BillsVet

Approving the selection of Whitner is becoming about as mandatory as believing in Global Warming. I didn't believe the first was right and I'll never believe the latter is. Can't Bills fans disagree with somethin Marv does? The criteria of just being a good player on an of-late below average NFL team isn't enough. A top-10 pick has to be a difference maker and while Whitner might become a fine player, a building team doesn't have the luxury of selecting a player at a position like safety. Some positions on an NFL football team take priority and safety isn't one of them. Not at least with a top-10 pick.

I'd go along with everything you've said. Marv took over when the team was at probably the lowest point it could get. Well, almost. It wasn't 1984, but we had a coach resign who had pretty much lost the team. The 2005 draft produced practically nothing (at least yet) and the GM who'd just been fired was about as arrogant as they come. Dissension was universal among the fans. And they'd just finished their fifth season without a playoff appearance In light of these facts, Marv and company have rehabilitated the image of the team from the depths we experienced at the beginning of 2006. As for records, one thing I'll say is that 7-9 remains more than I expected last season. I firmly believe in expecting the worst and hoping for the best. Last year 15 NFL teams were either 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7. How's that for parity? So, with that in mind, 7-9 is about average in this league. The key will be improving and not regressing in 2007. I'm not one to look down the road until 2008 and hope for domination. This team should have higher goals this year. The only issue I have is with the 2006 draft. Sure there's Whitner and Simpson guaranteed starters. McCargo and Youboty, the other 2 Day 1 selections have large question marks on their backs. They have a lot to prove and I'm not ready to call them starters and significant contributors. Kyle Williams has overachieved his way into the NFL, but his position as a solid rotational DT is also questionable. Ellison will likely start, Pennington, Butler, and perhaps Merz provide depth. Let's give that draft class another year. There are too many question marks remaining. In today's NFL, a team can go from zero to hero in 2 seasons. I hope what Marv's doing will allow us to be that.

If the main thing to being an NFL GM were to acquire high character players while assembling a player friendly coaching staff, Marv's the GM of the year. However, the criteria for winning football games goes beyond this. Teams need to be both prudent and take calculated risks in free agency. This year, Buffalo had 3 signings, 1 major, and a medium and small one. I think we upgraded the OL, but failed to make any other positions much better. Some might think it irrational to say we didn't spend enough, but the team had opportunities to acquire moderately priced free agents for depth and perhaps starting needs. The front office decided against it. I have to assume they feel they have the roster already close to where it needs to be or will be significantly upgraded on draft day. I'm not putting much into the 6/1 cuts. Another GM criteria is drafting well. All of us know the draft is the foundation of good football teams. Free Agency alone cannot do it. But this year, we're forced to have a stellar draft. If we cannot improve the LB, RB, and perhaps CB and DT slots, it's going to be a long year. Cash to the cap absolutely necessitates drafting well each year, particularly rounds 1-3. To miss on a pick is doubly worse because we're not going to allocate too much in free agency every year like we did this year. I believe Free Agency provides the players you need at the moment to make the team better. Naturally the price for these guys is super-high and is something of a penalty for failing to draft well. Still, FA and the draft combined can make for good teams. The draft alone cannot do it. Marv and the rest of the braintrust made decisions to let some name guys go. Pyrite is correct in saying we cannot judge those moves just yet. We'll have to wait and see. But, a lot of experience and talent did leave the team. Next year will tell us how much their depatures hurt. Marv is gambling that getting rid of WM and Takeo while letting NC and LFB go in FA won't be too much to overcome for 2007. My concern is with who replaces them, not with simply allowing those guys to go. The Bills are heaping a lot of hope onto the backs of Youboty, Ellison, McCargo and perhaps Preston. These are question marks in varying degrees. Even if 2 of them play well, I doubt all 4 of them will. In a perfect world the Bills would be a little more secure in positions like CB, LB, DT, and maybe RG entering draft day. Marv and to a greater degree guys like Overdorf, DJ, and Modrak make the decisions by consensus. There is a chance they could be wrong. There is a chance their plan could be right. It's simply too soon to tell. Finally, some will disagree with this, but I think our front office could be a little more savvy on draft day and use more guile when it matters elsewhere with personnel. Everyone in the league interested in Turner is waiting SD out, but as we near draft day, we'll see who has the most moxie. I just don't think they'll acquire Turner and pay him his money. It's not their nature to invest in areas like this when defense is a huge priority. As for Marv's GM abilities, if draft picks need 2-3 years to be completely judged, so too does a new GM. It's only fair.

