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I wrote a post about a month ago called "Bills May Luck Out". My point was that Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix may have something up their sleeves when it comes to choosing their franchise quarterback. It may seem risky and far-fetched, but Buffalo could conceivably trade this year's #3 overall pick, their 3rd round selection and another draft choice to a QB-needy team that's desperate to move up to get a guy like Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert. In return, Buffalo could demand that team's 1st round choice this year and their 1st rounder next year and use the picks as ammunition to better their chances of selecting Stanford QB Andrew Luck in 2012. Forecasting where a potential trade partner's gonna finish in any given year is a crap-shoot, but if the percentages are high that the organization will be one of the NFL'S 3 or 4 worst teams, Buffalo would be in prime position to draft Luck. Of course, if they need to move up to #1 next year, they'd have to package the high pick they receive, their own 2012 1st round choice & perhaps a 3rd rounder to do it. But if Nix and Gailey want Luck bad enough, they could and would. Hopefully the worst team in 2011 will already have their QB and will be open to a deal. That team may even turn out to be Buffalo's trading partner from this year. If this "best-case scenario" happened, the trade partner would already have Newton or Gabbert as their new face of the franchise and may be willing to deal with a team that gave them what they wanted in the first place. It's a lot of what-ifs, but it's a lot less insane than what Mike Ditka did years ago, when he traded all those Saints' draft choices for the chance to select Ricky Williams. One of the things I like most about Galley and Nix is that they have a history of identifying talent, coaching up that talent and incorporating it into a system for maximum benefit. I think if the Bills decide to select a QB this year, they'll do their best to build an offense around that particular QB's strengths. Newton, Gabbert, Jake Locker or Ryan Mallet would inevitably sit behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, much like Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre in Green Bay (except not as long). Depending on the health of Ralph Wilson and if he's the team's owner for 2 more years, I think Gailey and Nix will have at least a year to sit the kid, who will watch and learn from Fitz. They've earned that right and will not be pressured into inserting an inexperienced QB into an NFL lineup until he's ready. If they choose this scenario, don't be surprised if the Bills sign a journeyman in free agency to serve as the #2 signal-caller, in case Fitz sustains an injury. But if they've already decided to pass on this year's QBs, anything can happen, including a draft-day trade. In my opinion there have been clear signs of a Buffalo smokescreen in recent days. This week, Gailey gushed about Newton & Gabbert like never before. I mean, he actually said that they have above-average talent and that both of them have what it takes to have early and long-term success. Does that sound like the same guy that said before the combine that it's "easier to coach up a one-year starter from a pro-style college system than one that's been in a spread offense for a year or two"? Don't be fooled by Gailey's sudden "change of heart." 40 to 50 pro day passes by Newton and Gabbert have not changed his mind. Unfortunately, other teams know a smokescreen when they see one. One NFL rep reportedly said that he didn't agree with Gailey's "can't-miss" comments about the two QBs. Nevertheless, if there's ever a good time to get the most out of a potential trade partner, now's the time. Gailey and Nix know that they have to coax QB-needy teams to "come correct" if they make an offer to move up. And by saying that he "expects to have it all figured out a couple of weeks BEFORE the draft", coach Gailey is lighting a fire under the asses of every possible trade partner! If those teams haven't done their due diligence to come up with an offer by now, then they definitely will after hearing that comment. Meanwhile, if the Bills drop down a few slots and wait til next year for a QB, how can they lose? With top-5 picks potentially earning much less than in the past and with a seasoned General Manager like Nix answering the phone, Buffalo can be as stubborn as it wants to be. And the Bills will be, until they get an offer they can't refuse. At worst, they'll get a quality 1st round selection and additional picks this year to improve the 2011 team! I'm already preparing to brace myself for a squashing of my Luck idea by a number of fans who read this post, but please at least acknowledge that it's not out of the realm of possibility. Of the 3 teams at the top of the draft, the Bills were probably the most disappointed when Luck decided to stay in school another season. If they were expecting to wheel and deal for the right to choose Luck this year, why would they not do the same next year? Of course, the league has warned teams to be careful about including 2012 