st. pete gogolak Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 Did anyone see Gronkowski's 50 yard catch and run along the sidelines yesterday? It wasn't one of his TD catches. It looked super-human. I've posted this before but what really cracks me up is that the Pats knew how stoopid the Bills front office is and didn't even bother to trade up to make sure that the Bills didn't pick Gronkowski before their turn came. Of course not. Why would the Bills take a home-town kid at a position of desparate need?
John Gianelli Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 Did anyone see Gronkowski's 50 yard catch and run along the sidelines yesterday? It wasn't one of his TD catches. It looked super-human. I've posted this before but what really cracks me up is that the Pats knew how stoopid the Bills front office is and didn't even bother to trade up to make sure that the Bills didn't pick Gronkowski before their turn came. Of course not. Why would the Bills take a home-town kid at a position of desparate need? For those of you who are old enough to remember, it reminds me a little of the Buffalo Braves taking John Hummer in the 1970 draft when Calvin Murphy was still available. Though Murphy was from Long Island not from Buffalo, he was a local favorite because he played at Niagara.
Maddog69 Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 PLEASE tell me your kidding and that Nix did not make that comment?!!? A person with a HISTORY of chronic back problems playing NT in the NFL is NOT going to happen. If we had Gronkowski Fitz would have someone to throw to in the short passing game, which is his style of passing. If we had Gronkowski he would be a bust, on IR and suspended for banging a porn star
Sisyphean Bills Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 I personally read this with my own two eyes but can't remember where. It may have been one of Chris Brown's fluff pieces but those were the words directly out of Nix's mouth. He said Troup would have been a 1st round pick and a top-rated DT. Nix also said that they tried Jasper at DT all pre-season because he was going to be a superstar at OT. They were so worried about him getting away, they cut him and have had him on the practice squad all year.
metzelaars_lives Posted December 12, 2011 Author Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Did anyone see Gronkowski's 50 yard catch and run along the sidelines yesterday? It wasn't one of his TD catches. It looked super-human. I've posted this before but what really cracks me up is that the Pats knew how stoopid the Bills front office is and didn't even bother to trade up to make sure that the Bills didn't pick Gronkowski before their turn came. Of course not. Why would the Bills take a home-town kid at a position of desparate need? It's mind-blowing. Like I've said, it's the first time that I can remember- with the possible exception of the Whitner pick- where their pick was inexcusable, unforgivable, inexplicable, etc. Until about two years ago, whenever the Bills made a pick that went against what the magazines, Mel Kiper would have suggested, I always trusted the Bills and thought, well they know more than I do. But the Gronkowski pick was such a no-brainer and they went against what everyone would've thought they would've/should've done and they were wrong. I no longer trust that their scouts know anymore than the people on this website. I really don't. Edited December 12, 2011 by metzelaars_lives
....lybob Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 It's mind-blowing. Like I've said, it's the first time that I can remember- with the possible exception of the Whitner pick- where their pick was inexcusable, unforgivable, inexplicable, etc. Until about two years ago, whenever the Bills made a pick that went against what the magazines, Mel Kiper would have suggested, I always trusted the Bills and thought, well they know more than I do. But the Gronkowski pick was such a no-brainer and they went against what everyone would've thought they would've/should've done and they were wrong. I no longer trust that their scouts know anymore than the people on this website. I really don't. All you have to know is that instead of Spiller, Troup, and Carrington you could have Dez Bryant,Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 A few posters pointed out that the 2011 draft was nix's first draft. Sounds like typical bills apologists stchick until taking a closer look. if you look at this years class, the first 5 picks have all contributed and all look like they could be solid contributors. Darius, shep, Hairston and Williams may even be good starters. Combine that point with how similar the 2010 draft looks like all the past drafts, with projects, scrubs and disappointments, add mordak getting canned, and perhaps the organization really is starting in a new direction. This years draft will help arrive at the verdict. If it shapes up like 2011's draft class the bills should have another incremental roster upgrade in their hands. If their pick is littered with a bunch of "sleepers" we'll know 2011 was a fluke.
dpberr Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 A young defensive tackle with extremely low mileage with a bad back? He'll always be limited by injury. He won't be 100% for long durations. He'll spend more time playing injured or not playing at all. The back is as important as lower body strength for a lineman. Unfortunately, it's one of the most delicate, complicated parts of our bodies. You combine weight, physical stress and impact, and it takes quite the beating. Troup may be talented, but he had back issues in college and for that reason, the Bills should have steered clear of picking him so high in the draft.
berndogg Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 I would love it if they just went with this approach. Take whomever the consensus is in the draft magazines for the first three rounds and then let the organization take over round four and beyond. I think if you looked back at the history the Bills would have been far better off with this approach. For next year, the Bills' war room should only consist of an ipad with the yahoo fantasy app set to autodraft the highest player on the big board. It would save ralph a lot of money and I'm sure we'd end up with better players. Problem solved.
dwight in philly Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 For next year, the Bills' war room should only consist of an ipad with the yahoo fantasy app set to autodraft the highest player on the big board. It would save ralph a lot of money and I'm sure we'd end up with better players. Problem solved. or , all the names placed in a shoebox and picked at random.
dpberr Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 Ralph should hire TBD to do the draft. We'll use Astrobot and his DraftTek "thingy" and we'll vote on available players. Boom or bust, we'll either take all the credit or blame. Come to think of it, that'd be on hell of a way to involve fans in the franchise. Drafts are picked by popular vote by the fans.
metzelaars_lives Posted December 12, 2011 Author Posted December 12, 2011 I take it all back. Troup was a 2-time 2nd team all Conference USA selection. Now that is some pedigree. I swear to God, everytime Gronkowski scores another TD or doesn't even notice someone trying to tackle him as he just bulldozes over would-be tacklers, it's like a dagger.
