JohnC

If you are so irritated with the Russell Wilson example then consider that Kaepernick was taken in the second round and has proved to be an exciting player.

As you noted many of the delusional "what if" critics don't want to accept the fact that the Levitre departure is simply an invevitable product of the cap system. Levitre and his agent were well aware of what his status was probably going to be on the market, and so did the Bills. That is why he wouldn't sign an early deal and give up his enticing free agent status. Levitre isn't a sentimental dope in a brutal business who would forgo his market value. The bottom line is that Levitre did what was right for himself and Nix did what was right for the franchise. Nix also did what he had to do with the Fitz situation. Keeping him at his current contract would have been a mistake. Fitz understandably acted in his own interest, as did Nix. I'm certainly not a fan of Buddy Nix. But he has acted very responsibly and smartly in the way he has handled his recent personnel transactions. If he comes up with a quality qp prospect in this year's draft I will be a little less harsh in my evaluation of him.

If they aren't there when it is your turn then you are still in position to select a quality player at another position. There are still good qb prospects who will be available in the second round. I wouldn't be adverse to trading down and getting more picks to address other needs. No one really knows how the draft will unfold. There are always major surprises with selections and trades.That's the nature of the draft. You have to be flexbile and have your options ready when your draft turn comes up. Did anyone really know how good Russell Wilson was going to be when he was selected in the third round? My point is that there are good prospects in this year's draft. You have to be open minded and not be afraid to make a mistake. If it doesn't work out then next year try again. If that doesn't work out then the following year try again. Sitting on your hands until you are in position to take the dream prospect is a foolish way to conduct business.

The attached link is a Joe B report on Barkley. The Bills have a good chance on being in position to select Geno Smith or Barkley when their turn comes up in the first round. Many people prefer waiting until next year to draft a qb from what they believe to be a better draft class. The problem with that thinking is that you don't know for sure that you will be in position to make that selection. In my view there are good prospects available this year: Barkley, Smith, Glennon, Wilson etc. Waiting another year is extending the period of time for futility for this fading franchise. Getting a legitimate franchise qb prospect on board will do a lot to energize this franchise and and its abused fanbase. http://audio.wgr550.com/a/72051045/3-14-joe-buscaglia-on-manny-lawson-matt-barkley-bills-needs-in-draft.htm

Buddy Nix is a what you see is what you get type of GM and person. He was a perplexing hire by an oddball owner. You are expecting too much for him to be creative and strategic in his approach to the job. He's simply a plodder who will never be nimble in action. His bragging about running up to the podium on draft day without fielding offers is a testament to his simplistic approach to his complex job. He is basically staying within himself. Where I see the loss of opportunities he sees the risk of doing things outside of his comfort zone. All you can ask of someone is to be who they are and act within themself. Has Brandonn surrounded Nix with handlers who guide him into making better decisions? I hope so. I'm sure it is a contrarion view but I see what he has recently done with recent player cuts and departures and I can't fault his decisions. Just because I'm not enamored by him doesn''t mean that everything he does is wrong. There is still plenty of time for this organization to use their new found cap space to acquire players who will more than compensate for the departed players. If we come out of this draft with a legitimate qb prospect and an overall solid draft then I will be more than satisfied. I'm not calling for him to be a brilliant tactician, I simply want him to be solid. For me that would be adequate. Moving forward with baby steps is certainly better than moving backwards.

Sometimes levity is lost when reading as opposed to listening to voice inflection. No slight is intended from me. You are one of the more insightful posters and I enjoy the exchanges, especially with their are differences. The state of affairs of the Bills is certainly attributed to their GM. No one can dispute that. The boss is the boss and should be held accountable. Where I again disagree with you is that you are suggesting that I am equating cap losses with moves. That is not the point of the salary dumps. The issue comes down to contract value and cap value. The Fitz move was inevitable and it was the right move. The Levitre move, as painful as it seems, in my estimation was the right move. I got the impression that both Levitre and Nix knew what the outcome was going to be. It was a question of waiting for the market to be officially open. The departures of Barnett, Wilson, Fitz and Kelsay (retirement) taken individually and collectively are the right moves from a production and contract standpoint. How the saved moneyis used is really the true test. There are good values on the secondary market that would not be available unless particular contracts were shed. As I have frequently stated there is no quick fix for this franchise. Free agency is still in a very early stage. Let's see how it plays out and not jump to conclusion about what has happened at this very early stage of the free agency market. You probably disagree with me but I do see a glimmer of more rationality in the way this front office is functioning. Time will tell if it is a mirage or not.

