Fan in Chicago

Frankly, it was a trick question to see how many seriously believe Evans is out of gas with the Bills and needs a change of scenery. Trading within the division and esp to the Pats* would say a lot. I would not do the trade unless we use that pick for a superstar CB to shut Evans down :-) (Ok, I kid with that last sentence). Given that you like Mallett, would you make that trade ? I think that if Nix is not sold on Mallett, he would make that deal.

For the Pats* to move up to grab Green, they will have to give up a lot by value chart. I would not cut them a deal. Now let me ask you something in reverse - if the Pats* offered their first or second for Evans, would you trade him ?

Not me. Technically, I wasn't rooting, rooting for either team but was hoping the Pats* would lose (does that mean I was rooting for the Jets ?). I just could not stand seeing the Pats* in the AFC championship game or the Superbowl. And also, I admire the Steelers organization so will be rooting for them to crush the Jets. On the other side, I really want my office mates to sulk on the 24th so wish for a Packers victory (another organization I like just as I do the Steelers')

A-friggin'-men.

First slugfest of the year is on and as usual is a good one so far. I am watching this game but have to bail and take the little lady out for dinner and drinks with friends - none of them football fans

Whether #9 was too high for a RT is debatable. Depends on what you think would have contributed best to the Bills long term success. Considering how little talent we have on the lines, I would have erred on the side of a tackle instead of a RB but we will see. As for trade down, there is no way for us to know - one way or another if there was a willing dance partner. So while it is fun to speculate, it is wrong to bash the FO with such little solid information.

Okay, you got me on the turnover versus INT stat. Now for your other 'points'. You say that others are bashing you without specific data. And I say you are pulling specific stats only to bolster your case. No matter which stat you pull out and what your subjective opinion on his performance in the last 9 games is (as in your next post), the fact is that he stabilized the QB position by presenting a clear picture of his strengths and weaknesses. He has made that unknown go away. Most all on this board acknowledge that he is NOT a franchise QB. But he has made that position a less critical need than LB, RT, RG. And that is my point. I repeat now - what is yours besides Fitz sucks ? Do you want us to trade away the farm for someones current starting QB ? Do you want us to tank next season to get Luck in 2012 ? Where are you going with this insanely long thread of yours?

Holy crap, you just won't give up will you ? Why on earth will you choose the last 9 games ? And FWIW, Fitz threw 15 INTs the entire season. So you are wrong there also. This thread is getting moronic cos I have no idea what you really want happening. I get it that you think Fitz sucks and will dig up any stat to prove your point. The sad part is I keep responding and humoring you.

That is great, sphere-o-beer. More proof that we will draft # 1 in 2012 and get Luck.

Two from British Folk rock genre... Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention, example: Maddy Prior, individual songs and with Steeleye Span. Examples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzmPbzwZ1o&feature=related

Guess I can't carry off sarcasm very well.

Let me state some facts: 1. Fitz threw for 23 TDs this season which was his best. 23<24 2. If Fitz had started all 16 games, he would have had a prorate 28 TDs HOWEVER he could have played those three games as he did the Pats* second game. Which means he would have thrown for zero TDs in those three games even if he started. So his total for the season would have been 23+0 =23. Again, 23<24 We all know Bledsoe sucked so Fitz sucks more. Sorry.

While I think the OP is scraping the data to prove a point, I decided to do the same to see if there is any evidence of Lee Evans on Fitz and Stevie Johnson's performance. Here is what I calculate: Fitz Comp/Att Comp % Yards/gm TD/gm int/gm td/int Games 3-12 (with Fitz & Lee starting) 207/355 58.3 238 2 1.1 1.8 Games 13-15(Fitz starting, Evans out) 48/86 55.8 205 1 1.3 0.75 Steve Johnson Catches/gm Yards/gm TD/gm Games 3-12 5.5 76 0.9 Games 13-15 5.3 56 0.3 We also lost starters on the right side of the line which was a horror show anyway. Here is my point - the team is overall so bereft of talent that loss of starters can significantly affect performance. We dont have good starters, let alone depth. Both Fitz and Johnson performed worse in games 13-15. I realize that I cannot dig up just one change (Evans' injury) to prove a point. But that is just what the OP is doing - selecting stats to make his pre-conceived point that Fitz sucks. I think that Fitz did the best he could given the woeful right side, developing WRs (Johnson, Jones, Nelson) and absence of a real pass catching TE. He has earned the right to stay the starter next season and reap the benefits of upgraded talent (hopefully).

