[I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE SPILLER PICK!!!]

My name is John Cocktosten and I was wrong about the CJ Spiller pick. It's not that I didn't like him as a player, I've said that I think he was the most exciting player in the draft. It was selecting a RB that bothered me (my rationale below). But after watching the Bengals game, I am here to say that I was completely wrong. He is Marshall Faulk/Gale Sayers, he's special beyond special and if he stays healthy, he will retire one of the great ones. So here's to Buddy Nix, your first pick as a Bills GM was BRILLIANT. May there be many more!

 

I remember the pick when I heard it that Thursday night (still angry about the draft format, but I digress). My dad calls me from Buffalo aghast and I think I had to talk him down off the roof. I always say draft for value when possible, filling in needs when you can. I didn't watch Spiller in college but the thought of taking a RB made me sick initially. We've drafted too many RB's high - McGahee 23rd(?) overall, Travis Henry in the 2nd, Lynch 12th overall - so I was initially against it. But he was widely believed to be BPA by far at that point, so I was on the fence about it once the pick was in (as opposed to the Aaron Maybin pick when I took a full beer and threw it against the wall and screamed out in primal rage). It would have been much worse to reach for a considerably less-talented player like Dan Williams or Bulaga at #9 overall, then paying him top money for his mediocrity. Props to you for owning up to your call though. If Maybin ever succeeds - and he won't - I will be the first to admit I was against it from well before draft day.

[I HOPE I'M WRONG ABOUT PARRISH]

I've been a big critic of Parrish over the past couple years, but I have to say that I'm hopeful after watching a few preseason games. Who knows, maybe with a more confident Trent Edwards a new CAPABLE offensive coordinator, an exciting play making player in Spiller that can draw defenses towards the line and a rejeuvenated Parrish, he could very well prove me wrong.

 

Here's to hoping

 

Would it make you feel better to argue over his salary like old times?

[I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE SPILLER PICK!!!]

I did answer the question! I would have traded the pick , dropped down in the first round and select one of the guys I mentioned. Perhaps, you didn't like my answer but I answered the question.

 

So you would have traded down no matter what, potentially getting next to no value for the #9 overall pick? Do you remember Mangini having the worst draft day performance in 2009 since Mike Ditka circa 1999, going home with a center, some bust WR, and a bunch of Jets' scrubs? Oh yeah, Erik Ainge was certainly worth trading down 18 spots.

 

Technically, yes, you answered the question. I even like the idea of trading down. But in this scenario it's not an answer because you don't know what the market was out there for the pick. I'll tell you what - knowing now who was looking to trade up (San Diego, Philly) and more importantly what they were willing to give up to do so, tell us what trade you would have made and what selection you would have made. Fair?

[I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE SPILLER PICK!!!]

Please, enlighten me. And tell me why drafting a guy who has the potential to SCORE every time he touches the ball is a bad idea for a young QB who needs confidence and a young OL trying to come together on a team that has been HORRID offensively for the past 6-7 years.

 

First off, I thought about not even replying to your sarcastic response. Nevertheless, I will answer you. Most of the questions cannot be answered because I was not in the draft room. None of us know what transpired in that room. To say I was trying to be or play GM is uncalled for and a cheap shot. I am used to your arrogant, idiotic, and smart ass comments. Yet, your questioning my credibility. Simply put, I would not have taken a running back when we have two solid running backs on the team. I believe my statement has great validity and I stand behind it. I would have done my best to find someone to trade with. I firmly believe the pick could have been traded. The facts indicate the Bills never even considered this a possibility. IMHO, a rebuilding team like the Bills should always be open minded to trades and picking up more draft picks. I would have considered the following players McClain, Davis, Morgan, Buluga, and Williams. I would have liked to see the Bills pick up an extra pick and move down the draft and select one of these available guys. That is the best answer I can give you.

 

The jury is still out on all of our draft picks this year. None of us know how successful any of these players are going to be. Not even Spiller. Sure he looks great and I am excited to see him on the field. I do believe he will be a successful running back. How successful remains to be seen.

