BillsVet

Thanks for being the voice of reason here John. Character matters, and it's what the Bills have been preaching since 06. Now, when things are crazy, it's not important to some people. I never thought I'd say it, but I can't wait for this offseason to end. It's Bills overload.

I thought Levy drafted high character players. 2 of his 3 picks have been arrested and the other is a bust. I'd like to see how this plays out first. Thing is, the Bills are in the news for all the wrong reasons lately and I almost wish there wasn't as much coverage of the NFL. Mike Ditka had a DWI before the SB in 86 and no one knew about it. That would be all over the news 5 minutes after he was pulled over nowadays.

I still don't think you can specifically give credit to any one person. Again, I don't hate Brandon, but his personnel opinion is limited by his lack of experience. He can make a decision to pursue a guy like Stroud, but he's not the one who knows the personnel side of the house. He relies heavily on John Guy there. Levy/Jauron made DT a priority when they traded a 2nd and 3rd in 06 to grab a 3 tech DT in McCargo. They gambled and ultimately lost. Levy is/was/never will be an experienced GM. Donahoe was, but seemed to collect specialty players and ignored the OL with one huge stinking exception. His failures should not be a reason to avoid finding a real GM. I refuse to grade the 08 draft. There isn't a significant body of work beyond the first round pick. The rest did not contribute, yet I'll give them 09 and 10 to make an impression. As to the cap situation-Littman obviously sets the budget and the front office must live within their means. Brandon does not control the purse strings. They spend to a limit, which is what most teams do already. Outside of Washington and Dallas, teams have been conservative in spending. The Bills are the rule here, not the exception. That's okay if they put a winner on the field and in the end the only thing that matters is wins and losses. I suspect Brandon is the placeholder at GM, with the team working hard not to have to change their front office. If Buffalo misses the playoffs, they'll need to make changes whether they want to or not.

T19- I know you're working to be positive, but some of these comparisons are speculative at best. The dynamic of Buffalo's front office is such that no one knows who makes final decisions. Consensus rules, with RW having final say. To say Brandon has placed his seal of approval on this franchise says RW doesn't. From a personnel perspective, he's been heading the front office since 1/08. Bill Polian's been in personnel since the late 70s, and brings an immense amount of experience. The result is he doesn't miss with first rounders, and has a team that wins 10+ games routinely. Brandon's only season the Bills (with the 2nd easiest schedule in the NFL) won 7. I do not feel comfortable with a man who came up in the NFL handling marketing and business matters. No other team in the league has someone like this running the show. While I don't hate Brandon, if (and only if) this season doesn't result in a playoff appearance, the entire front office should be re-done, a real GM introduced, and of course the HC let go. Then again, I don't think anyone wants to be under RW and Littman's thumb.

And no one wants to be up against the cap, aside from Washington and Dallas, most teams are staying 10M beneath the cap. As a matter of fact, the cap has increased from 102M in 06 to 127M in 09. And while the cap increases, the minimum does as well. I'd estimate the salary floor is about 105-108M when it was about 90-93M in 06. Teams simply can't increase their revenue fast enough to keep up with the 06 CBA which has owners have since opted out of. This is precisely the reason why, and a reason for owners to stay that far below the cap.

I still don't think there's a huge demand for Peters, considering his asking price. I've got to believe teams know league-wide what he's asking, and the timing is all wrong. For the most part, clubs have spent their FA dollars and adding a big contract now seems difficult. In the AFC, I can't think of more than two teams who'd be remotely interested in his salary demand and the compensation to acquire him. Perhaps the Raiders, maybe the Jags (although they inked Tra Thomas). Over in the NFC, the Eagles are a popular destination, but I don't see Andy Reid paying the asking price. Perhaps Detroit, but that's a long shot. Between his contract demands and the Bills' asking price, I can't see the market for Peters increasing at this juncture. And so the two parties will be at a standstill for awhile if their negotiations don't adapt to the market.

Last year the Bills had no intention of re-doing Peters' deal at any point. Hence, Peters decided to hold out and force the issue. Even though he lost that battle, the war is yet to be decided. A player simply doesn't hold out for that long over 1 or 2M per year. I suggest you read Tim Graham's article from today. The bigger point here is that Buffalo, for some of the minor successes they have during the off-season, never parlay that into the regular season. Their record (with many of the same personnel in the front office) since 2000 is horrible. And that's why I'm not glowing about their chances this season.

