Cameron Wake

[Jeff Wright's Mullet]

But ultimately he signed with Miami. I would imagine that this was because Jeffrey Littmann would not approve a contract that would pay him more then the Dolphins. Another notch on your belt Jeffrey!

[PromoTheRobot]

But ultimately he signed with Miami. I would imagine that this was because Jeffrey Littmann would not approve a contract that would pay him more then the Dolphins. Another notch on your belt Jeffrey!

Okay we know what you imagined. What happened in reality?

 

PTR

Edited November 6, 2010 by PromoTheRobot

[Nanker]

Okay we know what you imagined. What happened in reality?

 

PTR

 

Ralph just wouldn't open up the safe to sign Seifert.

[NoSaint]

But ultimately he signed with Miami. I would imagine that this was because Jeffrey Littmann would not approve a contract that would pay him more then the Dolphins. Another notch on your belt Jeffrey!

 

 

Maybe he wanted to play OLB and not DE

 

Maybe he preferred beaches to buffalo after his stint in Canada

 

Maybe he saw a better long term opportunity to get a big second contract.

 

Of all the teams courting him I only recall his agent noting how aggressive buffalo was. Just saying. Could be a lot of things.

[Fixxxer]

I bookmarked this link beacuse of the "weekly Wake thread speacial":

 

 

Dolphins give CFL sackmaster Wake record deal

NFL teams were frothing over the workouts of Canadian Football League pass-rush specialist Cameron Wake, and the Miami Dolphins had to fork over a nice sum to land him.

 

The Dolphins signed Wake to what's believed to be the richest CFL-to-NFL contract: four years worth as much as $4.9 million and nearly $1 million in guaranteed money.

 

Wake narrowed his choices to four teams, including the Buffalo Bills, before choosing the Dolphins.

 

"Buffalo really put a great package together," Sheehy said. "They did a wonderful job recruiting him."

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/1186/dolphins-give-cfl-sackmaster-wake-record-deal

[BillsObserver]

I love when this player is brought up. The story is always different.

 

Regardless -- the outcome is the same. And I always dream about these guys on our D and where we'd be right now:

 

Ngata, Wake, Orakpo (or Clay Matthews, take your pick) and now Merriman

 

We'd still need help at LB but our secondary might be able to pick some balls off with decent pressure applied by any combo of those guys mentioned above.

 

But I don't blame the Bills entirely. Hindsight is 20/20. They wanted Wake but they had no idea he'd be this good. Whitner and Maybin were supposed picks of a coach who isn't here anymore. Oh well.

 

Onward and upward, boys

 

I bookmarked this link beacuse of the "weekly Wake thread speacial":

 

 

Dolphins give CFL sackmaster Wake record deal

NFL teams were frothing over the workouts of Canadian Football League pass-rush specialist Cameron Wake, and the Miami Dolphins had to fork over a nice sum to land him.

 

The Dolphins signed Wake to what's believed to be the richest CFL-to-NFL contract: four years worth as much as $4.9 million and nearly $1 million in guaranteed money.

 

Wake narrowed his choices to four teams, including the Buffalo Bills, before choosing the Dolphins.

 

"Buffalo really put a great package together," Sheehy said. "They did a wonderful job recruiting him."

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/1186/dolphins-give-cfl-sackmaster-wake-record-deal

 

 

Thank you for this. Clarifies a lot for those who don't know the story. I remember watching this guy's Youtube clips when this story was originally floating around. Youtube clips mean nothing but I was sure impressed with his athleticism.

 

Just curious - how many guys transition from the CFL to the NFL as successfully as Wake has? Gotta be a low number.

 

And are there any guys lighting it up in the CFL right now? Not even sure if their season has started.

Edited November 6, 2010 by Steve_JOHNSONS_hair

[NoSaint]

I love when this player is brought up. The story is always different.

 

Regardless -- the outcome is the same. And I always dream about these guys on our D and where we'd be right now:

 

Ngata, Wake, Orakpo (or Clay Matthews, take your pick) and now Merriman

 

We'd still need help at LB but our secondary might be able to pick some balls off with decent pressure applied by any combo of those guys mentioned above.

 

But I don't blame the Bills entirely. Hindsight is 20/20. They wanted Wake but they had no idea he'd be this good. Whitner and Maybin were supposed picks of a coach who isn't here anymore. Oh well.

 

Onward and upward, boys

 

 

 

 

Thank you for this. Clarifies a lot for those who don't know the story. I remember watching this guy's Youtube clips when this story was originally floating around. Youtube clips mean nothing but I was sure impressed with his athleticism.

 

 

And another thing to note: Maybin might've played like wake had he gone to Miami. Wake might've played like maybin here in buffalo- undersized end then a scheme change. You can't just swap players and expect results to follow. Scheme, coaching, opportunities, teammates... They all play a role in development.

[spartacus]

 

 

But I don't blame the Bills entirely. Hindsight is 20/20. They wanted Wake but they had no idea he'd be this good. Whitner and Maybin were supposed picks of a coach who isn't here anymore. Oh well.

