jri111

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2791831

then again, 1 year, $3.5 million is alot to pay a backup RB... http://rotoworld.com/Content/playernews.as...&line=90617 Jamal Lewis-RB- Browns Mar. 7 - 9:23 pm et Browns signed RB Jamal Lewis to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. With incentives, Lewis can make up to $5 million in 2007. The length of the deal indicates Cleveland could still consider drafting Adrian Peterson. This is still a curious move by Browns GM Phil Savage, primarily because Lewis has averaged 3.47 yards per-carry the last two seasons since leaving jail. Lewis runs tentatively and has poor long speed. A shaky Browns offensive line won't help matters. Willis McGahee could now be on the way to Baltimore in a trade, and Reuben Droughns is headed to the bench or the waiver wire.

http://rotoworld.com/Content/playernews.aspx?sport=NFL Kiwaukee Thomas-DB- Bills Mar. 8 - 10:16 am et Free agent Kiwaukee Thomas is scheduled to be in Detroit on Thursday. The Lions need to get serious about beefing up possibly the NFL's worst cornerback situation. Thomas was a nickel back in Buffalo last season. Source: MLive.com Related: Lions I really like Thomas. He's a vetern who playes the nickel well and is someone that could step up for an extended period of time if you needed him to because of injury. i know he wanted to move down south closer to his family, but maybe this is an indication that he wants a chance to start. idk, i really hope we can get him back, he adds much needed depth and experience to that secondary...

via rotoworld today: http://rotoworld.com/Content/playernews.aspx?sport=NFL Adrian Peterson-RB- Player Mar. 8 - 10:12 am et The Browns are reportedly intent on using a two-back system in 2007. The door on Cleveland selecting Adrian Peterson at No. 3 may have not completely swung shut, and will be more realistic if Reuben Droughns is released once his $1.75 million roster bonus comes due next week. Source: Cleveland Plain-Dealer Related: Jamal Lewis, Reuben Droughns, Browns

in addition though, I found out after i posted the original post that lewis only signed a one year deal with Clevland indicating that it's not a long term thing. That just makes it that much more unlikely...

I don't think i was clear here. NO WAY you pass on Peterson if he is there by some cold chance in h*ll. I was referring to any other RB (namely lynch). I would MUCH rather have Okoye or Branch over Lynch. Our Defense just has too many holes. HOWEVER, if peterson was there, you'd be brain dead to pass up on him! sorry for not being clear enough.

like i said, i think so too, but it does create an interesting senario. I think the key is Droughns. If he goes, as i suspect he will, then it's safe to assume they are definitely targeting Peterson at number 3. BUT If they pay him his roster bonus and he stays a small window of opportunity may have opened. Like i said, i agree, i think he still goes here, but who knows, maybe Romeo wants Quinn. If he did, what would he do, go out and get a RB in free agancy. so maybe... at the very least fun to think about. Personally, I don't think Lynch is worth getting at 12. Petterson Yes, Lynch no. I would much rather have us use one of our seconds (assuming the willis trade goes through) on a RB and the rest of day one on Defense.