That's about as fair as it gets Kelly. I thought the segment was particularly harsh, but when one of them becomes Nostradamus, I'll listen more. Woodson, well, outside of being a former player, doesn't have much in the way of credentials to me. I don't know why we're putting so much stock into what these three stooges have said. Time will tell.

This article in the SD Union and Tribune makes me laugh. Article The idea that Smith is dealing from a position of power is downright arrogant. If Tennessee or Buffalo panics first then sure Smith wins. But if that doesn't happen, Smith will have to trade Turner for the best offer he gets, whether it's on draft day or before. This ain't ebay we're talking about here. It's the NFL. I believe the writer is forgetting the draft provides plenty of options. It's not as though Turner is the only solution.

First, the season is five months away almost...at least that's what some people are saying on this board. I think Branch is simply too risky of a pick for a team like Buffalo. The Bills cannot afford to miss with a first round pick because if the do, it could have long term effects. Mike Williams lack of play and motivation is still a constant reminder, five years after his selection by our former arrogant GM. Everyone wants a Pro-Bowl type, but we need to have an excellent starter in round 1. Other teams have more margin for error that we do in the draft. As for Tennesee-they rid themselves of Henry simply because he would not re-negotiate a contact that called for an 8M roster bonus. He then left the team and moved on for greener (literally and figuratively) pastures in Denver. As has been mentioned here many times, A. Thomas has not been a starting RB since 2003 and there's a reason. He's probably lost a step and teams like Dallas, New Orleans, and Buffalo have proven that by keeping him as a #2 or lower on the depth chart. How he becomes a starter now I really don't know. I doubt he'd be a fit in SD, that's all. You're correct, Langston Walker is huge. But he's got some time to get into playing shape. I'm sure with mini-camp, training camp, and some prodding from Jim McNally that he'll be ready to go or else in September.

I don't think I'd take Branch at all...he's a risk and shows signs of not working hard. Willis has a much better work ethic and has great character traits. As far as SD taking A. Thomas in a trade, why would they do that if they could have acquired him as a UFA? The guy was available for a couple of weeks there. IMO, Thomas is not all that much better than an average NFL #2.

What's worse? A healthy and fit A-Train or a fat Lendale White? I suppose that's a push, though there's more game film of A-Train than of Lendale. Unless of course you go back to White's USC days, which don't count because it was more than a year ago.

You're kidding, right?

I would love for Buffalo to add Okoye...he's the type of player who could define playing the DT spot in the Cover-2 and is probably the best DT available in the draft. Having said that, I think Buffalo goes LB with Willis in Round 1, but I wouldn't be disappointed with Okoye. He'd immediately be better than Tripplett and Williams.

With the 12th pick, the Bills need an impact player, someone who can step in and contribute this season. And that player should be defense IMHO. When Ralph asks about stopping the run and we draft a RB in the first round, well I'll t be somewhat disappointed. Then again, it's not my opinion that matters. Okoye and Willis appear to fit the mold for an impact defensive player. I'm not sure if both or one will be available, but if they intend on giving up less than those 140.9 rypg they did last season, they'll go defense. The chance at Willis, who's regularly running a sub 4.4 40, has great character and super work ethic is too much. He's not a guaranteed player, no one is, but I'd grab someone who can make offenses think twice about running the ball too much. More often than not, what you get in the 2nd round and below is not going to help this season. RB is one of those positions that can feature a guy playing well their rookie season from the second. However, there aren't many on defense that are available in a given draft who can. DJ=Defense

Can't we all just agree that taking a RB neglects our thin defense and going RB in Round 1 takes us out of the Patrick Willis or Amobi Okoye game? DJ is going to go defense. Think what you will, he's got a lot of influence over Marv and whomever is selected. That said, I'd like to see Pittman in Round 2 and if he's gone Brandon Jackson perhaps in Round 3. After that there'll still be some serviceable RB's.

Why he traded the top pick in the WNBA draft. I really think he's shaking his head. That guard out of Duke really looked like a sure thing. 24 days and counting folks...

