fridge

I genuinely don't know why anyone watches ESPN given the expansive sports media on the internet and your ability to pick and choose the voice that you prefer. Gone are the days when PRIMETIME was THE SHOW to watch. Highlights aren't aired at one specific time -- in fact they're online seconds after they happen. The story-telling aspect of the games are gone completely. With Chris Berman leaving, there's not even a nostalgic factor going for the network.

Wait till you see his lowlights.

No, and I literally detailed above exactly why that doesn't work... taking a DB in round 1 has been at the root of our roster mismanagement.

Because when you strike gold on a QB then paying them that second contract isn't a question. Newsflash: we didn't strike gold on Tyrod. There was a lot of debate and we have a team friendly contract with him. You will never get a franchise QB if you don't try to get one.

Exactly! He isn't worth what he got, so why would you expect another 1st round DB would be? Winfield Clements McKelvin Whitner Gilmore None of these DBs that we took in the first round were worth the next big contract, so why would we think it will be any different this time. It's a terrible investment, nevermind the fact that you're wasting away resources on a hole you just created.

This is an incredibly shallow approach to the greater problem. Yes, it will be cheaper to pay a rookie...until their contract is up. Then we will release them and draft another. It's like leasing a car versus owning one outright. Teams like the Patriots might be able to afford this luxury, but we need to be buying our cheaper cars outright and working hard at trying to get a franchise QB. Drafting a CB in the first after releasing Gilmore is a fundamental error. If you want to break the cycle, then just release Gilmore. To release him and replace with a coveted top 10 pick is the antithesis of building a roster.

This got buried in another thread, but fits better here. This is my take on this exact subject:

No one ever laughed at these.

But...you're the one that opened this thread? Am I crazy or do these new BBMB transfers not understand the point of a message board? It's like they WANT multiple threads per topic.

I will be pretty disappointed if we draft a CB. This has nothing to do with whether or not it is a current need. Here's how I look at it... We've created a need at CB by our own poor roster management dating back to the early 2000's. Similar to how we've misunderstood the value of the RB position, the Bills have created and filled their own holes in the secondary... In 1999 we drafted Winfield in the first round to fill the hole at DB. In 2001 we drafted Clements in the first round and had a 1-2 tandem in Winfield/Clements. In 2003 we let Winfield go In 2006 we let Clements go ... We use UFA Jabari Greer and 4th RD McGee to plug in these holes eventually, but lose Greer to FA, draft Whitner and begin a new cycle at the position... ... In 2008 we draft McKelvin in the first. In 2012 we draft Gilmore in the first. In 2015 we draft Darby with our first pick (2nd round). In 2016 we get rid of Mckelvin In 2017 we get rid of Gilmore As much as this is a condemnation of the free agent era, it's a frustrating look at how many times we have created and filled holes due to poor roster management. If the argument is that GIlmore is too expensive, well then it's a terrible investment of a first round pick. All the CBs (Winfield, Clements, Gilmore, Whitner and even McKelvin to an extent) were let go to the market because they were too expensive. We continually fall for this trick, and then panic when it's time to pony up. Winfield was probably the only player worth the big contract, and when you look back, the only recurring trend in this ineptitude is that we've missed the playoffs. Yes, other teams have let a lot of quality starters walk because they were too expensive. The Patriots are pretty famous for drafting a player and not resigning him, but I'll argue that for us, these are mostly top 10 picks we're talking about here, not last in the first round. These are positions of value in the draft board that are sure-thing starters...and yet we seem to cyclically release and draft DB's anyways. I've brought this up over the years and I'm often looked at as not understanding how the team is being built. Well, at the 17 year mark all I can do is throw my hands in the air and wonder how wrong have I been? If you're going to let Gilmore go, fine. I don't have a problem with it, really, but you need to STOP the cycle there. You need to use the back half of the draft and bring on depth players to compete for the position. You cannot afford to simply replace with another first round pick because in 4-5 years (less if you count Darby) it will just happen again. To me, it's simple...if you're going to keep getting these high draft picks you NEED to gamble on the game changer, the QB. If you try and fill a position of need, you're going to soon release that player and be right back in the same spot in a few years. If you hit on a QB, the decision is easy. You keep him, you pay him, etc. Every year we go down this same road, every year we scratch our heads at how all these other teams are always in it while we're out. You can't solve ANY problem until you solve the QB problem. TLDR: Don't draft a CB. It's a waste and we'll just let him go in 4-5 years like we've done several times during the drought. Draft a QB. Even if it's a swing and a miss it's a better value.

I have a "mild appreciation" for that. I think being a QB, to the level that Tyrod has played, can keep you in most games. I think being a great passer wins you a handful of the close ones.

We'll certainly find out a year from now. There was a plan last year to stick to the run, regardless of how the defense played, no one disagrees with that. The problem I have is that for the most part the ultra-conservative play calling was thrown out the window when we were down and we still struggled to move the chains. It scares me that when teams knew we were going to pass he was helpless mostly at the end of games.

It's very difficult to argue this.

I do feel like the large majority of these pro-tyrod posts end up being all over the place. He did very little to instill confidence in me in tight games, especially in second half drives after the defense gave up a score. It seems that when we absolutely needed him to make a play, it wasn't there. You can trot out plenty of stats, blame the defense, that's all fine - but I saw the offense crumble in key situations all season as well. It's not all Tyrod's fault, but he didn't really step it up and become the gamer a lot of you pretend that he is.

Can we see them coach a game first? I get it, it's not Rex Ryan's bloated staff, but I am shocked that so many will give the benefit of the doubt. This is the Bills we're talking about here.

at least crayonz was funny

He genuinely did not look like the same QB he once was.

It really is. This is one where I'm not joining in on the joke. This is a guy who had 9 TD's as a rookie, and by all accounts could have been an All-Pro RB. So much talent... out the window. It blows my mind when some of these guys can't seem to focus at all.

This thread is going to be crazy, but I'll throw in my two cents: When they kept Russ Brandon/Berchtold, I hated it, but understood why you would want to see how the operation runs and evaluate it. When they hired Rex Ryan, I hated it and as the story of how it went down surfaced, I started to question their ownership. When they promoted Russ Brandon to basically run PS&E and all their sports teams, they lost me. I think they mean well and prefer that to a cheap owner, but I think they've made massive organizational mistakes, the likes of which only have served to extend our drought and constant dysfunctional tendencies. They do seem to be learning and adapting, which I admire. I also give them respect for cutting loose with Rex and eating that contract. It takes a man to admit when they're wrong, and though it set us back, I am grateful we're not wondering how Rex will find ways to lose next season.

One of my favorite players. I really feel bad for him for the way his career turned out. His attitude seemed perfect for the team and I always thought he would have filled a WR role admirably.

Quick Hits: Undrafted player Turns 28 in April Started 4 games his first two seasons (with KC) In 2015 he went to the Pro Bowl and was second-team All Pro Pro Football Reference graded him out as the best FB that year He doesn't get many touches, a blocking FB (7 catches last year, 1 rushing attempt in his career)

I hope they use bubble wrap when they fly him across the country.

To clarify, it's even worse: The Bills have taken Two 1st RD QB's in the last 33 years. I'd like to make sure everyone is equipped with that knowledge before again, quite mindlessly explaining that we again need to wait until next year. Doing that is why we never have a franchise QB. I said it earlier, but I'll say it again because it applies so well to this damn team, The best time to grow a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now. Some of you want to wait until next harvest, and that's exactly how we end up where we are.

That's great news. Let's keep him. Why don't you like Robert Woods? You can draft a WR in the mid rounds AND keep Woods.