Okay, I just wrote up a huge analysis for picks 1-16 and was about to submit it when my screen decided to refresh automatically and i lost it all, so here's a quick version of it. Here's a list of the first 16 teams and their starting RB's.... 1. Oakland - Lamont Jorden - just renogoiated so he wouldn't get cut, and Russel is almost the clear cut first pick in the draft. 2. Detroit - Kevin Jones - and just picked up tatem bell. With the addition of George Foster (OT) they may not be looking at Joe Thomas anymore. Maybe Calvin Johnson (WR) or perhaps Brady Quinn (QB) 3. Cleveland - Jamal Lewis and/or Droughns - Droughns may be cut though becuase he's due a roster bonus soon. This is BY FAR the most likely landing place for Peterson, but maybe the lewis signing is an indication that they're thinking of going in another direction. Is Charlie Fry really the answer at QB? Interesting side note to dwell on... Maybe, just maybe, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis' history in NE together has influence here. College Coaches always try to talk up their players because it looks better for them the higher they're drafted. Also, I do believe that Weis thinks Quinn is the real deal. Maybe he's whispering sweet nothings into crennel's ear about Quinn. Maybe that's why they went out and got lewis. It's probably unlikely, but if not, a chain reaction could be set in place if Clevland pulls a surprise move and takes Quinn, which would allow Petterson to tumble. 4. Tampa - Cadilac Williams - he's just entering his third year and with SO many holes, it's highly unlikly they'd go with Peterson, even if he's still there. 5. Cards - E-James, enough said. 6. Skins - Portis and Betts 7. Vikes - Chestor Taylor - Now heres a team that may not pass up on Peterson if he fell this far... but taylor is young and versitle, very similar running style to Petterson. Even though it would be intriguing, I think they'd rather address other needs. Maybe would try to trade down here to a team that's desperate for a RB (but see below why that's not likely) 8. Texans - Green (with dayne and lundy behind him). I don't think that they would pass up on Petterson if they had the chance at him, but who knows, green just got a pretty large contract w/ big bonus money. He is 30 though, so the thought of Petterson would be hard to pass up. Have lots of other needs though, especially on the O-line. 9. Dolphines - Brown (and **cough** Ricky Williams **cough**) 10. Falcons - Dunn (could use another back, but with dunn being so small i'm assuming they'd rather want a larger guy, doesn't fit the bill for peterson) 11. 49er's - Gore - Top 5 back 12. Bills - other needs more important here, likely will address with one of their seconds, but if peterson is around look for them to take him. 13. Rams - Steven Jackson 14. Carolina - deshaun foster/deangelo williams 15. Pitt - Willie Parker 16. Packers - def needs a RB. Okay so as you can see, the only teams with needs at RB are Clevland, Houston, Buffalo and GB. Clevland and Houston addressed thier needs in FA but could try to add a younger back in the draft. IF the browns do pass on Peterson, the most likely senario I have to beleive is Houston taking him at number 8. Would the Bills be willing to trade from 12 to 7 (vikes) to take him? idk. I don't think it's feasible for the Packers to. 16 to 7 is a pretty big jump. they would have to give up alot and they'll probably have lynch ripe for the taking at 16. If Peterson gets pass clevland AND Houston, he'd fall right into our laps. This is the least likely senario, but it's only two GM's deciding other needs are more important for it to become a reality (Clevland going with Quinn, Houston going with OL). Who knows... thought it was interesting though.... what do you think?

My twist on this: 1 (12) - Okoye, DT 1a (??) - Puz, OLB (via trade w/ 43rd and 74th) 2 (61) - Hunt or Irons or Bush (in that order depending who's there) (i don't know like pittman... or leonard, at least as a RB) 3 (74) - Leonard, FB (if he's still there) or a CB If not i'd be happy later. Even though I like Hunt the best out of those backs, I think Irons would be the best fit for use. He's a Levy back (i.e. quick, fast, good ball catcher, etc...) my ideal backfield: HB 1: Irons - quick, fast, can hit the hole fast and turn the corner HB 1a: Thomas - big, between the tackles runner, would complement Irons well FB: Leonard - VERSITILE - above average blocker but also's dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield too... would be great in short yardage situations

another side effect of cleveland gettin lewis is an expotential increase in the chance that the Ravans pursuing MacGahee. That would allow things to fall nicely in place for us!

Actually, ironically it could be. there are a lot of if's.... BUT if the pats do give up one of their first rounders to the raiders and the raiders cut Jordon instead of paying him his bonus then this would help a potential "willis trade" The raiders would then have two first round picks, including the first overall and their second rounder (which is the 33rd pick, essentailly a late first rounder). With that in mind, maybe when push comes to shove and they have their new QB (Russel) they'll want to give him a new RB, alla Willis McGahee with their second. OR even their third, which is like a late second... like i said, lots of what ifs, but wouldn't that be funny that the Pats getting Moss could actually help the Bills! i enjoy the irony in that!

