Red

I love Manning and Polian. Can Williams effectively stop the Colts high flying 'O'? I'm pretty sure the Colts can't stop Brees and Co. The edge, IMO, will have to go to New Orleans having a better defense than Indy. But will that be enough to win? I say Colts, 34-31.

Careful. He might start using Pozluzny amounts of 'roids and be ready next year.

Tough call. I don't know what the market value would be for Lynch. And if he had high value as a player, would a team invest in a RB to make a trade for, when free agency and the draft seem to be back-rich? Not to mention the fact that most successful teams- besides having a franchise QB- also have a solid stable of running backs. It would be tough to trade him based on his age, ability, and upside (he's still only 23). On the other hand, if his idiot antics don't stop, he is expendable and I would get the most value I could for him.

certainly you don't mean Jeff Garcia. Granted, he is older. But his age was not a factor most recently in Tampa or Philly. His experience could be granted for 2 seasons, allowing us either to find/ develop a free agent or draft pick. And if finding a QB is truly as much a roll of the dice as the real pro's make it out to be, then there is certainty in numbers.

I think to be a coach at the professional level and to put in the hours of work necessary, that all coaches have some sort of ego. Billick, however, comes across and has been rumored to be extremely centered on the cult of "me". To a fault.

I think our coaching staff is now adequately prepared to develop QB's (I love the Cortez signing). I would sign Garcia for experience and as insurance, Thigpen since he did so well in KC, draft someone like Pike in the 2nd or 3rd round, and let Brohm and Edwards duel it out in camp. Let the cream rise to the top.

I've always respected Pennington and his ability to get things done with what I deem an apparent lack of talent when compared to others (Manning's, Brady) in the NFL. Always efficient and intelligent. Seems like a good leader. But the lack of mobility, arm strength, and the rumors also out there that his arm/ shoulder are done would have me worried. Though a better idea than Vick, I think that that a Garcia, Thigpen, and draft pick would be better options.

I have to admit, before this past season I would have been blasting this and any other opinion of the same as insane. Can Lynch play? Absolutely. As stated in the article, he is not only 23 years old, but the Bills invested a 1st round pick in him. He has earned a Pro Bowl berth, and has already had a 1,000 yard season. I personally love his tenacious, pounding, stiff-armed approach to running the ball as well. But then you have to stop and ask: what is conduct detrimental to the team? I would argue that being suspended from playing (whatever the charge) when you are a starting positional player IS detrimental to the team. He was not only suspended, but suspended for 3 games to open the season. Now, thank God that Fred Jackson was on the roster, but if not for Fred we would probably have had an even worse record last season because Lynch never recovered from being suspended. His play never dictated a consistent return to the game. Jackson was better. Jackson is also older. True, he does not have as much mileage as a back similar to his age in the NFL, but eventually the age and mileage will match up and he will wear down quicker. So, what do the Bills do? Lynch has historically shown himself to be a physical runner- though this past season he apparently felt fit to dance more than hit a hole. Like McGahee before him, Lynch seems as though he might be suffering from an extreme lack of focus; as both the nightlife and mischief seem more entertaining than busting your arse to earn those millions of dollars from playing a game. On the one hand, in the modern NFL you need atleast 2 backs. On the other, reliable, bargain backs can be had in both free agency and via the draft. If they were going to trade him, this might be the year to do it as his value is probably high around the league. I don't think that they'd get a 1st rounder for him, but a high 2nd or 3rd with a proven player might be nice. If he stays, this idiot antics have got to stop.

Excellent question. And 'NO'. But 'Arrogant' and 'Ego-maniac' do...

Vick is a joke. A disgrace. I don't want him anywhere near my Bills.

Certainly true. Sad, but true. TO, though vocal (and hopefully long gone), is a far-cry from a leader. Usually (i.e.- historically speaking), the QB is the leader of a team. I like acquiring Jeff Garcia and Thigpen, maybe drafting Pike in the 2nd, and letting Edwards and Brohm duel it out. Then we can let a true leader emerge.

I've been saying that the Jags will move to LA before anyone.

Granted, both the Colts and Pats have used a similar package in the past. But there are 2 important points that I think you miss: 1.) Personnel- Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are a far cry from Edwards, Tebow, Vick, or whoever else we get as a QB in the immediate future. Not to mention the WR's needed to run it effectively. and 2.) Neither of these teams runs a spread offense exclusively as its base package. Rather, they are situational-types of offenses, and IMO to run it as your sole identity on offense is severely limiting yourself like the run-and-shoot offenses of the late 80's and early 90's. It would be a colossal mistake if this is true. Especially since we don't play in a dome and are exposed to the swirling winds of Ralph Wilson Stadium 7 times per year. We need a strong running game and dominating offensive line.

