Maddog69

they've gone too far, in my opinion. I understand banning prolonged or choreographed celebrations and I understand wanting to limit taunting as much as possible. But there is trash talking going on all day, I just don't see how that can be eliminated. As far as celebrating a big play or displaying some emotion, I think it is a good thing and should be encouraged as long as it does not delay the game and as long as it is not offensive.

I wonder is this kind of thing would stop happening to him if he actually legitimately worked out in the off season to keep his body in football shape. he himself stated that all he usually does is jogs with his wife in the off season. Maybe it is time he took this football thing seriously and stopped acting like a 17yr old clown. The guy has a ton of talent but he really is just so stupid it getting tougher and tougher to defend him. So frustrating.

they were talking about it on the radio this morning and saying that they felt like it was an intentional comment by Marrone to fire up Brown and/or Legursky. But I was wondering if it might have been more of a subtle jab at the front office to go sign a veteran G who is clearly better than the crap we have now.

So, Stevie, Woods, Goodwin, Graham and Brad Smith seem to be fairly certain to make the roster. That Rogers and Easley fighting for a 6th receiver spot unless they list Smith as the third qb again.

LOL

I read an article on Profootballtalk.com today talking about Levitre being limited in practice due to soreness from an old knee surgery. The article said that he was not able to fully participate in any of the Titans offseason work outs. Could this be the reason why the Bills chose to let him walk and did not break the bank to sign him? I would bet it was a serious factor in their thinking.

I think JW is just trying too hard to blame the Bills for the Byrd situation. Both sides have their own agendas, opinions, priorities and desired outcomes. Both sides have certain rights and certain levers in the siuation. Both sides are exercises their rights as they see fit. It may end up where one side wins and the other side loses. It may end up that both sides win and it may end up that both sides lose. But in this particular situation, I cannot fault the Bills for their actions to this point. I am unwilling to lump any past failings into the discussion. I am looking at strictly this situation and how it affects the best interest of each party in the long term. In my opinion, if there is any blame to be placed for the current situation, I believe it should be placed at the feet of Byrd/Parker. If reports are correct, the Bills made a fair proposal to which Byrd has never countered. That is not a negotiation. Maybe the sides could have worked out a mutually beneficial deal if Byrd and Parker would have come to the table. We will see how it plays out.

You can also write it the other way. Parker isn't winning and the Bills aren't losing. I guess it depends on your perspective. At this point, the Bills have won the battle. Byrd did not get his huge contract and he has no other option but to play for the $6.9m this year (or lose that salary). It remains to be seen who wins the war. Maybe both. Maybe the Bills get a year or two our of Byrd at a fair price before he moves on to a huge payday somewhere and the Bills young safeties are ready to take over. Nobody knows.

You are getting further and further away from making any sense at all. They let Levitre walk because they negotiated with him in good faith and could not come to an agreement. He was never going to be tagged because the Franchise tag for OL was much higher than the Bills were willing to pay for a Guard. They put the tag on Byrd to protect an asset (as I explained before). The tag # for Safety was a number they are reasonable confortable paying while protecting this asset and giving them time to work out a long term deal. If Parker refuses to negotiate, they is no way they would have signed him. Unless Byrd holds out for 10 games and gives up all of that salary (never going to happen),. the Bills have him for this year at $6.9m. If they tag him again next year, that is two years at just over $14m with no Huge signing bonus. I'm sure Ralph can live with that. The Bills are 100% handling this correctly and the more you try to justify your initial stance, the further in the weeds you get. Byrd is the only one who stands to lose in this scenario. The Bills are willing to pay him in the ballpark of $7-8M on a long term deal. What if he blows his achilles the first time he steps on the practice field. The Bills waive him injured, he get ZERO. From Byrd's perspective, the best he can hope for is for him to play this year under the franchise tender, have a good season, pray the Bills don't tag him again and then PRAY that some team is going to give him more than the Bills would have been willing to give him in the first place. *serious question: Can the Bills use a Transition tag on him next year? Allowing for the Bills to pay him a lower salary but another team to sign him for less compensation? P.S. - I think it is really awesome that you are here debating this. You're the man, even though I think you're nuts. Lol.

Most of those players signed their 1yr tender. They did not get long term deals and the team did not cave to their demands. A few of them negotitated in good faith and got fair deals. Victor Cruz actually caved from his ridiculous demands to accepted the teams initial offer. The fact that Byrd is holding out cannot be blamed on the Bills. If he wants to selfish, hurt his team, himself and hold out, that's on him. Let him stand in the corner and pout all he wants. As you said, he is the only 1 of 10 players in a similar situation to be doing this. My biggest concern with him at this point would be that even if the Bills caved to his demands and made him the highest paid safety this year, he would be holding out again next year when someone else was paid more.

the reports the other day were that the Bills made an offer fairly recently and that Byrd and Parker never countered the offer. This seems to me as if Byrd wants out of Buffalo. He tells his agent to set a ridiculous price. If the Bills pay it, then he signs and stays (and probably sulks and holds out every year). If they don't cower to his demands, then he can leave and blame the Bills.

