BigBuff423

I'm not really sure that's the point, IMO...can't argue that he wouldn't learn much in technique, but given his change of venue and the new Offense, I would think a teammate would WANT to be at every meeting and practice possible to ingratiate himself to the staff but more importantly, be as learned about the new offense as possible....I know he may have already scheduled the vacation, but sh*t happens and as a very well paid athlete sometimes you just need to adjust your plans to that of the team....and I'm not holding him to any different standard I would if it were here in Buffalo, voluntary or not, every member of that team needs to be taking advantage of every opportunity they can get to learn a system, get ready for the season, and begin building chemistry through the locker room and given Washington's abysmal season, I don't think it's asking too much...to me at least.

I don't disagree regarding the back up QB position, as I stated Whaley likes all the QBs on the roster right now and said he's "very comfortable" with Tuel, Lewis and Dixon and therefore are NOT in the market for a QB. My point was that Freeman would seem to want to push for a starting QB position and that flies in the face of what Whaley seems to communicate about EJ, he is absolutely their starter, with no reservations and no room for debate...brining Freeman in to "compete" for the QB position would then be a reversal of stated opinion for THIS year...

Personally, I don't think Ebron, and that's nothing but a hunch although if they do, it would most certainly spell a trade as I don't think Whaley values a TE in top 10....I think unfortunately it's going to be a LB or CB...WR is deep and there are some good tackles to be had in 2nd and 3rd Round and I think if the BILLS trade down, it's to gather more picks for WR and OT in 2nd / 3rd so they can go TE and RB in 3rd and 4th...just a thought...Moseley comes to mind, Justin Gilbert is another...but I think if they trade back, Moseley might be the guy...

yeah, like someone trading up for a pass rush specialist into the top 10, that never happens....wait...what? I did last year?? WTF! I'm just goofing around, but it seems every year stupid and foolish things take place in the early part of the Draft...and except for Evans to the Bucs at 7, all those other guys are worthy of their Draft slot....IMO of course, but if Ebron weren't a "reach" to some with the BILLS at 9, then Evans definitely isn't at 7, again IMO....

And you may be right, but FWIW, here's my thoughts to why I think Matthews could make it to 9: 1. Houston: Clowney 2. St. Louis: Watkins 3. Jacksonville: Manziel (need a Face to brand, desperately) 4. Cleveland: Mack 5. Raiders: Carr 6. Atlanta: Robinson 7. Tampa Bay: Evans 8. Minnesota: Bortles I think Bridgewater slips a bit to a team that already has a solid team in place but wants a QB who is ready to play but doesn't "need" him to step in today, ala Arizona... That's why I think Matthews makes it to 9, and why St. Louis would like to jump in front of Detroit who probably takes Gilbert, but could take Matthews due to the grade Matthews gets, but he definitely doesn't make it past Tennessee or the Giants, both in real need of Offensive line help, and since trying to gamble with Detroit's pick is essentially meaningless once Buffalo is on the clock, they take it....JMO

The origin of the thread is ridiculous and sadly, an indication of the state of our society...the rest of it to follow, is just hilarious! I love the responses and the wide spectrum of statements, usually steeped in sarcasm, good stuff!

I love the show of Hard Knocks, but I'm ambivalent toward it being in Buffalo. On the one hand, would LOVE to see the BILLS get that media coverage and of course be able to see some things behind the velvet rope. On the other hand, I'm worried about the distraction it "could" cause for a team that is beginning to appear on the rise and its upward trajectory is encouraging and seeing too much might only dash such perception, not to mention the absolute BASHING they would take by the casual fan across the country....so, if it were to happen, I would enjoy it but also worrry about its potential deleterious effect on the team....seeing RW get the honor he deserves would be perfect though, and may be the catalyst for a really good season.

