BillsVet

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.

Forget it, he's rolling.

Sure, if McNabb wanted to play for a team which has almost nothing at OT, is in an all-out rebuilding mode, and probably won't be in the playoffs next season. Besides, he's dealt with a bevy of injuries these past few seasons.

So if there's no lockdown LT in the draft, why draft one at all? We know the top guys will be franchised, which leaves scrubs like D. Bell, Meredith, et al as options without a draft pick. Now before you change your story on draft day, don't you draft guys for potential, given that rookies typically aren't big time contributors their first year? Thing is, this team has too many needs and not enough resources to fill them. We get that you want a QB, but when the OL gives up 46 sacks, they need some help-now. And their current group doesn't have a single guy capable of manning the position.

Anyone believing that Levitre can be the full time starter at LT doesn't follow football closely. It's almost as pointless as saying Langston Walker is capable of handling the position. A LT must be stout enough to handle bull rushes from rush LB's who get a running start, and nimble enough to move laterally to handle speed rushers. I don't care how much an OT weighs, trying to stop a 250+ rush LB with a running start requires a lot of strength and "sand in the pants." OLT's handle the opponents best pass rusher, ROLB or RDE. The best ones are left alone on an island, but most aren't elite. Still, when you've got a lock down OLT, it makes things easier for the entire offense. And when you've got a bad one (as Buffalo did all last season) the OL and by default the entire offense suffers mightily. Fans can debate the Peters trade, but here we are debating about taking a LT and spending a valuable resource on a rookie. Replacing departed veterans year after year via the draft is why this team remains mediocre and doesn't compete for anything.

Since 2005, GT has sent 12 players to the NFL, and will probably send no fewer than 4 in the upcoming draft. Certainly this isn't other-worldly, but it shows that GT recruits talented players. GT Drafted Players In 5 of Gailey's 6 years at GT, he couldn't win more than 7 games per. The one season he did, they lost in the Gator Bowl. Perhaps this isn't the right forum for this, but I find it humorous that the same Gailey who was middle of the road at GT is now being counted on to best three other strong teams in the AFCE. And he's proven that even with talent he couldn't get that team over the hump. Maybe there's a reason no other teams considered him for HC jobs post Dallas.

TD's been gone for four years, and while his final two drafts were bad, the Bills should be a playoff team if their initial rebuild worked. Unfortunately it didn't (sorry Dick Levy fans) and we're back to rebuilding all over again. And, of the solid players on this team, most are TD holdovers: Schobel, Evans, McGee, Moorman, Lindell. I'm not sure why Bills fans are assuming Stroud, Sp. Johnson, Maybin, and even Schobel will seamlessly convert to a 3-4. That's a lot of positions to assume will be covered by the existing roster. We all know that changing a lot doesn't work from season to season. See OL, circa 2009 offseason.

That oughta satisfy old Roger Goodell.

Even Chan Nix said it during the opening PC: Your QB isn't making plays when he's on his back. And on this team, the QB was sacked 46 times in 2009. Sure some of those were holding onto the ball, but the majority were probably bad pass blocking. Poor drafting from 2004-2008 is what has set this team into the mediocre product they are. Some of that is on TD, but Dick Levy added to it with 3 bad drafts from 06-08. If McKelvin, (EDIT: Posluszny), Butler, and Williams, are all the starters you've got out of 3 drafts, it's not good enough to win the ultra competitive AFC East. It's a weak year for QB's, but perhaps strong for OT's. At this early juncture, take the best OT and then build the front 7 on defense.

I'm very much familiar with management, having worked there in civilian and military companies/units. And as much as some will rubber-stamp micromanagement, it does not lend itself to organizational health. RW's been meddling since Day 1 and with poor results. While I applaud the Whaley hiring, just being from a good franchise isn't enough. But sure, he's probably the GM in waiting for the Bills, provided they remain here. And I'm also aware that RW still has a vice like grip on this franchise no matter who is GM, Assistant GM, CEO, or otherwise. It was RW who reportedly demanded they select Lynch in 2007. And it was RW who told Brandon to sign TO for the PR factor nearly a year ago. Leadership filters through an organization. And when the top guys at OBD continue to make bad decisions, it's hard to get on board with the latest iteration of middle management choices. I don't for a second believe that RW allows his football people to have enough authority to make the right choices. Don't misunderstand, I know an owner will always have a say, but in Buffalo they've had a lot less than successful organizations like IND, SD, PIT, BAL, NYG, PHI, GB, and NE.

