hammie65

Sign the man after getting Osi from the Giants in a trade deal for Lee Evans and a 2nd.

I'm probably crazy but something in my gut tells me Buffalo and Chix have something big up their sleeve and are gonna pull off a move to shock the cr@p out of everybody that nobody saw coming. That or they just don't plan signing anyone.

I honestly believe Merriman is going to shock a lot of people and have a great season. It may start slowly but as the season progresses I think he will be out to prove something and will be out to terrorize offenses. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong but if I'm right then Brady, Sanchez and whoever throws for Miami will be in trouble.

Agreed. I am a big fan of Poz but that is too much money for him IMO. The next question is will we lose Florence to the Jets (but they're also looking at Asomugha so who knows)? I hope we pay to keep Drayton but do not overpay for anyone. I'm waiting to see who we go into pre-season with before panicking. The Kelsay deal still stumps me but I'll wait and see how he plays this year to see how bad the deal was. It looks like they are still working to switch to the 3-4 defense and Poz was a casualty of it. It shouldn't surprise people this happened at 7 mil per year and a six year deal. The Jags are reaching here. Tulloch, Burnett, Ruud or Stewart Bradley are possibilities and I believe Kelvin Sheppard will have an immediate impact for us. On a side note, has anyone heard anything about anyone being interested in Whitner yet?

We know what we have in Drayton and I don't see (or have an opinion on) the Bills spending top dollar for a corner like Asomugha at this point. If they do, they do. Here's the minimum that I think they need to address in trades and FA: They only have 5 corners (not including Whitner) and probably will go out and get at least two more corners if not three or four (they had 9 corners on the roster for 2010 camp), a backup QB, possibly a tight end, another tackle or two (either side depending on available guys), maybe a wide receiver (after Hubbard's arrest), a couple of linebackers, another running back, a safety, and maybe a kicker and special teamer. I agree about the pick of DE's and don't see them going after a DE this year unless injuries happen. I agree about the wide receiver and that Donte probably won't be a Bill this year.

I'll wait until trades and free agency are done and I've watched a couple of the pre-season games before making another prediction on the record. Too many unknown variables yet.

I say we trade all of our players for all of Jacksonville's players (except for Trent Edwards if he is still there) so we have a whole new group of players to critique and complain about when there is no NFL season this year. At least we'll have something to do.

I am with you on this one. Way too early to guess what we may look like and how we might play. 8 and 8 would be a record that would show serious improvement from last year, but until we get through free agency it is a pure roll of the dice on the predictions.

LT Joe Thomas - pro bowl his first four seasons! LB Clay Matthews - 2009 10 sacks! 2010 13.5 sacks!

Brady is a system QB. Without New England he would never have been heard of. Brady gets sacked more because Manning gets rid of the ball faster and more successfully than any QB I've ever watched while, if Brady doesn't get his 4 or 5 seconds to throw, he rarely completes a pass beyond the 5 yard line (until Moss came along to catch anything thrown his way). Also, watch film and tell me how often a check down or outlet type of pass is taken for another 20 or 30 YAC by New England receivers, TE's, and backs even from behind the line of scrimmage. Anyone who denies Matt Cassell and the 11-5 record vs Colts and Painter Jets game as proof of the system being the winner and not the QB is not facing fact IMO. It is the same with other franchises and QB's as well not just Brady vs Manning. Big Ben and Aaron Rogers and John Elway are examples of QB's who win in spite of the flaws in their teams and their systems. How many would argue against the fact that Terry Bradshaw won (mainly) because of the team around him? IMO, Brady is the luckiest, not the most talented QB in the NFL.

Poz and Drayton will be resigned, they will get Miller or nobody at all at TE (not much to choose from here), an offensive tackle (I'm hoping Clabo or Brown), and a backup QB in free agency as soon as it opens. I don't think Channix will ignore free agency but instead will try to get the best guys at positions of need that they can. I'm just not thrilled with who they have to pick from at all.

Up until Brady went down with the knee injury I was neutral on this debate (and I'm a #18 and Colts fan) but after they went 11-5 with a QB who hadn't played since high school (as I've read), and when the Colts sucked eggs when they put Painter in when they didn't try to go for the perfect season, I'm convinced it shows that for Brady it is more the system and for Peyton it is more his skills. I truly believe #18 could be pretty successful on any team while #12 would fade into obscurity. I'm afraid the rings difference will always make it mute (even though Brady fans would still say he's better than Bradshaw in the same argument).

The Bills might move? When did this all happen?

Say no to Leinert but Wallace, Thigpen, Gradkowski, T. Jackson, K. Collins or V. Young (if available) are probably who we'd have to pick from that would be decent backups. I liked what Dennis Dixon did at Pittsburgh before his knee injury which, if he came at the right price and passed a physical, I'd be willing to give him a shot as well. To be brutally honest, the last two or three years of free agency have (in my opinion) sucked, which is one reason the drafts have been so crucial to teams. This years draft will in the long run prove to be a crucial one for the Bills in, I believe, a very positive way.

