BillsVet

Ralph makes bad football decisions. Plain and simple, there it is. But Mort's importance is falling with Schefter on board at ESPN. Mort is just not the source he once was. I recall him announcing Shanahan was negotiating with Kansas City while Herm Edwards was fired. Of course that was garbage, but Mort announced that in January 2009. When it comes to the Bills, they've seen their reputation bottom out and some people enjoy piling on. It doesn't help that Buffalo's owner is in his 90s, has consistently mediocre to bad teams, and just hired two guys off the beaten path in NFL circles.

They will this season without a gate attraction. TO did more for the fan base than many want to realize. I don't know Wes Bunting from the man on the moon, but it's funny when someone makes a fair point and then becomes the collective target of many on TBD. Sure it seems odd that Buffalo takes Tebow 9th, but stranger things have happened. Besides, a mock is nothing more than an educated guess of many teams looking at many players in a frenzied first few rounds. For the record, there are plenty of scouts who didn't play football, heck, Bill Polian started in the late 70s as a scout with KC. Some have a talent for spotting talent without even having played, but on TBD they can't possibly have an opinion. This is the most predictable form of argument suppression, and it's in play once again.

Not surprisingly, fans on this very board talked up the team, despite the poor quality of their opponents. They were beaten harshly in the Arizona game, but rebounded to beat SD at home. From there, it was all downhill against the leagues 2nd easiest schedule. I've always felt the Bills haven't added to their talent based, but used the draft to replace departed players. Regardless of individual player, merely replacing is not good enough to compete in the NFL. Teams do not historically ride the rail of mediocre for too long; they either become bad or become good. Somehow, the Bills haven't become either.

Hey, back in the magical 2006 draft, they had Whitner, Simpson, (EDIT: K. Williams), and Ellison starting. What a great draft, though conceivably none of those guys start in 2010. I think it's funny to merely talk about starters. Finding starters at RB, LB, OG, and S isn't as challenging as locating QB's, OT's, NT/DT, and pass rushers. Yet, Buffalo drafted plenty of the first group from 06-09, and never found much in the latter. It's a heckuva lot easier to find certain positions, especially when you use high picks. As good as Levitre and Wood are, I would expect guards taken in rounds 1 and 2 to be outstanding.

I've never made the point that McNabb would be a sales/marketing move. Definitely head and shoulders above what the TO signings was and would command respect league wide. Indicates a desire to win-now. Look, I'm former military and I don't like hearing that someone tried repeatedly but continues to fail. At some point, you've got to succeed. Trouble with Buffalo is, their reputation seems to precede them and they come away empty handed. You didn't take a cheap shot, and I don't take anything you say that way. I suppose I shouldn't follow this team as closely, but I want them to win and they've done nothing in my mind during this extremely critical offseason to show that. McNabb wanted to go to a team with a vision, not one back into rebuild mode for the third time in 10 seasons. Can't say that I blame him.

Reality is really an endangered species at TBD. I don't care about not getting McNabb...it's the fact that a high quality player made it known he didn't want to play here even if he did get an extension. Oh I'm sure someone will come out and say DM is a jerk and screw him anyway. Instead of ripping DM, how about asking some questions about this Bills team that hasn't proven one thing in 10 years? This is about the team and their rep being so low that big name NFL people make it known they don't want to coach or play there. When that will dawn on the homer fans is anyone's doubt. Anyone ever wonder why this team can't attract proven people for GM, HC, or even a starting QB? We keep seeing the same thing over and over again, but apparently it's not enough. In order for the Bills to get back to respectability, they need to climb a mountain in the Himalayas. And that ain't happening anytime soon.

Trying is one thing. Succeeding is another. It's time to admit the Bills reputation across the league is barely above the Raiders. McNabb indicated he wanted an extension, and the Bills were willing to do it according to one reference. So he goes to a team that hasn't given him one. There is no substitute for victory...

Skill players can be quantified with statistics, whereas an OT, even QB in certain cases, cannot be. There's a reason this team leans on skill players and has from TD through Marv, and then Brandon: they sell tickets. Of the last Bills' last 9 first rounders, 7 were non-lineman. And the two lineman, Mike Williams and John McCargo, were big busts. Any Bills fan who continues to believe another skill player will make the difference hasn't been watching. Even if Spiller has Chris Johnson type talent, he doesn't have a Titans-like OL to run behind.

We've seen guys like Kris Dielman and Jeff Saturday go from UDFA to the Pro Bowl as interior OL. Rare is the OT who can make the transition to the pros from late round/UDFA type and be a solid starter. The only one I can think of off-hand, particularly LT, is Jason Peters or perhaps Donald Penn. OT's need to have better lateral movement and aren't hidden on the interior OL.

Brown is part of the spin machine, and every NFL team this time of year is trying to fool the others. CB just happens to be another instrument of deceit, which is fair given how close teams guard their coveted player lists. He has a job to do, and it fits with the bigger vision. No more, no less.

What gives you the impression they'll be a Bills in 3-4 years? At the risk of hijacking the thread, the future of the Bills supercedes anything done in the front office or on the field. I like the Whaley hiring, but it's a moot point if there isn't a team down the road. No one anywhere has given any assurances the team is present after the lease ends in 2013.

Buffalo hasn't traded down since 2001, but I've always felt Levy/Jauron/Brandon simply weren't savvy enough to drop down and still get their guy. Graham at 9 would be too high, but those characters from 06-09 are gone now, save Smithers. Gailey's supposed offensive wizardry as noted by several TBD'ers would seem to indicate they go defensively, but it's not certain either. Offensively, whether it's either a run first or balanced offense, they need OT's. Green is limited, and behind him there's nothing. Bell, Meredith, et al, aren't NFL starters. They go OT with the first pick, as long as at least Bulaga or Trent Williams are available.

