MattM

I'd say you can count on two--our first round pick and the law of averages saying that one other guys steps up and becomes a decent first year starter. I think we got lucky/spoiled last year getting 4-5 guys coming in and contributing big right away. If, as most agree, we have 4 holes to fill (LB, DT, CB and RB), that leaves two to fill in FA and/or someone on the team now stepping up. Not an impossible task, but not an easy one, either. Personally I think we'll be anywhere from 6-10 to 10-6 next season. I do think, however, that with losing no one of import next offseason (no big names are up for FA) and a bunch of extra picks (two thirds and seventh for WM and probably at least a 4 or 5 this year for TKO), we get much better in 2008....

I agree--folks who are saying the "sky is falling" aren't taking into account the facts that (a) we had the second youngest team in the League last year and those young guys like Pennington (who may still end up starting), Whitner, Simpson, K. Williams and Youboty and McCargo who didn't get on the field much for different reasons are only going to get better with a full season and full NFL offseason under their belts and (b) the whole team will be carrying over both offensive and defensive schemes from last year, unlike 2006 when they were learning new systems on both sides of the ball. Both of those facts, especially together, should count for something--perhaps not fully negating our losses, but they seem to not get any credit at all for this from the naysayers, nor often do the signings we did make, like Dockery (I did cartwheels when I heard about that one) or even Walker (potential starter--must have some potential talent to have been a 2nd round pick)/Whittle (at worst a potential backup with experience at a number of positions). As I see it, we still need help in 4 areas--at least one LB, a CB, a RB and a DT. We should get immediate help at one of those spots via the draft's #12 pick and perhaps one other draftee will step up and contribute right away--we got very lucky last year to have 4-5 guys step up right away, but I'm not even counting on that again this year. That leaves two spots to come via the rest of FA (Chris Brown or Ian Scott perhaps, once TKO and his salary are gone--I'll miss him, as he was one of my faves, but if he's still not over his injury then unfortunately it is time to move on) and players already on the team, like Youboty/Greer or Ki. Thomas or McCargo at DT. Not saying that either of those are likely, but they are possible. Personally, I suspect that all of these moves are about two things. The first is positioning this team to win in 2008 and not necessarily next year--if you'll notice, now that Willis is gone we've got no major FA's unsigned going into next year and potentially a large number of extra picks this year and next. The second is that this is the Bills new small market team strategy of needing to win with young draftees since they can't financially keep up with the big boys. Those of you who don't get that need to learn more math--if the Bills are run as a business, as all team's ultimately are, there's just no way Buffalo can compete under the new CBA on a straight up competitive economic basis so they need to draft well and often and keep recycling young talent. While this certainly isn't "fair" or what we're used to under the old salary cap era, money talks and that's the way it's going be. It's possible for the Bills to succeed doing this, but it will be very difficult to do so year in and year out. Think MLB and you'll get the idea. Waiting for the Jerry Jones's, Dan Snyder's and Bob Kraft's of the world to think of the sport over their own team and wallet and you'll be waiting until the end of time, 'cause it ain't going to happen. All you Yankee fans out there now understand how the rest of MLB feels--ain't so much fun, is it? And some of those jokers wonder why MLB's ratings have been sinking like a stone for years. Not too much fun when your team has a snowballs chance in h*ll to make the playoffs, but some teams have an economic birthright to the postseason year in, year out.

I think this is what Marv means when he says he wants "character guys'. I've also read elsewhere that Ellison realizes he was a little light in the seat last year and wants to play this year at 230 instead of the 215-20 range folks had him in last year--hopefully it won't slow him down any. Articles like this make it easier to root for him. If Marv and Modrak can come up with a few more Ellison's, Pennington's and Kyle Williams' on Day Two this year, I think this team might have a decent future. Perhaps not this year, but I suspect that 2008 may be their real goal--if you look at our FAs coming up for renewal next year, you'll see that now that Willis is gone, we've really got everybody we need under contract into 2008.

.... and I must admit that I was in the camp that wanted us to draft him last year--what a bunch of Bunk! http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/200...GURATIVELY.html

Wow, Bubby Braxton--a real blast from the past. Led the way for OJ with the Electric Co. I heard that he died from brain cancer a number of years ago, may he RIP. You're right, he was a great FB and Buffalo Bill....

...that Marshawn Lynch will most likely go to the Bills with the 12th pick. Think he has inside info., or is he just being his usual clueless self?

I read somewhere recently (and apologies for not remembering where) where a sportswriter said that while he likes 99% of the players in the League that he has met, he said rather pointedly that he does not like Willis. Methinks that folks in the know realize that the guy's an a-hole and quotes like this just add fuel to that fire. Good luck in B'more, jerk....