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Probably how quickly Pianalto got swooped up and given an active roster spot on another club. It just intrigues me. Two guys who play the same position, are the same age, from the same draft class, and are fairly equal in skill. Yet we let the bird in the hand go for the devil we don't know. But i'm not an expert on either guy. This is why I asked. If Smith is a much better blocker, than I can see the reasoning. Not to mention, Smith played in the Senior Bowl. Chix probably had a look and liked him in Mobile.

This is a good point that I hadn't thought of. Perhaps Smith was someone the Bills wanted to draft all along and the Pats just beat us to the punch. Now we have a chance to get him and Pianalto wasn't a very big deal to them. And let me say this is NOT a "stupid Bills making stupid decisions" post. This is a "do you think we make the right call?" post.

No, i'm not saying we should be angry about it. It's too soon for that. Just that we gave up a guy who has been working with our team for all of the preseason and most of training camp for a guy from New England who has no experience with our offense. Two guys from the same draft class at the same position with comparable skills. The bird in the hand was dropped and flew to Tampa Bay. Do you think we'll regret moving Pianalto for Smith?

I know this isn't a huge deal considering both would be our #3 TE going into this season. But I find this Lee Smith signing a little odd. Going into the draft, a good portion of draft "pundits" listed Zack Pianalto as ranked higher than Lee Smith. In fact, he was one of the top rated undrafted free agents available as many expected him to be drafted. When we signed him, I thought he may be our next starting TE in the near future. But it appears Scott Chandler was always "the guy". Pianalto had a decent camp/preseason for a rookie with a shortened camp due to the labor issues with free agents. Enough to make the 53-man roster. Or so we thought. Enter Lee Smith. A 5th Rounder from the Patriots. A guy who apparently looked pretty decent, but couldn't beat out another UDFA TE that the Patriots signed. Maybe they wanted him for the PS and we snatched him; but in the end, he didn't make the final roster. So to make room for him, we cut Pianalto. A guy we liked enough to make our final roster. Maybe we wanted him for our PS, but the Bucs snatched him up. I just find it interesting that we gave up a guy who has been working with our offense for a couple months for a guy who couldn't make the Pats roster. Not only that, but he was snatched up to be the Bucs #3 TE almost immediately. Both guys may end up being just bit players. But if Pianalto blows up for the Bucs, we're going to look pretty silly. So good move? Or are you worried that we may have made the wrong choice? Or perhaps, do you even care?

Not shocking and it goes with what I said in my original Pryor post down the page; some team with no brain in their head would take him in the 3rd. It's funny when stereotypes come true. Of course the Raiders wanted him, he runs fast I kinda wish Davis had put in his claim in the 4th. I'd have been interested to see if Buffalo would have tried to put in a claim after acquiring a 2nd 4th rounder for Evans....

As 1 PM approaches, I still maintain that we should throw in a 4th Round bid. Especially since we have another one thanks to the Lee Evans trade (ugh, that still hurtsto say). Is it very possible that he could just become another Maurice Clarett? Yeah, it's a very real concern. But at the cost of a 4th, his athletic potential is worth the risk. If he bombs, we lost one of two 4th's. And looking at our track record of 4th's (2011: too early to tell on Searcy and Hairston; 2010: Marcus Easley; 2009: Shawn Nelson; 2008: Reggie Corner; 2007: Dwayne Wright; 2006: Ko Simpson), what's the difference if he busts out? Yes, I know Terrence McGee was a 4th and their are other 4th Rd. studs around the league. But, let's face it, odds are not very good that a 4th Round pick is going to have a tremendous impact. Terrelle Pryor has potential. We need all the help we can get going forward. It's worth the risk to me.

Eek! So not only do you have a Spiller jersey #28, but you have an AFL white jersey of him? We only wore those jersey's for one season.... the year before we drafted him. That jersey is all sorts of fail I'd switch it to McKelvin. At least he wore that one.

If you have a shot at a guy who you believe could develop into a good signal caller for you in the future; you find a spot. Had we drafted someone in the 2011 NFL Draft (like many had projected), I assure you, we'd have still signed Brad Smith. Will Smith's official title be "QB"? Yes. But if anyone thinks he's really here because he'll be a QB for us, I think that's crazy. He should have his own spot on the roster under whichever category they wish. But he's thrown a total of 7 passes since coming into the league in 2006. Hell, he doesn't even wear a red jersey in practice. He's an "X Factor" at many different positions for us. But he's only technically a QB.

