BobbyC81

Also, if this team of "character guys" doesn't win many games.

I know this was voluntary for veteran players but I hope the five who didn't attend (Fletcher, McGahee, Price, B.Anderson & Vincent) had good excuses. You have a new head coach, new defensive coordinators plus a few new assistant coaches. The schemes, etc. have changed and these five don't bother to attend?? Fletcher is supposed to be a vocal leader of this team so what does his absence say?? He will have new things to learn with the new defense. Vincent is supposed to be a leader also, and he was re-elected as the NFLPA union president. He's a safety with a big responsibility in the new defense and he stays away?? Bennie Anderson got a nice contract as a free agent last year and then he stunk. He's getting a second chance to prove himself to a new head coach and he doesn't attend?? McGahee obviously still thinks he's the best RB in the NFL and doesn't need to spend time with his teammates learning a new offense. Working out with other ex-U of Miami players is all well and good but why couldn't he show to get started on learning the new offense and support his teammates?? I saved the best for last with Price. Sure his best days were as a Buffalo Bill. He got what most considered a ridiculous contract after playing lousy with Atlanta and Dallas. He has to learn a new offense, new QBs, new teammates and he decides to stay away?? He has a lot to prove, especially in justifying his contract. Word was he had matured. We shall see!!

So, did he give a reason why he wasn't at the recent mini-camp?? Sure it was voluntary but he was one of only 4 players not to show.

I was just thinking about this. I agree with the other posters. With what McGee has done as a KR, especially in 2004, unless someone like Parrish shows they can be a similar threat (in pre-season??), you have to leave McGee there. Of course we have to consider that Jauron is the head coach and will make that decision. I looked at the stats for the Bears when he was coach. In 2000, the leading kick returner was Glyn Milburn, who did little else. In 2001, their top kickoff returners were backup running backs Autry Denson (23 returns) and Leon Johnson (14 returns). That was the season where the Bears defense was very good (16 pts given up per game) so they didn't have a lot of kick returns. Jerry Azumah was on that team but had only 4 returns. In 2002, the top kick returner was a Ahmad Merritt, a backup receiver. Azumah had no returns. In 2003, the top kick returner was Azumah, and he was amongst the league leaders, plus had 2 KR TDs. So, for 3 of those years, non-starters were used. In 2003 it was Azumah, a starter at cornerback, so that doesn't give a definitive tendency by Jauron in the use of starters on kick returns. Next I took a look at the last 5 games of last season for Detroit, when Jauron was head coach. Eddie Drummond was the top kick returner for Detroit but he was injured and missed the games in Weeks 14 and 15. Starting cornerback RW McQuarters filled in for those 2 games. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the approach will be regarding the use of McGee..

Just based on film clips I've seen, I like that the Bills ended up with Whitner instead of Huff. A highlight clip was posted here a couple weeks before the draft and it showed him making mostly high tackles, most where he grabbed the player's pads to bring him down. Many comments followed on this board doubting Huff could continue to be successful with that style of tackling. During the draft, after Huff was selected, ESPN showed another clip which included the same type of tackles. A clip of Whitner showed some Lott-type hits that knocked the players on their arrses. I like the thought of Whitner patrolling the backfield with the potentital for those jarring hits. Huff may turn out to be a star player but right now I like the selection of Whitner for the Bills.

They just need something to complain about.

So much for his changed attitude. I for one was glad when he was traded. I got sick of his trash talking, which resulted in scuffles and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties too often.

Well, considering that the Titans still have Chris Brown plus they drafted LenDale White, Travis may be available soon.

Of course, why will the Bills' opponents be throwing the ball anyways??? It should be easy again to run the ball. And the Bills' offense won't do anything so the opponents will be ahead, running to use up the clock. But we'll have good DBs just in case they do decide to throw.

Interesting that he went to a small school like Morehouse College.

Marv was quoted in Bills Digest as saying he wouldn't draft a QB high in the first round because then the guy would be thought of as a "savior" putting too much pressure on him and just setting him up for failure.

More than likely it'll be the case that five years from now Leinart is a Pro Bowl QB for Arizona in a potent offense, Holcomb is out of the league, Losman and Nall are backup QBs on other teams, and the Bills' offense is still struggling.

