BillsVet

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.

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.