Funny, My personal "fantasy draft" is very similar but with a few different players. Here are two varaitions of what i'd like to see 1. Branch (DT)/Okoye (DT) - first prefernece Okoye 2. Puz (OLB)/Damion Huyghs (CB) - Both are projected as late first rounders, but Hughyes is slipping after running a slow 40 at the combine but is a perfect cover 2 corner 3a. Kenny Irons (RB)/Tony Hunt (RB) 3b.Brian Leonard (FB) Or 1. Okoye (DT)/Branch (DT) 1a. Puz (OLB) (Trade back into 1st with second and the third you get from Mcgahee trade) 3. Kenny Irons (RB)/Tony Hunt (RB) Day two needs: FB, CB

I too think that there is a good, umm how do i say it, well that we'll be presented with a "good chance" to trade down. Whether Levy does it or not is a whole other topic. Frankly, i think we're in a VERY good position at number 12. There are a number of guys that can fill big holes for us there, including Branch, Okoye, Peterson (who i don't think will be there, but WOW if he was), Willis, Hall, etc.. I think the most likely "best opportunity" for a trade down centers around Branch, Okoye, and Jamaal Anderson. If Branch and Okoye do get picked before us, I think there's a real good chance that Anderson will be there at 12. DE is always a need for almost every team, and I could easily imagine that a team im mid-to late teams making a serious push to try to trade up to get him. Same is possibly true for Levi Brown, another Penn Stater. Bottom-line I think is that we're going to take the best player avaiable in one of our real positions of need: DT, LB, CB, RB (with the exception of taking Lynch at 12- i think that's ridiculous and there's no way that Marv would do that), If a trade down is available an another team activily pursues it, i do think Marv would be shy to pull the trigger (i think the key is the other team initiating the trade, rather then marv deciding that he wants to trade down himself). All in all- I would be VERY happy if we trade down and get Puz and an addiotional second round pick. However, if we stay there and get Branch or Okoye I would be estactic also. Personally, I'm not sold on Hall or Lynch. I'd rather get a CB and RB in rounds 2 and/or 3...

IDK much about him either, but here's what the "experts" have to say about him... Derrick Dockery | OG Complete player profile Full Name: Derrick Dwayne Dockery Born: September 7, 1980 Garland, TX Height: 6-6 Weight: 345 lbs. Age: 26 Pos: OG Experience: 4 years College: Texas Drafted: Year:2003 Round:3 Pick:17, Redskins Insider Analysis Grade 65 Expert's Take Dockery has developed into a consistent starter who has not missed a start since the third game of his rookie season. He brings a terrific combination of power and athleticism for his bulk to the position. Standing a massive 6-foot-6 and 345 pounds, Dockery is a good knee-bender who gets his pad level down to add leverage to his sheer power, which makes him an excellent drive blocker in the run game. Still somewhat professionally immature, Dockery will show signs of fatigue, playing too high and getting over-extended and not sliding his feet in pass protection, especially when facing athletic, speed pass rushers. Dockery has the size, feet and wingspan to move outside, but only to right tackle or on the front side of the quarterback, as he doesn't match up well versus the elite pass rush defensive ends or linebackers coming off the back side edge. Dockery has gained tremendous experience and is best served staying inside at guard in a zone offensive system that would allow him to stay on track and roll opponents out of the way while limiting his pulling to the occasional trap play. Dockery is a monster at the point of attack, but the more out in space he gets, the less effective he is. He struggles at times getting to the second level or blocking on the perimeter. Dockery continues to develop and with continued work on his technique and footwork. Improved consistency will find him as a rising star at the left guard.