First of all a qualification - I do not follow college ball. What I understand about Fairley is that he is a talented, fast and hard hitting player but tends towards dirty hits. I am all for putting aggressiveness and fire in our DL but I don't want a stupid player. With the NFL protecting QBs like babies, Fairley's approach towards hitting may result in penalties and fines which can be counter-productive. Can you coach such a player to be 'careful' with his hits ? I am not so sure. Particularly because taking the edge off may result in loss of production. My guess is that if Fairley is available, we will pass on him because the current regime does not strike me as one to take a chance on risky players. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/la-sp-0108-nick-fairley-bcs-20110108,0,3734360.column

The fact that they did it once does not mean a solid D is not required to get to a SB. If your D is weak and/or your running game is weak (they finished with a #29 rank in run D for the season) a opposing team can capitalize on these holes. The Colts D could not stop a ~ 10 minute TD drive in the 4th quarter and the Colts were held to two FGs in the same quarter. We may have to agree to disagree but I maintain that as great as Manning is, he cannot consistently do it by himself.

I disagree. Manning is the one covering up the deficiencies on defense. And this year, they have been inconsistent both at the receiver position and rushing attack. But to continue being an elite team for years through a head coaching change is commendable. In my mind, they clearly need an infusion of talent on the D to get back to the SB.

actually the crux of my argument is that Nix and the FO need to first evaluate the candidates and if there is a can't miss QB option, take it. I dont know enough to say one way or the other about any of these QBs.

I say $150 for all speaks more to Nix's smartness than it does Fitz's and Nix didn't even go to Harvard. Are you saying the moral of the story is that it is better to be an undersized, young, under-achiever than a bearded Harvard alum with a wonderlic of 48.

More importantly, their teams already has a good OL in place - something we are atleast two players short of. I do agree there is no single way to accomplish the goals but the most proven one is to get a franchise QB when you have the opportunity. Ideally, one or two years before you really need one.

I agree with you on keeping Whitner, Poz ... Here is the deal with the QB situation - Great QBs and even above average QBs are rare. See the long line of under-achievers drafted by other teams (and heck the Bills also). Secondly, it is always better to be not rushing the young QB into the starting line-up. See the development of A Rodgers and how he learned under Favre to now become a solid QB. Put both these thoughts together and you can see that we need to grab a QB if the FO believes they have a potentially great one available. Then he can sit behind Fitz, get used to the speed of the NFL and be eased into the starting line-up. Yes Fitz has made getting a QB less of a problem than it was last year but his performance overall has shown that he has limitations which will prevent him from taking us to the top level. Look at it another way - we are likely to load up on talent in the next two seasons and be ready to make a major run in 2012 and beyond. If at that point we find that the rest of the team is championship ready but Fitz is the weak link, we will have to wait another two years or so to groom a young QB. We are better of getting a good one now so that the entire team will be fully mature and prepared for a SB run(s).

There is always next year

It also helps to refresh ones memory about the meaning of negotiation

I would like not to weep over spilt milk but rather use the experience to make better decisions in future drafts. Spiller could still turn out to be a game-changer but the fact is that he, in no way, postively impacted the Bills in this season. Maybe I aim too high, but I would like to see high first rounders helping the team out in their rookie season as opposed to being pampered and apologized for in the line up. I really do not want to see another Maybin and Spiller type picks who we have to wait on to succeed. Heck, look at how Moats, Troup and Carrington contributed this year. If these players keep improving, we have the makings of a very good defense and would need to add a couple of LBs and one DT/DE. As far as who we pick, hopefully it is a no-brainer that it should not be a RB or CB. My personal feeling is that it should not be a WR either, considering the crying needs we have elsewhere. In order - QB (if the FO believes there is a franchise player available), OT, LB, DE. It looks like if no QB is graded at #3 by our FO, we should trade down and get atleast an extra #2. Then we will have #1, 2x#2, #3, 2x#4s which would be great for the team. And yes, re-sign Whitner, Poz, Wilson.

Problem is that we need quite a few LBs especially if we go back to committing to the 3-4. So, I don't foresee a scenario where Poz is re-signed but relegated to being a backup.