JasoninMT

Hindsight is such an evil... unless it was predicted all along! Ralph Wilson is spot on today w/ his comments, someone needs to look at the big picture... a football team is the sum of it's parts - but also fails at it's weakest link. I really don't know how much day to day involvement he has anymore - publicly it sounds like he doesn't, but only a few people know privately whether he pulls the puppet strings. Lots of fans like to toss blame around here - I've been one of 'em so I'm a hypocrite if I said otherwise... But, let's not dwell on the mistakes of the past and figure out the future. The Bills are falling apart at the seams right now - and someone HAS to stop the bleeding. I hope it's our new HC. I don't think we have a front office right now though. They are panicked. Signing another young QB may help next year... but one way or the other we NEED to stabalize and stop being so wishy-washy. Unless we enjoy losing.

My happiest "recent" memory... 33-0 against the patriots... I've been pretty non-commital for a long time... this team is like a teenage boy at a sorority party - too eager & desperate. Step 1 of the rebuilding process is to evaluate TE. See what you can do to utilize his strengths - whatever they are and go from there. The turnstiles need to stop turning. I'm not a huge Edwards guy, but he's the best on the roster right now - and there isn't anyone else worth signing now... It's ok to fail in the short term, contrary to opinions/beliefs, this team sucks. Rome wasn't built in a day - and even something as simple (comparatively) as an NFL team isn't either. Not many QB's come into the league as HOF players... Stop expecting that to happen here. It takes a season or two of perserverance to develop a QB. We've been so busy looking for the next Jim Kelly and thinking he's just a draft pick away... The Brady's of the world are flukes - and shouldn't be expected. I absolutely hope we don't go after someone who's been a bust elsewhere but was "projected" as a stud. I also hope we don't go after Vick... but I'm sort of afraid that's going to happen. What move would surprise me the most? Hiring a stud coach and giving him the reins... like Cowher... I'm positive it will take time, but with the right coach/front office... they'll get this thing turned around.

We'll see how the rest of the season plays out... My guess is badly... but who knows.

The eternal optimism is refreshing. I have never had as low expectations for a season as I do this year. But, I cannot recall a more tumultuous close to the offseason - firing OC & releasing starting LT. So, maybe something good will happen?

Or is it just the demise of patience? Learning takes time... I'm not saying the offense would have got it... but, whatever happened to patience? Every year it's a new system - go figure they don't figure it out - because they only need to wait and it'll be all changed.

Ahh... See, when I was scrolling through the thread, I somehow missed that post entirely! I even checked every page... Doh! Shoulda known someone else would have seen it too. Thanks!

UPDATE: I think I know where this came from... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor...&id=4148617 6. Buffalo Bills: The Bills rolled the dice by signing Terrell Owens, but no team had a more glaring need for a second receiving option than the Bills did last year. When teams stopped Marshawn Lynch on the ground and double-teamed Lee Evans, the Bills couldn't do anything on offense. They upgraded the middle of their offensive line with center Geoff Hangartner and rookie guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. The final piece could come if they can sign Bengals tackle Levi Jones, who was released Wednesday. Fourth-round choice Shawn Nelson could be the pass-catching tight end. Drayton Florence should help the secondary, and Aaron Maybin was the pass-rusher head coach Dick Jauron had been seeking for more than a year. So... The link provided by skooby was something created by Clayton - and it appears someone didn't quite read the article - only highlighted all the names in his top 10... I hope we do sign Jones - it would shore up the o-line. Even if he's not 100%, he's an improvement to what we have.

If that's true... Quick, someone make him a decent offer for the Bills... (Pulling tongue out of cheek). I wish Mr. Wilson all the best luck. I'm hopeful he is fine and lives to be 180.

Here's a question for the "questioners"... I agree wholeheartedly that we need an OT. I don't think a 6-7th round OT was going to fit the bill - or if they would, we have one already in Bell who was here for a full year last season. I'll remind you, Peters was an Undrafted FA TE project who took a few years to develop into the LT he became... an LT who was oft injured and whined about salary. I thought he deserved more $, as did most... but, let's not kid ourselves... he was an undrafted FA who the Bills spent time & money grooming into a starting OT. No offense to our friend Tim Graham... but I don't think the media knows much more than we do when it comes to evaluating the talent on any team... The coaches and FO staff knows what they have already on the roster, and maybe, just maybe, the Bills didn't need an OT as much as "we" think the Bills do. I single him out because his was one of many articles berating the Bills for neglecting their "need". I think Peters was a bit overrated. I also think the upgrades in the interior of the line are going to help a lot. But those are only the opinions of a largely unknowing "fan".

