BillsVet

And let's plan on taking Taylor Mays in 2010 when DJ goes at best goes 7-9 again. That way, we'll have first round picks at each secondary position: Whitner, Mays, McKelvin, and Jenkins. Oh happy days!

That goes down as the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen posted here. No matter what, cutting him would be a hit to the cap. It may be significant or not. C2C means nothing as far as the NFL is concerned relating to the salary cap.

Maybe I did, but there are several "fans" who read an article, watch a few games, and then call Whitner excellent. He did say Whitner was significantly worse, but I'm not sure it's that bad. It's closer than that. This thread just goes to show that most people don't realize how bad something is until it's obvious. We're supposed to give the benefit of the doubt until the bitter end on players and coaches. Whitner's 3 seasons have been unspectacular and there oughta be serious questions about his ability to make big plays. For a safety, if recognition skills are poor, that's not a good sign. The difference between guys like Whitner versus Polamalu, Sanders, Reed, et al is anticipating the play. Whitner's not diagnosing things as quickly. But to some he's not a bust and that's good enough. I think he's an average player who Buffalo thought was a safe pick, though ultimately he's never going to meet the expectations of an 8th overall pick.

I'd like to know what Lindell's cap hit would be. IIRC, he signed a new contract at the end of 2006. Even though it probably won't be a lot, tying money up in a kicker is not good. Parcells seems to find a kicker whenever he needs one. Plenty of teams get a UFDFA or street FA. I think it's funny this issue was raised on the day Norwood missed the kick in SB XXV.

Have you called Chris Mortensen with this breaking news story? I guarantee he'll report it.

I'm really not sure why anyone had faith in Schonert to create a good offense. First, four franchises hadn't seen fit to promote him to OC. It should not have come as any surprise when he had no answers for 3-4 defenses when it mattered most. TS' game plans changed dramatically after the Arizona loss, and I think DJ controls the offense more than we realize. Schonert's talk in the preseason about getting Evans involved was BS. The reason this team first used PA against Cleveland was the fact the Browns dropped 6+ into coverage and rushed no more than 3. I had read that Buffalo was afraid to run PA and allow their QB to turn his back to the LOS. No doubt having pushovers Preston and Fowler at center made this necessary. Schonert is no more than a QB coach who was elevated to a coordinator position when the HC had few options. I think his offenses are tailored to what DJ wants: ball control and a short to medium passing game. Trent had issues with his confidence going down field, particularly against Cleveland, but who was there to get him going again?

Just keeping DJ around so he can provide "input" for personnel this season will set the Bills back another 2 seasons. He's had far too little success drafting (Chicago 99-00) and Buffalo (06-08) to justify he has anything more than advice about whom to draft. I would hope Modrak will be making picks come April. Jauron should be relegated to taking notes and updating the draft board. Can anyone tell me who plays FS with Polamalu? Or how about Adrian Wilson. Bob Sanders? All of them play SS, yet none of them need a great FS to help them make plays. Whitner is not the star people thought he'd be after the 06 season. We have every excuse on the board about why he hasn't performed better: lack of a pass rush, injuries, lack of a complementary safety, coaches using him incorrectly or to shore up other areas. Just once I'd like to hear he succeeded despite not having fine players all around him.

He said Leonhard's a better safety than Whitner. It's easy to say that based on the playoff games being on TV recently, but they're about even. But for those who are fly-by-night casual fans and read the articles, this won't go over all too well. It's absurd to say Whitner's not able to make game changing plays solely because the pass rush is poor. He was billed as a run supporter and I'm not seeing the plays behind the line of scrimmage there either. I'm not even sure his recognition skills are there to be considered a legit FS. Ultimately, when it's all said and done, Fletcher was able to play the C2 defense. Buffalo didn't want to pay a guy over 30. We don't know his contract demands, but I recall him claiming he didn't get an offer, which wasn't true. Who knows what he was offered, but he went to Washington and seems to be playing well.

Daniels will be tendered at a 1st and a 3rd level. And, he'll command a huge contract from anyone who gives that up. Buffalo can't afford to give up that much in picks for a TE.

The one thing I would hope doesn't happen is Buffalo reaches for a TE because they need one. The Bills have giant needs at DE, TE, SLB, and C. For this team, using the 11th overall pick on anything but an impact DE or SLB would be bad. We can't tell how the draft will play out and who'll be available at 11. But if there's a legitimate opportunity to trade down and add another 2nd or 3rd, that could be the best option. Pettigrew has definite skill, but he's not worthy of the 11th overall pick. I'd love to see Buffalo drop down to around 20-25, add another 2nd, take Mack with their first (providing he's available) and use their second rounders on a BPA at a position of need-DE, SLB, or TE.

