BillsVet

The likelihood of a team finding a starting QB from another club's PS is remote. Besides, 32 teams passed on signing the guy after hitting GB's PS. For another team to sign him, all they had to do was put him on the active 53 man roster, yet no one did. Pro Personnel Departments are looking for guys all the time; it's their job after all. I have to believe that after hitting waivers, he hadn't demonstrated enough to be on someone's roster. And that's with the NFL being a QB driven league. League inactivity tells me a lot re: Brohm.

I found it, but still disagree with Joe on this point. Building a football team is not as simple as finding a QB. With limited resources (picks, budget) a team needs to build to its strength. If the Bills are indeed going to be a run first team (like NYJ) then build the OL and Defense first. As for taking players from cold weather climates, a myriad of guys came from warm places that excelled in Buffalo. Joe D. is a HOF'er, but I'm not sure he's as accurate as some make him out to be.

I like Joe D., but he's wrong if those words came from his mouth. Lombardi resigned as HC after SB II and became GM, then went to Washington as HC in 1969. Landry was fired by Jerra Jones after the 88 season when Jones became owner. Noll retired (read: forced resignation) after the 91 season. Where is the link for this quote?

Why should anyone watch Animal House? It was made before I was born? Now, who's buried in Grant's tomb?

Parcells has been known for doing this. Belichick had 4 2nd's last year and yet Buffalo hasn't traded down in the first three rounds since 2001 when NC was their first pick. The buzz phrases on TBD this offseason have been "build through the draft" and that Nix "can't fill all the needs in one draft." I've got a feeling they'll got OT-NT in 1 and 2, but only out of sheer need. Just once I wish the Bills could go into the draft and not hae to take someone to fill a need.

The most important parts of this 3-4 are NT and rushing OLB's. And right now, they don't have a big guy in the middle to make this defense what teams like PIT, NE, NYJ, et al function. Second, the OLB's on the roster have never played the position. Fans expecting Schobel to make the transition (should he remain) ought to pay attention to what happened to Aaron Kampman. Certainly not the same player, but both were older vets going from a 34 to a 43. Maybin isn't a given, because he's, well, Maybin. Things look better on paper, but this time of year everyone gets themselves amped up.

You're living in absolutes on Point 2. A LT supports the QB and vice versa. Each of those LT's played with arguably HOF QB's, who have a better feel for the pass rush than average QB's. It's no coincidence those teams didn't need a top LT. For a team that has an average QB, getting a lock down LT can exponentially make the offense better, especially in the passing game. Peters needs proper motivation, but there's no doubt he has the skill set to be left on an island. Now I know some fans will cite the highest "sacks allowed" figure, but let's look at the cost to replace him: -required the entire OL to be shifted, causing massive issues at LT and need for 2 guards as opposed to 1 in 09 Draft -is forcing the team to use another first round pick on a LT. Having Peters would mean not getting Wood, but they'd have a LT and could focus on taking a NT or pass rusher this year. When team's make mistakes, they tend to domino throughout the team. As BADOL has pointed out, finding solid guards in Round 1 and 2 is not hard for a personnel department. So while the interior is better, the OT's are still a huge question mark.

Sacks are a partial measure, even at Rush OLB, of measuring a player's caliber. Porter was benched toward the end of last season after his play declined. Call it negative, but MIA has some issues at OLB and they sat Porter while Matt Roth was having his issues. Unless he was going downhilll fast, the Dolfelons would not have made that move. An OLB in a 3-4 still needs to play the run, and Buffalo will see plenty of it if they don't have a decent NT. I expect those OLB's to play it as effectively as they rush the passer. The guy is a punk, as evidenced by his attack on former Bengals OT Levi Brown. Except now, his play on the field doesn't make up for it.

An absolute waste of time. I like Eisen, but Woodson and Dukes are clearly did not do much research before this segment. I think they've addressed the DL with Dwan Edwards, acquired some depth at ILB, and at least signed a RT. It was mentioned the Bills traded up for Trent Edwards, which is false. And Dukes is saying the popular thing for them to acquire Vick, who is said by some to have less accuracy now than when he was a Falcon. Dukes went so far as to say he'd give up a 2nd or 3rd. Yeah, sure. I think the MO for each "expert" is to say the most popular thing, even if it's absurd. Thinking outside the box is apparently outlawed.

Darth, we get you want them to take a QB. Everyday there is at least one post saying as much and even casual visitors to TBD get your opinion. You're like a recurring case of hemorhhoids sometimes. FYI. Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Jay Cutler, and Aaron Rodgers were all selected in the first and beyond the 10th pick.

It's not just the marketing angle which is subpar, but the communications department as well. There was the question of whether DJ received an extension, Peters' hold out, RW's ring ceremony being cancelled late, the team photo, Nix' press conference, and a litany of other more minor issues. It almost seems like a banana republic masquerading as legitimate country surrounded by developed nations. I can't speak for other teams, but my sense remains that anything coming from OBD is tightly controlled. Even still, it's not as professional as I'd expect from a NFL franchise. Scott Berchtold seems to be in over his head as well, but it may be he's dealing with Ralph/Littman and others who give him a crap sandwich to deal with.

I'm glad SP's Bills related columns are linked to TBD. He's a fine writer, and it's absurd he was cast aside so casually. Look forward to seeing him hopefully at the Press Radio Club dinner on May 12th. Buddy is a long time Saints fan. For the record, I'm keeping my team photo just to demonstrate to people how bad they botched that picture. Of course I'm sure something's online with that as well.

