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The next Bills QB will come through their draft process or has already been drafted by them (EJ). It's the Steelers way and that is what Whaley believes. The days of panic and overpaying are over. Be happy. Whaley will build an all encompassing, self-sustaining football operation focused on long term success.

Cutler will have a bounce back year in Chicago. John Fox will turn Cutler over to OC Adam Gase, The plan will be to throw the ball as a secondary option - assuming the defense can keep them in games. Coaching the ultimate prima donna in Peyton Manning should serve Gase well when it comes to Cutler. Play to Cutler's strengths, get him some new downfield toys, and keep telling him how great he is and all will be well.

I like the fact that the Bills did not overpay for McCown. I am sure they placed a value on his services and when the Browns exceeded that (panicked) they ended the pursuit. If Sanchez, for example, is on their target list they know they can get him for less than the guaranteed $6MM+ that the Browns gave McCown. This indicates, to me, that the football guys are back in charge at OBD. They will bring in a veteran backup type QB via FA and they will draft at least one and likely sign another as an undrafted FA. Whaley is tied to Manuel for at least one more year and Rex was signed to a five year deal to give him an extra year. Trades involving players rarely happen in the NFL and the draft pick cupboard is bare so the option to acquire a QB via trade is unlikely and unnecessary. They have a plan and they are following it. They know their positions of need and they have values placed on them whether via draft or free agency. Trades can be somewhat on the fly as guys come available but the Bills lack the assets for a trade battle especially for an established starter at QB. The Bills will continue to feed the defense in free agency - including re-signing Hughes (remember he was Whaley's Cinderella signing). The DL is stout but aging quickly so look for draft picks or select FA acquisitions there for depth. I do believe that if Revis becomes available, the Bills will indulge Rex and probably overpay to acquire him - no big deal, it makes the pass rush better anyway. Is it really overpaying to get a guy who knows your primary divisional opponent's offense as well as Revis knows the Patriots? I think not. Whaley's Steelers heritage dictates building through the draft and signing your own players (or former Steelers :-)) as the first option in free agency. Bill Cowher probably gave Whaley a big endorsement when he spoke to Pegula so he will be given room to run the football program his way for the foreseeable future. The Bills next long term QB will come or has already come (EJ) through their own draft process.

Garrett Gilbert

Pretty sure the Seahawks are looking to deal Bo Callahan.

You're more correct than you think. The Texans need to handle their division first. Beating the Colts will require a dominant pass rush. A healthy Clowney definitely makes the Texans' pass rush better.

The culture has changed. Whaley and Rex are the clear decision makers when it comes to football ops. Whaley is talking more than ever and seems to have more confidence than he had in the past.

Where/when did O'Brien call him out? His college HC, Steve Spurrier, called him out daily but I have not really seen anything on O'Brien. In the modern era, negative comments from NFL coaches about player injury are rare if they exist at all. Clowney was O'Brien's first draft pick as a HC. If anything, he is going to stick up for him.

Physicals are the prime reason for the combine and they have actually saved players' lives in the past. Interviews are next important and while they don't make a 4th rounder a 1st rounder, they can help a player get drafted. Tom Brady was not a physical specimen and his combine workout was average at best. To make matters worst, he was not even starting as a senior in college. But his work ethic and intelligence is what led Belichick to draft him. The measurables that the drills produce allow a controlled method for comparison. They also produce a baseline for future reference.

And Josh McCown. :-)

If by some miracle TE Maxx Williams is still there when the Bills pick in the second round, you take him. He can stay in and block, run routes down the middle of the field, and flex in to the slot. No brainer. If not, you pick the best interior offensive lineman left on your board. The Bills should not pick a RB in the second round. If they start the year with Boobie Dixon as their #1 RB no one should be surprised or disappointed. If CJ leaves I just hope he ends up outside the division. He has plenty left in the tank...all he needs is inspiration and confidence. This draft should be logical and methodical. More like Gorge Foreman than Floyd Mayweather.

New England will sign him...Jackson loved Schiano who loves Belichick. Jackson also recruited Revis to Tampa - same agent. And Belichick loves signing players that other teams in the division need/want.

I kind of agree with you. The one variable is how much Roman likes him and whether or not he will (or is) make a formal request to pursue him. As far as Whaley and "his guys" - I agree with your take on that. Urbik and Pears are his guys.

Drafted the "clowns" (your word not mine) you speak of and was responsible for signing Urbik (off waivers) and Pears (after being cut by JAX) in 2010 shortly after being named Asst. GM and Dir. of PRO personnel.