 

That's a cop-out. He asked you who would you have picked, you say you would have moved down. But it takes two to tango. Would someone have taken the #9 pick off your hands? Certainly. But unless someone is looking to move up you won't get value for the pick. Remember Cleveland the year before trading down and trading down? They had the #5 overall pick, they went home with a center and a bunch of scrubs STers from the NYJ. This "I firmly believe the pick could have been traded" is bull ****. Man up and say who you wanted if it wasn't Spiller. McClain was drafted ahead of our pick tough guy so that one is out. If Davis was your guy then say so. Same goes for Morgan, Bulaga (a terrible pick at #9, IMO), or Williams (ditto this). I wasn't crazy about picking a RB first either but if you really are drafting for value then it's the right pick. Reach for need and you're spinning your wheels. But don't tap dance around the question - man up and call it as you see it.

[Edwards eyes]

I had the same thought as the OP. Edwards seemed to look at Roscoe forever for that long pass to him (not the TD). Something he should be cognizant of.

[Preseason 3 "Gameday" thread Cincy @ Buffalo]

Just finished watching the game on DVR. Here are my thoughts on the game (not that most of you care, of course):

 

• 
   
  
• Please spare me the excuses for poor special teams play; it's just bad. Plain, bad. The excuse that it's just scrubs...well, that's usually who's on kickoff coverage anyhow! This is a big concern and it's not going away any time soon. It's not just coverage units - it's return units too. I am less than thrilled with our new (old?) ST coach.
  
• Horribly officiated game - several no-calls on obvious holding calls, a bad phantom holding call early, and what was that PI called against Florence in the second half? Also, Lankster probably should have been called for one in the end zone.
  
• Speaking of, Lankster has the physical skills, but he doesn't seem to have the ball skills and as such is a liability in coverage. I don't think he's going to make the team. He's been burned for big plays too many times this off-season. Reggie Corner doesn't look good, but he looks better than Lankster (although I think Lankster has better speed).
  
• Now I understand why people hate Donte Whitner - he makes a horrible play (WTF was he doing during the first TD?), and then comes back and makes a great, physical play (hitting Cedric Benson, denying him a first down). He's drafted #8 overall and makes some big mistakes in coverage (just like he did vs. Indy and vs. Cincy already this year), but he plays well enough otherwise to start. He needs consistency, but if he doesn't have it by now, does he learn it? I'm not so sure. But he's been solely responsible for a touchdown each of the last two games, and even with Byrd out, you can't have that.
  
• I don't know if James Hardy makes this team, but if he does, it's not for anything he did this last game; he certainly didn't do anything against Cincy to help his cause - two drops and one penalty hurt his stock. Didn't look like his head was in the game. I hope he does make the team, he was a force at Indiana, and he's got great size and good enough speed, but he's got to show something against Detroit.
  
• Chad Jackson disappeared. He's my pick for "surprise" cut, especially after some people called him a lock for the #2 spot after the last game.
  
• McKelvin is another guy that needs to play with more consistency. He got abused by Chad Johnson on the 2nd touchdown, but played well otherwise. The kid is a talent.
  
• Chris Kelsay should only play in spot duty; he has no business playing LB. He's horrible in coverage. Wouldn't be surprised if he got cut, but ultimately he probably makes the team.
  
• Marcus Stroud played well, despite what the troll said before. Made some plays and looks like he's making the transition to DE very well.
  
• Can't wait for Shawn Nelson to get back. We need a playmaking TE on this team. Stup played well, but Nelson is a playmaker.
  
• Our whole offensive line looked shaky at times. Wood made some bad plays, as did Levitre. But Cornell Green is just terrible. D. Bell played poorly early but rebounded well against a very tough opponent in Antwaan Odom.
  
• I like Roscoe in on so many plays. I never understood why this hasn't been the case for years. We need to get the ball in his hands 5-10 times per game on offense.
  
• Steve Johnson might win the #2 job by default. You're asking a lot for Nelson to do it as a rookie UDFA and no one else is stepping up to take it, least of all Hardy. I'm sort of reminded of an old Giants game I watched when their #2 went down and they had Daryl Jones in the game and the announcers called him out on running "decoy routes." While I don't think that's the case with Stevie, I wonder how much Trent is going to look his way this season.
  