draft picks in trade deals. Those teams will do so at their own risk. But that's if and only if the 2012 draft doesn't happen next year. I think the Bills will take that gamble because both trade partners would fill needs through this year's draft anyway and although players can not be traded, teams like Buffalo will be able to add depth when 2011 free agency occurs after the draft. Yes, there is a chance the Bills could lose their trade partner's 2012 1st round selection. That would be a travesty, but they would still have the option in 2012 to trade their own 1st round choice and a host of players and picks for the first overall selection next year. As many of you have said over and over, the Bills would be much better off concentrating on defensive line, linebacker, tight end and offensive line this year. As we get closer to this draft, I honestly think that they'd be crazy not to move forward with this option. I think they'll ultimately conclude that to be better now AND in the future, they need to go this route and get their franchise QB next year. That way, they'll solidify the trenches, improve their defense and running game and most importantly, their pass protection. With all that in place, the Bills will be better sooner and will be much more prepared to draft a rookie QB who will call Buffalo "home" for the next decade. Trust me, if the combine and pro days were good for anything, they proved that all of this year's QBs need time to learn, before they're thrown to the wolves. With a senior-year-to-go and a consensus of evaluators stating that he'll be more game-ready than anybody in this year's rookie class, Andrew Luck may be worth the wait. And if coach Gailey has him pegged as THE guy, "good 'ol' boy" Buddy Nix will find a way to make it happen!

I wrote a post about a month ago called "Bills May Luck Out". My point was that Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix may have something up their sleeves when it comes to choosing their franchise quarterback. It may seem risky and far-fetched, but Buffalo could conceivably trade this year's #3 overall pick, their 3rd round selection and another draft choice to a QB-needy team that's desperate to move up to get a guy like Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert. In return, Buffalo could demand that team's 1st round choice this year and their 1st rounder next year and use the picks as ammunition to better their chances of selecting Stanford QB Andrew Luck in 2012. Forecasting where a potential trade partner's gonna finish in any given year is a crap-shoot, but if the percentages are high that the organization will be one of the NFL'S 3 or 4 worst teams, Buffalo would be in prime position to draft Luck. Of course, if they need to move up to #1 next year, they'd have to package the high pick they receive, their own 2012 1st round choice & perhaps a 3rd rounder to do it. But if Nix and Gailey want Luck bad enough, they could and would. Hopefully the worst team in 2011 will already have their QB and will be open to a deal. That team may even turn out to be Buffalo's trading partner from this year. If this "best-case scenario" happened, the trade partner would already have Newton or Gabbert as their new face of the franchise and may be willing to deal with a team that gave them what they wanted in the first place. It's a lot of what-ifs, but it's a lot less insane than what Mike Ditka did years ago, when he traded all those Saints' draft choices for the chance to select Ricky Williams. One of the things I like most about Galley and Nix is that they have a history of identifying talent, coaching up that talent and incorporating it into a system for maximum benefit. I think if the Bills decide to select a QB this year, they'll do their best to build an offense around that particular QB's strengths. Newton, Gabbert, Jake Locker or Ryan Mallet would inevitably sit behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, much like Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre in Green Bay (except not as long). Depending on the health of Ralph Wilson and if he's the team's owner for 2 more years, I think Gailey and Nix will have at least a year to sit the kid, who will watch and learn from Fitz. They've earned that right and will not be pressured into inserting an inexperienced QB into an NFL lineup until he's ready. If they choose this scenario, don't be surprised if the Bills sign a journeyman in free agency to serve as the #2 signal-caller, in case Fitz sustains an injury. But if they've already decided to pass on this year's QBs, anything can happen, including a draft-day trade. In my opinion there have been clear signs of a Buffalo smokescreen in recent days. This week, Gailey gushed about Newton & Gabbert like never before. I mean, he actually said that they have above-average talent and that both of them have what it takes to have early and long-term success. Does that sound like the same guy that said before the combine that it's "easier to coach up a one-year starter from a pro-style college system than one that's been in a spread offense for a year or two"? Don't be fooled by Gailey's sudden "change of heart." 