BigBuff423

First of all, I would be in a dream world if SJ could garner a 1st round pick, but don't tell me a team exactly like Carolina wouldn't trade a 3rd round pick for SJ..?? Sorry, but I think if the BILLS wanted to dance, they'd find a partner... Secondly, I don't *want Decker AND SJ, I would prefer Decker OVER SJ and therefore, once SJ was traded I would use that Cap savings and spend it on Decker...but that's me...they man has produced for the years he's been in the NFL...and someone said the #3 target, yes, behind a guy who just set a Super Bowl record for catches and Welker, not to mention a TE that "came out of nowhere", although not really because he's been with the Broncos for three years and yet he STILL had almost 1,300 yards and 11 TDs, and in 2012: almost 1,100 yards and 13 TDs...everyone said Decker's TD and yards would be hindered with Welker, but um, guess not....and given he's listed at 6'3", he's a good size and good route runner and makes some solid catches and doesn't take stupid penalties, all those things, are upgrades from SJ...like SJ, hate SJ, keep him, trade him, cut him...whatever your opinion, but comparing Decker to SJ and saying he isn't as good is just flat out - wrong.

The problem is that SJ lives on his relatively few spectacular plays while being otherwise average or below average the rest of the time all the while being a distraction and sometimes exhibiting a piss-poor attitude. I would prefer the BILLS to trade him....and then sign Decker with the money they save. Decker has been on a team full of other more highly regarded WRs and he just goes out and does his thing...being productive. And while i don't want the BILLS to simply accept Decker as the answer to all things WR as I would love to see them invest in one either in the 2nd or 3rd round, i personally believe Decker would be a better fit in the long-run than SJ at this point. Not to mention, I'm sick of watching him make crucial fumbles and drop passes in the end zone (Pitt game) while throwing up his arms in the end zone in frustration (KC game)...all in all, he makes some good to great plays, and then he undoes it with his bulls*it and then becomes a story off the field once the game is over....no thanks. Just give me a WR who loves the game and leaves it all on the field with his team and has a dependable set of hands....I'll take Decker with the SJ savings thank you and then use my SJ Draft choice I got in return from a trade to add talent to the team....

Ok, but truthfully just saying "work it out" isn't a solution....look at the Saints and Lions last week, they both cut high priced players that while contributed to the general talent and productivity of the team, could NOT be kept at their current price tag....so, they had to let them go. Both teams would have been significantly over the cap had they not out-right released those players...how many times (other than Fitz) have the BILLS gone to a player and asked them to re-structure, that WE know about?? I can't think of any...I've heard KW volunteer that to keep the team with good talent, but I've not heard reports about the BILLS going to a player and asking for re-structuring of their current contract...I think that's because the BILLS believe if they make a contract with a player, they want to own that contract for the duration and not get into the constant juggling arena of re-structuring and releasing players that *ARE* under contract simply because they can no longer afford to keep them. The great teams do this...they get players and keep players at different positions based on their *POSITION'S* VALUE and not the individual....where do the best teams invest their money?? How do they spend their money in regards to the cap?? I for one am not for paying Super Mario the money he got from the BILLS any more because I think you would be hard-pressed to argue that you can't find another player at half that salary that could produce very similar if not same results...as for Byrd, as I mentioned in earlier post, it's all about reasonableness of what he's asking / demanding.... ^^This.... P.S. - if the BILLS really weren't invested in being a winning team, why would they pay Super Mario, Super Money to be a slightly above average player??

As whole I think I understand what you're getting at...and one point I agree with is that you can't keep letting talented players go without using them to "rebuild"...however, it's in the details of "who" those players are, what position they play in, and to what extent do you pay them...SJ should be traded in my mind b/c he's not the #1 WR as in a tall, fast outside WR and to me, Goodwin can play the slot or even one of the other young guys...Chandler has done all right for this team, but tying up CAP money in him is a waste in my mind when there is Moekai and Gragg that can probably do the same job Chandler has done, if not better...As for Byrd, I've been on the train that says if you can pay him a resonable salary and keep him, then do so...but if he wants elite tier type money, the Safety position - not Byrd as a player - does not demand that type of salary and you Tag him and trade him....you get value for him while giving him what he wants, a long-term contract to a team willing to pay for it. But teams like the Patsies and others, maximize their dollars by investing in *POSITIONS* of value and not just players, i.e. QB, Corners, D and O linemen...WRs, RBs, and Safeties are a dime a dozen, you let them walk of their demands are unreasonable....as for Dareus and CJ, Dareus deserves to be paid, so when the time comes, I certainly hope they do..as for CJ, as another poster pointed out in a different thread (something I was unaware of until he / she said it), his Rookie contract takes him until he turns 29, two more years...so let him play this year at the current rate, and then due to the aforementioned interchangeable RB position, you trade him with one year on his contract left to a contender that needs a RB, ala Saints....just my .02...but good debatable thread....