I suggest that more Bills fans look across the league, particularly at good franchises. If you've isolated on the Bills, missing the playoffs for nine straight seasons is more tolerable if you don't look at what winning teams are doing. Down in Pittsburgh, they made a near seamless transition from Cowher to Tomlin. NE is always a top to bottom successful team. Indy wins 10+ games each year and there are others in the NFC who have annual success. The point to all of this is simple. The Bills are mismanaged, regardless of who's the nominal head of the front office. And if you're okay with that, you'll continue finding positive messages. Until I see a winner on the field that can go deep in the playoffs, this franchise has done absolutely nothing in the better part of decade. Go ahead and disagree with Cynical, but he's not wrong.

It sounds like he's burning bridges with absurd contract demands. If that's the case, I doubt most other networks (who know what he's doing) would be receptive to hiring someone who negotiates in this way.

Teams scout harder now than they did years ago. Instead of a few teams going to the small schools, all of them are exploring those options now. Polian and his people unearthed a lot of solid late rounders, and he continues to do so in Indianapolis. Jerry Reese does well for the Giants. It's not out of the question, just much more challenging that it was in the late eighties and early nineties.

The same group, minus Donahoe, has been running the team the past decade. Results are less than satisfactory to put it mildly. I'd be the first one to say they're on the right track, but it's been three consecutive 7-9 seasons. Before that, 31-49 in the five years of TD. If they'd gone 6-10 in 06, and followed that up with improvements in the "W" column, there wouldn't be as much animosity toward the front office.

I don't want to turn this into anything but a sports thing, but unlicensed handguns are a serious issue in this country. And that's coming from someone who has a permit. Most crimes are perpetuated with them. I hope ML gets his act together and begins hanging out with better folks. The gun thing, IMO, is far more serious than striking the pedestrian. But the idea of him carrying illegally is not a step in the right direction. I'd sure like him to be available sooner than the fourth game of the season, but he's got to realize he's hurting the team by doing these sorts of things.

It's strange this is happening now, considering we're on the home stretch to the draft. IIRC, Schefter was criticized either last year or 07 for giving draft pick results earlier than when they were announced. That's the only public criticism I've heard, although a myriad of things may happen behind closed doors. Either way, it seems he has sources everywhere. Certainly an odd time for him to disappear. Perhaps NFLN is looking for someone else or downsizing.

He admitted his guilt for carrying an unlicensed and loaded firearm. The commissioner is working to erase this sort of behavior from the league. I think the days of a slap on the wrist has ended. I disagree. ML was in possession of a loaded and unlicensed firearm. He already has a previous (unpunished by the NFL) issue from last year. I believe the commissioner wanted to send a strong message that 2 incidents in 2 years will be met with a firm punishment. He was lucky not to receive a suspension last year. ML may turn out to be a model citizen. But at this point his actions appear like he's going the other way.

I don't think Bell is ready to be a full time starter. IIRC, he was able to do 9 reps of 225 at the combine last year. I'm sure in a NFL weight program he's gotten a lot stronger, but he was a project on draft day 08. He still needs another year, and let's remember he hasn't played one game at the professional level. If you're banking on an untested 2nd year man who played at a low level D1 level program to come in and replace Peters, that's naive. Nothing personal, but this notion of just putting a big guy in there is short-sighted. Peters is far stronger and while his 08 season was sub-par, he can run and pass block. I don't think Bell is anywhere near that level right now.

It won't make things better, but with RW going into the HOF, it's ironic that his hand-picked money man initiated the firing of the best personnel man in the past 30 years. Then again, Polian told Linda Bogdan she should shut her (edit: mouth). The more I hear about Polian, the more I like him. It takes guts and confidence to tell the daughter of the owner where she needed to go. Littman controls the direction of this franchise. But money people are a dime a dozen compared with great talent evaluators. Teams with good talent evaluators win. Teams like the Bills who don't have them are perpetually rebuilding.

The problem Buffalo has every season has too many positions to improve, and not enough resources to do it with. We could not have expected the team to do this in 2006 alone, but by 08 it should have happened. The bigger picture here is that despite allocating so much to the OL, it's still a work in progress. Some teams can have plenty of picks and free agent money to build their franchise. In the end, not all teams can realistically do it with their current management teams. I have serious doubts that Ralph, Littman, Brandon and Jauron will allow personnel people like Modrak and Nix to take the players necessary to ensure Buffalo enters an off-season without glaring issues. As much as there has to be cooperation at different levels, I'm sure most owners don't interfere in personnel matters. But it is what it is in Buffalo, and continued mediocrity is the result. The OL, pass rush, LB corps, TE's, etc have not been solved adequately after 3 drafts and 4 FA periods. Obviously no team enters any draft without needs, but some go into it with more pressing needs than others.

