nodnarb

they do have a lotta backs now. I've always liked dom davis. maybe we could pull something off with them (if he's healthy...anyone know?)

Put your analysis where your claims are. Go ahead. Enthrall us with your acumen. First, tell us, specifically, what makes you qualified to evaluate NFL talent, and then tell us why Walker does not have suitable talent to be an impact RT. Go ahead and look through the 2003 draft info you can find with Google and paraphrase the negatives culled from each report. I'm sure you'll talk about the 10 sacks, but remember to put them in the proper context of the 2006 Oakland Raiders, and be sure to include a relative analysis using every other linemen's depressed stats from that horrid season. If you're going to elevate yourself beyond armchair quarterback, prove that you should have been in One Bills Drive telling Levy, McNally, Jauron, and Fairchild that their analysis of his talent is all wrong and they should look elsewhere.

You have just uttered one of the most ridiculous things ever uttered on this board, which is *really* saying something. I'm embarrassed for you. "one" can tell a lot about a guy by the arrogant claims he makes, especially when such a claim is laughably ignorant. So, you really watched enough Raiders football to even begin to talk about him? Meh, I'll give you the benefit of the significant doubt there. But what nobody here with half a brain will accept, no matter what your response to this will be, is that you have a better eye for talent and potential than the Bills' coaching staff. Jauron, Levy, Fairchild, McNally...they were all thrilled by this signing because they know he's a talented guy with the right set of physical and character attributes but he was languishing on the worst offensive team in the league. The worst-coached line in football, maybe even the last decade. If you had read anything about what was going on in Oakland last year you'd know that they were implementing old, outdated strategies that left EVERY SINGLE lineman isolated and confused. But you know more about line talent than Jauron. Levy. Fairchild. McNally. Okay. Whatever.

Nice first post. Rational. Unemotional. I'll re-post for relevance: You absolutely CANNOT judge walker by what he did last season. That coaching staff was a joke. Their OC was 10 years out of the league, having spent his time in the B&B business. They couldn't protect because their scheme was a mess, their coaching was horrid and out of date, and there was no want-to anywhere on the team, and no chemistry and nothing to fight for. You could have put 5 probowlers on that team and they would have been turnstiles. Wait. Watch. Judge.

The bottom line: Most fans think they know more about the game and personnel than football professionals who are paid millions for their knowledge of the game and personnel. Many Bills fans seem to forget that it was forecast months ago that the $ figures we're used to hearing will be thrown out the window this year, and you can thank the CBA for that. The cap went up to the point where only the Fins and a couple other teams are strapped. The market is absolutely huge. Clements struck it rich. Fletcher is on the wrong side of 30 and struck it rich. Dockery is young and big and powerful and was in demand. Fortunately, he liked the Bills growing up. Now that left side is bolstered by size, atheticism, and true fandom. (Peters was a Bills fan as a kid, too.) No, I'm not saying that that's critical. It's just gravy. But it's really think and tasty gravy. Like with sausage chunks and stuff.

the first few posts about these signings are the real joke. contracts went up 20%, easily, thanks to the new cap. Big contracts everywhere you look. HUGE money this year if you're a free agent. Did anyone hear about the contract that FULLBACK Ovie Mughelli (sp?) received? I won't even give you the numbers cuz you won't believe it. Look it up. And remember, he's a FUGGIN FULLBACK. Most money paid to a fullback, ever. By a long, wide margin. And you absolutely CANNOT judge walker by what he did last season. That coaching staff was a joke. Their OC was 10 years out of the league, having spent his time in the B&B business. They couldn't protect because their scheme was a mess, their coaching was horrid and out of date, and there was no want-to anywhere on the team, and no chemistry and nothing to fight for. You could have put 5 probowlers on that team and they would have been turnstiles. Wait. Watch. Judge.

You absolutely cannot judge Walker on last year's offense. They were led by a guy who hadn't been in football in ten years, and had spent that time running a bed and breakfast. Every player on that line was hamstrung by terrible coaching and zero chemistry and motivation to fight.

I can't say I knew much about dockery but based on the articles on buffalobills.com re: his signing, it's clear that fairchild and jauron and mcnally think they've got the perfect stud for this offense. Well done guys. And now Langston Walker, too? Our new OLine is Fuggin HUGE. but with good feet...

I like Kelsay and I was hoping we'd re-sign him but 6 per is an overpayment and I'd be really shocked if those are the actual numbers. he has gotten better every year, but he's not the same player that schobel is and shouldn't be paid like him. If they give him 6 per that's a bit of an insult to AS. I'm sure AS is above that sort of concern but still...I don't think his level of production warrants 6 per.

That would be something. Matt in DC is absolutely right here, folks. It doesn't make any sense to NOT tender an 850k RFA. There is zero money at risk here, and even if you get a conditional 7th it's still *something* for potentially nothing. I doubt TA will don a Bills jersey in 07.

you guys are bitching about this? give me a breeeak... I'm not high on TA either, but it wouldn't make sense to NOT tender a guy at 850K when you know that so many teams are in need of *depth* at DT, us included. 850K. And all the leverage...to get a 3rd round pick? Not likely. But I'm sure there are a few teams out there willing to give up a 4th or certainly a 5th for an experienced DT. If you let him walk, someone's going to sign him. Might as well see if you can get something, take the guy to camp, and then either see if he's turned the corner, or THEN let him walk, with no hit to the cap.

