BillsVet

I can't help but remember before the 07 season when according to Peter King, Ralph asked Dick and Marv if they could stop the run. Even RW knew how important it was. We all know they couldn't do it in 06, then followed it up in 07 with another dreadful performance. Buffalo is 20th against the run, and having played SEA, JAC, OAK, STL, ARI (who doesn't have a good ground game) SD, MIA, NE (with a 3rd stringer) that looks even worse.

Try telling that to Mr. Fancy Pants. He believes Guy and Guy alone talks to, and ultimately signs a free agent, regardless of what DJ thinks. Evidently no one else has responsibility when a UFA doesn't work out.

Do you believe then that John Guy has absolute player control in deciding to bring in a UFA or not? I think it's safe to assume that Guy, Brandon, and Jauron talk about whom to pursue and who not to.

The Bills will have to choose between Greer and McGee. With McKelvin getting mid first round money, it's not an option to keep three guys at high money. It's a guess, but Greer will probably get 5+ years and 30M total. That's something Buffalo can't afford. I think Buffalo lets Greer leave in FA after the season and eventually McKelvin will become the starter. Youboty and Corner will fight for the nickel slot.

On draft day and in free agency, I've never felt the Bills front office was ahead of the curve or savvy enough to make the right moves. Moving up in the draft, as many have pointed out, should only be done when a team needs another player and is already a good team. If the Bills were interested in trading up to get Hardy, it demonstrates once again that they lock on to one guy and will pay any price to get him. Drafting Whitner in 06 was the first example for this front office. Nevermind Whitner wasn't the player they needed, but they didn't even consider trading down. Even though it would have resulted in more picks. Parcells makes a point of stockpiling picks, and he's had good success because more options with a good GM result in a better chance of success. We talk frequently about DJ's poor gameday decisions. If DJ truly guided Marv on draft day 06, it makes perfect sense that Buffalo sat tight, took their guy, and made the conservative decision. IMO, if the front office doesn't add a proven NFL type, this team will remain stuck in mediocrity for years to come. And I'm tired of it.

You just can't criticize Marv with some people. He's reached sainthood because he was HC during the glory years. But his hiring as GM was not the right long term move. It was strictly a PR thing that Ralph figured would get fans into the seats and help them forget TD. After three drafts, three free agency periods, and 43 games, this team isn't much better than the one that hit the field in early 2006. They can't beat good teams, and are staring nine consecutive seasons without the playoffs dead in the face. Any team's first priority should be winning their division. While Buffalo was promoting Guy, Modrak, Overdorf, and Brandon, Miami hired Parcells, the Jets made big but good moves with Jenkins and Favre. Even NE has recovered somewhat when Brady went down. Their combination of Pioli and Belichick is very strong. Buffalo has the weakest front office in the AFC East, and the result is consistently underwhelming. Those moves you outlined are the ones that drag a franchise down. Cynical is right, the hiring of DJ should trump any other move though.

They were low priced depth acquisitions. The others like Tripplett, P. Price, Fowler, and Royal were not intended to be that, and two of those guys are out of the NFL, one cannot start anymore, and Royal is what he is-a blocking TE.

How about the other 2006 UFAs: Larry Tripplett (5 yrs 18.5M) Melvin Fowler (3 yrs 7M) Tutan Reyes (2 yrs 5M) Matt Bowen, Kiwaukee Thomas, Anthony Thomas, Andre Davis, and Craig Nall. I sincerely believe that DJ guided Marv more than many around here realize. Because Marv had only recently re-entered the NFL after nine seasons away, he had to have relied on DJ. Dawgg, I agree that Edwards will become a solid if not excellent starting NFL QB. But whiffing in the 2006 FA, overpaying Dockery, Walker, Kelsay, and Schobel will hamstring this organization for a long time.

That ship sailed long ago when, IMO, Ralph told Russ and Dick to IR him and prove a point. Crowell didn't handle that situation well, but Buffalo went nuclear. It's just more proof that Ralph still dictates more than we think and handcuffs his HC and whomever is handling the GM role. It's moves like these which defy logic and create an atmosphere in which no strong HC or GM candidate would want to work.

Brandon is not a guy with a history of evaluating and scouting players. He cut his teeth handling the business and marketing end of things since he arrived in 1998. I'd say he did quite well, considering the team hasn't been strong and they've continued to sell plenty of tickets. But he's not an guy I'd want guiding the football operations of a NFL team. The greater question is why when the Jets had Mike Tannenbaum, Miami with Parcells, and NE with Scott Pioli that Buffalo felt the need not to have someone well-versed in handling players and scouting talent.

