Mark80 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Gotta disagree a bit with you here, from my vantage point, he was all over the field. I saw him come clean across the field and drag, I believe a wr on a quick out, down for a very short gain, and saw other hustle type plays as well from him. He ended up with two solos and 7 assists plus gthe pick. But do also agree with you that we don't really miss him all that much, and would much rather have Williams, Anderson, Byrd. Sorry, but any time a running game has 41 carries for 214 yards and moving the sticks at will it is never a good game for any MLB. With that many runs any good MLB would have had at least 12 tackles and certainly more than just 2 solo ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widerightradio Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 The Problem is you have Byrd and Levitre as free agents. Levitre cannot walk. So if you sign one of them mid season you can franchise the other if you need to. Levitre is unlikely to be franchised. Guards are lumped into the same franchise category as all offensive linemen. So you're looking at paying top five left tackle money for a guard. It's not impossible. There was lots of talk about Carl Nicks getting the franchise tag in New Orleans before the Saints had to tag Brees. Tagging Byrd would also probably be about 30-40% cheaper than tagging Levitre. This is all to say, Bills shouldn't worry about Byrd and need to lock down Levitre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Not too worried. Hang the tag on him if need be. Then use it as leverage for a long term deal. Plus, he'll want to stay after we finish 9-7. This! Not worried about Byrd at all, as the going rate for a Franchised FS is only about $5-6mil. And Poz is no better than Sheppard. Which team got gashed on the ground all day last Sunday, and which team didnt? I saw plenty of plays where Poz was out of position, getting run over, or getting to the runner 10 yards down field. Same ol Poz. Good but not great, and not worth the money he commanded. This is true, but what if both want to test free agency and won't sign during the season? Interesting how Nix is (at least publicly) trying to sign Byrd before Levitre. Mankins was given the franchise tag in 2011 for 10.1 million, and safety Tyvon Branch was given the tag in 2012 for 6.2 million. Unfortunately for Wood this latest injury is most likely going to hamper his ability to command a big dollar/long term contract. But fortunately for the Bills should make it a bit easier to get something done. Wood still has an extra year on his contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Trooth Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 1) Poz is the MLB on the 31st ranked NFL defense. 2) Byrd is the FS on the 24th ranked NFL Defense. "Keeping your own" ain't necessarily a good thing. Poz was soft and Byrd is soft. Albeit, both are above average at their postitions in coverage, but both suck against the run and are not physical. If Byrd is willing to settle for a 15-20% increase in salary, I'd say keep him, but I'd advise the Bills to pickup up a starting FS (draft or FA). This team needs to get a lot a lot better and more physical at FS. Byrd is not gonna get a lot better. If the standard for safety is dudes like Polomalu, Reed, Landry, where is Byrd in that kind of company? I'll tell ya.... not there... for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 1) Poz is the MLB on the 31st ranked NFL defense. 2) Byrd is the FS on the 24th ranked NFL Defense. "Keeping your own" ain't necessarily a good thing. Poz was soft and Byrd is soft. Albeit, both are above average at their postitions in coverage, but both suck against the run and are not physical. If Byrd is willing to settle for a 15-20% increase in salary, I'd say keep him, but I'd advise the Bills to pickup up a starting FS (draft or FA). This team needs to get a lot a lot better and more physical at FS. Byrd is not gonna get a lot better. If the standard for safety is dudes like Polomalu, Reed, Landry, where is Byrd in that kind of company? I'll tell ya.... not there... for sure. The standards for a FS and a SS are different. You can't lump Byrd/Reed together with Polomalu/Landry. While Byrd is no Ed Reed, no other FS in the league is either. He's a first ballot HOFer after all. That said, I don't know how a FS that causes as many fumbles as Byrd does can be labeled soft. Byrd would be a fool not to test the free agent waters. He'll be the most highly sought after DB on the market most likely. GO BILLS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 How is Byrd, one of our best tacklers even as a FS, "soft" in any way? FS isnt supposed to support the run. That is the SS's job. And Wilson has been soft, which is why Searcy has received more playing time and has been very good against the run. Our run defense is night and day now that we have been keeping Shep and Searcy in, and not running that horrible Nickel with Scott and Barnett as LBs and Wilson as SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) This is true, but what if both want to test free agency and won't sign during the season? Interesting how Nix is (at least publicly) trying to sign Byrd before Levitre. Mankins was given the franchise tag in 2011 for 10.1 million, and safety Tyvon Branch was given the tag in 2012 for 6.2 million. Unfortunately for Wood this latest injury is most likely going to hamper his ability to command a big dollar/long term contract. But fortunately for the Bills should make it a bit easier to get something done. When you have a Stalwart Offensive lineman like Levitre that is willing to play any position and has missed very snaps. You pay the man. I don't think the Pats were thinking Crap we paid too much to protect our QB. There shouln't be any question from any reasonable person that would question whether or not Levitre is a top 5 Guard in the NFL. He is. So pay him like one and stop pulling the Buffalo Bills Fan Blue Collar Dollar Store mentality. We're not trying to "Get a Deal" we're trying to win a Super Bowl. How is Byrd, one of our best tacklers even as a FS, "soft" in any way? FS isnt supposed to support the run. That is the SS's job. And Wilson has been soft, which is why Searcy has received more playing time and has been very good against the run. Our run defense is night