Bill from NYC

Another question if you don't mind. How much money do you think it would take to lure Kevin Boss to Buffalo, assuming of course he isn't adverse to signing here? Based on his performance, how much would you ask if you were his agent?

Do you take the climate into account at all when you post something like the above? Btw, I am in full agreement wrt drafting rbs in round 1. I do however strongly feel that running the football is more important in the elements than it is in a dome or in warm weather. This of course involves blocking.

Unfortunately I agree. Levitre, a very solid OG imo, did not play well at all vs. the phish.

The bold is true, and I don't pretend otherwise. Doc, I am only trying to make a point. I'm not even trying to win an arguement. My point is that while I laud his agility, I am afraid that Bell isn't strong enough. I want him to do well but this team has taken quite a big chance on him. Maybe you don't agree, but imo the Bills, due to the climate they (along with NE and NYJ) play in, need blockers who can open up holes for the run, and of course protect their qb. I like Gailey and Nix, but those comments about Spiller making the OL better were insane, and I said it way back then. Take me to task all day long. I love the dialogue, but as a long time Bills fan I am admittedly gun shy from watching quarterbacks get bloodied and bruised. If Bell is to be THE guy at LT, so be it but he does need to be a lot stronger imo. Wrotto is praised here but he looks like more of a stumblebum to me. Have we seen worse at RT? Of course! We are Bills Fans! So anyway, I'm not hating on Bell, even if it seems so. But, the Bills, imo, continue to need help at the OT slot in order to be a strong team and contend. Are we getting closer to a consensus?

I have never been an advocate of moving Bell to RT. He isn't a bruiser, which was my problem on that sack. Bell was out muscled by a player who is listed at 251 pounds, a rookie at that. In my OP, I did admit that this particular player looks very good, but I have an issue with Bell being shoved aside by a LB, or pushed after a play by a defensive back (this happened last week). Say what you will about Jason Peters, but NOBODY was going to toss him around. Bell is very agile. He has good feet, but I am afraid it is because he is light in the ass. I would love nothing more than for him to be a probowl, long term LT for our football team. My fear is that he isn't big or strong enough to do this, and imo this is something that a smart organization would not take a chance on. Jmo.

Thanks John! I never blasted the 2010 draft, other than the selection of Spiller. Nix has made a living for many years finding talented players. I am not worried about this aspect of his job as GM. What I do worry about is interference from "upstairs." And to his credit, he brought us Gailey, with whom I am quite satisfied with as a head coach. Despite the southern drawl, there is something almost stately about him. I feel like he is really teaching his players. I believe that Gailey and Nix know that the team needs to get better on both lines. They absolutely MUST know this. Levy/Jauron were primarily about defensive backs, special teams, and playing not to lose. I have a feeling that if Mr. Wilson lets these men run the team (especially the draft), the Bills will soon be playoff contenders.

LOL!

1) Fitz might not have had his best statistical game yesterday, but a couple of those throws were the nicest I have ever seen him make. This would include both touchdowns, and a particular sideline pattern to Nelson. 2) He doesn't show up on the game stat sheet, but I saw Troup penetrating, and we really must hope that he develops more as the season closes. 3) I think that this game brought us closer to the realization that the OT position is hurting. I know, Bell was hurt last year, he is green, etc. But, the sack that he gave up to Misi (who admittedly looks like a monster), almost got Fitzy killed. And, there was a lack of running room all day. 4) It is official. I am a fan of Reggie Corner. Random statement? Sure, but he does what is asked of him. I freaked out when he was drafted (the position AND name), but he is a contributor. 5) It's tough to write this because I like the guy SO much, but I'm getting just a bit concerned with Moorman. 6) Whitner made 2 nice plays in a row just before the half. It was also good to see him on a blitz package. Then again, that was a sweet pick by Wilson, ya know? 7) Kyle Williams, from what I could see, was being double teamed for most of the game but he still made plays. He caught Ricky Williams by surprise on that screen and really banged him out! He knew exactly where that play was going, ran to the perfect place and put a monster hit on a very strong back. That was freaking awesome. 8) Carrington is obviously a player who is listening to his coaches. He played well and that blocked pass was huge. How great is it to see the young defenders contribute? Carrington and Troup were brought along slowly, but it is starting to pay off. The Bills are a different team in 2011 if these guys turn out to be good players. 9) There is nothing at all not to like about David Nelson. And, it really is great to have a tall receiver with long arms. 10) Btw, I give Florence quite a bit of slack for the receptions he gave up to Brandon Marshall. The coverage wasn't so bad, and I have not really seen enough of Marshall to know just how good he is. 11) A big time shout out to Arthur Moats! He was literally all over the field, in addition to his 1.5 sacks. 12) Count me as sold on this coaching staff. The difference between this game and a Jauron win was the fact that this team went after their opponent and came away victorious, as opposed to laying back and waiting for a weak team to make a mistake. 13) Football depression? Mascochism? Self loathing perhaps? NOT this week. 14) GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No Brian, he sucks in coverage. He is a liability in coverage, and he is small to boot. He would be better if there was more pass rush, but even at that, he has no business getting torched as often as he does. Would you be happy if we signed him for huge dollars and brought back Marv and Dick? You could do your favorite draft (2006) all over again!

