1billsfan

I totally agree with your post and I'm an older guy. The Bills media is full of boorish imbeciles who think they know football but are just whiney little b*****s. For being old, they certainly know how to act childish when being critical of the Watkins trade by saying the Bills could have had ODB. That's like saying the Bills could have had JJ Watt over Marcel Dareus (if they had traded up using a first the following year for Dareus). It's childish to say that you should have drafted this other guy who's a star when no one had them pegged as a star or ranked higher than the player they got in the draft. I'm embarrassed for the local Buffalo radio and print media. I listen to the philly sports station and they're a thousand times better because they KNOW football, they're EXCITED to talk about about it and they're ENTHUSIATIC talking about it. These guys who continue to trash the Watkins trade will be embarrassed in a couple of year to have that stuff in print.

The second half of the 1st round looks like it's made up of 2nd round talent. It may have looked bad for Whaley with all of the first round WRs going nuts last year, but it looks like the Bills will only miss out on a 2015 1st round pick with 2nd round talent in exchange for getting the sure thing in Sammy Watkins. I'm still glad he made the trade.

Says the guy who predicted on a Bills message board that the Bills would cut 2013 1st round pick QB EJ Manuel two days after free agency. Don't be so upset. It seems the EJ haters have won the PR battle (totally meaningless I know...LOL). Even reasonable posters here have bought into EJ is garbage hyperbole. It's now become an exercise in looking at an ink spot and two people seeing something completely different. It should be a fun season seeing who was right or wrong in either their support or non-support played out on the field.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did that search engine google thing and found this… “Look for this to be completed tomorrow AM, also look for EJ to be cut two days after FA opens.”

I do. The reason the Bills brought in other QBs is because the QB position is by far the toughest position to learn and become proficient in and EJ was a project QB who would take a few years to develop. Is this news to you?

That Pats game was a farce. The Pats could not have cared less if they won or lost that game. That's the difference between that game and the KC, Houston, Minnesota games. Those 3 games were played by two NFL teams who really wanted and cared about winning the game. The Bills/Pats game was played by one team that cared and the other team that didn't care. It counted as a win for the Bills. But it was a win close to how a forfeited game is a win. It counts, but it had no meaning other than the "W" in the standings. The Pats were playing an exhibition game and the Bills were playing the last regular season game of the season with no playoffs ramifications, wanting to win but not wanting to get hurt. That game was a yawn fest for this Bills fan.

EJ had a 6-8 record. The Bills upgraded big time. They replaced Marrone with Rex, Hackett with Roman, Jackson with McCoy, Chandler with Clay and "whoever" starting 2014 guard with Incognito. So your 4-12 record comes across as insulting and as you being a Manuel "hater". If that's how you feel than embrace it. Because that 4-12 prediction boldly puts you right there as nominee for president of the EJ Manuel hater club. If Jerry Hughes was drafted in the first round as a Bill I think you would have been happy trading him away after two years because you seem to be a fan who has little patience for how long it takes college players to make it in the NFL. Your Gilmore "hating" is an example of this impatience.

Wasn't EJ cut a couple of days after free agency opened?

I'm fine with them not drafting Grayson. I was just saying that I would understand the Bills doing that. There are no sure things when it comes to the QB position unless you get to take an Andrew Luck. Once you get in the second round, a team going QB is more of them taking a "flyer" or a "risk" that this QB has the potential for NFL stardom but he's kind of a long shot. The QB position is unlike any other one. If you don't have a franchise QB, you can't be faulted for following the lottery philosophy of "you have to be in it to win it" and grabbing one with an early pick. I'm not going to get upset either way they go. I still believe that Manuel has a shot at becoming our franchise QB. But i'm not going to fault the Bills thinking a year ahead and wanting a QB who's already been in their system for a year in the case that Manuel isn't the answer.

