bills_fan

Lets hear what you have to say...here's mine. OK, its not as bad as you think. The big problem I have is that Teflon Tom may be trying to do it. First, lets address the cap. Right now the Bills are 8 mil under the projected 06 cap. The rest of the division is over, by at least 8 mil (NE) to 30 mil (NYJ). Add to the cap the potential saving of cutting Moulds, Mike Williams, Bennie Anderson, Sam Adams and Jeff Posey. If you add up the saving from those cuts (all made pre-June 1) you would end up with approximately 7-8 mil in additional cap space, as well as a boatload of dead money on the 06 cap. As an aside, I have no problem taking the dead money right on the 06 cap, fixing what we can, and using the money in 06 to extend the players who will be here long term (JP, Evans etc.) and fill one or two holes in 06. Re-signing Trey Teague or Josh Reed are not an option. Thus, we end up with approximately 16 million in cap space. With our new-found riches, we have a myriad of positions to fill. Chief among them are DT, LT, CB and WR. The best FA LT available is Jeff Backus from Detroit. He is an Unrestricted Free Agent and all we have to do is pay him, and he's ours. The new collective bargaining rules limit the amount of time a bonus can be spread out to 4 years. Thus, I believe that we could get him for something like a 5 year, 40 mil deal, with 12 up front as a SB. His cap number for 06 would be around 7, not bad for your starting LT, leaving us approximately 9 mil left. Now, on to CB. We cannot franchise Nate Clements. We can sign him long term, but by franchising him, all of our remaining cap money would be eaten up. Signing Nate will be a matter of if Nate wants to sign in Buffalo & if we offer him the cash. Personally, I don't think he wants to be here. So, bye Nate. That leaves us in the 2nd tier CB market. We could sign Will Allen off the Giants for 1/2 the money it would take to sign Nate, and still have cash left-over. He's not as good, but with the new rules regarding illegal contact etc., no CB is, so why pay the money. Next is WR. Evans is a great deep threat, Parrish can be elusive, but what we really need is a reliable possession receiver. Since Moulds has to be replaced, many will advocate for Reggie Wayne, but he'll cost too much. The interesting choice is David Givens. He's not flashy, just reliable, and weakens the Patsies, since they can't afford to sign him. He's eat up the bulk of our remaining cap space, but would be a reliable target for JP. DT - For starters, I would offer both Ron Edwards and Justin Bannan identical small contracts and see which one bites. Whichever bites, we'll sign for depth purposes as our 4th DT. Now, our D has been missing a two-gap DT since letting Phat Pat walk (Thanks Donohoe you jackass). Since huge DT's in their prime are expensive, and rarely become available, Corey Simon being the exception (Thanks Donohoe you jackass), a different approach is necessary. Perhaps the signing of a veteran DT, who is coming off a couple of injury plauged years, but can still be effective in a limited role is the way to go...perhaps Grady Jackson from the Packers. Jackson is 6'5" and 345. He doesn't move much. Nor can the opposing OL move him much. He is just what we need. Because he's 33, he may be looking for one more decent contract. I'll bet we can get him at 3 years 9 mil, with 3 mil up front. Thats only a 3 mil cap hit, for a guy who will play all 1st downs and some 2nd downs. That would be just about all of our remaining cap room, except for the draft. The draft... our 1st round pick should be used on one of the two great available DTs, either Haloti Ngata of Oregon or Gabe Watson of Michigan, either of whom will be available with our 1st round pick. Our 2nd round pick should be used to address the deficiency at LG. The Bills are the only team in the league without a starting OL that they drafted (Thanks Donohoe you jackass), so lets change that. Charles Spencer of Pitt or Davin Joseph of Oklahoma would look real good here, and both should be available within the first 10 picks of the 2nd round. Now, we have 2 third round picks due to the Titans stupidly dealing for Travis Henry. We need a SS to groom to take over for Milloy in 06, a potential MLB to take over for London after 07, and a more reliable backup RB. At this point, take your pick. Thus, according to my plan, the 06 Bills would look something like this.... WR - Evans, Givens, Parrish, Aiken RB - McGahee, Williams, Draft Pick FB - Shelton QB - Losman, Holcomb LT - Backus LG - 2nd Round Draft Pick C - Duke Preston RG - Villarial RT - Peters DE - Schobel, Kelsay, Denney DT - Grady Jackson, 1st Round Pick, Tim Anderson, Edwards or Bannan OLB - Spikes, Crowell (now starting), Haggan MLB - Fletcher CB - McGee, Allen, Greer, King S - Vincent, Milloy Problem is, we need someone to coach this team. While I'd love to dump Mularkey, that won't happen. I do think Tom Clements will be dumped, for a new Offensive Coordinator who can run the friggin ball. I think Gray comes back. With respect to Donahoe, he's gone. The title of President is given to Russ Brandon (currently marketing director) and Modrak becomes the GM. The business and football operations become separated. Thats my 06 plan. It should be decent. Then in 07, we'll have the necessary cap space to solve the Milloy problem if the 3rd round pick doesn't work out, possibly get the ultimate successor to Fletcher with a 1st round pick, and take care of some extensions. Problem is if jackass Donahoe is in Buffalo, I don't think any of it will happen.

