atlbillsfan1975 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Both the Bills and Jets are realizing the mistake they made with their QB of choice. They both realize they do not have a franchise QB. So if you do not have that you do not have the luxury of keeping over paid aging vets. Atleast the Bills finally did something about their QB position with the release of Fitz(this also will help the Bills ability to sign a bigger FA next year). Until the Jets do the same they are stuck in neutral. Personally i would like to see the Bills add a couple guys in the next few days for fair market price that will be around for 3-5 years. Draft a QB at 8 and fill in your other spots with the next 3 picks. Then the Bills new coaching regime needs to step in and coach. I think this is also where the Bills atleast realized they had made a mistake. The Jets will part ways with Ryan after he stinks it up this year. Another year down the drain. To me, atleast the Bills are showing they are trying to move forward. Now They just have to make some good moves over the next year.
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Funny you mention the Jets, because I seem to recall them going all in on a QB not that long ago. In fact, some would say they doubled down in the trade with the Broncos for another QB that led a team to the playoffs. But, to look at the Jets now, one generally sees them in free fall. Point being, that it's easy to say it. Daggummit, even Buddy Nix has said it. Countless times now. But there is a world of difference between saying it and actually finding a Hall of Fame caliber QB. Agreed. But the most frustrating thing about the Bills is the lack of effort to get a QB. They thought Fitz was the guy and tried to get a better team around him. I have no problem with that. But for an offensive coach like Gailey to not use one higher draft pick to develop a guy is awful. With how often QBs get hurt, there is zero reason not to get another one. The Broncos get Manning, they draft a guy in the 2nd round. The Pats drafted a guy in the 1st round. The Pack drafted Rodgers in the 1st when they had Farve. I liked Fitz and had high hopes. But for them not to have a backup plan and draft another guy was just stupid. The Bills could learn from the Jets. Draft a guy high this year. However if the guy doesn't develop into a franchise guy, admit the mistake and move on. The Jets won in spite of Sanchez yet they were too stubborn to admit he wasn't good enough. Honestly, if the Bills keep drafting QBs in the 1st round for the next 5 drafts until they get a guy, I won't have a problem with it. The results probably couldn't be any worse.
RyanC883 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 2012 offseason: Bills are finally on their way to the playoffs 2013 offseason: Bills are a joke again. Get a real QB and everything else falls into place. Same thing with the Jets. This. But the Jets will always be doooomed....hopefully. Agreed. But the most frustrating thing about the Bills is the lack of effort to get a QB. They thought Fitz was the guy and tried to get a better team around him. I have no problem with that. But for an offensive coach like Gailey to not use one higher draft pick to develop a guy is awful. With how often QBs get hurt, there is zero reason not to get another one. The Broncos get Manning, they draft a guy in the 2nd round. The Pats drafted a guy in the 1st round. The Pack drafted Rodgers in the 1st when they had Farve. I liked Fitz and had high hopes. But for them not to have a backup plan and draft another guy was just stupid. The Bills could learn from the Jets. Draft a guy high this year. However if the guy doesn't develop into a franchise guy, admit the mistake and move on. The Jets won in spite of Sanchez yet they were too stubborn to admit he wasn't good enough. Honestly, if the Bills keep drafting QBs in the 1st round for the next 5 drafts until they get a guy, I won't have a problem with it. The results probably couldn't be any worse. I would agree with this approach. Or even take a QB in the third round who put up great numbers in the freaking Big 10 over a WR predicted to go rounds later when your starter is Fitz and your backup is Thiggy at the time. Yes, I'm talking about Wilson. I was beside myself with that pick. (Nix: we need a QB, we need a big WR. Lets draft a small, speedy WR). WTF.
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 This. But the Jets will always be doooomed....hopefully. As sad as it, minus one a SB that happened in the 60s, the Bills have been the better overall franchise.
Sisyphean Bills Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 My hunch was the plan was to build a good team then insert the QB and go. When Fitz was signed to that contract he was playing pretty damn well. My hindsight abilities are stronger than most, clearly this didnt work out. I have a hard time throwing this man to the curb for missing that. Lots of smart coaches and GMs look pretty dumb when they don't have Brady, Favre, Hasselbeck, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, John Elway or Payton Manning. Where is this good team? Also, doesn't that sort of fly in the face of most NFL positions just being commodities that get turned over like clockwork? Finally, even if you did assemble all the pieces first, how is dropping in a QB with no experience with the team to lead them at the last minute supposed to work exactly?