I'm positive that had Gruden made the playoffs, he'd still be employed (along with GM Bruce Allen). But the combination of self-destructing down the stretch, not being liked be several players, and fan animosity toward him were too much. Of course, that same situation (minus the players love affair) is playing out in Buffalo, yet no move is made to fire the coach and GM. In all seriousness, the Glazer's want to win, but they're also 35M+ beneath the cap, have an aging defense, with a QB situation which seems untenable. I'd like to see how they plan on addressing those problems in the off-season.

Best serious comment there was the one Graham made about depth. Buffalo makes a point of going C2C, but take it to extremes. Last season, they were somewhere between 20-22M beneath the cap but were victimized when injuries hit. Saving 20M on player salaries means nothing when the inevitable injuries occur. I can think of no better example than having to play 229 pound LB Keith Ellison on the strong side when Crowell went down. Say what you will about that situation, when your 4th LB is Ellison, you're just cheaping out and not trying to be financially conservative. Keeping Losman, not getting a veteran receiver, the list goes on. If you can't build depth with your drafts, which Buffalo hasn't done, then it's on the front office to spend a little for second tier FA's so mini-me LB's don't become your starters. Cash to the crap is what it should be called.

Cody declined to enter the 09 draft Bill. He's a boom or bust product, but the idea that it took 2 full seasons for DJ to admit he was wrong by pursuing Stroud ought to alarm even the most hard core proponents of OBD.

It's obvious economics will dictate how much people will pay to see games. Dallas is a huge market and home to plenty of large companies, but I'm sure well-off fans are re-thinking the idea of forking over 30k to buy a PSL and the cost of season tickets at Jerry's Palace. Look at the way PSL's were greeted for the Jets and Giants. It's no guarantee that we'll see as many sellouts in 09, because most clubs sold season tickets before things got bad in 08. Jerra Jones arrogantly assumed that he could name his price and it wouldn't matter. This economy will force people to make hard decisions to either hold on to their money, or pay big dollars for football tickets. I think fans in markets like Buffalo are better prepared, because we don't pay PSL's or feel as much of the bad economy and things already aren't good here. With low cost tickets, fans will still go to games, but how many is anyone's guess for 09. I suspect RW's increasingly bad product will eventually cause even the die-hards to rethink spending their hard earned money for a lackluster product. The NFL is quickly becoming a corporate league, and limited to the elite earners of society. I don't think the fans will walk away now, but teams that can't produce will see their fan base go a little more quickly as patience erodes. I for one see this as the biggest effect. Teams like Detroit, Buffalo, Oakland, and Cincy who make up the NFL Minor League will be hurt by playing during bad economic times and offering a bad product. My guess is season tickets sales will dip 10-15 percent in 09 for Buffalo. They'll naturally blame the economy, but the truth is RW hasn't given this fan base a legit product since the late 90s.

Investing in a coach and front office executives isn't mandated by the percentage the CBA requires are spent on player salaries and Ralph doesn't find the best talent evaluators. But it'd be a great investment to find the people who can find the players. As much as I'm not crazy about Mike Schopp, he raised an interesting topic today. Schopp was talking about why should John Guy still have a job as pro personnel director. The FA crop since 06 has been short on talent and long in terms of dollars spent. I would think all the money wasted on Dockery, Walker, Tripplett, Royal, P. Price, Fowler, Reyes, et al might make RW think about the guy running that part of the front office. I can't imagine how much better Buffalo could be if they invested wisely in Pro Personnel and perhaps College Scouting. But in the name of "continuity" the Bills have chosen to keep the same bad decision makers. If RW is fine with wasting money on Walker and Dockery, fine. That alone tells me he doesn't care anymore. And that's no surprise to most of us. It makes you wonder what it would take to be fired in Buffalo. Never mind the joke of a HC, what about free agent acquisitions? Guy's record stinks, but apparently he's still good enough to keep his job. Only in Buffalo. Only Ralph Wilson.

We have none of those. There's a team, and there's a tradition (mid sixties, late eighties to early nineties) but outside of that Buffalo has nothing. It does start at the top, and Ralph will never trust anyone to make the decisions to create a winner. Never.

Does that mean that Matt Cassel's mother didn't know what was happening with her son? She wasn't an insider either. I drive a Dodge Stratus BTW.

I don't think anyone rational fan wants the Bills to lose, but it's going to take a lot of losing to change the owner's mind on anything. I could see this team going 8-8 and DJ sticking around for 2010. RW doesn't like paying coaches or front office types and bristles at the notion of doing so. If the team goes 4-12/5-11 in 09, that would force a change at HC and in the front office. It will have demonstrated that the current front office cannot win.

