billsfan89

A lot of people want Spikes back. The Team has a need for MLB's and Spikes played well last year in a 1-2 down role. Early downs run stuffing MLB who brings an element of physicality is a good thing to have esp at a modest price.

I think he is being hyperbolic. But expect the team to average well over 30 runs a game. As another poster mentioned the Jets in 2009 ran the ball 38 times a game.

I think they bring in Lawson as we are uber thin at LB without him. McKelvin had his best season as a pro in 2013 under Pettine's coaching and was solid before his injury last season so I think he will be on the roster (Rex also likes his corners). Cassell is Kyle Orton 2.0 so he won't be cut as even if EJ seizes the position they need a good backup. Dixon is too valuable a special teams player and pretty affordable. Only one I could see getting cut is Williams. But I think they bring Williams into camp to compete.

Bills also have a need for a backup to Clay. Although I think they will go with a healthier option like Fasano.

I love this concept. With the cap and high turnover rates a lot of veteran players who want to play and might be able to contribute will actually get some sort of platform to showcase what they have and try to get a contract.

Assuming the team drafts a guard to play LG and the team gets capable play along the O-line (Which is an if but I think Marrone stunted the growth of the O-line and it regressed). Teams will stuff the box and dare Cassel/EJ to win the game with his arm down the field. Harvin, Watkins, and Woods are capable players to stretch the field but can the O-line protect and can the QB deliver? I think the results on both will be mixed.

I think the team feels like they can grab a guard in the draft. I am not a cap expert but with Clay and Harvin signed I think they can't really afford anything more than modest offers. I would rather they bring back Spikes and bring in Dwan Landry. The defense is good but it needs some depth. They can draft a guard in round 2 and either another O-line or depth at TE or another position in round 3.

Probably after the Clay signing, other possible depth additions, and the draft the team will be somewhere in the range of 30-28 to 1. Not bad odds for a team with one of the worst QB situations in the NFL. Shows the strength of the overall roster.

Team needs a guard in round 2. Tight end round 3. QB is what it is a rookie won't be much if at all better than EJ. The team needs to help out the O-line and the draft in round 2 is a good avenue

I think at this point the team would be better served to take the remaining cap space and put it towards resigning Spikes. You can find a good guard in round 2 and get a backup tight end in round 3. The team is razor thin at MLB and Spikes was such a valuable part of the defense last season.

Glenn, Gilmore, Bradham, and Dareus are due for big extensions (Well Gilmore and Glenn are much much more dependent on what they do this upcoming season). The cap is projected to be between 150-160 and the Bills currently sit with 113 committed (Even if you factor in dead money). Chris Williams and Manny Lawson are also possible cuts that could free up more significant space. Also Mario's deal could be restructured/extended to free up some more cap space. I would like them to extend Bradham to a modest deal 4-5 million get him set. Then extend Dareus as the anchor for 15+ million. I think you could then franchise Gilmore or Glenn depending on how they do. Its a given that the team is going to let one of those players walk. 1 player who will command a mega deal in Dareus, 2 players who depending on how they do could command big deals in Glenn and Gilmore, and another player in Bradham who is commanding a sizable extension. In all likelihood you are going to have to see one of those players walk. My best case is to grab 3 out of the 4 extend two of them during the season and pick one of them to possibly franchise. Good news is that the team has an owner willing to spend. Although it would be good to save some money on the cap and try to make a play for Phillip Rivers.

True the NFLPA shares blame. They haven't been known to push safety standards for helmets and other equipment because of the politics (Current players care more about fines for on and off field events and the off-field policing the NFL does). They also haven't shown that much interest in other safety issues because the current players don't show the interest and the current players drive the politics because they pay the dues.

Even with the Clay signing I think they could fit him in as the cap isn't much of an issue for a 2-3 million dollar type player that Spikes would be. Spikes brought a physical and nasty element to the defense last year and was a huge factor for the improvement against the run. He would be a perfect early down thumper against the run for Rex. Another poster also mentioned Dawan Landry as a possibility would love to see him brought in too for a low rent 1 year deal. Landry is a Rex guy who could implement the system and provide a vet option to Duke Williams.

