d_wag

and my point was 1) they amortize bonuses and 2) they've got loads to spend, regardless of how much they need to spend on rooks

keep reading......... With past cash surpluses in mind, the Bills easily could spend over the cap again this year in real cash and still be within budget. When you try to factor in rolling four-year windows of cash spending and the fact teams also track the amount of guaranteed money in their budgets, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to say what the Bills actually consider to be their firm cash-spending limit for this year.

and the bills "cash to the cap" includes the 2011 rollover to get to the adjusted cap target.......and it includes the fact they haven't spent up to their own "cash to the cap" limit in previous years nfl salary cap of $121M + skins/cowboys penalty of $2M + 2011 carryover of $19M + unknown cash underspend from prior years of $?? = +++$142M less $95M current projected cash spend = over $50M in cash to spend.........that is tons to sign draft picks, extend, sign free agents, and there are certainly players on the roster that could be cut to create even more cap/cash room (for example, doubt dwan edwards will see his $4.5M salary)

incorrect - in 2012 dareus has a $4.6M cap value. of that amount, $3.3M is prorated bonus, paid in 2011. http://nyjetscap.com/Bills/bills2012.php the bills use the cash to the cap as an excuse to pay out less money to free agents on a year to year basis, but they still prorate the bonuses over the life of the deal.

Whitney Mercilus looks good at Illinois Pro Day Posted by Josh Alper on March 6, 2012, 4:21 PM EST APWhitney Mercilus probably improved on the third-round grade he got from the NFL draft advisory board with a strong combine and he may have improved on it even more during Illinois’ Pro Day workout on Tuesday. Mercilus didn’t try to best his strong combine performances in the 40 or bench press, but he improved on his results in the short-shuttle and three-cone drills. But his most impressive work came during on-field drills where, according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, he looked like a quick and explosive pass rusher. Pompei reports that Mercilus created a buzz among scouts during outside linebacker drills with three of them remarking on how smooth and fluid he looked while going through the workout. Jaguars defensive line coach Joe Cullen ran the workout and, per Pompei, had dinner with Mercilus on Monday night. In total, 29 different teams were represented at the workout although no general managers made the trip to Champaign. Mercilus put together a great 2011 season with the Illini, finishing with 16 sacks, but it was his only full year as a starter. That’s created some question about whether or not he’s a one year wonder that won’t hold up over the long haul against better competition. Pass rushing is at such a premium in the NFL right now that some team is likely to take the risk that Mercilus will be able to repeat his performance as a junior once he gets to the NFL. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/06/whitney-mercilus-looks-good-at-illinois-pro-day/

Upgrade the pass rush and you'll upgrade the secondary. Neglect the pass rush and it doesn't matter who is back there, can't cover forever. Rather spend the money/marquee picks on the DL/OLB and the rest will take care of itself.

Except the salary cap.......

the 4th and 1 call was inexusable........he should be fried for that........any coach with balls shows faith in their team and goes for it.........that was very "jauronesque" and regardless of the score was the wrong call.........he should be hung out to dry for being so cowardice (and would be if it ended up in a loss)

with cash to the cap (i.e. being cheap) this is actually impossible......we'll be lucky to sign one of them during the season with this strategy

In 2011, the Chargers will play only one game that kicks off at 10:00 a.m. local time, as recently pointed out by the San Diego Union-Tribune. It’s the fewest early starts they’ve had in at least 15 years. In the past five years, teams based in the Pacific time zone have won 35 and lost 74 games that start at 1:00 p.m. ET. This year, the other four West Coast teams play at least five 10:00 a.m. local time games, each. That will definitely be an issue on Sunday for the Raiders, given that they had a short week after a road game in Denver, and that they’ll be playing at 1:00 p.m. ET in Buffalo. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

isn't mckelvin signed through next year? did he void a year? of the other 3, they need to get at least 1 signed before the end of the season....can't go into the off-season with 3 major free agents.....i can see fitz signing in the first half of the season but not johnson given the recent news that him and the bills are miles apart.......i can't see how they can do a deal for bell at this point that would be fair to both - need to see more good games out of him other significant 2012 UFA's - scott chandler, andra davis, roscoe parrish, erik pears, kraig urbik, rian lindell unfortunately this is where the "cash to the cap" will hurt us - shame they don't amortize bonuses properly

appreciate your honestly and insight - good shout

it's not about the result, it's about the attempt (or lack their of if you believe the rumors) - the report was the bills didn't even try to maxmize their return and i believe it based on how inept this front office has performed

there certainly is a lot to it, take it from the beginning if ya like, lots of unanswered questions. was spiller drafted to get rid of lynch or was lynch dumped because spiller was drafted? why didn't they trade him sooner? any truth to the report that they didn't bother to shop him before giving him away to the hawks - when the saints (and probably others) were ready to pay more if they got a call?

while we're on the topic of pinning blame to specific front office personnel (i quite like this game), anyone know who made an absolute mess of trading marshawn lynch (and why they didn't get fired for it?)?

more then without him after a decade of missing the playoffs i'll take any win i can get, thanks......shame ralph doesn't priortize winning the same way

i'd rather have a 7th for roscoe then a 4th for evans........the difference in value is marginal, yet in the locker room the difference is huge......but of course, it wasn't about either of those factors - it was about the payroll savings for ralph's pockets unfortunately

open your eyes.........this was a ralph move, a money move, to line his pockets even further..........it's won't be reinvested, as it hasn't been in the past with the ridiculous "cash to the cap" crap that just resulted in more cash into ralph's bank account, nothing more nothing less........same old, same old, yet every year people come on this board to defend it........this is the only board on the web where people would defend this move - and they never learn

check the common theme here - it ain't the front office, it's the owner.......until that changes nothing does, rebuilding year after rebuilidng year.......bad draft after bad draft.......solid starter leaving after solid starter leaving.......open your eyes

don't you mean 10 years into rebuild? teams don't go a decade without the playoffs, it's ridiculous in so many ways.......and strangly some fans are still buying this crap

cheap........there was talent out their this off-season that would have upgraded the roster, and they chose to not even TRY to sign it which is nothing new of course - this has been going on for years

seriously, it's a joke......while other teams develop draft picks we blow them or, in this case, piss them away for next to nothing......which is why this team is on a treadmill and that won't change until the owner goes.......you can't "build through the draft" when you keep screwing it up love to see things turn around but have lost the faith, especially when after a decade of losing they pull a move like this.....it really just says it all - anyone smoking the "rebuilding" pipe hasn't been around long enough to know it's a load of garbage with ralph in charge

and this is why the bills suck, year after year find someoen who is good at something and try to change them they just don't know talent - how to identify it, how to foster it, how to SIGN it to long-term deals.........complete joke moats likes to rush the passer, he is an OLB - it ain't that COMPLICATED!!!!

i hear ya boss - it is remarkable and astonishing that the fans know more then the coaches in this instances, but far from surprsing after the last 10 years of foolishness.........the problem is ralph - he is the common demoninator

what an absolute joke - spend some money already ya cheapskates.....i can't believe they sell tickets year after non-playoff year shelling this crap