JDG

The game was not a blowout, but when you are down by two scores with two minutes left, the game was not a heart-breaker either. Doubly so, given the circumstances. JDG

Are you kidding me?????? There are two possible judgments of last year's team, neither one of them involves the "playoffs." (cue obligatory Jim Mora clip) The charitable version is that the Bills benefited from a schedule draw featuring the weakest division in the NFC, one of the two weakest divisions in the AFC. As if that wasn't enough, the Bills had something like three games against teams that had just fired their coach mid-season, and were essentially imploding. After getting just about every break in the book, the Bills managed to just barely claw their way above the "Mendoza Line" before being exposed for the frauds they really were against the Pittsburgh Steelers' backups. The uncharitable version is that the 2004 Buffalo Bills were a decent team who beat up inferior competition in the middle of the season, and who then pulled one of the greatest choke-jobs in modern pro sports history. You ordinarily judge a sports team based on how well they are playing at the end of the season, not at the beginning of it. This usually means the playoffs for good teams, in a game in which both teams have everything to play for. Except for the fact that the Buffalo Bill had their biggest game and last game against a team that had *nothing* to play for. Not only were the backups starting at several key position, but with the game in the balance in the third quarter, the backups to the backups were being sent into the game. Even worse, the game was at *home*, in front of our own fans - and incredibly, the game wasn't even close. The Bills were simply thrashed by Pittsburgh's backups in their biggest test of the year. Quite simply, the 2004 Buffalo Bills aren't worthy to even sniff the sweat in Scott Norwood's jock strap - let alone wear the same helmets. For my money, those are the only two possible judgments of last years' team. I'll leave it to the reader to pick the charitable or the uncharitable version.... JDG

Uhhh..... isn't LJ Shelton a right tackle? And don't the Bills have four DT's already on the roster? JDG

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050422/1002529.asp No comment. ;-) JDG

Yes, it means bet your whole stack of dollars..... JDG

Its your last dollar in your stack of dollars.....

GG - It is not quite accurate to say that "Travis Henry is worth bubkus." In actuality, what we have just seen is that Travis Henry is worth more to the Bills than to any other team. JDG

Gerry, Why is it so unlikely that Henry will return as a Bill? What is he going to do, sit out the season? The truth of the matter is that he has a contract, and if he wants to get paid in 2006, he'll play for the Bills this year, should the Bills choose not to trade him. As for Josh Reed, I can't imagine a team giving up even so much as a 7th Rounder for him - if I'm the fan of another team, I'd want to spend a 7th rounder on a guy who might produce, rather than a guy who has been *known* to not produce for two years now. In NFL trades, you choose the devil you don't know every time.... JDG

By drafting a RB it is at least conceivable that we might trade Travis Henry. Do you really like our playoff chances with McGahee and Williams as our top two runners? Actually, Lionel Gates looks like he was drafted to play Special Teams to me, and be a RB/FB backup. I think its a great pick. JDG - who finds it pretty amazing that nobody is taking a shot on Kay-Jay Harris or Walter Reyes....

Didn't they say that Kent Hull was too small to play Center too? JDG

ESPN is a National Network, and quite simply they are not going to spend much time on *any* team that doesn't pick until #55. There's 32 teams in this draft, and since we took Losman last year, we are basically an afterthought. For what its worth, ESPN's John Clayton does appear to have done his homework on the Travis Henry situation, learning that the Bills would have accepted a 3rd-rounder for Travis Henry (or so he says), but that our best offer was Philadelphia's 4th rounder. JDG

The difference being that Lee Evans essentially needed to come in and be one of our Top 2 WR's. Parrish will be coming in to a *much* more favorable situation with Moulds and Evans already solidly established. I hope Parrish knows to "stay in his lanes" on kick coverage. ;-) JDG

Let's keep in mind that LJ Shelton couldn't even hold down a starting spot on the vaunted Offensive Line of the Arizona Cardinals. If Green wants too much for Shelton it is not like the Bills can't use a value-RB like Travis Henry for next year.... move Teague to LT, Tucker to C, and pick up a guard somewhere. JDG

We''ll see what Ty Law's market value is, but if the Bills' medical staff thinks that he will fully recover this year, then this could be a great signing. You never pass up the opportunity to make your team better, and Law instantly improves the quality of our defense, and adds a game-changing playmaker to our team. Adding Law could easily add +1 to our win total for next year. And yes, with Clements coming up for a payday, it does give us a little bit of insurance if we can't resign him. JDG

I suspect that that is what McNally was doing.... he told them that he could "coach up" just about anybody to be decent. Not a bad strategy actually..... if the UDFA's and whatnot perform competently, he's a miracle-worker. If not, then he can't be blamed - he didn't have the talent. JDG

It could be that its not TD's strategy, but McNally's.... that is, when McNally was a Giant he consistently went with unheralded players and undrafted free agents. Maybe he wants to do it again.... JDG

The Jets are losing starting OT Kareem McKenzie to Free Agency, so he has to be replaced.... JDG

Newsday Article The offense is in flux, but could get a quick reprieve with strong indications that left tackle Jonas Jennings is close to signing with the Jets.

P.S. And I wouldn't call Jennings a "stud." The Bills' Offensive Line was nowheres near good enough to call anyone a "stud."

Third round picks don't sign five year deals. That's the trade of with having to play out contracts that pay them significantly less than 1st rounders. You'd have to give Jennings first-round money to have him sign for five years as a rookie. JDG

Donahoe is always feeding stories to his ESPN buddies, so that probably explains a lot..... JDG

With or without Henry included in the deal? Noway on Henry and a 2nd for an offensive lineman who can't even start for Arizona.... I'd probably go for a 2nd straight-up for Shelton, but I wouldn't like it.... JDG

Well brandon, amidst all your superfluous sneezing and whatnot in the above, the entire point of my post managed to whiz right past your head. My point is that, were it not for a lucky roll of David Patten's unconscious head, Belichick would have gone his first EIGHT seasons as an NFL Head Coach without so much as a division title, and only one wildcard berth to even show for in the playoffs. And honestly, who would have been bold enough to recognize Bill Belichick's "genius" *then*? Heck, after three years without a playoff berth, he might have been fired outright by New England! And just imagine the reaction when he open season #4 by cutting Milloy, and dropping a 31-0 stinker at Buffalo! The point of my post was to establish just how hard it is to recognize "genius" in the NFL.... sure its easy to do after a guy wins two Super Bowl titles, and maybe a third.... but could you do it *before* the titles? JDG

Or was that Donahoe? The world may never know for certain..... JDG

Well now that everyone is convinced that Bill Belichick is now the second coming of Vince Lombardi (or is it that Vince Lombardi was the first coming of Bill Belichick, I forget), I thought that I would bring up two reminders: 1) 36 - 44 with one wildcard berth (1-1). That is Bill Belichick's record in five seasons with the Cleveland Browns. 2) 24 - 24, no playoff berths. That is Bill Belichick's record in his first three seasons in New England, if David Patten's unconscious head doesn't roll out of bounds in a road game at the 3-13 Buffalo Bills. So, after eight seasons, this guy with a career coaching record below .500 is suddenly the greatest Coach in NFL history, eh? Raise a hand those of you would be saying that if David Patten's unconscious head doesn't roll out of bounds - presuming of course that Belichick still had his job last season.... That's what I thought. So, one has to wonder, now that Gregg Williams has gone on to Washington and made silk purses out of sows ears.... could Gregg Williams be the third coming of Bill Belichick - and we (and Donahoe for that matter) just not give him enough of a chance? JDG