MDH

I dislike him because I saw what he was capable of in his first season as a starter in Buffalo. That year he changed his college style and became a power back (and a good one at that). Once his knee was healthier he reverted back to his college form and lacked the quickness/speed to be successfull with it. The frusterating thing is that he could be a very good back if he's just realize the type of back he is.

I like the Nick Harper part of you scenario.

Personally, the reason(s) don't concern me. He's an average runner and below average in all other aspects of his game. That type of production is all that matters to me. He's not worth the cash to re-sign him and I'd rather the Bills get something for him now as opposed to nothing next year.

I'd be more annoyed about losing him if after he leaves Buffalo he stops trying to run like he did pre-injury and decides to play like the power runner he is (like he did in his first year playing with the Bills). He could have been a very good power back if he contiuned to play with grit and looked to plow over people instead of dancing around them.

The problem is when they do actually hit a skill position pick they let them move on after their first contract. This just compounds the problem further. They use draft picks for skill positions and then when they don't work out they use another pick on the same position. If it does work out, they let them walk...and use another pick on the same position. Obviously I'm not blaming Marv for all of this but it's just how the recent past has gone for the Bills and it's got to stop at some point if the Bills wish to be successfull. If I'm not mistaken (and I may be) the last 1st round pick the Bills chose AND signed to a second contract was Eric Moulds. That draft pick was made when Marv was still the HC of the Bills.

I didn't mention DBs anywhere in my post, I'm strictly speaking of how the Bills have used their picks in the past 5 drafts. I guess you LIKE using multiple first round picks on RBs & QBs within a 5 year span? That being said you could include DBs as well. Good teams are usually built from the inside out. Drafting "skill" positions year after year with your first round picks get you where the Lions and Cardinals are. A lot of talent...and very few victories.

About a month ago I read/heard something from Rosenhous where he stated that the Bills and Willis were working on an extension. Then a few weeks later we see that the Bills are looking to move him. Putting two and two together here I'd guess that Willis was asking more than the Bills thought he was worth and decided to get something for him now instead of letting him walk next year for nothing or paying more than they would like for an average back. Willis isn't a bad runner but he won't be difficult to replace.

Since he was born and his father gave him the last name "McGahee"?

Don't forget his horrid blitz pickups and below average hands.

If the Bills can manage a second round pick out of Willis that wouldn't be "peanuts" for an average runner who won't be with the Bills more than 1 more year. That's called good value actually. I do have my doubts whether they can actually get a 2nd though. The reason to hold onto McGahee is that you think he hasn't reached his potential yet. If that's the case you lock him up to a long term contract. Otherwise, you get what you can for him now and move on.

That could be, perhaps, because the Jets aren't very good at stopping the run. In 2005 they allowed 136 yards per game on the ground and in 2006 they allowed 130 yards per game. Those aren't good numbers.

They had first round RBs because those are luxury picks. Teams that have all the other pieces in place can make those kinds of picks (just like the Pats can too). The Bills aren't such a team. You'll also notice that those teams haven't used multiple first round picks on RBs in recent years.

Why doesn't this apply to Willis?

If the Bills draft a RB in round one I think my head will explode. If they do, it will mean that in the last 5 years the Bills have used four #1 picks on QBs and RBs. Add to that two other drafts in which their first selection was a WR (Evans and Perrish) and you start to understand why this team can't make the playoffs.

Subtract .1 off the ypc and those numbers will get you drafted #2 overall, with pundits screaming you should have gone #1!

If the Bills have no intention of keeping Willis past this year (which it appears they don't) I'd much rather take a low 2nd round pick now than to get absolutely nothing for him next year. One year of Willis does not equal more than a 2nd round pick. Having Willis on this team, as opposed to another RB, is not going to equal playoffs next year. Willis is an average runner, a below average blocker and a below average receiver. Hell, I'd be surprised if Marv could get a 2 for him.

Alright, so let's just put this into perspective. 3 years ago, the Bills draft McGahee in the 1st round despite the fact that they already have a solid #1RB in Travis Henry and despite the fact that McGahhee is coming off a horrible knee injury. A year later the Bills move Henry to the Titans where, this last year, he emerges as their go to guy after Brown goes down to an injury. Henry put up better rushing numbers last year than Brown ever has (and also put up more attempts than Brown ever has in a single season). Now, it appears, that the Bills will move McGahee someplace and replace him with Brown. So according to the Bills moves the past few seasons....McGahee>Henry>Brown>McGahee As you can see from the above, McGahee is greater than McGahee. We have a moebius strip of running backs. And no, I’m not criticizing Marv for this move, just the totality of moves that the Bills have made regarding the RB position in the past few years.

And both he and Rhodes have been known to cough the ball up on a regular basis during their careers. Both average a fumble, roughly, once every 50 touches (runs and receps). Obviously those aren't all lost, but averaging a fumble every other game isn't a good thing.

Yeah, having an injury that keeps you out of 8 games in one season is really "injury prone". He missed 4 games in 4 seasons before last year. The guy does not have injury issues.

He's had one season where he struggled with injuries. During his career he's played in 16, 13, 15, 16 and 8 games. That's not bad for a workhorse #1 RB.

They've been upable to come up with those stops for 8 years now, even when the D was ranked #1 or 2 in the league.

People are seriously overestimating Spikes trade value. Given the fact that he played poorly most of last year I'd guess that nobody will want to pay him the 4M he's due next year much less give up anything for him.

By that same token you don't know if the OL will be better or worse. It's called an educated guess, sure I don't know[/i ]but it's a reasonable projection. Just like projecting that the OL will be better is reasonable.

Somebody pin this thread. HD just questioned a move by the Pats front office!