BillsVet

Consolation prizes is all Bills fans have to look forward to these days.

Buffalo will have a myriad of options at 9, if they choose to remain there. With huge needs at LT, NT, RT, OLB, and QB they can go a variety of different directions. It's kinda like 2006 redux; a rebuilding team with needs all over the field provides them with plenty of options. QB's are overdrafted each year, so it wouldn't surprise me to see someone bite on Bradford and Clausen before Buffalo picks. That just provides them another option to draft for one of their needs.

If they're going to make a move, it'll be this year. That's not to say Buffalo won't show some 4-3 looks, but Edwards and Gailey seem committed to a 3-4. But in order to do this, they'll need a NT, another OLB, ILB depth, and DE depth. And that's assuming Schobel makes the transition to OLB. Either way, the team once again goes into the offseason with more needs than resources to address them. I not convinced they'll make any noteworthy trades, unless it's a pick for someone like Pickett.

Two years ago, Ted Thompson franchised a much desired player, DL Corey Williams, only to trade him to Cleveland for a second rounder. I don't doubt for a moment that GB's plan is do the same with Pickett, a player who'll get significant attention on the open market. And that's even with a player who'll start at NT next season in Raji. Good front offices know the market and get a return on something. Thompson did it two years ago, and if he's serious about starting Raji, he'll deal Pickett for a 1st or 2nd now that NT's are in serious demand.

There have been 77 drafted QB's from 2000-2007 in rounds 3-7. Only Tom Brady and Matt Schaub are the type of signal callers I'd call good to excellent who came of that group. Franchise QB's are found in the first and occasionally in the second rounds. But despite overwhelming evidence demonstrating that solid QB's are found in the first or second, some continue to believe the Bills will luck (there's that word again) into a top QB.

Game, set, and match. Buffalo will not yield a 1st-3rd round pick for any RFA in 2010. EDIT: Exclusive rights free agents cannot sign with other teams unless they are non-tendered. I'd say Carolina will retain him like Buffalo did last year with Fred Jackson.

There's a run on OT's each year. And remember, this team needs two starters with very little available in free agency. I would bet that both OT's next season will be rookies, much like last year was a G. Ergo, take the best available OT at a position of dire need. If that's Okung, Bulaga, whomever.

USA answered every time Canada threatened. Need to keep it going, it's the prelims but goodness gracious.

I would think there'd be more of a sense of urgency at OBD re: on-field product. But as we'll discover, the owners are positioning themselves for the likelihood there's a lockout in 2011. Good QB's are not found in UFA anyway. The likelihood of finding the next Drew Brees is minimal, nor do teams generally find QB's in the 3rd-7th rounds or UDFA. It takes a big move to acquire a good QB.

The subterfuge emanating from OBD will only increase leading up to free agency and the draft. It happens for 32 franchises each and every off-season and to on March 5th, they'll have ample opportunity to begin filling the numerous holes on their roster. Still, it's clear there's not a whole lot available in the way of QB's. McNabb won't be going to Buffalo, and Vick is not a full time answer. What's also evident is that the QB solution isn't on the roster. The options are a guy who isn't consistent (Fitz) a guy who lost the locker room and is mentally weak (Edwards) and a guy who's not ready to play after two season in the NFL (Brohm). The front office wants a new QB, because new regimes typically mean new players at the position. But with few market options, a looming lockout, and owners sure to shed payroll, I don't see Buffalo making a huge move.

50 years of Bills history say RW doesn't give the reigns to anyone. How's this for experience: Graham: Bills Staff Inexperience The coverage scheme will change drastically. Now, the CB's won't be responsible for the short zone, and safeties won't be playing CF like they did in DJ's C2 scheme. CB's will have more M2M responsibility, and LB's won't be asked to take the middle of the field on passing plays. This board ceases to amaze.

Go back and do the research in the 98 Draft because it wasn't the slam dunk you make it out to be. Sure, it's simple to look back now and conclude lazily that Manning was much better than Leaf. But peel back a few layers, and you'll find that Manning had his weaknesses as well. Polian is the greatest NFL GM of the past 25 years hands down and there is no one better. He was let go by the Bills and that era is over, but taking him down a notch in self-righteous rants is the result of Bills fans being bitter they're team isn't half as good as the team BP has had since leaving.

Big difference busting on a second round pick versus a first rounder. And Polian hasn't done in that in, oh, forever. One can continue attempting to conflate the argument between an outstanding GM and people the Bills hire, but it's useless. The draft is not a crap shoot, some have more talent picking players than others. It may not be as scientific as some want, but the fact is teams like IND, SD, BAL, NE, NYG, PHI, GB, and PIT have a much better record at drafting than most of the other 24 teams.

But, but, but...we had a regime change doggonit! Nix, as General Manager of Football will be making those decisions I thought.

