BillsVet

There's certainly no time line to handle roster cuts, but it's surprising that some of TSW's favorites remain on the team eating up potentially valuable cap space. While I won't go as far as saying Kelsay should be cut, his contract should be renegotiated for the final two years. I'm still in amazement that Robert Royal and John McCargo are still on this team. Cutting them would provide an additional 4M in cap space. There are other lesser names occupying roster space, but cutting them would not be substantial moves. But I suppose these are the players the front office likes having around. Perhaps they'll still be cut, but as free agency approaches, it's amazing that after their performance in 08 something isn't done before that time. I guess if you can keep quite possibly one of the worst coaches in the NFL that you don't want to pay players not to play either.

I'll break my rule about responding to people I ignore here. You obviously didn't know that DJ had a great deal of personnel authority with there being no de facto GM from 2006-08. On one hand the team didn't have enough talent, but on the other Jauron was the guy with a huge role in picking many of those players. It wouldn't surprise me if he had a lot of say over free agents as well. And why do teams need a superstar QB to put them "over the top?" Surely Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, Jake Delhomme, and Rex Grossman will never be confused with Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Yet all of them advanced to the SB, with two of them being on the winning size. Quit while you're only being lapped, not embarrassed.

I'm not talking about keeping him. I think I've been quite clear and in the thread about Kelvin Hayden that the idea is: TAG AND THEN TRADE HIM. There are multiple teams in need of a solid cover CB with plenty of cap room. Teams like KC, TB, MIA, DET, and SF have room to use for a CB and 25M+ to spend. After today, there are three fewer options in UFA this year now that Dunta Robinson, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Dunta Robinson are unavailable. The Giants also placed a 2nd round tender on one of their CB's today. Every year the board underestimates how much players get in UFA. We may think collectively that 9.9M is too much for Greer, and it is. But the market, not fan opinion, dictates how much is spent on these guys. No one ever thought Nate Clements would get the deal he did. No one thought Bob Sanders would get the contract he did. Or Adalius Thomas. And no one around here saw the Bills signing about the 4th best guard in UFA for 49M over 7 years. Be prepared to be surprised when Greer signs a deal somewhere around 35-40M over 5-6 years after 2/27. Tagging and trading won't be that bad of an idea after he moves on to greener pastures.

Front office savvy has been in short supply since Polian left. Donahoe's trade of Price for a first to Atlanta was the last time a Bills front office was ahead of the curve in NFL trends. The Bills had a commodity in Greer who will get significant attention in UFA. And if they were afraid to deal him after using the tag, it demonstrates why they're minor league and completely risk averse. They won't take calculated risks and it shows in the mediocre records since 2000. Not all of that is on the current regime, but many of them have been around since the early days of Donahoe.

I think you've underestimated the demand there is for proven NFL CB's. Teams flush with cap space will look for proven players and with so few available, the dollars skyrocket. I'm certain that Greer will receive a contract on par with Kelvin Hayden's 5 yr 43.5M deal. If that's the case, tagging him isn't the stretch like some think. It's more than we figure he's worth, but it's more than value. It's supply and demand. And demand just went down by three solid corners today.

Tagging Greer alone makes little sense. Take it a step further and think about how many very good CB's will hit the market next Friday. Nnamdi Asomugha, Kelvin Hayden, and Dunta Robinson will not as of today. That leaves a lot less available for teams needing CB help. As of right now, I don't see much else out on the open market beyond Philip Buchanon and Bryant McFadden. With that in mind, someone will give Greer a deal in Hayden's area, or about 40M over 5 yrs. Some might think it's a risk to tender him with a contract which will be about 9.9M. I don't believe that on the trade market Greer would garner anything less than a 3rd rounder, especially considering how little there is available after today. JMO.

It feels like 30 sometimes.

Because there's been a whole lot to be positive about these past nine seasons. What's mindless about complaining about this team? They've given no indication they're ready to compete, especially after retaining the HC could go 2-8 down the stretch and blow a 5-1 start. Or how about the losses themselves? Losing on MNF in heartbreaking fashion two years in a row, the first when the DB's played off receivers with seconds remaining on the clock. Or how about having the second easiest schedule in the league and going 7-9? They've eschewed hiring a GM, although every other team in the division has improved or already has a great coach. Yet, we're stuck with no general manager and an owner who makes the big decisions. I really don't think the average fan realizes just how bad this team has become. There's a reason some fans are negative, and it's not voluntary. It's because there's not much to be positive about.

Even though average fans don't know a given player doesn't mean that teams don't know. And that's what ultimately counts. Hayden was a contributor to Indy's defense, and Bill Polian rarely re-signs LB's and CB's. Usually he replaces those guys through the draft, but in this case he made a huge exception. NFL teams win games sometimes on the backs of less than publicized players. And today, Hayden got his due with that contract.

I earlier said Cassel benefited from playing in the NE system which featured a future HOF coach, along with receivers in Moss and Welker. He's had the ability to sit behind and learn from Tom Brady for 3 whole seasons before playing full time. OTOH, an offensive left tackle will never have the table set for them in this fashion. Many times, Peters was left on an island and even though his 08 season was lackluster, he's still a cornerstone of this franchise. Given the dearth of quality LT's in today's NFL who can neutralize RDE's, trading him is a latent admission that they don't want to pay. If you trade Peters and get picks, that does almost nothing to help win this year. And trading picks for Cassel to NE of all teams hurts this team long term, unless of course you like QB controversies.

