KOKBILLS

I think way too much is being made over the word "guaranteed" where those first three years are concerned... OK...The rumored deal is not a guaranteed $30 million over the first three years, rather a payout of $30 million over the first three years... There is no way Byrd is going to accept much less than around $24 million guaranteed (Dashon Goldson got $22 million from Tampa last year)... There is also no way the Bills are going to make the kind of commitment $20 million plus guaranteed requires without the hope (or maybe even prayer) that Byrd will play at very least the first three seasons of the deal...You're not going to shell out that kind of guaranteed cash with any thought whatsoever about getting out of the deal in one or two years... Granted we know nothing about the last 2-4 years of the Bills offer...And that may very well have been the holdup to getting a deal done...No question...But the AP reported the payout was $30 million over the first three years, and yes we have to assume Byrd will play those first three years to get the $30 million, because I'm quite sure Jairus himself is assuming that...So it may not be 100% guaranteed, but it's darn close to being 100% guaranteed...The signing bonus all but assures that...On a 6 year deal with a $24 million signing bonus, in order to get to $30 million paid out over 3 years, you have to have a base salary of at least $2 million per year...So even if Byrd only plays one year of the deal he gets $26 million...Two years he gets $28 million...Three years $30 million...There's simply no way guaranteed money matters much over the 1st three years if the Bills are offering market-value guaranteed money...So it's got to be the back end of the deal Parker is looking to improve...$30 million payout over the 1st three with around a $24 million signing bonus is more than impressive...and safe for Byrd... Even a $20 million dollar SB all but assures a huge payout over year one and two in order to get to $30 million in year three...There's no way to make $30 million paid out over the first three years a negative based on the signing bonus it is going to take to get Byrd. A signing bonus the open market has already established...Just no way...

Really... 0-2 vs. the 6-10 Bills...Beat twice by our back-up QB...2nd game shutout in Buffalo 19-0... Does not sound that much closer to me to be honest...

You won't be alone... If Byrd goes to any team in the AFC East he'll instantly become my least favorite NFL player... Not saying it's right, or fair, or anything...Just saying...

Freddie first for sure... My second would be my avatar...Really like #77...

I figured Freddie would win...But getting more than 50% of Bills fans to agree on anything is pretty amazing if you ask me...

I am finding it a little odd that there is not more early buzz on Byrd...It certainly could mean nothing...But I expected there to be some real action...At least some juicy rumors and money speculation...As it is there are rumored deals...BIG deals being reported on already... "Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert is expected to sign with the Miami Dolphins for an average of $9.5 million annually. St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Rodger Saffold is expected to sign with the Oakland Raiders for roughly $8 million per year, but he is still in talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Jared Veldheer is expected to sign with the Arizona Cardinals for between $7 million and $7.5 million. Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Anthony Collins is expected to sign with the Buccaneers for between $6.5 million to $7 million provided that he doesn't re-sign with the Bengals." -Aaron Wilson of the The Baltimore Sun Anyway...Not much on Byrd at all...Miami is interested...St Louis...The Jets...Cleveland did not contact him on the 1st day...Meh...I expected more for arguably the #1 UFA on the market...Like I said maybe it's nothing...But I'm a bit surprised nonetheless...

And apparently right with A. Williams... Not that I'm defending them with Byrd...Just saying...The way this market is going one more year like last year and Aaron would have demanded a big-time payday...

Well... To be honest I could really care less about the Texans...Though obviously as a Bills fan I hope they take a QB...Just thought it was interesting that just about everybody and their mother seems to be trying to push "Clowney to the Texans" when the reality is still QB...And according to McClain at least it's been QB...Trying to push the "3 QB's wont go in the top 8" agenda becomes awfully hard, if not impossible, if the Texans go QB at #1 overall...It becomes nearly impossible if the Texans go Bortles at #1 overall... The national media nowadays is doing a real poor job of actually looking at each team and what is really happening on the ground...Like last year with the Bills and Tavon Austin...The Bills were going QB...If you followed the team like most of us did you knew that...Yet report after report was Austin to the Bills...The best info comes from the local guys with inside connections and a real feel for the pulse of the franchise...Or Jay Glazer...That guy is money... And again I'm not saying any of these QB's deserve to go #1 overall...Just saying that in 2014 QB desperation often trumps the big board...

I know Roby's a big-time athlete with good size/speed... I fully expect the Bills to take a CB in this Draft...But I was thinking it would be a little later...The guy I really like is Phillip Gaines...But he's moving up fast and I doubt he'll be much of a bargain by the time it's all said and done...

Admittedly I don't know a ton about Roby...Early last year when the Bills were decimated with injuries and Rogers was getting beat like a rented mule I was looking at the CB crop a bit...And over and over again when Roby's name came up the word underachiever was attached...