It would be, whereas you are a long time, staunch defender of Levy, Jauron, the 06 draft, and Whitner as the #8 selection of a draft. Whitner gives up long completions and touchdowns. Then, he tackles people (often in the endzone) and sometimes draws penalties for doing so. He doesn't intercept passes, and Sammy Morris (not Earl Campbell mind you) flattened him like a pancake on a run. Were it not for the Bills propensity for wasting top draft picks on defensive backs (a philosophy lauded by you and The Dean), I would wish that the Bills would let him walk. Your hero, Donte Whitner, is a symbol of what is wrong with the Bills, and he was brought to town by the losers who you have defended as if they are your children. If you need support when Lil' Donte leaves town, feel free to send me a PM and I will try to walk you through it.

A great portion of his tackles do come after pass completions. Yes, this is true. Say about me as you will, but you remain consistent. You have defended Whitner since the day he was stupidly selected, as well as the entire 06 draft, right? Or, have you changed your mind about that stellar display of football savy by Levy/Jauron? Quite simply, do you think that Whitner is above average in pass coverage? Do you think he is above average in terms of intercepting the football? What exactly is it that he does SO well that drives you to label him as "far above average?" I can't wait to hear this......

WOW!!! Far above average? Yikes! Many of his tackles are on tight ends after the long gains that he gives up, because he is far BELOW average in coverage. Whitner may well go an entire career without having as many interceptions as Byrd had in 09. So let's see.....he gives up pass after pass, can't intercept passes, but he is "far above average?" Are you counting the way he tweets when you speak of this unseen versatility?

Coach, I must respectfully disagree. Fans CRAVE results from early 1st round picks, and are willing to grasp at straws in order to tell themselves that their favorite team didn't select a "bust" with its most precious resources. This has plagued the Bills for years, and Levy/Jauron buried us by wasting great picks on so-so players at positions of less importance. In the first round of 2010, Nix hit the ground running in this tradition of losing. McKelvin and Whitner, despite very low production (and in Whitner's case off field antics) get all kinds of slack. You can see it in this thread. Don't get me wrong, I would sign him if the price was right, but only to but the brakes on the first round defensive back merry go-round. That is it. He would not be such a great loss. Not at all. So is he so he should be comfortable.

I couldn't agree more!!!

Nice work as usual my brother!

This is completely true. Now, toss in the factor of where the Bills play. I don't know where you live, but I just came inside. It is freezing and the wind is high. Unless you have a Ryan Mallett/Drew Bledsoe arm, passing is less of an option late in the year in Buffalo. I doubt that that the Times article you spoke of takes this into account. The Bills play in an environment where they need to run and stop the run more than most other teams. Imo, they need to make a huge move for Kevin Boss, who is scheduled to be a ufa. He was made to play in WNY. He is a TE who blocks like an OT and is a huge target with good hands. He would help the passing and running game. Seriously, they should offer him a 5 year deal for much more than his market value if that is what it would take to bring him in.

I agree with all of the above, unless the highest rated player is a RB or a DB. I wouldn't care if the highest rated DB is thought to be better than Mel Blount or Ronnie Lott. The Bills need to get bigger and stronger up front. Period. The only exception I can see is if they think a particular QB will be great. At that point it wouldn't be wise to pass on him.

I don't begrudge Mr. Wilson a good living. I also am appreciative of the fact that he is charitable, and that he has kept the franchise in NY. That said, some of the Bills first round picks (the ones that sell season tickets) look more like marketing ploys than a valid attempt to build a football team. In his defense, maybe after trusting absolutely terrible football people such as Levy and Jauron, he figured that he couldn't do any worse.

I'm curious to what you consider a franchise quarterback. Would you say that Hasselback was a franchise qb for Seattle?

I would draft Mallett or trade down. I'm sure there will be many offers if Newton and/or Mallett is available.

Most people don't want to touch this issue.

Maybe, but imo some of the best posters are those who are the most fed up. Ya gotta admit, some of the screen names of the downtrodden fans are just so funny! After a loss, there was once a dialogue between posters called, "Tortured Soul" and "Pass the Pipe."

How much have you seen of Demarcus Love? I want to se more of Carmini before I come to a conclusion, but Love imo is a great prospect. He is a team captain and leader. He reminds me a bit of D'Brick. I think that he too will climb up the charts. As I vaguely recall it was down to approx. #14. Croations are some of the best Italian chefs in NYC. Try Capucines on 19th Street and 2nd Ave. It is my favorite place in the city. Old world, old fashioned Italian.

They will receive numerous offers to trade down, and be in the drivers seat should they be inclined to do so. It happened in 2006. Leinart and Cutler were still on the board at number 8, and Levy, who simply HAD to draft Whitner, said on Sirius that he in fact had many offers. One was reported to be a 2nd and a 4th. Looking around the league, a slew of teams need a quarterback. How many good quarterbacks are there in the NFC West and AFC West combined? Now, how good is Romo, assuming he comes back healthy? Or even an aging McNabb? Please feel free to expand on this list! If we select in front of Dallas, I fully believe they would give away the store for Mallett. Again, Jones is an Arkansas alum, and this kid would fill that new stadium up in 10 minutes. If we draft 4-7, is there really a DE or OT that will be SO much better than anyone else that we MUST draft him, especially taking into account just how much the pick might be worth? In 2004, the Bills surrendered their 1st round pick in 2005, along with 2nd and 5th round picks in 2004 to get the #22 from Dallas, in order to draft JP Losman. I point this out to stress just how much an early pick would be worth with the quarterback shortage that exists. For the record.....as much as I like Fitz, the Bills would draft Ryan Mallett if I was calling the shots. I view him at a potential Big Ben with twice the arm. This obviously goes against the grain of this board, but the good news is that we are here to discuss the Buffalo Bills, and that we all want them to win. GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You see, this is what the Bills have done for the better part of 15 years, and it resulted in losing football games.