• Kept an eye out for Aaron Maybin, yet didn't see much. Someone tried to credit him with an "inside move" late in the game sacking Jordan Palmer, but that sack was McCargo's, Palmer was on the run at that point, and Maybin got lucky (the RT had no idea where the QB was at the time). That's not what an "inside move" is. I guess he also forced the intentional grounding by J.T. O'Sullivan, but I'll have to watch it again. Overall, I wasn't impressed by Maybin. He played a lot and showed a little. He certainly loves to celebrate it though, doesn't he?
  
• Did anybody else have the Bengals second drive completely erased except for the touchdown? Did that happen during the original broadcast, or just the replay?
  
• Edwards played very well. John Clayton's right, he'll never be elite, but he can be serviceable if he continues to play as well when the games really count. If he actually hit that bomb to Evans people here would be going nuts. He does look a lot more comfortable back there despite the line not changing much from last year. He's got to stop telegraphing his throws though (he did it twice to Parrish really badly).
  
• Our defense is going to be really, really bad this year. Run defense and pass defense. We have no pass rush and our LB corps might be the worst in the league. That's a bad combination.
  
• Fitz is almost certainly the #2. He's earned it. Brohm makes the squad, but I think he stays in the basement until TE gets injured.
  
• The Wildcat doesn't work if there's no threat to throw the ball. Direct snapping when Trent is out wide won't fool anyone come the regular season.
  
• I love Spiller, but he's got to be better in pass protection, especially with this line.
  

[Philly writer complaining about Eagles O-line]

Wow. Take that!

 

Come on dude, give me some credit. That's like the nicest thing I've ever said here!

[Philly writer complaining about Eagles O-line]

I'm shocked...shocked and stunned...very stunned.

 

 

 

Any player who quits on a team over money is not worth a nickel.

 

PTR

 

Nice stuff PTR, thanks for the post.

 

 

Now, the real question is, who shows up first in defense? PDaDdy, DarthICE, or Thurman#1? Should we take bets? My money is on that idiot, PDaDdy. I swear he's got an alarm that goes off every time Peters' name is taken in vain. Thurman#1 lives in Japan, he doesn't come on till late, and I think DarthICE is more likely debating whether to hang himself or just swallow a bunch of pills since Trent is going to be our starting QB opening day.

[NFL cut lists]

Adalius Thomas is most certainly out there. He's 33 now, just a little past his prime, and coming off a not-so-great stint with New England, but he should have been picked up a month ago IMO.

[NFL cut lists]

Adalius Thomas.

[Clayton ranks Edwards 31 of 33]

Why are people getting their panties in a bunch over this? It looks pretty accurate to me. Does anybody here think Trent has any chance of being 'elite' at this point? Most of us would settle for 'serviceable'. I do think he put Romo far too high, E. Manning a bit too high, and Schaub way too low. I think the Leinart/Anderson combo is even a bit too high - they've been terrible this off-season, and sadly enough I actually feel better with Trent under center than those two.

[Hardy practiced & might play against Cincy]

Rhea had a strong performance on two days practice last game. If it continues this game, I see him making the team over Hardy. Hardy hasnt shown much of anything.

 

So much for that...

[DirecTV to offer games online without DirecTV sat subscription]

Just suck it up and order the dish. Order the premier package for $79.99/month, get a free HD DVR, free premium channels, and free NFL Sunday Ticket for five months, then switch down to the "choice ultimate" package (keeping the HD DVR) at $59.99/month for the rest of the first year. From there on out it'll be $88.99/month until the end of your second year when you can cancel and go back to cable.

[Levi Brown to the active roster?]

Have you SEEN the level of QB play in the league? It's absolutely a concern to leave Levi exposed on the PS if they believe he has future potential.

 

I also think it's probably pretty certain, historically speaking, that if your team has to get to the #3 QB for any extended period of time during a regular season you're screwed, regardless.