courtsey of scouts Inc... 2006 Scouting Report - Scouts Inc. Grade: 68 | Key Alert: None Comment: Walker is gigantic and moves well for his size. He has starting experience at tackle and guard. He has an ideal frame at tackle: great height, very good bulk and long arms. He has the lateral mobility to slide and mirror. He can redirect and recover if beaten. He even can pull from the guard position. His size forces defenders to take an extra step to get around his edge. He is quick enough off the ball and can get to the second level and get position. He is powerful, plays with a very wide base and can engulf defenders off the snap. But Walker is very inconsistent. He takes some plays off and looks bad or disinterested. He catches defenders too often, instead of striking. He sometimes overextends instead of moving his feet. He can be slow to recognize blitzes and stunts. His competitiveness and toughness are concerns. by the way, 68 is in the range of "average starter" which runs from 60-69. A grade of 70 is the low end of "good starter" so, a small reason for optimism? I remember last year all the FA's we picked up were in the "good backup" or "adequate backup" ratings and we were projecting them as starters... for what it's worth...

I agree 100% about the "explosive" back thing. I actually like to refer to it as an "all purpose" back, alla thruman or LT An interesting guy to think about in the later rounds (4th round?) is Chris Henry. He doesn't have much playing experience but how about these numbers: He ran a 4.40 fourty which is pretty darn good. But add that to his 230+ pound frame and that's insane! Not saying he a number one option, but may be a good secondary choice if the draft doesn't go the way we planned...

I like Brian Leonard too, but i like him as a FB. Here's something that i've been kicking around in my mind and i think would be pretty sweet and not too far fetched.... Imagine if we got a 2nd rounder for Willis then we'd have a 1st, two 2nd's and a thrid on day one. Now we all know that levy wants an all purpose back, but none of these guys truely in that mold (Hunt, Lynch, Irons, Bush, Leonard). So, as a next best thing, why not get one of those RB''s and Leonard for FB with the second and third round pick. We'd still have a first and second round pick to get impact Defensive palyers (like DT, LB or CB). Lenoard can be your receiving option and someone like hunt or irons would be your go to guy. That would add some nice weapons for JP and the offense!

I also like tony hunt too. Actually, outside of Adrian Peterson, I like him the best out of the other guys. I also have nothing against any of those other 2nd round back though either (Lynch, Irons, Bush)

I agree 100% about Willis. I'll take it a step further and say that i'm not completely sold as him as a "sure thing" (granted no one is a sure thing, but he gives me added worries that I don't have with other guys that are projected for so early in the first round). Ideally, I think the best route to go is a mix of FA and the draft. As far as MLB's go, quite frankly, there's no FA out there worth getting. London is prob. the best pure middle linebacker out there but if we're serious about 'attacking' linebackers, i think you have to go in another direction, even though i like him imensely and think he's stand up up. My ideal situation would be to me Angelo inside and draft Puslozney in the scound (Spikes-Crowell-Puz). Obviosley though, hoping Puz (or Timmons- even though i don't like him and think he's going to be a bust) are still there in the second round is asking a lot. To solve this problem, i'd pick up a young OLB in FA, on that has flown below the radar (most likely in the RFA market?) that won't be commanding a huge salary. This person wouldn't be a stud by any means, but more of an insurance policy then anything else. That way if, worst case seniario, you're unable to get a OLB on the first day of the draft you still have Ellison and the new guy to try to fill that void. This allows you to address the DT postion in the first round of the draft, whether it be Okoye or Branch....