Your characterization that I stated that they are flawlessly executing a well considered plan is not only outrageously inaccurate but simply silly. The front office made the right decison regarding Fitz. You complain that they should have done it sooner. There was a reason why they waited to make the cut. They were attempting to rework the contract. He and his agent would not agree to the contract adjustment, so he was cut. That was the right move. I certainly would have liked to have kept Levitre. But not resigning him at the oversized contract he got with the Titans was not an unreasonable move. You might think so but I don't. At this point none of us knows who they are going to bring in to replace him. In the end the player who replaces him probably won't be as good as he was but the replacement might be a better value.

Are the Bills rebuilding? Yes. There is no magical quick fix for this misshaped roster. To put it mildly I'm not a Nix supporter. But since the Brandon takeover and the hiring of Marrone the roster is being adjusted with the shedding of the older players and poor value contracts. It is not being done in a dramatic fashion but it is being done in a steady and consistent manner. People who are automatically going into panic mode because the of torrid behavior of other teams won't notice that the Bills are reacting in a very responsible for a franchise in their position. Instead of jumping to conclusions that this franchise is falling off the clip after the first frenzied week of free agency just wait and see if this front office can bring in some quality players at good valued contracts. Let's wait and see what the Bills do in the draft. I'm far from being a homer that everything that this bedraggled organization does is right. I have criticized Nix as harshly as anyone on this board. But to be fair when this front office behaves in a responsible manner it should be acknowledged. From my perspective it isn't all gloom and doom. It's a long road to respectability but at least they are moving in the right direction.

If you are asking me to defend Nix you are very much mistakened. For a very long time I have vociferously challenged his fitness for the job. And for a very long time I have clearly stated that he is responsible for the state of the Bills. But let's be fair. The cap system is designed for player movement. The players aren't fools. If they believe that they can reach the market and have leverage they will understandably exercise that leverage for their benefit. More power to them. You have to put the Levitre free market situation in the context that Wood will be a free agent next year or the year after. Giving Levitre a golden contract could severely curtail their ability to sign Woods. You bring up the example that Baltimore is much more adept at handling their roster and cap issues. That is without a doubt. Comparing their GM, Ozzie Newsome, to our GM is like comparing a thoroughbred to a beaten down mule. It is what it is. My basic point in the prior post is that while there is a bitter chorus of lamentation over the recent player transactions I have found some encouragement that the Bills are functioning at a smarter level than they normally do. The worst thing that this front office could have done is to panic and force the issue with overpaying for a guard and keeping Fitz at his original contract. If the Bills rebound with some good value free agent pickups then I will be encouraged that this odd duck organization is functioning at a normal manner. Getting back to respectability is going to take time. Doing things the right way may not be sexy in the short run but in the long run it pays off.

There is a lot of desperate griping that the franchise is collapsing, especially with the beginning of free agency and the loss of Levitre and releasing of Fitz. But I see things a little differently. As you smartly noted this roster is steadily being shedded of the older players and poor value contracts. Kelsay, Wilson, Barnett and Fitz are an example of that process. The Levitre departure is simply an inevitable product of the cap system. No team is immune from losing good players to the market. Look at what is going on with the Ravens. When the more enticing upper tier free agent players are scooped up there is going to be a lot of solid free agent bargains that can be added to the roster. Without a doubt the Bills are very far away from being a serious contending team but the only way to get to that point is to function in a very smart way. So far I see that is happening. The worst thing that this organization can do is panic and go for the short term remedy. When you take that approach you are chasing fools gold. The essential ingredient to success is drafting well. That is the big challenge for this troubled franchise.

Nix has screwed up this franchise from a variety of fronts, starting with his drafts, inability to find a qb and with calibrating his contracts to the talent level. However, BN made the right decisions with respect to Levitre and Fitz. Of course I would have liked to have kept Levitre, but for us he was not worth the contract. BN was also right in his judgment with the Fitz situation. The qb was worth keeping at a reduced price but not at his current level. Fitz did what was right for himself and BN did what was right for the organization. Odds are that the Bills will not be players in the immediate free market rush. But that doesn't mean that a lot of good value deals can't be made in the secondary market when the premium free agents are scooped up. The Bills are in a rebuilding mode. As it stands we are not only the worst team in the division but we are sliding backwards while our divisional rivals move forward. There is no quick fix. All that you can wish for is that the organization start functioning in a rational way instead of the usual thoughtless way.