40 to 50 pro day passes by Newton and Gabbert have not changed his mind. Unfortunately, other teams know a smokescreen when they see one. One NFL rep reportedly said that he didn't agree with Gailey's "can't-miss" comments about the two QBs. Nevertheless, if there's ever a good time to get the most out of a potential trade partner, now's the time. Gailey and Nix know that they have to coax QB-needy teams to "come correct" if they make an offer to move up. And by saying that he "expects to have it all figured out a couple of weeks BEFORE the draft", coach Gailey is lighting a fire under the asses of every possible trade partner! If those teams haven't done their due diligence to come up with an offer by now, then they definitely will after hearing that comment. Meanwhile, if the Bills drop down a few slots and wait til next year for a QB, how can they lose? With top-5 picks potentially earning much less than in the past and with a seasoned General Manager like Nix answering the phone, Buffalo can be as stubborn as it wants to be. And the Bills will be, until they get an offer they can't refuse. At worst, they'll get a quality 1st round selection and additional picks this year to improve the 2011 team! I'm already preparing to brace myself for a squashing of my Luck idea by a number of fans who read this post, but please at least acknowledge that it's not out of the realm of possibility. Of the 3 teams at the top of the draft, the Bills were probably the most disappointed when Luck decided to stay in school another season. If they were expecting to wheel and deal for the right to choose Luck this year, why would they not do the same next year? Of course, the league has warned teams to be careful about including 2012 draft picks in trade deals. Those teams will do so at their own risk. But that's if and only if the 2012 draft doesn't happen next year. I think the Bills will take that gamble because both trade partners would fill needs through this year's draft anyway and although players can not be traded, teams like Buffalo will be able to add depth when 2011 free agency occurs after the draft. Yes, there is a chance the Bills could lose their trade partner's 2012 1st round selection. That would be a travesty, but they would still have the option in 2012 to trade their own 1st round choice and a host of players and picks for the first overall selection next year. As many of you have said over and over, the Bills would be much better off concentrating on defensive line, linebacker, tight end and offensive line this year. As we get closer to this draft, I honestly think that they'd be crazy not to move forward with this option. I think they'll ultimately conclude that to be better now AND in the future, they need to go this route and get their franchise QB next year. That way, they'll solidify the trenches, improve their defense and running game and most importantly, their pass protection. With all that in place, the Bills will be better sooner and will be much more prepared to draft a rookie QB who will call Buffalo "home" for the next decade. Trust me, if the combine and pro days were good for anything, they proved that all of this year's QBs need time to learn, before they're thrown to the wolves. With a senior-year-to-go and a consensus of evaluators stating that he'll be more game-ready than anybody in this year's rookie class, Andrew Luck may be worth the wait. And if coach Gailey has him pegged as THE guy, "good 'ol' boy" Buddy Nix will find a way to make it happen!

Hey, Edward's Arm: I gotta tip my glass of bourbon to you, man, cuz u know how to have a rookie's back! I think the one thing that most Bills fan would admit is that we're not as far away as a team like Washington is, when it comes to turning the corner. I live in a Virginia suburb of DC and argue every year with a friend of mine who firmly believes the Skins are closer to a playoff team than we are. I actually got the last laugh this year when the Bills finished with a slightly better record. But my point was just what you said it was. We need to do the exact opposite of what a fool like Daniel Snyder does. Build through the draft (as Nix and Gailey have preached) and use cash in free agency when it's most cost effective. As for quotes in a post, I liked the possibility of Andrew Luck being abducted by aliens... cuz stranger things have happened. Look at RB Glenn Coffee, who drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. One minute, I'm tippin' friends off about how great he looked as Frank Gore's new backup... and then suddenly, without warning, he quits the NFL to be closer to God! If only he knew that God had a plan for him... Just one week following his "retirement", Gore went down and OUT!

You wrote that if Luck suffered a career-ending injury, the OP's plan would leave the Bills "with nothing but their dicks in their hands." That criticism is not merely stupid: it is breathtakingly so. Regardless of whether Luck suffers a career-ending injury, renounces football altogether, or gets abducted by aliens, the OP's plan would leave the Bills with two first round picks in 2012. Which, again, is better than having just one first round pick.

