BillsVet

Majic 8 ball-the military intelligence officer's best friend. And the preferred method of making picks at One Bills Drive. J/K.

I enjoy reading posts from those fans who've been with the team for years. I started watching in 88 and took it for granted all the success from that point through 99. If only I'd have known that a decade of success would follow with a walk across the Sahara of playoff deserts. I suppose I'm a "hater" because I don't feel the direction of the franchise is healthy. In order to win in today's NFL, you must have great management well versed in personnel. When I look at Buffalo's "inner circle" I see the owner, CFO, and marketing guy making football decisions, yet none of them are trained in doing so. The previous GM, a HOF HC, had no training as a personnel guy in the NFL. Someone will say Donahoe did, but if one guy fails, it's no reason to avoid other GM's from the personnel ranks. Most of all, I'm a "hater" because the writing is on the wall WRT the future of this team. Read between the lines here. None of us have seen the actual Toronto contract, but Phil Lind is saying they'll pursue options to add further games under the Bills in Toronto series. If the team can make 2-3 times per game what they can in Buffalo, no self-respecting businessman would accept less revenue in Buffalo. That's downright frightening. Lastly, when I look at other teams in the league, a great many of them aren't selling games to other locales or so dependent on an owner in his 90s. It almost seems the Bills are doing a little above minimum to keep a product on the field that won't be dreadful nor spectacular. Beyond what happens on the field, it's what's going off it which concerns me most. How anyone can ignore the 800 pound gorilla in the room that is Toronto remains beyond me. EDIT: Nothing personal SWBuffalo, but you've been here on this board for 2 months. There are many who've been here longer than I, but calling people out with so little time on TSW is not recommended.

Hopefully there won't be a situation where Russ Brandon or whoever has a Cam Cameron type moment. Imagine if they draft a DB with the first pick! I hope not.

This offseason is shaping up to be reminiscent of 2007 personnel-wise. That year, the Bills traded McGahee and Spikes while letting Clements and Fletcher go in UFA. They signed Dockery and Walker as opposed to drafting OL and perhaps waiting. Lynch and Posluszny needed to be immediate starters, and Edwards had to play when JPL got hurt. After the season, people began talking playoffs in 08. Now we're back at the same point: making wholesale changes and hoping rookies will play at a decent level. We've been down this road, and banking on rookies isn't a good plan when you consider the team knows it must make the playoffs. Then again, maybe it's never been about making the playoffs. I get the feeling that the marketing strategy, tied in with personnel with Russ, is about changing things every so often to provide a "new and improved" product. People always love something new, even if a previous version was better. Thing is, they won't know it until the "new and improved" version has run its course.

I think Littman, Bogdan and Russ have been scouting a locale to the north as well. Hey, she liked Carwell Gardner back in the day! I just wish Polian was around to tell her where to go.

Now that Peters is gone, none of the options to replace him are decent. The team had to once again nuke the OL by changing everyone or their positions save Brad Butler. That's continuity right there, and after 2 seasons of rebuilding the OL by the Levy front office, I'm not keen on this attempt at an OL either. The problem that most fans on this board have is they lack a statistic which can be attached to offensive lineman. And so they cling to the unofficial sack thing to prove their point that Peters is bad, always will be, and wanted too much. The wish most people had that Buffalo would trade him has come to fruition. And now the OL will be a collection of late round picks, cheap to moderate UFA's, and street free agents. How is this different than what Donahoe did with the OL.

The Bills pride themselves on having excellent special teams. They've scored points and had good field position from many a PR and KR. Parrish may never be a #2 or #3 WR, but trading him for a 4th or 5th does absolutely nothing to help this team this year. I would file the Peters trade under that same category. What are the Bills doing to help themselves this year? That's the central question, which, IMHO, is very little. TO is a start, but the OL is in serious trouble. Now it appears likely Buffalo will trade perhaps an outstanding PR because he doesn't fit perfectly into their WR depth chart. Draft picks in all probability will not help in 2009. Yet, we're told they know they need to win this season. I don't understand the logic is trading experienced players for future rookies. If it's cap hit, well, would Bills fans rather have a team far below the cap that struggles to 7-9, or one which is going for broke (as they should after 9 non-playoff seasons in a row) that is closer to the cap max?

If this off-season demonstrates only one thing, it's that while Brandon is quasi-GM, he still does not have enough power to fire a bad HC. When those four inner circle members joined in Detroit during late December, reports had RW, Littman, Modrak, and Brandon present. Not all wanted to retain DJ, but he was kept. IMO, Brandon didn't want him, but was overruled for financial reasons by at least RW and Littman. Making a guy GM without the power to fire coaches is a unique. And I'd point out that negotiations with DJ were reportedly handled by RW. I don't have a link, but excluding your GM from a contract extension tells me a lot about this organization. And so Russ has shed payroll, which doesn't take any permission from the owner, but when it came time to add salary by firing the HC he couldn't do it. This also would have made Wilson look bad by firing the coach signed two months previous

Hadn't read that, but Andy Reid has coached the same team for 10 seasons. That's an achievement in the current NFL. I believe only Jeff Fisher has done that. He's a former position coach and OC. Part of Bill Walsh's coaching tree, and he's been successful. I wish teams wouldn't try to reinvent the wheel. Reid is right, even though his cost was high. He's drafted a lot of OL and DL in recent years. Not all of them (Corey Simon, Winston Justice) have been successful, but a great many of them have.

