Bob in STL

He was an amazing physical speciman, a great all around player and ... one of the first outspoken, controversial, head cases too. Back then Saban grew tired of his antics, by todays standards he just sounds like a pretty funny character. I thought there was a book and a movie in-work on his life, but in typical Cookie fasion, the projects were shelved because he want more money $.

I thought that Paul Brown tried to sneak Cookie on his roster after he finished high school and could not do it due to a rule that Brown himself initiated. So he sent him to the Canadian League with the hope of getting him back later. Cookie swore he would never play for Paul Brown and was essentially blackballed for the time. Meanwhile, Jim Brown came out of Syracuse after competing in a big time college program and went on to greatness. I am not sure Cookie and Jim Brown ever actually competed for a job, could be though. Could you imagine both of them in a backfield? Cookie as the fullback. He loved blocking and hitting. He was bigger than most guards and linebackers at that time. Not to mention way stronger and faster.

Agree

Barring any major injuries it would take until mid-season to see them get solid and working together. That assumes we find the right combination in pre-season and stick with them. After a year together they will get better and really start to jell as a unit.

Assuming they are there at 12: 1. Okoye 2. Peterson 3. Willis 4. trade down, if not then 5. Lynch or Hall/Revis I take Okoye first because I think he has the best long term upside. He can dominate for years. I take Peterson because he would most likely be highest graded player on the board and at a position of need for us. Willis because I think he will be a star and worthy of a 12. I expect that just one of them will be there at 12 and most likely it will be Willis. If none of them are there I would like to trade down if possible.

I remember him. He was an amazing player. Simply the best runner, blocker, and tackler on the team. He loved to hit, he could catch, kick, and he even told Kemp he was a passer them Jack was . He played with a mean streak and was very controversial. He was a real character. Legend has it that to make a few extra bucks he sold Christmas trees in front of the old Rockpile before games. Ralph Wilson said he could do it but Lou Saban was not very happy about it. He would be an impact player in today's era. He could start at RB and at LB and be a Pro Bowl player. He was that good.

I think we will draft Willis if he is there. If not, trade down and get one of the other top LBs.

That "boom or bust" rep is scary - especially after the Mike Williams experiment. I like Willis at MLB with our choice at 12, and that assumes that Peterson (RB) and Okoye (DT) are off the board. After that I say best player in round 2 and I hope the best player is either a RB, DT or CB. Agree that in round 3 we have to focus more on postional needs but that is really a second day thing.

Give Clements his due. Our 2nd half of the season adjustment had Clements man-to-man on the oponents top WR and performed at a high level. I wish we could have kept him. No one will miss Clements more than McGee.

I understand completely. That is a great song. Peace.

So maybe it takes Willis a year to really get comfortable at MLB in our defense. He is an excellent talent, he has a good head and great attitude, he certainly is not a reach at 12, and he is known as a "character" guy.

What good is a great offense that never gets on the field? I think Marv had to address the OL because (1)our OL talent was very poor and would take several drafts to improve; and (2) there were OL free agents that fit the profile we are looking for. I think we will address the defense in the draft, especially LB and a CB. If a monster DT like Okoye is there then we just can't pass on him.

Yes, but would you trade that for the music they have today? I know I wouldn't.

You may be correct. They are high on Butler. Pennington and Whittle would be excellent depth. Preston and Merz are in the mix too, either could develop at guard or center. OL could be an area of strength if Dockery and Walker live up to the billing.

Best: Chargers, Raiders, Bills, Jets, Cowboys, Steelers - the old original AFL throwbacks are very good except for the original Denver. Worst: Denver (past and present), Dolphins (blech), Seahawks, Ravens, Bucs (pewter?), Titans

Yes. Willis McGahee told Vilma how great it is to live in Buffalo and play for the Bills. Levy is concerned about the loss of the high character McGahee and thinks that bringing in Vilma would replace that presence. We all expect that Vilma and the Bills are a great fit and will live happily ever after. <OK, turn the sarcasm switch to the off position now.>

The story on Branch is that he does not look like a Cover-2 lineman ... whatever that means. He projects as excellent NT in a 3-4. I would be happy to sit at 12 and get Willis. I would even be happier if we could trade down and get Willis. Having four more day one picks would be great. We talk about needs at DT, LB, CB and RB but we could use help at TE, WR, and FB too. The Bills need to be true to their rankings and not draft solely on positional need.

Walker makes $5M/yr to be a back up guard? I don't think so. I expect a rookie LB to be on the roster too. Possible that we use a frst day pick for a LB and not a guard.

I might agree with the trade down, but not in the scenario you made. If either Akoye or Peterson are there at #12 we take them of them. Case closed. If not, maybe we trade back and hope for Willis or a CB.

We just gave a team record contract to Dockery, a guard. We signed Langston to a $25M, 5 year deal, he can play tackle and also play guard. We signed Jason Whittle and he too plays guard. We have Duke Preston and Aaron Merz on the roster, both play guard. They are also considering moving Butler, a tackle last year, to guard. I have seen stranger things but I doubt they will draft a guard with the first pick.

No. Fairchild will not bring the Rams offense here. That offense belongs to Martz. Fairchild likes to run and will run. Since we play outdoors in the AFC East that is a good thing.

Agreed. Much better in fact.

Please. One play did not cost us that game. Yes, he failed to make the big play, and yes, it was not a very difficult play, but come on. Royal had many more positives that should be considered. He was a strong blocker, a locker room leader, and the best receiving TE we have had since Jay Riemersma.

My name is Bob. I am from Buffalo. I live in St. Louis .. that is in Missouri you know? I still love Buffalo and I watched Rocket Ship 7 with Promo the Robot and Dave Thomas all of the time.

First of all I don't believe this rumor. Moulds did not like playing with JP and the Bills are not a contender for the SB. If it is true I would say no way. He is not the Eric Moulds we want to remember. He had poor chemistry with JP and would I could not see him being the type of leader we need ... what has changed? I will always remember him quiting on us in Miami, he was upset that JP hit Evans for those TD's and he was in the "decoy" role.