This is inarguable. But Mike Adams has made no indication that he's entering the NFL Supplemental Draft. Unlike Pryor (who knew he wasn't going to play another down in College Football), Adams has only a 5 game suspension in his Senior season. Most experts believe he's better served serving the suspension and then entering the draft next year. This is the most likely scenario. I would be surprised if within the next eight days, he throws his name in the hat. True, O-Line and LB are our biggest needs. But to say that we don't need a young, (possibly) franchise QB is false. At the moment, all of our hopes are pinned on Fitz being good this year. But he's not our "Franchise QB" going forward right this second. We were lampooned for the last two years for not getting ourselves a successor. I just think if we have a shot at a guy who has "Boom" potential at a position that's uncertain at best beyond this season; it's worth the possible (and some would say 'most likely) "Bust" at the cost of a 4th Rounder or lower. I'm not saying that Pryor is a sure fire "Franchise QB". Certainly not now. But if he spends this year with us, that gives him an almost one year jump on whomever we'd draft next year. Not to mention, it would cost us nothing in comparison to the ransom we'd have to give up for a guy like Luck or Landry.

Unfortunately for him, he won't have that opportunity. The NFL Supplemental Draft that he will be partaking in is on August 17th; 8 days from now.

I'm glad you brought that up. I hear Rosenhaus is running around saying he'll go in the 1st. I think that's just plain rubbish. He's trying to create false interest like he THINKS he did with McGahee. I don't think anyone with a brain in their head will take him any higher than the 3rd. Even with a 3rd, i'd be hesitant. I only mentioned a 3rd because I believe there will be a team without said brain that would do it there. I'm thinking more along the lines of a 4th and I think that's where most expect him to go. We'll have the 3rd pick in the 4th Round. After how this years draft went, if he's still there; I think we should highly consider it.

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/08/09/11/Pryor-awaiting-NFL-decision-on-eligibili/landing_ohiostate.html?blockID=545303&feedID=3725 Interesting. The NFL has announced it's intentions to hold a supplemental draft but hasn't let any of the players know if they're eligible or not. I'd say it's just a formality. Terrelle Pryor will most likely be available to draft on the 17th. While he is greener than grass and has had off the field issues, he represents an interesting opportunity for Buffalo. I think we can all agree that we won't be picking 1st overall next year (most likely). So Andrew Luck is out. And if that's the case, while Pryor's green; I think he'd be more pro ready if we took him on the 17th and he spent the 2011 season learning the Bills offense and being coached up than a QB who we may or may not take in April 2012. Not to mention, he could most likely be had for a 3rd at the most (i'm speculating, of course) while someone next year would probably cost more. With his growing up and playing in Pennsylvania, Buffalo won't be a culture or weather shock. With Gailey's love of mobile Quarterback's, I think this is honestly a great fit. Now i'm sure you'll all reply "pass, he's an idiot" or something along those lines. But what of those very same people when the "Vick to Buffalo" rumors were going on? That's worked out pretty well so far for Phili. I say; low risk potential high reward. If Terrelle Pryor became a Buffalo Bill, how would you feel?

I think he's certainly an upgrade from Whitner, George Wilson, Jon Corto, and Bryan Scott. I'd assume considering he hasn't stepped on the field and was a mid-round rookie, he'd be an upgrade over Da'Norris Searcy as well. But that can't be guaranteed. Long story short, for the right price, i'd be all for it. Offer a conditional 4th next year. If they want him gone bad enough maybe they'll take it. Couldn't hurt to throw it out there.

+1 Funny thing is, I actually started to come around to the idea of him coming back with his tweets yesterday. I thought "Hey, if he's been humbled and wants to accept a marginal deal, why not? We could do worse and he has experience with the team". But just as I started feeling that, he signs with Cinci. Which is fine too. I wish him luck. But in retrospect, if he wanted to come back here and he ended up signing a two year deal for 4 mil in Cincy; Nix must have REALLY not wanted him back. You have to assume he was told "you're not getting another offer from us and the other one's off the table, pal".

Yeah, I gotta disagree with you again on this. I would consider him more of a "big hitting" safety than a "sure tackler". There's been plenty of times when I yelled at the TV because he was trying too hard to deliver a knockout and not hard enough on actually tackling the guy.

