BillsVet

Rebuilding teams add draft picks, at least those that rebuild successfully. Buffalo's been rebuilding since 2006, and not surprisingly, they surrendered picks for that year and the following one to move up. They also did that last year, and IIRC, haven't traded down since 2001 when Clements was their first selection. Draft picks are an increasingly valuable commodity in today's NFL with veteran pay being what it is. They have too many needs to be going after one guy.

Teams may interview as many as 60 players at the combine. Combine Interviews? Frankly it doesn't matter who anyone interviews, because in most instances it's a front designed to make other teams think they're interested in player A. Subterfuge reigns from before the combine right through the season. Besides, the combine has become more of a polished affair, with players getting coaching on how to say nothing. Interviews lose importance

Not LB's who fit the 3-4. They've got absolutely no one who's played OLB (the pass rushers) in their new defense, and both Mitchell and Posluszny will be learning another defense. This team needs depth in their LB corps, and guys like Keith Ellison, Nic Harris, Jon Corto, and Marcus Buggs aren't it. Even if you include Maybin and Schobel, they've got 4 LB's on this roster right now who might play. The rest are guys who should or will be released.

Far too many fans assume Bell and Meredith will hold up for an entire season and not get their QB killed. There's a reason both were late round draft picks, and it's not because no one scouted them. Jason Peters is the exception to the rule that LT's aren't found in the latter rounds, just like Tom Brady is for QB's. That's an out and out anomaly in the draft, but people still point to those guys that there's a chance, so let it ride with guys like Bell, Meredith, and Brian Brohm. It's kinda like playing the lottery. Sure, someone wins and we could point to them as a reason to keep playing, but that's not a sound strategy.

It's funny how many posts there are where people say they "like what they see" so far with the new "regime." The people behind the scenes haven't changed, just the more public faces of the organization. That, and the fact that free agency and the draft haven't happened yet. I can't wait until the Bills are again noticeably quiet in UFA. Then, those liking the new regime posts will turn on a dime and do a 180.

Marv managed personalities, like any HC does. Difference was, he had HOF talent with big egos at multiple positions. As always, Marv is a nice guy, but coming out after DJ was fired and saying he wasn't crazy about the move showed that he wasn't with it. Perhaps that's because he didn't want to admit a colossal error, but those four years without a real GM set the franchise back immensely. If anything, the Levy GM years made it clear that Bill Polian was the heart and soul behind the glory years of the Bills.

Don't forget the team saved millions by dealing "malcontent" Jason Peters. All teams will be cutting payroll in 2010 because there's no cap penalty to pay for dropping overpaid veterans. League-wide, there's going to be some bad football out there. It seems to be the Bills are riding out the string by squeezing revenue from the team until the inevitable. I seriously doubt their commitment to winning, especially if they don't see an urgency to win after 10 straight non-playoff seasons and only one winning campaign.

Maybe Buffalo can re-acquire Ron Edwards from KC and have him play? The options are few and far between for Buffalo. If Kyle Williams is the NT on opening day, they may again be giving up 140+ rypg in 2010.

1. Who? Mark Tauscher or Chad Clifton? 30 somethings for GB OT's. Because Jared Gaither, Jammal Brown, and Marcus McNeill will most likely require 1st and 3rd round compensation with a big contract. 2. They almost have to go there, unless they expect two miracles out of Bell and Meredith. 3. Who? 35 year old Jason Ferguson or 36 yo Hollis Thomas? Neither are starting caliber at this point in their career. There's little after that in the way of starters. 4. If a QB hasn't progressed this far by their 3rd season, it's probably not going to work out. Time to move on. A HC has an entire team to guide. Maybe the 30 year veteran of the CFL coach those guys up. 5. 3-4 defenses apply pressure from the OLB's. They have no one on the roster who's played the position and there's again nothing in UFA. Joey Porter is slowing down, and Tully Banta-Cain and Derrick Burgess aren't great options either. 6. Who? Derrick Mason and Antonio Bryant are the best of the UFA bunch. The others are all RFA's. 7. No one's going to correct 23 years of thugness. 8. Why? There's only 1-2 decent QB's in the league taken in the third or fourth. Don't waste a pick on these guys and build depth at LB and DL. Every year, fans buy into the hype and then create unfounded hope. This year, it's a complete gut and rebuild and nothing more. Even if the Bills had 3 first round picks they couldn't address all their needs. And no one should count on RFA's, because the draft takes on more significance with no cap and teams looking to cut costs. I'd rather pay a 3rd rounder to start than a 30 something guy past his prime who wants the final payoff of his career.

With TO gone, the team hiring a 70 year old first time GM and also-ran HC, who will Buffalo target as their "name" UFA for 2010? I think they'll pursue Tomlinson, but find he has other suitors. Either way, I'm very interested to see how OBD fares selling season tickets. At least TO had a ROI.

It's less challenging to find talent with perennial top 15 picks and when you've got giant positional needs all over the field. That was the case in 2006, and it's their situation this season. I would think they'll seriously explore trading down, but remaining in position to move back up if they desire. Baltimore did that in 2008, and still wound up with their man in Joe Flacco and additional picks. Buffalo needs all the picks they can now that they're rebuilding.

Why any fan believes anything that front office/coaches say at this point is funny. No one tips their hand at this early juncture. Well, unless you're the Bills discussing trading Willis McGahee at the 2007 combine so that Shaud Williams is your only back entering the free agency period. I guess there are exceptions.

Surprised it took this long for the thread to show up and that certain homer fans haven't predictably responded. Not many career minded (read:professional) people want to work for a company that will be up for sale. I'd be willing to bet that was the reason.