So, apparently my wilingness to eat crow after the texts were released was premature....not to make Incognito the entire villain as apparently there were others and J. Martin probably has a soft side to him that can make it difficult to thrive in the NFL, but my initial instinct to call Incognito a bully is probably on point...

the last bit of your statement is especially true....I would have no problem paying him fair market value for a top tier TE, the problem I have is with the whole public tug-and-pull between the FO and Graham. And, I have to say I resent it when anyone who is getting paid to play a game comes out publicly to say, "It's not fair...I should be paid more", when...come on, it's a game...a game...I mean, a game...while Vets are dieing for our country and good people are slaughtered all over the world, you're getting paid...to play....a game....I was watching Strahan's Football Life on the NFL network last night, and towards the end he talked about how "lucky" and "fortunate" he was to play in the NFL, I just wish all athletes felt this way...get what you can, use your agent to your advantage, but don't dismantle the game as a sport for your own personal gain and for God's sake, don't publicly complain about the millions you're making....it's just lunacy.

And that's all fine, but like I said it was only theoretically...second, if he doesn't sign until week 10, he's essentially "playing" for much less than the Tag, and who's fault would that be? And, if the Saints Tag him again, despite it going up 20%, if he again sits out until week 10, or any amount of weeks for that matter, it will essentially be paying him the same amount that he DID not want to begin with...if I'm an owner, I tell you to go f*-- yourself and you can either sign the Tag and we'll trade you or you can sign for the extension the market bears out as fair...for a top tier TE, not WR...I'd love to call myself CEO and collect the money for the job I actually do and don't get paid for it, but eh...that's not happening....and as for looking for another job, I can do that...as can Jimmy Graham, but not without signing the Tag so the tream can get value for him.

Ok, thank you for the answer, appreciate that. So, as an owner, this would only serve to strengthen my resolve...theoretically, if Graham didn't sign the Tag, as an owner I hold all the chips, because essentially this could go on for years, in theory only of course. But as an owner, I would simply tell him, play or don't play...don't care, but the Tag and a trade is the best you're getting if you don't like our offer....there's the door.

So here's a serious question: if Graham refused to sign the Franchise Tag and he actually did sit out the entire 2014 season, what happens after that? Is he released to go play for another team or do the Saints still have exclusive rights to him??

I'll stand pat on my post just few minutes ago....we shall agree to disagree. But in order to justifiably understand my point, the enitrety of my statement must be read. Because, anything short of its entirety can be taken out of context. I whole-heartedly agree with you last sentence...but, as an athlete in any sport, just don't complain about it publicly or leverage the system against itself for your personal advantage...take what the market bears and be grateful for the opportunity. That ladies and gentlemen, is what generally marks the difference between sports heros of yester-year and the ones today. They were grateful...and LOVED the game...

Well, for one: grateful for the opportunity to PLAY a GAME for a living! And, while I'm not with him during his work day, so I'll assume you know him better than I do in that he "worked hard" but since when does someone working hard give them the "right" to complain about making more money and then demand it? If I work hard, I do so because it's my job to work hard and do the very best I can regardless of what I'm compensated. Having said that, I have no problem with the Saints or anyone else rewarding him as they see fit...but to come out and bascially complain because he thinks he "deserves" more, well the market will bear that out. If you do Sir, you will get paid more, but if you do not, then you should take whatever contract works best for you and BE GRATEFUL that you get to play in the NFL and do those amazing things you used to do for free when you were a kid...this is a game...that's it. Do they lift weights, and train, and run, and study and work at being better??? Well, yes, otherwise they would just be volunteering their time...but they ARE getting paid, and more than most of us will ever make. I don't resent the athlete that wants to make more money, good for you Sir, live it up, enjoy it and plan wisely for your future...but, then don't come crying in public when they're "only" willing to give you $7 mill a year instead of $10 like you wanted...because somewhere, there is a lowly worker shoveling horse excrement making in a month, you what you make in minutes...So, yeah...how about gratitude...how about being a gentleman and graciously accepting a fair market offer and playing in the city and town that gave you shot, when 31 other teams didn't for 2 or 3 times over and then paired you with a great QB...and just enjoy life....and as for injury questions...so, if he gets paid $8 mill in a Franchise Tag and blows out his knee...I'm sorry, but I know plenty of police officers and Probation Officers and Parole Officers and Firefighters that take far greater risks doing THEIR job for signficantly less money, and almost all those guys won't see $8 mill in a lifetime let alone a year....cry me a river....play or don't play....ask for more, use your agent to get you the best deal you can...but don't complain when a team in the NFL is going to pay you big money to play a game.

