Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

I think it's cool that went from a baskball star to now a football star. I wonder if he went deaf from listening to Boeheim too much?

Cause people have heard of him! That automatically makes him a great choice. I'd be shocked if they brought Peppers in for anything more than a position coach. Likely he'd want to replace most of defensive staff which agai nto do now would hurt the Bill's much more than promoting one of their existing coaches to DC. The only way they look outside would be if they felt none of the position coaches were qualified at all.

I doubt the Pats were the first team to win who cheated, they were just the first to to win who got caught cheating. I recall a story from back in the late 70's Raiders were playing the Steelers, Madden was still the coach, Raiders finished their practice, ready to hit the showers, Suddenly they are called back out to practice against some other formation, why because spy's had sneaked into stadium and watched Steelers practice. Reported back to Big Al, so now they were working on this. Raiders won game BTW From what I recall Pats were first turned in by their old assistant coach (Mangini was it?) who was now with the Jets' If Pettine goes to Cleveland, I'd bet he has plenty of info he could turn Rex in for doing illegally and likely even Buffalo. But it's kind of an unwritten line that normally isn't crossed, ex-coaches don't tell secrets of old teams. But for some reason the Pat's ex-assistant crossed it. Also kind of interesting that he has not coached since I beleive??

So are you saying Wilson is a franchise QB? If EJ does crack the top 20, from what I've seen he''ll be right about where Wilson is. So Hogan and TJ being on the roster reflects back on Hackett?? Granted I'm sure Hackett had SOME input on who they kept and who they cut, but also certain Marrone and Whaley had alot of input on that too. So if they should have cut them two, who should they have kept instead? Or was it also Hackets job to go out and sign better WR's too? Granted he had some freedom on shaping the roster, but he still needs to go with the best six or seven available and not sure who else would have improved the roster. Rogers, maybe, but he had issues and may also have been over ruled on that one. I would agree that a couple of player changes the Bill's could be getting close, but also assumes that many of the rookies and 2nd year players, like EJ, Kiko, Woods, Grissom, Glenn all improve alot in the off-season, then they re-sign Byrd, and Arron Williams and McKelvin prove not to just have one good year in them. Also need Stevie, Spiller, Eric Woods, to step up a fair amount and the D-line to play as well as this past year. I'd agree with OP in that there are only a few positions where you feel you definitely need to replace the 2013 player, maybe 4 or 5, certainly less than in prior years, BUT also need alot more from the other 16 starters and backup to be equal to Seattle.

I think they should go after that Whitner guy. Anyone know anything about him??

Yes but that will cost you a big signing bonus which then you'd take a hit on the cap if you cut him. If that's really your plan to have a competition and potentially cut him, then wouldn't bother giving him big bucks which likely then would mean he's gone.

Was expecting much more!!

But the title was he didn't resign, then he must still be coaching there! Ah forget it!

Well someone did ask last week, well more like told, (maybe it was you and you're just baiting us) and the answer wasn't very pretty.

I agree it's a great rivalry as they play each other twice a season. Factoring in the first three items you mention you have two very evenly skilled QB's going up against eachother. The more I see of both of them I'd call it the battle of mediocrity Buffalo doesn't have any of those first three items, I think if we had drafted RW, likely this board would be covered with posts talking about what a bust he is and we need to get a new QB this year in the draft. Kind of like this board is now, but times ten!

So if he didn't resign, how can we hire him?? He's under contract!!