I think the Rams take Watkins at #2 and then trade with the BILLS from 13 to 9 to get Matthews....so, given that the Titans and Giants both need OL help, I don't see an OT really being that valuable at 13. And the reason I think the Rams trade with the BILLS is for that very reason, BILLS I think want to trade down, Rams will take Watkins a dynamic WR to help Bradford and knowing the Matthews and Lewan picks will be available at 9, will take one of those guys who can help immediately, but Watkins won't last to 9, so you take the best WR in the Draft, then use your chips to trade up for the 2nd or 3rd best OT in the Draft just ahead of your competition....at least that's how it plays out to me....BILLS pick up an extra pick or two and still get the guy they are truly targeting, ala 2013 with EJ

Whaley has stated on several occasions they "are very comfortable" with the QBs on the roster right now, and b/c the BILLS are absolutely "all in" (also to quote Whaley) on EJ, bringing in a guy who has been a starter and is most likely looking for at least the chance to start, would seem to disrupt the continuity the BILLS are looking for in EJ. Moreover, if this really is THE year EJ has to put up or shut up, and demonstrate he is the Face of the Franchise QB the BILLS have long been searching for, brining in another QB at this point would seem counter-productive, IMHO...however, next season is an entirely ball game all together...

As stated earlier, each of the last 4 years the BILLS 1st Round Draft choice had a Pre-Draft visit with the BILLS...no visit historically means no 1st Round pick for the player...interesting if Evans doesn't make the trip to OBD...

No, but as I mentioned someplace else, this thread or another, each of the last 4 years the BILLS 1st Round Draft pick DID visit OBD in a Pre-Draft visit...so recent history would suggest that the BILLS 1st Round Draft pick, at whatever number that may be, will be visiting OBD at some point prior to the Draft....

And this move, along with the upcoming Draft coupled with what has been done the last two FA periods and Drafts, tell me essentially the same thing...that EJ must prove he IS the Franchise QB the BILLS have been seeking for sooooooo long....to me, it won't matter the reason "why" he can't be on the field next year, i.e. injury, or if he simply doesn't produce because of some other reason, but IF EJ does not demonstrate he has the skills to be THE QB for the BILLS, then next year in the 2015 Draft, the BILLS need to / should move heaven, earth and hell to get whomever they deem worthy of the Frace of the Franchise QB to be....the BILLS will absolutely be just that key piece from making strong points for being a real contender in the NFL...for the first time, in a long time....but QB MUST get solved in EJ's proof this year or in the Franchise QB Drafted next year, IMHO....after this year's Draft there will be no more hiding places, no more excuses, and no more reasons other than the QB for why this team couldn't / wouldn't succeed....The Dougs are convinced EJ is the guy, and dear God I hope they're right, but IF not, then move on....IMMEDIATELY!!

I'm not sure if you were implying that I was "unhappy" about the trade? If so, please re-read my post as I feel like it was a great move by Whaley and truly smart thing to do...plus, I presumed based on compensation the Bucs received, they were determined to part ways with him and got "something" in return for him as opposed to just cutting him....so I'm saying great job by the BILLS, if for some reason that got lost in my statements...

For a 6th round pick, that seems like a steal...I realize he must have some off-field issues given the recent events with his brother, but a proven WR talent in the NFL that is still young for a 6th round pick, seems like a good value for the BILLS and seems to indicate the Bucs planned on cutting him at some point if they couldn't get "something" for him....way to go Whaley

I wasn't arguing for saying that Gragg "is" some dynamic playmaking TE, but rather he has all the physical capabilities to be one and dealt with an injury issue in his Rookie year, so to close the book on him in his first year would be short-sighted. For some perspective: Jimmy Graham: 2010: 31 receptions, 356 yards, with 5 TDs; Jason Witten: 2003: 35 receptions, 347 yards, 1 TD; Julius Thomas: 2011: 1 reception, 5 yards, with 0 TD; Jordan Cameron: 2011: 6 receptions, 33 yards, with 0 TDs; Jermichael Finley: 2008: 6 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD; Tony Gonzalez (1st round pick): 1997: 33 receptions, 368 yards, with 2 TDs; Antonio Gates: 2003: 24 receptions, 389 receptions, with 2 TDs.....generally Rookie Seasons reveal little about the potential of a player, from a fan's perspective anyways, their coaches and GMs tend to know and see more...or in some cases, a change of HC makes all the difference, consider: Vernon Davis (8th overall): 20 receptions, 265 yards, with 3 TDs Gragg ran a 4.5 40 at the Combine and had a 10'4" braod jump with a 37.5 inch vertical and 18 reps on the bench....he had injury issues at Arkansas and was basically still recovering when he came onto the BILLS and then had to try and break into the depth chart...what do the BILLS have? I really don't know, and neither do any of us. The larger point here is if you want a fast, pass-catching TE with good athletic ability on the BILLS, you've already got him.....and given the TEs on this team and the type of Offense the BILLS run, their division, and the weather of home games, Gragg is probably the abberration to the rule of Buffalo TEs, not the standard....all of the above information was to provide some perspective, that Rookie TEs rarely, if ever, come in and produce right away, they generally take a year or two....and except for where I mentioned them specifically, the rest of those TEs were drafted in the 3rd or 4th round, both long ago and recent favorites....food for thought.