Agreed. Though So Cal is probably the closest thing IMO to heaven on earth from March-December (never been to Hawaii, and I hate the humidity of Florida- though Jan-Apr FL is nice!), my wife and I both agree that for a complete seasonal year, Buffalo has is really a nice, temperate place to live from May through the end of December.

just for giggles, Patriot Vince Wilfork will be a free agent this offseason. Now Belicheck has been quoted as stating how hard it is to find a dominating NT for a 3-4 alignment and I don't see them letting him walk like they did with so many of their free agents of yesteryear. But, New England also does not have a great history of fighting tooth-and-nail to retain at great cost its own free agents. It will be interesting to see what happens and if the Bills are even players for his services. One thing is for certain, I think Stroud is not suited for the 3-4. And I hope that we draft a starting LT with our #1.

Yes. She handles the phone calls, business affairs, schedules, etc for the head coach. Executive assistant describes her title, and (Head coach) describes to whom she works for.

I'll give you a free pass because we all have suffered with a decade of mediocrity from Ralph and the former souls that haunted OBD since the Super Bowl Bills all left, retired, or moved to Indy and San Diego. Let's see what this season brings before jumping to conclusions. They haven't even drafted yet.

Agreed. Now, the proof will truly be in the pudding, but Pittsburgh is not an economic metropolis the last time I checked. Yet they continuously have drafted superbly for atleast the past 10 seasons. I don't pretend to know how much of that Whaley was a part of, but to take from the Steelers and their success is not a bad thing, IMO. And it's exactly what I said they needed to do to regain their prominence. Back when the Bills were in the Super Bowls, they had 4 GM's either working or in the wings in Polian, Butler, Nix, and Smith. The front office was full of talented football men. One only need look at San Diego and Indianapolis to understand how great these men were to the Bills. I stated a while back before the Nix hire that the Bills need to stock the front office full of future GM's. Whaley seems to be a nice addition.

That's an unfair statement. Thigpen was pretty solid when he was leading the Chiefs.

Is Thigpen a free agent, though? If he is, I would bring him in. If not, he is currently with the hated Dolphins and I don't know that Parcells would give him up to a divisional opponent.

I think Thigpen would be a great idea. KC was pretty good that year, and I can remember asking myself "where'd they find this kid?" when I was watching Thigpen. I would love to see Thigpen and Jeff Garcia brought in as insurance. Saying Fitz is deserving of starting for a real NFL franchise is ridiculous to say the least. He's expendable. I would give Edwards a last chance to win a spot in training camp but he would be competing for his job with Brohm, Garcia, and Thigpen. Let the fireworks commence!

In the end, with the moves that have been made thus far (Guy gone, Nix at GM, coaching staff selections- I like the Cortez signing and DeHaven), I feel that the best thing happened for the Bills and for Cowher. Now we can see that all of those idiots that fish for stories (and make them up when the fish ain't biting) were all backwards on Cowher "hating" the Bills, or the owner, etc. All hogwash. Cowher can stay on that lame attempt at a pre-game show on CBS, and I WILL be renewing my NFL Sunday Ticket next year to see what Nix and Gailey are building.

Agreed. And politics should not get in the way with atleast 2 other quality WR's being eligible (Rice and Carter). So it's crowded with WR's. So what? All 3 should go, and Reed should be right there with them.

Amazing. You sit back, and see alot of those things in place (Reed, Smith, Smerlas, Norwood, Wolford, Devlin, Metzalaars, and Hull) that would lead to the great successes they had. But as Marv Albert said in the end, it was Kelly's presence that lifted his teammates up 4 pegs. That is what the Bills have needed since Kelly left. Marketing has done a great job of getting butts in the stands for the past 10 years with a sub par product, but all of it could be immediately improved with a QB. I'm hoping that this year coming up we can begin to see the pieces of the puzzle being formed before our eyes. Go Bills!

Tough call between my all-time fav Bruce Smith, or Jimbo. Both could change a game by themselves. But I would have to err on the side of Jimbo as a QB is too much of an integral part of a football TEAM to pass up. Heck, aren't the last 15 years enough proof?