regardless of C2C or the actual cap, the Bills are indeed closer to the cap floor than the max. Last year most teams did this to position them for the coming labor strife, but with a CBA in place, teams like Carolina are spending freely again.

Saying the Bills team building philosophy is the same at Pittsburgh's because they both build through the draft is absurd. It's like comparing the business plan of Wal-Mart to K-Mart in that both are department stores, but one has a lot better plan and has been much more successful at it than the other. Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison ring a bell? Not winning SB's is enough to indict an organization that routinely wins 10 or more games and is still looked, 10 years after their first win, as a legit SB contender? So you're trying to bring down the Patriots in an attempt to make Buffalo look better. Now that's a stretch. Only because the team hasn't done anything in 11 years. I would say a fan is justified in demanding more when the record is what Buffalo's has been.

They have to win 8 games this season for this rebuild to show it's working. With draft picks signed for typically 4 years, inching their way to success isn't going to cut it when 10 out of 16 teams don't make the playoffs. It wouldn't hurt if the 2010 and 2011 rookie classes begin starting or getting plenty of snaps in a rotation. Last season it appeared Gailey was afraid to play his young players.

This is the year that Chan's plan for the offense is proven correct or incorrect. I just laugh when I read how this offense doesn't need a TE, because basically the top NFL offenses all have one who can run the seam and make plays in the passing game. Slot receivers do not offer that matchup advantage, especially if it makes the defense have smaller nickel CB or SS cover the TE. Choosing to go with TE's who are essentially smaller OT's is something that must be discussed if Chan's offense doesn't break out. Of course, he may need the extra blockers with the OT group they've got.

I cannot understand how any scouting report on this guy didn't talk about his body type and the obvious inability he has to add bulk and bulk strength. Unless of course DJ simply ignored them and figured Maybin would fill out. I think based on this, his max body weight is around 235 or so, which is too small at his height for being a SAM, or being a LOLB or ROLB in a 34. Besides, I don't think he could ever have the quickness to be a WLB either.

Levy also tried to draft high football character players in 2006 and 2007. Besides Kyle Williams, all of those players are now on other teams or out of the NFL. The 2009 draft's first 4 picks produced 2 starting interior OL and a FS. That's fine, but those are hardly the positions that are force-multipliers on the field and remember, Buffalo had a distinct need for 2 guards with Dockery being released and Butler moved to OT. The Bills still have questions about their QB, both OT's, and their pass rush. When they acquire/have answers to those positions, they'll be a much more successful team.

Because the LB corps was weak and fragile to begin with and they added no one that can be healthy most of the time. Otherwise, to quote Kevin Bacon in Animal House "all is well!"

What do we expect from a GM who makes fun of the Oakland Raiders at his introductory press conference and then claims he got 35 calls a day from people wanting to be HC at Gailey's PC?

Moats' biggest issue last year was playing the run. Not surprising considering he was a college FCS DE. Like the guys potential, but moving guys back and forth is not the best way to develop your younger players. Especially those having to learn a new defense in the pros.

Kinda like Shawne Merriman?

Tim Graham just retweeted that Burnett is negotiating with Dolphins and the Crowder release was not a coincidence. Buffalo loses again.

More Miami rejects. Last season it was Torbor and Ayodele and now they're looking at Crowder, who has missed time with knee and groin injuries? Can we look at Roger Dorn while we're at it?

Only problem is they've got an ACC DL coach in Giff Smith.

Peter King tweet: RT @Salvegas24: What is Buddy Nix doing? ... Right about now, I'd guess he's in his jams and going to the head to brush his teeth.

They had at least 35 calls a day from eligible UDFA's willing to play for them. And you'd be surprised at some of the names!

Don't forget how many legitimate HC candidates turned him down for interviews in January 2010: Ron Rivera, Jim Harbaugh, Brian Schottenheimer, and Russ Grimm. Reality is that this franchise is not a destination for in-demand HC's and players.

It's not surprising really. Buffalo is a bridesmaid and never the bride. Maybe they can sign some more UDFA's and remind Erik Pears how much they really like him.

Wouldn't it be funny if the Jets are driving up the price for Florence with Buffalo in a seemingly desperate mode at CB? Kinda like Edmonton signing Vanek to the offer sheet 4 years ago after the Sabres lost Drury and Briere.

Maybe RW will order Mr. Smithers to go out and sign Terrell Owens to mitigate the loss. Oh, wait...

Not a star, but yet another reason why force-feeding players into the 3-4 set their rebuild back. The Bills had a huge task on their hands when Nix and Gailey took over in early 2010 and actually made it worse with this defense change. Was there that much value to being a 3-4 team considering the events since the decision was made?

What is Nix' core philosophy? RW talked last year that it would take 3-4 years, undoubtedly what his GM told him. There are teams completing rebuilds in 2 seasons, but in Buffalo they take longer because BN says so? NIx and his HC made a lot of bad decisions last season: switching to a defense they weren't staffed for, naming a starting QB who was yanked 2 games in, not being able to play their top pick RB, and ultimately taking a virtual 5 win team in 2009 to 4 wins the following year. Nix hasn't earned any trust because he hasn't done anything yet and frankly, I don't care what he did from Tennessee when he was Pro Personnel Director for San Diego.

Especially guys who haven't played a down in the NFL.