[Chandler re-signed]

I love the sudden appropriation of the term "mafia." Even Scott Chandler's wife is hashtagging it!

 

"Best birthday gift ever! @scottchandler84 signing his contract with Buffalo! So proud of my hubby! #BillsMafia http://pic.twitter.com/iGFdqKp3"

 

Can someone remind me when this started?

[Why We're Heading In The Right Direction]

The problem is: The Bills do not start 0-0. They start 0-4. They average more than 4 losses just in their own division in the last 10 years. If you sat through Billy Joe Hobert and Rob Johnson, you'd understand. I admire your optimism, but the Bills have killed mine.

 

Prove it and I'm right there with you. And tht whole unconditional thing is what got a whole bunch of people wealthy beyond belief. I'm chosing my own wealth.

 

Dude, someone needs to give you a hug or something. You should change your screen name to Eeyore.

[Raiders to release Wimbley]

He's pretty much exactly what Nix said he wants in a DE. I would be so happy if we could pick him up. But PFt says "Wimbley would be a highly valued commodity around the NFL and can expect a first-year payment from his next team that dwarfs the $11 million Oakland would have paid him." I though Mario would be getting 13-14? How expensive is it going to be to sign a good DE?

[Chandler re-signed]

Locker room morale should be pretty solid heading into training camp. Taking care of your own is HUGE.

 

I totally agree with this. It has to have been difficult year in and out, knowing that by playing well, players were in essence playing themselves out of a locker room because the team wouldn't spend the $ to extend most players. A happy locker room has to be a major part of luring free agents.Not to mention improving the overall team play.

[Chandler re-signed]

We're actually keeping the people who produce for us? Is it just me, or does it seem surreal? I'm not being sarcastic either. Deep down, I was thinking we'd re-sign Stevie and most everyone else would walk. I think the FO is starting to change their losing culture!

[Todd McShay's latest mock]

McShay is second only to Mel Kiper in uselessness in the draft. I respect Mayock and Chavous, but those 2 ESPN clowns are scamming everyone if you think they're even remotely competent at their job.

[Bills extend WR Ruvell Martin]

CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

[Name the Veteran DE...]

I said no, but just to be a jerk.

[LT by rd 2]

Martin is ok. Reiff is a Bulaga clone and will wind up as a RT. There really is decent depth at DE. That's not saying there's decent "starting" depth in the draft, there are simply a bunch of decent rotational players. I don't see us drafting a TE in the top 4 rds, I think Nix believes he can find June cut guys in free agency to play TE. My best guess WR, DE, CB, OT, DE in the first 4 rds

[All Peyton Manning, all the time!]

Wish him the best...unless he signs with a team in the AFC east. In that case I'm sure my feelings will immediately turn sour.

[The Quick Fix For The Defense]

I have a better chance at landing Kate Upton than the Bills have of getting the top player in FA.

[The Dream FA Signings]

Oh and imagine if we traded Donald Jones to Indy and drafted Luck, then traded Kelsay to Detroit to Megatron and Stevie could be our slot receiver!

 

I know the OP was just musing hypothetically, of course I'm just joshing with him.

 

No, we don't have the cap room for that. Notwithstanding the unlikelihood of either ever signing with us, we would only really be able to sign one and have a realistic change to re-sign some key players and pick up some cheaper depth.

[4 FA signings that could cost between 20-25 mill a year]

Thank you to the OP for posting some well thought out options for us. I would like to see Lawson here as well, though for some reason I think the FO is intent on handing the SLB job to Morrison (remember, we're looking for smaller quicker LBs according to the coaches). I like Robert Meachem (6'2, 210) and I think he is the type of WR we are realistically more likely to pick up over VJax. I'm not sure we look to pick up another TE, unless it's a waiver wire pickup in June (we've picked up like 3 in Chix's first couple of years here).

