Jerry Jabber

Meachem wanted to be a #1 WR. http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2012/03/14/why-meachem-chose-chargers/ "Before anyone criticizes the Bills for not landing free agent WR Robert Meachem they need to consider the factors in the decision. Meachem his entire career has had to take a back seat to the likes of Marques Colston, the clear number one receiver for the Saints. This past season Meachem was knocked down two more pegs in the pecking order with TE Jimmy Graham and RB Darren Sproles leading the team in receptions with 99 and 86 respectively. No one played more snaps (877) among the receiving targets for the Saints last season and had fewer receptions than Meachem (40). So when the Chargers presented the opportunity to be a bona fide number one wideout in their offense, knowing Vincent Jackson had signed with Tampa, for him it was probably an easy decision assuming the money in San Diego was comparable to the money being offered by Buffalo. With Stevie Johnson as the number one in Buffalo, Meachem knew at best he was a number two wideout. Add in the opportunity to play with a Pro Bowl QB in San Diego in Philip Rivers, in a traditional vertical offense where Jackson as the previous #1 has the highest yards per catch average for a #1 wideout over the past four years (2008-2011) with 18 yards per catch and you see the extras that San Diego had to offer."

According to Marshall Faulk, Manning will never play in the NFC. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82777dfb/article/report-redskins-already-out-on-peyton-manning-chase?module=HP11_headline_stack "NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk -- a former teammate of Manning's in Indy -- stated emphatically on Wednesday that Manning will never play in the same conference, let alone division, as his brother. "We need to see a Manning Super Bowl, that's what they want, this family wants it," said Faulk, who shares the same first name as one of Manning's sons. "He will not upstage his brother and knock him out of going to the Super Bowl by being in the NFC."

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d82774c22/Manning-arrives-in-Miami?module=HP11_content_stream I hope Manning signs with the Dolphins. With having to play against Brady & Manning twice a year, the Bills will have no choice but to make serious upgrades to their pass rush. The Bills will need to be one of the best rass rushing teams in football in order to compete in the AFC East. If Manning does sign with the Phins, I hope it happens before the start of free agency (March 13th), maybe then the Bills will seriously consider signing Mario Williams.

It's called sarcasm!! There are tons of people on the board saying Ralph is cheap. Shelling out $60.5M on three players is not being cheap.

Considering Irsay packed up the team and left Baltimore in the middle of the night, I would love to see Manning go to the Ravens and win the Superbowl just to stick it to Irsay.

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/3/7/2852247/stevie-johnson-ryan-fitzpatrick-kyle-williams-contract-details "Within the past calendar year, the Buffalo Bills have handed out significant contract extensions to three centerpiece players: defensive tackle Kyle Williams in August; quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in October; and receiver Stevie Johnson just two days ago. Let's take a closer look at those three deals: •Williams agreed to a six-year, $39 million contract with $17 million guaranteed; Fitzpatrick signed a six-year, $59 million contract with $24 million guaranteed; and Johnson this week inked a five-year, $36.25 million deal with $19.5 million guaranteed. •Of the $60.5 million in reported (and likely guesstimated) guarantees between the three players, $23.25 million were actual signing bonuses. That's money paid for three signatures. •Each contract contains at least one season in which a player's base salary was (or will be) fully guaranteed. Those years count toward guaranteed figures, as well. •The Bills, over the next several years, have the option of paying these three players a further $21.45 million in option, workout and roster bonuses. These sums count toward the aforementioned guaranteed figures, but are not actually guaranteed to the players unless injury situations change - and that's only in some cases." I can't believe that Ralph only shelled out $60.5M on 3 guaranteed contracts?! Man, Ralph is cheap!!! Seriously, Ralph has shown that he will open up the pocketbook for good talent. With Ralph being 93, I thinking his meddling with the team is over with. Next up for contract extensions are Fred Jackson, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. I wonder what kind of money those players will be looking at?