Best non-playoff hockey game I've ever witnessed. Ever.

i've never seen so much overreaction to a presser in my bills life, and that's saying a lot. granted, it wasn't marv's finest hour in terms of public speaking, but my GOD people, nothing he said was worth what's being said in response. Give it a few months and no one will remember this PC. Shheeeesh. Max Afinogenov being out for a minimum of 6 weeks merits this much woe, but Marv's PC?

Mr. Schumer: What puts butts in seats is having a contender. Having a contender means you have to have a good team and a few good breaks. A few good breaks next year would include getting every team with a new coaching staff EARLY in the season, not late when the players have finally picked things up (see Bills '06). E.G. We want the Steelers early. We want the Cowboys early. While you're in your talks, write that on a napkin and put in in Goodell's breast pocket.

no bonus info here, but I can't imagine it was much. http://nflpa.org/Resources/ActivePlayerSearch.aspx?id=33073

meh, I'd expect the bills to handle their CB needs via free agency rather than this draft. they might prefer to go with experience rather than more youth there. THere are PLENTY free agent CBs this year, and tampa-2 CBs require a different skill set, which could make more available. I know the Colts have two they probably won't be able to sign. I'd like to see them sign Kiwalkee Thomas, he did a decent job in his role and would come cheap. If we're gonna spend I'd like to see the Bills outbid for Steinbach. Re-sign Gandy as depth at LG. He wasn't dominant but never sucked at LG. Definition of good depth. Re-signing Kelsay would provide good depth and he wouldn't be too expensive. Personally, I'd like to see us trade Willis for the Raider's 2nd round pick, and take RB Lynch at 12, WR Meacham at 33, DT Harrell at 43, FB/RB Leonard at 74, and LB HB Blades at 107. That sorta thing.

the guy we need in that lot is eric johnson, especially if team jauron doesn't believe in everett ,which seems to be the case. we need more maturity at TE opposite royal.

who the hell cares about the probowl? It's meaningless, and all it does is inflate player contracts and put some extra leverage in their pockets. If you want the bills to retain their best players and sign them to affordable long-term contracts, then you would be hoping that the league continues to overlook our best performers for that useless Hawaiian party.

i've never been a big fan of coy wire outside of special teams duties, where he's clearly an important cog. I've seen him get juked out of his jock too many times. I don't think he's a wrap up tackler, I don't think he's instinctive, and I don't think he has good hands to take advantage of the INT opportunities he's had in spot duty. But apparently a group of men who have more knowledge of the game and the team disagree with me, so I'll defer to their judgment here and hope for the best from him. He's a good guy, I just hope that he's a better LB than he was a SS. We do need depth there, there's no doubt about that, and this scheme does call for lighter, faster LBs, so I'm sure Wire is thanking Tony Dungy for the major trend he's started in the NFL.

I hope not. Why would we want to see Lee's value inflate due to injury? Any probowl appearance will translate into leverage when it comes down to signing. And speaking of that, I hope the Bills extend Evans THIS offseason, while they're 30 million under the cap. I think Lee is already a top-5 receiver in the league and I don't think we've seen his best yet. 7 years, 30 million now or you're looking at 50% more next year. Somewhat arbitary numbers, basing off Branch's contract, but you get the idea.

Be happy they landed this guy. Look at the difference he made at BS. They were probably the most fun college offense to watch all year, and their QB's jersey was squeaky clean. This is a smart, young up-and-comer who will probably take over Jim McNally's job when he retires. He'll also have a lot of insight into line talent in this draft.

Very happy for Peyton and Tony and especially Bill Polian. No man should ever have to be affiliated with FIVE super bowl losses. There's another reason that we should be happy for the colts: It's more likely that they'll play fat and happy next year. You know, like the Steelers.

always been fond of dead poet's society for this category.

totally agree. one of the many things i didn't like about the donahoe era was his choice of turf. That AstroPlay, which no other NFL field uses, doesn't look anywhere near as good as the newer FieldTurf fields, which seem a bit lighter green and absorb light better. And to get rid of the red endzones...after having them through their best days...made no sense. And that tiny buffalo in the middle of the field looks like crap too. Rip it up, Marv.

If they ARE signing willis, I wouldn't be surprised to see a sign n' trade at some point before or during the NFL draft. Willis is a helluva blocker, when he doesn't whiff. He's a helluva runner, when he's in space past the first line of defense. He's a helluva guy when he's not opening his mouth. I know he's harmless and has a good heart and is well liked and plays through pain, but he hasn't lived up to his billing thus far, and clearly has gaps in his game. He's simply not consistent enough to rely on. I hope we let him play through this year, we might get some stellar play, as if we met the jets 16 times. Who knows. But one thing that has always bugged me that I never knew about Willis until I started paying very close attention to his game (due to our rushing stats sucking): He has no lateral bounce, which limits his options even if he SEES a hole, which I'm not convinced he's particularly good at. When you DO see him bounce laterally, it's not explosive, it's merely a wasted half a second. He's explosive after his third step, and all too often it's too late by then.