Armchair GM

Sarcasm or "legit" rumor? Link?

My bad...i got flustered reading that puke and forgot about anything anyone else said.

Can't believe I forgot about Moeaki...that was a true brain fart. Makes it a bit easier to let Chandler walk.

OK, but do you let Chandler walk, try to sign Pitta AND draft a TE? I say re-sign Chandler and draft a #1 TE rather than roll the dice in FA...Better yet, re-sign Chandler, make a move for Pitta and go with my 5th rd pick, above. Go into camp with Chandler, Pitta, Smith, Gragg & Duncan.

Hate to say it, but the OP is right...to a point, regardless of how much he comes off as a d-bag troll. The fact of the matter is that our run D gets gashed wayyyy too often and, to the only point that has any merit, a great run D starts with the DL. Don't get me wrong, I'm not agreeing wholeheartedly as I believe the opposite of KW. He IS, in fact, a very good DL. The problem is that we have 2 guys that are essentially the same type of player. We lack that big body in the middle to demand a double team so as to free up the other man. If you plug that type of player into our DL KW and MD are even better. With that said, OP, if you "know" so many things "for a fact," why aren't you employed in the NFL? Seems to me that anyone with your kind of "knowledge" would be in high demand in many NFL circles.

OK, I guess I meant more of a Spike "type" LB. The down hill, hole plugging, run stuffer. I think that fits on any team. As for Pitta...why? Looking at the #'s, he doesn't bring anything more than Chandler.