Oh well, too much draft info for one day. I looked at the wrong list. I thought a list on Yahoo showed who had been drafted by position. I see he was taken by Cincy in the 3rd. Merry Lousy draft day to all And to all a freakin' goodnight!!

Time for the lyric writer's to do their stuff: Frostee the sackman.....

They need a better pass-rushing DE. They have just been getting by with a "solid playmaker" like Schobel. They need somebody that demands attention. Most of the better than average OTs neutralize Schobel.

Why do people keep saying this?? Remember they took Mike Williams with the 4th pick 4 years ago!! He may have turned out to be a bust so far but he was rated that high by all the mock drafts back then!!! The O-lin e was addressed but the p[latyer didn't pan out. How longhas it been since Jonas Jennings and Marcus Sullivan were taken. Jennings was good and they let him get away. He was injured again for SF this past year so maybe that was a good move?? I can keep going with more times "the offensive line was addressed" in the past 15 years. Remember the 1st round selection of John Fina??

Saw an ESPN interview with Steve Young, talking about the draft. He had some great insight on adapting to QB in the NFL. As he put it, "In college, everybody was open. In the NFL, nobody was open!!"

Going for the name draft?? Dusty Dvoracek. I like it! And Frostee playing in Buffalo just fits!!

Yeah, really. Saints did sign Michael Bennett but their offense struggled, even with McAllister and Brooks and Horn. I know Bush played all his home games on grass but I think him playing on turf could be even better. Remember what Barry Sanders did at home with Detroitin a dome on turf. With Bush's speed and moves, whoooeee!!

Kirwan'sMockDraftII Don't know if it's been posted before but some interesting info in Kirwan's recent MockDraft on NFL.com. 1) There's a RUMOR Raiders may trade up to #2 to get Young. That would, of course, still leave New Orleans ahead of us. One coach now thinks of Young more as a McNabb rather than a Michael Vick. 2) Ngata being downgraded by many teams. Kirwan has Bunkley for the Bills. 3) Most teams don't see more than about 20 players justifying 1st round labels. This could lead to more teams wanting to trade up. 4) Two players, one a clear-cut 1st round talent, have failed drug tests. This should lead to their dropping in the draft. Of course, RUMORS of Marino and drugs dropped him to the last pick of the 1st round in 1983. Anyone with known drug issues would likely NOT be considered by character-conscious Levy.

Oh, definitely. Remember that early on the New Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa (sort of) games were there for the taking but the offense was inept and had to settle for FGs (especially vs Atl). Best case, they could've started 6-0 going to Oakland. Realistically, I'd not include the Tampa game, so figure a 5-1 record after 6 games. That would've been great for the confidence of Losman and the whole team. Instead, the offense's struggles led to media criticism and Losman's benching.

Despite what some people on this board think, I can't see the Bills taking one of the top 3 who might be available at pick #8. If they surpisingly did take one of them, that sure wouldn't show much confidence in the Losman/Holcomb/Nall threesome. So, after Leinart, Cutler and Young are gone, and currently only 8 picks in this draft, it really doesn't make sense to draft a QB. They added Nall in free agency. Although he was a lower round pick by Green Bay, his expereince, even just in pre-season games and practice, is more valuable than what a rookie could bring. They also have Ochs in NFL Europe gaing valuable experience. They need to fill their real needs in this draft. Only ways I see a QB being drafted is that they do make a draft day trade or two and get more picks and/or they go with the best available player in the later rounds. That still could be considered a wasted pick. I'd rather take a flyer on a small school unknown at OL, TE, DE, DB, FB, etc. than use it on another QB.

Yes, if GB took Davis, SF would have to go in another direction and Huff is a possibility. I don't know that they'd pass on Hawk though. Ulbrich has done well for them at ILB but they played the 3-4 so Hawk could play the other ILB. He's too much of a talent to bypass. The local media is convinced the Raiders want Huff. It will be surprising for any of the consensus top 7 that fill the Bills' needs (Williams, Ferguson) or are the prime players at their position (Hawk, Davis) dropping to the Bills. So, it'll end up being their choice of Ngata, Bunkley, Justice or the trade down. So, I didn't go out on a limb!