BillsVet

What has Buddy really done now that he's been on the job a full year? Their UFA's haven't made much impact, aside from perhaps Dwan Edwards before he was injured. Andra Davis was IR'd, will be 32 next season and Cornell Green was as bad as we thought he was. The top pick RB who was supposed to be instant impact hasn't done that, although he's by no means a bust. The 2nd and 3rd rounders are on the field, but both seem to be 34 projects right now. No one's judging the draft after one year, but the UFA class has yielded little. They will need a better starting QB, more talent at both OT's, and lots of help in the front 7, particularly pass rushers. Maybe RW is right that it'll take 3 more years, but a solid GM could do it sooner.

The true measure of a team after drafting top 10 is if they return there. Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Oakland never seem to rise out of the doldrums and graduate to being playoff teams. And then you look at a team like STL who've drafted high a few years and now are no less that an average team. Their high picks are contributing and have the team winning at least 7 games after 3 years of 3 or less. And yet, DET, CLE, CIN, and BUF are again drafting top 10. So what's the difference? It's that STL made real changes at GM and HC, and got their picks right enough to be what they are. One would hope Buffalo doesn't draft high year after year, certainly for the financial implications, but if they do for 2-3 years, get those picks right far more often. Right now, the question is whether the team will begin hitting on top picks wherever they draft and supplementing that with quality starters in UFA. Recent history suggests they can't do the former and refuse to do the latter.

It's funny to see people argue against taking a QB because at one time, there was a huge bust and that precludes a team from going QB in Round 1. When you have superior scouting, teams tend to not make those mistakes like Buffalo has with their first round picks. If people avoided making decisions because there was some risk, nothing would be accomplished. Same principle applies here in that a good staff and GM know who to avoid and who to select. That said, taking Andrew Luck is a calculated risk that appears to be as sure a thing at QB in a long time. Either way, Ryan Fitzpatrick is a stop-gap type who remains best served as a backup.

So how's Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly doing these days?

Their last move to bolster the team occurred 4 years ago in March. Since then, the big moves were signing TO on a 1 year deal, trading for Stroud, and signing some guys who are either A) Not with the team (K. Mitchell) or B) there and not more than average players (Hangartner, Fitzpatrick). We Bills fans have the worst of both worlds: a bad college scouting staff and a pro personnel department with a small budget. No wonder the franchise has been wandering in the wilderness for 11 long seasons. If there's no commitment to change, then there's no commitment. Of course, they could be saving up to pay that hopefully top 3 pick who'll get big dollars. And I can't wait to see Overdorf negotiate that contract.

I find it interesting that you can't simply put me on ignore and move on. You keep coming back for more, because apparently you've got a huge ax to grind with me. As though complaining isn't permitted for a team now 11 straight seasons without a playoff appearance. Far be it from someone to see the negatives before the impossibly small positives.

Be patient? Really? You mean 11 seasons isn't enough to wait for the team to finally figure it out? Ah well, they'll throw another deck chair off the titanic, shuffle some other furniture around and voila everything will be great again. Does changes take 11 seasons? Because after today's game, I don't see this team winning 8 games in 2011 provided there's a season. And BTW, dissent on a message board is actually allowed from time to time. Especially when the football team you root for averages 6 wins per season for a decade. Forgive me for not being more patient, but with a stadium lease expiring after the 2012 season, I'd like to see them win sooner rather than later. Guess I've just got to learn to be more patient.

Chan shouldn't be concerned in the least for his job. And while they won't be anywhere near the hot seat, Jim Overdorf, Tom Modrak, and Buddy Nix have done jack squat to support the HC this year with players.

Agree on all counts Bill, specifically 9. You can't man the OT position with late round picks, UDFA's, street free agents and former practice squad scrubs the HC coached in college. A lot of fans want a DE next year in the draft. I'm not sure that's their big issue, with D. Edwards, Carrington, and Spencer Johnson being there. One has to hope Carrington develops so the front office can use resources at OT, LB, or perhaps TE. But then again, Chan and Buddy thought Spiller would make the OL better.

There are bigger problems than the slumping punter. Perhaps scoring 3 points, or surrendering 34, or turning it over 7 times. Discuss.

I thought it couldn't get much worse. And it continues to.

Bob Kraft: 12 playoff appearances in 17 NFL seasons Ralphie W: 13 in 41 NFL seasons.

Chan has Belichick right where he wants him: does he pull Brady now or later?

***Circus Music***

Chan must have enlisted Kevin Gilbride to develop the offensive game plan today.

It's been said ad nauseam, but the tackle statistic ranks with passer rating as the most useless number. Tell me how many are TFL's or within the first 2 yards of the LOS.

Every game they seem to retreat from the run sooner and sooner.

The hype for 2011 begins January 3rd.

It's not if, but when with this team. As in, when do they turn it over.

There's been plenty of recent praise for the OL, and while not allowing as many sacks (Fitz helps A LOT there) they still don't get a push against good defensive fronts. Leading up to and after the draft some around here were ridiculed for suggesting a RB doesn't make the OL better, and that's precisely what's happening now. Fitz is the QB in 2011, but LT and RT aren't set by any means. That is, unless they take a CB and tell us they're the most exciting player available.

SF re-signed Vernon Davis to a long term contract in September. Not to be a grinch, but I don't see the Bills wading deeply into free agency again this year. Provided a CBA is in place when the new league year begins on 3/1, Buffalo probably looks for the low end guys in free agency. Since spending wildly on Dockery and Walker in 07, Buffalo has done the following in UFA the past 3 years: 2008 Stroud (trade), Spencer Johnson, K. Mitchell 2009 Fitzpatrick, Hangartner, Florence, TO 2010 D. Edwards, A. Davis, C. Green They're not going to get into a bidding war and spend big dollars, so the marquee names will be out.

I don't think it's a poor reflection at all. Just means that people aren't interested in the team to sell out a the home finale. I would bet Christmas has something to do with it, but come on, they're 4-10, have no marketable stars, and are about to go without a playoff appearance for 11 consecutive seasons. This is more a case of apathy than anything else. Had Mr. Salvatore not purchased the tickets, this would have been the 4th blackout of the season out of 7 true home games. The fans are tired and disinterested because what they see on the field is mediocre. As for the OP, RW is a businessman and he does not need to pay for those tickets, even though the team can buy them back for 34 cents on the dollar. No one should call RW a scrooge or evil for not ponying up all that money to buy those tickets and produce a televised game. OTOH, he must make this team better with financial support or risk losing more ST holders in 2011, provided there's a season.

No, most fans don't expect every rookie to tear in up their first year. But 9th overall picks playing the easiest position to transition into the NFL should deliver more than 351 yards from scrimmage in 12 games. He may well become an excellent back, but this season is almost a wash.

The NFL is a cut throat business plain and simple. You don't pay for performance as much as you do for potential if it's done right and teams don't re-sign players because they're locker room leaders. It's about production and whether the player brings value to the team and if they can help the team win. Kelsay is a liability in the 34 and average on a good day as a base end in a 43. Only the Bills would throw that kind of cash at a guy for being a locker room leader who can't get to the QB and can't play in their new defensive scheme. And people wonder why no one wants to coach or be the GM in Buffalo.

As someone wonderfully put it, he leads the NFL in hits delivered after TD catches. No one questions the work ethic, but he's not the type to get a pay raise over his rookie contract. I think the Bills know they'll have a high pick come April and are preparing for it.