What are the odds that Nix drafts Tyler Wilson out of Arkansas in the second round? He is a qb I like a lot. He certainly fits the profile. From a SEC school and he has an accent .Maybe Jarvis Jones from Georgia in the first round and then Wilson. Staying within one's comfort zone and still being smart with your picks. LOL

Regardless of age he was ill-suited for the job. Flexibility and creativity were not part of his makeup. Ralph Wilson stayed within his comfort zone with the Nix hire. The results were very predictable.

Instead of hoping that the 73 yr. old GM has evolved into a more sophisticated and modern GM wouldn't it make more sense to install somene at the most critical position of an franchise who you already know has a more enlightened grasp of the position? Keeping Nix on the job is a testament to why this backwater franchise has struggled for so long.

There is a more important overriding issue in the poster's observation regarding Nix's southern bias: That is his draft record in general is very mediocre regardless from what region the players played in. I respectfully but strenuously disagree with your assessment that he signifcantly added talent to a roster that was devoid of talent. His record during his stint is 16-32. His team was nearly incapable of beating a team with a winning record. His drafts focused more on the defense with a net result that our defense was ranked near the bottom. Three years as a GM is a long enough period of time to fairly judge Nix's performance. He took over a franchise that was in shambles. He layed out a path to success that made sense. The bottom line is that he failed in the "execution" of his plan.

You don't judge a draft when it is made. You make your assessment over time when the drafted players have had an ample opportunity to exhibit their skills. Based on his draftees' performances on the field Nix is a failure who will continue to mire this team in the muck of mediocrity if allowed to continue on.

Bill, I'm not sure you know where I am coming from. The fundamental problem with this bizaare organization doesn't stem from individual player transactions. The fundamental problem is that weird Ralph Wilson hired incompetents to run his billion $$$$ business. He was nickle and diming his way in hiring mediocre front office people who regularly make milllion dollar decisons on players and their contracts. How much sense does that make? How much is a GM in the caliber of Ozzie Newsome or Polian or Colbert or Jerry Reese or Dimitroff worth? Compare how they run their organizations to this clown operation. There was llittle effort by the odd owner to go outside of his miniscule circle to hire quality people. The hiring of Levy as a GM was ludicrous. That was followed by putting his marketing specialist at the head of the football operation. Again ludicrous. Then that was followed by old country boy Nix who has proven to be just as clueless. Brandon has recently been anoited by the fading owner to preside over the franchise. I did have some hope that there would be a major change for the good. So what is the first thing he does? He inexplicably retains the same GM who has bungled his way through three years of getting nowhere. Another way at looking at it is that the same person who has screwed this franchise with his personnel judgments is the same person being counted on to get us out of the mess that he created. I want to correct you on my position on Dalton. I didn't covet him. Far from it. It is simply that I am fed up with bypassing qbs who are capable and staying with qbs on our roster who shouldn't even be in this league. Dalton is at best a solid qb. He is demonstrably better than the current erratic passer taking the snaps. Both Kaepernick and Russell Wilson, in my estimation, are capable of being dynamic players who Nix passed on for mediocre prospects. Let me also clarify my position on Spiller. He is a dynamic player who never should have been selected by the Bills. Nix should have traded down, accumulated more picks, and add more talent to a team lacking talent. This incompetent GM didn't even entertain offers. He was proud of the fact that he ran up to the podium without considering better offers. Expecting someone with such a simpleton approach to act in a more strategic manner is expecting too much. I've told you many times that the problem plaguing this franchise has little to do with the team and mostly to do with the organization. Until that issue is rectified the same cycle of foolishness will continue to repeat itself, over and over again!

The cap rules have changed with the new CBA. Teams will be required to spend up to 90% of the cap. So the issue becomes how do you apportion the money than how much you spend overall because the spending level is in general similar for all teams. Before you have to contend with the issue of spending a large amount of money on a franchise qb you have to have a legitimate franchise qb. Because of the importance of the position teams will spend a disproportionate amount of money for a top tier qb. It is absolutely essential for the success of a team. A team can have flaws on both sides of the ball and stll win if they have a high quality qb. The owner is out of the picture on how this franchise operates. I get the sense that Nix, Brandon and the coaching staff recognize the reality that has eluded this franchise for so long that you go nowhere without a good qb. I expect a qb to be drafted in the first or more likely second round of this draft.

As you demonstrated the "flippant" remark regarding the Pats is inaccurate. But my central point is that the Bills primary problem has more to do with player evaluations in general and with an owner's business model in which players who were drafted and filled positions (in this particular discussion CBs) were let go for mostly contract reasons rather than performance reasons. . That is a central factor in having to go back into the draft pool for the same position. I don't have the inclination and time to review the respective drafts of the Pats and Bills. Could you check to see how many DBs each team has drafted in the first two or three rounds over the past five years?

