OBXBILLSFAN

One more reason to keep TH.

We can go on and on about TD's great negotiating skills and excellent moves, but where are the playoff appearances? A team can't build, or rebuild, forever. At some point, there need to be results.

Sour Grapes from a bitter has-been.

I agree. People remember Michael Jordan's greatness with the Bulls, not his last futile season with the Wizzards.

The Toronto Argonauts . . . or the BC Lions.

Travis was a 2nd round pick, a two time 1300+ yard runner, and a warrior. I think a conditional 2nd rounder is a fair asking price. If we can't get it, we should keep him as an excellent backup and insurance policy for WM. I think the whole disgruntled, clubhouse cancer thing is about as overrated as Michael Vick, particularly when it concerns a guy who is not a team leader. Who on the Bills is going to care if he is unhappy?

He helped save the franchise, went 21-9 as a starter, took us to the playoffs and all he got was. . . benched.

Why?

A slow, aging, declining Pat Williams was not exactly the key to our defense. We will be much better with the agile and athletic Ron Edwards, backed up by the intense, high effort Tim Anderson. In addition, Kelsay and McGee are developing, Vincent and Milloy will have a full year together at safety, and backups like Baker and Greer will have a year under their belts. In other words, Pat who?

First, with the recent conversion of MW's signing bonus to a roster bonus, his cap number is now around $7.5 Million, not the $9-10 Million that people are throwing around. Overpaid? Definitely. But not quite to the extent that many think. Second, MW is developing nicely under McNally. If he continues to progress, and is willing to restructure his contract next year, he could be right about where he should be. Third, I have faith that the coaching staff has evaluated film from at least some of Gandy's 30 starts in Chicago - 20 of them at LT - and has determined that he can do a good job at LT. As fans, we should at least give them the benefit of the doubt.

I know it's the offseason when all we have to worry about is a "cursed" number.

I had heard, too, that because of the addition of several interior linemen - Anderson, Geisinger, Jerman, Preston, Germondsen et.al., that the experiment with Bannan at guard was over. With the departure of Fat Pat, we really need him at DT.

You said it! Do we just make this stuff up because it's the offseason and we're bored? I haven't heard a thing about Willis threatening to hold out.

Geek. But I was really a prep/jock, so I don't trust this test.

I totally agree. The loss of the aging, declining PW might actually help our defense. I think our D was better statistically last year than its actual performance on the field. How many times did we allow key 3rd and even 4th down conversions on late game drives that ultimately beat us, not to mention that 50 something yard run by the Steelers' practice squad RB when a stop would have kept us in the game.

Schobel is a good, solid pass rushing DE. He is not an All Pro, but a good player on a very good defensive team.

I grew up a Browns fan in pre-Bills WNY, but became a Bills fan as soon as they came to town. Their first year I would go to East Aurora and watch summer camp on the polo fields of the Knox Estate. I loved Elbert "Golden Wheels" Dubenion.

Plus, Kelsay should be better, and guys like Baker and Greer will have a year under their belts. And Edwards, by being a better pass rusher than Pat, may actually make the D line better.

Actually, "tough, blue collar, down in the trenches kind of guy" perfectly describes the much loved and lamented Pat Williams, at least during his prime. He wasn't mobile or athletic, but a tough infighter who held his ground and was a good run stopper - as long as Teddy and Sam occupied at least a couple of blockers. To think Anderson can't be as good a player is somewhat shortsighted.

Why would anyone give Boulware - who hasn't played in over a year, will be 31 by season's end, and has never made more than 57 unassisted tackles in a season - a contract exceeding $1 million?

Great point. I have no idea why JP - who has had a full season to learn and get his feet wet, plus this off season to watch film, learn the playbook and study under Wyche - is constantly referred to as a rookie. Most rookie QBs haven't signed a contract or even learned their teammates names yet.

Edwards has played well on several occasasions and Anderson is a 3rd round pick out of a big time program. Williams will be 33 in October and is showing serious signs of decline. Why can't some of you accept when it's time to let an older player go, and to turn the reins over to younger players? And why do the younger guys automatically suck, when compared to football "gods" like Pat Williams? And how do you think guys like Williams got to play when they were young? God, it's a shame Tom Sestak died. He'd still be way better than these young guys.

Have a long and successful career, put up big numbers, and win a Super Bowl.

I think the prices of many items - including NHL, NBA and MLB tickets - have increased more than an inflation adjusted 83% in the past 27 years. Have you bought a car, a pair of socks or a pizza lately?

Thanks. That's what my sarcastic response was meant to imply.