BillsVet

Don't forget the capologist, old Jimmy Overdorf. Another guy who got to stick around and no one once mentioned him as a candidate to pack his bags. He has a lot of influence, if you read between the lines.

More puff pieces from OBD Lead Cheerleader Chris Brown. Every year, the hype begets the hope and fans anxiously await the start of free agency. Granted it's different in 2010, but with a team headed for the cellar of the AFCE, a good faith signing would go a long way. But yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.

They've allowed talent, regardless of our personal feeling toward a player, to go out the door. And yet people rationalize at the time why it was a good move. Then most of the homers and schlubs figure out that it wasn't far down the road. Trading Peters was dumb. And it's why this draft, Buffalo is most likely going to use another first rounder to replace someone. I'd argue this organization has been running in a wheel since 2006: Whitner for Milloy, Lynch for McGahee, Posluszny for Fletcher, McKelvin for Clements, and a rookie OT for Peters. That's five top picks in five years to replace departed players. All this when the team didn't have a real GM. Coincidence? I think not.

Guess what? This isn't college, and he was made the starting LT for a team people had high hopes for. Buffalo isn't in the business of developing players for the majors, this is the majors. I'm tired of hearing excuses about why players aren't good. Not to mention, LT's typically take on the opponents best pass rusher. Peters some good ones in the NFCE, although he certainly wasn't perfect. People are talking about Jared Gaither, but he gave up about as many sacks as Peters did. (4 versus 6)

Dick Levy got a pass for about two years because their predecessor drafted poorly in 04-05. So, doesn't it stand to reason that Buddy Gailey are given a mulligan because Dick Levy weren't all that good from about 06-08? That, and their first pick in 09 isn't looking good at this early juncture. Maybin's been passed off as a DJ pick, but I find it hard to believe he had that kind of authority when he was left out of the inner circle.

Gaither would demand a contract commensurate with his high RFA tender. Not the actual RFA salary, but a long term deal rather. Surrendering a first rounder, should BAL let their LT walk, would make it even more improbable.

And yet, for all the hype, he forced only 6 turnovers in four seasons, and half of those were his freshman year at USC. Sure, someone will come along and say he wasn't used properly, or that he helped out a young team. At the same time, he forced only (EDIT: 3) turnovers in his sophomore through senior campaigns. He's a boom or bust pick, and it looks like the latter. BTW, average age of a TBD'er must be down to about 14 by now.

And yet, just last year it was revealed Burns ordered Smithers to sign TO. RW looked frail at the Nix PC, but it wasn't long ago that he personally fired DJ and was probably involved in talking to Cowher this December/January. Now that Buddy has been given the unique title of GM of Football, he's probably got some say in how things are run. But don't forget this team has one foot in the proverbial hole when it comes to selling tickets. Something will be done to address this, and a PR move typically doesn't fit with a team's rebuilding plans. Enter RW, with consultation from Smithers no matter what Buddy Gailey think.

If Buddy keeps saying the things he is, the Smithers and his marketeers are going to have some issues selling tickets. This is as close as the organization will admit that they're rebuilding and 2010 isn't going to be fun. Give old Buddy an A for honesty though. This team could have four first round picks and wouldn't address their desperate needs. It seems like this team perpetually drafts for need every year, whether self-inflicted or not.

Three years ago, at least according to Pro Football Weekly, Burns ordered that the Bills select Marshawn Lynch. At the time, they had only one RB on the roster, and non-personnel man C. Montgomery figured they needed one, so voila! Nothing and no one stops the owner from interfering in matters he's not educated in. I could see them doing what RW says because everyone's just happy to have a job. Need a LT? Take this guy, after all, I've sat in meetings and Buddy Gailey say this team needs one. Sure, he's the owner, but tell me one hands-on owner who's won anything in 15 years. And then ask yourself who would ever tell RW no. The last guy that did that was fired 17 years ago. RW doesn't care that he knows nothing about selecting football players. And no, being an owner for 50 years doesn't count as though he were a scout.

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.