QCity

Avril franchised in Detroit.

Cliff Avril got franchised today so there's one less DE on the market.

Yes, from wayyyyyyy back when. We used to pay for 10 games in my day! Oh God, I can see it now - "Bills Fans Complain About High Playoff Ticket Prices"

Hmm, maybe I should reword my breaking news story to read "Bills Fans Complain About Purchasing Preseason Tickets That Every Other NFL Fan is Forced to Purchase". That seems a bit wordy for a title though. I wonder if Wawrow would use that?

Breaking news - "Bills Keep Ticket Prices Flat - Fans Still Complain"

"He bought the team in 1959 for an absolutely ridiculous $25,000. Forbes' 2011 NFL valuation estimated the Bills' worth at $792 million. He has no stadium debt. Daniel Snyder bought the Washington Redskins in 1999 for $750 million. Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys for $150 million in 1989. However, Jones is on the hook for $200 million in debt from his new stadium. All that really puts Wilson's unheard of profit into perspective." This paragraph is hysterical. Did he write that article with a crayon?

While I agree that you listed some very realistic signings - I really hope we don't go after Mincey. 5 of his 8 sacks came against Indy and their scrub QB and this is the only year the guy has done anything, not coincidentally it happens to be his contract year. Some team is going to overpay for him.

This. Also you can't accurately mock the draft until after the combine. For example: at this time last year, Fairley and Bowers were the consensus first 2 defensive picks off the board (in the top 5 overall no less).

It says the former. I do love the rhetoric used in the latter however. "TWO YEARS," as if switching a defensive scheme is something often accomplished in 2 weeks - and "something everyone's been saying since we got here" which of course no one has been saying. In fact, there were people rejoicing to "give Jauron's small, fast, dome defense the boot" all over the forums. So on one hand you are tired of the "same 'ol, same 'ol" at One Bills Drive, and on the other hand you don't want them to attempt to change. Which is it? Don't worry, you don't have to answer. The fact that you watched them miss the playoffs for 12 years doesn't qualify you as a football expert, only a whiner. Seriously, get the sand out of your vagina.

Well, in his interview Chan stated the only thing he could say for certain was that Sheppard was going to be the starting MLB. Which means Barnett will slide over to OLB (he played a fair amount of OLB toward the second half of last season). So you can definitely pencil in: DL: ?????, Williams, Dareus, Kelsey LB: Barnett, Sheppard, ?????

You'll see Barnett and Scott start at OLB I'd bet. The NFL is so pass orientated that most schemes are really a 4-2 nickel anyways, which shouldn't be a problem for either. The big question is how will Sheppard hold up at MLB? That's a big reach imo. (Also I believe we have to re-sign Scott) The line will see Kelsey, Dareus and Williams all return to their natural positions, which should pay huge dividends immediately. Getting the other DE will be a problem, they are going to have to spend some cash to get a Cliff Avril type to come to town.

The Jets didn't cut Thomas Jones because he "freaked out," they cut him because he was due $5.8 million in his last year ($3 million roster bonus). Fred Jackson is owed $1.8M for next year. How is that exactly the same? There's literally zero chance of cutting Freddie at a $1.8M price tag, to think so is asinine. Why would you think a team would outright cut one of the top players at his position when he owed so little money (comparatively)? Instead of listening to radio gossip, why not just listen to Nix himself? I'm paraphrasing, but he said there is no urgency to get this deal done immediately, it's something he will look at over the summer. And you know what? That's a smart more. Wait until Freddie is fully healed and they will get a deal done in training camp.

Sorry to ruin your thread with facts.

Listen. Fred Jackson is still under contract for the 2012 season. One more time. Fred Jackson is still under contract for the 2012 season.

Yeah please change the title, talk about a letdown. I was waiting to click a link to a Buddy Nix quote saying this, but it's just speculation. Nearly every team in the league would take a look at Williams.

No doubt, to get him here it would take Peppers' money ~ 6yrs/$85M with $40M guaranteed. I don't want to depress anyone by speculating on the odds of that happening, I'm having too much fun picturing him in a Bills jersey.

There's that word again. Talent. Did anyone ever stop and think that maybe Evans isn't a talented receiver? Did you ever consider that those anemic offenses of the Captain Checkdown years might have had something to do with the fact that Evans simply can't get open underneath? That's he's a 5'10" one-trick pony that can't outleap today's 6'+ CBs to fight for the ball? (incoming Revis YouTube video) That he is a horrible route-runner and gets absolutely smothered inside the red zone? That he never had a double digit TD season and he averages 3.2 receptions a game over his career? Is this where we make excuses that he never had a QB, yet his #2 receiver nearly doubled his production last year? Or is this where we play the injury card? Please, someone help me. What is it about Evans that has so many Bills fans enchanted with him? I mean, it has to be the number 83 right? Or are they still clinging to that 11-catch 265 yard game he had 6 years ago? This has had me baffled for the past 5 years. Someone enlighten me.

So we're still going to pretend that he's talented? I did forget about his amazing decoy skills, so bad on me.

Except they did do something right for a change, and people still can't admit it. We got a 4th rounder for a guy who will probably be cut after this season. At this point a 7th round pick for Evans would be considered a steal. Edit: Oh, and Evans disappeared back in 2008, he's just such a great magician that nobody even noticed.

No offense but that is a terrible comparison. In the 70's, TV contracts and luxury boxes were not a lucrative source of income - teams kept the lights on with gate receipts and did everything possible to fill the seats. Today, revenue sources have changed dramatically and television contracts are a much larger slice of the pie. The business model of a successful NFL franchise is nothing like that of a software company or the music industry.

Fair points, I guess it is too early to judge the owner. I assumed he was responsible for this trade, but I found out that Hue Jackson was the driving force behind this train-wreck.

He doesn't shed blocks very well - gets pushed around.

I agree. When he was in Washington, there was a lot of turnover at the head coaching/offensive coordinator positions and their line was in shambles. It looked like he was going to have a pretty good season in Oakland this year too. Now Oak is one big clusterf**k - with an owner who doesn't know what he's doing, more turnover at head coach, and they just mortgaged their future for an aging QB who isn't as good as the backup.

Huh? I didn't see "unlimited potential". Versatile, disruptive, productive in any system is what I read. His ceiling is that of a Pro Bowler. (I'm no Kiper fan either tbh)

Here's what Kiper had to say: Buffalo Bills Post-draft grade: B Summary: Leading up to the draft, there were many questions about whether the Bills would take a quarterback. After all, Ryan Fitzpatrick had no real security, and, if Cam Newton had fallen to Buffalo at No. 3, I suspected Buddy Nix would pull the trigger. Newton didn't fall; the Bills went for defense; and I wrote then that Fitzpatrick should "feel good about this draft" because he was "clearly the preferred starter." Fitzpatrick got off to a good start, and the Bills doubled down in giving him a contract extension. As for the picks, I'd say Buffalo confirmed the grade. Great value, so-so on need. Marcell Dareus gave them 15 starts and looks every bit like a versatile, disruptive defensive lineman who could be productive in almost any system. I'm not yet ready to say he's a Pro Bowl lock, but the ceiling is there, no question. I said third-round pick Kelvin Sheppard should be ready to help early, and he played in every game, giving the Bills nine starts. Second-rounder Aaron Williams has some growing to do, but he should start in 2012. Da'Norris Searcy has a chance to develop after a switch to safety. Chris Hairston also gave Buffalo some starts as an injury replacement. This grade rises if Dareus reaches a Pro Bowl level. New grade: B+