I'm an otherwise positive person. However, delusional is something I'm not. I don't demand a SB appearance, just a playoff game. But a perfect storm has converged in Bills Land. My signature says what I think: Among all of these personnel things, there's the likely scenario of Rogers Communications taking more games and, I shudder to think about this, taking the entire team when Mr. Wilson passes. Above all else, it's these things which are on my mind. Maybe I like the Bills too much, but I can't stand to see mediocrity. At least with failure, there's some hope changes might be made. Best example there is what KC did this off-season hiring Pioli and a hotshot coordinator. But Buffalo doesn't do that. They make cosmetic changes and spin everything. I'm not seeing things of substance happen, and in light of 9 non-playoff seasons in a row, it's not good enough. EDIT: I loved the TO signing. One year deal for a guy who generally plays well his first season for modest money. Very good. Liked the McKelvin pick, in light of the CB situation a year ago. He has gamebreaker ability. Like Trent. Liked the Stroud trade.

The proof is in the pudding: Eagles: 7 playoff appearances, 5 NFC Title games, 1 SB in 10 seasons Bills: 1 postseason, 0 AFC Title games, 0 SB in 10 seasons. Every darn team in the league whiffs on select personnel moves. The Eagles do it far less, and as a result are in the post-season more often. The Eagles wanted Peters, and this was mentioned by none other than Andy Reid himself. They remember him from scouting one of the Andrews brothers at Arkansas. Had Bills front office read the stitches on the fast ball, they'd have realized this and held off to get more for him. Go on trying to destroy everyone who says Buffalo failed, but if you'd rather trust a team with 6 less playoff appearances than Philly's in the last decade so be it.

When Kelsay was re-signed, and admittedly it's easy to say now, I didn't like the move. He was on the verge of UFA, teams were apparently looking at him, and Marv forked over 4 yrs 23M. I don't think most people figured he was worth it. Looking back, it's another case of making one move which necessitates another. Schobel then needed a deal as well, despite having multiple years on his contract. Marv then signed Dockery, precipitating the Peters thing, and the rest is history. If the Bills trade Kelsay, it's yet another indication that Marv Levy and the circle jerks had no idea what they were doing. Unfortunately, the only person not in the front office now is Marv. All the same people, regardless of a track record worse than a NY Governor, still make decisions.

Remember 2007 when Buffalo continued the dismantling that started in 06? That was a huge example of addition by subtraction. McGahee traded, Fletcher and Clements left in UFA. Spikes traded. The previous season saw some vets depart as well. When those guys departed, draft picks (who are still developing) came in to replace them. Yet through it all, major changes don't work unless someone knows what they're doing. Both seasons after the overhaul was supposedly complete, Buffalo went 7-9. Spot on here.

The trouble once again with loading up on picks is there's no guarantee that they'll good players in 2-3 years, let alone as rookies. We're needing all three top picks to come in and play at a high level in their first NFL season and I don't like those odds. Drafting OL and DL is something people have been harping on since 2006. With their top 2 picks in each draft for those three years (that's six picks total) and having huge needs on OL and DL, the Bills chose exactly one player. And that guys a complete bust. I really think a few people on this board could do what Brandon does and Levy did.

I think you're right. It seems like simply making things new with a bow on top is enough to many fans. They will accept a change because it might be better than the previous thing. Mike Florio has a piece at PFT that sums up why this deal was bungled Florio on Peters deal Some people are better managers than others. Andy Reid typically makes the right move. Russ Brandon, Littman, RW, whomever generally make the wrong one.

Yes. Especially ones who are undersized but quick. Those types of guys can be traded up for at the bottom of the first round. That sort of draft day strategy is what makes Buffalo the perennial playoff team they are.

I don't like the Peters deal, because it does indeed show the Bills are stubborn and unwilling to go above and beyond. They'll pay players, but the process is lengthy. Schobel's deal evidently was negotiated from March to September 07 (or August). Evans went deep into the season before his deal was hammered out. The big contracts take forever, and even though I understand you don't fork over millions in a few hours, when it takes 6 or 7 months, something is just strange. And here we have the Eagles who make a trade and give the guy a giant contract-all in about one day. This tells me a lot about Bills management. They're slow at the draw and remain pennywise and poundfoolish. If more darn Bills fans started paying attention to other teams in the league, especially the successful ones, they'd know that Buffalo does things very much different.

