dpberr

These types of articles are negotiation ploys with the "sources". Time kills a deal. Too quickly, one side gets really disappointed. Too long, both sides get disappointed. Just right, both sides walk away slightly disappointed but generally happy. I think the timing of SJ's deal is still in good shape. Haggling is an art form.

When you think about shows "similar" to the Walking Dead, say the Mad Max movies, Jericho or Battlestar Galacitca, there was a constant push to go somewhere with a fair amount of conspiracy and intrigue to provide depth to the plot. Even Mac Max was always going "somewhere" to do "something". Even one of the more brilliant premises but lousy execution when it came to apocalypse movies, 1977's Damnation Alley, had a goal: Get to Albany, NY. That was the premise of the cross-country journey. The writers seem to be really playing up the Rick/Shane battle and it's just not that interesting while at the same time, setting up the farm up to be this impregnable fort.

I don't think KC's contract with Routt is an example of spending "good" money. It's spending money, sure. The fact remains, however, that the player had a bunch of question marks, notably, his ability to adjust to the new NFL rules (the reason for so many penalties last year) and relearning how to play CB from what made him previously successful that really made an investment in him risky. I am in the minority here probably but I am glad that the Bills did not win the Routt sweepstakes based on those contract numbers.

I would have kept Carr.

He signed with KC per Schefter.

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.