He's been cut, but I still think he's worth a look-see and bring him in for a visit...Guard, not Tackle, IMO

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How about we trade SJ and pay Decker? And STILL get a big outside WR in the Draft?

Depending on his Combine 40 time, I'm all on board with this pick, as long as it's not too high...

You were good until the Crossman thing....I won't rehash the entire thread / debate...but there was merit to the discussion, and not for Crossman's lack of coaching ability, but Marrone's lack of follow-through in his discussion of "accountability", IMO...he's retained....do I HOPE that Crossman does one hell of a job and significantly improves the STs from last year?? Well, hells to the yeah! And with that, I'd be happy to be drowning my healthy portion of crow with a sixer of Corona, but...only time will tell.

That....was classic! Funny stuff...

I'm great with Matthews pick, don't like the rest of them. I'm not sold on Skov in the 2nd and certainly not a RB in the 3rd. I would rather they take Matthews, Kelvin Benjamin, and Borland in that order and then take a TE, CB, DT and QB also in that order....

In my mind, building a team model is more sustainable over time and resistant to X-factors like injuries, suspensions, or early retirements...it allows the team to function as a whole and permitting talent to find its way on to the field without the attention on one as an individual. For example, Seattle, is known as the "Legion of Boom", indicating there is a wide, diverse array of players and talent that comprise the totality of Defense...one goes down with injury, the success can still function.

Although I get your larger point, that's not "entirely" accurate. He did coach WRs at Phoenix Junior College but more to the point, he worked as a consultant at Protect Management and Athlete's Performance, "training athletes for the NFL Draft where he oversaw future draft picks including Robert Meachem, Dwayne Bowe, Vernon Davis, Golden Tate, and Arrelious Benn" per Chris Brown on the Buffalo BILLS App.....not saying anything about the question of his ability to improve the WRs on this team, just that it wasn't limited to *just* 4 years as Syracuse's WR's coach.

I agree with this based on Hughes' *POSITION*...I was shouting from the roof-tops in the Byrd thread to not over pay for his services given his position is one that does not demand top money. But in Hughes' case, I concur. Because his position is at a pricepoint that deems it necessary, if you can continue to get good production from him, you pay the man, especially as you mentioned the BILLS have great CAP space...

I understand the heavy hand of skepticism, but it's not like they couldn't find a great quality WR coach, they actually believe they've found one. The man had a couple of Pro-Bowl seasons before it became an on-line voting session and an All-Pro honor. And that is after he had to work hard to demonstrate his capability, it's not like he was top 10 Draft talent that could just essentially walk on to the team and know he had a roster spot. He had to earn it. Also, I like how his coaching journey took him to where he is, it's different than the usual taking any coaching position available type of work and has worked with young WRs for awhile now....I think that helps. I don't mean to suggest you didn't like the hire or like it for that matter, but it just seems that if Marrone does what any other coach does - hire a guy he is familiar with - he gets BBQ'd for it, which is a double standard IMO...

From what I've read, I like it. I think it's a good move that speaks of professionalisam and the Dougs doing their best to get guys who know exactly what they want and how to coach / teach young talent. Nice find and good hire IMO....

I haven't weighed in on this topic too much if at all, but I for one believe the additions of Pepper and Pagac are the lynchpins to this Defense. Hiring Jim Schwartz was a good hire, IMO, becuase the BILLS FO demonstrated they are not willing to merely accept mediocrity in the face of adversity and did their best to find a good fit and someone with solid Defensive coaching experience, which is needed given Marrone's real expertise being on the Offensive side of the ball. However, with Pepper Johnson and Pagac coming to Buffalo, this makes the Defense truly respectable. If Pepper Johnson was hired as the DC, that would have been a good hire maybe even, progressive and forward thinking the way Brandon said the team would be run, but by reaching out to Schwartz and landing him as the DC while adding such solid minds and years of experience with Johnson and Pagac, not to mention a tacit understading of a succession plan for possibly Johnson to take over if Schwartz leaves, is layers of intentional planning for the future, and smart...IMO. Two things that seem to have been missing from the BILLS organization for quite some time...in short, Schwartz hire is good, but that hire's solid plan and hopeful future is all the more highlighted by the additions of Johnson and Pagac.

With that in mind, I'd rather the BILLS get a decent RT in FA and Draft Pears' replacement, which would essentially be an OL for the depth chart and see if this coaching staff can groom linemen to be good and allow the young talent to develop under their teaching and guidance.