Virgil

Ah, there you are. It's been too long

I'm surprised there hasn't been any complaints from the NFLPA yet around the way Free Agency has worked out so far. For starters, let me clarify that I don't know what's going on and I have no real opinion of why it's happening. However, I can't remember a Free Agency where so many players took 1 or 2 year deals. We are seeing players who were getting 5-6 mil a year just a few years back take 1 year vet minimum deals. I know that some teams are in salary cap trouble, but that doesn't come close to explaining it. Yes, there are some players who've cashed in. But I look at who is left out there and is there any reason to believe that these guys won't get the same 1 year deals? The only thing I can think of is that the players can't get the massive contracts they are looking for so they are willing to try and take a 1 year "try-out" and get it next year. But at the same time, I'm surprised that the NFLPA hasn't said anything to implement that all the NFL is colluding together with deals being offered. Again, I'm not saying that's the case, but I've seen them complain over less. Overall, I think it's great for teams like the Bills who have a lot of holes to fill and will continue to be able to pick up impact players for cheap then make the call next year if they are worth extending. But again, just haven't seen this in a while

Damn it, you're right. Cut him now before anyone notices!!!

I'm not saying this is my choice, but I am definitely feeling Manuel will be a Bill after the draft. Every year since Nix we draft a guy that, in hindsight and looking at pre-draft meetings, looked obvious. Manuel is getting that treatment. Could absolutely be wrong and I'm okay with it, but I don't think I am

Ha. Now that was funny

That's stones. I would have given him that

Yeah, the value of some of these guys and the willingness to trade by other teams is a bit much, but still fun. I would lose my **** if we were able to pull this draft off Round 1 Pick 26 (G.B.): Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia (A) Round 2 Pick 5 (CINN): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson (B) Round 2 Pick 9: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame (A) Round 2 Pick 11 (T.B.): Matt Elam, SS, Florida (A) Round 2 Pick 21 (CINN): Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse (B+) Round 2 Pick 23 (G.B.): Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford (A-) Round 3 Pick 13 (N.O.): Justin Pugh, OG, Syracuse © Round 3 Pick 22 (CINN): EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State (C+) Round 3 Pick 32 (BALT): Chris Harper, WR, Kansas State (D) Round 4 Pick 8: Chris Faulk, OT, LSU © Round 4 Pick 12 (N.O.): Bennie Logan, DT, LSU (A) Round 4 Pick 21 (CINN): Lavar Edwards, DE, LSU (C+) Round 5 Pick 10: Brandan Bishop, FS, North Carolina State (C-) Round 6 Pick 31 (BALT): Braden Brown, OT, Brigham Young (A) Round 6 Pick 32 (BALT): Alec Lemon, WR, Syracuse (A)

I'm interested in this. I've never done it, but franchise mode is my favorite part in any sports game. I prefer it over playing the actual games. Let me know

Can I get a little more of a description as to what it is? I would probably be interested

I would agree with you if it weren't for two things: 1 - Picking a qb at 8 means they start this year. You don't pay Kolb what you did to expect him to ride the bench. 2 - Nassib will absolutely be there at 8. Because of that, there is no reason for them to meet with all these qbs before the draft, unless this is just in case they drop past round 2

We don't know what the cost of cutting one of them will be yet. It may end up not costing us much to have a great open competition. I could also be wrong

This upcoming season already has a ton of question marks surrounding it. However, I'm willing to admit that I don't know what I don't know and I won't pretend to guess that I know what the plan is at OneBillsDrive. With that being said, here is what scares me so far: Scares: 1 - WR - Above all else, if Brad Smith is our #2, that is terrifying to me. Even if we go WR in the first round, even the great WR's don't do that much in their first years. Plus, there aren't any "no brainer" WR's this year in my opinion. The Tenn kid is very raw with routes and teh WV kid is small. No matter what the scheme, only having Stevie out there and no #2 or viable TE would be tough for any offense to overcome. We'll see what happens. But I hope they grab a FA to come in. DHB would be nice, but he doesn't seem to be interested. 2 - LB depth - I think this defense grossly underachieved last year. I'm very excited about Pettine and what he will do with these guys. However, even with adding Lawson, the depth at LB is very weak and I think Pettine's defense is very reliant on LB's. Again, we have the draft and their are still some FA's out there, but it's scary. And while it's not a LB, the SS is used like one and I don't know how much faith I have in Searcy 3 - LG - I know that many on here feel that it's an easy position to replace and I would agree, if he also didn't let Rinehart go. I don't think the next LG is on the team right now and I hate to now have to waste one of our early 3 picks to fill a position that we created for ourselves. Maybe their is a FA plan here, but I don't know enough to guess. 4 - The overall wait and see at QB - It feels like the plan is bring in 3 capable people and see which one wins the job (one being a rookie). While it can work, it's still very different than having someone you are excited to have and wait for them to take you to the next level. Maybe it'll work out, but equally maybe not. QB is a tough position to gamble at. Inspires: 1 - Due Diligence - Above all else, it looks like this team is really doing their homework. Whoever the Bills draft at QB, I feel like they will get their guy. Now, I'm not saying he will be great, but I think they will get the best one they can for our system. I feel like they are going to see what falls to them and have the most information to make the best decision possible. Overall though, I feel like we aren't going to have someone that we are going to be excited about until next year. Either way, I am in overall wait and see mode. I think they will grab a few more FA's that will be solid at a good price. I think they will have a solid draft and an equally solid pool of UDFA's. Perfect world, I'd love to see them get to trade back and bolster picks, but I think there is going to be so many in the moment changes based upon other teams decisions that there isn't going to be a perfect draft plan besides do your homework and prepare for everything. Just thoughts...

