MattM

Certainly not the DUI. The punching of the cop in the face maybe--see a pattern here? This guy's done worse things than other folks who've actually been suspended (like Lynch, who had a traffic citation violation and a charge of carrying a gun (which I believe was registered to him) in his trunk), but will almost undoubtedly get off, largely based on who he plays for, much like guys like Vince Wilfork (4 fines in one season) have skated in the past....

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/05/patriots-alfonzo-dennard-released-after-35-days-in-jail/ Want to bet he gets no suspension from the League? Where's WEO? Remember our friendly disagreement on this a few weeks ago? Now that he's out of jail, let's see what happens. Remember that Marshawn got 3 games off for things that earned him 0 days in jail, while this guy got sentenced to 2 months in prison.

^^^^^ This--it also keeps us flexible to draft BPA overall, which is also a great thing. I personally really like this offseason's moves. Whaley really seems to get it. IMHO, if we upgrade via the draft at 2-3 of S, RT, LB and Abigail receiving threat (either TE or WR), with a RB taken in the mid to late rounds, we've had a great offseason....

We have bigger needs, post-FA, like S, RT, TE and a big WR.

One of the worst called games EVER. Wade pulled his team off the field in protest. The league should have immediately started a corruption investigation. Who knows, maybe that was the start of the Pats* seeming mind control of the refs....

Oh, what a sad day it is. Rest in peace, Mr. Wilson. I'm so sorry the team never won the Big One for you, but we all appreciate what you've done for WNY and the Bills....

I think that's correct--but they also had only 19k season ticket holders as late as 1991, I believe

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/15/afc-east-free-agency-update/ Look at this and tell me that we're the worst in FA in the AFCE. Byrd is really our only loss, year over year, and he only played 2/3rds of a season last year. I'd say we've actually done quite well, myself, although I'll wait to see it on the field before declaring this offseason a success....

You're comparing Lafell to Moss?! That's a laugher--don't believe me, just look up their stats! More like Reche Caldwell, if you ask me....

Someone's going to have to break the news to Brandon that since he's no longer a Cheat* he's now got to play by the normal League rules and can no longer expect special treatment from the refs, may as well be Schwartz, who I'm sure will not appreciate the 15 yarders his old play would draw. BTW, when's that Dennard suspension coming down? Maybe that's why Browner signed there, too--extra protection from the piss man!

I don't quite think that last part's accurate. I want him to play hard and tough, but not dirty, albeit that can be a tough line to determine at times. I also think Schwartz will need to sit him down and lay out for him the new "rules" as a Bill, in particular how things he got away with in NE* will draw flags and ejection in a Bills uni. I also worry a bit about his "free spirit" influence on Dareus, who already has trouble being on time to meetings. All that said, I do actually agree with you that this is a good signing--he fills an obvious need and gives us draft day flexibility.

The best part of this move and the other moves is that we're now pretty freed up to draft BPA in May--no real glaring holes. I'd say we could use an upgrade at RT, WR and S, with LG and LB a possibility, but filling at least 2-3 of those holes in the draft is possible, especially if Whaley can repeat last year's performance.

Spikes I'd wager

This-- I believe he's the rare bird that's both a PED offender (while Seattle led the League there the last few years as per PFT, the Cheats* weren't far behind, so this may put them over the top) and substance abuse offender. Maybe he figures joining the Cheats* gives him a better chance of not getting suspended in the future. Hey, it worked for Dennard, why not him?

BillsNation is with you in this fight, Jimbo....

Brandon Browner visiting the Cheats* as per PFT.

I'm still just pissed that he left and we got stones for him--in fact, his leaving might hamper our ability to sign some scrub for fear of losing our 2015 comp pick for him....

Agreed--and it probably only goes down from here, depending on market action and the use of cap space, here and around the League....

I haven't gotten my usual renewal package form OBD yet this year--anyone else, or did I just miss something? Perhaps they were waiting to set prices based on the Toronto deal news being reported elsewhere this morning?

Getting nothing for Byrd will just leave yet another hole to fill. Absolutely ridiculous that that they don't tag him if they can (as many here are saying) later drop the tag if he doesn't sign it. I'm sure there's someone out there that he'd like to play for, who will pony up decent money to sign him long term and who'd be willing to give up at least a 3rd round pick to get him, but that may just be me. If I was Whaley, I'd take that chance....

Gimmick or not, I'm personally glad RI is getting professional help--he pretty clearly has some mental health issues. I saw a commenter on PFT note that he had anger management issues while with the Bills. Personally, I don't recall that, but perhaps my memory is faulty. In any event, it looks to me like this was a case where two guys had mental health problems where one guy's (RI) issues massively exacerbated the other guy's issues.....

If we can get someone like Decoud, Ward or Delmas for $3-5m per year on the open market as well as a 2nd round pick for Byrd in a tag and trade it's a no brainer to tag and trade him. Instead of paying him the $8.7m tag or his asking price of $8-10m per year, we'd get a decent to above average safety in place of him as admittedly "elite", have enough money left over to get an average to above average LG and a high draft choice in a stocked draft. That, to me, is a no brainer--you can shore up 3 spots (or about 1/7th of your starters) for the next 3-4 years with one fell swoop. I'd take that trade all day long....

There was a WSJ article on this earlier this week--in particular what Brent Celek of the Eagles does in the offseason under Chip Kelly's new regime. Interesting stuff....

I'm not so sure about that.....

Sometimes kids who are being bullied think that the WORST thing that could happen is that their parents get involved--in their mind, that won't solve anything and will make the problem worse. And all of us who have been kids at one time or another have to admit that in some, perhaps even most, cases that's just what happens--Mom and Dad aren't there every moment with them to protect them and school yard retribution is swift and severe for getting parents involved. That's just the observances of a former kid from a semi-tough blue collar neighborhood--that's the way it would have worked where I grew up. Martin went to Harvard Westlake--probably the most exclusive prep school in LA--so his experience may have been different, but perhaps not. For all those who seem to be apologizing for Incognito, what do you make of his treatment of the Asian trainer? I'd say that alone might be enough to get the guy fired/cut. The trainer clearly didn't "enjoy" the attention and was too scared to even cooperate fully with the investigation--that fear was righteous, in that he's correct that being involved in something like this could (sadly) negatively affect his reputation and ability to do his job.....