Well there's what I want to see the Bills do, what you want the bills to do and then there's what the bills WILL do. If you look at the writing on the wall or read between the lines I think some of it is very easy to see where they're headed... First, even though I think passing up on Okoye would be a big mistake, all sings point to them being content with their D-line. They re-signed Kelsey, supposidly tendered an offer to Anderson. Add in Hargrove who will be tendered and the two draft picks and FA pick up from last year (McCargo, Williams and Triplett) and it's really hard to see them going after DT again. Add this to the comments made by Levy about the run defense and it becomes even more evident. Notice that although the media and the fans have consistently been saying that we need to get bigger in the middle of the DL to get better in run stopping, levy has, however, never truely stressed this. Instead, he actually re-directed the question to "attacking" linebackers. It seems evident that the organization seems our run defense problem revolves around our LB's more so then the DT's. That all said, I bet we pass on Okoye (and/or Branch) if he's still available at 12. In addition to this, this is why i see us going after one of two options with the 12th pick: LB - Partick Willis or CB (Leon Hall, Huyghes, etc...). Of course a lot of this depends on free agency but I definitely see us going after a second-tier vetern CB in FA. With that said I think we'll take Partrick Willis as our number 1 pick. Speaking of Free agency, don't be surprised if we sign at least 2 offensive linemen. Levy made it a point to mention the three young guys we drafted last year and just from his mannorism and the way he says things, I think he really believes that O-linemen are really a development position and not one that you can contribute to right away out of the draft. Knowing that, and knowing that he said O-line is our number 1 priority, I think we'll add some guys in free agency that can help us right away. I look for them to go after LG and RT. Don't look for these to be HUGE signing however, probably both second-tier guys with decent size contracts. MAYBE we'll go after a prime LG, but the odds are agaisnt us that we'll put up the money necessary to get one of these guys. I can definitely see them skimming hte RFA market for young ventern O-line talent. RB will we addressed in the first day of the draft. I dont think any of the FA's or trade optiosn are what Levy is looking for or willing to give up a lot for... therefore the draft makes perfect sense. Definitley will be addressed in the second or third round it looks like (note: none of the RB's, aside from Adrine Petterson, who will be long gone by the time the bills pick, really is Levy guy though so that's something to keep in consideration..see below). Look for other FA sigings to be like last year as low teir guys they are hoping that will come into their prime, i.e. backup LB, FB (if shelton doesn't re-sign) So overall I see them going after O-line heavily in FA's. Not the big names though, but guys that can start and imporve this O-line right now. In addition look for them to seek out a vertern CB, a young LB coming into his prime in FA, and maybe a FB depending on Shelton. I think that's going to be about it for FA. For the draft I see us passing on Okoye and reaching for Willis with our first pick. the second or third round will be RB. Look for a WR early on day 2. Also I think they will go after the best player available in most intances, regardless of all our concentrartion on the need positions. That means if there's a guy that is so much better in a non-need/or secondary need position don't be surprised to see us take him over another "need" guy anytime after our first pick. Again this is not what I would wish them to do, but what it seems like from the inferences from what they have done thus far and what levy has said ( i like p. willis, but I think Okoye is one of those "special" guys you don't pass up... also the best way to stop the run is through the DT's not the LB's...they work together, and you need them both to be successful, but you build from the inside out, not the outside in IMO). So there you have it. one more thing: draft day has been so unpredictable for the Bills the last few years, so don't be surprised if they do something off the wall again this year. I think Levy wants a "all purpose" back more than anything else. The only true all purpose back in the draft is adrian peterson. If the Bills trade Willis and get another second or third, I wouldn't be surprise to see them use some combination of those and do somehting unpredictiable like making an attem to move up to get peterson (Although i don't see this likely by any means, the bills have shocked me more in other ways before). Also, DON'T look for the Bills to trade down. I don't think levy has any desire to do it, he'd rather get the guy he wants now and not mess with trying to trade down and risk not getting him. Finally, if they don't take willis with their first pick and he's still there late in the first, don't be surpirsed for the bills try to make another move like last year and try to get back into the first round.

Just a quick clarification with the OLB. That is of course, assuming we move angelo crowell inside, which i think is the route we are leaning towards. The only MLB out there worth getting that can start right away, in either FA or the draft is Partick Willis. I def wouldn't be opposed to getting him, but i think he's a guy that's too early to take at 12 and wont be there when we come up again at 11 in round 2...