 

What are you talking about? How is it a concern to let a seventh rounder who's gone 5-for-12 in three games for negligible yardage get put on the practice squad? Have you SEEN him play? How is he better than any other project in this league? And are you telling me that if Fitz and Trent went down we'd be just as well off with Brown under center as we would with Brohm? How does that help anybody?

 

I know they want to "keep" three but with the issues the defense has at LB, lackluster special teams play this pre-season, and the battles at WR, I think they release Fitz and Brown and try to get Brown on the PS. That will give them three but not on the active roster.

 

Considering they haven't even named a starter yet, and the likely starter is a concussion waiting to happen, I don't see this being the case. At this point I'd be quite surprised if they don't carry Trent, Fitz, and Brohm in that order. None of them have done anything to move them from their current spots. Brown gets PS'ed almost certainly.

[Crickets.... That is all I hear from the Brohm guys!!!&#3]

Brohms out. It looks like he wont beat out a 7th round pick, yet again

 

Brown, 3rd string.

Fitz, 2nd string

brohm losing out to two 7th rounders... UFL

 

Just like brohm, Jamarcus Russell has alotta potential too

 

I'm sorry, but Levi Brown hasn't outplayed anybody this pre-season. Barring a trade for Fitz, I don't think any of these three miss the final cuts. Brohm played well enough in the second game to make the squad. He'll probably get another opportunity against Detroit.

[Far be it for me to take pleasure in other's misfortunes]

If the Bills wanted to keep him at RT, when he signed his contract, they should have kept him at RT. When you get a promotion, like to LT, don't you want a pay raise or are you one of those wimps that lets your employer abuse you and promote you to a better position but not give you the money?

 

Thurman #1 may be a narcissistic !@#$, but at least he makes valid points. You're just a moron. It's like you hide in your cave and then once Jason Peters is mentioned an alarm goes off in your cave and soon thereafter we're all blessed with your version of logic. LT is not a promotion over RT. We have RT's in the hall of fame - were they just not good enough to play LT, or was RT their natural position? If you get moved from RCB to LCB to you automatically get a raise? Or RG to LG? Or SLB to WLB? Please. You sign a contract to play for a team, not to play one position and one position only. Even the Peters supporters have faded here. The media doesn't seem to be in love with him nearly as much as you are:

 

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100829/SPORTS02/8290380/Peters-knows-penalties-must-go

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100803_Oh__what_a_terrible_mess_on_Eagles__O-line.html

 

 

I haven't seen too much support for him on the Eagles chat boards either:

 

http://www.700level.com/fansview/nosebleeds/13153/1.aspx

http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=7698575

 

All I remember is him being absolutely abused by DeMarcus Ware, and the JP fanboys couldn't rush to their computers fast enough to defend him...as if paying someone $10-11M+ per year doesn't mean you should be at least mediocre against top talent.

[Crickets.... That is all I hear from the Brohm guys!!!&#3]

Bye bye Brian. Good luck in the UFL.

 

Maybe we should let him play a little bit before sending him packing? And maybe, just maybe he's not the savior so many here want him to be, but he's at least good enough to make the team despite only throwing one pass tonight?

 

Seriously, can this thread being any stupider? Just because Trent has one good preseason game does not change Brohms potential...it literally has absoulutely no relevance on any level to Brohms potential. If he had come out and stunk it up, then you could have a leg to stand on. But they gave Fitz the go ahead in this game as they will likely give Brohm the go ahead in the next game for the battle for the backup spot. If Brohm struggles next week, then maybe...but right now, Chan has said nothing but good things about him and he is still competing for the 2nd string job.

 

But, you and a few other posters whos girls were knocked up by Brohm just cant help yourselves. The kid still has potential and is still battling for the second string job until Chan says otherwise. And there is still a good possibility we will keep all 3 guys.

 

PS: One preseason game doesnt all of a sudden salvage Trents career. He still needs to do it when it counts and also try and have his first season since High School of being injury free. Its great to see Trent have success, but this game means nothing come week 1.

