jahnyc Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 After watching the "presser" on the Bills website, I would note the following (trying not to repeat the many posts already on the subject): 1. Marv made a good point about the o-line: some big plays, but no consistency. The Bills had trouble running the ball all year, particularly in short yardage situations. Based on what he said, I have the feeling from Marv that the Bills will try to upgrade the o-line in free agency rather than the draft. They want an immediate contribution. He said few rookies can come in and play on the o-line and that the staff likes Butler, Merz and Pennington. 2. If the Bills will be spending $30 million this offseason, I doubt any will be allocated to a new contract for McGahee. They are going to make him play out the final year of his contract. I also doubt the Bills will extend any other players this offseason. 3. Many questions regarding cash to cap. If they cut Spikes, Holcomb and others, will cap savings be added to amounts available for use? If the Bills sign a free agent and pay guaranteed roster bonuses in 2007 and 2008, will they count both bonuses or only the 2007 bonus for purposes of this year's available amount? 4. If the Bills adhere to this cash to cap concept, they will be so far under the cap in coming years, it will be ridiculous. Assuming the cap goes up about $5 million per year and no bonuses to be paid get allocated to future years, you can imagine that our cap space in the future will dwarf our $30 million plus available this year. 5. The $30 million that is available for use will go fast. The Bills have many free agents and many holes to fill. Free agents will receive record deals this year because of the amount of cap space available league wide. This will further reduce our ability to sign quality free agents, because even average players will be getting above average deals.
stuckincincy Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 5. The $30 million that is available for use will go fast. The Bills have many free agents and many holes to fill. Free agents will receive record deals this year because of the amount of cap space available league wide. This will further reduce our ability to sign quality free agents, because even average players will be getting above average deals. Good point. I'd speculate that several teams will be pretty much non-players save for signing their own.
5 Wide Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 I was thinking about the cash to the cap idea. It's basically the same thing as saying: I went to a dealership and picked out a $30,000 car. After rebates, it cost me $22,000. But in my budget, i'm counting it as $30,000 Kinda Sucks
2003Contenders Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 Good points... Call me crazy, but I am not overly troubled by this notion of not being able to spend a crazy amount of money in free agency this season. This year it is a player's market -- and we have enough holes to fill that I'd rather not load up for bear on a player or two -- and mortgage our future. Maybe it's not such a bad idea to build the nucleus of the team through the draft and with prudent moves in free agency. Of course, the caveat here is to make sure that you find a way to keep the young players you do want, which means signing them long-term BEFORE they become free agents. That's why I would advocate getting a long term deal with Lee Evans done right away.
Chef Jim Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 After watching the "presser" on the Bills website, I would note the following (trying not to repeat the many posts already on the subject): 1. Marv made a good point about the o-line: some big plays, but no consistency. The Bills had trouble running the ball all year, particularly in short yardage situations. Based on what he said, I have the feeling from Marv that the Bills will try to upgrade the o-line in free agency rather than the draft. They want an immediate contribution. He said few rookies can come in and play on the o-line and that the staff likes Butler, Merz and Pennington. 2. If the Bills will be spending $30 million this offseason, I doubt any will be allocated to a new contract for McGahee. They are going to make him play out the final year of his contract. I also doubt the Bills will extend any other players this offseason. 3. Many questions regarding cash to cap. If they cut Spikes, Holcomb and others, will cap savings be added to amounts available for use? If the Bills sign a free agent and pay guaranteed roster bonuses in 2007 and 2008, will they count both bonuses or only the 2007 bonus for purposes of this year's available amount? 4. If the Bills adhere to this cash to cap concept, they will be so far under the cap in coming years, it will be ridiculous. Assuming the cap goes up about $5 million per year and no bonuses to be paid get allocated to future years, you can imagine that our cap space in the future will dwarf our $30 million plus available this year. 5. The $30 million that is available for use will go fast. The Bills have many free agents and many holes to fill. Free agents will receive record deals this year because of the amount of cap space available league wide. This will further reduce our ability to sign quality free agents, because even average players will be getting above average deals. And there is the problem I have with professional sports today. And it's only going to get worse. Greed kills.
oregonbbfan Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 I've said it in another thread that I wish Marv would not have had the presser if he was going to come across as somewhat not knowledgeable ( cap ) and what Willis said. He could be sly as a fox and not giving away information but I would have rather he said I leave all cap isses to my specialist, not I don't understand it. As for Willis, he just should have said he has a right to his opinions and leave it at that. My concern is the Bills are perceived as not smart and mismanaged ( and have shown that in the past). I just hope Marv was being sly and not giving away much info. I also think that even though he will not overspend this year he is telling us the team is not one or two players short of the Super Bowl. He is saying we will spend, but not overspend in building that nucleus this year. Maybe next year, when we have made the playoffs, then he goes overboard on one or two players that put us over the top. We are not there yet. We all hope this is the year because we are so win starved and we want instant gratification. I like what Marv has done last year and I hope he does as well this year. If he does, we will see more wins and next year and will getting the final pieces. I just hope it was all a ploy at the presser and not what came across to many of us and the world. We will see what he does in FA and the draft, then we will know if he is going downhill. And if he is going downhill, hopefully the staff majority will persuade him to make the right personnel decisions.
JStranger76 Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 As long as we sign one solid O-lineman and another up and coming player I'll be happy. The draft will help more than anything.
ganesh Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 5. The $30 million that is available for use will go fast. The Bills have many free agents and many holes to fill. Free agents will receive record deals this year because of the amount of cap space available league wide. This will further reduce our ability to sign quality free agents, because even average players will be getting above average deals. Considering that Mcgahee, Evans and Losman are due up for a extension in the next two years, maybe is the reason for the bills to keep their spendiong to the hard cap limit this season. The bilsl would have to give out 25 to 30M in signing bonus to get those three signed for the long term.
jahnyc Posted February 19, 2007 Author Posted February 19, 2007 I think that if McGahee plays out his contract and becomes a free agent, it is likely he will leave. Look at Fletcher, who is a strong character type of player, and his anger at the Bills for forcing him to play out his contract. McGahee seems to have, at best, mixed feelings about playing in Buffalo and for the Buffalo Bills. If McGahee becomes a free agent, he will go to the highest bidder. It will not be the Bills.
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