BillsVet

mayle with two misses in the endzone=cut

Announcer pre-season I guess

I don't think they'll cut him for this season, but with his level of play, I could see it after three seasons. He still makes bad mistakes, as evident here, and when his position coach calls him out as we've seen, it's bad news.

Wright was Ralphie's pick on Day 2 2007 Why owners shouldn't have a say in picks, even if he was a 4th.

nail in the coffin for D. Wright 3 fumbles in preseason

I still think it's funny that both players who are so important to this team and play marquee positions were holdovers from the Donahoe reign of error. Regardless, there are similarities and differences that hasn't had a lot of talk about: Schobel looked for a new Kelsay deal as a gauge to determine a new deal for himself. Peters must look at Walker and Dockery's contracts as proof the Bills would pay OL. Obvious difference here is that Walker and Dockery were UFA's, while Kelsay's deal came just before UFA. Still, Kelsay cashed in on the then soon to be UFA market by re-signing with Buffalo. The Bills, IIRC, had only a few days to reach a deal before UFA began. Schobel also got his first pro bowl nod after 5+ seasons of starting at DE for Buffalo. Peters made it in his third full pro season, and first at OLT. The main differences I see is Schobel's contract came after 5+ seasons of starting at DE. Peters has 1.5 at LT. Other than Buffalo anticipating Schobel wanted a new deal after Kelsay's, it's strange that Buffalo didn't think it would happen when Peters' contract was superceded by Walker's and Dockery's. They had Peters penciled in at LT for 2007 and knew he'd performed beyond expectations the previous season at LT. It's downright foolish to not have seen a holdout coming for 2008 after all these events. Perhaps the front office simply ignored a problem, hoping it would work to their favor in 2008. IMO, it boils down to the wrong year to be looking for a contract. I believe this has reached a ridiculous point, but the Bills had to have realized this would happen, particularly after Peters hired Parker. Last year, the Bills had plenty of room to work with (upwards of 33M in cap space), and used some of it on Walker, Dockery, and Schobel. Meanwhile, the Bills this season had those aforementioned contracts, Stroud, Mitchell, and Johnson, to go along with an anticipated deal for Evans among other deals for McKelvin, Parrish, Williams, and Butler. According to PFT, Buffalo has just shy of 21M in cap space before they sign Evans. I'm not clear on their C2C space, but it's evident that they've not budgeted for one more sizable contract this season and will remain committed to that ad infinitum.

The greatest difference between good and bad franchises is a front office. Good teams are built by good front offices that draft, use FA effectively, and hire the right HC. After that, deciding which players to retain (not all can be) is a crucial requirement to keeping a team out of cap problems. I think right now in no particular order, Pioli, AJ Smith, and Polian are the three best GM types in the league. They've all maintained a high level of play for their franchises over the last 5 or more seasons. I really wish the Bills had hired a true GM, but realize Ralph wanted someone he could trust to keep costs down and deliver a team that could be moderately competitive. I think he's been scarred by the Donahoe experience, and rightly so. Thus, the Bills will maintain the front office in its current form unless the team is terrible, which I don't think it will be this year.

Comparing the deals Williams and Butler signed to the Peters situation isn't even close. Their two deals combined are probably not even half of what Peters is worth as a LT voted to the Pro Bowl. Peters could have showed up at the start of camp and it would not have mattered. Despite nearly 21M in cap room, the Bills never said authoritatively he'd get a new deal. It's ridiculous to think that Buffalo renegotiating small deals is a precursor for a player who's in the top 5 at his position.

Be careful, there are some who believe he's hiding in a darkened room like the elephant man and his silence demonstrates it. The routine hernia surgery was botched, and he can't compete, but wants guaranteed money before admitting all this. I'd agree the Bills hold most of the cards, and if (it's a big IF) the players become upset the team isn't reaching their potential, that may induce him to return. It's obvious he communicates with some of them, so perhaps a guy like Dockery becomes the go-between to address this issue to him. Then again, maybe he doesn't care. Either way, he is a great player and not having him is a huge blow for a team that is looking to make the post-season.