To clarify, I like both signings, as these two are the only experienced 3-4 players on Buffalo's defense right now. Free Agency was thin, and these two guys have proven track records with success. But I'm not the type who gets overly excited like many fans who are ultimately disappointed when the season degenerates. The team started the rebuild, not finished it. And I know you know that. Agreed. I don't care if you disagree with my stance, but have the audacity to debate my opinion. Even if Buffalo had signed Peppers and Dansby I wouldn't be overly thrilled. Buffalo is what it is: a rebuilding team in a division and conference packed with better teams. Tell me, what is your opinion?

The second season of a players career is almost more indicative of their career path. Some rookies surprise because there's little to no tape on them. After the season when teams study more tape, their flaws are exposed. How players adapt their game is crucial. 9 picks is great in a rookie season. Regardless of a rookie's performance in their first year, they shouldn't be evaluated until after three seasons. JMO.

2008: Buffalo signs LB Kawika Mitchell, DT Spencer Johnson, and traded for DT Marcus Stroud. Just like last night/today, the board was abuzz that Buffalo's defense would be much better with new additions. Unfortunately, those moves did not translate into a dominating defense. Fans who amp up their expectations during the off-season are generally the ones who disappear from the board in November. It's happened quite frequently these past few seasons.

Cheeseburger? Luck of the Irish? Classic stuff.

There was a new regime in 2001. And a new one in 2006, not to mention 3 coaches in that same time period. New coaches and front office guarantee nothing. But as with most of American society, wrap things in a new package and people will come. It works temporarily, especially in Buffalo where the goal may not be to win anymore, but change things enough to keep people interested.

Because every team that is active in free agency will be a loser the following year(s). Most posters operate in absolutes and are incapable of landing somewhere in between. Donahoe signed some solid players, but chose to ignore the OL besides on huge bust OT, and was 0 for 2 in picking coaches.

Teams typically find their interior OL in the thirds through later rounds. It's the OT's, particularly the LT's that are taken in the first. Interior OL aren't required to be as nimble as the tackles who see outside pass rushers. Furthermore, if you're taking guards or centers in rounds 1 or 2, they had better be outstanding players: they should be the best 1 or 2 in the entire draft if selected that early. Both NO and IND found outstanding interior OL in the middle rounds: Jahri Evans Round 4/2005 for NO and Jeff Saturday UDFA/1998 for IND. That allowed the team to use their higher picks on positions generally drafted earlier. Being good in the middle rounds is underrated. If you're getting a player or two there, and nailing your top picks, you'll be building. Buffalo has been replacing and spinning its wheels for too long.

This is a story in progress, and I won't doubt some players may be let go down the road. Bills contract per Rotoworld These numbers are salary and certainly incomplete, but it's not a stretch to say guys like Whitner, Parrish, McCargo and Kelsay. The latter is due 3.7M this season, which would be a lot if he doesn't convert to OLB.

Trading down is wonderful, if you're confident you can get your player(s) later on. Cleveland traded down two or three times in last years draft, turning down plenty of players. The point remains that talent is generally found in the first through third rounds. The team needs their picks in those rounds to be instant starters not just because they're rebuilding, but for the long haul of 4 or 5 years+. Buffalo does not find solid long term starters as often as they should.

Updated Cap Figures for teams as of a few days ago I count 12 teams beneath last years cap floor of 107.7M: 1. KC 79M TB 3. JAC 81M 4. CIN 85M 5. AZ 91M 6. STL 92M 7. BUF 98M 8. CLE 101M 9. SD 104M CAR 104M 11. DEN 105M 12. DET 106M It's been discussed ad nauseam, but teams are spending less. I wonder when the NFLPA will file a collusion complaint against the NFL owners for cutting costs and spending more on players.

Whoever signs Whitehurst would surrender a third round pick. SD won't match whatever the offer sheet, but will take the pick.

Kinda like Osi Umenyiora and Demarcus Ware? Two guys taken out of Troy in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Look, there's a lot that can change between now and the draft, which is the final chance for this team to add quality players. But one thing I believe is important is that teams have been built in one year before. Atlanta and Miami in 2008 both went from top 3 draft picks to the playoffs? Why is that impossible in Buffalo? Well, ownership needs to support their hand-picked personnel people with the resources to rebuild as fast as possible. It's not automatic that a rebuild takes 2-3 years. And on that point, look at the teams starting to rebuild in 2010 in the NFL: CLE, WAS, and BUF. All of them hired new GM's with only CLE not hiring a new HC. SEA could be construed as rebuilding, but aren't as bad as these teams. It will be interested to see how fast these teams rebuild, if at all.

Every team has finite resources in a given off-season. If a team needs a fullback, kicker, punter, or long snapper, they'll not use a first day pick on them. Even RB's are sliding out of the first round given their high probability of injury and short shelf-life. It's called economy of force in military terms, or rather, not using more resources than are absolutely necessary to accomplish a task. Positions like G and C are a step up for the positions I just mentioned. With good scouting, a team can find those players in the mid rounds, thus keeping their top picks for positions like QB, DE, OT, DT that aren't typically found outside rounds 1 or 2. Now, there are exceptions, but when you're rebuilding, using high picks on interior OL isn't getting the most bang for your buck.