RW's memory is still solid. He knows that all those high priced guys signed by Donahoe and Levy didn't make the team better. Never mind that both of those regimes were terrible at team building, but it's a convenient excuse when they don't pursue someone to fill the all-important NT position. Most owners, specifically small market ones who cry poverty like RW, will spend less in 2010. Cue up the PR department for some spin on the scrub FA's and hype the draft picks. It's worked so well recently, so why stop now?

In Marv Levy's fantasy world, DJ was someone who identified talent and knew how to match players to his system. Unfortunately, Marv's reliance on DJ was without any foundation. I'd agree DJ had far too much power, and the creation of the inner circle in late 2008 seemed to address that. Unfortunately, DJ as HC was replaced by Chan Gailey, forgotten man in the NFL. This is a guy no one was even talking about as an OC in 2010. It doesn't appear that the HC or staff was upgraded all that much. And when you've got an AFC Championship game participant in NYJ, Belichick, and Sparano/Parcells in your division, it's not good enough.

It's not change if 2 in-house candidates were interviewed for the most critical front office job. It doesn't matter to far too many fans that Nix has not handled day to day ops for a NFL team, nor that the other guy interviewed was ultimately fired. This was the big house-cleaning? And don't forget, RW's chief adviser is a non-football guy with authority over all team operations. He couldn't get it done as quasi-GM, but received a promotion when it became evident they needed a real football guy? This is a restructuring with the same old people. I'd like for someone to explain to me what made it unnecessary to interview qualified candidates from other teams? What was Smithers afraid of? Someone criticizing their methods?

The NFL loves Buffalo playing in Toronto, but isn't keen on their venue. At some point, it'll need to be addressed and I can't see two stadiums being built to serve 1 team. NFL owners along with the commissioner want the league to grow. And if they had their choice, owners would not hesitate if a reasonable bid for the Bills came in from Toronto as long as a stadium provision is there. It was reported someone from Toronto already put in a bid for the Rams.

At RT, Butler is the best of a bad bunch. He's 4 for 4 in getting injured in his career, the latest was an ACL tear which will probably hinder his mobility. He may have played well before this latest (and major) injury, but banking on him again is a big risk. Guards are generally not as mobile as tackles, and it's for this reason Butler and Levitre were originally moved inside when they graduated to the pros. It's why finding guards is much easier than tackles and why solid guards can be found late or undrafted.

I wish more Bills fans carried this opinion/perspective. This will be the third rebuild in 10 seasons and second in five. With the switch to the 3-4, the Bills have (once again) more needs than resources available to fill those needs. QB, LT, NT, perhaps RT, Rush LB, 5 tech DE, and 2nd WR are all positions of need. The options on the roster are either unproven, or will be switched to a new position. If we learned anything from last season, it's that lots of changes at once isn't a solution to problems. And with FA being short on talent and Buffalo's affinity for finding low cost low reward players here, it's going to be awhile before they are competing for a playoff team.

Didn't RW want Flutie in the 85 draft ahead of Bruce Smith? Can't remember if that was conjecture or what. If so, thank goodness BP had the ability to convince RW he didn't know which player was best. It's nonsense to think RW knows the ins and outs of football. He's been an owner, but he's not the guy to make decisions on individual players.

Negativity after losing for an entire decade? And then striking out while attempting to hire a proven HC who's been in the NFL within the past decade? I'm not sure there's anything left but to be negative. I seriously don't understand how anyone can be optimistic about this team. 66 wins in 10 seasons, one winning season in that time, and the notion that when the elderly owner passes the team is sold to the highest bidder. The lease expires in 2012, and no one wants to discuss anything about the future of the team. What's not to love?

