WickedGame

Truth time: Would you rather beat the Patriots today or make it to the playoffs this year?

Is this meant to be ironic?

Reverse fisting.

I'm not suggesting the Bills are flawless, or that every player warrants a contract, or that we won't lose some once in a while, or that a 4th round pick for a good player is an awesome coup. Don't get lost in nitpicking. I'm simply arguing that we've shifted strategy and tactics to address serious weaknesses in our personnel gameplan of recent years. The result will be a significant reduction in meaningful free agent losses. Is Lee Evans worth more than a 4th? Sure, maybe. Reasonable folks can debate that. Was Marshawn on track to stay a Bill for life? Maybe. I doubt it, but again, reasonable minds can disagree. But a few anecdote miss the big picture. We're doing a better job of identifying talent on our roster, signing long-term extensions, and positioning the team for net improvement in 2012, 2013 and beyond. I'll put it simply: Would you rather go into the 2012 draft and free agency with Lee Evans, Kyle Williams, Steve Johnson, and others having contracts due to expire, or would you rather lock up a few, trade a few, and enter the offseason with a clear idea of what you have locked up and what you need? I'd rather have the latter.

One thing that can kill a team trying to rebuild is defections. "Two steps forward, one step back" makes for slow progress. It's worse for the Bills, who for the last decade seemed to have it backwards: "One step forward, two steps back." Say what you want about Buddy and Chan letting players go, at least they're getting value. Marshawn Lynch already had his eye on the exit. Lee Evans was loyal, but he'd already given us his best years. In both cases, we got draft picks. Now, combine that with extending good players -- Kyle Williams, Stevie in the works, Roscoe in the works -- and you reduce the amount of involuntary turnover each year. I like their approach. It won't deliver immediate results, but it's the right approach. Our problem for 10 years has been that we never stopped the bleeding (or plugged the hole in the boat, if you prefer). We're doing that now. What remains is a young, stable, and increasingly talented team. Adding veterans via free agency makes more sense now that we've stopped the bleeding. Lock up young talent, extend the few vets we DO have, and if guys like Merriman (re)emerge as legit top-tier players, extend them quickly, too. Address your biggest needs via the draft with the best players, and we might just build something. I anticipate we'll have much less of a revolving door over the next 2-3 years than in years past.

Who pissed in your coffee? Lighten up, dude.

How short our memories are... In 2010, the Bills lost a close game AT New England, 38-30. Fitz was leading a drive in the final minutes before a pick sealed the Pats win. Yes, the Pats crushed us later that year. In the 2009 season opener, Buffalo led late in the game, again AT New England. New England scored 12 points in the final 2:10, thanks in part to a boneheaded play and fumble by McKelvin. The Pats "crushed us" 25-24. Later that year, with Fitzpatrick at the helm, the Bills played another close game, losing 17-10. So, yes, the Pats have beaten us in recent years, but they have far from crushed us. I'd like the Patriots win streak to end as much as the rest of us, but let's keep things in perspective.

Watching Merriman's press conference after the Bears game, I was impressed by his demeanor. He's got a good sense of where he fits in this defense, sounds like he as a good rapport with Dareus already, gives credit where it's due, and has the right balance between serious and playful. He looks mature and focused. If he combines that with high-level play, it'll be a good presence on this D.

Picke 'em...

Verizon customers can listen with the free NFL Mobile app, right?

I'd take a half-eaten cheerleader and an average-looking box of chocolates...

I love that this team is starting to get a personality...an identity. I can't come up with a single word for it, but it's there. You see it Fitz's "Amish Rifle" beard, his joking in the huddle, his clearly-just-for-fun "I went to Harvard" comments. You see it in Kyle's down-to-earth, "Whatever, I'm a real-world guy" mindset. It's in Stevie's "Why So Serious?" swagger, and in Marcel's hungry will to dominate. This group WANTS to win, wants to WORK for the wins, isn't crying over the disrespect. They're out to EARN respect. I'm not sure if we get to a winning season this season, necessarily, but I get a sense this club will earn respect for its refusal to roll over.

The most interesting part of that clip: Bill Belichick was 25-23 at the start of his 4th year as head coach. Guess it shows ya gotta start somewhere, right?

Who cares? Let's get Matsui in here to play RT.

Are the Bills shopping Lee Evans? Kevin Negandhi of ESPN says "I'm aware Buffalo got Brad Smith.. he's a fine player.. no need to keep reminding me.. he'll be a #2 WR on that team.." Link Is that just a poor understanding of the Bills depth chart, a commentary on Stevie, or a hint the Bills may be shopping one of their top two receivers?

"...an inviting red zone target..." Actually, it sounds a lot like Donte Whitner.

Can we petition the NFL to let Jasper where a triple digit jersey number? When you weigh in at a smidge over 400, I think you deserve a perk. Like a free meal if you eat the 96oz. steak.

If we get Tyson Clabo, I'm happy with free agency. TE Zach Miller would be nice (is he still a FA?), but Clabo would be more useful.

We're definitely drafting guys who are passionate about football. Dareus, Sheppard...look at Moats last year, or even back to Wood. These are guys who get fired up and love the game. I love that!

Anybody remember how many times Drayton Florence was called for pass interference? I seem to remember him getting flagged several times on 3rd and long. Usually resulted in a touchdown. I bet that pisses a coach off...

Here's a rough synopsis of the logic around here: Jim Kelly was awesome. Ryan Fitzpatrick IS NOT Jim Kelly. Therefore, Ryan Fitzpatrick sucks. Ryan Fitzpatrick sucks. Andy Dalton/Ryan Mallett/Colin Kaepernick IS NOT Ryan Fitzpatrick. Therefore, Dalton/Mallett/Kaepernick does not suck. Does not suck > Does suck. Therefore, we need to draft Dalton/Mallett/Kaepernick, or we suck. And anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.

Is Fitz perfect? No. Is he a great QB? No. Is he a pretty good QB who gives us a chance to win? Yes. In his first game of 2010, AT New England, he put us in a position to tie in the final minutes. AT Baltimore, he put on a show and had us in position to win. The D surrendered the win in OT. AT Kansas City, he took us to OT against the Chiefs. The D surrendered the win in OT. Against Chicago, we were tied in the final minutes. The D surrendered a game-ending field goal. He led us to victory against the Lions. He led an epic come-from-behind thumping of the Bengals in Cincy. He took us to OT against the Super Bowl Steelers and had a perfectly thrown ball to Stevie in OT to win it...dropped. He got wins over Cleveland and Miami. Yes, I'm cherry-picking stats. Yes, our 4 wins came against mediocre teams. But our close losses came against playoff teams. Wins are what matters, which is why I'm not giving him credit for being a champion. But there were A LOT of units that let this team down, and in a majority of the cases, it wasn't our quarterback. We need a star QB, but Andy Dalton and Ryan Mallett aren't stars. We have enough "average," thank you.

More Bermanesque options: Marcel "Block Him if You Dare"-eus Marcel "Double Dog Dare"-eus

Think we can't knock your quarterback out of the game? DARE|US?

Eggsaktly. If Carolina can't convince themselves Newton is worth the gamble, they pick Dareus. Denver has a choice between Miller and Peterson (they pick Miller) and Buffalo settles for the consolation prize: A choice between Newton and Gabbert. Fairley's stock is falling. Buffalo's not sold on Quinn. #3 is too high for Jordan. We don't really need Peterson. Bowers is a medical risk we can't afford. A quarterback pick 'em is our lot in this scenario. MAYBE that scenario attracts suitors for the trade-down, but who knows.