 

 

 

that's why most NFL teams employ quality talent evaluators who have expertise in identifying whether players can transition from college or the CFL to the NFL. Those teams would not have picked Maybin in the top 12.

 

 

Instead of paying Wake $4.9 mil over 4 years, our crackerjack talent guys are paying over $6 mil PER YEAR to a guy we know can't play LB or rush the passer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BuffaloBillsMagic1]

I love when this player is brought up. The story is always different.

 

Regardless -- the outcome is the same. And I always dream about these guys on our D and where we'd be right now:

 

Ngata, Wake, Orakpo (or Clay Matthews, take your pick) and now Merriman

 

We'd still need help at LB but our secondary might be able to pick some balls off with decent pressure applied by any combo of those guys mentioned above.

 

But I don't blame the Bills entirely. Hindsight is 20/20. They wanted Wake but they had no idea he'd be this good. Whitner and Maybin were supposed picks of a coach who isn't here anymore. Oh well.

 

 

 

Can we blame Jeron for drafting Spiller, Troup and Carrington as well???

[BillsObserver]

I love when this player is brought up. The story is always different.

 

Regardless -- the outcome is the same. And I always dream about these guys on our D and where we'd be right now:

 

Ngata, Wake, Orakpo (or Clay Matthews, take your pick) and now Merriman

 

We'd still need help at LB but our secondary might be able to pick some balls off with decent pressure applied by any combo of those guys mentioned above.

 

But I don't blame the Bills entirely. Hindsight is 20/20. They wanted Wake but they had no idea he'd be this good. Whitner and Maybin were supposed picks of a coach who isn't here anymore. Oh well.

 

 

 

Can we blame Jeron for drafting Spiller, Troup and Carrington as well???

 

First, it's spelled Jauron. Second, I guess you missed the part where I said "SUPPOSED picks of a coach who isn't here anymore."

[Thoner7]

Okay we know what you imagined. What happened in reality?

 

PTR

 

In reality, they offered essentially the same deal, and like any sane human, he chose the tax free state with 80 degree weather. The Bills need to pony up more cash than a team like the Dolphins when competing heads up - they just do, yet didnt.

 

I still blame the Bills, they have to pay 8% more just to make up the NYS taxes, and even more to make a guy like the snow. If they like him enough to offer him a contract then they better offer him a contract he may actually take.

[Orton's Arm]

I bookmarked this link beacuse of the "weekly Wake thread speacial":

 

 

Dolphins give CFL sackmaster Wake record deal

NFL teams were frothing over the workouts of Canadian Football League pass-rush specialist Cameron Wake, and the Miami Dolphins had to fork over a nice sum to land him.

 

The Dolphins signed Wake to what's believed to be the richest CFL-to-NFL contract: four years worth as much as $4.9 million and nearly $1 million in guaranteed money.

 

Wake narrowed his choices to four teams, including the Buffalo Bills, before choosing the Dolphins.

 

"Buffalo really put a great package together," Sheehy said. "They did a wonderful job recruiting him."

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/1186/dolphins-give-cfl-sackmaster-wake-record-deal

So instead of spending $1.2 million a year on Wake, the Bills are spending $3 million a year on Cornell Green, more than that each year on Kelsay . . .

[Red]

I love when this player is brought up. The story is always different.

 

Regardless -- the outcome is the same. And I always dream about these guys on our D and where we'd be right now:

 

Ngata, Wake, Orakpo (or Clay Matthews, take your pick) and now Merriman

 

We'd still need help at LB but our secondary might be able to pick some balls off with decent pressure applied by any combo of those guys mentioned above.

 

But I don't blame the Bills entirely. Hindsight is 20/20. They wanted Wake but they had no idea he'd be this good. Whitner and Maybin were supposed picks of a coach who isn't here anymore. Oh well.

 

Onward and upward, boys

 

 

 

 

Thank you for this. Clarifies a lot for those who don't know the story. I remember watching this guy's Youtube clips when this story was originally floating around. Youtube clips mean nothing but I was sure impressed with his athleticism.

 

Just curious - how many guys transition from the CFL to the NFL as successfully as Wake has? Gotta be a low number.

 

And are there any guys lighting it up in the CFL right now? Not even sure if their season has started.

 

 

Well said.

 

The only other CFL player that I can think of that came to the NFL and had a terrific career is Warren Moon. Flutie was pretty good in both, too.

 

But you are right, there is not a huge degree of success in that transition. Maybe a handful in the past decade?

 

Who knows what went into Wake's brain when he was making his decision. I can remember reading this, and thinking why are the Bills always coming up short on these guys? Like the interview with Gregg Williams last year about almost drafting Drew Brees. How do we consistently miss on these?

 

Or like has been mentioned here: Whitner over Ngata. Maybin over Orakpo or Oher. Letting Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield, and London Fletcher leave via free agency.

 

It's a series of horrible decisions, strung together over time, that tells the tale for this franchise and our current plight.

 

Signing Merriman, IMO, if nothing else, is a sign that the people in charge of football operations get it. We need players. Even if he is a shell of his former self- his former self was pretty good- steroid-induced or not.

 

I wonder what happens to Kelsay in all of this?

