TXBILLSFAN

A lot of the trade was based on the fact that Bills thought EJ was a franchise QB, my concern at the time was that EJ wasn't a franchise QB, and how do you find a franchise QB without a 1st round pick ? The trade might have made a 6-10 team into a 9-7 team, without a franchise QB, not sure how much further you can improve. That's why I said "MAYBE" -- The only WR trade like that was the one Atlanta made for Julio and they moved up from the 27th spot when they knew they had a franchise QB. Again, it's the position the haunts me the most and the fact that the Bills are still searching for a franchise QB --- use your 1's on QB's until you find one.

Wasn't intending to single out Cal Johnson, just used him as example -- I'd be happy if he was Julio, Fitz or AJ just as well -- point was, he needs to be in the upper echelon of NFL WR's -- not good, but very good or great. You don't. That's why said at outset of my post, at time of trade I didn't like it.

I didn't like the trade at the draft and I still don't like it. I expected Sammy to be a good WR and I think he's shown enough to prove that he will be. Great ?, it's very early to make that proclamation. To me, it was too high a price to pay for that position. Teams don't trade up into the Top 5 and give up those picks to grab a WR for a reason. QB?, yes. DE?, maybe. Other positions, rarely. Now, if Sammy turns out to be a difference maker like Calvin Johnson, and has a 10+ year career, I suspect I'll change my mind, but ask me now, it wasn't a good move. Lastly, the ONLY way to evaluate the trade is to know where next year's pick falls, if it's a late 1st round pick, it changes the discussion, if it's a Top 10 pick, it's troubling. Especially for a franchise still searching for a franchise QB.

No one is trading a 1st round pick for a RB in the last year of his contract. Especially one with a inconsistent track record.

or Locker or Ponder ;-)

That was one hell of a top half of the 1st round draft, wasn't it ?!! 12 of the 16 have made a Pro Bowl, legal troubles aside, some incredible talent that year!! 1-Newton 2-Von Miller 3-Dareus 4-AJ Green 5-Patrick Peterson 6-Julio Jones 7-Aldon Smith 8-Tyron Smith 11-JJ Watt 14-Robert Quinn 15-Mike Pouncey 16-Ryan Kerrigan

Ownership should provides overall leadership including strategic direction, makes several key hires and holds people accountable for their performance. In addition, it provide resources, mostly financial to ensure strategic objectives are met. I expect ownership (and CEO if they are provxy for ownership) to be engaged in all key decisions and challenging decision makers to ensure decisions are well thought out and consistent with broader objectives. I fully expect Kim Pegula to take on that role in concert with Terry as they evaluate the team. I don't think it's wrong for an owner (or CEO) to get involved, challenge decisions and pressure test assumptions to ensure things are well thought out. I don't think any of us want an owner that is "calling the shots", but we do want an owner that is holding people accountable. I think the Pegulas have learned and have striked the right balance with the Sabres and will do same with Bills.

I think the Pegulas take the rest of this year to do a top to bottom evaluation of the operations. I posted in another thread, I'd be shocked if the Pegulas fired any of the top guys in the FO in October and equally shocked if they don't fire some of the top guys in January. As for Brandon, it's been debated to death, but, as CEO of a football team, I expect him to be involved and think he should be involved in key football personnel moves, if he's not, he's a complete a$$. As someone correctly pointed out to me, this isn't a normal corporation, the business of the Bills is football, as CEO, you would be grossly negligent if you weren't involved in key personnel moves. Maybe not the 6th round pick, but certainly the Watkins trade and the Manuel pick. Brandon should be in the room, he's earned that with his title.

Agree -- I don't think it's helping EJ to play and lose confidence. At least with Orton, we are assuming we'll get competent QB play to be able to compete and evaluate the talent on the roster. I don't think EJ is "done" but, I'm not at all optimistic. But, sitting for several weeks and watching and learning without the added pressure to play, could help him more than playing. I think the biggest issue is the one that's faced this franchise since Kelly retired, who is the next franchise QB ?

I don't think Orton can lead a team to the Super Bowl, but, if he has grasped the offense, he'll be an upgrade over an imploding EJ -- I think they can go 8-8 or 9-7 with Orton, maybe get lucky and sneak into playoffs --- if EJ plays like he did the past 2 weeks -- this team is destined for 4-12 or 5-11 --

O Line continues to be issue, hoping it's growing pains with the two guards. Rest of team appears ready to compete. But QB is the most important position and the absolute hardest to fill. I'd go after Bradford and the Washington leftover as well.