To answer the question - TE all the way. You cannot make or go very deep in the playoffs averaging 3.7 yds/carry and less than 100 yds rushing/game. So...the first priority is OL and specifically Guard to help the run game. The only player on the team that averaged more than 4 yds/carry in 2014 was Boobie Dixon (4.1). But he only had 105 attempts. As we know, there were several times in the 2014 season when the Bills just would not run the ball - even with the lead. I think they need to do everything they can to improve the running game. I know Rex and Roman will make that happen. I would say even as important as the TE, the Bills need to find multiple running backs (keeping CJ would be a start) that can catch the ball out of the backfield. Not check down passes but designed plays to get them in space. The ingredients are on the active roster - run inside with Dixon and occasionally Jackson and run wide with Spiller (after you teach him the one cut style of running). All of them can catch the ball out of the backfield. Draft RB or attain one through FA for depth. Once you establish the run, you have to have someone that can threaten the middle of the field through the air. That is where the TE comes in. There is plenty of room on this roster for more than one TE. Scott Chandler gets better when a true #1 TE option is on the field with him. At the end of the day it's about having more points than the other team. The defense was elite at preventing the other team from scoring (18.1 pts/game - the offense actually averaged 21.3 a game) and held opponents to less than 5000 yds (#3 in the league). TEs offer a low risk way of keeping drives alive and defenders off the line of scrimmage. If the Bills had stay committed to the run or had a quality threat at TE they would have won 2 more games last year and made the playoffs (three if you count the Raiders game - sigh). 85% of the time it's about your 7 guys "in the box" beating the other team's 7 guys "in the box". Our defense does that consistently. With the addition of some quality O-Lineman I think things start looking much better. Then add a TE. THEN find someone who can match up with Gronk! Side note - I know Pears/Urbik are beat to death on this board. Do you realize they were both acquired in 2010 AFTER Whaley was named Asst. GM and Director of PRO Personnel? Urbik off waivers (from Pittsburgh) and Pears via FA after being cut by JAX and OAK (twice).

The challenge with Mallet is he is still hurt (torn pec). Word is that he will not be able to begin light lifting until mid to late March. All indications are that he will recover fully but there is a limited body of live action video with which to evaluate. The Texans are in a similar situation in Buffalo with a less than stellar/popular option at Plan B - The Beard. Odds favor Houston having leverage if they plan to re-sign Mallett just because it's very difficult for other teams to evaluate him either through past performance or live workout. Personally...I would really like to see Buffalo commit to EJ for the entire 2015 season. There is no QB currently available that can take over games and win on their own. Truthfully...those guys rarely become available in their prime anyway. As far as adding QB depth to the roster? I like Luke McCown being signed as a backup and maybe bring Sanchez in to compete as the starter and push EJ but if he doesn't clearly win the job by the third preseason game cut him. Draft the best QB you have rated on your board in the appropriate round and keep Tuel around through training camp to eat some reps. Worst case (a pretty good case, IMO) you have EJ starting behind a much improved OL and a stud tight end, a declared veteran backup in McCown (who can still be effective spot starting) with no delusions of grandeur, a rookie #3, and Tuel on the PS unless someone else with more potential is available. EJ needs confidence. Running him out there on essentially one week contracts does not instill confidence. And, honestly, the guys around him will work harder knowing they have to do a little more every week because he is not going to take the team on his back and carry them to victory...at least not yet.

NO.. I was suggesting that the Bills QB is vulnerable behind an offensive line that does not protect and retaliate against intentional late hits and intimidation. EJ Manuel was tangential to the main point.

Thank you for seeing the point in my intentionally tongue in cheek comment. You got the message I was sending. Thank you.

Opposing defenses have deliberately (JJ Watt/Terrell Suggs/etc...) knocked EJ Manuel around to get him off his game. Alarmingly, no one on the OL retaliates. The Bills play Houston at home this year. What do you think the crowd does if Incognito drops the gloves and decks Watt before the Bills first offensive play? They go wild. Rex's press conference comments? "Well, we have really been pleased with how aggressively Richie has fired off the ball. It's the coaching staff's fault there...he is still new and I think he got confused about the snap count. Nothing we can't coach up." Do you think Watt (or anyone else) goes after EJ after that? Something tells me our hockey lover owner is going to love "on the field" Richie.

I love the fact that the OP posted...highly accurately, BTW...took the same old crap from the usual suspects and just dropped the mic. Well done RalphOP83...much respect. As far as Incognito in Buffalo? If Ryan asked for this signing and Incognito knows that, I am sure he is going to play his a** off or he will be gone. Who fears Joe Philbin? No one... Beyond his play on the field, he is also a leader. All indications were that he was well respected in Miami and the leader of that OL. If a coach had put an end to some of his over the top behavior in Miami, up to and including cutting him - like St. Louis - it would never had escalated to the point it did. If he can still play he has a chance to be a valuable member on this team for a while. His attitude will be kept in check. His past has made him a target and he is vulnerable. Let's see how he deals with it. Also...if he was available in 2014 and we (supposedly) did not even take a look it has to be Marrone or Tom Gibbons. More Marrone, for sure. HC/GM says "hey what about this guy?" They go to Pro Personnel guy, Tom Gibbons, "well, not heard good things...go ask the HC." Marrone - "You can sign him but he won't play..." Rex Ryan to Pro Personnel guy Gibbons "The offensive line sucked. Why didn't you look at Incognito?" Gibbons did not deliver a good answer...Rex to Whaley/Monos "Pro Personnel guy has to go." Done. Those two guys are gone...the new HC wanted him...and no one else objects. Welcome back to the Bills Richie.

Understand that ~40% of the non-suite, non-premium seating revenue goes to the visiting team. So...the league has as much or more to do with pricing than the ownership. Every time you hear to the paid attendance announced at the game, someone from the visiting team is leaving their seat to pick up a check at the host team's ticket office. :-) The push to "modernize" stadiums to be more "competitive" is about expanding the premium and suite seating which is 100% home team revenue. This is the big money that could be used for free agency and other local spending.

Amen...I live in Katy, TX, too!

I immediately started thinking that when Palmer was brought in as an offensive assistant.

Exactly...that's the question. His only start with SF was at fullback and he scored a touchdown. It's not like the 49ers lost interest and cut him so it is quite possible that Roman is comfortable with him and vice versa.

I don't disagree. The word is out on this guy and, at the very least, the Seahawks want something if they lose him. I think he is legit and would really like to see him come in via trade and compete.