 

So instead of spending $1.2 million a year on Wake, the Bills are spending $3 million a year on Cornell Green, more than that each year on Kelsay . . .

 

Ultimately, this is my conclusion as well.

 

It's just boneheaded. With Wake, you did not know what you were getting and if he would transition well to the Pro game. Well, as mentioned here hindsight is 20/20. However, when you need something like a pass rusher you don't let your division rival of all places to get that player.

 

Now, Wake had a side in all of this too. And thinking of the bikini's and beaches in Miami probably had something to do with it.

 

All I am saying is that I would have made it really difficult for him to choose Miami over the Bills. Millions more difficult.

 

You also mention Cornell Green and Kelsay. These are but 2 examples of the terrible decisions being made at OBD on personnel for the past decade. You'll throw money after Robert Royal, Derrick Dockery, Langston Walker, Darwin Walker, Larry Triplett, Aaron Maybin...but let proven, solid, Pro Bowl vets like Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield, and London Fletcher walk right out of town without so much as an offer.

 

I know Modrak is bad, and Guy was terrible, but these kinds of decisions are what has hurt this franchise. Winning franchises don't let studs like Williams, Winfield, and Fletcher walk away...they BUILD around them. All 3 of them are still contributing. Still stalwarts. And those were a good 5 years of production that we lost out on so that we could keep Kelsay, Dockery, Royal, Walker, etc....

 

We have struck out on decisions way too much this decade.

 

I'm hoping that the Merriman signing helps to reestablish some sort of attitude and success on the field the way the old Bills built via Plan B. Leonard Smith, Mark Kelso, Kenneth Davis, Art Still. These Plan B finds eventually led the way for even better players. I hope that we are starting to turn the corner.

[spartacus]

Well said.

 

The only other CFL player that I can think of that came to the NFL and had a terrific career is Warren Moon. Flutie was pretty good in both, too.

 

But you are right, there is not a huge degree of success in that transition. Maybe a handful in the past decade?

 

Who knows what went into Wake's brain when he was making his decision. I can remember reading this, and thinking why are the Bills always coming up short on these guys? Like the interview with Gregg Williams last year about almost drafting Drew Brees. How do we consistently miss on these?

 

Or like has been mentioned here: Whitner over Ngata. Maybin over Orakpo or Oher. Letting Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield, and London Fletcher leave via free agency.

 

It's a series of horrible decisions, strung together over time, that tells the tale for this franchise and our current plight.

 

Signing Merriman, IMO, if nothing else, is a sign that the people in charge of football operations get it. We need players. Even if he is a shell of his former self- his former self was pretty good- steroid-induced or not.

 

I wonder what happens to Kelsay in all of this?

 

 

 

Ultimately, this is my conclusion as well.

 

It's just boneheaded. With Wake, you did not know what you were getting and if he would transition well to the Pro game. Well, as mentioned here hindsight is 20/20. However, when you need something like a pass rusher you don't let your division rival of all places to get that player.

 

Now, Wake had a side in all of this too. And thinking of the bikini's and beaches in Miami probably had something to do with it.

 

All I am saying is that I would have made it really difficult for him to choose Miami over the Bills. Millions more difficult.

 

You also mention Cornell Green and Kelsay. These are but 2 examples of the terrible decisions being made at OBD on personnel for the past decade. You'll throw money after Robert Royal, Derrick Dockery, Langston Walker, Darwin Walker, Larry Triplett, Aaron Maybin...but let proven, solid, Pro Bowl vets like Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield, and London Fletcher walk right out of town without so much as an offer.

 

I know Modrak is bad, and Guy was terrible, but these kinds of decisions are what has hurt this franchise. Winning franchises don't let studs like Williams, Winfield, and Fletcher walk away...they BUILD around them. All 3 of them are still contributing. Still stalwarts. And those were a good 5 years of production that we lost out on so that we could keep Kelsay, Dockery, Royal, Walker, etc....

 

We have struck out on decisions way too much this decade.

 

I'm hoping that the Merriman signing helps to reestablish some sort of attitude and success on the field the way the old Bills built via Plan B. Leonard Smith, Mark Kelso, Kenneth Davis, Art Still. These Plan B finds eventually led the way for even better players. I hope that we are starting to turn the corner.

grabbing Merriman off of waivers is nothing new - the Bills have brought stop-gap guys in before. 

 

They got Scott and Incognito to help on the OL.

 

Although the Bills retained their rights this year, Buddy cut them loose for noithing even though he still does not anyone to play OT.

 

Expect similar treatment of Merriman, as the Bills hide behind the standard - "he did not want to be here" argument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Doc]

Well said.

 

The only other CFL player that I can think of that came to the NFL and had a terrific career is Warren Moon. Flutie was pretty good in both, too.

Don't forget Jeff Garcia. He made TO a Pro Bowler, you know.

 

But yeah, the number of successful CFL'ers can be counted on one hand. And the contract given to Wake was already the highest ever for a CFL-to-NFL player. Even if the Bills had just come off a playoff season, they'd still have lost out to Miami, given their lack of state income tax, warm weather, and market.