Solomon Grundy Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 John: The same guy who is responsible for those poor-value vet contracts is still making the decisions. And he did nothing to anticipate these departures. The difference between the Bills and teams like the Ravens is that the Ravens do a better job of anticipating and planning for these types of events. You keep saying that you're ok with letting Levitre walk. I think you're being somewhat shortsighted. Levitre should've been locked up LAST YEAR. Or, alternatively, if Nix knew that he wasn't going to lock him up last year, his replacement should've been drafted or signed LAST YEAR. Nix could've drafted a guard instead of wasting picks on Ron Brooks, Tank Carder, Mark Asper, and John Potter. Instead, he once again demonstrated his ineptness as a GM by failing to address an upcoming departure. The result is that we have as many holes on the roster as we did when Nix took over, and not enough draft picks to fill the void. We're staring at a 1-15 season and anyone who doesn't see this is a fool. Coach, I believe Chad Rinehart stepped in at Levitre spot and played fairly well. I'm glad the Bills didn't overpay for his services. As you mentioned, we have holes that need to be filled and you can't do it without money. The Bills salary cap is at a good point right now. They can continue to add young talent to the roster both defensive and offensive via the draft or FA. Yes, they will need a QB but wouldn't it be nice if they put talent around incoming QB, tank the season as you would assume and have the No.1 pick in the draft next season? The year of the "franchise" QB!
GG Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 As sad as it, minus one a SB that happened in the 60s, the Bills have been the better overall franchise. .. by five games over a 52 year stretch. Reality is that both excel at mediocrity.
Captain Hindsight Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Agreed. But the most frustrating thing about the Bills is the lack of effort to get a QB. They thought Fitz was the guy and tried to get a better team around him. I have no problem with that. But for an offensive coach like Gailey to not use one higher draft pick to develop a guy is awful. With how often QBs get hurt, there is zero reason not to get another one. The Broncos get Manning, they draft a guy in the 2nd round. The Pats drafted a guy in the 1st round. The Pack drafted Rodgers in the 1st when they had Farve. I liked Fitz and had high hopes. But for them not to have a backup plan and draft another guy was just stupid. The Bills could learn from the Jets. Draft a guy high this year. However if the guy doesn't develop into a franchise guy, admit the mistake and move on. The Jets won in spite of Sanchez yet they were too stubborn to admit he wasn't good enough. Honestly, if the Bills keep drafting QBs in the 1st round for the next 5 drafts until they get a guy, I won't have a problem with it. The results probably couldn't be any worse. In 1996 maybe. Mallet is a 3rd round pick Where is this good team? Also, doesn't that sort of fly in the face of most NFL positions just being commodities that get turned over like clockwork? Finally, even if you did assemble all the pieces first, how is dropping in a QB with no experience with the team to lead them at the last minute supposed to work exactly? I'd ask the steelers if it can work with Big Ben I never said it worked out, just thats my hunch was the plan
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 .. by five games over a 52 year stretch. Reality is that both excel at mediocrity. But it's crazy considering one is in NYC and another is in Buffalo. And I'm going on a limb here, but the team that gets the better QB faster will be better.
BillsVet Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Good. Lets go 1-15. Thats probably the best thing for this franchise. We will have our pick at the best QB's in next years draft and chances are Nix won't be making any decisions. Truth is, Russ Brandon is full of it, the organization is still a joke and again(Hate to beat a dead horse) nothing will change until Ralph is gone. Sad that it'll probably take another year to learn this. Meanwhile, buy your season tickets for 2013. Wonder what the slogan will be this year? Change is good, even when it's the same.
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 In 1996 maybe. Mallet is a 3rd round pick I'd ask the steelers if it can work with Big Ben I never said it worked out, just thats my hunch was the plan Yeah, that was a typo. My bad broseph.
