2003Contenders

I have never understood the crowd that claims that Ralph is a cheapskate. The reality is that financial parameters have changed in a major way since the late 1980s. When Kelly signed that "massive" contract in 1990 that (briefly) made him the highest paid player in the NFL, the average annual salary was about $3M. Today, the top players in the league make close to $20M per year -- which is about what an entire roster payroll was back in those days. And we are talking just 20 years ago. Last year, Ralph paid about $120M in player payroll. When the salary cap kicked in in 1993, the first cap was less than $40M. By the time Tom Donahoe took over in 2001, the cap was up to $67M, and the Bills were in desperate peril as they had to make huge personnel moves to get under that figure. The last capped season (2009), it was around $127M. Ralph's never had a problem paying players. Look at that ridiculous contract that Dockery signed just a few years ago. That is the real problem, though, right? Investing too much capital in mediocre players. And it isn't Ralph that makes these decisions; he just signs the check. I blame Ralph for firing the best GM (Polian) the team ever had, giving too much power to a GM that was hit-or-miss (TD), and relying on marketing guys to run the team after the Donahoe era. The verdict is still out on Nix.

And yet when these two teams met in what amounted to a road game for the Bills, the Bills very nearly beat these Bears.

I think you have to give Sanchez the nod for being clutch. However, I honestly believe that minus the QB position, the Jets are the best team top-to-bottom in the NFL. When Sanchez plays well, they are almost unbeatable. When he doesn't play so well...

If the manner in which the Bills played both teams is any barometer, the Jets should beat the Steelers convincingly. Of course, that doesn't work in the NFL. One thing I will say is that the Steelers looked VERY lethargic in the first half against the Ravens on Saturday. They were actually lucky to come away with a win. The Jets beat them a few weeks back, so I expect them to come out motivated and ready to play on Sunday. One thing the Steeler defense does very well is stop the run. In the absence of a running game can Sanchez play well enough to go toe-to-toe with Big Ben? (I know he had 3 TD passes on Sunday -- but was he REALLY asked to do very much against the Patriots?)

You know I was thinking the exact same thing. Part of the reason that the Pats won the time-of-possession battle is that on each pass play Brady held onto the ball for like 5-6 seconds and STILL couldn't find open receivers. Of course, it helps that the Jets have such a good front 7 that they can mix-and-match their coverages like that so that even a seasoned pro like Brady starts worrying about the pressure -- even if there isn't any.

You know, try as I might, I just can't bring myself to dislike ol' Rex. There is something almost lovable about him. I would call him a "likeble a-hole".

Additionally, I believe that drafted players have until Week 10 to sign with the team that drafted them -- otherwise, they go back into the draft the following year.

Our 2nd round pick is #34 overall -- almost a first rounder. The Bills need to get an instant impact player here (like a DL, OL or LB) rather than roll the dice on someone like Ponder.

Oh well. Do I despise Tom Brady? Yes. Do I hope every week that he gets humiliated by the opposing team? Yes. Do I wish he were the QB of the Buffalo Bills? Yes.

Wanny will have plenty of other options (including San Diego, where he is as close to Norv as he is Chan). If they want to land him, they will need to give him a title like Assistant Head Coach. The Redskins did this for years with multiple guys with varying titles. At one time Greg Blanche was the official Defensive Coordinator; however, Gregg Williams had the title "Assistant Head Coach (Defense)". The Bills should give Wanny a similar title.

OK, here's the thing. In order to be a successful head coach, there is MUCH more in the job description than simply Xs and Os. Much of the real work involves proper communication and making use of strong people skills. This applies to both dealing with subordinates (assistant coaches, players, training staff, etc.) as well as superiors. Meaning that it is vitally important for the head coach to have a strong working relationship with the GM and (YES) the owner. If Ralph does indeed like to chat for a couple of hours a week with the head coach, then the coach (in this case, Chan) needs to set that time aside on his busy schedule and create a win-win situation in which he either does what he needs to patronize Ralph OR actually makes valuable use of the conversation and tries to persuade Ralph to open up his checkbook -- or even make suggestions about cultural changes within the organization. Chan seems to be a refreshingly straight shooter, and I have a feeling that he provides Ralph with an honest assessment in their weekly chats. How is that a bad thing?

In watching that game on Saturday, I was amazed by how the Jets and Colts were inverse mirror images of one another. Aside from the QB position (and Sanchez certainly can get better as he matures), the Jets are top notch from top to bottom. Meanwhile, the Colts are pretty much NOTHING without Manning. In fact, our very own Bills, I believe, are a superior team to what the Manning-less Colts would be. Talking about firing Caldwell at this juncture is silly, given that his team has won back-to-back divisions and is just one year removed from a Super Bowl appearance. However, he does NOT impress me as a gameday coach, and if (God forbid) Manning misses any time next season, I imagine that reality will set in for the Colts front office and fan base.

While the Bills have certainly had their share of issues with guys like Maybin, McCargo and the like and the top draft picks this year (Spiller, Troup, and Carrington) did little, I would say that several rookies did make a meaningful contribution this year: D Nelson, D Jones, and A Moats to name only three. Time will tell, but I actually have high hopes for both 2009 and 2010 draft classes (minus, of course, the Maybin fiasco).