Brand J Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) I take it all back. Troup was a 2-time 2nd team all Conference USA selection. Now that is some pedigree. I swear to God, everytime Gronkowski scores another TD or doesn't even notice someone trying to tackle him as he just bulldozes over would-be tacklers, it's like a dagger. Would've felt better if he was at least a 2 time all Conference SEC selection. I hated the Troup pick then and even more so now. Edited December 12, 2011 by JayBaller10
NoSaint Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Would've felt better if he was at least a 2 time all Conference SEC selection. I hated the Troup pick then and even more so now. thats what we get going for need instead of bpa. honestly even so, i thought cody would be the guy with the gut feeling that 1-3 we would end up with a NT. i was scratching my head on this one big time. it feels like we screwed up draft strategy, AND evaluations. and yes, he did say that if troup waited to come out he wouldve been at the top of everyones boards next year. Edited December 12, 2011 by NoSaint
Bob in STL Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 Patience people, this kid Troup is gonna be a monster. Never mind that he came from a girly man school and we could've taken him in the 3rd round anyway. And Rob Gronkowski, who went to Williamsville North, is built like a professional wrestler and was considered a top 10 overall talent before he got hurt in college was just sitting there and it appeared to be the most obvious pick since I've been watching drafts. Just wait folks, it'll work out for us just fine. I am always a Bills apologist and I hate when people dwell on past mistakes, but I'm sorry, I'll never get over this one. Never. Why stop at Gronkowski? You could make this statement about every player we ever drafted with the exception of maybe 6. Why not lament equally on all picks? Give us some new stuff to read.
cantankerous Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 For next year, the Bills' war room should only consist of an ipad with the yahoo fantasy app set to autodraft the highest player on the big board. It would save ralph a lot of money and I'm sure we'd end up with better players. Problem solved. The sad thing is you're probably right.
ganesh Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 Troup was a puzzling pick. In hindsight AND on draft day. He was very low on all the draft prospect sites. Seems like the Bills should fire all their scouts and just use Mock Draft sites. All the mock drafts had us taking Orakpo over Maybin, because who in their right mind takes Maybin when when Orakpo's on the board?? Heck, Maybin wasn't even invited to the draft!! That's a good sign that he's NOT 1st round material. Whitner over Ngata Maybin over Orakpo Picking McGahee when you had Travis Henry Picking Lynch when you had McGahee Picking SPiller when you had Lynch and Jacksob Troup over Gronkwoski McCargo over Nick Mangold :wallbash: :wallbash: Are very good reasons why this franchise is in this state.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) PLEASE tell me your kidding and that Nix did not make that comment?!!? A person with a HISTORY of chronic back problems playing NT in the NFL is NOT going to happen. If we had Gronkowski Fitz would have someone to throw to in the short passing game, which is his style of passing. I'm not defending the Troup pick but who says he had "a history of chronic back problems?" I'm very skeptical of your claim considering that he played in 48 games in college and started 36. I find zero documentation that Troup had back problems before he was drafted. were they from the same year?? so when the pack wheels and deals, they get raji and matthews, we get john mccargo. Donte Whitner and John McCargo… yes. All you have to know is that instead of Spiller, Troup, and Carrington you could have Dez Bryant,Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham. Dez Bryant? Meh. As Metz suggests, there's the hindsight game (Graham)… and then there's the valid criticism of picks at the time that they were made. They're actually two different games. There was grumbling over the Spiller pick. I heard very little talk about Gronk when we passed him over and there was zero talk about Jimmy Graham when we passed him over. Speaking generally and not accusing anyone specifically, now that the team has crashed and burned, you'll start seeing a greater absence of perspective and a lot of revisionism. The Bills deserves criticism, but like our national political conversations, it doesn't mean that people shouldn't strive for fairness, objectivity, and truth. But who am I kidding? People need to vent and rage so the truth will be damned. Edited December 12, 2011 by San Jose Bills Fan
Gordio Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 were they from the same year?? so when the pack wheels and deals, they get raji and matthews, we get john mccargo. The funny thing was when I was watching the draft & they announce the bills traded up I am like cool, they are going to get Mangold. Then they announce Mccargo & even the guys on ESPN who try to sugarcoat everything were shocked. Seriously if Ralph really wants to save some money he should fire all his scouts & on draft day just bring in a chimpanzee from the Buffalo Zoo to throw darts at a dart board to see who we draft. I imagine the chimp could not do any worse.
CBD Posted December 12, 2011 Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) I'm not defending the Troup pick but who says he had "a history of chronic back problems?" I'm very skeptical of your claim considering that he played in 48 games in college and started 36.I find zero documentation that Troup had back problems before he was drafted. Agreed, Troup didn't have the back issues until he was here, someone stated it on this board awhile ago and now it's become truth. There were no reports of any back issues prior to the draft. Gronkowski on the other hand had missed the entire 2009 season with back surgery and hadn't started working out until the January prior to the draft. There were also rumors of nerve damage that could affect his career. Has to prove he's healthy after missing the entire 2009 season due to back surgery and concerns over nerve damage. Underwent a microdiscectomy on Sept. 24, but only began running and working out extensively in January. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/historical/1244303 Obviously I'd look like a dummy trying to claim Troup as a better pick than Gronkowski, but Troup had been a fast rising player as the draft approached and had a 2nd to 3rd round grade according to some publications (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2010_DT). Edited December 12, 2011 by Carey Bender
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