I actually think he's lucky next week is a road game. I'd give him the Detroit game to look better, if he lays an egg in Detroit, I'm not sure he can handle a hostile home crowd the following week.

So, if the conclusion is that EJ is not the right QB for this team, now what ?

Pegula will put a couple key people in the organization asap (he's already said Kim will work alongside Brandon). These folks will help him complete his evaluation of the organization and what changes he'll make after the season. I'd be shocked if any of the top guys were fired before January and equally shocked if none of them were fired in January.

I'm also amazed why wanting Eli (or any proven franchise QB) is a slam on EJ ? When EJ was drafted, he was called by many scouts and draft pundits a PROJECT. We are wasting the talent on this roster while he develops on the field. EJ and this team would be best served with him watching and learning, like other successful QB's have done in the past. EJ is not ready to be a playoff QB.

Really ? How do you feel now PTR ? Eli has a bad preseason and bad 1st game, everybody bails on him. He and his receivers are starting to get comfortable in McAdoo's offense and you saw last night why he is a FRANCHISE QB with 2 SUPERBOWLS !!! I believe the Bills have a lot of talent everywhere except QB. Which, BTW, is the most important position on the field. Eli would immediately make the Bills a playoff team.

I don't think it will happen either. When it comes up, and it WILL come up, I expect the Pegulas to fight it HARD and argue that it is part of the Buffalo Bills territory. My point was that the NFL wants to expand internationally and the Canadian market (on the surface) is much easier logistically and economically. With the Pegulas purchase, he's taken Toronto out of the short term equation for the NFL. I think some owners realize that might be a good short term decision, but not a great long term one. Again, he'll be approved unanimously, and I don't believe Toronto will get a franchise, but I do think the NFL (especially a few owners) will push for it.

Agree, he'll be unanimous. But, I'd bet there are a couple owners that didn't want Pegula to win the bid. They would never vote against him, and probably never state it publicly, but I'm sure they looked at the longer term landscape of the NFL and thought a Toronto based franchise served their interests more than a record setting price for the Bills. Again, it'll be unanimous, as it should, but I suspect we haven't heard the last of a franchise in Toronto, it just won't be the Bills.

If Pegs took out a 10-year, 5% interest loan, he'd end up paying about $400M in interest ! Think about that next time you pay your mortgage !

Several dump trucks should work.

Sounds about right --- the best thing about Pegs being new owner is there is a chance for the collective community to inhale and exhale and take a moment and really debate what the next move regarding a stadium should be and when. I'm confident Pegs will be willing to put his own money into the venture, similar to what other owners have done. In addition, I suspect Delaware North would put in a chunk to secure concessions and another company for naming rights. There are many questions to be answered as part of the discussion such as type of stadium (open air, retractable, closed), whether it's more than just a football stadium (i.e. convention center, other entertainment), location, impact on cost to fans (i.e. PSL's etc). It will surely be a balancing act of several compromises by all parties to make it happen. I predict it will take several years to work out and won't be a quick fix where we see ground breaking in 2015.

Perhaps. Found this link http://nypost.com/20...y-bills-bidder/ Not sure I trust the NY Post, but this implies he participated until the end, but did not submit final bid.

Agree, I think TG wanted to bow out and the trust told him to "hang in there" for the sake of a competitive process. I still want to know why Pegs ratcheted up his bid to $1.4B, another poster thinks it was Twinkie/Pabst guy, but maybe there is more to it.

Golisano is looking more and more like an recluse or eccentric old man -- spending $100K to fight $100K tax bill

Do you guys not think that Whaley is CONSTANTLY reevaluating this team, EVERY WEEK, WIN or LOSE. Good GM's don't put together a team in preseason and sit on their hands. They are constantly trying to find ways to get better. I don't believe this thread was intended to be a BASH E.J. but a hypothetical given the state of Eli's play, and the Giants in need of longer term pieces to rebuild, would they be willing and would Bills be willing. Like I said, if you don't think Whaley is considering options like this or a TE or a RG or a LB, you are very naive.