maddenboy

The tampering rules apply to the clubs. Players cant "tamper" because they dont speak for the club. Agents cant "tamper" because agents are not governed by the NFL or the NFL's rules. As Drew Rosenhaus famously stated a couple years ago. The agent can say whatever he wants because, by rule, the agent cannot tamper. Tampering is all about one Club tampering with the rights of another Club to have exclusive rights to negotiate with a player while he is under contract. To Review: Agents can do whatever they want. Players can do what ever they want. The only people who can "tamper" are the clubs. Period.

the only, ONLY benefit of the Merriman signing was, is, and always will be the "street cred" we got around the league. It got us Barnett, it helped us get Super Mario, and it basically told the league that we werent just gonna sit around and hope to get lucky for the next 25 years. But with Mario on board, and Nix in the front office, the Merriman experiment is over. I bet they could cut him and re-sign him for the league minimum about three days later, when he realizes that nobody wants his ass. And that would light a nice fire under his ass.

And how many were at or behind the line of scrimmage? He has always been a "trailer." If you come to my area i'll tackle you. And i'll be a fantasy football stud with 9 tackles per game. But i'll never make game-changing plays in real life because i dont go upfield.

My new draft prediction is: Anyone. (because i trust buddy/Chan like i havent trusted anyone since Polian. Whatever they do I will know its part of a master plan.)

of course this raises the spectre that is in the back of our minds. Are people still using us, after all these years, as the team that negotiates their "real" contract with the other team that they really want to be with? I mean, did he even visit San Diego? I know he came to buffalo. So we can wine and dine, and the other team just faxes over a $$ number, and he goes instantly with the other team? What's that? I think we all know what that is.

I dont want to read anything negative about this. i am usually in the slightly negative crowd on here, i'll admit. But until something happens, or doesnt happen, I dont want to hear any of this talk. I quickly scrolled down so I didnt have to read your OP or any replies.

Oh yeah. I forgot about him. I was thinking Biscuit and Bryce Paup and Rob Johnson (sigh). And to be clear, I am as excited about how hard my team is trying to sign Mario as I was about actually signing the aforementioned.

I believe the part about "agreed . . . that he will be the highest paid." The big blank on the contract is the name of the employer. We all knew he was going to be the highest paid defensive player in the league after the dust settled anyway.

its not about counting chickens before they hatch. All of us know not to get our hopes up. The point is we are STILL super fuggin excited!!! Just to know that our team is serious, and wants to be a major player, makes me proud to be a bills fan. Whether they sign him or not. Its a REAL possibility that the top defensive FA, by far, is serious about us. Cant remember when I was this excited to be a Bills fan. I was super psyched when they got Bryce Paup. Even Doug Flutie didnt excite me as much as this. I was pretty excited about Rob Johnson too, sadly.

Key sentence from article: "With AFL players set to strike before the 2012 season opener, owner Matt Shaner reacted first, cutting his entire team hours before kickoff of a game against the Orlando Predators." I aint got no problem with that. I dont mean it as a political statement, but he's the owner. "we're about to go on strike." "okay, then gtf out. And dont bother coming back. And dont forget your breadsticks." Am I missing something here?

Special teams . . . is football. Some can do it. Most cant. If you find one who can play football, you keep him. 30 years from now he'll tell his grandkids that he was a pro football player. And he'll be right.

http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/videos/Buddy-Nix-on-Left-Tackle-Situation/06a6ea56-5f3a-438c-aa5b-abfa58186b2a Scroll to 1:40. "We gone draft a tackle, . . . if there's one there . . . you caint never have too many tackles." In context, he started by talking about how Pears is a right tackle. Bell has "tools" but is injury prone. Of course this doesnt mean first round, but Nix has already said he doesnt think the top of the draft is deep with DE/pass rushers and he will not reach. He also has said that you draft pass rushers early, and receivers are found later in the draft. Just sayin. After this interview I prepared myself to have a LT in the ten hole (even though my signature is all about pass rush). And i'm at peace with it now. Prepare thyselves.

isnt it "I wouldnt kick her outta bed for eatin' crackers?" Point taken, though. Are you saying what you want, or what you think will happen? I made this change because Gailey/Nix dont bluff and they have said they are going OT most likely. The only Pain Gailey/Nix got time for is the pain they put on people who think they bluff about their draft plans.

I think its OT at 10. Buddy/Gailey dont bluff, and they have said they arent excited about DE early in the draft. They signed Stevie, so its OT all the way. Take it to the bank. Also, there will be at least one CB drafted, and probably in the first 4 rounds. Nix has said you should draft at least one cb every year: http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2012/03/02/fan-friday-3-2/ (see item #3)

Dont you mean Larry Fitzgerald?

