Paup 1995MVP

It doesn't look like it would even make it into and out of the parking lot. Does he have the original tires on it?

Al Wilson was a monster in the middle when healthy. We could definitely use him if he is healthy. But he really messed up his neck while either blocking or covering on a punt in a late season Sunday night game last year against Seattle. He was carted off on a stretcher strapped to the headboard. I very much doubt he is going to play much again if at all. He probably has an injury similar to what ended Chris Spielman's career here in Buffalo. I think middle linebacker could be the most violent position in the game.

I see no way that Buffalo comes out of the upcoming draft without a topnotch running back that can play. Either AJ will be reasonable and we make a trade sometime in the next two weeks or on draft day for Michael Turner, or we will draft at least one running back who will be a major part of the offense. I believe the Bills are very interested in Michael Turner, but will only trade for him if the price is right. AJ Smith is a weird cat. He is good at bringing in talent as shown by San Diego's recent record. However, I do not think he fosters the best environment between coaches, players and management with his brusque style. (suspending Antonio Gates for 2005 opener, power struggle with Marty, losing all of his assistant coaches, letting Drew Brees go ) It will be very interesting how the Michael Turner situation ends up playing out.

Given that we need a lot of help at LB and RB, and some help at CB, DT, TE and WR, (we have lots of holes to fill) if trading up to 6 costs us a second and a third, and switching places with our first round pick, that seems like a lot. With many needs I think we are better off stockpiling as many first day picks to bring in as much talent as possible. Trading down instead of up could bring us two studs in the first round.

Crowell has some range, but he doesn't move nearly as well as Patrick Willis. If we take Patrick Willis, we need to play him at his natural position which is MLB. Everyone talks about the cover 2 defense like it is the most complicated thing in the world. Willis has played a lot of football in his life. I am sure he will pick up the basics of the defense to understand it enough to the point where his football instincts (which are abundant) will take over. Marv and Dick have said they want linebackers who will attack the line of scrimmage. Patrick Willis is EXACTLY THAT!! If he is there at 12, we have to take him.

I never hated Bledsoe, but his time in Buffalo was very dissapppointing. He just never made many plays. I can think of several games especially on the road (Kansas City on a Sunday night, Dallas) that he was just god awful. He also never accepted the blame for the offenses poor performance. I was so happy when we let him go. It is laughable to even mention his name in the same breath with "hall of fame".

Man, I agree. This is a great opener for the Bills. Denver coming in with a youngster at QB. The key will be to stop Travis. We do that and the game is ours. 31-10.

I was thinking along those lines as well. Denver with a young QB coming into the Ralph for the opener. I love our chances in that one. Pittsburg is so not dominating anymore. NE on the road will be a dogfight. Than home against Jets and Boys', I love our chances to start out hot. But, the run defense will have to be tough. We open against Travis Henry. Remember last Christmas Eve. And Willie Parker, week 2. He got his first start against us the last game of 2004. (Very bad memory) Looking at the early schedule, if we can find some run defense, we can get off to a great start. Does that change the coaches thinking on who we draft early? Branch, Okoye... Only 151 days until the opener!!!

I think players go where they have a chance to play and make some good bucks. They also want to play for a solid organization from the owner down to the coaching staff and of course in a city where football is king. I think that the only free agent that the current organization did not get that they really wanted was Ryan Pickett last year. Of course, Pickett played for a Packer team whose defense was no better than ours. So no, I do not think what any analyst says about a teams upcoming season has any play on whether they will choose that team. The players' agents and other players around the league keep them in the know as to what organizations have it going on. Don't give these TALKING HEADS so much credit for what they are saying.

