maddenboy Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 This is a FREE AGENTS DONT WANT TO COME to BUFFALO entry. With 2 serious questions, because i'm too lazy to look it up. But I think the answer will be telling. 1) When was the last time a Free Agent (not a released bum off the street or an undrafted guy on the day after the draft) who had other options actually CHOSE buffalo over another team? (Takeo? Peerless? Flutie?) 2) When was the last time the Bills won (or even entered) a bidding war for a free agent? (instead of bidding against themselves like Dockery et. al.) I have a friend, also a life-long bills fan, who claims that all we have to do is pay, and that admittedly buffalo is "not that attractive" comnpared to other teams. I say buffalo is not "not that attractive," but rather UNATTRACTIVE. Nobody wants to come here if he has other options. Hope you guys can give me some answers for 1 or 2. And I think that until we have a real real quarterback, nobody will come here.
ACor58 Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 1.) 2003 - Takeo Spikes, Cincinatti 2.) 2011 - Tyson Clabo, Atlanta
Fezmid Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 This is a FREE AGENTS DONT WANT TO COME to BUFFALO entry. With 2 serious questions, because i'm too lazy to look it up. But I think the answer will be telling. 1) When was the last time a Free Agent (not a released bum off the street or an undrafted guy on the day after the draft) who had other options actually CHOSE buffalo over another team? (Takeo? Peerless? Flutie?) Nick Barnett just last year.
tennesseeboy Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Nick Barnett...there was lots of interest from other teams and he seems quite a catch. http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/26/free-agency-2011-landing-spots-for-nick-barnett/
maddenboy Posted February 6, 2012 Author Posted February 6, 2012 Nick Barnett...there was lots of interest from other teams and he seems quite a catch. http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/26/free-agency-2011-landing-spots-for-nick-barnett/ yeah, i thought about Barnett. And i'm really glad we have him. But I kinda remember that he didnt draw nearly the interest he was expected to. Your link talks about prior-to free agency. What other offers did he have? Did he even make visits? And as to Clabo, I remember something about Clabo saying he never wanted to leave ATL, so it was assumed he just used a couple of other teams to gauge his market value. The dreaded "let other teams negotiate my contract with my current team" play. http://www.nflgridirongab.com/2011/07/15/free-agent-ol-tyson-clabo-wants-to-stay-in-atlanta/
maddenboy Posted February 6, 2012 Author Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) 1.) 2003 - Takeo Spikes, Cincinatti 2.) 2011 - Tyson Clabo, Atlanta Was TKO actually the last one, or is he just the first one who came to mind? Again, i'm a little too busy and lazy to research it. But obviously, if you havent landed a REAL free agent for 8 years, and havent made the playoffs for 12, there might be a correlation there. This really is a problem, fellas. We dont build through the draft and coach-em-up like Green Bay or pittsburgh, and we dont lure free agents like Dallas or Philly, so how, exactly, are we supposed to win? ------------------------------ And, as we enter "there's always next year" season, I'm pretty run-down with the rinse-repeat cycle for 12-15 years. I want this board to reflect some realism. A sober reality that, until the organization is committed to winning a championship, instead of committed to, within budget, fielding a "competitive" team, its just an emotional roller coaster every year. Tired of it yet? Edited February 6, 2012 by maddenboy
Best Player Available Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Nick Barnett...there was lots of interest from other teams and he seems quite a catch. http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/26/free-agency-2011-landing-spots-for-nick-barnett/ I love barnett. Wasn't he in reality coming off a injury and sitting on a couch well into free agency when the Bills called? I don't remember him being a hot commodity because of injury and age.
OldTimer1960 Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Who were the big free agent signees on New England, the Giants, Baltimore and Pittsburgh? I think all of those teams have been very successful without signing many "big name" free agents.
The Tomcat Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 merriman maybe ...yes I know he got hurt......to?
808 Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 barnett was probably gonna sign with detroit. that was the first choice and then they signed tulloch i think. and didnt need barnett and then he was here ona visit and stayed. i think
It's in My Blood Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Who were the big free agent signees on New England, the Giants, Baltimore and Pittsburgh? I think all of those teams have been very successful without signing many "big name" free agents. This^ Perennial playoff contenders all have a core of solid players who they drafted. Buddy is right, you must build through the draft, regardless if your a small or large market team. Once the core is established, you supplement it with the in demand free agent or two. New England is the exception to this simply because they have arguably the best QB to ever play the game.
Picnic Table F'er Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 merriman maybe ...yes I know he got hurt......to? Waiver pickup, not FA.
NoSaint Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 What year was Fletcher? You know, if no one else counts, maybe he does? Florence and dwan Edwards were FA starters.
Rinlo Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) We were in a bidding war with Cincinnati for M. Vick a few years ago, but Philadelphia won that somehow... Edited February 6, 2012 by Rinlo
3rdand12 Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Barnett was a huge score! we snatched him as soon as he was available. He was pushed out by a younger guy who stepped in when he got injured. who was he?? any ways Nick is a great grab by us. and surprised we pulled it off actually.
Stealth Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 The Jets were interested in Drayton Florence he chose to re-sign with the Bills. The Jets were interested in re-signing Brad Smith (albeit not for the money the Bills gave him) Pat Williams wanted to re-sign with the Bills the Bills let him walk. Jabari Greer still talks glowingly about Buffalo we should've re-signed him over Terrance Mcgee.
Dr. Trooth Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Nobody wants to come here if he has other options. Totally shocking. Who would have known?
maddenboy Posted February 7, 2012 Author Posted February 7, 2012 We were in a bidding war with Cincinnati for M. Vick a few years ago, but Philadelphia won that somehow... Excellent point. I had forgotten about that. Maybe because (wink wink nudge nudge) it was predestined that he wasnt coming here. Barnett was a huge score! we snatched him as soon as he was available. He was pushed out by a younger guy who stepped in when he got injured. who was he?? any ways Nick is a great grab by us. and surprised we pulled it off actually. So, it looks like we grab a slightly-past-his-prime-but-still-productive linebacker every 3-4 years (TKO, Fletch, Barnett, but not really Merriman since he wasnt FA). Yay?
RuntheDamnBall Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Barnett is one that the Bills clearly won. The fact that he happened to be a good value pickup, too, doesn't change that we got a former first-round LB from a championship team, a starter, who had been in conversations with other teams. TKO is definitely the last premier free agent we had, and I am not sure how often a guy like that comes available. He was really a special player who was probably building a HOF resume before catastrophic injuries took hold.
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