Bflojohn

After free agency and the 2011 draft, I'm imagining that Chan Gailey gets even smarter, and let's face it, you win with superior talent, and the Bills have had a pretty bare cupboard lately! If, and that's a questionable IF, the talent Buddy Nix provides in the offseason is solid, it could propel this team into Tampa Bay Buccaneers level improvement as early as next year. It is always about talent, and I'm cautiously optimistic that element of rebuilding is on its way. Oh yeah, count me as one who sees the progress this year in nearly every phase, and that includes the run defense, of late.

I do like how you think in terms of OL and DL, but I've got a feeling that Da'Quan Bowers will be a beast in the NFL, so he might as well do his thing in Buffalo, right?? In your second mock choice, you have Casey Matthews on that one. he is also one of my favorites, going forward!! By the way, are you a Pitt Panther fan?? Romeus in one draft, Sheard in the other!!!

Personally, there is absolutely NO WAY I'd pass on Da'Quan Bowers in that mock! Additionally, I would solve the ORT quandry in free agency, and grab the most pass rush ready OLB in the second round, and that would be Jeremy Beal, who inexplicably slides to #64 in your draft.

Number one, Matt Birk has moved on to the Baltimore Ravens, so his participation Sunday in Minnesota is suspect! However, your point is well taken.

They also signed Marc Dile, OG, this last week, so he is "in play" to get a call.

The NFLPA has, to date, issued the notion of decertification which will allow for antitrust lawsuits (no other reason for this, IMO!). They also have yelled collusion at the top of their lungs and have been pichinmg for a fight for well over a year now. Mr. Smith even issued a "on a 1-10 scale" 14 that there would,indeed, be a lockout by NFL owners! Essentially, EVERYTHING they put "out there" for public consumption rings true to the inevitable that there will be a "work stoppage" in 2011. Bank on it, they are hard liners, and will kill the goose that laid the NFL golden egg!! I'm convinced of it....

We are catching a glimpse of Chan Gailey with famine conditions, talent wise, and I'm fairly sure that with a team flush with more talent next year, he will prove out to be the right choice for the Buffalo Bills. Think about it, 32nd ranked run defense but we take Baltimore and Pittsburgh to overtime.... classic!! He will win in Buffalo, I'm sold on that notion.

One factor to the turnaround on the offensive line is their health throughout the season. They are beginning to gel as a unit, and that cannot be understated! I think it is rather obvious that the Bills need defensive playmakers and I am longing for the days where the "D" is #1 overall. Imagine a draft where we add a Da'Quan Bowers at RDE and follow that up with a OLB like Casey Matthews, Von Miller or Akeem Ayers! Instant impact that would ripple through the defense the same way adding Cornelius Bennett did in 1987. This team does need to stop the run, but our pass rush is abysmal too. Bowers stops the run, and ideally, so will the OLB's we add. Offensively, add people in free agency to round out the needs. I simply want young, hungry players on the defesive side!!

The Chiefs chose a 5-technique LDE in Tyson Jackson a few drafts ago, so don't be suprised if the best fit is Marcel Darius, in the long run! I love Bowers too, don't get me wrong, but I'm doubting Bowers being there when we pick. I also DO NOT want to skip on another Clay Matthews' son, so I'd target Casey Matthews in round two, and that's IF he is still available!! So here goes on my projection... 1.) Marcel Darius, LDE, Alabama 2.) Casey Matthews, ILB/OLB, Oregon 3.) Sam Acho, OLB, Texas 4.) Jarriel King, ORT, South Carolina 4.) Vai Taua, RB, Nevada 5.) Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona 6.) Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa 7.) Xzavier Stewart, NT, Illinois State

To me, this situation plays into the Bills hands, especially if he can play next season. The time off will allow for the injury (injuries) to heal and with OTA's and training camp as the litmus test, we either keep him or cut him, depending on production. Risk/Reward scenario could play out to the Bills favor at a definate position of need. One less problem IF he pans out. Note: I'd also think that he sees for himself what type of turnaround is underway in Buffalo, and IF he really does love the game, and the Bills help him through this rough spot, maybe the outcome suits both parties!!

If the Bills look at the New England/Pittsburgh film, they would be wise to have Shawn Nelson's coming out party this weekend! The Patriots exposed the weakness in the Steeler defense, and that was covering the young TE's throughout the game. Rob Gronkowski had two Td's and Aaron Hernandez had a good game too. Both of these players are ahead of Nelson professionally, but if Carrington and Troup are being brought along as rookies, I'd find a way to get my athletic, 2nd year TE involved. Just saying....

First off, Rian Lindell is the least of the Bills problems, IMO, and in a 2-8 campaign you can "ride out" his slump. I am really starting to believe this team could build around Fitzpatrick, and getting front seven defensive stoppers in the offseason is priority #1. I'd allocate free agency acquisitions and follow that up with the draft being defensive heavy! In regards to Chan Gailey and his staff, the improvements across the board are real, and bode well for 2011 and beyond. This arguably is not too bad for a bargain basement coach, is it?? I actually am in the mode of loving every weekend again, and this alone is the fun one can derive from an up and coming outfit. It is undoubtedly a good time to be a Bills fan again. This is a scrappy, overachieving bunch, and I can support that 100%, now and in the future.