Do the research here because "some" is in actuality very few. In 07, Joe Thomas (CLE 3rd overall) played quite well and should have been a pro-bowler. Joe Staley (SF 1st) from that draft has also played well at LT. Tony Ugoh was a converted OG (IND-2nd) that year as well. In 08, top pick Jake Long was impressive. Beyond him, only Ryan Clady (12th overall) of Denver and Branden Albert from KC was a fine or decent starter respectively. From the 06 draft, only Marcus McNeill (SD 2nd rounder) and Jeremy Trueblood (TB 2nd) have played well. 2005's top LT, Jammal Brown (NO 1st) has done well, along with Michael Roos (TEN 2nd). That's 10 LT's from 4 complete drafts. More than 90 players were drafted at OT in that time. So the odds of a pick becoming outstanding at the position are slim to none. No one beyond the second round has been even above average. If Peters is dealt and Buffalo uses a first to replace him, that doesn't really make the Bills better for this year, no matter how many picks they acquire. I suspect Andy Reid wouldn't be keen to deal any decent players.

His threads are like unwrapped presents of coal. Of course, with Obama's talk of getting rid of coal, it might not be a bad thing to get coal for Christmas. It still doesn't make these threads any better though.

There's no doubt that Stroud improved the team's run defense. I think he had something to prove after his final season in Jacksonville with the steroid (read: banned substance) violation. That, and the Jags traded him away for a 3rd and 5th. Only concern here is he's 31 when the season starts. DT's can play awhile because they don't need sheer speed. Pat Williams comes to mind, and I'm sure the front office remembers that Donahoe debacle.

I think it's okay to be somewhat nervous. Then again, the draft is about 2-3 years down the road, not for players in 2009. The Bills may have some issues addressing all of their needs. And once again they'll be heading into the draft without enough picks to handle all of them. Every year it's hope for the best and expect the worst. Hopefully DJ's input is minimized somewhat and Modrak/Nix can have more say.

Dansby is the same guy who thinks he'll cash in next year when there is no cap. I'm sure agents are telling their people that a one year deal isn't bad for 09. Unfortunately, UFA will take longer with not cap (6 yrs I believe) and teams have no floor they must spend to. That being the case and coupled with the potential for a continued recession, players may be overestimating their worth on the free agent market. Parker may be a tough agent, but how many teams at this juncture would be willing to pay the price he's allegedly demanding from Buffalo? 11.5M is big money for just about any position, even with most teams beneath the cap. I'd further add that there aren't as many teams looking for a highly priced LT. In the AFC, I can't think of one team with space and the absolute need. Over in the NFC, sure, STL, SEA, perhaps PHI, and maybe DET may want him. But they know the price will be steep. At this late point in the UFA season, I think the market has dried up more than the Peters camp would like to admit. Especially with the price they're supposedly demanding.

If only the Bills could make Mort STFU. Winning some games would do that, but we've got to wait about 5 months. It's popular to rag on Buffalo, and Mort is not going to stop until the team wins. But even he should admit Donahoe's failure to land a front office gig since his firing is proof-positive that he over-reacted and lost control. Hence, no one will hire him beyond being a "consultant." I'm surprised Mort hasn't gotten him a job at ESPN by now.

Had TO not been released, the Bills off-season plan would have been a backup QB, former backup OL, a released DB from Jacksonville, and someone from KC defense who Michael Turner carried for 5 yards. I like the TO signing, but let's be serious here. The Bills rebuilding plan has been so bad and slow that they have to sign TO and kick the tires on Jason Taylor. With each off-season, Donahoe is less at fault for the state of this team. Atlanta and Miami overcame bad regimes in one season. OTOH, the Bills had three off-seasons and one of the easiest schedules in the league last year and couldn't improve. If they couldn't improve with those facts, it's going to be tough sledding this year. DJ and has assistants will not change their ways because DJ allegedly stuck his neck out to get TO. I still think Brandon was behind this more than anyone. But that's speculative.

I suppose we should close down TBD because the majority of posters here didn't play pro football. And no one can complain about the front office because no one's been a GM, let alone a scout, pro personnel director or director of college scouting.