White Linen

Obviously they just won't address the QB position. i wish they would just wake up and listen to the fans and realize "Hey we need a great QB", and then go get one. I mean how damn hard is it to address this problem and go get a franchise Quarterback? It's like they just won't admit we need one. I'm just so sick of it. Every other team has a franchise Quarterback except us. Do they not see it's our number one need? I know they do it on purpose. They say they want one, but they won't do what it takes to do it.

This is his first year formally running the team. It's probably a good idea he understands the entire process of the combine including what appears to be the new meeting ground with agents. Do you think he's there saying "Hey buddy take a look at #53, I've been watching him and I think we should draft him."?

This league knows what they are doing. To me the off season feels shorter. It used to drive me nuts waiting, and now I'm like wow the combine is already here.

Clearly

I didn't say he couldn't be blamed, I said he couldn't be maligned for trying. No argument here on the points you make and Nix's culpability in the poor defensive play. I'm just saying I'm not so sure the players themselves are all mistakes. I want to see what Pettine does with them before saying Nix didn't build a viable defense. To me it's too early to say that the personnel is the problem.

The issue is both understand the position the Bills are in. Unless there is a "want to play for the Bills" attitude by one of them before the deadline, the reality exists that one leaves. I too believe it will be Levitre. The only other scenario I see possibly playing out is if Byrd starts to believe the reports he will be franchised and is willing to sign prior to a negotiation process under the tag. Then of course we could franchise Levitre. To me the linchpin behind this comming to fruition is Byrd signing. I believe Levitre is dead set on testing the market.

We will learn a lot about what Nix has done with Pettine. The possibility exists that Wannstedt was the problem. Nix can't be maligned for trying. The contract extension of Kyle, drafting of Dareus and Gillmore, and the signing of Anderson and Mario were all things that made a lot of sense. Let's see what an innovative coordinator does with it. I believe we will more accurately be able to judge those moves this year.

To me it all boils down to how much they value being great at Safety. In other words is it better to invest in a free agent LB so we have one good one, invest in one good safety, one good pass rusher, etc? Or is there more value in being totally solidified in one area? I don't know the answer but I believe Pettine will figure it out.

I think it's like a "I want everyone to read what I said, so I'll start a new thread" thing.

When do you propose that they will see him "throw in person" before March? That's my point, they only are privy to the film they have on him under the previous regime. They have no idea if they can help him improve. So they signed Jackson to compete. I'm not saying they won't cut Fitz or shouldn't, but it's not the easiest decision as most fans who want Fitz cut now presume. Then you're left with Jackson. How the heck do you or they know if they'll get a rookie? What if the guy(s) they want get picked before their pick(s)? As Hondo in Seattle mentions above, it appears they aren't just willing to put all their eggs in Jacksons basket.... yet.

Because he might be better than Jackson.

At least let us get through the combine and pro days so there's at least an opportunity for new feedback.

I agree with you and think Jackson is the opening day starter too, and I think they draft a QB. This puts the Bills in a bind because Fitz gets his $3 million signing bonus and his salary. But what else can they do? It's a tough spot to be in. They either cut Fitz (doesn't help cap too much) to not pay him the real money and risk Jackson being awful, or keep him and still have to pay him if he gets beat out. I just don't understand what fans would have them do?

Yep, that's the issue. He's trying to draw an analogy between his opinion and what Whaley said. It's just not there.

I'd be on board with him if it wasn't for his very weak arm. I know evaluators keep trying to say his arm is better when they see it live, but it's pretty weak. That kind of arm doesn't translate well in the NFL.

Pettine's defense is complex. These players have just come off a season with Wanny which was be as vanilla as it gets. If Scott is needed to get this team moving forward quicker on the new scheme's he may be necessary to bring in. No doubt he's not the player he was, in fact his bark was bigger than his bite even when he was thought to be very good. Incentive laden two year deal would be just fine with me.

That rant was classic. Happy B-day.

You're trying to fuse your thoughts and Whaley's and it's not there. "Serious holes" and "Matching skill sets to your offense" aren't exactly congruent analogies.

I don't believe the player has that option. I think I got it now. The non exclusive means the player is able to negotiate a contract with other teams, the team then has the right to match or decline, if they decline they get two 1st round picks from the new team. I think what I meant was the transition tag. This works the same as non exclusive in that the original team gets first right of refusal, but if they decline to match, no compensation is given. The transition tag is what I think we should use. Because no one will sign Levitre having to give up compensation.

How is my theory risking both? We have two weeks to get Byrd signed in order to non exclusive franchise Levitre. If in the two weeks we can't get it done with Byrd you franchise him and you let Levitre walk. To be honest I don't care what message gets sent to the other players and I doubt they do either.

I'm not sure I understand this rationale. If he's worthy of the 8th pick then he's viewed as a franchise QB. If that's the evaluation the Bills put on him, then he's worth trading up for. I'm not saying I do, but if that's the grade then you go get him.

Yeah that's why I'm thinking give Byrd top safety money, which isn't terrible in comparison to other positions. Then let Levitre see what he can get in the open market, if we like the deal we match and sign him, if not we allow him to sign. But at least we will know the numbers before allowing him to go.

What do Jim Harbaugh and Mike Mularkey have in common in this context?

I'd give Byrd 7.5 million per year and make him the highest paid safety in the league. Then I'd franchise Levitre with the non exclusive rights tag. If the Byrd signing can't happen, I unfortunately let Levitre go.

I'm not sure what you've read but I understood him to be a perfectionist and that he's a film rat. His coach said "he studies more film than Roger Ebert."