Stadium Lease update: http://www.wgrz.com/sports/pro_football/NFL/Bills/article/159109/116/Poloncarz-Hopes-To-Have-New-Bills-Lease-By-Training-Camp "Scott Brown: "How confident are you that a new lease is going to get done and are we talking ten years or so?" County Executive Poloncarz: "I feel very confident that a lease is going to get done, my goal is to get it done by the beginning of training camp (this summer) and we're going to try and get the longest lease we possibly can." Scott Brown: "Ten years, fifteen years what do you think?" County Executive Poloncarz: "At least that, at least ten years." I don't live in NY anymore, but I like Poloncarz. One of his topics last year while running for election was the Stadium lease negotiations with the Bills. I'm glad to see he's been hard at work trying to get a new lease completed.

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/3/6/2848641/buffalo-bills-free-agency-vincent-jackson "The report, however, also claims that Jackson would like to return to San Diego, and would be willing to accept slightly less than what he's offered on the open market to do so. The Chargers, it's believed, are set to offer him nearly $11 million in annual compensation - a figure that Jackson could eclipse on the open market. Jackson, who turned 29 in January, is more than three years Johnson's senior, and has never had more than 68 receptions or nine scores in a season. Johnson has surpassed the first figure in each of the past two seasons, and had 10 touchdowns in 2010. Our question for you, Bills fans: is signing a 29-year-old player that, at his peak, has put up similar production to Johnson worth an additional $4-5 million in annual compensation over the deal Johnson signed yesterday?" Don't get me wrong, I would love it if the Bills signed VJ. I think our offense would be in the Top 10 if VJ was on the team. If Nix & Merriman can work their magic and help bring VJ to Buffalo, then I'm all for it. But an extra $4-5 million a year (compared to SJ) is not going to happen.

That's great news!! Next step is getting a #2 WR to compliment Johnson.

After watching the NFL network today & seeing reports from every team (and former players) that Williams had a "bounty" system on every team he coached on, will all the teams be penalized in some form by the NFL? Reports are the NFL will penalize the Saints, but I haven't heard any word on the other teams.

Evans' production has been declining over the last 3 seasons, plus the injuries are starting to mount.

Evans is done...end of story!! Otherwise, the Ravens would have kept him.

Evans is done...end of story!! If not, the Ravens would have kept him.

Before Fitz's rib injury, he did have deep throw accuracy (Fitz & Owens share the club record with a 98 yard TD reception). If the Bills lose Stevie, they'll need 2 WR's (and have a big PR nightmare!!)

Carrington has the height that Nix/Gailey/Wannstedt are looking for in a DE (6'5"), he just needs to shed weight to gain more quickness. http://www.nfl.com/player/alexcarrington/496766/profile If I remember correctly, Bruce Smith came into the NFL at over 300 lbs, but he dropped down to between 265-275lbs and his career skyrocketed. (I'm not comparing Carrington to Smith, just citing Smith as an example). I hope Troup & Carrington work out and this year will be a difference maker for the two of them.

Great post!! I agree with everything you said. Jauron/Levy/Brandon overpaid for sub-par/mediocre players (Dockery, Walker, Tripplett), drafted crappy players (which included trading up for a very crappy player - McCargo). With all the years of terrible drafts (especially 1st round busts), no one wants to see the Bills reach on a draft pick (Whitner, McCargo) or draft another bust.

I would have no problem if the Bills drafted a OT. The Bills need a solid option at LT if they want to open up the deep passing game. I also would hate it if the Bills used the #10 for someone in the secondary. The Bills have shown over the years that they will not resign CB's/DB's that they drafted in the 1st round (mainly because they're so expensive to re-sign).