Agents hire people to conduct mock interviews with potential first round picks. It's a way to ensure they're saying the right things and thus not lose draft stock. If Davis' agent did this, which I'm sure he did, then he's forgotten what he was taught. It's a stretch, but that's a minor cause for concern. Agents know the combine still carries a lot of weight for players, despite the pro days and game tape available.

Where on earth did I suggest Whitner was a "smaller" safety? Absolutely nowhere, but go on putting words in my mouth. Until this year, Troy Polamalu was one of the most durable safeties in the NFL at 5'10 and about 210-215 pounds. Now someone will say he's used differently, but I saw Polamalu get his nose on ball-carriers and make some pics at DW's size. The difference? Instincts. DW doesn't have much compared to guys like Polamalu and Bob Sanders. I'd take a 4th for Lil' Donte, given that this team has three safeties who can adequately handle the safety positions. Better to have a chance getting another developmental player than hanging on to an overpaid backup who'll probably be cut. Whitner was a luxury pick for a rebuilding franchise, but go on believing that he had value. Just imagine if the Bills had taken any one of Ngata, Bunkley, or goodness gracious, traded down as Marv admitted he could have. Maximizing resources is why this team will be rebuilding again. Around and around we go, where the Bills stop no one knows.

Just how long should I give the organization to win? 12 years? 15 years? 20 years? And do you know why they've lost the past few years? Hmm? It's because they drafted poorly, struck out in free agency, and were poorly coached. But there you were rubber-stamping all of these things, and with Lil' Donte, you're still doing it. Whitner is non-essential to this team with the new coaching staff and GM in place. His salary is too high to be the backup he is. I know discussing rational points is out the window with you, but save me the drama. This is the last I'll respond to you, because my brain cells are dying just reading your re-hashed rhetoric.

And you're calling people names for not agreeing with your version of diplomacy. Honestly, you've been wrong on this board the majority of time, and a respected poster not long ago outlined this for you. Don't take the self-righteous path and declare yourself above it all, but resort to insults when you're backed into a corner.

No, Berry is touted as the top safety because he has the skills reportedly commensurate with playing at a high level in the NFL. Players are drafted based on their potential, not college numbers. I don't care what Whitner was on pace to do in 2009. He has been increasingly nicked up, the result of being too small to play SS, and does not possess the instincts (as Berry evidently does) to create turnovers. He struggles in coverage against TE's (see TB game) which is a prime responsibility of SS's. You, once again, are hyping a player who lost his starting spot to 1) a rookie 2nd rounder 2) a street free agent (Scott) and 3) converted UDFA WR. If a top 10 pick is playing different positions, it's never a good thing. Never. Robert Gallery may be a decent G, but he's a huge disappointment because he was drafted to be a lock down LT. Guards, like safeties, are easier to find than top CB's and OT's.

When you trade (and it hasn't happened yet) an 8th pick four seasons after taking him, that's an indication the guy was a disappointment. Depth wouldn't matter because the guy would be your top player at their position. Whitner isn't, and it's why he'll get cut, dealt for picks, or take a seat on the bench. College production doesn't mean much when considering what kind of pro career they'll have. There's a laundry list of top QB's who were drafted for their numbers, and it didn't work out. Ware, Klingler, Detmer, Couch, Torretta. RB's as well, to include several Heisman winners. Even guys like USF DE George Selvie, who was talked about as a first rounder last year for their production, were shown that it wouldn't transition to the pros. Now he's probably a mid rounder.

Excellent read from a blogger. I particularly liked this quote: "However, tackles picked in later rounds simply do not have the physical tools to play LT at the highest level. Not a single third-to seventh-round tackle, left or right, has made the Pro Bowl in the past ten years." Sure, Peters, Gaither, and Donald Penn came from those late round or the UDFA ranks, but in 10 years that's all there is to show for all those OT's. Not very good odds, but some will cling to the notion that Demetrius Bell or Jamon Meredith will suffice. They can't and they won't.

It's ironic how much this point was argued from 06 to 08. This past year showed it wasn't scheme, injury, or anything else why DW wasn't a good pick. Have good QB play, protect the QB, and rush your opponent's QB and that's a great start. Taking safeties top 10 isn't the thing for rebuilding teams. With Buffalo desperate for help at LT, QB, RT, NT, and OLB, I could see them trading down. But they'd better hope to get an OT, because after the top 4, it's straight downhill. They'll need that first rounder to start right away.

"Buying Time" should be the team's motto. Nearly every move they've made from a front office and coaching perspective is a temporary move which they hope works out. Luck seems to be what they're depending on. Levy, Brandon, Nix, Jauron, Gailey et al. Eventually, it's realized that those moves don't work, so they make another change in hopes it'll work out too. Commitment to no commitment.

I don't know how they'll address the massive needs at OT, NT, and their OLB pass rushers. Those are three major components of successful teams, and Buffalo has nothing proven at any of those positions. I really don't see how they can go without a NT or OT with their first and perhaps second picks. At LB, I've got a feeling they'll hope Maybin turns out, rotate in Schobel if he doesn't retire, and pick up a vet to play FT at the other OLB position. Porter seemed to regress mightily last year, so anything more than 2M per would be a lot.

Ralph's health is a huge issue, so FWIW, thanks for passing along if accurate. When someone erroneously reported his demise about a year ago, it sent shockwaves through the entire Bills fandom. You gotta hope the guy lives to 110, but he didn't look all that good at the Nix hiring PC. Perhaps it's the Detroit winter taking a toll, but then again he lives in FLA I believe part of the year.

Forget it, he's rolling. The choices are a guy coming off shoulder surgery or someone who allegedly alienated his teammates. Maybe a late first, but definitely not top 10 material for either of them. Then again, QB's are always overdrafted.