It is completely clear that this year (if there is one along with pre-season to have the time he needs with his receivers) is a make or break year for Fitzy. If he can't do most of the things suggested in this article then yes, we will need to draft that QB of the future in 2012 and I hope he is there for us to do so. I like and believe in Fitzy but the proof is in the pudding as they say. That is why we need to keep Evans and Parrish around and not trade away familiar and proven receivers. Are they hall of famers? No, but to keep playing musical rosters with better than average players for unknowns is risky. I'm also hoping that Demetrius Bell and the rest of the O-Line can continue to gel and get better at giving him time to throw and pick apart defenses. Keep the fingers crossed and hope the CBA is settled before mid July.

You are correct about the 1st game being their best shot. Let's hope the Bills can take advantage of it. Pressuring Brady doesn't matter because he is the greatest quarterback ever (insert sarcasm here). We've long lacked the main things necessary to beat them which are a pass rush and a coach that can game plan against them properly. I pray we have both of those this year or it will be another butt-whoopin year for us. What'll be interesting to watch is how Mallett progresses over time, especially if Brady gets hurt. I'm also curious to see how much they play Solder and how well their O-Line comes together (or doesn't). The other factor is the two running backs they picked up. If they establish a serious running game, look out. Our D has got to stop the run.

Keep Roscoe, keep Lee Evans, put Donald Jones or Naaman on the PS if necessary and quit messing with players that produce at a very good level when used properly, and focus on our other problem areas for the love of all things NFL. Musical players is one big reason why we've had so many losing seasons and we've got to stop some of the bleeding now. Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish will both have a great year for the Bills IF we actually get a season to watch.

Although these types of debates will always be rabidly argued on both sides, I have to agree with these stats and averages as being evidence for putting P. Manning above Brady, regardless of the rings ratio. I personally think John Elway may have been better than both when you look at the teams and players he had around him before his two rings and how he was still able to win consistently, as well as the length of his career. He wasn't called the comeback kid for nothing. I'm still waiting to see someone compile real-time stats on the average time that a quarterback has had to throw the ball per down and see who comes out as having had the most time to throw or "better protection". I've watched games and specifically timed how long Brady had to throw and he definitely has above average protection time. Does he get sacked? Yes, but on average only after several seconds of not being able to find a check down receiver or just an outright great play by a defensive player. Let the counter arguments begin!

O-line, D-line, special teams, receiving corp, are all important parts but not always equally. Teams with average offenses but spectacular defenses (and vice versa) have won divisions and bowls. It's the parts as a whole and how they work together and how they are coached that makes winners. We strengthened our D and our receiving corp have become a very good group, now we need to address special teams and correct mistakes we made there and in other areas. Don't forget injuries and their effects on a team and how unpredictable they can be as well. It's rarely one side or another in this sport. I should know, I'm also a Colts fan and they've rarely been strong on all sides and they are always in the mix. Even the Pats have been weak in certain areas a lot of the time, they just have a very smart coach\coaching staff and front office.

I'm no expert at contracts but giving Poz Fair Market Value would be smart for the Bills to do, as long as they don't OVER pay him or anyone else (be smart, not cheap). If we keep changing parts without just cause and re-inventing the wheel, this team will never progress to where it needs to be. That being said: If another team is willing to pay him more than he's shown himself to be worth when compared to others at his position, then let them do it and do the best we can to replace him. I personally don't believe Poz is the type to expect more than what is fair according to standard league contracts for other similar players and believe a deal will get done if the lockout ever ends.

Awesome!

I'm finding out that the only time to even start to discuss rookie performances and potential is after their first season is over, at minimum. CJ and Maybin are good examples why (and I'm not calling CJ a bust and I still hold out hope that this year will be a good one for Maybin, even though it isn't very likely). It is fun to "predict" and "project" great things for them but it isn't really based on facts or reality to do so before they even play an nfl down. I'm just hoping we have a season to judge them by. That being said, I hope for great things from at least a couple of our picks, especially Dareus, even if it isn't this season. P.S. I still wish we had taken a shot at Mallett or Kaepernick.

As with all young players, it's a gamble and hard to tell what they will do. With all that the Bills were biting off last year I believe his rookie year was sub-par due to overly high expectations and a combination of factors beyond just his abilities. I'm hoping Chan has a much better grasp on this team and its players than he did last year and that he will use both Spiller and other players much better this year (if there is a season). My money is on Spiller breaking out this year but the longer the CBA dispute drags on, the more it will hurt the younger players performances. Let's hope it gets settled soon!

Thanks SJBF for the link. Great example of what he can do. Some things I noticed in these highlights: He played a variety of positions and had an impact at each one. The only time I could see him get pushed back was when he was taking on two guys, and then he only got moved back a yard or two. He seemed to use leverage wisely along with strength. He shed blockers pretty well and rather quickly. He followed through on the plays and pursued from behind several times. He appears to have good instinct both for the run and the pass. This guy will be a pro-bowler in a couple of seasons if not right off. With him and Kyle on the line together our defense will readily improve if they stay healthy. We are definitely headed in the right direction on Defense. Now let's just hope and pray for a quick resolution to the CBA\Lockout or we may not find out until 2012.

None of it matters until there is a CBA in place and the season is back in play. They can't be signed, can't workout or even enter the facilities, and they can't learn the system of the teams they're on. It's all mute until this lockout\CBA is settled. It's like watching the far left trying to come to a compromise with the far right in politics; it ain't happening. These power struggles are ruining everything good about the USA, including football. I'll be happy watching college football instead I guess until they ruin that. Man it's been a long day! Had to vent some. Go Bills.