Precisely... That's exactly my point! If Buddy and Chan agree that no QB in this draft is worthy of grooming, they won't waste their time or a pick to bring one aboard. Look at what happened last year. As each round went by, QBs that had their share of pre-draft hype, dropped like rocks... and Buffalo kept saying "Thanks, but no thanks". At this time last year, there was talk of patience being a virtue, because the 2011 draft was supposed to be as deep as 1983's. Now we're finding out that those former "sure thing" QBs are far from it... Of course, if you're NOT planning to start a rookie, then choosing one with clear potential isn't a bad thing, as long as u don't have to pay the kid 1st round cash to hold your clip board for a year or two. Remember, Green Bay leaped to take Aaron Rodgers deep in the first round a few years ago, with every intention of sitting him behind Brett Favre. Rodgers didn't get much help from a selfish Favre, but he kept his mouth shut and studied the Packers offense until he had it imbedded in his brain. As the 2010-11 season began, Aaron was considered the "cream of the crop" among starters in the NFL and he proved his worth and the Packers's patience with a Super Bowl MVP performance and the Vince Lombardi trophy. Of course, teams like the Bills could try this strategy and it might not work out the same way, but they MUST groom a face of the franchise soon. If that somebody is in NEXT year's draft, so be it..Just do whatever you can to position yourself to get your guy when the time comes. As pointed out in a couple of instances on this thread, the more ammo Buffalo has, the better they'll be at the bargaining table. And the team at or near the top of next year's draft may ultimately turn out to be the trading partner we have this year. Wouldn't it be ironic if they used our 3rd pick this year to take Cam Newton? With two first rounders and another pick thrown in for good measure next year, the team with the first overall pick would have a hard time turning down a trade offer that's as stacked as the Bills' could be. And if they've already got their QB (and Andrew Luck is still predicted to be the first overall choice), a team like Buffalo could get a "YES" for an offer that can't be refused!

Couldn't have said it better myself! This year is clearly unique with its uncertainty and what-ifs. If free agency actually gets postponed, that can be a good thing. The Bills need to take advantage to narrow their focus on "who to draft when" and "what holes to fill now." But the Bills would have the ball in their court. Don't forget, they have plenty of cash hidden under Ralph Wilson's mattress... I believe they could have success sooner, if Ralph opens up the check book, they patch up their defense and secure a pass-catching threat at TE. They could simply use the draft and free agency to accomplish that THIS year and rely on 5 or 6 newcomers to make a whole helluva lot of difference. Even some postings here are justifiable when they suggesst that the Bills should go with a "sure thing" at 3, like P. Peterson or A.J. Green. If a QB like Locker or even Mallet is still around at 34, the Bills should pounce! They would still get their future QB, without moving from their draft spots whatsoever! Then use the cash reserves to fill in any blanks through free agency!

Thanks for your reply. Better than the first one I got. I'm sure Bangarang is as tired as most of us are about Cam Newton ALL THE TIME... I understand & feel for him when there's a 30 page post on TSW with that very title. But I read that thread from top to bottom and very few posters said anything about Cam's ineptitude in front of the camera. As somebody who's been in front of one before, I can tell u there's no getting around being unprepared. If you are, viewers will know. Cam was literally flying by the seat of his pants up there. The sad thing about it is, I bet his agent put him up to it. I'm sure he coached Cam to give a scripted response to questions about his "entertainer and icon" quote, but didn't know how persistent sports anchors can be when they have a young signal caller to themselves and want to know why he can't hit "the broadside of a barn with a bag of rice!" Either Cam's agent never saw those punches coming or he warned Cam about them, scripted the responses and Cam forgot the lingo or chose not to read what was written! Believe me, with that Heisman Trophy smile of his, Newton fooled some of those viewing, but didn't fool a college football analyst like Mike Mayock, who earns every penny of his paycheck from NFL Network. I mean, the guy eats, breathes and bleeds football 7 days a week, 365 days a year and knows when you're lying through teeth when u say you're ready to make the transition to the next level. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when Eisen tried to throw Cam a lifeline with a tweet question from a fan. Mayock, who was obviously eager to go for Newton's jugular, chuckled at Eisen's awkward seguay and shook his head in disbelief when Rich explained that he was just following the network's script!