In hopes of centralizing most of the discussion, I am starting this thread. All things related to the Bills' off-season are welcome...needs, FA targets, draft prospects & mock drafts, futures signings, new hires, likes/dislikes, et al. Free Agency Not all that attractive this year. Some big names, but that doesn't mean a good fit, although Jimmy Graham would fit anywhere. I like Decker too, but not so sure he presents the best value for cap money. 2 guys I do like, and I'll get flamed for this, are Brandon Spikes and Wade Smith. Spikes is what he is...a 2 down, hole plugging run stuffer. He's a liability on passing downs but I think, for the most part, we'd be able to get him off the field in time. Kiko, as much as I love him, is simply not that 250ish ILB that will plug a hole, take out a blocker, shed and tackle. Spikes just blows runs up at or behind the line. Getting IR'd in January for being late doesn't bode well for a contract extension. Wade Smith is a consistent, above average vet. OG this team will need to bring along what they hope to be solid young prospects. He's old, 33 to start nest season, but he's played his best over the last 2 seasons and would be a a nice stop gap mentor for 1-2 years. I'm sure there are more guys at the 2nd-3rd tier level that we may kick the tires on, but that involves much more time and access than I got. Mock Draft 1.0 It's super early...pre Sr. Bowl, combine, etc. so I based mine on what I Billieve to be team need...LB, O Line, WR, TE, SS and RB. We are off to a good start in building a solid LB core. Kiko played very well and will progress. Manny isn't getting any younger (30 by the time the season starts), and then there is no one...Bradham, Moats and the rest are decent depth guys, but not much more than that. Not even so sure about Bradham in that regard either. Rd 1, pick 9 - Khalil Mack, LB Buffalo. 6'3" 248Lbs. Homer pick...maybe, but this kid can flat out play! I've seen him all over the place on the draft boards, from top 50 to start the season to top 15 and now a top 10 selection. With the addition of Spikes and this pick next to Kiko and Lawson...pretty sick group! Over the years we've pieced together a decent O Line. Far from great, but decent. We need some stability here. Wood & Glen are still young enough to blend in some better talent so they can gel. Some stability and longevity goes a long when you get a good group together. Look at Indy. For a bunch of years they had a great OL to protect Manning, which is something to emulate. Rd 2, pick 41(a) - Cyril Richardson, G Baylor. 6'6" 340lbs. Big bodied brute. Dudes a mauler in run blocking but is surprisingly light on his feet, quick and athletic. He may get snatched up in rd. 1, so next best would be... 41(b) Gabe Jackson, G Miss St. 6'3" 340Lbs. Showed very well against top opponents. Well rounded, heady lineman Here's where I go WR. This kid shows very well and could end up being the surprise talent of this years draft...yes, better than WAtkins, Evans, Lee...The late season signing of Moeaki signing and my belief that Chandler will extend helps take my attention away from TE for now. Rd 3, pick 73 - Donte Moncrief, WR Miss. 6'3" 226lbs. Quick, breakaway speed on a big bodied receiver who has great hands and runs sharp, smooth routes. Beats the jam and can get behind a CB. Also, goes over the middle w/out fear. I've read that this kid is a nightmare for DB's. Back to the OL. We signed our vet and got our young stud at G, so now we need the other bookend. I waited till now because we're still not sure what have in Hairston. Is he made of glass, or does he build upon 2 years ago, progress and become a good RT? Rd 4, pick 105 - Justin Britt, OT Missouri. 6'6" 315lbs. First ever Kent Hull award winner given to the best collegiate OL in the state of Missouri. Um, doesn't this mean he's an absolute must pick for the Bills? Anyway, Long & lean with great bend. Smooth kick/slide. Now we address the TE position. Here's a small schooler, division II player that simply dominates at that level. A TE with WR like stats. Missed a yr due to a previous leg injury that came around to cause some trouble. Rd 5, pick 137 - Joe Don Duncan, TE Dixie St. 6'4" 270lbs. Shattered TE receiving records as a Jr. in 2011, missed 2012 then came back and broke all his own records in 2013. How many TE's catch 71 balls for 1045 yrds and 13 TD's? Depending on what happens with Byrd, addressing the defensive backfield may make me rethink priority level here, but... Rd 6, pick 169 - Hakeem Smith, SS Louisville. 6' 186Lbs. More apt to break up a pass than to pick it off, but uses his length well in coverage and isn't afraid to come up in run support. Is/was all big east every year he's played. I'm throwing in a RB cuz Freddy isn't getting any younger and CJ will need to prove his big play potential. Though CJ didn't have a bad year, he's coming into his final year of his rookie deal and fell short of the dynamic player moniker he was tabbed with prior to the season. Rd 7, pick 201 - Storm Johnson, RB UCF. 6' 215lbs. Big back with decent speed who was overshadowed by his QB, Bortles. This kid can run...and run...and run. Futures signings IMHO the only one worth discussion right now is our latest signing in Ramses Barden. He's huge, big RZ target who showed a flash, albeit limited to one game before an ACL injury. Interesting player to throw into the WR mix. Coaches No major gripes here...actually, wait a minute...what's up with not firing Crossman? WTF? He's terrible, always has been and shows nothing in the way of making any improvement to a very, very weak unit. I get that he's Marrone's buddy, but C'MON MANNNNN! Fire away!

With Marrone's view of the young guys currently on the roster, it makes sense to bring in a vet on a 1-2 year deal. Not that there are many out there, but Wade Smith tops the list. The guy will be 33 to start the season, but he's had a solid career and has played his best ball over the last 2 seasons. He won't break the bank as a 30+ yr old, but Houston may overpay to keep him as they've lost some quality linemen over the last couple seasons, so it may be a stretch. He's a dominant run blocker and an above average pass blocker. Having him as a stop gap to allow the young bucks to develop makes more sense than not. While I agree that you should build your team through the draft, I still hope that Doug will shake Nix's view of FA and utilize to suppliment the roster. When you have a team with many, many holes to fill, you have to do something other than the draft to put out the best "product" for a 2/3 years. I'm not saying this guy's the answer, just saying that I think the Bills need to put a little bit more value on FA than in years past. On the flip side, don't go "Irleand" on us and break the bank in FA...Miami, yet again, proves that signing a bunch of FA's isn't the answer; however, it was a decent last ditch effort.

Yeah, we Maryvale Allums got the sh*t end of the stick!

He lost his cool...no telling what the Miami player did. I really don't think it's a "tell tale" sign of anything, just a one time thing here. Besides, I was watching and he got more than an earfull from Marone on the sidelines.

