The Senator Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Tough Call, probably Byrd right now with Colin Brown and Chad Rinehart at guard. Makes ya think a little more about the whole 'draft DeCastro' thing, I would hope, rather than just dismissing the idea outright. Yes? No? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Levitre....no brainer... Andy was well on his way to pro bowl nod as Left Guard until they switched him to LT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainwampus Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Most definitely BYRD. Levitre couldn't even stop Maybin. That was at Left Tackle, but STILL. Is he really any good? He certainly can't play Center or LT. He's an average guard at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VADC Bills Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 The answer would be to cut Kelsey and keep both. But I would draft this year for depth at the guard position to prepare for Levitre potentially leaving. Byrd has made the pro bowl competing with Reed and Polamalu, Levetre is not quite there yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truth on hold Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) Gotta see what happens this season. Back to 4-3 and with a better pass rush Byrd may put up big time pro bowl numbers again. Byrd also elevated his physical game and tackling abilities since rookie season. Hard to let a guy like that go when capable guards are common in free agency and the draft. Edited March 19, 2012 by Joe_the_6_pack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAWNDO Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Levitre with no doubt. He has played every position on the line when asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep2Moulds46 Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 To me it's Byrd. I'm never a big fan of putting big money into an offensive guard. I just feel like no matter what level the player plays at, it's easy to find interior offensive linemen who can do the job. Byrd is a playmaker in the secondary, and in my opinion elevated his game last year to become one of the better all around safeties in the league. I want to keep both, but Byrd is the priority....IMO To me it's Byrd. I'm never a big fan of putting big money into an offensive guard. I just feel like no matter what level the player plays at, it's easy to find interior offensive linemen who can do the job. Byrd is a playmaker in the secondary, and in my opinion elevated his game last year to become one of the better all around safeties in the league. I want to keep both, but Byrd is the priority....IMO With that being said, if you want to keep them both and you want to get an early start on it, I would sign Levitre first. I believe the franchise tag number for a safety would be significantly lower than for a G, since offensive linemen all get franchised at the same number, Levitre would make the average of the top 5 LT's in the NFL even though he is a G. It would be easier to tag Byrd if the situation came up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Angel Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 To me it's Byrd. I'm never a big fan of putting big money into an offensive guard. I just feel like no matter what level the player plays at, it's easy to find interior offensive linemen who can do the job. Byrd is a playmaker in the secondary, and in my opinion elevated his game last year to become one of the better all around safeties in the league. I want to keep both, but Byrd is the priority....IMO With that being said, if you want to keep them both and you want to get an early start on it, I would sign Levitre first. I believe the franchise tag number for a safety would be significantly lower than for a G, since offensive linemen all get franchised at the same number, Levitre would make the average of the top 5 LT's in the NFL even though he is a G. It would be easier to tag Byrd if the situation came up Have you not witnessed our online over the past decade With Mike Gandy, Tuten Reyes, Melvin Fowler, Dockery, They should have put you in the front office if it where easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Levitre in a second. I love Byrd but you build from the lines out. That has always been my philosophy First response is the correct one. Absolutely agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlbillsfan1975 Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 LeVitre. He is a great gaurd. Wonder though if him and Chan kissed and made up since the preseason when he got dropped on depth chart for a minute. Or if that was just a stunt by Chan? I like Byrd, was told right after the draft that he would be an impact player for us, by a guy i know in the Falcons Orig. Same guy told me Maybin was a huge gamble...he was right on both. Ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Tough one. I think Byrd may be closer to being an elite S than Levitre is to being an elite OG, but I agree that OL is more important than S. Best to just keep both, I would hate to see either leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowery4 Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) There will be money for both, Mario's contract gets slightly cheaper next year (so will others and the cap will rise sooner than later). The tricky part is doing the deals early enough. Nelson is a must too, something's gotta give and there maybe tougher choices this year than last. I want them all back. Freddy is going to take some change too. Honestly I guess, Edwards is gone but I doubt they cut many vets loose from the D. Edited March 19, 2012 by bowery4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estro Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 He's not on the same level as these two but another key free agent after next season is David Nelson. After seeing how much wideouts got this offseason need to get him locked up. Plenty of cash to go around, that isn't a concern. The bills won't have to choose who they can try to keep, they can afford them all. Pretty sure David Nelson and Donald Jones will both be RFA next offseason, meaning the Bills will be able to protect them from other teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Makes ya think a little more about the whole 'draft DeCastro' thing, I would hope, rather than just dismissing the idea outright. Yes? No? Still wouldn't draft Decastro, Nix can find a guard anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 If you can only keep one it's Levitre, hands down. very good guard and versatile enough to play almost anywhere on the line. Byrd is good but searcey could probably step in and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_wag Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Pretty sure David Nelson and Donald Jones will both be RFA next offseason, meaning the Bills will be able to protect them from other teams. http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/2013/buffalo-bills/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 I'd like to keep both, as well, but if forced to pick between the two I'm keeping Levitre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynchMob23 Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 I'd start with LeVitre like Deep2Moulds mentioned. With the money coming in from NFL TV after this next season, they can pay one up front in 13 and have the other's big bonus guaranteed to hit in 14. Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhitewalkerInPhilly Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Levitre. I mean, I would love both but it looks like we might lose Bell and I don't think we can afford to lose any more O-line players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 I'd start with LeVitre like Deep2Moulds mentioned. With the money coming in from NFL TV after this next season, they can pay one up front in 13 and have the other's big bonus guaranteed to hit in 14. Problem solved. Is this the perfect time to have more cash on the way with the tv deal, or what? We FINALLY have some young players that we want to try to keep, and perhaps otherwise we would not have been able to do so. The money and cap increase will give us more flexibility than we would have had otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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