I have thought about it, and it is time that you and everyone else who feels that the national media has it in for the Bills to just give it a rest. Does it really matter what guys like Mort say about the Bills? That has absolutely no bearing on where free agents go. Dockery and Walker had absolutely no problem signing with the Bills on the first day of free agency. Remember that we have not been to the playoffs this DECADE. How much accolades do we really deserve? ESPN loves a few teams each year that are playing really well. They are all fired up about the Colts, Patriots, Chargers and probably the Bears, Seahawks, and of course the Cowboys. You didn't hear much positive about the Steelers by the middle of last season. Why, because they were playing terrible. You watch, if we get off to a fast start everyone will be praising us. To the casual fan, and the networks that do not go in depth on each team (ESPN), losing all of our name players (Spikes, Clements, McGahee, Fletcher)makes it look like we are gutting the team. But we all know better. The guys we let go were never going to lead us anywhere. Enjoy the draft, and watch Marv and Dick mold this collection of individuals into a very talented TEAM.

Bottom line is this. If we really want Turner which I believe is where Marv is heading. We offer the 3rd and 7th we received from Baltimore. If that doesn't get it done, than we offer this years 2nd. I don't think any other team will offer more than yet. With a 2nd AJ will cave. We draft Willis first round if he is there at 12, and now we have our stud middle LB and our stud RB. We can use our two thirds to draft CB, RG, WR,or TE. If Willis is gone when we are set to pick at 12, we try and trade down a bit to pick up another 2 or 3 and we draft Poz. We have Turner at RB and than we have many options with our other 3 first day picks. How many of you would be very happy with this scenario?

I totally agree. I think it is a big waste to draft CB's he in the draft because regardless of how good they were in college or how high they get drafted, they are always going to be picked on as rookies by more experienced wide receivers and quarterbacks. Jabari Greer is an undrafted free agent, so was Rashad Baker, and Jim Leonhard. Was Kiewaukee Thomas drafted when he came in the league? Terrence McGee was a 4th round pick. It does not matter where DB's are drafted, they all need seasoning. We need to concentrate on drafting the "Big Uglies" as Keith Jackson used to say. If we are solid in the trenches on both sides of the ball, we will have a very good year.

He became a two down linebacker as well last year. He came out on any passing down because he lost the speed to cover anyone downfield. I thought it was quite sad watching how much time he spent on the sideline. The Bills made the right move in trading him. I can see him being nicked up for the rest of his career.

Nice to hear that. If we can get him for no more than our 2nd round pick, I am all for trying to make the deal.. We need guys who have big play potential everywhere on offense. It is that simple..

I do not understand why the Cowboys even want to trade Julius Jones. The guy has some moves and a burst. I think he would make a nice compliment to the A-Train. I would give up our second 3rd round pick for him. It is interesting how teams all of a sudden get disenchanted with players, and the next thing you know they are on the trading block. Julius Jones had several big games for the Boys. All of a sudden with a new coach, the guy is on the block. The Bills should make a play for him, and I bet he comes cheaper than Turner. Besides, is there any GM in the league who is more of a dick than AJ? I just can't stand the guy!! If he wants to play hardball, let him get nothing for Turner after this season. The guy was brilliant in suspending Gates for a game two years ago which cost them a playoff spot.

Looking at the numbers (or lack there of) that the offense put up last year, I hope we draft a big time receiver to pair with Lee Evans. Peerless Price brings next to nothing as a number 2 receiver. He scares nobody. Our receiving corp as a whole has got to be the least physically imposing group in the league. We have a star in the making at QB. Give him some weapons. I do not understand why receiver gets so little attention when it is so integral to our teams success. The proof is in the numbers. How many times last year did JP drop back to pass and had nowhere to go with the ball?

I do not think that the type of contract that Turner will want will be the sticking point in whether we get him or not. If the Bills really want Turner, money is not going to be the deciding factor. Compensation to the Chargers will be the primary issue. Lets stop thinking cheap. Number one running backs in the NFL get fairly large contracts. It is a fact of life. I think the Bills understand that. For all the talk about "cash to cap" the Bills want to win. If Turner is there best option, given the other needs that they have, the money will not be a problem. And there will still be money to sign Lee and JP to long term extensions in the future.