I do NOT blame the front office on this one. In fact, I think they held onto Lynch longer than they should have trying to get the best return. I think this is sour grapes on the Saints' part. The Bills made no secret that they were trying to trade Marshawn -- and even showcased him in games in hopes of driving up his trade value. I suspect that we will hear a similar report out of Green Bay next week, when they get knocked out of the playoffs by the Falcons due to their inability to run the ball.

I am hearing that the Dolphins are indeed very close to inking a deal with him.

I wondered the same thing.

Aside from slotting every other player up a spot now, my biggest fear is that the Bills reach for another QB at #3 and proudly say that they just drafted the best QB in the 2011 draft.

Interesting. I think Chan feels a sense of loyalty to Fitz; however, I can see him wanting to bring in Young as a reclamation project.

True. I hope the guy gets a fair shot, though. Remember, he had already figured out last year that Jackson > Lynch and Fitz > Trent. I often wonder if things may have been better if he had retained the HC job and brought Chan in as his OC.

That actually is kind of what they did last year. Under the Levy/Brandon regime the emphasis was on YOUNG guys. Case in point, guys like Whitner, Lynch and Maybin were all underclassmen who were barely 20 at the time they were drafted. I think the faulty concept was to draft them young and bank on longer careers. Funny that with the status of both Maybin and Whitner being "tenuous", there is a good chance that all 3 of these guys who were drafted for their potentially lengthy livelihood could very well be off the roster before the 2011 season (assuming there WILL BE a 2011 season) begins. My assessment of what the Bills need to do to get better: 1. The weakest part of this team IMHO was the LB corps. If Merriman can get back to where he was 3-4 years ago that would be a big shot in the arm. Obviously there are plenty of doubts there. I consider Poz decent -- but not great. He certainly isn't a big play maker. Maybe he is "good" in the sense that Nix described Kelsay after the questionable extension. If the team can extend him without breaking the bank, I think they should do so -- and focus on improving the other LB spots. Moats was a welcome surprise in the second half of the season, but he is a pass rush specialist and a liability against the run. They definitely need an upgrade at the other ILB spot (assuming they bring Poz back). Here is where they need to find someone that is a true play maker. The way I see it, they need to place a premium on finding a beast at ILB and should add more depth at both ILB and OLB positions too. 2. Improve the DL. I would start by getting rid of Stroud -- and finding an improvement to Kelsay, who would be best served as a reserve. Maybe Carrington can fit that bill? Edwards should be serviceable, but Williams was the only guy that played well last season. I have high hopes for Troupe. But it sure would be nice to have a studly Wilfork type to dominate the point of attack. More beef at DT would also allow the team to mix-and-match with their multi-front look by moving Williams inside and out depending on down and distance. It would also allow them to keep the big bodies fresh. 3. Build depth along the OL. I think they are in good shape along the interior with Wood, Levitre, Urbick, and Hangman. They could probably use another quality body there for depth. I see Bell as average at LT -- and the RT position the biggest weakness. I would look for a starting RT in free agency and draft both OTs and OGs in the middle rounds. 4. The team needs a legitimate passing-catching TE. I am not sure why the team has neglected this position for so long. Really, since they let Jay R go after the 2002 season. I don't know that Nelson, who I really liked coming out of college, will ever be what they need. Obviously, there are other things that need to be improved too (like cutting down on turnovers and finding ways to get pressure on the QB). However, if they can address these 4 key areas -- all of which, I believe, are doable in a single off-season -- I believe they can make significant strives to move toward the postseason.

The Steelers haven't exactly been the worse for the wear since he left, right? Cowher is certainly a very good coach but nowhere near the league of someone like Bill B. The word also is that he wants total control wherever he goes. Sounds like a recipe for disaster -- as darn few head coaches have succeeded as GM too. I won't be shaking in my boots IF the Dolphins do sign him.

Agreed. Recall also that when Moulds pulled his stunt in the infamous Miami meltdown, Mularkey wanted to suspend him for the rest of the year, but Ralph chopped his balls off by insisting that MM not sit him for more than a game. After the season, Ralph forced him to fire all of his assistants -- and, as a result, MM had trouble finding quality assistants willing to come. That's when he knew that the deck was stacked against him and resigned.

John, I appreciate the optimism. I really do. But Luck appears to be a once in a generation talent -- and the Panthers are well aware of this... even if they are not interested in acquiring him themselves. As of today, assuming he comes out, he will be the #1 overall pick. Even if the Panthers are not interested in him, as you suggest, they know they can ask a king's ransom for some team to move up to get him. Think back to the Chargers in 2004 with Eli Manning and conversely what the Cardinals did to the Chargers in 1998 to move up one spot for Ryan Leaf. The only way I can see the Bills acquiring him is if they trade next year's #1 (and possibly more) in addition to their own first round pick this year to move up 2 spots. Personally, I would be willing to do that. However, I don't know if Nix and company will.

Besides, even with the ammunition that NE has, there is a substantial difference between the #1 overall pick and a mid first rounder (which mercifully is "all" they are getting from Oakland), even if it is paired with another late first rounder and early 2nd rounder. With Luck not being an ordinary #1 pick, I doubt that the Panthers would even trade the pick to the Bills for their #3 overall pick and their 2012 #1 (which would likely be another high first rounder).

Yea, I don't think anyone is disputing that Luck is the consensus #1 overall pick if he comes out. The problem is that the Bills are picking #3.