http://wgr550.com/Bills--Nix-Says-They-Won-t-Reach-for-a-Pass-Rusher/12424329 "We cannot make it happen if it's not there, and that's the thing you've got to keep in mind," Nix said when speaking about the idea of taking a defensive end early. "If we go in and say 'We've got to have a pass rusher,' and we reach down and get one at the tenth pick that we've got graded in the third round, then we're setting ourselves back three or four years." Nix continued. "You've got to be disciplined enough where you stay with the integrity of all the work that 15 or 20 people have down for a year, and you don't get excited about trying to fill a need when the player can't play." So what is it with this year's grouping of defensive ends that makes the Bills so apprehensive with the idea of using their first overall selection on one of them? Nix says it's more about the weaker players up top and the depth of the position later on. "Pass rusher, or defensive end for us, is probably -- you question, you get a little nervous with the tenth pick," he told WGR. "But in the mid-rounds, it's probably as deep as I've seen it. So from the second round on there will be some guys that can come in and help you quick." The first round group will likely consist of Quinton Coples, Melvin Ingram, Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry and maybe a few others. Without naming names, the Bills GM described why he was so nervous about the group at the top. "There's just some things you over-analyze, probably. You worry about height, you worry about arm length and that kind of thing. Bottom line really, you've got to make yourself come back to production. If he's always done it, there's a good chance he'll do it again." The Bills have also opined since the end of the 2011 campaign that they'll be more aggressive in free agency this time around. "Our philosophy, or mine, or ours is that those big money guys that hit the market at 12:01 or midnight, the way it used to be, if you're not careful you'll overspend on those guys and not get what you pay for," Nix started out. "We've been one to think you can pick up good players later on in free agency, and I'm talking about guys like Nick Barnett, receivers that we've picked up. They're out there, and they'll be out there and that's kind of been our philosophy along with building through the draft. "And when I say we're gonna be aggressive, what I mean is this time if there's a difference maker -- not necessarily a position -- but if there's a guy that can come in here and immediately improve our football team, we'll get in the hunt early this time." Looks like WR, OT & CB are in play for the 10th pick.

+3

For those that are wishing the Bills would trade up to draft RGIII (or anyone else), that's not gonna happen... http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/3/1/2835452/buffalo-bills-are-not-in-on-robert-griffin-iii-per-buddy-nix#storyjump "I've visited with (the Rams)," Nix continued, "but not about that. We talk to everybody, and we kick the tires on everybody, but if we were going to probably move either way, it'd be down, not up." Nix also re-iterated to Simon what Bills fans have known about him since the beginning: he treats draft picks like gold, and hates surrendering them to move up. "I never have liked to, and I never have traded picks," Nix said. "I hate giving them up. I like to get them. We've got nine, and I'd like to wind up with ten, and we'll see how that goes." Sounds like Nix wouldn't mind trading back and accumlating more picks (which isn't a bad idea). From earlier reports, Nix talked about DE & OLB depth in rounds 2 thru 4 in the draft. I would have no problem if Nix traded back in the first round, so he could gain possibly another 2nd round pick (to possibly add multiple pass rushers to the team). I also doubt the first round pick will be a DE or OLB (from earlier reports from Nix). I think the Bills will either draft a OT, WR or CB with their first pick (Even though I would hate to see another 1st round pick used on the secondary).

She looks better than a lot of women half her age.

WR or OT wouldn't surprise me at #10, given Nix's recent comments about a DE or OLB at that spot. The team needs a #2 (assuming Johnson is resigned) and a OT (LT).

From listening to Nix's interview, I doubt the first round pick will be a DE or OLB, but it definitely sounds like rounds 2-4 will be used on DE's and OLB's. Wanny mentioned getting DE's as a priority, so I wouldn't doubt seeing the Bills get 2 or more this year (to include free agency).

According to Boss Hogg, the Franchise Tag is an option for Stevie J: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/2/24/2821646/stevie-johnson-franchise-tag-buffalo-bills "You know everything's an option," Nix told WGR 550's Joe Buscaglia on Friday at the 2012 NFL Combine. "I read in the paper or somebody sent it to me the other day that we definitely were not going to tag him. I don't know who they talked to, I'd like to talk to them maybe see what we're gonna do with some of those other guys. So I don't know who the source was but they don't know, I can promise you that. Again, that's an option we've got until March 5 to decide."