Hi John - I like and respect your writing and I enjoy your participation here but I could not disagree with you more about "why tag him". 1.) The Bills reportedly made a very fair initial contract offer. They are reportedly offered top 5 money in their initial offer. Byrd/Parkers response was to not counter at all. How are the Bills supposed to "negotiate the edges" if Parker/Byrd will not negotiate in good faith 2.) Byrd is an asset. Why would the Bills simply allow him to walk away for free. They have him under their control for 2 seasons minimum. Why let that go for nothing? That would be ridiculously irresponsible. If he can find a team willing to meet his demands, then the Bills either match it or get fair compensation. Why should they Bills give that away? 3.) This is a negotiation. If one side is unwilling to negotiate, you're opinion is that the other side should just give in? Thats not how business works. Thats not how life works (unless you're a married man, LOL). I sense your frustration and mirroring of what the Bills fans feel. We just want Byrd signed. But to say the Bills should not have tagged him if they did not plan to cave to all of his demands doesn't make any sense to me. This situation is exactly why the owners wanted the tagging system in the CBA. Just imagine the column you would have written if the Bills had just let Byrd walk without tagging him. Jerry Sullivan would have had a field day with that.

Man, they are really thin in experience at WR behind Stevie. Brad Smith has experience but should be cut. Easley technically has 3 yrs, but not really Graham is going in to year two The rest are rookies.

good stuff. Thanks. What type of fundraiser was it? It almost sounds like you were interviewing him.

it seems to me that Byrd clearly wants out of Buffalo. He is not willing to negotiate at all. His mind is made up. I feel like even if they Bills made him the highest paid safety, he'd still be upset. I think it is time to move one. I think the Bills stocking up on safeties shows that they are of the same mindset as I am. My hope is that they can trade Byrd once he signs his tender. (and secondarily that these young safeties step up and play well). As far as I'm concerned, I don't want a player on the team that does not want to be here. Get him out. I know he is very good and will be hard to replace. But I think it is better for this young team to move forward with players who want to be Buffalo Bills. Byrd clearly doesn't.

LOL

No offense but you have no clue as to what is going on with Jim unless you are in his family or on his medical team. You may or may not have experienced this type of cancer. You may or may not have had a friend, family member or acquaintance experience this type of cancer and have seen its effects. But you don't have any idea how it will go with Jim Kelly. His case may be the most minor case in history or the most major. You have no idea. So, please 'step off it" yourself. As I said before, guessing and speculating just make you look foolish, IMHO. We will have to wait and see how it plays out.

it amazes me that people continue to guess at what is going on with Jim Kelly. Nobody has a clue how serious this is and what the outcome is so i wish people would stop speaking as if they have knowledge and stop the ridulous speculation. Say prayers for Jim if you are so inclined and let the doctors do their thing. I'm going to be sending positive thoughts his way and hoping for the best. Beyond that, I'm done reading this thread and any other speculation.

That sucks for him and the 9ers.

Thanks. it wasn't sarcasm. Maybe wishful thinking?

I think it is a shame this this type of personal drama becomes public record and somehow is newsworthy. I have more than a few friends who have had engagements broken off and have gone to court over the financial fall out. This is nothing new, albeit it is on a grander scale. But I feel for Mario having his personal life thrown into the media and having people commenting on the situation when they have no idea who, if anyone, is to blame. Who cares? Hopefully she shows come class and returns the ring. Hopefully they both go on to live long and happy lives and hopefully Mario someday goes in the HOF as a Buffalo Bill and joins Jim Kelly's group of former players ensuring the Bills' future in WNY. Lets talk about actual football topics.

I love what he has to say about EJ Manuel.

Happy 50th, John.

I don't have a preconcieved set of expectations for EJ for this season. It depends on so many factors. I think it is reasonable to say that a healthy Kevin Kolb is probably more capable of winning games right out of the gate than EJ. Kolb has enough NFL starting/playing experience that he should be able to come in and win right away. If EJ demonstrates during camp and preseason that this gap is negligible then I think he should start right away. Otherwise, stick with Kolb until he is injured, his play is poor or the team record is terrible. Tne let EJ take the helm. The only thing I really want is for Marrone to give EJ his full confidence. When you decide to start him you have to stick with it. I don't want him to be looking over his shoulder, fearing that he gets benched if he makes mistakes. I expect him to make some horrendous mistakes early on in his career. But I don't want him to be yanked out of the starting spot once he earns it. I don't to see another Losman situation where the QB is so scared to make mistakes that he inevitably implodes. I have full confidence in Marrone that this QB 'competition' will be handled correctly and I am extremely excited for this year and years to come.

I'd be a very happy fan if the Bills were able to sign Dansby and Brandon Moore. That would solidify two position where we currently have big question marks.