[Bucky Brooks calls Merriman signing]

 

In demand players don't re-sign when they've got a chance to hit free agency.

 

Do I understand you correctly? You know that other teams would not have offered him a similar contract because if so then he wouldn't have resigned with Buffalo?

 

One goal of any decent GM is to resign their own free agents prior to hitting the open market. Every year there's dozens of free agents that resign before free agency. Most top players, especially quarterbacks, resign without a franchise tag being used. On this board, we argue every potential free agent and for virtually any decent player there's emotion around the arguments pleading with the front office to sign the player before they test the waters. How often does someone on this board still lament that we let Pat Williams go when he was more than willing to resign with Buffalo at a reasonable price before he became a free agent. In most cases, the team does need to make a substantial offer. Otherwise, most players will do as you say, they want to see what they're worth on the open market. Whitner wouldn't sign for what the Bills were offering, but, there was a price he would have signed for. He likely will end up making at least as much on the open market than he was asking for from the Bills. Many of us (including me) don't think the Bills should offer what he's asking. That doesn't mean that there won't be another team willing to offer it. And, it may just be a good move for that team. I understand your point that you don't believe Merriman will pan out. I have no idea other than I hope (as you do as well) that he does. But, I believe that if Nix feels it's a good risk while having all of his medical reports, then I'm glad he took it.

[Bucky Brooks calls Merriman signing]

You're discussing different events. Yes, more than 1 team put a waiver claim in on Merriman, which meant the team that was awarded Merriman assumed his Chargers contract as is. But, it is also true that the Bills were the 1 team willing to give him $2.5M guaranteed when they gave him a second contract after he injured himself walking out of the locker room to his first practice. His 2 year deal will reportedly default to an average of $5.25M per season -- for a guy that didn't make it through a single practice. It is not unusual at all that the guy that gets paid the larger bag of coin is the starter, and in the case of a fading "name" player will get the benefit of the doubt. It's obvious that the fact Nix is high on Merriman at this point in time is based much more on the name on the jersey and his past connection than anything he has seen him do on an NFL football field in the past 4 seasons.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5978595

Since he was already claimed by the Bills weeks or months earlier and was still under contract with them, we'll never know what any other team may or may not have offered him. Merriman was not a free agent and therefore teams could not negotiate with him while still under contract with the Bills. You may be correct that noone else but Buddy would have taken a chance on him (personnally, I think others may have taken the risk as well), but, because he was signed to an extension before he became a free agent, we'll never know for sure.

[Bucky Brooks calls Merriman signing]

In all likelihood, Merriman signed with Buffalo when no other team offered guaranteed money. And if 31 other teams' pro scouting departments aren't keen on the player, it has to make one wonder why the Bills would take a chance and guarantee dollars. 2.5M may not sound like a lot with a cap of 120M and teams prospectively required to spend let's say 108. OTOH, Buffalo has fewer resources to call on during this rebuild, and Nix' track record in evaluating pro personnel while Bills GM so far hasn't been very good. The burden is on Nix, in essence because he's gambling precious few resources that could be spent improving a very weak roster on a guy with 4 sacks in the last 4 seasons.

 

I would also add that a healthy but ineffective Merriman keeps guys like Moats and Batten from getting game experience because Buffalo can't afford to take their high profile signing off the field. That would be admitting they made another bad personnel decision and prevent the staff from finding out if some of their late round picks are indeed starting worthy.

 

Not correct. The Dolfish and Suckaneers also put in claims on him. Since he was waived, the order of claims goes from worst record to best. Since the Bills were the only winless team at the time, they had first choice on waiver claims. Link: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/11/3/1792406/shawne-merriman-waiver-claims-dolphins-buccaneers-bills

 

I also disagree with the second point. If he is healthy and ineffective, I don't believe that Gailey will leave him on the field just to show the world what a stupid decision it was to sign Merriman. Gailey likely will give Merriman a chance, more chances than someone who was never good (Maybin), but, he won't play the entire season if he sucks.

[Bills at Chargers]

I want to go. I have seven (my family and another). We live in OC.

[Bills in San Diego]

I live in Orange County and am definitely going assuming there's a season. Please let me know about ticket information.

 

Joel