So, I broke down the responses like a basketball poll... gave 5 pts for 1st, 4 for 2nd etc... then ranked the total pts. Results were - 1. DE 2. OT 3. OG 4. OLB 5. C TE was a close 6th. If someone listed multiple positions, I split the points between them...

If you were in charge of the Bills War Room, what are the top 5 needs? OT, OG, C, TE, WR, RB, QB, FB, DT, DE, OLB, ILB, CB, S For me... it starts on the Lines... We have to get better at putting pressure on the opposing QB. DE is a top 5 need... DT is not top 5 for now. OT/OG/C - really every one of these positions needs work - on the Starting line, not the backups... OT is top 5, OG is top 5, C is not top 5 TE is a top 5 need. We haven't had a strong TE in a long time. RB/FB/QB/WR we're ok for now - at least not a top 5 need imho for any of these positions. OLB/ILB/S are not top 5 - we're ok at these spots for now. CB - I think we still need another CB, not a starter, but with Greer gone I think we need a strong Backup/Dime... So... In order I'm going DE, OT, TE, OG, CB What would yours be? This isn't draft order or anything... Just importance...

If the Bills parlay an Undrafted TE into a First Round Pick... they'd better do it. I think Peters wants out of Buffalo no matter what. He didn't get his extension last season and was a malcontent (by holding out) then responded with a fairly lackluster season and didn't "earn" a trip to the pro-bowl in this fans opinion. Yes, he's the best LT we've had since the super bowl years... but he wants out, and I say we trade him. I'd rather have a 1st round pick now than have another no-show season with lackluster effort when he does show just to keep his veteran years continuing. Now, if Peters shows up to the next Offseason workouts, and sticks with the program... I'd say negotiate to get an extension... but that doesn't seem to be the case, and I don't think an extension will keep him happy for the long haul... he'll simply hold out a few years from now when the next LT gets shown the $ and he doesn't feel "appreciated". Don't mean to be negative... that's just the way I see it. When he's on the top of his game, he's one of the best. But, when he isn't, he's just another malcontent.

The funny thing about Mike Williams was quite a few folks around here were very happy! Now, you want to talk Bills 1st Round Busts... you better throw Flowers in the discussion... As well as JP... But, to be honest, they've drafted pretty well over the years - every team makes mistakes on Draft Day (well except for the vaunted Patriots*).

In my best Coach Mora... "Playoffs!? You want to talk about Playoffs?"

Hey Lori/Scott/Simon... If you don't have control of the front page.... who does? Anyways - how about if it used Icons or something to depict a "News Story" vs a Blog vs an Op/Ed piece (like Sully)... I think there's a place for them - but everyone should recognize sites like those aren't actual news stories, but pure conjecture so as not to be angered by them. I could create blogsphere site and start "reporting"... that wouldn't make it valid... Chris Brown - while a blogger predominently, at least has a bit of actual "news" most of the time rather than being strictly based on conjecture and opinion.

Hmmm... well, it was new to me (but I haven't been here for a couple days... I looked on the first 3 pages and didn't see anything that looked like it was this - probably due to the aforementioned naming issues. Again, apologies to those who've seen it "3,000,000" times already.

If this was already posted, I'm sorry... I just got it this morning and I think it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen... http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4263302

Nice Reference Gringo...

Is it Evans who will lose the Double Coverage? Maybe. Is it T.O. who will shine as our #1a WR? Is it Edwards, who now has real legit WR's who should be more open? Or, is it Marshawn Lynch - who shouldn't face 8 in the box every play? I think it will be Lynch who breaks out this year - assuming he puts down the bong, leaves his guns at home, and gets a designated driver. The biggest problem I see w/ TO is that it generally takes time for a QB/WR to develop their timing, and with a 1 year contract - will they have enough commitment to accomplish that in a very short period? I don't think he'll be a cancer in the lockerroom, call me naive, but if he did that, he'd be writing off his next seasons, and he seems like he is smart enough to know better than that. Edwards already said what needs to be said - TO wants to win, maybe for selfish reasons, but he wants to win and is very passionate about that. I'd much rather see passion than apathy.

I'll just say this about Ralph. If not for Ralph Wilson, you wouldn't have the Buffalo Bills. So, when you start pounding on what a sorry piece of crap he is... remember that without him, absolutely none of this would be possible. I know he has his faults... but, he isn't a complete douche, I'm sure he could have taken many opportunities to move this franchise elsewhere, but he chose to stick it out in a town that loves his property, even when the rest of the community was falling apart. If not for Ralph Wilson, the fledgling AFL might have crumbled. The NFL certainly wouldn't be what it is today w/o those foolish AFL owners who pushed the envelope. Imagine a world w/ no Superbowl. Imagine a world with no Buffalo Bills. Then tell me Ralph Wilson doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame for his contributions to Pro Football.

