BillsVet

I sit in section 123, front row. The only word I could use to describe the atmosphere was surreal. No game clock, no play clock, no nothing. What we had was two teams just playing football. And that makes me wonder what it was like way back when. One of the guys in our row has been going to games since the Rockpile was alive. We jokingly asked him if this is how it was back then. Thank goodness the weather was stellar.

Despite the credit going to Marv, I still think Jauron was making many of those picks. Marv admitted he didn't have as much to do with that draft. Not because the first picks were DB's, but because Jauron wanted a safety first as opposed to a DT. The C2 looks for turnovers, and DT's aren't usually intercepting a lot of passes. And don't look now, but Brodrick Bunkley is becoming quite a player lining up next to Mike Patterson in Philly. That said, I don't know who is responsible for 07, but it's looking fabulous. Getting a hard running RB, excellent C2 MLB, and one of the best QB prospects to enter the league in recent years. Yeah, I'll take that.

Whitner is a good player, but Michael Huff's inability to succeed in Oakland doesn't make Donte better. Just for the heck of it, Lawyer Milloy's got 33 solo tackles, 5 assists, and one INT. He's also missed only 5 games in the past 4 1/2 seasons. No one's posting that the man Whitner replaced is playing as well or even better. Does that make Whitner an underacheiver? FWIW, I think Whitner will continue to improve, but I wouldn't have started with a SS over a DT to builld a team starting over again.

How much more motivation did he need than this off-season? Signing Marcus Stroud (admittedly to play the 1 tech position), seeing unheralded UFA Spencer Johnson come in AND Kyle Williams get a moderate extension. I really think the Bills have given up on the guy and will remain in the unenviable position of taking him back. He's not going to fetch a 4th rounder unless he plays real well and the market is a tad limited as well. He fits mainly with C2/T2 teams. As far as I can tell, this means teams like TB, IND, CHI, DET, PHI would be more interested in him than most. That also hurts is trade value.

McCargo's on life support with this team right now, and everyone knows it. They're practicing him in an attempt to prove he's healthy, but with the trade deadline passed, he's in no man's land. They could entertain a trade after the season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut. Let's all agree the guy was a bust, though not without some decent plays. It's bad when a player isn't capable of playing in the NFL. I think it's safe to say McCargo has great ability, but serious motivational issues. Then again, Indy drafted Quinn Pitcock in the third and he didn't want to play football. It happens to teams, just hopefully not with first rounders.

You pay a price, both literally and figuratively, when a franchise dips into FA too often. Especially when you allocate so much to a given area. Signing OL was necessary when it became obvious the team hadn't groomed anyone outside of Peters in the past eight years. Dockery and Walker are starters, and probably would be on most NFL teams. At the same time, spending a bunch on the OL prevents you from improving the team elsewhere. And if that UFA doesn't work out, it's an even bigger hit. Brad Butler might be more of a depth player, although he's in his second year of starting. Fowler still is a below average starter and always will be. Most startling about the OL's inability to run block this season: Those five have lined up together nineteen times since the beginning of 07. If they can't gel by now, it's not going to happen.

I admit, long ago I was reeled in by ieatcrayonz. but when he dropped Sarbanes-Oxley on someone, it was funny stuff. I couldn't tell you where it appeared first, but there were some tense moments earlier as people eagerly awaited Gonzalez news.

This first round issue, probably by virtue of having three separate (and four total) GM's since 2000 is also a reason behind it. All made mistakes, whether they were HOF coaches or guys who are loved only by Mortensen. It's not all Donahoe's fault. It's also not all Butler's or Levy's. Small market teams just can't afford to miss out on those picks as easier as larger markets can. It's a complete franchise issue, and the result is missing the playoffs. I believe that will change in 2008, largely on the successful drafting in 07 and a few free agent signings.

490 posts later, and yes you're caught up. You also missed the debate of Sarbanes-Oxley ieatcrayonz initiated. Funny stuff.