If Willis is there at 12, that will be pretty difficult to pass up. But, I have a feeling he will be gone. I can't believe that Minnesota or Miami will pass on Brady Quinn. Minnesota thinks they are going to win with Tavaras Jackson? Thats a joke. And who does Miami plan on starting? Wow. Having watched Leon Hall for 4 years at Michigan, he is good, but just not that dominant. I believe that CB's are overvalued coming out of college. None of them are going to be shutdown corners right away so why take them so high? Does anyone think we take Okoye at 12 given the trade for D. Walker if Willis is not still on the board? Or are we going LB all the way? With Marv who really knows.

Why is a rookie running back that we draft in say the second or third round going to be better than Michael Turner, who has already shown he has a lot of ability (albeit in limited action)? You contradict yourself when you say "we have lost too many starters, and we only have our draft left to fill holes. Bringing in Turner would fill a big hole. We can do two things, wait until the draft and see if A-Pete falls to us, which is somewhat doubtful. If he does not we can try and make some type of reasonable trade for Turner. But if the Bills think Michael Turner is the man, I am all for making the deal now if the price is right. You have to hand it to Marv for trying it to improve the team at every turn. I do agree that the Titans were very stupid in letting Travis get away. However, he was owed a large bonus at the beginning of March. Some astronomical amount of 8 mill or so. They still could have renegotiated him a fair deal though. They also lost there top two receivers from last year-Bennett and Wade. We will see what King Vince will do with his new supporting cast.

Understand that our run defense will not be great. It doesn't have to be. It just has to be decent for the team to succeed. Remember this will be year two in the same system so there has to be some degree of improvement based on the familiarity with the system both by the players and the coaches. And adding Walker means we will not have to play Tim Anderson which is a big boost in and of itself. If McCargo can stay healthy and Triplett plays like he did with Indy, our D-line can be above average against the run. In addition, our linebacking will hopefully be better against the run as well. And don't forget that if the offense puts more points on the board, it will force the opposing teams offense to throw the ball more since they will hopefully be playing from behind a whole lot more.

Everyone talks like these four guys were surefire hall of famers. Were there names Thurman, Andre, Kelly, and Bruce? Of course not. Willis was average at best, but never seemed to care. Takeo had two very good years, but still was no Derrick Brooks or any better than Darryl Talley or Biscuit were for a much longer period of time. London was an above average middle linebacker, who became average the past couple of years. And Nate had his strong moments, but was beaten on many occasions. We never went to the playoffs with any of them. They are in the past. Marv knew we were never going to get better with any of them but Nate, and his price was ridiculous for a cover 2 corner. Bottom line, they were not WINNERS. They were missing that something called "it". It is time for new leaders, and the entire organization knows that. Let them rest in peace.

I agree. I have been saying for awhile that it would not surprise me if the Bills took a wide receiver or tight end in the first day of the draft. Possibly even with one of our first two picks. Granted we need a stud at linebacker, but lets face it we need a number 2 receiver badly. Peerless Price is NOT physical and certainly does not fight hard for passes when tightly covered. He is not a number 2 receiver. Reed and Parrish serve a purpose as slot receivers. But we really need that big number 2 threat to compliment Lee. I don't know much about Meachem, but another downfield weapon gets me REALLY excited!!

If the Bills feel that Michael Turner is better than any running back they can draft after the first round, and that pretty much means anyone other than Peterson and Lynch, than they would be stupid to not offer there 2nd round pick for him. Basically, they wait until there pick at 12 comes up, if Peterson is gone and they don't want Lynch, than they make the play for Turner. Best scenario when they come to 12 and A-pete and Willis are gone, is they trade down for another second or third, draft Poz or whomever else they love at linebacker at say 17, trade there second to San Diego for Turner and still have 3 other first day picks to draft CB and whatever else suits there fancy.

Walker not making the team? I see him playing a lot of snaps in a rotation with McCargo, Tripplet and Kyle Williams. Say goodbye to Tim Anderson. Darwin Walker will upgrade our D-line!!

Did Leif Larsen ever actually play a down in a regular season NFL game? And if he did actually play, did he ever record a tackle? I sometimes think he was an "urban legend" for bench pressing enthusiasts.