No the worst you can do is draft another QB in the 1st round, now both a competing for snaps and neither gets enough to improve. I've heard from multiple outlets once the regular season starts, the back up QB gets around 2 snaps per week with the first team. So how's he going to improve which ever one it it? These days with all the new rules reducing OTA's two-a-days, and other off season work, it also reduces the amount of snaps you get in training camp too. You could use a lower round pick on another QB, but with a rookie, it's unlikely he'd look any better than either Lewis or Tuell. I agree it is a QB driven league and the problem is there aren't enough to go around. Adding up all the teams I count 14 teams that if I were the GM, I'm completely happy with my QB, I count nine teams that are either actively looking for a new QB or have someone they believe is their #1, but is completely unproven like the Bills and Jets. Then there's another seven teams left that have a solid QB, has proven they are somewhat capable, but not enough to move up into the group of 14 teams whom have no plans to upgrade and two years from now these teams could all find themselves in the group of teams looking to make a change. I'd include teams like Miami, Cinnci, and would also include teams like Wash, Balt (a year ago people were claiming Flacco was a bust, then he wins the SB, this year not looking so good again) So the Bill's had Fitz who had games where he looked like he could move up to the "A" league so again don't want to waste a high draft pick to sit the bench when have many other needs. So you keep the guy and try and ride him hoping he plays steady, eventually most of these guys tail off and then you move on to the next choice. The problem too why teams are reluctant to move on to the next guy is look at he high rate of failures of rookies. I've heard this year they expect around five QB's to go in the first round. I'll promise you at least two will be labeled busts in five years, trouble is you don't know which ones and another one or two will become the Fitz of 2018 or so. But given those odds you tend to ride the middle of the road guy a little longer and hope he can move up to the next level or at least close to the next level.

Doesn't matter if he was convicted. Did Barry Bonds ever admit to using steroids, why isn't he in the HOF. This is a popularity contest, and people need to like him to vote for him. What happened is likely enough to turn some off, particually since it's his first year. Not voting for him in year #1 is kind of making a statement that your actions hurt you and this is my way of sticking it to you. Being convicted comes into play say if the league tried to suspend him when it happened, (don't recall what did happen on that end) or other similar things It's very dificult to take any kind of legal actions agaisnt someone without any convictions, but easy to say I'm not voting for you.

I think Harrison is made to wait for off field. Is this the first year for DeBartolo? if so I also think he waits for off field issues.

I think on the D side LB is there #1 need and resigning Byrd. They don't need a LT so going guard or RT in round #2 makes sense as you don't want ot pick a guard or RT at #9. Wouldn't mind them trading dow neither. If they don't go with LB I also wouldn't mind another CB though admittedly their secondary played much better than I would have expected, but can never have too many QB. The way the game is going, we have the nickel back, then the dime, can't jump to the "quarter" or "half" so what's next, only think left is the penny back.

If you can't get a contract worked out, you could tag him then try and trade him too. No team would likely trade for him unless they were able to work out a long term deal, or the offer from the team would be very low. So worst case, you tag him with the intent of trading, can't work out a trade, unless the rules have changed, as long as he hasn't signed the tender, which doubt he would sign it right away as then he'd be on the hook to report for OTA's etc. you can then retract the tender. That could hose Byrd somewhat as if you pulled the offer say in May, most of the big FA $$ would all be soaked up by then and he may have to take less or less options of teams still willing to sign him.

With a rookie QB who missed close to half the year and a rookie backup up, a weaker O-line though was more healthly than the prior year. So no not all that worried. Was Fitz better than EJ yes, but EJ has more upside, admittedly much of it's unknown.

Have you seen Buddy lately?? I also watched the Football Life episode, not sure how old he is, but it doesn't appear that's aged well at all. The best he may be capable of is running Gilbrides toe over with his walker.

Wow, you really look smart pointing that out now! The Cat's point was they signed a number of other guys in which on his list worked out well. So they expected similar results here. How many of the players on that list last April were expected to do even half as well as they ended up doing? Hughes was so bad the Colts traded a #1 away as they expected nothing from him. But we got ten sacks from him. So as likely as Hughes had ten sacks either Brown or Legursky could have played just as well. As far as QB goes, they used A #1 draft pick on one, signed a guy who two years ago everyone was talking about as an up and coming star and a free agent who many people in August on the board were arguing he should be the starter. I'm sure much of the thought process that went into who the Bill's did sign at QB was also that since they just invested a #1 pick on a QB you also don't want to have too much of a distraction either with regards to who should start.