When Walker has the footwork and ability to pass protect, I'll hope he holds out. Fans typically remember the last thing a player does, and Peters' 08 season wasn't great. But consider he had to play next to fat a$$ Derrick Dockery, and was left on an island. He could have been in better shape to start, but playing in Jacksonville didn't help. That's on him and I readily admit it. Everything will be realized in the fall. The same fans here bad-mouthing Peters will be the ones who see that Walker wasn't let go from the Raiders for no reason. And now Buffalo is asking him to play a more difficult position. Incredible. Can't say I'm surprised, but finding capable and starting grade starters in the draft hasn't been a hallmark of the current front office. And now we're talking about UDFA's, guy's cut from other teams, and those not wanted in UFA to provide the margin. Donahoe's method for the OL has become Brandon's. Find bargain basement guys, hype them, and hope to goodness they can play. The more things change the more they stay the same.

I forgot that experienced OL veterans who can be counted on are still available in UFA. What was I thinking? There isn't anyone Buffalo's getting to come in tomorrow, next week, next month, or anytime before opening day who'll play solid football and not let Trent become a rag doll. No one. There's two ways to get solid football players: 1. Free agency 2. The draft Both events take place between March and April. After that, the waiver wire is your only hope. That, and other team's refuse after training camp. Good luck Russ trying to build a winner with a foundation worse that a hut that Obama's brother lives in.

Philly wanted him and we didn't. Or maybe Peters didn't want Buffalo. Andy Reid, 7 out 10 in playoff appearances since 1999. Buffalo: 1. If it's true he wanted 11.5 per, maybe it was a way of getting out of Buffalo. Still would have wanted him, and not had to find OL on Day 1. Or perhaps Kirk Chambers is a capable LG, Walker can play LT, and Demetrius Bell will be a fine RT. Yeah right.

Duke Robinson is not being talked about very highly anymore. His work ethic and body type may not instantly translate into NFL success. Herman Johnson is big, sure. But I saw him have problems with penetrating DT's, and his lateral movement wasn't really good IMO. The guard class this year is extremely weak, although centers Wood and Mack are very good. Reaching on OL because a hole has been created isn't going to solve the problem. And it ignores the lack of a true SAM LB and pass rusher. There just aren't enough picks to hopefully remove the holes Buffalo has created. It's like that every year.

I've got a feeling the Bills will take the most NFL-ready player they can at a position of need. This as opposed to a player who could have more upside in 2-3 years. Everyone at OBD knows they've got to win now, not 2-3 years from now. Fearing a bust by taking the safe pick is what has Buffalo in their current situation.

Don't look now, but the Royals may have a pitching staff in that AL Central. Being a small market doesn't equate to having no chance. There are plenty of teams who can, but they are great at developing talent with Peters as a fine example. Unfortunately, you're correct in pointing out that Buffalo either has poor scouts, or the people/person who has final say just plain stinks. In time, the Bills will be a memory. Phil Lind has been talking a storm about wanting 2-3 games in the near future. If that isn't disconcerting, I don't know what is. I'll be there in September, although if this season doesn't produce a winner, that's 10 straight seasons without a playoff appearance. And in only one year did the Bills have a record above .500. Not good enough, and remarkably some people are still optimistic.

You won't get any argument from me. The problem always returns to RW. I can't help but recall the story of why Lou Saban decided to leave in 1976. OJ sat out all of camp wanting a new deal, Saban made preparations for life without him, and then Ralph shows up the night before the opener with OJ and a new contract. RW has sold games to Toronto with no intention of spending more on players, gripes about revenue sharing, and tells us the HC needs to stick around for the sake of continuity. We are no better than the Bengals, or Raiders. At least the Lions hired a new coach and fired Millen. RW is a stubborn and micromanaging type, who while wealthy, couldn't make this team better if he tried. He struck gold with Polian, but aside from BP's GM time (86-92 seasons) RW has exactly 8 playoff appearances in the other 30+ seasons. There's no GM, Bogdan is a know-nothing, Overdorf couldn't negotiate a deal for ice with people in hell, and Brandon's time at the combine doesn't make up for never being full time in personnel.

I thought the Bills were all about "continuity" On second thought, that must only apply to coaches who for whatever reason are signed to extensions and then promptly go 2-8 in their final ten. They would cost the team money, so they're the exception. This is called illustrating absurdity by being absurd. Take note of the Giants OL. Those guys have been together for an eternity in the salary cap era-about 3 seasons now. Yet the moves Marv made are being reversed. I'm not clear on what was accomplished in his two seasons of answering fan mail and making speeches. The more I think about it, these are the moves of a marketing guy. Make changes, fail, make some more moves, hope to attract fans with changes, and end up in the same place you started: mediocrity and missing the playoffs.