I'm a big advocate of reading "The Genius" about Bill Walsh's tenure as HC of the 49ers by David Harris. Just the parts about how he approched draft day make the book worth reading for any serious NFL fan. In 86, Walsh correctly surmised that the draft didn't offer premium talent, but began the process of trading down. Eddie DeBartolo joked that Walsh would not stop until he had every pick in the 10th round. But Walsh found plenty of talent to win those 2 SB's in 89 and 90. That 86 draft included FB Tom Rathman, CB Tim McKyer, WR John Taylor, DE Charles Haley, LOT Steve Wallace, DT Kevin Fagan, and DB Don Griffin. And all this without a 1st rounder. Having the savvy to read the tea leaves is needed in Buffalo. Walsh rarely missed on picks, and I think this draft could shape up to be one that trading down is the best option. Remember, the 11th overall pick since 01 has resulted in the following players being drafted: Freeney (02), Trufant (03), Roethlisberger (04), Demarcus Ware (05), Cutler (06), P. Willis (07), and McKelvin (08)

The off-season is usually the highlight of the season for Bills fans, IMO. After the season is over, everyone's undefeated in 09 at least until September. I don't have any confidence in the Bills front office either because Ralph has absolute control. We also know Brandon isn't anything more than a public face, and has little say when it matters most. If what we read was true about who favored and opposed keeping DJ, I'd say Russ objected strongly and went against Ralph given the marketing angle he's been handed. If the very guy who was promoted to COO and quasi GM doesn't have enough say, then what else can RW swoop in and overrule him about?

His objective is a long term agreement. If he receives a deal close to what elite LOT's make, he'd better not make the mistake of holding out again. Bills fans patience is thin with prima donna athletes who think they are bigger than the team. That stuff might go over in Dallas (who haven't won a playoff games since 96) but not here. Holding out of a 6 yr 54M deal is plenty different is a huge risk. I can't recall a NFLer who's held out of such a large deal.

Let's be clear of Peters' time-line in Buffalo. He signed as an UDFA in 04 and was starting at RT in 2005. Buffalo wisely signed him to a 5 yr extension for approximately 15M before 2006 began. The Bills made a wise move, but then switched him to play the most demanding position, LOT, on the OL in mid 06. Peters responded by having a fine 2007 season which gained him a legit Pro Bowl nod. Walter Jones didn't hold out 2-3 years into his big deal. Orlando Pace wasn't a problem at the point in his career that Peters has reached. But hoping that Peters would play for 3M per for 5 seasons is beyond stupid. Especially considering Buffalo moved him to LOT at the beginning of the contract. For the record, Peters played 1.5 seasons quite well at LOT. I know if I was promoted, did well, and 18 months later hadn't received a raise, I'd be ticked as well. If Peters holds out in the middle of, let's say, 6 year 54M deal, then he's an idiot. If Buffalo doesn't want to re-sign him to a mega deal like they did Schobel, it's because they're too cheap or ignorant to admit they have a great talent at LOT.

Over the entire 16 game season, Chambers or Walker would break down trying to contain outside speed rushers by themselves. Neither have the physical attributes to contain DE's and resemble turnstiles when it matters most. Walker has enough issues handling the RT spot and oftentimes requires TE help to block his man. He lacks the lateral agility to get out an block on running plays outside the tackle box. Chambers is a backup at best, and couldn't play RG when Butler went down.

Most likely, a trading of Peters means Buffalo receives draft picks in return. For a moribund franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs since 99, having more picks is not going to help this season. As I said in another thread, it's perpetual rebuilding. On principle, the Bills have negotiated before with a player who had more than 2 seasons remaining on their deal. Aaron Schobel even skipped time in the offseason two years ago to prove he was serious. The front office responded by opening negotiations, so Schobel returned for OTA's. Why should Peters' situation be different. If anything, I'd say there's a double standard there, especially considering both players were Pro Bowlers (earned or not) and were/are recognized as the best on their line. I think it's the fact they don't want to pay him, because his contract would be the team's largest. Trading Peters is Buffalo's response to solving a problem by getting rid of it. It's a wimp move, and the benefits won't show up until at least 2-3 seasons down the road if at all. In the meantime, they're repeating a move made familiar these past few seasons. Allow guys to leave in UFA and trade, then use high picks to replace them. It's why they've been on a treadmill these past 9 seasons.

Fine. Go ahead and trade him in advance of a holdout. If I'm the rest of the agents who represent oncoming or current NFLers, I know the Bills are cheap and are wimps at the negotiating table when Peters is dealt. I guess arguing with people whose longest memory goes one season deep will result in this thread. The Peters of 07 was a dominating LOT. He's also 26 years old, and won't be fading away anytime soon. But because last season is the only memory most fans have the capacity for, they want to trade him. If Peters is dealt, it's the nail in the coffin for this franchise. The Bills have decided on Edwards as the future QB, and it behooves the team to protect him with the best. We want more offensive weapons for Trent, but when it comes to the best blockers they might cost too much. That's a wonderful team building strategy there.