Saint Doug Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We were in a bidding war with Cincinnati for M. Vick a few years ago, but Philadelphia won that somehow... ...because Goodell told him to sign with Philly. And thank God for that. The Fitzpatrick extension could have been worse, it could've gone to Vick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Bill's Fan Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 So OK, emulate the other perennial winners and sign your own draft picks to retain them so the Bills can build through the draft. You can either build through the draft or acquire quality free agents, but you can't do neither and field a winner. And really the winning teams do both. How many ex-Bills did we see in the playoffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Number 76 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Ack. Another "name the last time the Bills did this... but your answer doesn't count because..." thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 And, as we enter "there's always next year" season, I'm pretty run-down with the rinse-repeat cycle for 12-15 years. I want this board to reflect some realism. A sober reality that, until the organization is committed to winning a championship, instead of committed to, within budget, fielding a "competitive" team, its just an emotional roller coaster every year. Tired of it yet? You seem pretty tired of it. You don't even have the energy to research your own thread. Maybe a hiatus is in order? Personally I'm looking forward to year 3 of Nix/Gailey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 T.O. ? I guess he won't count either. The prized free agent acquisition works about the same as the draft. Win some lose some. In my mind I can't think of one free agent I'd have rather seen come to buffalo last year than Barnett he was the best defensive player on the field all year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mousetrap08 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 merriman maybe ...yes I know he got hurt......to? he was claimed of waivers not a free agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Kawika Mitchell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picnic Table F'er Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) This "Nobody wants to sign with Buffalo because it's a small poor city" thing is far less true than you think. Maybe there are a 1-2 FA's every year that would avoid us, but in general the Bills can get who they want if they offer the money. Players do not avoid this city as much as our collective inferiority complex thinks it does. Edited February 7, 2012 by Picnic Table F'er Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Nick Barnett...there was lots of interest from other teams and he seems quite a catch. http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/26/free-agency-2011-landing-spots-for-nick-barnett/ That article doesn't document "lots of interest from other teams" at all. He came to see the Bills on Saturday night 7/30. The next morning the Lions signed Tulloch and Barnett cancelled his trip to Detroit. Hours later, he jumped on the Bills offer and signed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
....lybob Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Marcus Stroud ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Marcus Stroud ? Yeah, I agree with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Marcus Stroud ? Traded for him. I think the answer is Nick Barnett, great pick-up. I was a little surprised he came here, but I'm glad he did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffalothruMyVeins Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Marcus Stroud ? We traded a 3rd and 5th for Stroud. I think the 3rd is a pick we got from Baltimore for McGahee. I THINK it was a 3rd and 5th... Edited February 7, 2012 by BuffalothruMyVeins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizell Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 hey guys, remember when we signed Jeff Posey at 12:01 AM because we wanted to beat the rush of teams that were going ot want him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 This "Nobody wants to sign with Buffalo because it's a small poor city" thing is far less true than you think. Maybe there are a 1-2 FA's every year that would avoid us, but in general the Bills can get who they want if they offer the money. Players do not avoid this city as much as our collective inferiority complex thinks it does. Unfortunately what's really tough is that guys going into there primes never knew buffalo as a winner dating back to their earliest football memories. at best a 20-something guy remembers the music city miracle as the high water point, otherwise.... Just jokes, cold weather etc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobChalmers Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Barnett is the correct answer to the OP. Other options include: - Dockery. Ralph shelled out $7M/year to (briefly) make him the highest paid interior OL in the NFL. - Langston Walker came the same year at a hefty $5M/year - it's debatable how much competition they had for him. - T.O. Frankly, signing him to only a 1-year deal was one of the smartest moves the Bills have ever made. That shrewd move forced him to behave. I am betting the OP is practicing typically negative Bills-fan selective