Yes but while he said he did like Lewis he touched his left cheek with his index finger at the same time as he patted his right knee twice immediately after crossing his legs. That's the standard single that everyone here knows he really didn't mean any of that. It's amazing how many followers here don't understand all that is written and spoken between the lines to be able to see the true negative meaning of what was just stated. It doesn't matter what it was stated, if you re-read it enough times or listen with your head tilted just the correct way, you can see/hear the negative in it.

Compete with who?? The likelihood that a QB taken in rounds 2 through 4 would look better than EJ with a year under his belt is low, I'd be surprised if he even looked better than Lewis or Tuell. As soon as we bring in another QB to complete you're now taking time/snaps away from EJ's development. He may end up being a flop, know one know, quite frankly the odds favor him failing just because there's typically about ten failures for every successful franchise QB out there today. But until you know that it makes little sense to use another valuable high draft choice to have a competition. If you use a low draft pick, then he likely will just be another Trent Edwards type, someone who shos flashes of looking good, but never quite gets there. I'd rather see them bring in a Cutler or Shaurb as a backup, if EJ gets hurt or regresses, then play the other guy. But you want someone who's clearly an improvement. Else I'd rather let Lewis or Tuell play.

It's an easy argument to make and look real smart. I could start 32 threads and state that X QB on Y team is a bust and two years from now could pull up all those threads and I'd be right on around 70% of them. That's the problem in the NFL, there are 32 teams and around a dozen really good elite QB's; another dozen or more you're hoping become great, in the end of those dozen maybe 2 or 3 will move up to next level. The QB's on the remaining teams are the 8 or 9 whom never move up to the next level go to a new team, sometime with a new offense, new personal around look better for awhile i.e. Fitz, then regress. Teams bring in new people and hope they are lucky. I really don't blame any of the front offices or praise the teams with the ten or so great ones as most with the exception of the two Manning s and Phillip Rivers weren't taken near the top. So more a case of luck than skill by those teams in drafting. RG3 and Luck may become the next couple of great ones taken at the top, I think Luck may be that guy, am wondering though about RG3 I'd be less surprised if he becomes the next Ryan Leaf. I really think this notion of drafting another QB is crazy. Unless you're going to use a 1str round pick and make him the new starter, it's unlikely you'll get anyone much better than either Tuell or Lewis, and a Tuell or Lewis with one less year experience. You want to sign a guy like Shaub or Cutler if they become available, I'd be OK with that. If you don't see improvement from EJ go with the vet, but unless you feel there's a guy whop's head and shoulders better than EJ, why bother drafting him. And highly unlikely that guy would still be around at #9.

On Fox pregame they also had a list of potential coaches and Pettine's name was listed. However he was ranked as the #4 Def coord, alos listed 4 offense coord and 4 either x coaches or collage coaches likely to get interviews and/or jobs. So likely that would rank him overall someplace betwen #9 and 12. They also had only one college coach listed, OBrian from Penn Stat and only two ex-coaches. Likely by the time everything is said and done there will be a couple more suprising names showing up on lists. Considering the team was 6-10, defense looked very good at times, but awful other times, I'd put the likelihood of Pettine going anywhere else as low.

I just saw a replay of it around a month ago. On the show A football Life, one week the subject was Cunningham and they showed that play and parts of that game.

Where I work the hours are 8 to 5. Many people regularly show up at 8:30. or 9:00 or even 9:30 on a regular basis. But they are also there until 7:00 at night, so not much of an issue unless there was an 8:00 meeting you were supposed to be at. That person can just as easily be doing what he needs to be doing at 7:00 at night as he could hat 8:00 in the morning. Football isn't exactly like that however, there are many things you need to be together for as a team so being late makes it tougher for everyone to get on the same page. Can a player do weight lifting after everyone is gone, sure, but meetings and on field drills need to be done with all present.