dpberr

I cringe at a Mercilus pick at #10. Lots of red flags for me. Mediocre program in the Big Ten. One year wonder. Too many question marks for a top ten pick you need to have instant impact. For those that are ready to throw up Bowers or Watt from last year, you must consider the circumstances....The Bucs picked Bowers up at #51, where the risk is less and his NFL production for the spot was ok. You pick Bowers at #3 and only two sacks gets you labeled a bust. Watt at #16 went to a talented defense and wasn't a top ten pick to a defense that doesn't have that strong of a supporting cast. I like Upshaw and Melvin Ingram is growing on me.

Any defense that doesn't have linemen laughingly disguised as outside linebackers is a step in the right direction in my opinion. If the team does not have OLBs on the roster, go out and sign some FA OLBs. Even the mediocre off the street linebacker has to be better than a lineman pretending to be a linebacker. Playing guys like Kelsay and Johnson at their natural positions full time moves the dial forward a little bit from last year.

I think Mayock has got the best analysis, especially when it comes to evaluating intangibles like work ethic and character. I also think his analysis mirrors the critical thinking that most franchises do in evaluating players.

The same guys who love Coples love themselves some Albert Haynesworth in a Bills uniform. You can't coach up work ethic. It's an intangible that you either have or don't have. You can't learn it. You can't buy it. You can't coach it. You don't suddenly obtain or attain it. You must make it. Haynesworth has talent. Always has. He just doesn't want to do the work. Talent is like a big block of fine marble. Takes a dedicated stonecutter to shape themselves a masterpiece. No team wants a player that takes plays or whole games off. For the one great play Haynesworth will give you, a less talented player can give you a good all around game for half the price and problems.

It's positive news. A trade that worked out for both teams AND the player, and the trade partner is off in the hinterlands of the NFC West. Take those gems when you can get them.

I really think since we're getting all these guys, it's time to activate Jeff George.

It's a what if to consider. No bonus whatsoever would be the slight of slights to Manning.

Yeah that work ethic thing isn't important.

He gets his best financial deal staying in Indy with Irsay. The bonus is a reward for past performance. He'll only get a bonus, however restructured from Indy. Any other team will pay based on expected future performance. No team outside Indy is going to give Manning a lot of money nor is Indy going to get a lot of important draft picks for him in a trade. There's too many questions. No GM wants to be on the hook for trading and signing a QB that can't throw to his left (as some reports state) and/or he's nowhere near being in game shape and/or with questions of whether he can play again. I'll take a Manning trade seriously when he has a "pro day" of sorts to showcase that he's alright.

+1. If they don't resign him, they will need to replace him regardless of the quarterback. I wouldn't use the #10 for an LT unless the second coming of Anthony Munoz is waiting at the podium.

I agree. CBS knows how to run a sitcom on a sound stage, but not a multi-layered drama with special effects. The premise alone of planning and executing Operation Boxcar would have made a great show in itself.

He needs to get to the range and brush up on those shooting skills. PBR on a square that wasn't moving around and he missed twice with a handgun too big for his hands. The barn feels a bit safer after watching that video. To each their own with parenting, as we all do it differently, but he probably paid for that laptop. That's an expensive lesson not only in money out of pocket but in also showing that restraint is for pansies. If you don't go extreme, don't bother. Teenagers are going to hate you one day, love you the next. Taking personal offense to everything coming out of your kid's mouth would be exhausting.

+1. I remember Cam Jordan being thrown around too in the top 5. Last year taught me a lot about the draft in not to worry about it until at least after the combine.

There are no plot twists there. I don't have advance knowledge of the show's script. I'm not on set. As for Duane and Morgan, it's already known that Lennie James (loved him in Jericho as Hawkins) is signed on to reprise the role of Morgan, meaning he'll indeed show up at some point again, outside knowing anything about the character he portrays. Robert Kirkman (the author) released that information to the press back in October. The show to this point has generally used the books to shape characters and the plot to a far lesser degree. For example, before being fired by AMC (or leaving on his own accord) Darabont wanted to open Season 2 with a Black Hawk Down setup in downtown Atlanta featuring the unit that included the dead soldier in the tank from Episode 1. Much like the story with the stop at the CDC and Jenner and the webisodes featuring the backstory of Bicycle Girl, that story never appeared in the comics, and ultimately the soldiers in zombie combat was a scrapped idea. The show, in some ways, is fleshing out the story in greater detail. I happen to like the flashbacks. Thought they worked very well in forwarding the story in Lost. However, Glen Mazarra hates using them, so you'll be seeing them sparingly. My apologies if you think that I'm spoiling the show. It isn't intended to do so.