and day now that we have been keeping Shep and Searcy in, and not running that horrible Nickel with Scott and Barnett as LBs and Wilson as SS. Plus Aaron Williams is off the field at Corner. If Aaron Williams comes back he has to be worked in the rotation at FS. He can be depth behind a resigned Byrd. At this point in time he has proven that his is not an NFL quality CB. Edited December 4, 2012 by Why So Serious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Poz has to be one of the most overhyped players in the league. The announcers were all about him on Sunday, but except for the pick that Fitz threw right to him, he did nothing all game, just like he did nothing for us for years. Just because the guy has a cool name, looks tough, and makes a few tackles, doesn't mean he's a great NFL linebacker. Good riddance. Byrd, on the other hand is a straight up baller who makes plays all over the field and can win games for you with crazy picks and even some hits once in a while. Get it done! Agree 100%. Don't miss Pos at all, but Byrd is another story,,, can't blame him if he left though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 "Keeping your own" ain't necessarily a good thing. Poz was soft and Byrd is soft. Albeit, both are above average at their postitions in coverage, but both suck against the run and are not physical. While this may have been true of Byrd in his first 2 years, I think he's improved tremendously in run support the last 2. I remember one play in particular where a back was coming at him in open space. Byrd coiled and sprang out at him in a move that reminded me of a cobra strike, taking the guy's legs out completely. This year I think he's finally put the 2 sides together (I think the int numbers fell off when he concentrated on run support initially). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 As someone else posted, Byrd is a football player pure and simple and has a knack for the ball. We need more Byrds on this team not fewer. We need to re-sign this guy. There is no question about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Tag Byrd, re-sign Levitre, then work out a long term deal with Byrd. Despite what some think Buddy's not stupid -- Byrd is exactly the sort of player he wants to keep here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Nix is good at retaining players. I.e. Jackson, Johnson, Chandler. I think we'll be able to keep both. But Nix should explain to Byrd what he is doing to build a winner. If I'm Byrd, I'm telling Nix either Chanpatrick goes or I go. You pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Nix is good at retaining players. I.e. Jackson, Johnson, Chandler. I think we'll be able to keep both. But Nix should explain to Byrd what he is doing to build a winner. If I'm Byrd, I'm telling Nix either Chanpatrick goes or I go. You pick. And as GM and the boss, I would say "Your input has been acknowledged, now here is your franchise tag, and I'll build this team as I need to". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Biscuit97 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Nix is good at retaining players. I.e. Jackson, Johnson, Chandler. I think we'll be able to keep both. But Nix should explain to Byrd what he is doing to build a winner. If I'm Byrd, I'm telling Nix either Chanpatrick goes or I go. You pick. Yeah, that's never gonna happen. Bryd really is powerless at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Linen Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) When you have a Stalwart Offensive lineman like Levitre that is willing to play any position and has missed very snaps. You pay the man. I don't think the Pats were thinking Crap we paid too much to protect our QB. There shouln't be any question from any reasonable person that would question whether or not Levitre is a top 5 Guard in the NFL. He is. So pay him like one and stop pulling the Buffalo Bills Fan Blue Collar Dollar Store mentality. We're not trying to "Get a Deal" we're trying to win a Super Bowl. How you assumed I said any of this from what I wrote is beyond me. My point was that it's interesting he's going after Byrd first. I think he should go after Levitre first, then if we have to tag Byrd its at a much more reasonably priced tag. It's not about "Get a Deal", it's about figuring out how to get them both signed. Edited December 4, 2012 by Triple Threat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 How you assumed I said any of this from what I wrote is beyond me. My point was that it's interesting he's going after Byrd first. I think he should go after Levitre first, then if we have to tag Byrd its at a much more reasonably priced tag. It's not about "Get a Deal", it's about figuring out how to get them both signed. I didn't say you said any of that. It doesn't matter if you pay Levitre 9 mil now or after you franchise him as well it doesn't matter if you pay Byrd 6 mil now or when you fracnhise. Its not more or less difficult to swallow. Its a budget. The contracts are already penciled in now. They are already should have a strategy today. Barring some freak accident the next 4 games aren't really going to change the evaluation of either players resume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My god, people are ridiculous. Poz had what was by any estimation a good game against the Bills. Jeez. Do you guys even watch defensive line play??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantankerous Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 1) Poz is the MLB on the 31st ranked NFL defense. 2) Byrd is the FS on the 24th ranked NFL Defense. "Keeping your own" ain't necessarily a good thing. Poz was soft and Byrd is soft. Albeit, both are above average at their postitions in coverage, but both suck against the run and are not physical. If Byrd is willing to settle for a 15-20% increase in salary, I'd say keep him, but I'd advise the Bills to pickup up a starting FS (draft or FA). This team needs to get a lot a lot better and more physical at FS. Byrd is not gonna get a lot better. If the standard for safety is dudes like Polomalu, Reed, Landry, where is Byrd in that kind of company? I'll tell ya.... not there... for sure. What an idiot. Why don't you work for a NFL team Trooth? Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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