 

Not that I disagree with your first line, but your hate for Trent is a little silly (and also well documented). I know Brohm is the only one who hasn't shown a level of suckitude on this team, but it says something that he's really been unable to climb on top of this shitpile we have at QB - either Edwards (and even Fitz) really is showing him up in practice and at camp or else Brohm really hasn't shown anything to give the coaches a reason to put him out there with the first team.

[Marshawn-Get Well Soon]

I disagree. We should be keeping our talent, not getting rid of it. Let's not create any more holes than we already have. Isn't that the idea of rebuilding? By the time we can contend for anything Fred Jackson will be well over 30. He's the one that should be on the block. I still think we carry 4 RB's even if we only dress three for most games.

[Pats* can't run]

So what, the Pats throw the ball well, our pass defense also ranked number one last season when it comes to opponent QB rating, ranked in the top three in every important category. This season we won't just take the ball away, we will be shoving it down our opponents throats like McGee did against Indy.

 

Again, completely baseless optimism. So we're going to run it down their throats like we did last year, with Fred Jackson's 57 yards in the opener? Or his 80 yards in week 15? We were ranked tenth last year in rushing. New England was ranked ninth. What's changed, exactly? And why was our pass defense ranked so high? Because teams ran up and down the field on us and they didn't have to pass, that's why. That's going to change this year with a completely revamped, rebuilding defense? McGee makes one tremendously athletic pick-six and now our defense is top-tier? Plus, how does McGee's interception equate to "shoving it down opponents throats" exactly?? No no, I remember, you "billieve." Yeah, say that enough times and it'll come true. Who cares if we've beaten them twice in twenty meetings over ten years...you "billieve."

 

It's hard to win in the NFL...when you can't cheat.

 

PTR

 

...except they went 17-1 after the Spygate game.

 

I live in Pats* country and nothing would make me happier than to beat them but until it happens I can't get behind any theories that it will. How many times have we had them "beat" only to find some new way to get sick? From The Very Special Teddy Bruschi Memorial Comeback Spectacular to last season's opening debacle it's been too much to take. I have no hope.

 

This is my experience to a T.

 

All of them three years older. If names won football games, then we should just get Kelly, Smith, Thomas, Reed, Bennett, Tasker, Hull, Wolford and Talley back to play this season.

 

Come on, that's hardly the same. Are any of those guys even close to over the hill? Maybe Moss has lost a step. You're talking about guys who retired ten years ago. I'm talking about guys who are near the end of the prime of their careers. That's a terrible argument to make.

 

I'm not optimistic, but I have a guarded expectation the Bills will do better. And I hate all this worship of the Pats. They deserve immense respect for what they have done. But they are not the team they were in 2007.

 

I don't worship the Pats. I hate them more than anything on this planet. But it's the same people here that homer-up and give all these BS reasons why this year is "the year" to beat New England. We got swept when they had Matt Cassell playing QB and he hadn't played a football game in years! This year we're rebuilding, our defense is in disarray, and we still have no QB. Sorry, the homers are too much here.

[Pats* can't run]

Winning the turnover battle, running the ball well and controlling the clock is the formula for beating any football team and the Patriots are no exception.

 

We finally have a coach who will coach to this teams capabilities and not to some unwritten rule the ball has to be forced down the field in order to win ball games.

 

So because we don't have Dick Jauron anymore we're now going to beat the team with superior talent and still superior coaching?

 

Sure, winning the turnover battle, running the ball, and controlling the clock help (of course we did all those things and still lost to Dallas on MNF, but I digress). But why would we do any of those things well against New England? Why would we turn the ball over less? Does Brady throw a lot of picks against us? Is Trent going to become a legit QB by then? Is he going to out-play Brady? Why do you think New England won't be able to run the ball this year? They've always been able to run it against us during years we WEREN'T rebuilding our defense, what makes it any better this year? And what's with the ball being forced down the field? Did you just get Dick Jauron and Mike Martz confused? Dick Jauron was as conservative as they come. You can say "I billieve" as much as you want, but you haven't given a shred of evidence to suggest we're going to beat New England this year. Just a reminder, remember 2007? Remember the beatings they handed down to us? Here was their offensive starting lineup then: QB Brady, RB Maroney, WR Moss, WR Welker/Stallworth, FB Evans, TE Watson, LT Light, LG Mankins, C Koeppen, RG Neal, RT Kazcur. This year: QB Brady, RB Maroney, RB Faulk/Taylor, WR Moss, WR Welker, TE Crumpler, LT Light, LG Connolly, C Koeppen, RG Neal, RT Vollmer. Will they beat us 56-10 again? I doubt it. But your optimism is completely unfounded.