You are missing the point as to why the Bills have a tendency to over draft CBs. They have a tendency to draft them high and then release them often due to contract reasons. Clement, Winfield Whitner, Greer etc. were shuffled off not so much for talent reasons but primarily for $$$$$ reasons. In a cap system you can't keep all your quality players when they enter the market. The Bills to a greater extent than most teams had a business model that promoted this replacing of players with cheaper players This cycle of acquire and replace has hurt us in addressing other positions. I was very much in accord with the McKelvin signing because it allows the front office to focus on other positions in the draft and free agency.

The Bills draft CBs at a higher draft position than the Pats because we are a loser organization that drafts at a higher point than the winning Pats organization that drafts at a lower point in the draft.

For every medical denial of a player there is sometimes another medical opinion that will go against the cautionary opinion. I'm confident that if Miami had to do it over the organization would have gotten another opinion on Brees before they said no to the future HOF qb who definitely would have changed the fortune of that franchise. Who knows, if Brees was a Dolphin Nick Saban might still be coaching in the pro ranks?

As I stated in a prior post the team that drafts DBs more than any other team is the Pats. They are always searching for DBs. Next to the qb position it is arguably the toughest position to play, especially with the rules working against them. McKelvin is a special physical talent. Without a doubt he has his mental lapses. But in general he plays his man fairly well. It is well documented that his ball skills need work. But even acknowledging his liabilities the nature of his position is that CBs are going to be frequently beaten. The way the rules are applied if your CB can somewhat contain the receiver then he is doing a good job. I challenge anyone to review the playoff games in the NFC and AFC and the SB. The DBs were constantly getting beaten. If your CB can slow down the passing onslaught then he is doing a credible job playing an impossible position.

Bill, It makes no sense to blame the most talented player and most impactful player on the roster for the embarrassing record of this inept organization. The primary reason why the Bills consistently lose is because they don't have an authentic starting qb taking the snaps. I'm sure you are aware that a intriguing prospect (Kaepernick) was there for the taking in the second round two years ago. Nix preferred a big CB who appears to be too stiff for the position. I'm also sure that you are aware that another intriguing qb prospect was available (Russell Wilson) last year was also there for the taking instead of a "track" receiver who could have been had in a later round. You watch the Bills games as much as I do. The one person you can't blame for their mounting losses is the only player who regularly makes scintillating plays for this very lackluster team. The problem with the Bils under Nix has little to do with the positions he drafts; it has more to do with drafting too many players who are busts. It is the mounting draft failures moreso than the position emphasis that has sunk this franchise. I don't disagree with the central point that Nix is not only a failure in his evaluations of players but that he is clueless as to how to build a roster. The criticism I have with the Spiller critics is that he is the one person who is a success in a junkyard full of failures. If Jauron/Levy/Brandon/Nix were better at evaluating players regardless of position then other critical needs could have been addressed instead of going back and readdressing positions that should have already been solidified. It is ironic that you harshly criticize this goofy franchise for over drafting DBs while the most successful franchise in this generation, the Pats, is a franchise that freguently drafts DBs. In general it is the organizational dysfunction that has suffocated this franchise more than anything else. I'm hoping that now that the inept owner is not involved in the operation that this organization can heal to the point that it becomes a more normally run franchise.

Buddy Nix has had three full drafts. How many impact players has he drafted? I can think of only one player you can categorize as an impact player. That player is CJ. What should bother you more is not the player that Nix "hit" on but the rest of his body of work. His drafts have not transformed a mediocre team into a competitive team. It is fair to say that the roster is not much more advanced than when he took over. As it stands Spiller is the only big play player on the team. It is not a stretch to say that he is the best player on the roster. As effective as he has been if he had a credible qb he would be even more effective because the defense wouldn't have to stack up against the run. Would it have been smarter for Nix to draft for another position in the Spiller draft year? For sure a good argument can be made against taking a RB. But when you have a country GM who rarely drafts an exceptional player finally hits on that type of player then I'm going to direct my attention to his many misses and be satisfied with the rare player that he got right. The Lynch trade is an egregious example of many examples of how this bumbling organization operates. He was traded to the Seahawks for a fourth round pick after other teams claimed that they offered a higher pick for him. A generation of futility is the outcome of ineptitude piled on top of previous ineptitude.