Steely Dan

From Rotoworld; Antonio Cromartie-DB - Chargers Mar. 1 - 8:02 pm et Citing a league source, Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski reports that a trade sending Antonio Cromartie to Detroit is now "highly unlikely." It appears Detroit balked when San Diego asked for Maurice Morris. The Lions have reportedly "opted to move in a different direction." Though Morris is a replacement-level back, he is versed in OC Scott Linehan's scheme and showed the ability to perform at a high level in spot duty with 126 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against the Cardinals in Week 15 last year. Morris would also be the Lions' every-down back if the season started today. The Bills might be able to get the Lions pick by trading their first and ML to the Lions. The Lions could then give up Maurice Morris to help them get AC. That's the only way I can see this playing out. If Buffalo gives up a slew of DP's to the Lions I'll be really PO'd.

A player at a position of need. There's one in every crowd (this time meaning a good player) so let's bring in a crowd of NT's. (Note from the 2009 PFW Preview) Just before the combine last year he had surgery on his left meniscus. Hopefully that's why he's bounced around and he is healing or the Bills Dr.'s can make it right. They say he's a two down run stuffer. That's fine with me. If he can be solid in that role then more power to him. It could also hyper motivate him knowing that he has a really good chance of making the team due to a lack of NT talent. I'm 100% sure he's being brought in as camp fodder and I'm 98% sure he won't make the team but let's keep our fingers crossed. As BGIO pointed out the same thing was thought about FJ a few years ago.

I've never watched Dancing With The Stars but have come across it while flipping through the channels. Now that Ochodinko is on the show I'll make sure to find out when it's on, so I don't accidentally come across it while flipping the channels. BTW, It's called dancing with the stars and this is a list of people they consider stars? Also set to appear this season are Pamela Anderson, ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews, actress Shannen Doherty, actress Niecy Nash, actor Aiden Turner, reality-TV star Kate Gosselin, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, figure skater Evan Lysacek, Jake Pavelka of "The Bachelor" and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls

I think you should help Jack off this thread. Since you seem so concerned about it.

The Pro Football Weekly Draft Guide says that he's lazy and has bust potential. I don't like that, especially on a guy with the last name Williams.

I really think when people bring up race in things that aren't racist it just makes the cries of true racism seem petty. When racism is screamed so many times it becomes a boy who cried wolf situation. Everybody who disagrees with this administration is not racist. If Hillary had been elected there would be a lot of outcry from the right about her and it wouldn't be mostly sexist. + I hate to do this but I'm taking Wisconsin's side on this one. If this was the first thing he'd ever posted nobody would have a problem with it. I'm gonna give him a pass on this one. Ok, let me get this straight Wisc.. It seems your way of fighting back against being demonized for being a white Christian male is to tear apart any blacks who do offenses against whites?! This has nothing to do with you being a white Christian male. Jesus taught us to love each other, when somebody can't do that it doesn't matter if it's black on white, white on black, white on white or black on black, it's still evil. The reason white on black violence is made such a big deal of is many times it is racist. Have you heard any stories of whites being dragged behind a pickup truck until their head comes off? The history of white on black violence goes back to even before this countries founding. The numbers are far more skewed in the racist whites direction. If you are annoyed by being demonized for being a white male Christian then turn to your faith and learn to forgive. The threads you start with your agenda aren't helping your cause, they're hurting your cause. JMO

I realize the Bills won't be able to take him unless they trade back but I wish the Bills didn't have so many holes. This guy and Wood alone would make the Bills line fearsome! I hope the Bills can trade back and pick up a LT and him. I don't think Incognito plays C. I also don't think he'll be re-signed. If the Bills wanted him then they would have singed him by now. I don't think he has the discipline Chansaw expects from his players. I'd really like to see them give him another chance because he's a good player and should come cheap. I also don't believe Wood will get a chance to be the starting C this year due to his injury. I'm guessing that Hangartner keeps the C job for now. So a line of Iupati, Hangartner and Wood would be pretty cool. The knock on Levitre being a T is that his arms are too short. His best fit is inside.