I can understand that. I can also understand that letting that sort of thing out to the fanbase would absolutely kill support for the franchise. If the Bills are holding back in pursuing success for fear of not being able to sell to a local group, then that's an issue. The games may still be selling out, but I think fans are seeing through the smoke Buffalo tries to sell as a winning team each year. I would hope the front office isn't upset next year when the season ticket base isn't as high. You have to wonder when the bubble will burst and fans start demanding a winning team though.

8 years ago, Ralph handed control over all football operations to TD. Ultimately, it didn't result in success, but demonstrates that Ralph finally discovered that he alone cannot get this team to respectability. Should this season get worse, I would hope he isn't gun-shy about doing it again. TD's failures should not prevent Ralph from finding another qualified GM type from outside the organization to run things again. I agree that Holmgren would want plenty of power and money, but we're seeing that you can't put a price on someone to come in and revamp losing franchises. Both Atlanta and Miami have gone from being at the top of the NFL Draft to being on the verge of a playoff season in one year. Their new GM's are clearly the difference, in that they found good HC's and drafted the right players. Ask Arthur Blank and Wayne Huizenga if hiring Dimitrioff and Parcells was worth it now. At this point, if there isn't enough money to find a proven NFL winner to run the front office, then perhaps we need to re-evaluate if this franchise is serious about becoming a winner. Potentially going nine straight seasons without a playoff team in the salary cap era is absurd.

I don't think enough Bills fans realize how much control DJ has in personnel. Modrak and Guy gather information from various sources, but who is there in the front office to check DJ? I'm not sure there is another person that can do it. IMO, Holmgren's season started sliding downhill when they were hit with the injury bug early. People around here started giving Buffalo a pass in 07 when three main contributors (Denney, Simpson, and Posluszny) went down. To make this evaluation fair, if Holmgren gets universal blame for Seattle's poor showing this year, then DJ deserves it for last season. I would welcome Holmgren to Buffalo, but it's not happening. He'll leave for a season and become the next Parcells, as in a guy who is brought in to re-do an entire franchise. It's precisely what Buffalo needs right now.

Look, it doesn't say they can't re-sign him to an extension. All your PFT link says is they can't slap the tag on him a second straight season. And let's keep in mind that Mike Florio once reported that Terry Bradshaw had died. Tennessee has loads of cap room, and will give him 10M+ a season to keep him. The cap will rise to about 123M next season and I can't imagine Bud Adams going cheap with his best player. Would you?

Well, if they value a side of the ball which is on the field no more than 10 percent of the time over depth on defense, so be it. Last I checked they're back to playing backup safeties at LB. How many teams do that year in and year out? Stamer and Haggan were both 240 plus anyway.

It's funny to talk about options at the DT position. The Bills have spent 3 off-season trying to fix that spot, and it seems like no matter what Brandon, Guy, and Jauron do nothing works. First it was Larry Tripplett who was an epic flop. Kyle Williams isn't the part of the solution. McCargo is a bust. They traded for Stroud who seems like he's still a fine player. I don't see much from Spencer Johnson either. Haynesworth is a pipe dream, and the key to Tennessee's defense. The Titans will not allow him to leave. If they did, Tennessee would begin the long search to find someone to replace him. Some teams have playmakers and some do not. Those that have them usually go to the playoffs.

Amen. Last year Coy Wire was forced to play LB. This year's safety turned LB is Bryan Scott. You have to wonder who's doing quality control on the roster they put together. Granted there were injuries to DiGiorgio, Buggs, and Bowen, but none of those guys were in a position to be starting OLB's this year. And furthermore, none of them weigh more than 225 pounds. After Posluszny, Crowell, and Mitchell I don't think Buffalo had another spot starter LB on the roster. C2C is a nice accounting term, but it limits the amount which can be spent on depth players. The result since it's been implemented is razor thin depth. At this point, I don't think there's anything on the street free agent market because this is a problem which should have been resolved back in March.