Stuart (Ottawa, Canada): do the Bills have a shot at Okoye at 12? Matt Williamson: Yeah, I think so. His stock is soaring, but the Top 10 could be a little high for him. He would be hard to pass up for Buff at that spot. Lynch makes some sense as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Brad (NM): McGahee on the trading block? Is this a good idea for Buffalo and what will they seek in return? Matt Williamson: Not really up to them and their hands are sorta tied. He is a free agent a year from now and as a Miami guy, has never really liked being in Buffalo-culture shock to say the least. He will not resign with them and he could command a nice pick in return instead of letting him walk a year from now for nothing. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mikey(Beth Park NY): Any chance the Bills would go after Michael Turner? Matt Williamson: Maybe, but it would cost them a ton of $$$, plus at least a first rounder, as he is a restricted free agent. Awfully pricey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xander (Philly): If the Bills do trade Willis, who will they acquire for RB? Or will the stay with the A-Train? Matt Williamson: A Train isn't good enough and even if they keep McGahee, they need to find another RB. They need two if he leaves, one of which would surely come through the draft on Day 1-like Leonard, Bush or Hunt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike(NY): Do you think Cato June will get signed right away on Friday? Do you think the Bills would be interested? Matt Williamson: Yeah, I think he will get signed to big bucks very early, but I also think that he is vastly overrated and really needs to be protected. Any of those Tampa 2 teams who need a WLB will be after him, but I don't think he is worth the $$$. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- philly (philly): I enjoy your chat wraps, I've learned a TON about the Jags, Pats, and Bills! Matt Williamson: True-a lot of these questions have been about the same few teams, but your Eagles got a couple of questions in themselves! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AND THEN SOME INDIRECT, BUT ALSO INTERESTING QUESTIONS... Charles (Miami): Who's the best defensive player in the draft 5 years from now? I still cant get over the potential of Okoye, only 19! Matt Williamson: That's not a bad pick, but I think I would take Gaines Adams. Jon Beason and Timmons are two guys who could be in that conversation as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mike (chicago): Tony Hunt or Michael Bush? Matt Williamson: Great question. Really on the fence with that. Bush worries me because he runs so high and is such a big target, but he can do some rare things for such a huge RB. Gimmie Bush, but that is tough. I really agreed with almost everything he said, especially about Cato June. I definitley see him as a guy that is going to get good money in FA and not be worth the investment. Although I think he's a good player, he's definitley no Lance Briggs... especially for the money he'll be commanding. The more and more I think about it, the draft looks to be the way to go to fix our LB issues. A couple in interesting side notes: both Paul Puzluzney and Tim Shaw of Penn State had excellent days at the combine today. Puz is expected to go anywhere from mid-first round to mid second. If he's there at 11th pick in round two, I would hate to see us pass him up. As for Shaw, he may be a guy that can be a steal in the later rounds. Many draft experts have him rated as an early second day guy and i think he would be a steal in round 4 if we hadn't addressed OLB by that time (either through the draft or FA).

I think when you only look at his height and size you may be justifed in comparing hunt to an Anthony Thomas or Stephan Davis, but he's really a lot more explosive then that. Don't get me wrong, you're not going to confuse him with Reggie Bush, but he does play fast. He hits the holes fast and hard, rarely gets taken down by the first hit, and always seems to fall foward. I really like him and would love for the bills to get him, but unless it's round 3 or later, i don't see it happening unfortunatly.

did anybody watch the senior bowl? see what i meant about tony hunt?!?! problem is his draft stoc is going up, up, up. which is not the best thing for my dreams of us getting him . One thing i will say i was absolutely wrong about though was Amobi Okoye. He may only weigh in at 287, but boy did he look good. And a good counter-argument to the weight issue is that he's only 19 years old and def has room to grow, something i overlooked at first. I don't know, I gotta admit, he'd be hard to pass up at 12 if he's still there.

Thanks for making my counter-argument for me! well said. Also, I would add that A-train and Hunt are not clones of each other. In addition, do you think there is any chance that Marv is going to pay the big bucks that Willis is going to demand next year? NO WAY! He wont for a number of reasons, but mainly becase Willis is going to ask for more then he's worth and that will inevitibly lead to his departure. So why not pick up a guy like Hunt in say the 3rd RD, who has a lot of potential, to eventually replace him. Who knows, he'd may even be an Upgrade over Willis this year!