Ya know, last time Marv actually expressed an interest in the job. He would need very good coordinators, to do the X and O stuff, but I don't think hiring Marv to serve as coach/CEO is such a bad idea.

And, unfortunately, we haven't been able to rush the passer since.

I also think the last 5 games will determine if EM is here in 06. If, as I expect, he builds some chemistry with JP and has a few big games, then I don't see how TD can't bring him back for 06. I want the lines fixed as much as anyone, but I'm a little sick of the Bills being the proverbial boy putting his finger in the leak, watching a new one open every year. There has to be a way to sign a guy like Hutch and keep EM. With all our potential cuts (MW, Posey, Adams? etc.), guys not being re-signed (Teague), and the expected rise in the cap, we ought to be able to do both.

Bill- I agree with respect to the restructuring of EM, but why not simply keep him for 06 at his present number? I know its high (10.8), but if the cuts proceed as expected, and the cap rises, then we could afford EM and fix our lines. EM provides a nice security blanket for the younger players. Then, if and when he is cut after the 06 season, he only counts 1.7 in cap room for that season. Seems a bit better than cutting him after 05 and taking the 5.2 mil hit. At least, then you have a productive player for what he counts against your cap.

With all of the cuts you propose, and I agree with, and the dead $$ coming off for Bledsoe we won't be hurting for cap space, even if we franchised Nate and signed an OL/cheaper DT (see Jackson, Grady). I disagree with any extension for EM. But why not simply keep him. Yes, 10.8 is a lot, but not ridiculous. The cap will rise next year. As long as it doesn't hamper our ability to rebuild the lines, keep him and pay him. At least for one season to protect our young offensive players, I don't see the problem.

Those guys ever catch 88 for 1043? Thats what EM did last season. Given the QB carousal this year, I'm willing to say that the 88/1043 is what EM is going to give you. Thats 11.9 YPC and just fine. In fact, I'm willing to bet that EM will end the final 5 games this year on pace to put up those numbers. He seemed to jell with JP in the last couple of weeks. I agree completely about the groin. Prior to that play EM was top 5 in the NFL, a true playmaker. Now, he's not the same player. But as evidenced by last year's numbers, and remember, we were no offensive juggernaut, I think he's still very capable. Finally, I'm not saying sign the guy long term, but giving him another year to act as security blanket while all our young offensive players develop (JP, Willis, Roscoe, Evans, Everett etc.) is not a bad idea.

Bravo.

Like who? And I'm only talking acquire-able, free agents here. Don't tell me Marvin Harrison or Chad Johnson. Add in a 48 yard game winning TD against the Panthers and how would he look? How about all those early throws JP missed in the first 4 games? Holcomb doesn't exactly have a bazooka, so maybe that dragged down his YPC a bit. Remember it takes two to tango, don't look at the numbers in a vacuum. Lets take a look at what happens the next 5 games. JP seemed to be establishing a bit of a connection with EM, and I expect when you compare his numbers from the last 5 games, they will be much improved.