Respectfully disagree. I would trade SJ straight up for Britt, Bryant, Marshall and Vincent Jackson instantly. Harvin probably but he's just a more durable version of Roscoe.

Fair enuf, sir. I think Greg Jennings (lewis) is the best of your bunch. And i'd take him over stevie. The rest of these have issues. Age, maturity, injuries, or just that they arent clearly better or worse than SJ so why bother? I compiled my list in response to "name 15 receivers BETTER THAN stevie," and not "name 15 #1 receivers." As far as whether stevie is a true #1 (most people differ on precise definition but there are some common denominators for all), and its kinda "i know it when i see it." So my second test about "would Stevie instantly be the #1 receiver on the teams?" instead of Holmes, Wayne, etc? I think not. Maybe over Anquan because he's definitely not a #1 by anybody's definition.

Translation: Okay Maddenboy, you got me. But I still wanna believe what I wanna believe. You wouldnt take Harvin, Jackson, or Britt straight up in trade? You think Stevie would instantly be the #1 receiver in Minnesota, Philly, Tennessee or Indy? True. I dont even know who the hell Greg Lewis is. I was going stream-of-consciousness there in making my list. Seemed pretty easy to rattle off a list without research, so I just jumped right in. I left Steve smith off. He doesnt get open consistently anymore, and I wouldnt trade stevie Johnson str8 up for him. I LOVE steve smith for sure, he's the Allen Iverson of the NFL, but he's past his prime. B. Lloyd maybe, maybe not. Anquan to me isnt a #1 but you're probably right that I'd trade str8 up for him, and design plays for him. A "man among boys" which is part of what a #1 should be, for sure.

New England (welker) Miami (Marshall) Jets (Santonio Holmes) Pittsburgh (Wallace) Cincinnati (Green) Colts (Wayne (maybe close due to wayne's age) Titans (Kenny Britt) Texans (Andre Johnson) Chargers (Vincent Jackson) Chiefs (Bowe) ----- That's 10 so far in the AFC Cowboys (Bryant, Robinson (closer one)) Giants (Nicks, Cruz (kinda a stevie clone, but its not just a better team. He has better speed and maturity)) Eagles (DeSean Jackson) Packers (Greg Lewis) Lions (Calvin Johnson) Vikings (Harvin) Atlanta (Roddy White) Saints (Colston) Cardinals (Fitzgerald) ----- That's 19 teams. You can maybe debate 1 or 2. To test it ask yourself "would I trade Stevie, straight up, for that guy?" Or, even better, ask yourself "If Stevie gets traded to this team, will he be the #1 receiver?" To me, a #1 receiver is someone who can be counted upon (not just "able to") to get open against zone or man, make the big catch downfield or across the middle in the big situations, and makes the opponent want to double-team him even in today's wide-open passing game. Maybe someone you design your offense around because he's that good (welker). Stevie is not that. A #1 does not mean "best on the team." I dont think anyone would argue that Jacksonville has a #1 receiver.

just for balance, I think that "once in a generation" is usually applied to position. So its not inconsistent to have a once in a generation running back, then next year a once in a generation quarterback. But still, your point is well taken. And looking back, I cant see any players in the NFL right now who, in "Hindsight" (if i may) is really once in a generation, except maybe Payton Manning.

teams recognize the value of a very good backup. To push your starter, to teach your starter, or just in case your fragile starter breaks down behind your fragile offensive line. And if i recall, Fitz's contract wasnt that huge. Starter money for sure but not top starter money. And there's still Freddy. So again, TRADE fitz and maybe freddy, and some picks, to StL.

Why not TRADE fitz and some picks to Saint Louis for RGIII? St. Louis can always use a good backup behind bradford. And by trading fitz you solve 2 problems. You dump his salary, and you have to give up fewer picks to move up. In fact, throw freddy in too. They can use somebody behind Steven Jackson. Lets think outside the box a little here, fellas.

Instinctively getting where you need to be, and actually making a play against NFL new-age tight ends are two totally different things. pass.

What a perfectly sane, rational post. I cant poke a single hole in it. I guess we need to start warming up to an OT in the 10 hole. This isnt the first post to remind us that Nix/Gailey dont bluff, and every time i see one, I tell myself just to get comfortable with it, 'cause its comin. Thank you for talking me off the "reach" ledge, sir.

Have they done the drug testing yet? If so, the results cant be in that quickly, can they? If either one is a buddha head, that can drop stock a little, but not 5 rounds. Hmmm.