NickelCity Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 It's weird. I swear those are the exact same words that he used just before free agency started. He remains mighty consistent. Unlike Nix though, _I_ have concerns about it! I thought Hairston did an admirable job for a rookie RT playing LT. But I never felt like I was watching our clear future LT. I did feel that way watching Bell's potential. I think it helped that Hairston was a LT in college. While I want to draft an LT high, I was impressed with Hairston, and think he could develop into something. I like that he can play LT and RT. Good kid.
Byrd the Skyhawk Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 I think they are done with Bell. They made him an offer of what an 8 game tackle should make. I disagree on the grounds that I dont think any team, especially one with our depth at tackle, can be "done" with a young left tackle entering the prime of his career.
jjmac Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 I disagree on the grounds that I dont think any team, especially one with our depth at tackle, can be "done" with a young left tackle entering the prime of his career. Injuries?
3rdand12 Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 I think it helped that Hairston was a LT in college. While I want to draft an LT high, I was impressed with Hairston, and think he could develop into something. I like that he can play LT and RT. Good kid. Thats the tough call. we all know the arguments against Hairston. But consider the situation he was put in. And let's discount his prototypical size malarkey. If Buddy and Co. think Hairston can start and be adequate, that gives them alot of options and some time. i would be surprised if they have not decided his long term position yet. Or if he does not improve much wil he not rise above swing tackle backup. And hey thats not a bad guy to have there! But those guys who are around him and coaching him up probably know his capabilities by now. And they sure as hell are not going to tell us. Much less likely the opposition that we might have a star here. Especially at draft time. Mark me down for Hairston being above average at LT and RT. Starting at LT this season and.. us not drafting in the first unless it's Kalil and we wont because we dont actually need him(and almost impossible unless you are posessed by Al Davis' crazy ghost and willing to bankrupt the future). we will draft them though, because we have no depth without Bell now. we get two after the first round. or we will might even draft a guard and move someone outside. see what i did there? taking gentlemans bets. please pm. attn: eric LOl
Hapless Bills Fan Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 Word is that the Bills did make him an offer...but Bell/his manager never came back with a counter. we dont knwo what the offer was/is. The fact that they never made a counter offer tells me he doesnt want to come back. Or that it was nothing close to $4 mill....possibly so low they considered it an insult.
Mark Long Beach Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Did you feel like you were watching the Bills' clear future LT in Bell in 2009 (before injury)? Was it clear that Bell was our future LT? No. But he sure showed that he had the potential to be. He was too raw and too weak. But he was remarkably agile and seemed to bust his butt every play. I really felt like I was watching him learn on the job and he got better and more consistent. He's still a little weaker than I'd like, and he's obviously had a lot of injuries. But if Bell is the weakest link on the team, I have a helluva team.
CSBill Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Just resign Bell, and use the dray pick for a top receiver!
Doc Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Was it clear that Bell was our future LT? No. But he sure showed that he had the potential to be. He was too raw and too weak. But he was remarkably agile and seemed to bust his butt every play. I really felt like I was watching him learn on the job and he got better and more consistent. He's still a little weaker than I'd like, and he's obviously had a lot of injuries. But if Bell is the weakest link on the team, I have a helluva team. I didn't know if Bell would make it. His play was pretty poor in 2009, but I was willing to give him time. It took a couple years later for him to start to show what he was capable of, but got injured again. I'm willing to give Hairston more time, and think he is light-years ahead of where Bell was at the same point (mainly because Bell didn't see the field as a rookie).
Hapless Bills Fan Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 I get what you're saying Coach Tuesday, but how could the guy play through a broken collarbone? Remember, at first it was reported it was a shoulder injury but when they did the MRI it turned out to be a completely broken collarbone - no one can play through that. Absolutely agree. On the other hand, remember the preseason game where they started someone else at LT after a poor showing by Bell, saying "we need more consistency at the position"? I think they do feel Bell may only step up to his best game when he feels that someone is breathing down his neck - not the situation one wants ,really.
cage Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Clearly the hang-up for the Bills and others is the injury history. I think they should push hard to get Demetrius Bell back on a 1 year deal. If he can stay healthy and have a big year, then he'll get paid, big time after that. If he can't then everyone will have their final answer on him. One year, prove it and then get the payday. He'd still be young and would be able to get a big contract from us or in free agency...
BuffaloRebound Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Clearly the hang-up for the Bills and others is the injury history. I think they should push hard to get Demetrius Bell back on a 1 year deal. If he can stay healthy and have a big year, then he'll get paid, big time after that. If he can't then everyone will have their final answer on him. One year, prove it and then get the payday. He'd still be young and would be able to get a big contract from us or in free agency... Probably makes sense for him to wait until draft is over. If Bills draft an LT at #10, Bell will be a back-up.