But, hey, a year of John Fina was worth letting Ted go. Cause we all know the 01-02 Bills had the personnell to win shootouts. A tough, run-stuffing interior defender to keep games low scoring and give us a shot wasn't necessary according to TD.

I'd like to find out how many catches a big, physical receiver like EM has, even this year, that have gone for first downs, or even better, turned 2nd and 10 into 3rd and 2. I don't think you can only look at YPC.

Is he worth a 10 mil cap hit looking at it in a vacuum, no. Is he worth it to the Bills and for the development of Losman, probably. I don't think with all the other cuts that we'll be hurting for cap room. Sometimes you just have to overpay a guy. Look at SD with Rivers/Brees. Of course, knowing TD, he'll cut Moulds, Losman's devlopment will be stunted, and TD will feed us some bull about the offense needing to be more consistent as we stumble to 8-8. Then, in the 06 offseason, TD will go looking for a WR.

Rico, I agree with every move except Moulds. Is Moulds the game breaker he was 3-5 years ago, definately not. But, he still commands respect around the league, has developed into quite the possession receiver (a la Keyshawn) and takes pressure off Evans and Parrish. I don't think that is something I'd mess with, especially considering that cutting Moulds would hinder the devlopment of Losman. Give it a year. Let Parrish assume a greater role, Everett get worked into the system and allow Evans another year to grow. Then, I may agree with cutting him. For now, I believe our WRs are just too green and they'd get smothered without EM.

You're preaching to the choir. I've been off the kool-aid for two years.

As I sit here re-reading the thing, and laughing hysterically while staring at a computer at work, its just as funny as it was 5 months ago.

Bledsoe sneak with Travis blocking....oh wait that was 4th and 4!!

AD, that really was friggin hilarious. Oh, and don't forget about ol SpikedLemonade.

But they took a shot and went for the Bowl in 98/99. Butler said all along he pointed to 99 as the last dance and we'd have to take some lumps after that. IF he made it, noone in Bills Nation would have had a problem with a few 3-13s.

Don't forget that Polian also rebuilt the Panthers into a contender as well. Also, I found this...very interesting.... Here's the full link http://www.geocities.com/bflobuzrd_2000/polian.html Anyone know anything about this?

Amen...

I usually dislike Sully's articles, believing them to be way over the top and generally a hatchet job. But, today's Sully article simply points out the facts, and they are not good. It was right on the money and at some point this offseason TD is going to have to address his failures with respect to the OL and the lack of playoff appearances.

Great post Rock. To answer your question, as best I can... I have been to numerous road games to follow the Bills. I've seen them play at Giants, Jets, Ravens, Eagles, Pitts, Miami, NE and Tennessee. I do usually pay a fair amount of $$$ for tickets, figuring I don't go often and would rather shell out the bucks for good seats so I can see and enjoy the game. Generally, I buy from scalpers and am surrounded by the home team's season ticket holders. Maybe its because I pay for the good seats, or am not a loudmouth jerk, but I've never had any problems (knock on wood). I generally start conversations with the other team's fans about the game, season etc., and things are cordial, whether the Bills win or lose. I guess if someone is going to act like a jerk, they will be treated like one. If you conduct yourself appropriately, people will treat you that way.

I hope Sully or the Coach gets a hold of this and runs with it. I know I have tix to Denver and will be there proudly with my Fire Donahoe sign. Hell, I may even print up T-Shirts.

Hey Mike, congrats!! That would make Zachary Simon (born Nov 15, 8lb, 8oz) the second newest. From one first-time new dad to another, have a cigar and enjoy. My wife had the same type of experience, 35 hours of labor, he's not coming out. In for the C-section, which she didn't really want. Pretty wild sitting in the OR talking to her while they did it. Tough part was that the lights in the OR were angled in such a way and had chrome edges, that we watched the entire thing over the curtain. Best of luck. -Dan PS - I already dressed him in all-Bills regalia for Sunday.

The thing is, for us to have any chance, we have to win out. NE must lose two games (to us and someone else). Then we'd win the tiebreakers based on better conf record (we'd both be 5-1 in division if NE wins all rest of division games except vs. us). The scary game is at Cinci. Maybe with a road win at Miami and a couple of breaks it could happen, tho I doubt it.