As my Media Law professor said in college, "Let's...condense...this." I cannot see Buffalo investing so much on their OL only to let an aged A. Thomas and perhaps another average back run behind it. Kinda like buying a Mercedes and installing the cheapest sound system in it. A non-sequitur. Not sure if the Bills give up their cash to the cap theory now that revenue sharing is a done deal, but if they did, Turner becomes more of a reality. Of course so much hinges on a deal with Turner, but having the chance to select an impact defender like Willis or Okoye in the draft and acquire Turner is going to satisfy both DJ and Fairchild. We can't neglect the RB position and plug in an average runner. An average RB delivers average results and when the Bills have difficulty running successfully you should not be surprised. Hopefully Willis or Okoye is available at 12, but don't get an average running back to run behind that line.

I'd rather have a veteran with his best days behind him than another draft pick allocated toward the defensive backfield. The more picks the better and another spent on a DB just seems ridiculous, especially if they've targeted a CB for depth purposes. We've got three safeties on the roster. And all of them are young (see less than 2 years in the league) Perhaps Troy Vincent would come back as the DB coach. Well, maybe not.

Someone finally had to say it. If we're trying to win now and/or in the future, Julius Jones is not the answer. End of story. Sure Dallas' OL wasn't great, but Jones didn't help himself much. A pairing of Jones and A. Thomas is mediocrity defined. Certainly not a running game that is formidable.

Local media expertly doing their job as always. Keeping us informed.

How many dominating WR's did SD have last season? How about NE? Or maybe CHI and NO? Sure, Indy had two excellent ones, but they're the exception. Antonio Gates lost some TDs to a guy like LT, but you win with balance. Having a balanced offense that maximizes the players on that side of the ball is vital, or defenses key in on your strengths. The days of having Andre Reed line up next to James Lofton are few and far between. On defense you win in the trenches. Same as for the offense. But on defense we need some speedy playmaking types right now. Hopefully Willis is there because we've got 1, maybe 2 NFL caliber linebackers on the roster right now. DJ is defense first. And second. He holds sway over Marv and they'll try to win with defense like he did in Chicago back in 2001. Defense first, offense second. It's the head coaches way.

Carriker is a DE. He might possess great size and strength, but he doesn't have the same kind of speed Okoye has. For my money, the best way to solve the opponent's running game this season and into the future is Okoye. If he's gone, and might well be, then P. Willis is the way to go. Carriker is a large DE that doesn't fit for us right now. Unless he's going to make the jump to DT, and then we have a project on our hands.

Probably so...it's not such a bad thing after all. You're right, if Marv had any inclination about drafting Hall, Revis, hell even Houston, then perhaps the notion was removed with that brief conversation. At least Ralph has a handle on their weaknesses. Marv addressed the left side of the OL, and his DE's are a strength, but RG and DT are still big question marks. Good football teams begin with the offensive and defensive line, in that order.

Okoye would be my choice if Willis is gone. I think he can make a huge impact his first year and would immediately upgrade a group of DT's that didn't get it done last season. He has tremendous upside, character, and a great work ethic. He'd quickly show McCargo what a DT can do in their rookie season.

If Ralph's forced to ask that now, that's not good. DJ and Marv go defense first and second round. Perhaps Willis at 12 or they trade down and grab Posluszny late in the first. I certainly don't see them grabbing RB in round 1, maybe even second round either if they have the same amount of picks. I could see them trading and picking up a second to use for a RB. I know Ralph doesn't sit in for all the football meetings, but it's decent that he's at least interested in the aspects of the team. I have to give Marv credit, he's the only GM in the league with an owner who won't give him all the money to spend within limits. I figure it takes 7M to sign rookies, perhaps 1M less, and even with that, Buffalo is still 15-17M beneath the salary cap. I value Peter King's opinion because he's been right more often than not. I'll refrain from saying's he bulletproof, but he's got some excellent sources scattered throughout the league.

Michael Turner has to be the biggest scat back in the history of the NFL-all 237 pounds of him. He's a bruiser with speed, not a third down type. I think Turner will be too expensive for Buffalo's rebuilding cash to the cap philosophy.

That punter from Baylor, Daniel Sepulveda looks like a great pick. I think we could get him in the first if we're lucky and he solves so many of our problems. We know he can punt, but he's 6'2 230 and can run. I think his 40 time was about 4.65 So, if we draft him, we have a backup punter who could excell at LB and probably run the ball occasionally on 2nd down when A. Thomas needs a break. And I'm sure he fits in with the team's financial plans because he'll get the NFL rookie minimum. There it is.

Well, it's hard to tell through words alone. It's as the kid say "all good." Of course what I'm saying is partially opinion. I don't have sources deep within OBD or anything. I just think we'd have done something if it were right.