Brett Favre Southern Mississippi Tony Romo Eastern Illinois Joe Flacco Delaware Ben Roethlisberger Miami (Ohio) Philip Rivers North Carolina St. Jay Cutler Vanderbilt Drew Brees Purdue Kurt Warner Northern Iowa I know most discussions on this board wind up in either or type arguments. But big name programs don't always produce big time NFL talent, even at QB. But if you're going to find a solid starter, look for them in Round 1 or 2. That is, unless playing the lottery is a talent.

Ticket prices are split 60/40 between home and away teams. Thus, opposing (away) teams have an interest in the home team's ticket prices. It's a big difference if Buffalo plays in the new Giants stadium versus the Jets playing in Buffalo. Owners want the highest revenues, and there's a battle brewing between some of the big market guys like Jones and small teams like Buffalo. Goodell needs to do something fairly quick on this front and revenue sharing isn't enough.

Would you rather be a hitting coach for the Bisons or for the Mets? Edwards was in the college ranks, and it's a promotion to do the same job in the NFL. Players say a lot of things to the media, but the only thing that matters is A) Money and B) Chance of Winning. They'll play wherever they can to meet those criteria. And right now, Buffalo (along with the rest of the NFL) won't be handing out big contracts. It's safe to say the Bills will be in rebuild mode again next season, so winning isn't happening here anytime soon. Players look forward to the day they hit UFA, so they can choose where they go. It's why the RFA's who should be hitting UFA after their 4th and 5th years of service aren't happy. They'll be losing dollars by having to take a tender that might not be as much as another team would give.

Everyone in the NFL says they're going to build through the draft. Heck, Dick Levy said it as well, and that didn't work out so well. And even if the front office is better, there really aren't many building blocks in place. They've got to find so many pieces and hard to find positions: Rush OLB, LT, QB, et al. Which teams has Buddy Nix personally led that were rebuilt? He was first the Pro Personnel Director in SD, and didn't even live in the city the team was in. His address was Tennessee, so day to day activities weren't his responsibility. We're back to arguing how much of it was AJ Smith, and how much credit Nix should get. I'd go with the guy who showed up at Qualcomm most days. Comparing Parcells, who has been at the forefront of rebuilding the Giants, Jets, Patriots, and Cowboys, to Nix/Gailey is insanity. And the thought that the front office will get to spend some money is a joke as well. Teams are going to spend less in 2010, primarily because there's no cap floor. Everyone's waiting to see what happens labor-wise, so the Bills rebuilding might not get off to a great start. Talk about starting all over again.

One of Goodell's main responsibilities is to increase league revenue. And the best way to accomplish this remains for franchises to have new stadiums which typically charge more for tickets and include more high priced luxury boxes. Over the past 15 years, 20 teams have constructed new stadiums. Additionally, KC, CHI, and GB have made huge renovations to existing parks. That's nearly 3/4 of the NFL with new or significantly upgraded homes. NFL Stadiums The commissioner is responsible for the league's health, not individual franchises like Buffalo. He'll step up the pressure on teams like SD, OAK, SF, and BUF to build new homes as a result. Problem is, we all know neither the state or local government have the funding to assist Buffalo. Unless the next owner is willing to spend their own money on a field (in addition to the team purchase price) I can't see the team remaining in WNY.

I don't disagree with you. Last year a lot of fans on this very board thought RW just had to spend big on UFA's for a team that was near 10 seasons without a playoff appearance. Needless to say, it didn't happen. TO, IMO, was merely a PR move. I liked the move, but only for what it was: a shot of adrenaline for a franchise hurting. It worked to sell tickets and focus attention on the team, but nothing more. I really think that both coaches AND players aren't really high on going to Buffalo. I suspect most in the NFL know this is a rebuilding project now, given the lack of OT's, a starting QB, and paucity of players that fit the front 7 of their new defense. The only way this off-season to find good players may be the trade route.

I wouldn't see raising ticket prices as leading to more FA dollars being spent. Even when the Bills went to Toronto, RW admitted that deal wouldn't mean more money spent on players. With no cap this year and more players being RFA's, I'd anticipate teams will sit tight, tender their RFA's, and wait for the impending labor issues to blow over. After all, RW made his "changes" to the organization and there's no hurry to build a winner. The franchise is committed to making fewer commitments to complete a sale. If the Rams deal is any indication, team's aren't going for their value as determined by Forbes.