BillsVet

And someone said civility was gone from TBD. Your contribution to this message board is greatly appreciated. /sarcasm

That's all reasonable fans are saying. Let's see what players like D. Bell and Meredith do during the regular season seeing as how both have such a small sample of PT from 2009. On a related note, it'll be interesting to see if the team goes with what they've got on the OL or choose to sign someone cut from another team. The backups looked scary against Detroit's depth DLineman.

You're better than that KFBD. Teams don't IR guys that are going to be out 4-5 weeks. And while you're questioning my like for this team, I'll point out that I as a fan reserve the ability to criticize. If everyone is blindly optimistic, then no one is thinking constructively. I look forward to the season, but will continue to keep things in perspective. 2010 is a rebuilding year and no matter who the coach is, it will probably be a long campaign. Besides, losing is not fun, and the Bills have specialized in that the past decade. At what point do people begin questioning the top of the front office.

Not quite. He signed with TB in 2009 and proceeded to tear his biceps tendon. TB placed him on IR for this injury and he's now on a UFL Roster. But the point is, the team drafted Easley in the 4th round. And yet, he wasn't valuable enough to carry on the roster for a few weeks when it became clear he'd been injured. It's probably a case of needing a roster spot, but the fact that they IR'd a 4th rounder for a non-season ending injury is very odd.

If the Bills wouldn't trade anything for help at OT, why would they hand over a pick and huge contract for Vincent Jackson? They'll be a run first team this year, probably 55-45 run to pass and he's already proven to be a problem in SD. Buffalo is building through the draft and aren't adding payroll in anticipation of the next CBA (as many teams are doing). Besides, draft picks are cheaper, especially if you IR them.

It's moves like this that really make you wonder what the front office is doing. They must have known that Easley's injury wasn't a season ending thing when he was IR'd but probably wanted that roster spot and/or didn't think the kid would contribute enough to keep it open. With this team, it makes me seriously consider if this was a cost saving move. Wouldn't be the first time anyway. The Crowell situation, while different, wasn't season ending either.

It's a conspiracy by ESPN against the Bills I tell you! All of them in Bristol save Berman hate Buffalo.

Then read "A Few Seconds of Panic" by Stefan Fatsis about Shanahan's Broncos in training camp. People predictably are bad-mouthing and minimizing Shanahan because he was let go in Denver. Yet, he'll probably be a HOF'er and this year the Redskins added a real QB, made the move to a 3-4, and help at OT. I hate the Redskins, but this attack dog mentality is absurd simply because the guy didn't want to go to a complete rebuilding project with an owner who's not serious about winning anymore.

No one's talking about the 70s, 80s, 90s, or early 00s era Bills. We're analyzing if the Bills and by virtue, RW, are now content with a profitable franchise that is sub-par to poor on the field now. And right now, it seems RW is packing it in, hiring strictly people he knows for GMs and preparing for the inevitable.

This is precisely the point we're making: that Buffalo remains geared more toward profiting than success. And before someone jumps to extremes, it's not as though anyone is demanding they go New York Yankees and break the bank each year. No rational person demands RW spend like Jerry Jones or Dan Snyder. I'd like to see him spend on proven front office types and then delegate more responsibility. But we know this will never ever happen. That to me is the greatest issue on why Buffalo is to the NFL what Pittsburgh is to MLB. You've made the point that Polian was fired when he conflicted with Littman and the finance people about budget issues. It's noteworthy that 17 years later we're discussing the same point.

It's disturbing that the owner does not know one of the NFL's most well-known head coaches. I realize RW is at an advanced age, but surely every owner and GM knows who Mike Shanahan is. I recall RW saying at his re-scheduled ring ceremony last year that he still believed he had youth on his side. These tired metaphors sound nice, but it's clear he's pursuing the team as it was years ago.

Do you really think it's as black and white as you make it out to be? Any financial adviser would point out a myriad of issues contributing to RW's decision making process. There's a lockout coming, estate taxes, setting up the family, et al. In the interim, maximize revenue (Toronto, raised ticket prices, etc) hype the team, and make preparations for the inevitable. Buffalo's salary will most likely decrease, like many other teams, from 2009 to 2010. Ticket prices went up, as I'm sure advertising and other revenue sources did. The Bills made 39M according to Forbes last season. Why would they spend more if the team's going to be sold? Who puts money into a car that'll be sold in short order? Fans need to face facts: the Bills aren't as interested in winning as we'd like them to be. Minnesota is one of the smaller NFL markets and has the highest dollar amount for contracts in the NFL. Don't give me that tired song and dance that Buffalo is small market and can't spend. GB spends as do other small markets.