Finally some resolution. Good move fair deal.

Teams never seem to let QB's become free agents look at Big Ben over in Pitt just got extended. I don't think San Diego will let Rivers hit the market.

Great move. I liked Urbik as a decent starter but he regressed under Marrone. Keeping him provides decent depth and the team gets some more cap space to work with.

This is shocking to say the least. It's a reflection of how much more players and the public are taking seriously the physical effects of football. It's sad to see a players career get cut short because they feel the possible impacts just aren't worth it (And it's sad that they have such a good reason to believe that given all we know). Football in general is going through a crisis. Its popular as ever (Its still popular with a younger generation, I am 25 and a ton of people around my age are into the sport) but the players are leaving the game earlier and earlier and youth football participation is down. The NFL and youth football is going to have to figure this out. I don't think you could ever get rid of the head trauma completely. But I think you could try to limit its impact and implement every possible safety standard you can within reason (Better Helmet standards would be a good start).

I was actually hoping the team would sign him to be the NT. If you want to build a bully getting a bruiser NT is a always a plus. But That was more so my wish fulfillment as opposed to thinking that they will sink even more money into the D-line. Still glad he isn't on the Pats* anymore.

Plus too with Suh's big cap hit really coming in next year the Dolphins are going to have to consider Clay's cap hit next year more so than this years. The Fins consideration for this year will be where else could and should put their money in as well as the lesser factor of next year.

Going into the weekend I thought Clay would extend with the Fins. But now that its well into Monday I have no idea on where Clay will end up. If the Bills can get Clay that fills a big need, I would like them to fit resigning Spikes in and then draft a good guard. Spikes was a key reserve and brought an element of physicality to the front 7 and without Kiko they need that depth. I am not sure what the Bills cap is but fitting Clay into a big cap number year one should take a lot of the space the team has left but they should be able to fit another modest signing like Spikes in if he wants to come back as a role player.

Stevie will put up a good season with the Pats* sadly he is the perfect Brady target. Shifty, some speed, great route running, and good hands.

Nice guys finish last I suppose. Buddy and Whaley since 2010 had pretty much been set on drafting and bringing in good character guys. Even the players with checkered pasts were pretty tame like Kiko (players who may have had a strike but turned it around for a long time). But Rex is more of a players coach and has shown a willingness to value talent above all in most cases. His tenure with the Jets was a quick ascension because he had an owner willing to spend and he and his GM did anything they could to bring in talent. But it flamed out because the win now at all costs put the team in a bad cap situation and once you start losing headcases start to really show. My hope for the Bills is that they won't go too far in that direction. Bringing in Harvin and InCognito could work if the Bills keep the rest of the locker room good guys. Its always a better idea to try to incorporate a few problem guys into a good locker room then to just grab all the talent you can completely disregarding locker room fit.

Depending on what the Jets do in the draft I think they could be a .500 or better team. Marshall and Carpenter on offense are solid additions, The trio of corners they added patched their biggest weakness and their front 7 is still very good. If they hit on their two high draft picks I could see the Jets being a serviceable team. I am not sold on the Fins however. Suh is a sick addition but they had to trade away key players and cut a lot of their depth to fit him in. Still, Cameron, and possibly retaining Clay aren't my idea of killer additions to the offense esp with Wallace and Hartline gone. The Fins could still add via the draft but I just don't see them being much better or worse than they were last season. Right now I look at the division Pats* 11-5 Bills 10-6 Fins 9-7 Jets 8-8 Tough division but not the NFC West of last year either.

The cap really isn't much of an issue if the team wants to make a significant play for a guard and a tight end at significant money each. Not only is there existing room even after the Harvin deal but there is plenty of fat on the roster that could be cut (Urbik, C.Williams ect).

Also the Bills have enough flexability cap wise to go out and still make moves and there is still plenty of talent to be had along with a second round pick that could easily produce a high impact player.