R. Rich

My brother is bringing his son down for a visit next week, and he wants to see Star Trek. I kinda want to go see X-Men Originals: Wolverine this weekend.

Why should you be any different than the rest of us? Since you asked, it's..... 142 days and counting!!!

Here we go w/ this topic again. I'll stick by my usuals here: Batman and Robin Nothing But Trouble Snow Falling On Cedars The Talented Mr Ripley these are some of the worst atrocities disguised as films I've ever seen.

I don't know if it's my favorite, but this thread was........interesting, to say the least.

Are the Brocos an expansion team?

First off, I had a great time up in WNY. I started off the festivities Friday afternoon @ Nick Tahous (where else?), getting my customary garbage plate. G. Host made the trip up w/ me, and we were joined by todd, Bobblehead (I'm giving that Monday plate idea serious thought), Jay and a friend of his from work, and LancasterSteve, a welcome blast from the WNYTBDGPS past. We had a nice chat on what we thought the Bills might do and what we hoped they wouldn't do. And, we ate. And ate. Saturday was the draft party @ RICH. I was skeptical w/ how it was going to be, w/ all season ticket holders invited instead of just the club seat owners. But, it went off w/out a hitch. The food was good, and we had a great view of a bunch of TVs in our own "Draft Central". Mark VI joined us, as usual, as did Jack and Jay (w/ his son). I had entirely too much good food that day, as I thought I'd go into a coma or something. The choice of beers were limited, but @ least they had an alternative to Pudweiser, unlike the previous couple years when they held the party @ Dave & Busters and Anheuser Busch catered the affair. The horror! Now, as for the draft itself.... Round 1: Aaron Maybin, DE PENN STATE I liked the pick from the standpoint that the Bills got a badly needed pass rusher, one w/ an incredible first step who should be able to generate pressure consistently from the edge. That's something the Bills haven't had in many years. As for his lack of bulk, that is something that will have to be corrected, and I do feel that he will work to get stronger in order to become an asset in the run defense also. Not a perfect pick, but man is his speed off the edge needed! Round 1: Eric Wood, C/G, Louisville Mark and I were happy that the Bills were able to address the interior OL w/ a big, mean, and nasty player who should greatly help limit the number of times that DTs just walk the OL back into the QB and collapse the pocket. His versatility to play either guard or center is just an added plus. Round 2: Jairus Byrd, CB/S, Oregon The Bills obviously still feel that the deep middle is a problem, so they targeted Byrd, a ballhawk w/ pretty decent size (5-10, 206) to help in that area. He has corner coverage abilities, but his speed will probably keep him @ safety, where the Bills need him more anyway. This could end up being a very good pick for the Bills. Round 2: Andy Levitre, G/T, Oregon State Another interior OL player w/ a mean streak; gotta love that. He could probably fill in @ RT, but I think he'll end up being a guard. He could end up starting for the Bills in the not too distant future. Like opening week. I have to hope that w/ the Bills drafting guys w/ this kinda demeanor along w/ their toughness and ability, their days of being soft up the middle are coming to an abrupt end. Good! Round 4: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss This could be a real steal for Buffalo. This guy is a solid receiving threat who has the frame to put on a bit more bulk and become a decent blocker as well. After watching the tragedy that was Robert Royal, Nelson should be a relief. Hopefully his arrival and the signing of Owens can actually give the Bills enough receiving options that defenses will have to play them honestly. Imagine that. Round 5: Nic Harris, S/LB, Oklahoma I wasn't thrilled @ him being drafted, but I wasn't disappointed either. The key is going to be whether Harris can make the transition from safety to linebacker and give the Bills a player who can actually hold up on the edge vs the run. If not, the search continues. If so, they took care of a glaring need w/ a 5th rounder. Not bad. Round 6: Cary Harris, CB, USC I remember seeing Harris deliver some hard shots on receivers in a USC backfield that was chock full of big hitters. If his hamstring problems don't hinder him, maybe he can help deliver some big hits for Buffalo in nickel or dime packages. Considering they used a 6th round pick on him, it's not catastrophic if his injuries hinder him. Round 7: Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia To round out their draft, the Bills added another corner to the mix. I profess to not knowing a whole lot 'bout this guy, but he seems to be a very productive player from what I've read. That's what the Bills need: more depth in the secondary to match up w/ the spread offenses of teams like the Patriots. So, if this guy can come in and contribute, then they've done okay for themselves. Overall, I didn't think this was a bad draft. Could they have tried to add a prospect @ LT? Sure they could have. But, considering the Bills had players @ the tackle positions and had only three players of any consequence to fill the three interior OL positions, they did good by adding a couple really tough players to help fill the middle. Overall, the line should be improved. Now, they shouldn't be satisfied and should still look for a good OT prospect, so if Levi Jones is healthy enough, they should look into bringing him in. But I do expect the interior of the Bills' line to be a bit more stout next season and shouldn't see as many instances where centers and guards are walked back into the QB en route to giving up sacks or just breaking down plays. Adding a good receiving TE prospect may also mean that Trent Edwards will have a reliable short option if the wideouts cannot get separation and find open spots. Nic Harris could be a guy that helps to solidify the weak side in terms of run defense. And Lankster and Cary Harris may be able to provide good play in nickel and dime situations. There are no guarantees, but if the guys the Bills drafted are as good as advertised, the Bills will have done a very good job of filling some big needs.