There were seven players Buffalo had to decide whether to re-sign or not since 2006: Kelsay, Clements, Fletcher, Schobel, Evans, Peters, and McGee. Four of those guys received new deals, two left via UFA and another was traded. Admittedly in hindsight, their decisions on Clements, Evans, and McGee seem fine. The other four not so much. Kelsay is so-so and was/is only average at best as a pass rusher. Fletcher remains at a high level, Evans was their only legit receiver despite his inability to be a Steve Smith type, and Schobel's now retired less than 3 seasons since re-signing. Peters didn't go about his holdout well, but Buffalo didn't have leverage in that situation and their remaining project LT's prove that. Sure, RW will spend, but that front office is spending the money on some poor players. Personnel types like Guy, Modrak, and Overdorf have a bad success rate and only one of those has been let go.

He needs 3 full NFL seasons. If at the end of his 3rd NFL season he's not starting, then I'd make a decision. Pass rushers sometimes take more time than other positions. I would be concerned that he doesn't look much bigger than last season. To play OLB in a 3-4 he needs to be an actual 245-255. I don't think he's within 10 pounds of that. I don't care for his look-at-me attitude, but he's 22 years old for goodness sakes.

Boy oh boy. ST sales must be low if they're moving this quickly to hype their new RB's on-field accomplishments. It smacks of desperation from a franchise that's been low on good moves these past 5 offseasons.

After 2 games Spiller, who admittedly was exciting, reminds you of Tomlinson? Bit early for that isn't it? Besides, it wasn't until 2004 when the Chargers became a playoff team. Their rebuild comprised 3 seasons and 4 off-seasons. SD went 5-11 in 2001, 8-8 in 2002, and 4-12 in 2003 before going 12-4 in 2004. Rebuilds take time, even when taking HOF RB's with their first pick.

Nice work Simon. I was particularly intrigued by Buffalo playing a lot of 4-3. They don't have the OLB's to rush the passer, and pass rush will be a big issue this year, but flashing multiple looks is a good idea for keeping teams off-balance. I too wasn't a big fan of the Spiller pick in that he's got such poor outside OL. But if teams overpursue and they mix in the pass, he can be very effective IMO. But I agree, the OT's are very poor and I don't know if there's a weaker position on the team. I think Matthews and Stupar make this team, and it's why Shawn Nelson isn't getting a lot of reps: they like their TE's as blockers first and second. And they'll need them to be next to those OT's.

Mediocrity and transition are acceptable so long as profitability remains high. This past off-season was one of the most important in recent memory, and we'll see how they did. Although, plenty of the blind homers will say when all is said and done that 2010 was a rebuilding season anyway. To me, after 10 years without a playoff appearance that's unacceptable. Everything does indeed seem to be more or less short term decisions in the even the owner passes. How can they plan long term with this franchise anyway? And that's why I beleive the GM and HC hires since TD were/are people no one else wanted anyway. They can be jettisoned quite easily if there's an ownership change.

With his bag of money, Canadian flag, and HOF bust.

I can understand that as well. Just don't think the front office is keen on giving up picks no matter how late.

Have you read some of the previous posts in this thread? It's not about how many attend games, specifically in the lower bowl. The revenue is found in club seats and luxury boxes along with the 116M they receive in television revenue. Besides, their brand is irrelevant at this point, and national media ignore them quite easily. I'd wager they're not very high in merchandise sales either. Buffalo has not released season ticket sales numbers for a reason. And three years into their Toronto experiment, the brand hasn't done anything up north to the point that Rogers is giving out tickets to fill up about 53k tickets, not 70k.

Contrast that with the Redskins, who at 4-12 last season experienced plenty of change. New GM, HC, QB and different defensive scheme. I dare say the Skins are more committed to winning, and they've found a QB, allocated resources to the OT position, and are improving their pass rush in one year. Nowhere does it say it's impossible to rebuild in a shorter span. Atlanta and Miami have done it. Washington might well too.

I have a hard time believing the team will part with any picks at this stage of the rebuild. IMO, they'd rather choose their own young players than give up a pick for a proven veteran. Not saying I agree with the FO, but it's what I think they believe in. Still the WR corps is thin and UDFA's aren't a realistic solution. At least not this season.

The fact that RW hires Marv Levy, then promotes Mr. Smithers-Brandon, and then a former retired national scout/Asst GM tells me everything I need to know. Good companies have good management. Bad companies have bad management and go out of business, but this being the NFL, the subsidies and emotionally driven fan base keep them afloat. From 2001-2008, Buffalo probably had about 2 decent drafts: '01 and '03. And yet Modrak is still here, although he can be overruled at anytime.

Rachel Phelps equals Jeff Littman/Ralph Wilson. Make owner some money, cut costs (admittedly different scenario than Indians of late 80s) so that team can prosper. Sign a bunch of cheap castoffs, hire a retread coach and play in a bad stadium. Difference is, in Major League the seemingly less than talented team goes to the playoffs. This one isn't headed on such a high trajectory.