Steve had the best analysis all game long when he simply stated that the Bengals have MTV and star driven magazine cover athletes, but the Bills have nothing but nondiscript athletes, and essentially Buffalo has a "TEAM" and that is the difference between these two franchises, this year! In my mind, this is Chan Gailey's biggest achievement overall, because when he does have the talent available, he will NOT lose the ability to have them function as a TEAM!! GO BILLS!! That, my friends, is Coaching 101.

In the finest Dick Jauron vernacular, "it's hard to win in the NFL" and with a score of 28-7 staring you right in the face, it really gets tough! It is NOT that they won,but that it was a road victory (ask the Lions about them!)and historically significant victory to boot!! Get a bonified playmaker or seven on defense next year, and we will be happy little Bills fans for a decade!! GO BILLS!!!

The improvements across the board are evident after ever week they practice and get these guys oriented to their system. They put up the stat yesterday that they were first in redzone TD's, by percentage, and NO ONE would ever think we'd be that efficient under Dick Jauron. Fix the defense in free agency and the draft and, man, this will be a fun team to follow. Count me as one who believes building around Ryan Fitzpatrick would be just fine!! There are holes to fill elsewhere...

I would think the key to keeping the Bills in Buffalo is future profitability! The funds that you are proposing are better spent on acquiring the luxury boxes or "guaranteeing" a sold out venue! The investment can come from Bills fans world-wide assuming that they are willing to pay the freight on higher ticket pricing and internal budgetary needs of the franchise. Promo is on to something here, whereby, the fans can buy their stake in the future of the club and write it off as investment, by donating seats to charity organizations, or having a ticket redistribution, of sorts, that allows for return on your money any given week of play. I've always wondered why the ticket pricing angle is never talked about enough. If the incentive is keeping the Bills in Buffalo, count me in for seats I'd control and distribute at my own whim! Just a thought!!!

GG, of course, you're kidding right?? He is a "professional broadcaster" and, as such, is being paid to know this tidbit of information! These guys supposedly do their homework prior to the telecasts, and at worst, Joe Theissman should consult his buddies on the crew for name pronuciations, at a minimum!! This is inexcusible, but in today's world, people get away with shoddy work routinely! In my eyes, he's stealing money, pure and simple.

Personally, I am torn on this point! I have watched the Bills all eight games and have NOT rooted against them, however, knowing the ramifications of losing these games has me quite calm when they (games) actually are over. In the Bills history, we've had the #1 pick a few times and O.J. Simpson and Bruce Smith were golden. However, Walt Patulski was a major disappointment and eventually got traded to the St. Louis Cardinals! Ironically, in my mind, the #1 priority should be defense in the 2011 draft, so a large part of me wants Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson or Marcel Darius, DT/DE, Alabama with the best OLB left at #33!! I am all for a dominant defense that looks strickingly like the Ravens or Steelers units. That, to me, is how the Buffalo Bills should be built, going forward.

Did anyone hear him butcher Haloti Ngata's name late in the 4th quater? He initially called him Ngata Haloti, then had massive problems getting his name straight!! Norman Einstein indeed!!

The mantra on Merriman is damaged goods, buyer beware! He'll have to pass some really rigorous physicals, to even get a sniff, if you ask me. Another teams trash is another teams treasure! Watch out here, IMO!!

Yeah, I heard you, but think of ALL the egos involved! The owners are going to try and get that 60% figure down, where the players "earn" 60% of the gross revenues. The issues are real, and the spectre of antitrust lawsuits looms LARGE, IMO. It is entirely possible they will kill the goose that laid the golden egg,watch and see. As a matter of fact I think revenue sharing amongst the owners, the draft, and forms of restricted free agency could be things of the past. This alone is reason to worry in Western New York. Professional football, as we know it now, will look vastly different soon! I think the precursor for this is the union decertification votes and the charges of collusion aginst the NFL by the NFLPA. Ripples in the water? I sure hope so....but highly doubt!!

I'd invite Ralph Wilson Jr., Buddy Nix, and Chan Gailey. As a fan, I would have a long talk about what the Bills mean, to me, and how every one of us needs a winner soon!!

Gentlemen, this is my understanding of the labor mess, so here goes... The players have what they want (60% of gross revenue) and do NOT wish to strike AT ALL. The issue is a lockout and restraint of trade by the NFL towards their players and that has prompted the vote for de-certification by each team! Those votes incidently are unanamous across the board. Additionally, the union has now launched into collusion charges against the entire NFL and this points to antitrust lawsuits aplenty! It is my opinion, that the Union and owners are going to screw the pooch royally, and the NFL, as we know it, will cease to exist. No revenue sharing, no cap, no draft, and numerous other realities we really don't want in Buffalo!!

We have a winner! The hands-on approach is vital in a football operation, and someone said Buddy Nix would "talk" with Jim Harbaugh, as an example. Well the best way to make friends and influence people is to press the flesh (ask a politician!) and personally anyone in "My" organization that is willing to put himself out there in that capacity is worth their weight in GOLD!! Notwithstanding the obvious, that Buddy Nix has scouting roots, but that he cares enough to launch himself into that mode is exemplary!! Note: Essentially, Buddy will be putting his stamp on this team with such a far reaching decision. I think I'd opt to trust myself on that type of call, how about you??

I'd go Beatles also, but Yesterday would be my choice. After all, we did win in the 90's and all our troubles seemed so "far away".....