Haha! Well, my sarcasm detector is often broken (when deciphering in print)....so, I have *that* going for me, lol...

That he / she made some valid points and appreciated his or her perspective...that some people on this board will find some of his statements invalid / wrong / or just choose to be generally negative but that in my opinion, his thoughts are on point with where the BILLS stand in respect to Cordy Glenn, the LT position as a whole, and the 2014 NFL Draft relating to BILLS' team needs and Offensive Line. Does that help? (and FWIW, that was a quick post while multi-tasking, thus the poor conveyance of thought... )

All of this....Boom! There will be those who completely ignore the logic behind ALL of it...but this!

What's interesting, will be to pay attention to who the BILLS bring in for a Pre-Draft visit as I was just reading last night that in each of the last 4 years their 1st Round Draft picks have all made Pre-Draft visits...a nice little clue to see what they may be thinking...

And what would have been your assessment of Graham or Witten or Gates after year 1? Look, I have no idea if Gragg will ever amount to anything, but given his injury and the possibilities he has with his athleticism, it would seem short-sighted to immediately declare him "camp fodder"....

But in all due respect, Chandler is just a 2 year contract and you're leaving out Gragg . People dump on Gragg just b/c he was a 7th round pick but if you look up his Combine numbers they are stellar. He slipped due to injury concerns, but he's come through those concerns and at the end of last season you started to get a glimpse of what the kid could do, he's a fast, seam-stretching TE that the Offense would be looking to employ in certain situtaions...and TEs rarely make an immediate impact....I dare you to name a first round TE that has done that in the last 10 years??? Gronk was a 2nd round TE, other than him, can you provide another?? Witten, Gates, J. Thomas, Jordan Cameron...all 3rd and 4th Round TEs, even the "all-powerful" Graham that so many on this board love (whom I don't think would fit in Buffalo's style of Offense and play given their Division) was a 3rd round TE and most of those guys were unknown until their 2nd or 3rd YEAR with the team.....keep all that in mind. I would like Niklas at the right spot in the Draft b/c I too believe he has the skills, physical body type, and college resume to demonstrate he can be the player who blocks and catches and keeps the key word of, versatility on the field.

Also agree to your statement of picks...I don't think LB should be overlooked as a real good possibility for 1st Round selection, depending on where the BILLS Draft in the 1st...if they stay put and Evans is there, hard to think they pass on him...if Matthews is there at 9, same thing....but if the BILLS were to trade back into the teens or certainly the 20's, you could see the BILLS take Mosely as the long-term solution to ILB and allow him to learn behind Spikes, or Zack Martin at OT and then WR 2nd round, with TE and LB...who knows, it's all a guessing game at this point...

And with versatility being the key, not to mention a strong focus on the running game, it's one reason why I think Niklas would be an ideal fit for Buffalo.

I agree, and if Niklas were the choice, I think that means Chandler gets cut after next season...just doesn't make sense to have 5 able-bodied TEs...and yes, I know Gragg didn't prove much last year, but physically speaking he is the quicker, more pass-catching TE of the bunch...and with Moekai, he would seem to be the Vet to keep around given his "up-side" and the fact that he too can adequately do both but is a bit smaller than Chandler and Niklas...I would like the choice of Niklas, if they pick up another 2nd round pick just because I would assume WR and OT would need to be the first 2 picks, not necessarily in that order...otherwise, that would mean one of those two true "needs" gets slated to the 3rd....JMO

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