2003Contenders

Allow me to take this opportunity to go on a tirade about just how AWFUL Buffalo's local reporting has been, since the season concluded. Why is it that all of these trades are being reported by the national media without any of the local guys providing a whiff of it. Now the local media is talking up something they got from a Message Board? Wow! I honestly believe that there are multiple posters on this board that could do a better job reporting on the team right now than the lazy know-nothings at WGR, Buffalo News and Rochester D&C!!!

The other funny thing is all of these references to the Raiders' acquisition of Lamont Jordan being so awful. Well, in 2005, the year that the trade was made, Jordan was arguably a top 5 running back: he accounted for over 1000 yards rushing (close to 1600 rushing/receiving) and 11 TDs. I realize that he had a horrible season in 2006, but he was injured -- and the Raiders as a team were putrid.

Well, either Marv was blowing smoke when he indicated that we were not interested in Chris Brown at this time -- or Brown's camp is exaggerating our level of interest. Considering that Marv has little to gain from issuing the statement that he uttered earlier this week, I suspect that you are right that Brown is trying to make it sound like Buffalo is interested to help drive up his perceived value for the the Titans. I also thought it was funny that Brown's agent went out of his way earlier this week to mention how close Brown and Jeff Fisher were/are -- which contradicts what I heard at this time last year.

Willis = diarrhea mouth and a constipated brain. Too bad he danced so much -- and didn't hit the hole the way he ran his mouth...

Since the Bills pick higher than GB and Tennessee in the draft, I would say that the ball is their court...

The funny thing is that he has not started THAT many games in his career.

Yea... I'm starting to think that Willis is a no-brainer pick if he is still there at #12. The trouble is, I have a bad feeling that he'll be gone.

Marv says they want to go in a different direction. Does that mean that they are close to dealing for Turner -- or targeting an early draft pick? link

Willis may not even be there... I have a feeling that he may not get past the Niners.

Well, we won't know right after the draft either. Think back to last year... Who in late April would have thought that the Bills had (what looks like now at least) to have been one of the better drafts of any team in the NFL? Still, to take a stab at answering your question, last year their aim was to heavily attack the secondary. In so doing, with that single draft, they were able to fortify both safety positions -- and possibly found a future replacement for Clements in Youboty. (Obviously the verdict is still out on that.) If they can do the same thing this year in addressing the weak underbelly of the defense -- by addressing the DT and LB needs in the same manner -- then I will call this draft a HUGE success.

The reality is that this team still needs what it has frankly needed for a number of years: a quality SLB. Jeff Posey was adequate at best in the role, prior to being released last season. The coaches tried to move TKO there last year -- and IMHO his ineffectiveness there had almost as much to do with his playing out of position as it did with the slow recovery from the injury. Yes, when he is healthy, TKO is versatile enough to play any of the LB positions, but he is MUCH better playing WLB than SLB. The fact that Ellison came on and played pretty well at WLB -- and Wire provides decent depth at the position -- is what has made TKO expendable. So there may be some truth to the cynics complaining that this is all about money. Of course, YOUTH has something to do with it too, and if TKO is likely to head out the door after this season anyway, why not try to get something for him, while he still holds some value. Getting back to my original point... we are still faced with the reality that we need a SLB, which would have been the case with OR without TKO on the roster. I really do have a deep-down suspicion that Marv and company are targeting Poz in the draft... I can't wait for the draftniks to criticize the Bills for "reaching" by taking him with the #12 pick...

I think Marv -- to his credit -- has given Brown a take it or leave it offer. Brown and his agent are trying to raise his market value. The problem is that everyone knows that the LAST team that he would want to sign with is Tennessee, as he managed to land himself in Fisher's doghouse.

I hear what you are saying, but if Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Maurice Clarrett can drafted fairly early...

He IS a major medical concern, which is why he is NOT being mentioned in the same breath as Lynch and AP. However, because of the upside of what the guy can do when he is healthy, SOME team is going to take him earlier than he probably should go -- even with the risks involved. In fact, it would not surprise me if he doesn't last until the 3rd round -- the point at which I said I would be willing to take a chance on him. I actually would NOT want the team to invest such a high pick on him, if they are relying on him to be healthy anytime soon. However, with the insurance of A-Train and Chris Brown (hypothetically, if we were to sign him to a frugal deal), I believe that the potential reward would outweigh the risk.

Actually, if the team were to sign Brown, I think that we will be in pretty good shape in the short term at RB with both Brown and A-Train to go along with the unknown Fred Jackson commodity. Under this scenario, I would advocate going defense with both of our first two draft picks -- and taking a chance with Michael Bush in the 3rd.

That's where Poz comes into play...

Whoops sorry... Didn't see the other post...

He just had surgery to insert a rod into his injured leg yesterday -- and won't even be able to work out at all for several months.

I know this sounds like a cop-out, but my answer is simply: WHOMEVER OUR SCOUTS have RANKED THE HIGHEST. That is really the only bright side to having so many needs... aside from QB and SS, I think you could make an argument to draft the best available player at almost any other position. I am no scout and do not pretend to be. There are however, many scouts employed by the team that are paid to make these kinds of decisions. Based on the early returns from last year's draft, I am inclined to trust their judgment. Assuming that these guys are all ranked very close, that is where I'd try to trade down.

Don't be surprised if the Bills pass on Branch even if he is there at #12. Recall that Marv and crew passed on Ngata last year because they did not want to draft a 2-down DT that early. There were also whispers of him taking too many downs off. My guess is that the same principle may apply here.

The word I heard is that his contract was extended through 2012.

Huh? Personally, I don't get the Alexander comparison because Peterson's running style does NOT remind me of Alexander's running style. Still, if you knew that you were drafting a back that would get you around 1500 yards and 14 or more TDs each year for the next 5-6 years (not to mention a league MVP) -- regardless of what he does after that -- I think you'd use that #12 pick on such a player without hesitation.

This is simply ludicrous. Even if you weren't worried about Ricky's drug problems (which any serious person would have to be) there is still the little matter of fact that Ricky has tons of wear and tear on his body... Why would Marv be interested in this guy?

It's not going to happen. I see no way he gets past the Cardinals at 5. However, if by chance it were to happen, the Bills would HAVE to take him. Then just move Walker to RG -- and we'd be set with Peters and Thomas at tackle. The line would suddenly become rather formidable.

Plus, the team actually does throw him a bone every now and then.