memory to be going all the way back to Doug Flutie. The truth is, at times, Ralph has spent plenty to bring in a few seemingly important pieces. That's why I take Buddy Nix completely seriously when he says he's going to add a big-time WR to Stevie, and add a 2nd if they lose Stevie, AND add a serious pass rusher. Every few years this team makes a REAL push when they think they are close enough to justify it. Nix's press conference was making it clear that they believe this is one of those years and he absolutely expects playoffs in 2012. hey guys, remember when we signed Jeff Posey at 12:01 AM because we wanted to beat the rush of teams that were going ot want him? Main problem with Posey is they were ignoring the fact that the guy could only play 3-4 OLB and they tried to shoe-horn him into a 4-3 when he already had an NFL track record showing he was nothing at that position. Reminds me of when the Ravens brought in Elvis Grbac, completely ignoring that Grbac's entire success camne playing the West Coast offense, and he was hopelessly wrong for the Ravens' deep ball scheme. Grbac was among the worst FA signings ever, and certainly the worst in the Ravens' history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddenboy Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Barnett is the correct answer to the OP. Other options include: - Dockery. Ralph shelled out $7M/year to (briefly) make him the highest paid interior OL in the NFL. - Langston Walker came the same year at a hefty $5M/year - it's debatable how much competition they had for him. - T.O. Frankly, signing him to only a 1-year deal was one of the smartest moves the Bills have ever made. That shrewd move forced him to behave. I am betting the OP is practicing typically negative Bills-fan selective memory to be going all the way back to Doug Flutie. The truth is, at times, Ralph has spent plenty to bring in a few seemingly important pieces. That's why I take Buddy Nix completely seriously when he says he's going to add a big-time WR to Stevie, and add a 2nd if they lose Stevie, AND add a serious pass rusher. Every few years this team makes a REAL push when they think they are close enough to justify it. Nix's press conference was making it clear that they believe this is one of those years and he absolutely expects playoffs in 2012. Main problem with Posey is they were ignoring the fact that the guy could only play 3-4 OLB and they tried to shoe-horn him into a 4-3 when he already had an NFL track record showing he was nothing at that position. Reminds me of when the Ravens brought in Elvis Grbac, completely ignoring that Grbac's entire success camne playing the West Coast offense, and he was hopelessly wrong for the Ravens' deep ball scheme. Grbac was among the worst FA signings ever, and certainly the worst in the Ravens' history. As the OP, I'll give you Dockery. And as to selective memory, I was not making a statement that we didnt have anyone. I was saying it doesnt seem like it, i'm too lazy to look it up, and someone feel free to chime in. I guess it was assumed, correctly, that I didnt "feel" like there were many. Or any. And many have pointed out that Free Agency is not really the way to build a team. My main point is that, at this time every year for more than a decade, Bills fans get all excited about what we're "going" to do in free agency, only to be disappointed every every every year. So please stop with the "after we sign Mario Williams and Vincent Jackson, then we can look at X, Y, and Z in the draft" chatter. Not only will it not happen, but its not good for our collective stress level. We need hope, but thinking we're gonna be players in FA is just pie-in-the-sky. Edited February 7, 2012 by maddenboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st pete gogolak Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Who were the big free agent signees on New England, the Giants, Baltimore and Pittsburgh? I think all of those teams have been very successful without signing many "big name" free agents. For the most part, this is true, but NE built the beginning of its run with some critical mid-level FA's (Rodney Harrison, Vrabel) and they have spent money on guys who haven't worked out (Roosevelt Colvin, Adalieus Thomas). They also stole Corey Dillon and Randy Moss in trades. There have also been teams very dependent on FA's for their success. Look at NO with Brees, Sproles, Vilma and Greer just to name few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBD Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Main problem with Posey is they were ignoring the fact that the guy could only play 3-4 OLB and they tried to shoe-horn him into a 4-3 when he already had an NFL track record showing he was nothing at that position. Reminds me of when the Ravens brought in Elvis Grbac, completely ignoring that Grbac's entire success camne playing the West Coast offense, and he was hopelessly wrong for the Ravens' deep ball scheme. Grbac was among the worst FA signings ever, and certainly the worst in the Ravens' history. They were playing a 46 under Gregg Williams, he was supposedly going to be a pass rushing OLB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 - T.O. Frankly, signing him to only a 1-year deal was one of the smartest moves the Bills have ever made. . I can't imagine a more damning idictment of the Bills FO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts