BigBuff423

I have to admit, I haven't watched any of the "tape" on any of the DE coming out this year for the Draft. But that being said, because Defense is an area we need IMMEDIATE improvement in, I've been a much bigger proponent of getting a good DE in FA, and I know Big Mario is out of the picture but there are others....I would prefer to take a guy like Upshaw, who could project to either an OLB in the 3-4 or really any LB position given his size and football instincts, at least IMO; I would like FA to net us one good WR, one good DE, and one good DB - and yes, I know the whole BILLS Cash to Cap stuff and "Ralph is Cheap" arguments but those three areas would truly allow us to Draft the way we should be Drafting, Best Player Available...when you stop Drafting for "need" per se, you start rotating talent through positions and creating depth at various positions.....so in short, DE and DB in FA please, and it would be nice to get a WR too, but WR seems to be a better Draft investment if need be...Defense needs attention and we don't have the luxury of allowing players to "grow" into their development since this Defense needs so much help....Defenses like the Steelers and Ravens can draft young Defense and allow guys like Lews or Palomolu mentor their kids while they develop but we don't have that luxury....yet

That might be a biiiiiiiiiit harsh, but understand your perspective and with underlying logic, I agree....I personally thought it was just time for Lynch to move on and glad to see that he is having success somewhere else, but he was just symptomatic of an overall problem in Buffalo and getting another viable draft pick from Seattle is worth it in my opinion...there are plenty of good contributors who were former 5th Round Draft picks, and if Nix and Co. do their job then the BILLS should be able to make that pick a good value!! But, time will tell....

Thank you....(humble bow)

This would be a good signing on a developing Defense, middle aged for a LB and has shown good skills and serious improvement for a LB core....all for it if by some miracle the BILLS could get it done

Well, in part this question has already been answered...but what is also interesting is that in Nix's first year, it was ummm....his first year, with many administrative positions needing to be changed but not having the time to change them, he did the best he could with what he had, and then last year with the work stoppage and all the problems with getting teams ON the field, let alone working out FA deals, he had a shortened off-season for FA (to say the least) and this year we showed some real promise with primarily existing players on the roster and the draft picks, Nick Barnett was a big "get" as he obviously played well in the 3-4 and will now be a starter in the 4-3 so that shows his versatility...now this year is the first year where Nix's administrative men are in place and a full off-season can be had, along with having two full seasons to see the team at work and how those seasons have evolved and unfolded....so, this FA period is something new to Nix and to us BILLS fans, so yes, I'm excited and yes I'm anxious to see what can/will be done...AND, this is important, this is the FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME a GM for the BILLS actually said, "Here's what we need..." and listed a few positions needing to be addressed and stated they would be "aggressive" in FA; that does NOT mean they will sign VJax or Bowe or Mario Williams, but it DOES mean they will be proactive in addressing the team deficiencies in BOTH FA and the Draft, per Nix....and he's too far along to completely lose the confidence of the fan base by saying one thing and doing another.....and please, go to hell with the "Ralph is cheap" comments, let's all grow up, forgive and forget and move on toward the future, or just stay the f*ck away from this message board, cry in your beer, spank the monkey for another team and leave us fans the HELL ALONE!!! Okay....rant over...we may now return to normal programming.....ANDDDDDD, cut to negativity - now!

I would like to see VJ here as well, but feel we need to get Defensive help before we spend big on a WR...that doesn't mean I don't think we need to add a veteran WR, but pony up the dollars to a DE AND OLB, then add a WR based upon whatever your Cash-to-Cap budget allows, because there are other good WRs available that won't command the type of money VJax or Bowe will and can substantially add to our offense, Garcon for one and I know he's been mentioned before so that's nothing new, just stating he's an example of how the Offensive need can be addressed without breaking the bank before we get the Defensive needs addressed...

Given the poor play of a couple of the DBs this last year, I'd be more than willing to bring Routt in and see if a deal can get done...I would much rather have Routt than McGee at this point....when McGee was younger and didn't have the littany of injuries on his resume, he was fantastic, but now time and age have taken their toll...McGee has been a good guy, don't have any animosity toward him, but it's time to move on

I would be more concerned if CJ DID NOT want to be a starter....a young man who is drafted to be in the NFL (#9 overall at that) should have the passion to be on the field every play he possibly can be and have a strong and relentless desire to contribute in any way he is able to a win!! If he was apathetic toward his playing status, I would think he's more suited for a back-up or complimentary role....because HE thinks so....and to your second point, CJ has had a very "team first" approach, which I think is fantastic and necessary, and you're right I don't believe that would change at this point. However, if in 2 years CJ continues to be productive and or become a phenomenal runner and he's still playing second fiddle to Freddie J, then I think the BILLS run into an issue of keeping him when he becomes a FA...however, time will tel

One word: NO

I agree with nearly all of this...the only point, which isn't really a strong disagreement but Carrington can and SHOULD be playing the 4-3 DE position on nearly every down...they put him as the OLB at certain times and he's a beast, the dude can play 4-3 DE, he has the speed and size to do it...they should just pencil him in and then find a complimentary player

You may be right....but given my line of work, which I would rather not discuss, I'll say that FAR more often than not, when someone is using cocaine enough to get caught, as you pointed out, it's far more than just an occasional use....also, cocaine is highly addictive...let's just say the chances of getting caught on your first or second use, would be in the realm of playing the lottery - it happens to someone, just not usually you...

It's truly sad when any person succumbs to any addiction....but one that is destructive and illegal is far worse...and yes, some addictions are legal, i.e. gambling...but, regardless of my opinion of Mularkey as a coach, as a father I can only imagine what he must be going through and this difficult time for him and the rest of his family....hope the kid gets the help he needs and turns his life around...

Glad to see this....hope we retain SJ, but still with the Franchise Tag and let him prove that he means what he's saying....let his integrity speak FOR him by his actions on the field....if he actually does what he says he will do, pay him long-term....otherwise, just two words to SJ: prove it...

Reality set in....that's the simple answer. A fuller version of same said truth would be that while the 3-4 is a great scheme to run when you HAVE the talent, locating that talent and making that transition for a team that was weak in multiple areas when Nix/Chan took over the team is just too steep a hill to climb and still be competitive....the teams that made the 3-4 transition successfully were teams that were already stacked in talent and had strengths in other areas to allow that team to transition over the course of several seasons....and for sure, our decade drought of missing the playoffs along with routinely being the whipping boy of the AFC East adds to the overall frustration with the state of the team and another year of missing the playoffs....now, we all just want to WIN!!!! Regardless of the style of Defense, we just want to freakin WIN!!!!!

I realize it's not what a player wants..... but a coach and GM doesn't want their player making juvenile mistakes on the field costing them field position...so the Tag gets SJ paid for a year while he proves he's learned his lesson and wants to be a leader in the locker room while demonstrating his talent and hard work can do all the talking for him....so yes, I'm sure he wants a long-term deal and doesn't want the Tag, but at this point, he's earned it...he can put the responsibility on himself, and given the Cap hit the BILLS will take, it's not beneficial to them to use the Tag on him for financial reasons for this season but does make sense before they invest too heavily for the future....

I've said this before in other posts, but I think it makes the most sense for the BILLS to use the Franchise Tag on Stevie...it gets him paid they way he wants to be and it buys the BILLS another year to see if Stevie can mature enough to earn the money, not only in terms of production because for the most part he's done that but to truly earn it in terms of handling himself as a professional with maturity on the field...I like SJ, truly do and I have liked him since they drafted him, in fact when they did I truly believed they found themselves a gem, but he has to show he can score an important TD and celebrate within the confines of the NFL rules without costing his team valuable yardage and field placement....I am hoping the BILLS will use the "Tag" on him, let him play his heart out and demonstrate he wants to be the professional we all hope he can and will be....once that's done and he's produced with maturity, give him his payday...but until then, who else will they use the Tag on?? No one worth it in my opinion....

