bills_fan

They have the past 2 years spent cash to improve it. Think about it. They now have Phat Pat and Kevin Williams at DT, Udeze at one DE, Napolean Harris at LB, A. Winfield, Smoot & Sharper in the 2ndary, and 2 1st rd picks. These are only the players they brought in the last 2 years (thru draft or FA). They can basically have any player they want. Now I know that McCombs is cheap & positioning to sell the team, but I think they are doing something with accounting of incentives and bonuses that ensures oodles of cap room for years to come (regardless of what they spend). Why can't we do that?

Everyone should flood their inboxes with emails stating, in a clear, poliye manner, that they ought to resign due to the mess they made in Erie County and before they do any further damage with the Bills.

West Seneca/Buffalo/29/Brooklyn

I have a question here... Every year, at least recently, Minnesota has been about 30 mil under the salary cap. Apparently this happens for two reasons. (1) Minnesota builds difficult to reach incentives into contracts, counting them against their cap as "likely-to-be-earned" and when they are not reached, the team receives a cap credit the following year. And (2) They do not backload contracts, thereby eliminating the need to restructure. Here is an article documenting the procedure... http://www.startribune.com/stories/510/4892214.html In essence, Minnesota operates with virtually no cap, as the team is always so far under they are able to operate based on cash on hand. They can aquire any player they can legitimately afford. My question is, why aren't we doing this, and what, if anything, is the downside?

Is there any way to email these two jackasses, or send them letters, saying shut the f&%k up?

They'll go for a pick plus a player. If you were either Sea or Indy would you do the deal for Surtain and a 3rd? Remember Baily and a 2nd went to Den for Portis so that is the market.

Actually, a group of NYS County Execs from around the State have been going county-to-county saying what happened in Erie will happen to the rest of the counties in the state if changes are not made. They are lobbying for changes and will now go to Albany. Also, Schumer unveiled a plan to change the mandates on a Federal level. It will take a little while tho. For a dem, he ain't half bad.

Its a good way to start a war. Free pass # 1, hereby used...

Also, what noone has adequately explained yet, is that the bulk of the Erie County budget is eaten alive by Federal and State madated programs that we CAN'T cut (see Medicaid). If we could enact meaningful Medicaid reform in NYS, then there would be plenty more money available for the other services and we wouldn't be fighting amongst each other regarding cuts (although some truly are necessary). The state of Virginia just enacted meaningful medicaid reform enacting (among other things) a residency requirement, co-pays, and limits. Do you realize that someone, anyone can simply cross the NYS state line, rent an apartment, file for Medicaid and be entitled to better health care than 95% of the people on this board? I have my company's medical insurance and my wife's. I can see the dentist twice a year for rountine checkups, under medicaid, they can go 6x's. I can see the eye doctor once. Under medicaid they can go 4x's. See the point here. I'm not for denying health care, but damn, at least be a NYS resident for 3 years. Cause NYS's liberal medicare policy and failure to enact meaningful reforms is costing 1200 NYS workers their jobs in Erie County.

I don't know much about her. Not sure if same Jemiolo but I've eaten in Jemiolo's restaurant numerous times tho. Too bad its gone.

Hey Hammer, love the sig line. But don't forget about Joel "I'm going to Disneyland" Giambra

Here's a good McGahee running over the fins... http://www.angelfire.com/nv/billsthunder/2004WEEK5.html Also pic #2 in the Week 6 section is a good one, showing McGahee carrying half the felon D with him... http://www.buffalobills.com/gallery/ Still looking for the best one tho...

Bill Polian, hands down.

I would never watch another NFL game, unless the Bills were replaced (a la Cleveland Browns).

I think with a 17 mil SB, he's more likely to bit on the deal. He's get one of the highest SB's for a CB in the last couple of years, and thats what players and agents really care about. Then the numbers would look something like this... Cap hits in parenthesis 05 750K ($3.58M--about $1.5 M in cap savings this year) 06 $1.25 M ($4.083M) 07 $4 M ($6.83M) 08 $4 M ($6.83M) 09 $4.5 M ($7.33 M) 10 $4.5 M ($7.33M) The last couple of years are a bit more workable with the higher SB.