No, it forces them to pull the trigger on the Flynn trade. Which is good for our Geno chances (if you wanted him)

I like this signing as long as it's cheap. Kolb was a hot commodity last before last year and showed good signs of being a #1. Behind that Arizona line, Brees would have looked bad. I see this as only an upside signing. Don't expect him to be our starter and he won't be paid as one. We can still draft our QB and maybe Kolb impresses us

Pugh will be gone before the third round

Exactly. As for the Gabbert talk, I've read the same rumblings that the new GM would take someone else in a heartbeat if he thought it would be an upgrade. While I know the Bills need a QB, I'd be scared if the 4 teams picking ahead of us that equally need one all passed on them too. At this point, I think I'm in the boat of taking BPA and grabbing Nassib, Manuel, etc in Round 2 or trading back late round 1

The Raiders are apparently on the verge of trading for Flynn. The current hold up is one last ditch effort to restructure Palmer's contract. The theory on that is he wants out and won't budge. So if that trade goes through, Palmer then gets cut. From there, Arizona is strongly interested in signing. If both of those happen, then that's two less teams ahead of us that need a quarterback. With that, I think this also says a lot about first round qb talent if these teams would rather try their luck with these retreads than take Geno, who would have been there. Either way, should be an interesting development and have a significant impact

The Bills of Buffalo. Yes, we still have a team

They aren't being dismissive. I get their point, but I think it's for the diehards. To your point, it's the casual and new season ticket holders I'm concernes about

I agree with what you are saying and I do believe there is a plan. I'm merely saying from a marketing standpoint, what's the sell?

I've been lurking the past few days with nothing to add that hasn't already been said in terms of disappointment around lack of visits set up, lack of certainty with QB's in the draft, and just overall confusion around what the plan is. I do believe that Marrone has a plan, but I'm getting concerned about his ability to sell it. Yes, we just signed a new lease and our future is fairly secure. However, we are also a fan base who is beaten down by years of missing the playoffs and being AFC East whipping boys. As far as a brand goes, what is going to be the selling point this year? Last year we had Mario and the hope of a great defense. This year? Is there a FA left that would inspire that level of hope? Is there a QB or draft outcome that would either? I get that we typically don't have an idea of what the real plan is and we are typically left guessing. But as of right now, it seems like the Dolphins and Pats are either getting better or maintaining. The Jets look pathetic, but who knows if they get Kolb. Either way, I'm concerned about sell outs this year and the overall affect this is going to have on the franchise's ability to garner fan interest. Anyways, just thoughts...

Until I see the money, I'm not going to say this was a huge miss, but it could be. Ellerbee was a big FA that the Bills should have been involved with. Proven guy and now he's in our division. If not him, then who were they waiting for?

I see the roughly 8 million and realize that is a lot of money. However, what would be a good amount, 6 mi? If that's the case, I would gladly pay an extra 2 mil a year to lock up a young, homegrown guy like Levitre who is solid and will probably get even better. Now, we have another hole to fill and no guarantee of how that person will work out. Also, as we forget, we typically have to pay more to get guys to play here. We have all this money, and for what? Would it have been overspending a bit, sure. But maybe we need to reward our own and stop rebuilding after our picks walk and never move forward

They could have signed him last year like they should of. Guy is possibly the best G in the league. 8 mil is not that ridiculous. This is crap and I'm not happy with the Bills for letting him walk like that

cocaine's a hell of a drug