Found these... "I’ve been saying 4 weeks and I will say until I believe differently, but the Texans are taking a quarterback. I’ll be shocked if they don’t." — John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) March 3, 2014 "I told you last week Texans wouldn't be signing Matt Cassel. And they won't be trading for Ryan Mallett, either." — John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) March 9, 2014 No one follows the Texans as closely as McClain...He's very well respected...

Interesting...

Theory derived from Jason La Canfora speculation... I weep for journalism in the modern age...

$20 million... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/09/report-everson-griffen-re-signs-with-vikings/

Could be... But I really doubt it...These things get out real fast nowadays...Plus he's a big-time UFA...Every NFL scoop guy wants that story...

Good grief...

I don't think he's overvalued due to his production and play at all...Byrd has been rock solid when he's been in there...And he's more valuable to the Bills than any other team anyway...He's homegrown... I do think that a couple things are not working in his favor though...Byrd was never the fastest Safety and players don't get faster as they get older...I think even though the Polian grade on him is a bit ridiculous, there is some truth there to how NFL teams look at dishing out money to DB's...Next, I think the PI issues are a big, big problem for Byrd's market value unless he can prove to a team beyond a shadow of a doubt they are a thing of the past...It's one thing to be 23 years old, run a 4.4 flat 40, and have PI in one foot...Jairus will be 30 in the 3rd year of this contract, he runs in the mid 4.6 range, he had PI in BOTH feet, and is on record saying he's been suffering from it for a while now!!! Then you add to this the fact that teams already know they are going to have to come close to paying Byrd $30 million over the first three years of the contract... All that leads me to believe that if the market is not as welcoming to Byrd...and right now that's a BIG if...but if it's not what the Bills feel it is we should not be terribly surprised...There are some factors working against him as well...

Ebron is a willing blocker and a great athlete...So any problems he has in the area of blocking are easily coach-able...He does get a little high and extends at times...But it's technique stuff...He could prove to be a very effective blocker in the NFL...Though he won't be asked to do a ton of it...I don't think it's going to be an issue for him at all...It's the old Shannon Sharpe thing...Folks just believed he was a poor blocker...Then you look at all the awesome running games he blocked in and that theory loses steam...Anyone as athletic and strong as Ebron can be taught to be an effective blocker...The thing about Ebron is...He wants to be the best and he's not afraid to tell anyone who will listen...He's a driven kid...A little cocky even...But driven...I think even though he won't be asked to do a ton of blocking, he won't hurt you bad in that area either once he learns what he's doing... My preference is Evans or Ebron in the first...My theory is simple...No question they have to round off their games, but prospects like those two are rare...real rare combinations of size, speed, and production...And when one does come around and work out they are huge difference makers in the NFL...They are both potential match-up nightmares for Defenses...Look at what AJ Green has meant to the Bengals with an average QB...Look at Vernon Davis in San Fran...They wreak havoc on Defenses...The Bills simply have nothing like that...Nothing... I should also point out I would be OK with one of the top 3 OT's at #9, and Mack as well...Though I admittedly would prefer to stay on the Offensive side in the first couple rounds...

Well... He was doomed from the get-go here...I agree with those who say it was not Lil' Donte's fault he was over-drafted...Then you have the fact that so many Bills fans were convinced Ngata was going to be and should be the pick...It was really looking like a no-brainer that Ngata would be the pick... I've shared my personal story here a couple times...I was in my LR jumping up and down chanting "Ngata! Ngata! Ngata!!!" The Whitner pick was announced...I was shocked...Then quickly pissed...It was about to go from bad to worse...I was looking for something to kick...I picked my 25 lb free weight dumbbell...One BIG problem...It's late Spring in Charlotte NC and I'm not wearing shoes...I split my toe open and I'm bleeding everywhere...My toe felt broken... So...I pretty much always hated Donte Whitner...Every time he over-ran a ball carrier, or got beat in coverage, I was reminded of my anger...He broke my toe...

Well...Have that barf bag ready... In all seriousness I don't expect the Bills to take a RB in the first 4 rounds...But I would not be at all surprised if they took a big back like Storm Johnson in the 5th-7th...They want to add a third RB...They seemed to like Wingo a bit, but I'm guessing they want to bring in some competition...

TMI!!!...

Sounds about right...

It's an interesting thought... Another though I had yesterday was...Let's say the Bills grab Evans at #9...Then for some crazy reason the Draft gets into the 20's and Ebron is still around...Would the Bills be wise to give up their #1 in 2015 to get Evans AND Ebron in this Draft? Can you imagine?

Makes sense...I remember hearing Marrone comment after his injury that the coaching staff was really excited about Carrington coming out of camp...He basically said Pettine made him a starter from day #1 after watching his tape from 2012...They were really disappointed when he went down...

Just curious Astro...What WR would have been available in the 2nd instead of taking Skov (would of course be assuming the Bills sign an ILB in Free Agency)? Matthews?