Maybe he can find a job catching flies and liquefying them.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...+Top+Stories%29 Widely considered the top prospect at guard — NFLDraftScout.com, USA TODAY's scouting service, ranks Iupati the No. 15 player overall and the only guard projected to go in the first two rounds — he could also get a long look at the more valued left tackle position or even on defense. "I really love defense," Iupati, who played collegiately at Idaho, said Thursday at the scouting combine. "That's my favorite passion of the game of football. TOP 64 PROSPECTS: Iupati in top 15 players of NFL draft class "I always try to push my coach to make me a defensive player because I know I am pretty good at that." Iupati did play in the Vandals' defensive goal-line packages, but given his talent on the other side of the ball, the only position switch that seems likely is a shift away from his interior position. "I'm very quick setting up my left side," says Iupati (6-5, 331 pounds), who primarily played left guard in college and models his game after Minnesota Vikings all-pro Steve Hutchinson. But he worked at left tackle at the Senior Bowl last month. He's also received instruction from Jackie Slater, a Hall-of-Fame tackle for the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams for 20 years. "I need a little time with it and I know I'll be fine. You've got to give me time," Iupati says. I'm not saying the Bills should draft him but he's a very intriguing prospect. I don't see him on defense but his ability to play OT and OG are interesting. If the Bills think they can get him into the LT spot fairly quickly then I would say to take him. http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/draft/...ayers/9146.html Bottom line: Big, strong guards with good athleticism who block with intensity and passion are tough to find. Iupati must learn to be consistent with his technique but projects as a good NFL starter. Many say he can switch to tackle, but we feel he is best suited to stay at guard. He could be a solid NFL tackle but has the tools to be a Pro Bowl guard. http://www.sportingnews.com/college-footba...urning-heads-nf Mike Iupati, G, Idaho. With mammoth size (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) and a nasty disposition on the field, Iupati has been punishing defensive linemen in drills. Iupati could make good on his goal to be the first guard selected. "You've got to be physical to dominate," Iupati said. "I wanted to come here and showcase my athleticism, that I am worthy to be the No. 1 guard. I am very competitive." http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/20...entality-o-line Whichever team drafts Iupati — he's expected to go in the middle of the first round — will get a player with an easy-going demeanor off the field but with a nasty DNA on it. He smiled frequently and spoke softly during an interview at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday. But listen to his game plan. ___________________________________________________ Although he played left guard throughout his career at Idaho, Iupati was moved to right guard in the Senior Bowl. He even played some snaps at right tackle during practice. He believes versatility will only make him more valuable. That's one reason Iupati has been working out with Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Jackie Slater in Irvine, Calif. Slater has been focusing on Iupati's technique at left tackle — just in case an NFL team wants him to play there. "I think it's pretty good to be the best guard," Iupati said, " but being versatile will mean a great deal and hopefully move me up the draft boards. "Whatever team picks me, and wherever they want me to play, I will definitely give them 110 percent and be the best at that position." "When it comes to football, I like to destroy a lot of people," he said. "It's fun." His attitude reminds me of Eric Wood's. Another guy on the line like that would be killer! http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/01/2...sical-abilities Posted Jan. 27, 2010 @ 10:20 a.m. By Nolan Nawrocki Third in a series of player reports during Senior Bowl week. OG Mike Iupati Idaho senior Ht: 6-5 1/4 | Wt: 330 | 40-time: 5.3 (estimated) Upside: Excellent size with a thick build and long arms. Very good upper-body strength and base to anchor. Possesses outstanding playing strength — carries a load in his hands to jar defenders. Easily manhandles defenders when he gets his hands on them. Knocks defenders off-balance with a jab. Is rarely on the ground. Powerful drive blocker — consistently re-establishes the line of scrimmage, generates power and creates running lanes. Carries his weight very well and effortlessly ragdolls defenders. Very good awareness and peripheral vision — quickly locates second-level defenders and eliminates linebackers. Consistently blocks multiple defenders. Effective short-puller — does a nice job wrapping tightly. Downside: Too often reaches and grabs when trying to block on the second level. Footwork can use refinement — crosses his feet and cannot always recover from missteps. Can show better timing and patience and at times can be too aggressive and slip off blocks. Played in a mid-major conference. Shoulder surgery in 2008 warrants further examination. May have language barriers — moved from American Samoa and is still learning English as a second language. The way we see it: A big-boned, power player who makes it look easy, Iupati jumps off the screen and should dominate as a road-grading left guard for the next 10 years, with terrific arm length and athletic ability to play left or right tackle. Great attitude, physical skills, mental skills, what's not to like?

I'd go with the next Bruce. A strong defense will help a rookie QB that the team should probably take in the next draft. By keeping the games low scoring with a great D it keeps the pressure off a rookie QB. This is also a question that requires information on what positions are deepest in the draft.

Buddy Nix has said all that really matters to him is college film. The combine numbers are not something he cares too much about. You can see how a guy uses his strength on film. Leif Larsen has the record for lifts and he sucked. It's more important to see how a guy can use his strength. JMO Gerald McCoy is a 3 technique player. I believe the Bills interest is a smoke screen.

If you read my posts in that thread you'll see it was based on more than just a picture and anyway a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Anyone can look at that and see the guy doesn't take conditioning seriously. JMO Thanks, Rice is mentioned in one of the articles I linked. They point out that in hindsight he should have been the #1 pick.