Check Ozzie Newsome's drafts since 1996. Or how about Indy's since Polian took over? Philly has a pretty good track record. The Giants are very good as well. Resigning yourself to the fact that there are busts is not an excuse for having more than your fair share. I'd say having four of your eight (2000-2006) is more than normal. Considering Winfield and Clements left in UFA, and McGahee was traded, Buffalo has only Evans and Whitner to show from nine first rounders between 1999-2006. It didn't matter which regime was in place, Butler, Donahoe, or Levauron calling the shots. Not all GM's/COO's are created equal.

Erik Flowers, Mike Williams, J.P. Losman in the past 8 years. It's not a criticism of the current front office, but a reflection of first round busts. Out of eight first rounders from 2000-06, four are busts. Maybe not a long line, but not very good either. First rounders go bust in many cases. Some teams rarely have first round busts. San Diego, Indy, etc.

Trader Bill at it again. Colts are desperate for C2 type DT's. They've been hurt dearly on the DL this year. McCargo's run here was short and another in a long line of busts. That 2nd and 3rd in 06 was a heavy price to pay.

With the apparent non-acquisition of Tony Gonzalez, Bills fans can exhale and concentrate on Sunday's game against San Diego. Although the Cowboys traded for Roy (WR) Williams, it's a move that will hurt that franchise dearly. I'm glad the Bills didn't go overboard trying to obtain Gonzalez, as I think King Carl Peterson wanted a king's ranson for TG. After all, why deal one of your last links to respectability? It needs to be said, that the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1996. Teams that have? Arizona, St. Louis, Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, San Fran, and several more teams have won in the post-season. If you're looking for the reason, it's Mr. Jerry Jones who dealt first, third, and sixth rounders for Roy (WR) Williams. As GM, he's another in a long line of execs who make big moves and deliver little. One could argue that ever since Jimmy Johnson left Big D that this team has done nothing. Of course Barry "Saturday Night Special" won a Super Bowl, but it was with Johnson's hand built team. I'm a little bummed TG didn't go to Buffalo, but I prepared for it. Dallas fans may be happy today (despite PacMan), but they'll be sad on draft day and in coming seasons when they continue to either miss or lose in the playoffs.

Ask Jason Whitlock from the KC Star what he thinks of King Carl Peterson. The GM for 20 years who has delivered so little, yet remains in power of a completely rebuilding organization that goes into rebuilding mode every five years or so.

ieatcrayonz you're sounding way too sane in these posts. Tony Gonzalez derangement syndrome it should be called. Apparently it's just a trade deadline thing.

He has a lot left in him, but nothing more than a second round pick. Perhaps a third and a fifth. King Carl needs something, and it's a buyer's market. It's up to the front office, namely GM designee Brandon, to find out what other offers are out there. Anyone who's read Moneyball knows it's an art near the trade deadline to get people to say things they don't want to. I'm sure multiple teams are after TG, but this is one season to take a chance. Buffalo is 4-1, there's no big name team in the AFC, at least not yet, and your team has gone 8 straight seasons without making the playoffs. If not this year, when? If Buffalo continued with the youth movement and got another TE in the 09 draft, I'd have to say it's a financial thing, because third round picks aren't getting big dollars. A lot of the TE's coming out of college are fast, bulked up WR's. See Keller, Dustin. Not saying they won't be good, but Travis Beckum, Chase Coffman, and others aren't going to be Tony Gonzalez. Pettigrew, maybe. Then again, it's 2008 and the team has a chance to get a player who could take them beyond just the next level.

It would be worth it-riling up a bunch of die-hard Bills fans. I know if I was in Brandon's or Berchtold's position, I'd get a chuckle out of that. It's bad enough leading up to the draft. Now we're trying to go CSI on this trade deadline too.

It is another wide open season in both the NFC and AFC. There isn't a dominant team, at least not at this point, that is head and shoulders above the rest as NE seemed to be last year. Having said that, Buffalo is in position to be there when the dust settles. I'm all for giving Edwards another target, especially at the talent challenged tight end position. TG might not be 26, but he's certainly good enough. I'd rather not see Jackson go, but I think people are reading too much into depth chart thing. I hope the front office, in concert with DJ, realize they have a chance to not only get into the playoffs, but succeed. Who knows where this team could be with TG in say, Week 15?