I agree that the football polls are an interesting way to gauge opinion. That being said, I would have chosen either one of a "both" scenario. Signing Williams and SJ or signing SJ and VJ. I believe either scenario can be accomplished given the Bills cap situation. I don't think it has to be an either/or proposition when it comes to free agents and SJ.

There would be room for Routt should they sign him without any deep cuts to the secondary corps. I don't see the Bills hanging on to McGee for another year. He isn't seeing the field enough to justify that valuable roster spot. I wouldn't go cutting any of the secondary outside of McGee until you see what it looks like in camp with the new defense.

Maybe. I know he carries concealed. The Texans were wary of that. Again, not an easy thing to do in New York or in Massachusetts. He's also very close to his mother, who herself, is an avid gun collector and enthusiast. He's only ever lived in southern states, where rules on gun ownership are considerably less than say the northeast. To a person who's not "into" guns and firearms, having a home away from home without them doesn't seem like a big deal, especially if you grew up around them and enjoy the hobby. However, for somebody that is, it could be a deal breaker. My point being overall, is that much like tax implications, it may not come down exclusively to how much money a player can make. Could come down to things we don't generally use in painting broad strokes of free agent desires in figuring out new destinations.

Hines Ward is good, but I believe the Bills would benefit from the command decision making ability from one of Germany's finest generals, General Heinz Ward.

It's just like Peyton Manning...who wouldn't be interested in adding Mario Williams to their roster? I'd argue outside of money, the biggest thing against Williams in Buffalo is New York's restrictive gun laws, oddly.. Williams is an avid collector of firearms, especially high caliber sniper rifles, semi automatic rifles, a ton of handguns and even has a Browning MG in his collection. He's got guns in his collection that you can't outright have in New York state or not without two tons of paperwork. His #1 hobby outside football is collecting and shooting said firearms. So...that being said, New York state and pretty much anywhere in the northeast outside Pennsylvania, is the last place you'd want to set up shop long term. You watch...he'll stay in Texas or play for a team in close proximity to Texas. For the record, I'd love to see Mario Williams a Bill. I think he'd have a Hall of Fame career here.

These guys voted in Chris Doleman. Anything is possible.

If I had the choice between the two, Melvin Ingram. Ingram is an exceptional athlete and a strong one at that. He was on the "hands" team, ran some plays on offense, and is impressively strong. He moved all over the place in the defense and made plays. He's not the run stuffer that Coples is, but he's the better pass rusher. Plus, the man has character beyond reproach. Can't say the same about Coples. It would appear that Ingram would be an ideal fit at this juncture. Long way to the draft. Things can change.

We won more games in 2011 than we did in 2010. Nearly all the 2011 rookies saw significant playing time. We are not drafting in the top three. Or top five. Beat the Patriots for the first time in years. Progress. Yes. Can't deny that we moved forward a bit.

Financial will is the only 800lb gorilla in the front office. If the Bills wanted to sign Mario Williams or anybody else, frankly, they could. They are in outstanding cap and overall financial position to do something big.

I like that the Bills have aggressive interest in FA. I'm on the fence with Routt. What made him successful both at Houston and in his earlier career with the Raiders is now against the NFL rules with WRs now being a protected class. What you saw last year is an aggressive cornerback trying to play within the new rules, and in the process, trying not to do what made him a successful cornerback. However the Raiders defense was a mess last year and their safeties were awful. I think cornerbacks are successful in part by the safeties they've got behind them. Arguably, the Bills have better safety talent than Oakland did. A lot to like about Routt....a lot to be worried about too. It'll be a tough call.

I'd be happy with the Upshaw pick. I don't care if the Bills go out and get Mario Williams. I'd still take Upshaw. I'd be delightfully stunned to see that happen, but you can never have enough pass rushing talent. Hoard it like it's gold.