I've read Graham's column which states that a few unnamed players now doubt even if Peters shows at this late juncture he'll contribute very little. I'm not quibbling over a statement, but the article itself does not paint any unknown players as being completely anti-Peters. I'd anticipate that could change if he carries this thing deep into the regular season and Walker or whomever plays OLT becomes a liability. It is telling that some agent or agents agree with the Bills stance, because this impasse has surpassed every other holdout in the NFL. I'll be interested in what the players think after Week 1, as I can see that becoming a point of no return for Peters' teammates.

Hiring Parker as his agent reminds me of Brian Westbrook firing his to find someone who could get him 10M a year. Only one guy stepped up to be Westbrook's agent, and he still couldn't manage to do it. Competition to be the best agent on the block is fierce, especially with the mega-houses that feature agents like Condon and Dogra. When this is all said and done, getting rid of the last agent (Taylor) may be the worst thing Peters has done.

Peters will not be traded. Either Buffalo wants too much for him, or plain lets him sit while accumulating fines, missed game checks. The OL, while not superb last season in run blocking, was quite adept at pass protection. We all know Peters was a big part of that. I hope Walker/Chambers can adapt to their new positions, especially when they take on good pass rushers. Atlanta, IIRC, spent a first rounder on Sam Baker to protect their newly tabbed starter Ryan. Peters seems to be out of the question. That's not to say teams wouldn't want him, I just believe the price would be too high and the stalemate will continue.

He's also in the final year of his deal he signed back in 2007. I've heard no talk of his extension, though I wouldn't rule it out of the question. The Bills have 20.9M left in cap room for 08 alone, and I wouldn't doubt they have at least that in 2009.

Entering the 2008 season, 18 of 32 starting NFL tackles are first round picks, nine of whom were top 10 picks. Eight more OLT's went in the second round and outside of Peters, only 5 LT's were Day 2 picks or UDFA's. The physical skill set to play LT is so infrequent when compared to interior line play. A premier LT needs long arms, and be strong enough to handle players who can both speed and power rush from the edge. Peters has that, and right now no one else does on the team. Walker's got size, but less than adequate lateral movement. If he had the ability to play LT in Oakland, they'd have had him there after Gallery flopped on the outside.

Even worse, the population exodus out of Western NY has continued unchecked for years. That we're not even talking about a stadium for the Bills in a thread about the Colts new home is remarkable. We all know a new one for Buffalo will not be built anytime soon, even if the team remained after Wilson. Every county in western NY is behind or barely ahead of the population increase in the country since 2000. Little wonder that when jobs leave, people do right behind them. If only those NYC pols actually cared about the entire state. But that's for another time and place.

Every team that uses a first rounder sure hopes their pick is NFL material. Levy wasn't big on starting rookies, but with players moving around in FA and injuries, it's likely every first rounder will see the field their rookie year. Even if they're not 100% ready. McKelvin needs work, but it's not out of the question that he moves up the depth chart this season. His return skills are already NFL material, but that's a more seamless transition from the college game.

Why put an offer on the table unless you're willing to re-sign him? Marv Levy hired him, and I think the current front office wants to see something with what they've got before keeping him for another few years.

They haven't won a single regular season game yet Hondo. Nor made the playoffs.

How much time will it take for opposing defenses to handle the spread offense if they go to it more in the regular season? I suspect they'll try it to mask their OL deficiencies, and even though spreading things out is great in theory for HS and College, it's not effective against speedier LB's and CB's. Barnes' presence means they'll have another option should the spread not work. That is, if he can figure his role in the offense and hit someone other than Walker and on ST's.