Two words: Kevin Colbert. You know, the guy in the role of Director of Football Ops for the Steelers. I love it on TBD when the Bills hire a guy who was essentially a staff member working for a GM and they instantly get credit for having built the team. Whaley may be a fine talent evaluator, but he cannot receive sole credit for drafting starters. Once again, TBD'ers looking at every person or situation in absolute world. Nix+SD=Nix is great. And now Whaley+PIT=Whaley great. Both guys are probably fine scouts and personnel directors, but GM is another level with more responsibility.

Ralph Wilson, Bills, and "semi-democratically" (whatever that is) are words I wouldn't use in a single sentence. Ralph has always wanted his way and generally got it. Aside from TD, when he had strong personnel experienced HC/GM types (Saban 2x, Knox, Polian, Butler) the team fared well. His track record is a lot of misses mixed with the aforementioned hits. RW may not be JJ or Snyder, but this offseason demonstrated the Bills can no longer attract quality HC/GM options. Perhaps they don't want them. Rumor had it RW wanted Lynch as well in 07 according to a January Pro Football Weekly article. Problems Begin at Top-PFW 1-25-10 Granted, there wasn't much in the 4th when they took Wright, but still, an owner immersing himself in any round is troubling.

This is the issue with Gailey: his previous HC job in college was one mired in mediocrity. He recruited well but never seemed to have more than average success. Not winning in college is one thing, but to get a HC job in the pros with his recent track record is not inspiring. This reminds me of Jauron circa 2008: a HC with talent (and an easy schedule) who couldn't win. And then, I'm reminded of the other three teams in the AFCE and their management structure.

How about Whitner, his twitter account, the stolen jewelry, and his yapper for Andy Reid's buffet lunches and dinners for a year? That way, the DL and LB's can stay big for the switch to a 34 defense.

Will you purchase this product when Dez Bryant, Arrelious Benn, or any WR is not selected in Round 1?

With a massive assist from a guy named Kurt Warner. He coached three seasons in STL, and in 97 and 98 combined for 9-23 record. He then sees Trent Green go down, Warner becomes the QB, and he wins a SB. Never won a playoff game again after 99 season.

I don't expect Gailey to say this team is capable of winning the SB a la Gregg Williams in 2001. But there seems to be a growing movement that as long as any sort of change happens, that it's naturally a good thing. Unfortunately, the power brokers at OBD continue to trot out the same product with different packaging. If the team has another underwhelming or poor season, it'll be blamed on a new staff, young players, et al. You know, the same things people said after 2006. At some point, being new doesn't equate to being bad and eventually fans need to demand more.

This man has far too much affinity for the bumerooski. How many times is he going to use that term?

I've read here the admiration for Gailey's words from the recent breakfast for select premium ticket holders. If this were a proven coach talking about things, then fine. Unfortunately (unless you're a homer extraordinaire) everything he said is straight from the coach-speak manual. Why does Gailey receive the benefit of the doubt? It must be because he's new and the anti-Jauron. But name one HC who went 10 years between top jobs, let alone a guy who has success that far apart? Even if Bills fans are to assume that Nix will find talent, the coach is the person putting that talent into place. And I don't see Gailey doing that, certainly not this season. It's looking like cloudy and about 4-12 this season. Despite what the team says, they need instant starters at LT, NT, and OLB. For all the credit Gailey received, he's never had the task of rebuilding a team like he will here. It's great he's been a decent OC for 3 NFL seasons since being fired in Dallas, but HC is an exponentially greater challenge. Words don't change that.

I'm sure if you said this the day after DJ was fired, that most people would have reacted very negatively. But the rationale spread that even though no one wanted these guys, they were fine for Buffalo. Marv Levy, Russ Brandon, Buddy Nix, Dick Jauron, and Chan Gailey were people no one wanted across 31 other teams in the NFL. Somehow, they've become good enough to desperate fans. Cue the Marv Levy 1986 comment about not being wanted. Too bad Chan doesn't have Bill Polian as a GM.

Well... 1. Lynch was suspended 3 games last season and wasn't ready to go in Week 4. It's called game shape. 2. After the suspension, he would have had to get the ball 25 times each game to hit 300 carries 3. The NFL is a two back league now, so comparisons to Thurman are not accurate. It's a two back league because defenders are bigger, stronger, and faster. Not good if you're even a 215# "beast." 4. Jackson was the better back, and sharing carries did not result in the sum being better than the parts. 5. Buffalo found itself down in late in a few games where running the ball wasn't their first option. 6. Dick Jauron was the HC.

Kyle Williams is a nice complementary player and nothing more. He and Stroud combined to man the middle for a team ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed with 156+ per game. And now he's being asked to play DL in a defense where the front 3 must allow the LB's to make the plays? If strength were the main requirement, Leif Larsen would be an All-Pro.

I'll admit, I laughed when Tennessee selected Chris Johnson in 2008. But upon closer inspection, the Titans had a strong OL with a real LT in Michael Roos, and could afford to take a back. Their defense wasn't shabby either and the next season they went 13-3. I can't stand the guy, but respect what Bill Parcells does when rebuilding the Dolfelons. They re-signed Vernon Carey, drafted Jake Long, and signed Jake Grove. Those are solid OT's and a C. They picked Dlineman and are still fortifying their front 7, despite picks at CB last year. It's cliche, but building from inside-out is how it's done. Dick Levy did it the other way, and it gave us more mediocrity.