I think everyone knows now the value of a consistent pass rush. Teams that have one generally win games, and those that don't have secondaries that get picked apart. I also suspect his salary brings so the criticism, much like Vanek did in Buffalo. Both teams are smaller markets, and their fan base isn't big city who cares how much they make type fans. Carolina is 8-3 and in a good position to win the NFC South. Even though their impression of him isn't the same, I think the Panthers know it's a buyer's market and get a decent amount for him. I wouldn't give him the contract he's going to get, but tell that to a team with no pass rush and nothing to show for in the past few season. There are some teams out there with money burning a hole in their collective pocket. And I don't see Buffalo making that move.

Allowing excellent players like Peppers to hit the UFA market is not the way to build a team. Besides, who drafts players that excel and then allows them to leave in UFA after their initial contract? Well, outside of Buffalo. Peppers has come on this year, after a poor 2007 season. I suspect Carolina knows there are teams who would love him. So they'll franchise him and then trade him for something. He's not hitting the open market, much like Corey Williams didn't last year with Green Bay. If you're a team with plenty of cap room like KC, wouldn't you make that deal? IIRC correctly, Carolina re-signed Travelle Wharton and franchised Jordan Gross. They also drafted Jeff Otah, and I'm sure he can handle the RT spot. So re-signing Gross isn't a huge thing, and Gamble, well CB's aren't impossible to replace like franchise DE's.

It's very unlikely Buffalo gets Peppers for a couple reasons. 1. He will be re-signed or at the least franchised by Carolina. 2. He'll seek a long term contract (5-7 yrs) of 10M+ per season if he hits the market. That sort of cap hit doesn't lend itself to Buffalo's overall strategy. 3. The Bills have spent a bunch of money already on DE's. Schobel's deal has 6 more seasons, and Kelsay has two more after this year. The total for those two alone is already 74M. I can't see the Bills, even with a huge need at DE, spending more at one position than what they already have. 4. I think Buffalo re-signs Fred Jackson (UFA after season) and then McGee and Reed (UFA after 09) before making big moves on the UFA market. Reality says the Bills are hurting for a proven pass rusher, and Peppers would probably be the best one available if an UFA. We don't know what the cap will be in 09, but it'll probably be around 120M. Buffalo has about 20-22M in cap room right now, but we won't know for awhile how much for next season.

Part of the reason Deangelo Hall was waived was to clear room for Asomugha. I think they'll shovel some cash at him, because he's the most dominant CB in the game. At least according to Mike Shanahan. It's so early, but if Alex Mack is on the board and Buffalo goes LB in the 15-20 pick range, I have a problem with the team's vision. Buffalo has used a host of picks on defense, and thrown big money at their OL problems. The current OL (minus Preston) has played 25 games together, and I'm not seeing much besides Peters and perhaps Butler. Coincidentally, both were groomed in the Bills system. Of the 6 picks in either the first or second of DJ run drafts, they've used 3 1sts, a 2nd, and two thirds on defense. Not to mention the trade for Stroud, signing Spencer Johnson and Kawika Mitchell. It's time to draft OL early. I wouldn't have a problem with a pass rusher, but OL ought to be the priority. The question fans should ask is where is this team going. This season it'll be tough to make it into the post-season but if we're just going to throw money at the OL and cross our fingers, there isn't a veritable plan. Actually, it's not a lot different than what Donahoe did, just with more dollars.

Didn't say he will be tagged. Just can't see Tennessee letting him go. He's one of, if not the most dominant DT in the NFL.

Haynesworth along with Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Kurt Warner, Brandon Jacobs, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Nnamdi Asomugha won't hit the UFA market. Karlos Dansby, Jonathan Vilma, Bertrand Berry, Jordan Gross, Stacy Andrews, and Matt Birk probably won't either. UFA is increasingly becoming less of an option for quality players with the salary cap rising so much each year.

Last year Anthony "Slow-Train" Thomas played over Fred Jackson. Even when everyone knew he was way past his prime, the coaching staff insisted on keeping Jackson off the field. It's all about being super conservative. Go with the guy who has experience versus the up and coming player. I don't think DJ has ever taken a chance when it's not absolutely necessary. Greer didn't play last year until Jason Webster's inevitable injury occurred. This is not just a 2008 thing with DJ.

Jim, you may as well be talking to the wall. There are those who believe all NFL franchises operate just like Buffalo. What they don't realize is most franchises don't have a meddling owner, replete with no GM or GM type guiding the personnel side of the football team. We're left with a business/marketing guy who by all accounts is good in that position, but lacks experience in football ops. Agree that Polian's departure was the epic move which has prevented this team from moving forward. They never replaced him, and now we don't even have a GM.