I don't have an issue with you being upset Peters ain't there. At the end of the day, we're Bills fans, and I saw a host of pass rushers who couldn't get by Peters these last two seasons. I would never hold out for a job, because frankly I'm not as in demand as NFL LT's playing a boys game that pays them like CEO's of Fortune 500 companies. But only Peters is, and you'd do the same thing if it were you. Only you're not, so putting yourself in his shoes is impossible. If you want a background on why I have a "silly pessimistic existence" then look up Buffalo Bills: 2001-2007 and you'll see why. While other teams in this league prosper, fall apart, and prosper again (or just win every year), this franchise has just plain underachieved or worse. It begins with a lackluster front office which amazingly resembles what was in place in 2001 when it all started. Trusting them is akin to putting your money with an investment firm which loses money. Still, the players on the field might just be able to turn it around this year. For that I'm cautiously optimistic. So before you question those of us who need to see something on the field, do the research. We finally have decent overall team talent, and you're saying the front office is totally immune from criticism for trying to set an example with a franchise player. This from a pro team that's been 45-67 and without a playoff appearance in nearly 9 seasons, just inked a deal to play 8 games for nearly 80M in Toronto, receives revenue sharing, and remains a member of the most lucrative league in world sports.

In all seriousness, this thread was not just about the most likely now incorrect report that Walker suffered a long term injury. It's about the reality of where the Bills are at the OT position. You mischaracterized the entire thread as being a doomsday one which didn't fit in with your pro-Bills at any cost mentality. Bills fans have grown accustomed to having the worst case scenario occur. First reports are generally inaccurate, and I'm thinking this is the case. I don't blame DJ for his first comment, because it was too soon. And I don't blame posters who see a guy walking off the field holding his arm. I take issue with your comments directed at reasonable fans who aren't always uber-positive. Especially now that a converted RT playing out of position at LT was lost for the game tonight and a guy out of football in 2006 is now starting at RT. You can't possibly believe this is a manageable situation.

C2C is an effective means of fooling fans into thinking the team is devoting max financial resources toward player salaries. They're not, but obviously enough buy that they are. The Bills have about 19M in cap room remaining, though the team's budget probably doesn't call for them to move any closer to the cap, save for an Evans extension which won't get them to within 5M of that figure. Parker knows this (and represents enough guys already to have a high salary) and so Peters doesn't show. It's you who is off-base, especially citing small deals and of all contracts, Schobel's. The Bills have proven that it will take an awful lot to renegotiate a deal, but come on. Every guy on that team knows why Peters is holding out, and no one's said he's a bad teammate. Only you and message board posters are pushing this ridiculous opinion. No one said anything anti-Schobel when he missed OTA's in pursuit of a new deal. Peters has more leverage than you think, given the dearth of great LT's, his youth, and unlimited potential. This is not a Schobel thing, who was nearly 30 when he got his new deal. This isn't a mini-deal like K. Williams, Parrish, and Butler received for being average to decent starters. I'm not happy he's not there, especially after tonight, but don't belittle a pro athlete who had the motivation to want to play, regardless of position and now has the ability to get more money. If you were promoted to a new hugely responsible job, you'd want to be paid more too. Stop being so obtuse.

eball...TSW's resident speech censor nazi since 2008. All negative Bills opinions will not be tolerated, only his all-knowing analysis. Get over yourself.

Chambers goes from being the seldom used swing tackle to being a starting RT. Walker has exactly 13 days to get healthy and protect a 2nd year QB's blindside. How do you know Walker will be healthy? I'll grand you he's probably not as bad as a break, but will he be 100% against Seattle and.....Patrick Kerney? We'll see. Hey, I'm not trying to be negative, but the tackle position isn't reassuring if you're a fan of this football team. Only the most nieve fan is not sweating here. Throw in a rookie 7th rounder and a street FA in Estes, and this team needs serious help-fast. The run game didn't look good tonight, save for a scramble from Losman and one run by Jackson.

Rotoworld reported Bell's combine bench was 9 reps. J/K PTR