First reports are always incorrect. I have to believe that a third and lower pick is more realistic. I also agree Lori, Trader Bill may have gone through with this deal, but the current people at OBD seem intent on maintaining a core of young players. Of course, they went against that wisdom by filling a huge void at DT with Stroud. I daresay right now that tight end is as big a problem as DT was last season. Some are OK with Royal, but based on the QB, a pass catcher at TE would instantly make the entire offense better.

Gonzalez is not a player to build for the future obviously. He does represent a significant upgrade at a position the Bills are extremely thin at. The Bills seem to have selected a QB for the long term in Edwards. That's the first step, but surrounding him with a cast of characters is the second. For a QB who's very accurate, it makes sense to have a pass catching TE. It may cost a third for TG, but in terms of developing your QB of the present and future, this could be an investment. Especially if it relegates Royal to be the blocking TE he should be.

With less than three days until the deadline and KC in going nowhere but top 5 pick mode, I think TG gets dealt. Where to, I'm not sure. Gonzalez per KC Star This report seems to validate your theory. I wouldn't blink if it happened. For a third and a sixth? I think that's manageable. Buffalo is also mentioned here, but again, no concrete source. Not that there ever is one.

I know there are people talking about the Gonzalez to Buffalo angle. Chris Brown has it on his blog that there is an unconfirmed story from ESPNews that Buffalo is interested in Tony Gonzalez. However... The report says Chiefs CEO King Carl (Peterson) wants a first and change. That's too high, and I'd be surprised to see KC get any more than a second. Gonzalez has some tread left on him, but a first is probably the initial offer, which is never accepted. TG has made it known he'd like to get out while the Chiefs undergo complete rebuild. The trade deadline is 10/14, and Chris Chambers went for a second last year. My gut tells me Buffalo does not consider Gonzalez for more than a third. His pay is manageable for 08 and 09, but there's some guaranteed money there as well. Then again, this is a must-win year for the Bills and there is no quality TE on the roster. You've got an H-Back type in Schouman and an injured rookie in Fine being the backups to the disappointing Royal.

Taking this issue a bit further, Lynch is a between the tackles runner. He's not a burner, but in Buffalo's case, he's not asked to be one. Unfortunately, the interior OL, specifically at C and RG, are fair or below average. Combine those aspects, and I believe that's why his ypc isn't as high as some would like. Brad Butler sometimes appears pushed back, and Fowler certainly is. It's been a problem since 2007 when this OL was formed. If they cannot run block at this point, they need a change in personnel. This is not to say Lynch is perfect, but he's a Marion Barber type who is every bit as good as the latter. I dare say with a better center (Alex Mack, please) he could become a bigger weapon. Joe D. said something to the effect that Lynch is the hardest runner he's ever seen. From a HOF OG, that's saying something.

Gonzalez at 32 is better than Robert Royal would be if he ever had hands. His cap hit may be high, but the team knows this team has a legit shot at the playoffs. A pickup, even with the dollar amount, is good for no more than a 3rd. King Carl probably thinks otherwise. Buffalo may very well have the worst collection of TE's in the league. Gonzalez for two years in Buffalo could be an investment in the future of a guy like Edwards that we can't even realize right now. But if people are fine with Robbery Royal fumbling, dropping catches, and being a #1 TE when he's no more than a blocker, then don't pursue it.

It seems like whenever the team isn't playing up to snuff, you're the first one there to say there was a reason. I didn't mention Stroud, but he was banged up. Every guy in that locker room, with the exception of Hamdan and the PS guys are hurting. Injuries weren't the reason on defense for their poor play. The scheme is unimaginative and I've got to wonder if PF can adapt his scheme to his players, not vice-versa. Coaching needs to improve yesterday.