30 other NFL teams have had coaching vacancies and neglected to consider Marty Schottenheimer? 200 career coaching wins in the regular season seems to show Martyball works. Then again, Chanman has 18 with a fading Dallas dynasty and wasn't rehired in a decade.

Ralph Wilson decided he didn't want Marty, not Buddy. And for all those people who believe Marty didn't want to come to Buffalo, well, he didn't want to admit it and then get shot down. Which is what happened, because RW has such a fine track record of avoiding strong willed people who know football.

A.J. Smith is too smart to trade a RB one incident away from being suspended long term for a solid LT. Positional value being what it is, Buffalo would need to throw in something more to get a good LT than just a backup RB. Unless Smith has a replacement for McNeill on the roster (and he doesn't), he's not making that move. Certainly no NFL team would trade their starting LT for picks or a RB without a replacement, right?

For all the credit given to the team for "regime change" Buffalo still has people like JO around making personnel decisions. The history of the Buffalo Bills from 2006-2009 will be taking one step forward and two steps back. Last years OL was a myriad of bad personnel moves, and the OL rebuild will continue out of necessity-again. Excellent point. One wonders why Overdorf is still around after moves like this. It's not as though capologists are few and far between.

Tell that to the teams who don't have one. No one talks about Jon Stinchcomb shutting down Robert Mathis in the SB. If it's a passing league, doesn't it stand to reason that you need a RT who can handle a team's most likely second best pass rusher? Thought so. Levitre is a National Football League guard. He was an emergency guy at OT last season because the team had/has nothing there. His arms are too short, and he doesn't have the lateral agility to handle faster DE's. Playing guard doesn't expose this, and I'd add he's come along quite nicely.

Anyone who thinks DJ made the call on releasing Walker is entirely too naive. That decision was made on-high once it was clear he was too fat and slow. I'd say it was more people like Overdorf who figured they could score some points by saving money with that contract. The decision makers at certain levels are still there at OBD. I'm not saying Walker was a top OT, but teams have enough positions of need each season. They shouldn't be creating any more, but the Bills have made a habit of this since Dick Levy took over. Let a player go in UFA or trade and then attempt to draft their replacement. Four years later it's rebuilding time again.

He doesn't spend on quality front office and coaching minds, who overwhelmingly rejected the notion of working for him this year. The one time he did get a name guy, it was a poor choice. It makes little sense to spend so much on players, but neglect those who are supervising them. The fact that RW did not question the organization interviewing 2 (EDIT: in-house) candidates for the GM job is an indictment of the entire franchise. Ralph is does not want powerful personalities who will want more control than he's willing to yield in football operations. So he places Mr. Smithers there and, voila, everything is wonderful again.

Not only this, but Gailey has never built a team as a HC. I'd argue his work in GT wasn't bad if you're talking recruiting. He found some talent for a school not known for being a football powerhouse. But his on-field abilities weren't ever enough to maximize that talent. Only one season with 8 or more wins nearly 6 seasons. That's not going to cut it in the ACC. Something tells me it wasn't a coincidence that he never got another HC job in the NFL after being fired in Big D. There, he took the remnants of the Jimmy Johnson SB teams and basically steered the ship straight. But make no mistake, the scenario he just walked into is a complete rebuild. His "specialty" needs a serious overhaul, and the defense needs several pieces.

Year 1 was 2008. The NFL is a "what have you done lately for me" league. Two years into a pro career and I expect a guy not to be one of the most heavily penalized players in the AFCE. The LT position is too critical to the overall success of the entire offense for bargain bin type players. Bell is a wonderful story, and it's changed my take on his father, but hoping and wishing players succeed has left the Bills 0-4 in playoff appearances since 2006/

How long can people talk about a guy have potential? At some point, the player has to live up to it or he doesn't. The guy was a developmental player to begin with. It's been two seasons now, and some are talking as if he's close to being very good. NFL players typically make their biggest leap from year 1 to year 2. I didn't see much from him last year that signaled he was coming of age. When you can't remember the snap count in your home stadium by your second year, that's not good.

Roger Goodell needs all the allies he can get in the labor war with the NFLPA. I believe the owners can hold out longer, but Richardson knows that prices for players will be going down. Anyone who's read "America's Game" by Michael McCambridge knows that Wellington Mara gave up a lot of money for the benefit of the NFL. And it's been proven to be the right decision. Goodell will be waging a war with not only the NFLPA, but also against the mega owners Snyder and Jones. They'll want all the money they can get, especially Jerra who has big time debt from his new palace. One last thing: it's strange to think that the NFL Commissioner is more or less on the side of the owners. The NFL isn't designed this way, but of late the Commissioner is seemingly on ownership's side against the union. Yet, those same 32 owners vote for their commissioner, as opposed to a single person mediating between the owners and union.