dpberr

Agreed that both your stated examples are good players. However, in my original post, I stated that I preferred players with established performance from winning programs. Harrison was undrafted only after two years at Kent State and took a while to develop and was a one year wonder at Kent State. Urlacher had an established record of performance. The man was a college legend. I think when you combine the OYW and a losing program, you're taking on a lot of risk for a top ten pick. That's all I'm saying.

It's in the state's best interest to spend some money to retain the Bills. The team has no debt and is financially solid. Yes, it doesn't generate the revenue of larger markets, but when you look at the Bills books, they are a solid investment of taxpayer money. Should the Bills leave, the state will spend twice that amount trying to spur something to be done with the now empty stadium, the land around it, and the financial impact on the municipalities in its immediate vicinity. An empty NFL stadium is akin to a closed military base and figuring out what to do with it.

I've never bought the idea that there's no plan in place when Ralph Wilson passes away. On the contrary, I think there's been a plan in place for some time with an "equitable" owner of sorts. For now, so long as he's alive, there is plenty of financial benefit to keeping that agreement and parties confidential. If any of that got some sun, it'd be absolute chaos for Wilson and the prospetive owners and a massive risk to the investment. Sure, there is the fanbase, but you have a lot of corporate relationships that go smoother when there's a lot of stability. You don't want your corporate sponsors or the NFL getting nervous. You'd have the scrutiny of the NFL, IRS and not to mention other groups and persons trying to sneak in and outmaneuver you. You keep any arrangement air tight until it's done.

He's an alright coordinator but much like our head coach, he's not great at adjusting for available personnel and game situations. Once he finds his winning formula, he'll stick to it, regardless of available personnel to execute it. His defenses always play well in the first quarter of the season until injuries occur and game tape is available.

Ravens and Giants. The trends are favorable for both teams. While that 2000 Super Bowl rematch will be the equivalent of a Spurs/Cavaliers NBA finals, they are the two most balanced teams of the four, with above average defenses.

Haha. Love that.

I think it's important, especially on defense. Looking at the college pipeline into the NFL, winning programs contribute the greatest number of NFL players. When you think of the teams that have historically contributed the most NFL players... USC, Miami, Pittsburgh, Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State, etc. you can readily establish years or decades of winning programs and NFL talent. You want that top ten pick to be as safe and as sure a bet as possible. You want to eliminate that bust potential as much as possible. You want your player to have faced the tough competition and performed well against it.

I like taking solid players, with proven, consistent performance from winning programs when drafting in the first round. Whitney Mercilus is not that player.

Just like Jeff Fisher, give Bill Cowher or any coach nearly twenty years, and he'll probably give you an above average result. Nothing outside old age, health issues or death, says Chan Gailey, for example, couldn't get to the same place given 15 years. Further, Cowher and Fisher inherited relatively intact and somewhat mediocre teams, not complete shipwrecks that needed a massive overhaul.

Unless you're going to get the DeLorean up to 88mph, what's the point of discussing this draft pick in 2012?

Not wearing the colors = I don't care. I follow and root for the machine, not all the little cogs.

What's the big deal about Jeff Fisher? Give any half decent coach 16 years and he'll probably win just as much as Fisher did.

Intriguing question. I wouldn't do the trade. Unless it's a top ten pick which it won't be, I prefer the proven quantity.

I would be very disappointed with a pick that doesn't address the pass rush. I want that not only fixed but an asset that opposing teams must plan for during the 2012 season. I'd be outraged with a QB pick in the first round. I think that would be a ridiculous waste.

It's whomever your QB says it is.

Did anyone care when Shula was coaching the Dolphins? He'd be a fool to take the Dolphins job. Too many ego-driven already in that kitchen.

Much like Wade, I don't know why Schottenheimer is interviewing for this Tampa job. The lousy heat. Very young undisciplined team. A GM that is going nowhere as he's signed through 2014. Ownership that doesn't appear to be financially solid, not to mention he's been out of the league for four years and he's pushing 70.

I agree with you. I don't know what Jacksonville sees. Then again, I don't know why they are keeping Gabbert either.

Some men are better coordinators than head coaches. Mularkey is one of those men.

I'm intrigued by Avril. I don't think his production would decrease if he were signed. Teamed on a line with Dareus and Williams, that'd be a scary line. It'll be interesting to see what Detroit does. I'd offer that they have bigger problems in their secondary and that's where their investment may go if they decide not to resign Avril. They can generate a powerful pass rush with Suh, Williams and Fairley.

I don't think it's the weather, the city or the fans. Or even necessarily the players. It's the agents and their relationship or lack thereof with the Bills brass. The Bills don't have to convince players, they've got to sell the agents on Buffalo as a destination. A lot of that agent/front office interaction is based on building and reinforcing personal relationships. We as fans tend to think all this free agent stuff is based on statistics and dollars. You'd probably be surprised that much more of it is based on the face to face interaction between agent and "bean counter" and the relationships forged between the two over meetings, lunches, etc.

I'd put SJ being back in a Bills uniform at 90%. If Nix was silent or no comment on this topic, I would have been worried. I think it's an excellent move to resign him.

If I'm Wade, I pass on the Tampa heat and all that stress. The job could literally kill you.

Mayock needs booth experience. As he gets more, he'll deliver a smoother play by play. Right now, he calls the game in the draft day voice. In an unrelated television personality opinion, I find Donovan McNabb on ESPN to be very impressive.

Tom Donahue has not been hired as a general manager for any NFL team post his Bills employ. That's all I need to know. I don't know what Mort's problem is but it's all really old news. Jabari Greer is a good football player. I feel some of his performance is in part to Gregg Williams who is the definition of a man who's talents are far better coordinating rather than head coaching. You have Gregg Williams in a position which suits his talents best and he makes all the players on the defense perform better.