That's just not true. As recently as the 2013 season, 5 out of the top 10 QBs in TD passes were drafted 2nd round or later and that didn't even include Tom Brady. You know that I'm also a big supporter of Manuel, but if he fails and the Bills had their chance at a guy like Garrett Grayson and he turns out to be a player you can win with...yikes will that hurt. Then you look at the 2nd round player you decided to pass on the insurance QB like Grayson. What's his name going to be? What is his role on a team like the Bills with almost no holes? A backup CB, LB, OL? I'm actually fine with the Bills drafting Grayson and letting Cassel go. Not one person here was talking about trying to get Matt Cassel until they made a deal. Now all of a sudden he's indispensable? I don't believe that. I'm good with Grayson being the QB pushing Manuel this season. Let Manuel know that there's a real threat for his job. That will get the best play (whatever that is) from EJ Manuel.

I think taking a QB in the 2nd or 3rd would be an "insurance" move at by far the most important position in the NFL. I'm a vocal supporter of Manuel's chances in that I still think he can get over the hump this year, but what if he doesn't? I can't fault the Bills for having a second year insurance QB in their back pocket if Manuel fails this season and is off the team in 2016. If Manuel can't make it happen with everything around him this year (defense, running game, star WRs, athletic play-making TE) then the Bills would be drafting a rookie QB next season on a win now team. Either that or they had better hope they could make a trade for a real QB like Brees. The options are so limited when you're looking for a QB and they may feel drafting a backup LB, CB or OL isn't as important as drafting a QB. Then the QB competition gets real interesting because one of Cassel, Manuel or Taylor will get cut. If they do draft a QB, I think Cassel would be the odd man out because Manuel's 25 years old and has already had that "extended time on the bench to learn from the vet QB" experience.

Shouldn't Ali Marpet be the prediction for the Bills at #50? I see people here talking about the Bills taking him in the 3rd round but he isn't lasting till their pick there. The guy can play all the positions on the line. Our Guard position needs shoring up. What happens if Woods goes down or his level of his play starts getting worse than the average level he is now? Having a guy who can play OT if a starter gets injured is very crucial.

A couple of months ago Sal Paolantonio heard something much different from Rex regarding EJ than what he said on the podium when Rex had his first press conference... http://www.buffalobills.com/video/videos/Combine-Coverage-Sal-Paolantonio-1-on-1-Interview/4b2dcf6c-a32f-47b2-9fda-cb1623718761 "We had Rex Ryan on the set and he startled me in his effusive praise of EJ Manuel…" (:50) I think the starting job is Manuel's and the only way it isn't is if he struggles with the new offensive system or his deamenor isn't commanding enough. I have a feeling that Manuel has a huge chip on his shoulder and he's a man on a mission this year. That mission is to make Doug Marrone look even more like an idiot for treating him as a game managing, 6th round pick QB. Marrone never trusted EJ, he never let him feel free to run around and make plays and that it was ok to throw some interceptions because he's letting him be aggressive and taking it to the defense. It was always run on first, run on second, pass on 3rd and 8...check it down, check it down. Marrone's offense was pathetic. Hogan said EJ's different and he obviously told Watkins that because he repeated that EJ was different this year. I take that as EJ is throwing a better ball and he has a very determined attitude. I think there's a chance that Manuel plays very solid at QB this year and that could then spring board him to franchise QB, top 12-16 QB level the following seasons.

It's becoming clear that a trade will probably happen with the Eagles getting up to either #1 or #2 to get Mariota. If I'm Tampa I'm all over getting a bunch of picks/players from Philly and worrying about finding a QB next year. If Winston busts then they will not only live with that, but they will also have to live with "what could have been" watching what the Titans get in return the next five years.

First four games in their 2nd NFL season... Smith - 75 QB rating, 54% comp percentage, 3 passing TDs, QB record 1-3 Manuel - 80 QB rating, 58% comp percentage, 5 passing TDs 1 rushing TD (he doubled the TD output of Alex), QB record 2-2 It's ridiculous to judge a 16 game season vs a 4 game season. Sorry, but you're failing here. EJ Manuel is a better QB than Alex Smith was at this stage of their careers. That's not saying much for EJ, but it's still a fact. You can go deep deep down the stat sheet to find ridiculous stats like Alex beating EJ in completions over 10 yards in their second season's, but it still doesn't change the facts that Manuel is better than him at this stage. I think you're really going to end up regretting pushing the EJ is garbage montra so hard this offseason. There's a decent chance he looks good with all that's around him like the defense, running game, WRs and professional NFL coaches instead of the Syracuse low level college staff.