I guess it's shoe-in then huh... (blush) It's good to be picked on by such royalty.

Is he gonna get whacked by Tony? Let's hope his surgeon isn't named Anthony Sorprano...

Call it a hunch.... I think Bruce and Ralph make it. Bruce Smith is the most likely "lock" we'll probably see. As for Ralph... No one is guffawing about his reasons to not sign the CBA now... Plus, he isn't getting any younger and I think voters will try to get him in pre-posthumous... He deserves that at least. And thirdly, I think he might get some shirttail votes w/ Bruce... I think Andre Reed is a tough sell... I really hope he eventually makes it. But, he was a great WR in the times of Hall of Fame WRs like Rice, Monk, and Lofton... If not for Jerry Rice, Andre Reed would be a shoe in imho. His accomplishments stand up to any WR in the hall. It wasn't all the "system", though truthfully the system did work to his favor. With apologies to #89, Steve Tasker will only ever sniff a nomination. Incorrect as they are, the HOF voters will never elect a pure Special Teamer outside of Kickers and Punters... All this waxing nostalgic reminded me... For Christmas my wife bought me the Comeback game on DVD... I watched it for the first time since live and it brought back a flood of memories... The look on Warren Moon's face after the game tells the whole story, complete and utter disbelief. Watching Bruce Smith constantly getting double teamed and still getting pressure was just a joy to behold... But, it reminds me too of another hero who won't ever see the Hall and to me is deserving of at least some acknowledgement, Phil Hansen was able to take advantage of Bruce's attention drawing. That, and he was all over the field. Bruce made everyone around him a better defender. IMHO... the way Bruce demolished the Dolphins in his career had to have an impact on why Marino never won a SB... Bruce Smith was the Michael Jordan to Patrick Ewing with respect to Marino. They simply couldn't get past Buffalo then. Oh for a clone of Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce. We might never have heard of Tom Brady.

Hmmm.... That's a really tough question. I can tell you who it isn't... Maybe if I listed them all out to see who it wasn't that would make it easier... I really like Fred Jackson, but I think some of why he was so good at the end of the season was his fresh legs. In the PS and his early season reps, he wasn't pushing Lynch out of the lineup. I really like Marshawn a lot. I don't know much about his injury, but that had to be a factor in his late season letdown. I like the promise of Lee Evans - he doesn't have a supporting cast though (QB can't throw the bomb consistently and he doesn't have a solid TE/#2 to draw away attention). Jason Peters seems to be a head case. I'm not saying he's a bad Tackle... just that a player who hurts his team by not showing up for selfish reasons isn't it's greatest player. On Defense... I don't really think we have a "great" player... We have some good young talent who is only going to get better... but no one strikes fear into the heart of opposing offenses. On Special Teams... This is still our best unit imho. Moorman seems to have regressed, when is the last time we heard a striving for a 40 yard net without a chuckle... Lindell is a decent kicker. Yeah he's missed a few kicks, but he really is pretty solid. The return game is the source of our greatest player imho. Leodis McKelvin is a force. When he gets more opportunities, I think he'll prove really special. He's improving on Defense... but he's not the "greatest" CB. So, I'm going with Leodis McKelvin.

Ahhhhhhhh. There's simply nothing better than the sweet words of yet another offseason QB discussion. So long and farewell JP Losman. Good Luck and Good Riddance. While I was one of those who felt you got some raw deals in the coaching department, you did nothing with the opportunities you had (sporadic and futile as they were) to merit any sort of extension etc. Bon Voyage. It's funny that this thread has a very appropriate title as rumor, but people are treating the info as fact... Even going so far as to use WGR as a credible source... Since when did that happen? How many coaches and free agents were announced by them as "done deals" only to later discover they were actually never tendered offers? And, what exactly did we learn from the rumor? Not much, we don't get what extent his injury or his recovery time are. Only that he's considering surgery on his shoulder. I, for one, hope he recovers fully from whatever maladies he has this offseason, and begins '09 as the starting QB. I'm tired of the rotisserie at QB (and Head Coach) due to a desperate fanbase clamoring for a return to "greatness"... You know, the Greatness that was 4 abysmal failures and missed opportunity. I'm a Bills fan. I have been for as long as I can remember - outside of a grade school following of the Steelers against the hated Cowboys (I hate anyone pronouncing themselves "America's team")... (go ahead and do the math, I'm old). I will continue to be a fan of theirs barring the team leaving the city of my birth. Even then, while I wouldn't like it at all... I'd probably still follow this team - they mean too much to me. So... Get well Trent. We need you in '09.