I thought you'd be sleeping after a grueling couple of weeks in Vancouver.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/20...erwear-olympics The Underwear Olympics process has little or no relevance to the sport of football. As we've heard time and again over the years, a football player needs to be able to run 40 yards in a straight line only on one of two occasions -- when something very good has happened, and when something very bad has happened. And yet scouts continue to obsess over the Underwear Olympics, which provide tangible data regarding a transition process from college football to pro football that will be driven largely by intangibles like heart, desire, and the ability to take repeated shots to the chops from a grown man. Because there's no way to know whether a player who played well among college-caliber players will be able to thrive when competing against the best of the best that more than 120 universities had to offer over the course of a decade or longer, NFL teams rely on the Underwear Olympics to provide superficial justification for decisions that ultimately are made at a far more visceral level. Seasoned coaches and scouts develop a sense for separating the skilled players who genuinely love football from the guys who are pretending to love it in order to get paid, but if a mistake is made based on a hunch that isn't supported by hard evidence, seasoned coaches and scouts quickly become unemployed seasoned coaches and scouts.

Are you pregnant?

Why are you so worried about your wife seeing these. I'm assuming that's the problem.

I just can't see why you'd say that. Exactly, anyone who thinks the one eyed man is outnumbered is croaking smack!

Glad to hear some normalcy (in your life, not your noggin) is coming back for you.

Just give up. He can't understand the difference. I think it's really funny that somebody thinks a QB that can throw 50-60 yards has a weak arm. IMO, that's probably an average arm for a QB and anyway I have yet to see a credible source on that one.

Do you have a link for that?

I guess you could say he aint won jack yet.

(As always JMO) I think you're missing the point. If you look at his post he has the LT space empty meaning it needs to be filled. Bell or Meredith could play RT and the interior of the line is solid. The left tackle hopefully will be a stud at the #9 pick. All the Bills need to have a solid and maybe above average line is a LT. Wood, Levitre, Hangartner make a good interior and there is enough talent backing them up to have a solid guard unit. I doubt Incognito will be re-signed. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy Chansaw likes. If they do re-sign him then the guard depth is really good. Meredith was playing really well last year until he got hurt. In fact injuries were the biggest problem on the line last year. Bell had a lot of problems even when he was playing. If the guys who were injured come back healthy and the new S&C coaches can keep the injuries down then the Bills have a great interior and only need one competent LT. JMO

I believe what Nix is referring to is a players abilities. Some people think that such and such a player is too small or won't adjust to the NFL game. I don't believe that is the sole criteria for him, at least I hope not. I'm sure ability to get along with teammates and on field character mean a lot to him. If Nix believes the stories of Clausen being too arrogant for his own good he'll probably pass on him. I think his statement can be applied a lot better to Dan LeFevour.

Here's an article on Dez Bryant; Bryant is expected to be a first-round pick in April. Some draftniks have predicted that he will go in the top 10, although the consensus appears to be the top 15. Whoever takes him does so at their own peril. “I wouldn’t draft that kid unless I had someone to wake him up in the morning to get to meetings, someone to wake him up for practice and someone to wake him up for games,” one source said. A second source said Bryant’s reputation was earned because he was consistently late to team activities. That included showing up late for games. “We’re not just talking about being a little late for warmups, but like being late for the actual game,” a source said with a chuckle. “When you start to hear some of the stories of there, you go, ‘He did what?’ ” I believe when coaches refer to football character it's that kind of stuff they're referring to.

The Ralph is cheap myth will forever go on. When people examine the facts it's an easily debunked myth but a lot of people refuse to look at the facts. The only credible argument that can be made by the Ralph is cheap contingent is his coaching payrolls. However, he was willing to part with a lot of dough this year. Notice the Pets* are the 30th team on the list and Baltimore is 31st. Their payroll is less than 29 other teams in the league. There is a big difference between spending and spending well. It should also be noted that the Faders spend the most. Here's an article on it. It's from Buffalo rumblings. The article is from 2008 so the lag period mentioned should be over now. What it means for Buffalo I want to be clear when I say that cash to the cap in no way limits the Bills' ability to spend. This is a misconception spread by the uninformed Mortenson's and Clayton's of the world. Granted, there is a lag period where the Bills will be slightly more constrained that other teams. But that lag period is slight in Buffalo, since we have very few large contracts on the books from earlier years. The large contracts we have (Kelsay, Schobel, Dockery, Walker) were accounted for under cash to the cap. The lag period comes in because the Bills will still have contracts on the books under which portions of the signing bonus have been amortized. Once those contracts are cleared off the books and replaced by cash to the cap contracts, the Bills will have just as much freedom to spend, if not more. The greater ability to spend will come in with the flexibility to cut under-performing players without cap hits. The team can spend on par with other clubs under cash to the cap. A traditional NFL team may have, of a total available salary cap of $100 million, $25 million in deferred bonuses and $50 million in player salaries, leaving $25 million to spend. The Bills will have more total room because they would not have the deferred bonuses. Instead, the Bills would just have player salaries on the books. So the Bills would have $50 million in cap room. They have more room, but account for more of the contract up front. In this scenario, the free agents the Bills sign will eat up more of the cap room that they have to spend. Instead of deferring, the Bills absorb the hit. But because the Bills absorb the hit upfront, they will have more room the next year to spend. This system should leave the Bills in a position where they always have more room under the cap at the start of free agency, but a spending power approximately equal to one of the more free spending traditional teams. Read the rest at the link.