[Johnny Hammerstick's Mock Draft]

I wouldn't kick that draft out of bed

[The Quick Fix For The Defense]

Mercillus is better suited for a 3-4 OLB. So much so that Mayock took him off his board as a DE and added him to the OLB crop. He also moved Upshaw to DE because of his poor combine performance and struggles moving in space. Coples is the only DE with the prototypical measurables Nix said he's looking for, so at 10, you have to say he's probably the only DE we take if he's available. I'd prefer Floyd at 10 and then go DE in rds 2-3. There's no doubt free agency will really affect our draft. If we are able to sign a high profile FA, that will shake up our board. I know we're reputed to be going after VJackson. If we miss out on him, I would REALLY want Floyd at 10. IMO we need to look at defense in free agency because we need depth as well as starters.

[Mike Wallace to NE?]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/fullnflmockdraft-PatKirwan

 

Kirwan expects the Pats to drop one of their 2 first rd picks on Wallace. It make a lot of sense. You get a proven WR in exchange for a late first rounder who could be great or not. Why can't we ever trade down and stockpile picks like them? It seems like they're fleecing someone every year for a first-rounder!

[OK, I Am Not Impartial.....]

He'll go a 3-4 team and start for them for 10 years. I'm actually quite happy with Shep. You know the interesting thing is that this draft has WAY more 3-4 talent than last year's. I almost wish we weren't converting back to a 4-3

[We aren't targetting big name FAs?]

I mentioned in another threat that I would not be surprised nor upset if Floyd is the pick at 10, but it all depends on what we do here in FA. It is still quite possible we pick up a WR, like the much hyped VJax or even the more "Bills-like" approach and pick up someone like ATL's Harry Douglas as a #2. Either way, I think we still need 1 more receiver. I hope we address in FA, so we can focus on Def, OT and TE during the draft.

 

I say you have to look at who is likely to be available when we pick vs who can help the team the most. I don't see a clear-cut DE standing out at 10 in the draft, nor do I see a can't miss OT option. I see several good CBs possibly available and likely the #2 &3 WRs. Because of that I'd rather spend $ on the Oline or Dline and draft CB/WR.

[Signing Vincent Jackson In FA Would Be a Franchise Changer]

Take a look at the other teams likely to be involved in the Jackson sweepstakes. Our analysis should begin and end by realizing the Redskins want him. They overspend and we don't. He is likely to command around 10M. We aren't going to give him that.

[Free Agent Tracker]

Mathis franchised in Indy

[We aren't targetting big name FAs?]

God no.

Take a tackle.

If you are telling me you like Floyd because of how he looked running around in his under pants, i do not like it.

Take a wr in the fourth.

I think Gailey believes he can turn a somewhat talented/hardworking wr into a stud. I for one agree.

 

I take issue with this. I saw every single game Floyd played (look at my avatar, big surprise) and he is a game-changer. He was absolutely dominant in the redzone and he ran even faster than I thought he would. I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on him at 10. I liked Reiff a lot, but even Chavous, in my opinion the best draft pundit out there, speculated on PFT live yesterday he is more likely going to be shifted to the right side like Bulaga. IF that's the case Kalil is the only top 10 OT.

[Would anyone franchise Bell?]

WHY would you franchise him and give him tons of money for being adequate at best? Hairston has a lot more upside at this pint simply because he can stay on the field.

[We aren't targetting big name FAs?]

Cool, thanks guys. I thought I may be reading too much into his statements. Appreciate the comments.

[We aren't targetting big name FAs?]

I'm probably reading too much into his statement, but I got the impression Pass rushers are what he was referring to when he talks about being aggressive in free agency.

 

"We're gonna go after guys that can help us...it MAY NOT BE receivers.. we got guys who can help him [sJ13]. It doesn't mean we won't sign a receiver, it doesn't mean we won't draft one."

 

While may not is definitely we WILL NOT, it sounds like Nix letting us know that he would pick up a mid-tier receiver, but we're probably no longer in the running for V Jackson, Manningham, Colston, Garcon or Bowe.

 

I dunno, am I just inferring meaning that wasn't there?

[What is our cap situation?]

I was under the impression that Merriman is getting like 3 million guaranteed, so cutting him would only really save us $2m. That said, I think we should stick a fork in him.

 

I believe Merriman is getting 3M guaranteed, so cutting him would save us only like 2M. That said, I think he's done and we should stick a fork in him. Nonetheless, I think his role is simplified at DE, so if he ever had a shot at getting his act together, it should be at DE.