This is my first ever post on the Stadium Wall and it's long overdue.... I've followed this site religiously for the last decade and never posted because I used to cover the Bills beat and wasn't "allowed to". So bare with me, but be honest with your feedback, because I respect the opinions on this site. I'm as anxious as any Bills' fan with the #3 pick... It's been a long time coming for Buffalo to be this high in the draft order. And trust me, I know... I was preparing to graduate high school the year the Bills used the first overall pick to select Bruce Smith in the 1985 draft! But let's take a moment and think of another first round draft scenario for the Bills. Every guru, every analyst and a boatload of fans have weighed in on what Buffalo will do with the 3rd pick of the draft. Most everyone will admit that it's a roll of the dice with Cam Newton. If u watched his performance at the combine as closely as I did, u have to admit that he should have stayed home. I personally think that with time and patience, Cam can make an NFL team and a city proud. But last week, he cost himself a lot of money and the benefit of the doubt that most teams gave him entering the combine. Newton hurt himself with his arm, his feet and most of all his mouth. The $50 Million Dollar Question is "Where was his agent? I mean, everybody was wondering where Ryan Mallet's agent was when the kid was hung out to dry on the podium the other day. "Did u do drugs? Or didn't u? We're the mass media... We can keep a secret, rookie!" In Newton's case, I literally felt sorry for him when he got up on the NFL Network set and tried to apologize to the football world for ignorantly calling himself an "entertainer and an icon". What he didn't know was that he looked liked an even bigger fool when he told Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk & Mike Mayock that he needs to work on his back pedalling and his 3, 5 and 7-step drops before his pro day on Tuesday. Are u kidding me? How does he expect to be a top 5-10 pick when he's almost never taken a snap from under center? Following the camp, it's become brutally obvious that Cam is way behind when it comes to having the footwork to be an effective pro-style QB... But admittimg it on national television is first round suicide. I almost thought Marshall was going to cover up Cam's mouth when he went on to say that he was "inconsistent on his throws because he was throwing to wide receivers from the MAC" and a number of conferences outside the SEC. It was like, "What are u trying to say, Cam? Are these guys so inferior that u had to toss passes 20 feet over their heads?" Big mistake, Cam. Big mistake! And it's not that u don't have good intentions. It's the fact that your media rep is sleeping on the job! Cam Newton tried mightily to save face with the cameras rolling. He even tried to save face in his 15-minute interviews with various teams. But the problem was simple... He didn't come prepared and his entourage thought that he could pass the combine with his swagger and his smile. Sadly, Newton closed his NFL Network interview by putting his foot even deeper in his mouth. When asked who his mentors were, he said his "family, friends and the marketing professionals" who helped him secure an endorsement deal with Under Armor. Ugh!!! Of course, there are those who think that it's safer to pick from an impressive number of defenders in the early part of the draft. I find it hard to argue with them, after watching the Bills "swiss cheese" front 7 the past few seasons. And then there are some who think that Buffalo should mirror what Bill Beliceck and the dreaded Patriots do year in & year out. They sign stars on the downside of their careers who are released or come cheap. They find teams with specific needs that are in bad draft positions and put pressure on them to give up the farm for one of the Patriots' higher picks... Or they pile up extra picks by trading their own players with some mileage left on their tires. The Pats have won 3 Super Bowls with Brady and Beliceck. It can be debated that thy won all 3 before they were caught in their videotaping scandal. But there's no denying that Beliceck is a draft master and free agent-acquiring madman. Couple that with fact that New England remains competitive year in an year out and you have a recipe to emulate. So if u can't beat 'em, join 'em. Let somebody else put training wheels on Cam Newton's cleats. Let others draft players that have to learn how to cover tight ends like Von Miller.... And pass on quarterbacks with red flags like Mallet and Jake Locker. Instead, do the sly thing that nobody thinks your smart enough to do. Trade the #3 pick to some sucker that's willing to give u their first round pick and an extra 2nd and go get this team a defense that will dominate for the next few years. Or better yet, trade the #3 pick to a team that you're certain will be near the top of next year's draft. In return, the Bills should demand a pair of picks this year and their trade partner's first founder next year. Then if u want your franchise QB next year, you go get him by trading BOTH your first round picks and perhaps a 3rd rounder for the TOP pick in the draft. I can hear Commissioner Goodell's voice now. "... and with the first overall selection of the 2012 draft... the Buffalo Bills select... ANDREW LUCK, QUARTERBACK... STANFORD!