I agree on Kevin Everett. He's going to make a terrific pro. Do you think he'll still be around in Round 3? Also, sorry I edited my post to add the Marcus Bell signing if we have the money.

Moves I would make if TD... 1-I would sign Rick DeMulling to play LG. 2-I would deal Henry and a conditional 06 pick (between 3 and 7th rds)to Ari for Shelton. 3-I would sign Tyrone Wheatley to be WM 's backup. 4- I would restructure MW (if he'll accept), cut Coy Wire, and offer Prielou a restructure. If he takes it great, if no gone. 5- I would speak with Kevin Johnson's rep about being the third WR. If there's interest and he's cheap, I'd go for him. 6- I would speak to Ty Law and see if he'll accept an incentive laden deal. If so, I would try and get him signed. 7- With whatever cap room I had left, minus the rookie pool, I would offer Nate the extension. I'd scale his pay waaaay back in Year 1 to make it fit. 8- With the 1.5 or so I saved on Nate this year (yes it would be a savings this year) I would offer 1 mil or so to DT Marcus Bell, a younger PW run stuffer. 9- I'd draft a TE with my first pick in the draft, CB and OL depth the rest of the way.

Why the high base in the last 3 years. Why not keep the total value the same, but offer 17 mil in SB, thereby lessening the numbers over the last 3 years. Spending over 7 mil on a player, even a very good one, seems like a recipe for cap hell.

TD has gambled on injured players coming back before. Some have worked out (WM) and some have not (Marcus Jones, Jason Gildon). But I like and applaud his willingness to try. I just had a thought. I haven't heard of Law making any visits. Maybe he and his agent don't want to publicize anything b/c of what the doctors MAY find when they check him out. It would significantly hurt his market value.

If we get DeMulling & Shelton, with Holcomb in the fold and TD likely to sign a vet RB to "serve as mentor to McGahee" (in the words of Lenny P), I think TE is where we are headed in the draft. TE or CB are the most likely spots for us to use our # 2.

I think the key would be the incentive-laden contract he gets. Will he sign something like that? Will TD even present it? Maybe this is being done on the down-low for a reason. If Ty is interested (and his agent has to know the Bills don't have the cap room for a big signing), then it would be irresponsible for TD not to be interested. Ty Law is the best CB in football when healthy.

I'd be more interested in Kevin Johnson as the third WR, provided he comes cheap.

OK, as Mark says, lets discuss this... Ty Law COULD want to come to Buffalo. Good D, best buds with Milloy, TD known to be pretty fair in contract dealings, chance to stick it to Belly-chuck twice a year. Its an appealing spot from Law's perspective. The Bills COULD want Law in Buffalo. Best CB in football when healthy, hedge against losing Nate next year. Would give great 1-2 pass coverage punch with Nate this year, moving McGee to nickel. Definite Upgrade. For the Bills, IF Ty Law agrees to an incentive laden deal based on playing time, it might be worth it. I know the Bills have other needs but maybe there is a way to get this done as well.

Agreed. But so would Tyrone Wheatley.

You will see our secondary be among the top 3 in football this year. With the possible exception of Philly, noone's is better. Safties we have to be #1, with Milloy and Troy Vincent. Remember TV made the transition on the fly last year. With a whole offseason to prepare, I think we're looking at a Pro-Bowler there. Corners, Nate was rated #1 in football by Dr. Z this past year (an opinion I respect), McGee is an up and coming playmaker who really only had one bad game when named the starter. Thomas is adequate at nickel. As it is currently constructed, I put it in the top 3. Now, if Law does sign with us (below market, incentive laden, with Lawyer's goading), pushing McGee to nickel, you can forget it...#1 in football.