Not sure what network feed I was watching, or who the annoucers were...didn't recognize the voices...but, whomever it was gave the Bills fans their props, "Meaningless game in December and the 12's are out here making a ton of noise. Not sure if there's a better fan base in the NFL!"

Man I'm glad you all have been paying attention and someone started this thread!! The Henry comparison is spot on, with regard to his running style. Travis he is not when it comes to off the field stuff. He goes to my church and I've had the pleasure of meeting him and talking to him a couple times. He's just a good kid. If anyone deservves a shot at the next level, its him. He's on pace to break Starks' record for yards and carries...maybe not TD's but he still ends up top 5 in the program's history. Anyway, the kids a beast with a humble heart and is totally worth a late round flier or UDFA pick up if he goes undrafted. Mack is the man and it would be sweet to see him tear it up in the NFL...even sweeter if it was along side of Alonso.

McLovin, by a landslide. Though A. Williams has made a giant leap as well, I think he benfits from the position switch moreso than improving @ the same position.

I guess I get your point from a "sake of arguement" perspective, but do you honestly believe Geno has the same stat line in week 3 with a healthy McKelvin and Gillmore? Have you ever heard the term "coverage sack?"

correct me if I'm wrong, but if we do win out, Carolina beats the *Pats tonight and we get a little help from Miami (Beat the Jets 1 of 2 and beat NE) we win the division...right? Actually, even if NE does sweep the Phins, we have a game in hand with the Carolina win...right?

Really dude, c'mon man! Pretty sure anyone who scores their first TD in the NFL keeps the ball. As for his hands being terrible...what body of work do you draw that conclusion from? Pretty sure he was a beast in college aside from the knee injuries.

Any word on one, or both of the PS guys getting activated this week? I'd like to see what we have in either one of them.

Agreed...I was in the same boat a few years ago. I remember thinking "who is that skinny guy with the long dreds?" Then they Practice Squaded him and I was like "that guy has a 2-3 yrd cushion every time they throw him the ball...he's always wide open." Also, I was laughed at when I walked into Champs looking for a Freddy J jersey...the kid said they didn't carry 2nd stringers' jersies.

4th & 3 from what, their 40? Fade to, none other than, T.J. Graham...? WTF was that? You have a QB who had made some dreadfull passes throwing to a receiver who has proven he can't track the deep ball well. It's a very low percentage play with the completely wrong people running it. I saw another thread calling for Tuels head...how about Graham's? What is this guy good for? A speedster with no ball tracking skills...sorry, I can't find a spot on "my" roster for him, you? Continuing with this rant...the Bills gash KC for 240+ on the ground, the stat line (pure #'s) has us with a pretty balanced attack, 39 passes & 38 runs, but only 28 of those runs are by your top two backs who averaged 10 ypc and 5 ypc respectively. Sorry, but a much heavier dose of ground and pound was in order, by about a swing of 20 plays or so. And this shotgun B.S. on 3rd and short has got to stop. One of the things I learned as a coach, regardless of what level, you tailor your calls to your strengths. You don't force a running team to throw the ball because it's a "passing league." Deep breaths...deep breaths!!

It's a joke that he has Geno rated better than EJ, although both in the red...Even with EJ's limitted time on the field, I think it's pretty obvious who the better QB is and will be. Smith is a joke, simply awefull!

Kiko's biological parents, Mama Fratelli and Ronnie Lott, were forced into hiding for their forbidden love.

Kiko thinks "All 22" means making 22 tackles in all games.

I agree, but with totally different logic...I think this lets Hacket open up the play book. He doesn't have to "protect" Lewis like he's been doing with Manuel. They're taking the learning approach with EJ and letting him progress. With Lewis, I think there is less concern because if he screws up, no one will care. I say, throw the kid to the Bengals. Let him toss the rock around the field, take shots, take risks...if he loses, who'd have expected any different?

Kiko Alonso has been seen multiple times on the banks of Loch Ness, repeatedly tossing a stick into the water. When asked what he was doing, he glared at his inquisitor and said "playing fetch."

1.) Kiko Alonso 2.) Kiko Alonso 3.) Q...nah, Kiko Alonso