What the Bills are up against, ultimately

[dave mcbride]

1. Teams that are very clever about the cap: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/sports/football/eagles-free-agent-shopping-spree-was-years-in-making.html?_r=1&ref=football

 

2. Teams that spend what it ages to keep upper echelon players despite contact-dispute acrimony beforehand: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/14/mankins-is-ecstatic-about-his-new-deal/

 

Clearly, the Bills have work to do.

[Merriman_sacks_Brady]

1. Teams that are very clever about the cap: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/sports/football/eagles-free-agent-shopping-spree-was-years-in-making.html?_r=1&ref=football

 

2. Teams that spend what it ages to keep upper echelon players despite contact-dispute acrimony beforehand: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/14/mankins-is-ecstatic-about-his-new-deal/

 

Clearly, the Bills have work to do.

I feel that a few very good players will be available late in the preseason as teams cut a few high priced players

[BringBackFlutie]

I feel that a few very good players will be available late in the preseason as teams cut a few high priced players

 

 

Agreed. I don't have a link (gasp) but I think that Buddy did mention that he is still waiting to see who comes available and if he thinks they will "upgrade our football team" he'll do it. I think that, with Gailey practically crying out for help on the O-Line and the fact that we haven't signed anyone to help out, there's gotta be something that we don't see about those names available right now.

[RuntheDamnBall]

I feel that a few very good players will be available late in the preseason as teams cut a few high priced players

Agreed. It's how we got Merriman, it's how we got Lawyer Milloy back in the day. I don't mind at all bringing in a few guys with talent who think they have something to prove. It gets a little tougher bringing these guys in post-camp and getting them acclimated to the system, but it would probably be worth it to scour for offensive linemen and even safeties.

[BillsVet]

1. Teams that are very clever about the cap: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/sports/football/eagles-free-agent-shopping-spree-was-years-in-making.html?_r=1&ref=football

 

2. Teams that spend what it ages to keep upper echelon players despite contact-dispute acrimony beforehand: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/14/mankins-is-ecstatic-about-his-new-deal/

 

Clearly, the Bills have work to do.

 

Good topic Dave. Completing the rebuild and winning games will go a long way to attracting talented players down the road and at the same time, there are things happening above the GM and HC level that make it hard to sign in-demand UFA's. I don't know if the team's on-field success can overcome this obstacle.

 

Not long ago it wasn't a bad destination for in-demand players like Paup, T. Washington, and Spikes. In the span of about 7 years their reputation has done a complete 180 because there were so many bad decisions which affected the on-field product. Naming Levy and then Brandon GM contributed to some of the worst drafts in the NFL and now they're paying the price.

 

Nix and Gailey admitted they needed to overcome the losing mentality, which could be the hardest item on their to-do list. A start in the right direction would be locking up their core guys before their value increases. I'm talking about Kyle Williams, perhaps Levitre, and Johnson if he's productive in 2011.