"lol no"? Have you watched Bills games? I'm not a fan of Whitner or his attitude. But to say he's not a hard hitter, "not even a little bit" is just plain false. Whitner smashes dudes! The problem is, it's usually after a big gain. And, yes, I'm fairly positive he was the one who destroyed Chad Johnson (as referenced above). There's lots of things Donte can't do. But laying a lick on someone certainly isn't one of them. I'd argue he was the hardest hitter on our team when he was here. But again, the volume of the crack was usually a mute point by the time it happened.

I thought this was going to be a post about Marcus Stroud coming back. *phew* got scared for a second there. I was a fan of his, but he just doesn't work in the 3-4. I hope he signs with someone in a 4-3 and plays the middle again well. It's a shame how things worked with him here and especially a shame how things worked out when he signed with New Englad.

I hope he teaches him how to put on about 45 lbs. in a week. That would be a good start.

I was really hoping he'd be our 3rd NT behind Williams and Troup based on his size. However, from what i've seen in camp and read in reports, the guy is getting pushed around regardless of his girth. I agree, the Practice Squad seems like his most likely destination at this point. But who knows? Maybe he'll kill it in the Preseason. Luckily for him, we don't have much beyond Williams and Troup in the middle so that may buy him a spot on the active roster alone.

If you have an issue with people on this board questioning the Bills logic in things, you're going to fly off the handle on every post. I suggest Xanax. It works great when it comes to calming the nerves. It may even help you focus on what you're actually making a point against.

Now I REALLY don't get it. I was talking about the LB's and you went off on me about the OL? I wasn't talking about the O-Line at all. I was talking about Arthur Moats' move from OLB to ILB. What does Rinehart and Urbik have to do with any part of my post?

I was thinking the same exact thing. I don't see us cutting him. He provides decent veteran depth. Which only makes the Arthur Moats move that much more enfuriating to me. You have Andra Davis, Nick Barnett, Kelvin Sheppard, and Reggie Torbor at ILB. Beyond Shawne Merriman and Chris Kelsay, we have nothing. I could understand the move if Moats wasn't providing pass rush, but he was coming on as one of our best (or only, for that matter) pass rushers! I just don't get it.

Langston Walker..... I have no idea where all this "Bring back Langston Walker!" love is coming from. I understand the guy kind of got a raw deal here. But I say "kind of" because the dude got signed to essentially the same contract that Tyson Clabo got and performed averagely on his best days at the RT spot. People seem to forget how much of a headache he was to all of us before he was wronged. As a matter of fact, i'd go so far as to say the money we poured into guys like him and Bennie Anderson were part of the reason we seem so hesitant to spend big money on the O-Line anymore. I really don't see Langston Walker providing much more to us than Erik Pears. Even if we were willing to go that route again; who in their right mind would even think this is close to a possibility? Why would he want to come back here? The only way I see that happening is that no one else wants him and in that sense; why would we? Shawn Andrews is on the same boat as the rest of them. He keeps getting injured. The Giants signed him less than a year ago and already cut him. Not to mention, he's a headcase. He's had serious mental issues that have helped to ruin his career. The guy was a stud in 2007 and has been an unfortunate disappointment ever since. I've already touched on Max Starks and i'm not even going to get into Herman Johnson (really?). Like i've said, i'm ALL about getting a RT. But there just isn't one worth investing in. Now THAT's a RT that would be worth going after! That's an upgrade right away. The way I see it, right now, a cap casualty is the only way we're getting a new Tackle. Vernon Carey would be an amazing pickup!

I know not of this 'Matt Starks' you speak of. If you mean Max Starks; no thanks. First off, he's a Left Tackle. The Bills have made no indication that they would like to replace Demetrius Bell and while he is no stud, he's not bad and is getting better. The need is at Right Tackle. Secondly, he is reported to be tremendously out of shape (apparently, on the much northern end of 300 lbs). And, lastly, the dude was out a good percentage of last year with a NECK injury that he had to have surgery on and is still dealing with. There's no indication he's in any shape to play. He's in the same boat as Jared Gaither and Mike Williams healthwise. If he were in any position to play anywhere's near his past performance level, there's no way the Steelers would have let him go. We need a RT; no doubt about it. But at the moment, I see no upgrade over an Erik Pears with one year under his belt with the Buffalo coaches. The well is THAT dry.

Debbie - We went after Clabo, but when prom day came, he went with the prettier girl. Unless you want to sign Jared Gaither after a failed physical with the Raiders, Ryan Harris who has done little to nothing since drafted by the Broncos, or bring back Big Mike Williams with a clot in his heart; tell me who we should sign? Worry not about Buffalo. Get to work on Dallas. Love - BillsMafia