Mr. WEO Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 This place cracks me up. Was anyone talking about giving Levitre 46.8m with 26m guaranteed at this time last year? Was Buddy supposed to do that? Really? For a decent, durable G (but nothing more) who's never been recognized by his peers or voting media as an elite player? This place is insufferable. I look forward to reading the slams every time Spiller is dumped for a loss and/or Chris Johnson rips off a long gainer because we all know those things never happened before Levitre chose to go elsewhere and the Titans decided to show him the money. GO BILLS!!! No, I think the point was that he could have been had for less last year.....
mattsox Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 2012 offseason: Bills are finally on their way to the playoffs 2013 offseason: Bills are a joke again. Get a real QB and everything else falls into place. Same thing with the Jets. Only way to get a real QB is go 1-15 This year, which they are well on their way to doing...
JohnC Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 (edited) I'm not sure that "saving cap" equates directly to "the right way". Not signing Levitre makes sense if they were working on a cheaper contract with some other veteran. Instead, they were busy dialing some kids in Florida. If you know you can't live with the deal you just gave your starting QB, then "the right way" would seem to be to make some sort of move at the position and not wait until a week or so before the bonus is due. Sure, the Bills aren't hitting on the Mario Williams big name free agent this spin of the wheel, but to say they are executing flawlessly on a well-considered plan appears entirely laughable. Building a winner takes more than signing another Cornell Green type bargain patch for the OL and talking about drafting a QB. Your characterization that I stated that they are flawlessly executing a well considered plan is not only outrageously inaccurate but simply silly. The front office made the right decison regarding Fitz. You complain that they should have done it sooner. There was a reason why they waited to make the cut. They were attempting to rework the contract. He and his agent would not agree to the contract adjustment, so he was cut. That was the right move. I certainly would have liked to have kept Levitre. But not resigning him at the oversized contract he got with the Titans was not an unreasonable move. You might think so but I don't. At this point none of us knows who they are going to bring in to replace him. In the end the player who replaces him probably won't be as good as he was but the replacement might be a better value. Edited March 13, 2013 by JohnC
K-9 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 No, I think the point was that he could have been had for less last year..... Really? How much less? Assuming Levitre and his agent aren't clueless, they wouldn't have settled for anything LESS than top end of the scale in order to forego, as Levitre put it, his "once in a lifetime opportunity" to cash in. The same people decrying his departure would have slammed Buddy to no end if he had done that. Fans living in fantasy land thinking Levitre could have been signed for less last year. Free agency has been around how long? You'd think more fans would have more of a clue as to how these things worked. GO BILLS!!!
Sisyphean Bills Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Your characterization that I stated that they are flawlessly executing a well considered plan is not only outrageously inaccurate but simply silly. I was exaggerating for a sense of levity. Sorry you took it the wrong way. Everyone knows you are not a big cheerleader of the front office and the way this team is run. I never thought anyone would think otherwise. The front office made the right decison regarding Fitz. You complain that they should have done it sooner. There was a reason why they waited to make the cut. They were attempting to rework the contract. He and his agent would not agree to the contract adjustment, so he was cut. That was the right move. You missed the actual point. The Bills have known for months what their cap situation was shaping up to look like. Why is it a big surprise a week and a half before free agency? The cap mess is a mess that they created. I certainly would have liked to have kept Levitre. But not resigning him at the oversized contract he got with the Titans was not an unreasonable move. You might think so but I don't. At this point none of us knows who they are going to bring in to replace him. In the end the player who replaces him probably won't be as good as he was but the replacement might be a better value. My point, in a nutshell, is you are equating losses with moves. I'd rather see the gains, let the other shoe drop, before counting the chickens.
8-8 Forever? Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 2012 offseason: Bills are finally on their way to the playoffs 2013 offseason: Bills are a joke again. Get a real QB and everything else falls into place. Same thing with the Jets. But that cannot happen this year. No one available. So one further entry: 2013 regular season; Bills are a joke again
Sisyphean Bills Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Really? How much less? I don't buy it either. They had to pay Levitre to keep him. Simple as that. They didn't want to pay him and now they've lost his services.
K-9 Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 I don't buy it either. They had to pay Levitre to keep him. Simple as that. They didn't want to pay him and now they've lost his services. Can't blame Levitre. Can't blame the Bills. Just the nature of the business in today's free agency era. Root for the laundry. That's my advice. GO BILLS!!!
Captain Hindsight Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 Yeah, that was a typo. My bad broseph. No problem, just stood out to me
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