[anybody want my tix to bengals game i cant make it]

HAHA $80??? FOR A PRESEASON GAME???

 

You say the face value is $77...so you are STILL trying to jack up the price of a preseason game!?

 

 

I'll give ya $7.

 

I think he's saying they are $77 apiece but he's offering the pair for $80.

[Now we know why Brohm was #3]

Sorry, in 2000, over the course of the season, Brady went from #4 (they kept four) to #2 by the end of the season, Beating out John Freisz and Michael Bishop. Brady then beat out Huard in the 2001 pre-season and was #2, which is why he came in when Bledsoe went down.

 

Yeah, it's wikipedia but still what happened as I recall as well.

 

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Damon_Huard

 

And from the official Pats website:

 

He was #3 until Bledsoe was hurt, then #2 for the time Bledsoe was sidelined, then back to #3.

 

Wow, I stand corrected. That was one of those things I knew that I knew without even looking it up...and then it turns out, I was wrong. I could have sworn Huard came in first and was either hurt or pulled for being ineffective. I remember Michael Bishop being worthless and cut, but I thought Huard was above Brady on the depth chart. Ahh, oh well.

[Pats* can't run]

Yes, because they've won how many Super Bowls since having a featured back like Dillon?

 

Please. They won a super bowl with friggin' Antowain Smith, they went 18-1 with Maroney, Morris and company while setting all sorts of records on offense, they have been a perennial contender for a decade, and you want to say that losing Corey Dillon is why they haven't won a super bowl since '04?

[Now we know why Brohm was #3]

and maybe for this same reason no one wanted to go after the guy. at the start of the season teams have their rosters set so isn't it possibly logical that they didn't want to take a project and try to have him learn a new system when they already had their own people that have been in their system, regardless that he was a second round pic.. we didnt even grab him till the injuries got real bad. Most people here agree that greenbay tried to stash him away and it backfired on them. You are one of only a handfull of people that think like this.

 

Okay, I'll bite. How did it backfire on them exactly?

 

I really don't see what difference this makes. gm's still passed over warner as they did brohm. as far as I am concerned it's too early to tell if he'll turn out like warner or not. you really didnt even listen to buffalo prides comment cuz your so caught up in your hate for brohm. Every gm passed on warner. read this s l o w l y albany, every gm passed on warner and he ended up as one of the best qbs ever. now i am not saying this will happen with brohm. but if every gm can pass on warner and he turn out the way he did, it IS PLAUSABLE that this could happen to Brohm.

 

Could it happen? Of course. Monkeys could also come flying out of my ass, but I don't expect it to. For every Warner you give me, I'll give you fifty guys that flamed out immediately. In fact, who else is there besides Warner? Maybe Romo, although offered a contract with Denver, he spent his entire career in Dallas, so I'm not sure he qualifies.

 

Look, I'm rooting for Brohm to succeed, but my making comparisons between him an Warner you're doing him a disservice. And there are too many people who are caught up in his college stats and name recognition that don't realize thus far he's been a tremendous bust, and if he doesn't get to the top of this pile of **** at QB his career is pretty much over.

[Pats* can't run]

Shut down Randy Moss and you muzzle the New England Patriots explosive passing attack in my opinion and I believe the Bills secondary is up to the task. The Buffalo Bills are a different team now, we will run the ball, control the clock and keep Tom Brady off the field as much as possible.

 

The Buffalo Bills can and will beat the New England Patriots this season,

 

 

I Billieve...

 

You're a little too much of a homer for me.

 

So many people here talking about weaknesses on the Pats, yet they've beaten us what, 15 straight times? It's embarrassing. There is no reason to think in this rebuilding year it's going to happen, certainly not after what happened last year on MNF.