I'll be heading up in a little bit. See you all @ Nick's 'bout noon.

150 days and counting!!!

Exactly. Think of all the fun "3rd and 29" conversions we'd miss seeing our defense give up. Spend those picks on O linemen and tight ends. If there's anything left, bring in another receiver.

And there you have it.

As far as Atlanta goes, they were not a player away from contention. They were divison champs in '04, then went to 8-8 the next year, then dropped a game to Jauron the following year. They had some pieces in place. Then, they added not only a good young QB in Ryan, but also the 3rd leading pass rusher in John Abraham (16.5 sacks) and the 2nd leading rusher in Michael Turner (1,699 yds and 17 TDs on the ground). I don't see the Bills as having nearly as many other pieces in place as the Falcons did prior to last season.

They did some discussion on this w/ the callers the other day. It was purely speculation on their part, though.

Maybe add Julius Peppers to rush the passer too?

What 'bout both?

The only safety I can think of w/ his measurables is now deceased.

Maybe he'll be signed by another team and people will leave this entire issue alone. Yeah, right.

Sad to say, but yet again, that's all we have going for us now, William. Hope. If he works out well, if Schobel is healthy and can pressure the QB, if McKelvin can handle being the top return guy as well as a starting corner....just a few of the many "ifs" this team will face for the 2009 season.

Well...he did have Pettigrew as the pick for the Bills @ 28. I'm okay w/ a pass rusher and a receiving TE in Round 1. If they can come back and get a good interior OL like Unger or Mack, or get a decent OT prospect like Beatty in Round 2, that's a pretty good start.

Oh, you want a couple not so known? Vernon Reid of Living Colour is awesome (and, like Hendrix, a very good blues guitarist), as is Jimi Hazel of 24-7 Spyz.

I don't have a link, but I did hear the guys on Sirius talking 'bout it as I drove home today. They said he is suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome. Len Pasquarelli had that also.

Prince. The guy may be a weird little gnome, but there's no denying that he has incredible musical ability in terms of his ability to play numerous instruments, write music, arrange music, and also sing. But his guitar playing is outstanding.

We've missed your bright and sunny disposition 'round here, Joseph.

Nah. Britton is built more like a LT, but doesn't have the quickness needed to handle rushers off that edge. He's also not a very powerful drive blocker, so you'd have to have a TE or RB help out on his side if you put him @ RT. I like William Beatty more as a LT prospect, and he could be available when the Bills' 2nd round pick is up.

Yeah, the Bills should take Pettigrew w/ the 11th pick in the draft. Protecting the QB's blindside or putting pressure on the opposing team's QBs be damned.

153 days and counting!!!