Assuming this accurate, while I feel for FJ to some degree, it makes the most "business" sense so as to allow Buffalo to spend their cap money elsewhere, and since CJ is showed flashes of being what a #9 pick should be, I can understand the BILLS' reluctance to give him a "big" contract....also, White showed some signs of life as well and with the NFL being what it is today, I think it's smart on the BILLS' side...although it does suck for Fred

I wish Fewell the best, he was a stand-up guy while in Buffalo, and there's no way to know how he would have done had the BILLS decided to keep him as Head Coach, but nonetheless, wish him the best and a Super Bowl ring...good guy and apparently solid DC...

Simple answer: YES!!! Defense needs so much more improvement after the really poor job the previous regime did with getting Defensive talent at OBD and I agree with many other posters, if you're going to spend a 1st round pick, much less a top 10 pick the talent level should be through the roof...and the only guy I like that much is Luck, otherwise history has shown us that you can get a great QB in other rounds, such as 2 or 3 or even in the rare case, later....ala Brady and Romo (UDFA)...furthermore, I would love to see Nix go after a GREAT DE/OLB in FA and WR as well alleviating some of the pressure to draft a guy who's going to cure "all our ills" at WR and on Defense....getting a few really good FAs on the Defense and ONE really important WR would go a long way in making the first two draft picks this year and the last two years worth of Draft picks look exceptional by simply surrounding all the existing players with very good talent....then, based upon Fitz's next year's performance or drafting a good QB in the 3rd round this year or even 4th round, maybe next year can be the year to draft the future "Franchise" QB....

It's hard to argue with nearly ANY pick the BILLS make, although it seems pretty clear there are better choices than others; however, if they select an OT I wouldn't be throwing the remote at the TV, but unless all the previously posted and discussed Defensive talent is gone, I think our better investment at the 10 spot is either D-line or LB...don't want a WR, useless to draft a QB there due to Fitz's place on the team (regardless of my opinion, he's staying there for at least another year) and I don't think we need a Corner or Safety or RB for that matter....leaving my previously mentioned preference...plus I think we can get a WR and good D-line addition in FA if Buddy so chooses...but with this Defense, we need help and depth...and a second round issue could easily be an OT or more Defensive help and at that point it could be ANY defensive position since we need playmakers all over the Defensive side of the ball...

I don't care if it's a 4-3, 3-4, 5-2, 1-6, or any other damn thing....JUST MAKE THE DEFENSE BETTER!!!!!!!! It all began with Bledsoe, we had a great offense with himf or a season and the Defense couldn't stop anyone, then the Defense was really good for a year or two and the Offense was terrible....JUST PUT THE TWO TOGETHER FOR PETE'S SAKE!!! Call it whatever you want, just get both going in the direction of success....

Not to be picky, but that was his Junior Year picture...he had a little more around the "middle"...and I am in NO WAY picking on the guy, they drafted him with that exact physique in mind, I think to play the 3-4 DE or 3-4 OLB, and when he got leaner this last off-season, they moved him from the 3-4 DE to OLB...to me, he's quick enough and good enough that his natural position is most likely the 4-3 DE, he can easily put on another 10 pounds for a little beef and put him in the 4-3 DE position and still be quite quick with good run Defense, a 3 down DE is rare...and I think he can do it....but I'm also most likely in the minority

In regards to 4-3 DE, don't forget about Carrington...guy put on some "good" weight and lost some of the "bad" before the season started...so much they used him as an OLB, putting him at DE might work well...

Is there a better example of how a change in coaching staff, personal approach, and patience has made a significant difference for a quarterback in the league right now?? Alex Smith was deemed a "bust" and relegated to holding a clipboard after being a #1 overall pick...Harbaugh comes in and demonstrates how the right approach to his QB and in the right system can make ALL the difference...happy for the 49ers and for Smith, always got the **** end of the stick, and now he goes to the title game with a chance to make history....but, rooting for the Giants though, have to go Big Blue....only NY team left....although if the JETS were left, I'd be praying for a plane crash...not to kill them, just injure them enough to have to forfeit the game!!!