I would agree, he's not the most household name in the league. Corey Webster of NYG got a similar deal and he's not widely known either. It's a big league, and some players operate under the radar.

Not trying to determine your fanhood here or beat my chest, but I've known of Hayden since he was drafted. Polian took him the year before he lost Nick Harper and Jason David to UFA. Hope you didn't take that as me talking down to you. It wasn't my purpose there.

If Bill Polian wanted to re-sign him, I'm pretty sure he's still a very good player. Same goes for almost anyone Jerry Reese, Ozzie Newsome, and Bill Belichick signs for their teams. I'll give Polian the benefit of the doubt when it comes to who to re-sign and who not to.

No. Peters is a known commodity. His 08 season was lackluster, but the skill-set is there to be an outstanding LT. OTOH, I'm not convinced of Cassel's ability to be a franchise QB. He rarely threw the ball more than 15 yards downfield and if people think Edwards' arm isn't great, they'll feel the same about Cassel. And he won't have Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to wherever he goes. Nor Belichick and Brady to guide him when things go wrong.

Two things could happen this offseason that would make it hard to remain a Bills fan: 1. Peters is traded for draft picks. That cements the reality that it's not about building a winner, but saving dollars. 2. Buffalo gives up draft picks to acquire another QB from the Patriots. Belichick has already out-done this team once. If, and it's a huge if, they make a trade for Cassel it's over for this franchise. Not saying MC is a bad QB, but he was in a perfect system in NE.

It's sad what this team has come to. I know Brown works for the team and can't trash everyone because the franchise has underachieved. But praising DJ for these comments is ridiculous. There's no way DJ has any respect from the fan base, at least not the knowledgeable ones.

Chris Brown, lead cheerleader for the Bills just noted on his blog section of the website how impressed he is with DJ's response to questions at the combine. It's February, which is about 7 months from opening day and nothing will change. But I've heard so much talk from OBD that it's like the drone of an old refrigerator. DJ's comments today are the same old thing we've heard time and time again. According to Brown: What was more impressive was his acknowledgement of the fan frustration about how the season unfolded. It’s clear that he feels just as disappointed as the fans do about 2008 and there’s a determination there to make things right that I haven’t seen in him before.

You can never have enough guys like Brad Van Pelt. RIP.

Supply of solid CB's on the market will be minimal. Demand will be high and the risk of tagging Greer is more than balanced by the need several teams have for a CB. As more CB's are unavailable, those left will get paid money none of think is rational. I know if I was running a team, I'd much rather have a CB with NFL experience than a first round pick who is untested. Someone with plenty of cap space (and there are several) will overpay for a guy like Greer. It doesn't make sense, but the demand to win now is the reason these guys get paid so much. Taking a calculated risk like this is not as big as some are making it out to be.

The value to tag a CB is 9.9M in 2009. I agree Greer isn't worth that kind of money, but the leverage will be with Buffalo when UFA opens up and plenty of teams looking for a CB have the cap room to take on JG. I can almost guarantee that someone would give no less than a 3rd rounder for him in trade. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating his re-signing. But why let a guy leave when he has value on the open market. Last year, GB franchised DL Corey Williams and ended up getting a 2nd for him because DL were and always will be in demand. Rarely does a team have something the rest of the leagues wants, only to get nothing. If Greer leaves, it'll mark the 2nd time in 3 off-seasons when they let guys go without any compensation.

Asomugha will be re-signed today and Dunta Robinson was franchised. The options at CB are dwindling with these two moves. Now is the time to franchise Greer to trade him, as plenty of teams are seeing their UFA options grow smaller. Should the Bills allow Greer to leave, it's akin to letting draft picks walk out the door. Then again, it's this kind of inactivity I've come to expect from OBD.

Thanks for the update Dan in SB. IMO, the move to get Modrak into the "inner circle" and the hiring of Nix is a way to avoid hiring a GM while keeping DJ from having decision making authority in personnel. Worse than his on-field decisions has been his power to drive the personnel train. I trust that people in the front office realized DJ wasn't cutting it on personnel.

As opposed to a verbal promise given during training camp.

I would not be surprised if Buffalo thinks Derek Fine is capable of handling the job. He was injured for the first half of 08, and fits their requirement of a guy who can block first and catch second. Behind him are the undersized Schouman and the fumbler, Robert Royal on the depth chart. Not going TE in the draft allows them to address their needs at DE, C, OLB, S depth, LB depth, DT depth, interior OL depth.

As much as I'd like to decry the recent players Buffalo has re-signed or are now interested in, we've got to wait until after the first week of UFA. If at that point they've failed to address some of their distinct needs then the torches and pitchforks can come out. Washington is a straight ST'er. He's 30 in August and according to ESPN: The biggest knock on him is his inconsistent play. He doesn't have great hands and is considered as an unreliable receiver who never progressed with his route running and understanding of coverages. He is not a physical player for his size and hasn't played well through injures. I don't think he's the big WR threat to take attention away from Evans. He'll merit a look at ST if signed. That seems to be the only thing this team does right over the past few years.