Alex Smith was drafted in 2005. He had 40 starts going into 2010. You're comparing Manuel's first two years and 14 starts to Alex Smith's year 5 in the league?...LOL You're ridiculous.

Judging by Alex Smith's completion percentage numbers pre-Harbaugh and Roman on pro football reference, he was not a more accurate passer than Manuel. If anything Manuel is a more accurate passer at the same early stage of their careers than was Smith going into his third year. Manuel's 58% average comp vs Smith's 55% average comp rate. It took Alex Smith six years to get over the hump and I'm still amazed he got that long. Maybe it was because the Niners were too proud and stubborn to admit they blew it not taking Rodgers. If Roman can make Alex Smith look good, imagine what he can do with EJ Manuel who size and wheels. I'm excited to see if Manuel can make that huge jump in performance like Smith did. I think it can happen.

The Niners went from 6-10 to 13-3 with a new offensive system when Harbaugh and Roman came in. Alex Smith went from a 82 QB rating to a 90. The Niners went from 19th in rushing to 8th.

They'd be getting a one year try out with Bradford while having two 1st round picks next year. If Bradford has a good year and he fights them with the new contract they can always franchise him. So basically they'll have a built in 2 year window with Bradford. If they don't want to gamble on Winston being Jamarcus Russell 2.0 and Mariota doesn't fit their offense, then I think this trade gives them options regarding the QB position without having to be all in for the next three years on Winston and sweating it out wondering if he's going to do something stupid.

I'm pretty sure that Peterson knows he's going to get a restructured contract no matter where he ends up. There's probably a lot of negotiating going on regarding what the contract would look like among the teams he's being shopped to. I would imagine it being a 10 million a year for 4 years contract with about 25 million guaranteed.

I just read a story about Adrian Peterson's agent in a picture wearing a Buccaneers hat and posing in front of Peteron's Viking jersey. That got me to thinking how Peterson traded to Tampa could go down involving the draft. Here's the blockbuster I cooked up... Tampa Bay - gets Bradford, Peterson, Mathis (OG, Eagles), 2016 1st rd pick (instant offense), lose #1 overall pick Minnesota - gets Eagles #20 pick (Vikings can draft Gurley at #11 if he's there or Gordon at #20) and still have an extra 1st round pick), lose Peterson Philadelphia - gets Bucs #1 pick Mariota (Chip gets his guy), lose Bradford and Mathis, 2016 1st rd pick It's a crazy trade idea no doubt, but it seems like it works for all teams involved. If Bradford doesn't work out in Tampa, they would have two 1st round picks in 2016 so would be in position to take a top rookie QB in the next draft class.

Also Dalton is a very average NFL QB along the lines of Alex Smith. I don't see either QB getting many points against this Bills defense.

The Philly radio guys were the same way with the Bills game. It was an afterthought that the Eagles were going to beat the Bills. That's what makes this season so much fun. The games will start being played and the Bills will be one of those teams that no one wants to play. We know how great the Bills defense and running game will be, we know what talent we have at receiver and TE. Whether it's Manuel or Cassel at QB, they're just going to be steering this beast to the playoffs.

I think they will be at least 10-6. They really need that opening game win vs the Colts to kick off the season with a great feeling. I'll be fine if it's Cassel too because I think Manuel might need extra time to feel comfortable with a new offense system. There's no need to rush Manuel on the field before he's ready. He needs to nail the landing next time he gets his chance.

Heath Evans just predicted a 12-4 record for the Bills on NFL Total Access. He predicts they start out 9-0. BTW, he predicted all 16 Cardinal games correctly last year when he did this right after the 2014 schedule came out. When's the last time a national guy went out on a limb like that for the Bills? LOL One thing I disagree with is he has Cassel as the starting QB. I think it will be Manuel.