Billsguy

I was thinking offense and defense

I agree they should have gotten a better return. However, wait until the Ravens find out Evans won't run any patterns unless they are within 5 yards of the sideline. I think that factored into the Bills trade. The young WR's are willing to run the tough routes over the middle and Evans wasn't willing.

I advocated trading Evans, but I don't think they got enough value. I think the Bills came out the worst on this deal. I would have been satisfied with a 2nd rounder. I like what Baltimore did here and I'm definitely puzzled by the Bills settling for a 4th rounder.

I didn't say this year. Free agents will be available next year. Does anyone seriously think the Bills will contend this year? If you think they are serious contenders, then I understand why you want to keep Evans. If you believe the Bills are non-contenders this year, like 99.9% of football analysts do, then a trade makes perfect sense. The team is obviously rebuilding primarily through the draft. This is a multi-year project which has just begun. Fans have to start looking past next week on how these type deals will affect the Bills in the future.

Can you say "one step backward, three steps forward"? This is an excellent idea and I would greatly raise my opinion of Buddy Nix if he pulls it off. Lee Evans has only short term value for the Bills. He will be gone when his current deal expires. In the very short term, this deal would slightly hurt the Bills, but they are trying to rebuild the team and Lee Evans won't be around long enough to see the "new" Bills. The Bills are still two or three years away from being rebuilt to the point where they can contend. If they dump Evans now they can get some value for the rebuilding. It makes perfect sense. They aren't going to win anything this year with him anyway. If Bills fans look at the big picture, this is a great idea. By the way, the cap savings might be re-invested in getting a couple of quality free agents.

Was he playing against the Bills' offensive tackles?

Do fans believe it? Yes, a lot of them do. Are they correct in believing it? Highly unlikely.

Finally, I find someone on this board who is wise enough to take off the rose colored glasses and state the truth. I wish the Bills management and coaches would stop rationalizing this blatant weakness. The Bills offensive line is seriously sub-par. It is a fatal flaw if you don't have quality tackles. Therefore, the Bills are far far away from being contenders.

You're right - they had the third pick in the draft. The top two picks were from the real loser teams.

What he said.

He will be cut. The Bills will get nothing for him. Remember when he held out for a bigger contract? He has risen to the top as greatest Bills bust. He never got on the field whereas other famous Bills busts at least played a little.

There are arguments for trading and keeping Evans. Trading him would make the Bills slightly worse in the short term and this would be significant if the Bills were contenders now. Trading him now while he has value will be a longer term benefit if they could get a good draft pick(s) for him. Keeping him would help the Bills passing game this year, but what would the benefit be? Maybe they go 7-9 instead of 5-11 (that's really being generous!) and what has been accomplished at the end of the year by keeping him ? Not much. If the Bills have a plan to be serious contenders in 2 or 3 years, then it makes sense to me to trade him now and get some value in return and open cap space. The odds would also increase that they can draft a franchise QB next year. The plan most Bills fans seem to favor is to hold on to him until his value evaporates as the Bills continue on their streak of sub .500 seasons. He'll catch a below average number of balls for a $9 million a year reveiver with a couple of nice long TD catches thrown in and Bills fans will again be satisfied with a mediocre season.

Here's what I know about Lee Evans: based on his production he is way OVERPAID, but it's not my money so who cares. He'll be retired before the Bills are contenders anyway. In a couple years, when he is gone, maybe the Bills will use his cap space more effectively. He never was even close to being an elite receiver.

The most likely and logical reason is certainly the "cosmic forces". The Patriots have Brady, but we have the cosmic forces!!!!

At least he didn't go to Georgia Tech.

Good point. I should have been more precise. I intended to say that Whitner could have been traded for something of value rather than let him leave and getting nothing in return. The timing of the trade should not have been restricted to last year alone when a trade would have been more difficult. However, the Bills have a dismal record in this department. There are many draft picks from the top rounds in recent years that have left the team no or little value returning. This is clearly a negative and has contributed to the Bills quagmire over the last decade.

So the Bills lose another 1st round draft pick and get nothing in return. I can think of another AFC East team (can you guess?) that would have traded him last year and picked up a draft pick(s). I'm just thinking there are more logical ways to do business than the Bills approach. It's no accident why some teams flail about for years and never seem to make progress. Speaking of Cincinnati ....

He already has a headstart on his life after football. Coming very soon!

The Bills were 4-12 last year. What kind of positive stories do you Pollyanna's want? The Bills got all the press 20 years ago when they had star players and actually won a lot of games. The Bills have to prove they are not losers, then you'll get the positive stories.

The big question about Maybin is will he be cut sooner or later. He will be cut.

I think that's a good line. Six wins looks about right at this point.

Hopefully Merriman can play against Nelson every Sunday. I remember a training camp where everybody raved about the next great Bills QB. He was tearing up camp with great throws and great plays. Do you remember Todd Collins?

If he was performing at a high level they would have found a way to keep him in spite of his salary. Also, if he was not getting along with his players on his team then why is he such a great pickup? He may be able to compete with Torbor, but what does that tell you about the Bills' LB situation? I hope he does well, but I'm seeing more Kawika Mitchell than Patrick Willis.

The Bills have a history of picking up players who are on the downside of their careers. You can just look at the last couple years and you will find many examples. The Bills will be contenders when they start cutting guys like this because they have too many good players ahead of him. Green Bay would have kept him if they thought he could help them win another Super Bowl. It is reminds me of Marcus Stroud and Langston Walker when they were picked up.