Justice Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Three words. Incentive laden contract. That's what the Bills should offer him, if he plays a full season and makes the pro bowl then he can get paid. If not, then he can you get the league minimum.
ndirish1978 Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Probably makes sense for him to wait until draft is over. If Bills draft an LT at #10, Bell will be a back-up. I think the point is, if he re-signs we know he's a placeholder for Hairston because no one believes Bell can stay healthy for a whole season. I'd love it if Hairston could step p and start for us, but I doubt he's ready this year. That said, what player in the draft are plug and play starters from day 1? Because I don't see anyone other than Kalil. If that's the case, we should just sign a vet to start in front of Hairston for a year. Nix believes there are starters in the draft, but I dunno if he extends that meaning to instant starters. Mayock thinks Reiff could be an LT after 2-3 years playing RT. If that's the case and we're not getting Kalil, I'd rather just go LB/CB/WR in the 1st and draft someone in the 3rd to challenge Hairston.
3rdand12 Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 (edited) who knows right now what Hairston will look like by preseason. With a full offseason he might be the guy. I mean Buddy musta thought he could be. Maybe we should just draft two later on down the line. And plan on Hairston starting. I know how he looked last year but we also know that all the youngsters suffered from lockout. And Bell must feel he might be just a back up by now. If we get him its gravy. if we dont we still need two for depth. one of those might best come in after the draft though with a veteran. I hope that happens actually. some one who can step right in if injury occurs. Edited March 30, 2012 by 3rdand12
Fan in Chicago Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Clearly the hang-up for the Bills and others is the injury history. I think they should push hard to get Demetrius Bell back on a 1 year deal. If he can stay healthy and have a big year, then he'll get paid, big time after that. If he can't then everyone will have their final answer on him. One year, prove it and then get the payday. He'd still be young and would be able to get a big contract from us or in free agency... The Bills may wait to get their draft board set. If they believe that a Day 1 starter @ LT is not available, they may sign him to an incentive laden contract and take their BPA. By the time they decide on their draft choices, if Bell is still un-signed, then it works out very well for the Bills. They get cheap insurance and wait for a Round 2+ pick to develop.
Doc Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 I think the point is, if he re-signs we know he's a placeholder for Hairston because no one believes Bell can stay healthy for a whole season. I'd love it if Hairston could step p and start for us, but I doubt he's ready this year. That said, what player in the draft are plug and play starters from day 1? Because I don't see anyone other than Kalil. If that's the case, we should just sign a vet to start in front of Hairston for a year. Nix believes there are starters in the draft, but I dunno if he extends that meaning to instant starters. Mayock thinks Reiff could be an LT after 2-3 years playing RT. If that's the case and we're not getting Kalil, I'd rather just go LB/CB/WR in the 1st and draft someone in the 3rd to challenge Hairston. Hairston should be fine and no worse than Bell has been, given the scheme the Bills play (quick throwing). Hairston is far ahead of where Bell was at a similar stage and will benefit greatly from a full off-season as the starting LT. There is no LT after Kalil who IMHO is worth #10/will be able to start from day 1.
BILLS_ROC Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 ... The man is shopping around free agency and I wouldn't be surprised if he finds a taker. I don't understand how last off season, people were dogging the Bills for not addressing the LT position as that was their considered by many to be their greatest need. Now all of a sudden the same LT we had then, who only played a partial season due to injuries last year, is able to shop around in FA. Was he only considered a crappy LT because he was in a Bills uniform last off season, and now that people can project him into another uniform, all of a sudden he's worth more?
Doc Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 I don't understand how last off season, people were dogging the Bills for not addressing the LT position as that was their considered by many to be their greatest need. Now all of a sudden the same LT we had then, who only played a partial season due to injuries last year, is able to shop around in FA. Was he only considered a crappy LT because he was in a Bills uniform last off season, and now that people can project him into another uniform, all of a sudden he's worth more? One man's trash... But Bell isn't getting any great offers. Likely he's getting incentive-laden contracts and a chance to compete (not be named the starting LT) and that's why he hasn't signed yet. He'll sign somewhere before the draft, because after that point, his value goes down even more. I believe he has a visit scheduled with GB today.
atlbillsfan1975 Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 I think the point is, if he re-signs we know he's a placeholder for Hairston because no one believes Bell can stay healthy for a whole season. I'd love it if Hairston could step p and start for us, but I doubt he's ready this year. That said, what player in the draft are plug and play starters from day 1? Because I don't see anyone other than Kalil. If that's the case, we should just sign a vet to start in front of Hairston for a year. Nix believes there are starters in the draft, but I dunno if he extends that meaning to instant starters. Mayock thinks Reiff could be an LT after 2-3 years playing RT. If that's the case and we're not getting Kalil, I'd rather just go LB/CB/WR in the 1st and draft someone in the 3rd to challenge Hairston. The only thing that concerns me about this is, Hairston was also injured last year. The knock on him coming out of Clemson was how big he is up top and he has small legs. When you consider he suffered an ankle injury last year, this may confirm that some? Now i am not saying Hairston isn't the answer long term, but as we stand today the Bills have zero depth at LT. It would make great sense for Bell to come back to Buffalo, he already is familiar with his linemates and the O. I like the incentive ladden deal for a year or maybe two. If he stays healthy he makes his money, and he will get a big deal next offseason from someone. Then add a quality tackle in the draft in round 3 or 4.
KOKBILLS Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 There is no LT after Kalil who IMHO is worth #10/will be able to start from day 1. Totally 100% agree...
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