ndirish1978

http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/142726-what-is-our-cap-situation/page__p__2395713#entry2395713

Oh I know. I'm not complaining. I just identified in myself the reason why I have subconsciously been skeptical about our chances of drafting an impact DLman.

Probably our starting SLB unless something dramatic happens. Glad he re-signed

There are a bunch of names floating around for us at 10 and I keep wincing when they mention us going DL. I realized the reason we're all so gun-shy about drafting a DL early this year is our historical futility picking DL early. There are too many question marks for me to feel confident taking a DE. Upshaw- he looked terrible at the combine. Coples- has issues with effort and was a bit of a one year wonder. We're so used to missing on DL picks that everyone is scared to pick a guy early. We've generally done such a poor job in the draft and that's why we're the team wit the longest playoff drought in the NFL. DL drafted in the 1st 09- Maybin- Bust who picked up some stats with the Jets. 06- McCargo- Terrible 00- Erik Flowers- Benched after 5 games in yr 2 and then cut. how about 2-3? 01- Schobel (2) The best of the bunch. Great player. Our ONE hit 01- Ron Edwards (3) Average, we didn't hold on to him 02- Ryan Denney (2) Average player. Had a couple of decent seasons. 03- Chris Kelsay (2) Stats are comparable to Denney's, but somehow scored a big contract and has stayed with the team. 04- Tim Anderson (3) 52 tackles in 5 years. Lasted 1 year in the NFL post-Bills. 08- Chris Ellis (3) Brought in to rush the passer, 1 sack in 3 seasons. 10- Troup (2) ?? 10- Carrington (3) ?? I have reserved judgement on Troup and Carrington. When you draft someone in the top 3, you're looking for a difference-maker. We have hit on exactly 1 good pick out of 11 and secured 2 decent role players. That leaves us with 8 complete misses in the first 3 rounds. You build along the lines. We were able to turn our OL drafting around when we picked up Levitre and Wood in 09. I really hope we turn this around soon. I hope this year's draft is a lot closer to our '11 draft than '10 and we pick up at least 2 good DLmen.

Here is the knowledge I be about the player I want. Also, the knowledge I be about the coaching system, you grammatical genius. Wimbley came out of college weighing about 25lbs less than he does now, so they shifted him to LB, where he has gone on to bulk up. 6'4 260 is the prototypical size for a DE that Nix wants and he is a natural pass rusher who would no longer have to worry about ever having to drop in coverage. 4-3 linebackers are supposed to be smaller than 3-4 LBs because their job is not rushing the passer, but covering and run stuffing. Cowher has stated he wants smaller, fast LBs. Wimbley is a DE in our scheme, just like Merriman is a DE in our scheme. Keep your smug answers to yourself and don't interrupt when grown-ups are talking.

It's pretty simple, not a place that gets made fun off being bass ackwards. When you have players making jokes about Buffalo (long list), reporters making jokes about Buffalo (Peyton to Buffalo:LOL), it gives the town an air of not being a good place to play, even if it's not true. Perception means a lot to people whether you credit that statement as accurate or not. Miami sucks, but the town is a vacation spot, so player would consider signing off of that alone. Buffalo needs to create a player-friendly culture. Not in easy workouts or anything, but being known as a good place to live and supportive of the players.

It is.

Unfortunately, that's a big part of it. Old-timers like Wilson don't appreciate the need to create an attractive atmosphere for players to come in to. The team facilities are not that great and the stadium really needs some work too. He is a bit too old to understand that players do sign to play in places with a bit more glitz that coddle them. He's used to the days of lunch-pail players who just come in to work to get a job done. Indianapolis is not really a much better city than Buffalo, but they have a sick stadium and that in itself makes them relevant even after their winning days. Mark Cuban really changed the culture when he bought his NBA team by installing a luxury locker room, having catered meals after games (I know the catering is ridiculous for an NFL team, I'm talking about the sentiment) and basically treating his players better than other places in the league. That in itself brings in FA signees. It's really not Wilson's fault. He's older than dirt and he is simply too disconnected from 20-30 year olds to understand what makes them happy.I really don't think he's even aware of the exasperation his fan base feels for him.

Is there a reason Michael Floyd isn't on this list?

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?

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

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?

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.

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!

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.

CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

I said no, but just to be a jerk.

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

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.

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

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.

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).

I wouldn't kick that draft out of bed

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.

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!