Dean Cain Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 (edited) Byrd will be signed. As for Levitre. It's time to pony up a contract similar to Logan Mankins: 6 years / 51 million, with $20 million guaranteed, last 5 years with 250k workout bonuses. Now is Levitre at Mankins level? No. Is Levitre a top 10 guard that has been healthy and a good reliable player? Yes. Ruben Brown for all his Pro Bowls was not Logan Mankins, one could make the argument Levitre has been our best player the past 2 seasons. You don't let a top 5 player on your roster walk away easily. Edited February 21, 2013 by BigCountryBills
BillsVet Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Sounds like posturing on the team's behalf. Basically telling the player and agent that they'll go that route if they can't make a deal IMO. Byrd cannot be allowed to leave. You can't blame an agent for trying to capitalize on what will probably be the player's most lucrative contract during his career.
D521646 Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 If Levitre walks then this changes our draft needs tremendously. At the eight pick we coud draft either a stud tackle, and move Glenn inside, or draft a stud guard and all else is moot. Sucks though because I wanted that 8 pick for Patterson. Tim-
NoSaint Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 If Levitre walks then this changes our draft needs tremendously. At the eight pick we coud draft either a stud tackle, and move Glenn inside, or draft a stud guard and all else is moot. Sucks though because I wanted that 8 pick for Patterson. Tim- I don't think guard is remotely in play at 8
QCity Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Sounds like posturing on the team's behalf. Basically telling the player and agent that they'll go that route if they can't make a deal IMO. I was thinking the same thing. Maybe not even directly tell the player, but leak it to the media. Then say "We have not publicly stated how we intend to use our franchise tag." As for Levitre. It's time to pony up a contract similar to Logan Mankins: 6 years / 51 million, with $20 million guaranteed, last 5 years with 250k workout bonuses. $51MM for Levitre??? You are on crazy pills lol
K-9 Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 ... $51MM for Levitre??? You are on crazy pills lol Yeah. I mean that is Derrick Dockery territory. NO WAY the Bills would ever spend so much on a LG. Except that they have in the past. GO BILLS!!!
QCity Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Yeah. I mean that is Derrick Dockery territory. NO WAY the Bills would ever spend so much on a LG. Except that they have in the past. I know, that's what scares me!
KeisterHollow Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 They could pay another safety, and save money by playing two rookies, and Nigel Bradham (cheap, too) as three LB's. That's no different than drafting, say Vacarro, another rookie LB, and paying a FA LB somewhere in the 6 million a year range.
Orton's Arm Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 If Levitre walks then this changes our draft needs tremendously. At the eight pick we coud draft either a stud tackle, and move Glenn inside, or draft a stud guard and all else is moot. Sucks though because I wanted that 8 pick for Patterson. Tim- If Levitre walks, there's no way the Bills should use the 8th overall pick on his replacement! You can get good OGs in the second or third round.
Heitz Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 No mention of Brandon saying they're going to meet with both Byrd and Levitre's agents at the combine and that both the Franchise or Transition tag is a possibility for both? http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Nix-Franchise-tag-an-option-for-Byrd-Levitre/0e6a41f4-c098-4972-af19-1f3fbddae7a5 Not like I would expect them to say anything different, but good to know there at least getting together to talk deal!
Mark Vader Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 I know, that's what scares me! Except in this situation, this Bills would be spending big money on a player that has proven their worth. Even if they overpay, they can always restructure a players contract somewhere down the line.
NewEra Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 To me it all boils down to how much they value being great at Safety. In other words is it better to invest in a free agent LB so we have one good one, invest in one good safety, one good pass rusher, etc? Or is there more value in being totally solidified in one area? I don't know the answer but I believe Pettine will figure it out. My thoughts as well. If they think having 2 stud safety's can elevate our defense to a formidable one, I could see it. But who's knows if they do?
Dibs Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 If Levitre walks, there's no way the Bills should use the 8th overall pick on his replacement! You can get good OGs in the second or third round. ....with about a 36% chance in the 2nd & 13% chance in the 3rd.....I wouldn't be counting on finding his replacement straight away. http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/155887-drafting-success-ol/
Orton's Arm Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 ....with about a 36% chance in the 2nd & 13% chance in the 3rd.....I wouldn't be counting on finding his replacement straight away. http://forums.twobil...ing-success-ol/ Anyone who hasn't yet clicked on Dibs' link should immediately do so. It's a great, content-rich OP. But you've lumped all offensive linemen together. This means that if an OG drafted in the second or third would be more likely to succeed than a second or third round C or OT, that difference wouldn't show up in your analysis. I agree with your point that using a second or third round pick, at any position, is very far from a guarantee of filling a hole. If a team like the Bills uses a second or third round pick on a non-premium position, like OG, and if said player doesn't work out, then in a few years they can use another second or third round pick on the same position. It's not a great solution. But it's better than using a premium pick (8th overall) on a non-premium need (OG). Especially for a team which has other needs at premium positions (QB, pass rusher, CB, WR, etc.).
clearwater cadet Posted February 22, 2013 Author Posted February 22, 2013 Teams do it every year, they hide a weaker linemen at the guard position, the pats have been doing it for years, with stephen neal or donald thomas. I think it more important to have a solid center, and tackles. When also gonna have wood, and spiller coming up shortly as free agents so you have to consider that as well. I'm all for paying andy 5-6 a year, but they cant go 7 to 9. The guys from nfl network (maylock) said last night the best player in the draft was guard from Alabama, the other guys at table all seemed to agree. So maybe he's your guys at 8 or you move back. I will rather take a soild linemen at 8, then reach for a Qb.
K-9 Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 Teams do it every year, they hide a weaker linemen at the guard position, the pats have been doing it for years, with stephen neal or donald thomas. I think it more important to have a solid center, and tackles. When also gonna have wood, and spiller coming up shortly as free agents so you have to consider that as well. I'm all for paying andy 5-6 a year, but they cant go 7 to 9. The guys from nfl network (maylock) said last night the best player in the draft was guard from Alabama, the other guys at table all seemed to agree. So maybe he's your guys at 8 or you move back. I will rather take a soild linemen at 8, then reach for a Qb. . They may very well be right as there is nobody in the draft who plays his position any better than Chance Warmack. He is John Hannah, Larry Allen, Dermonti Dawson, Larry Little, Gene Upshaw, and Joe DeLamielleure all rolled into one. I wouldn't have any problem with them taking him at 8 regardless of the "non premium position" crap being spewed. Great football players are great football players, regardless of position. Optimally, it would be great to trade down, get an extra pick, and still be able to select him, but if they have their minds made up on him, I can understand why they would take that high. GO BILLS!!!
Orton's Arm Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 . They may very well be right as there is nobody in the draft who plays his position any better than Chance Warmack. He is John Hannah, Larry Allen, Dermonti Dawson, Larry Little, Gene Upshaw, and Joe DeLamielleure all rolled into one. I wouldn't have any problem with them taking him at 8 regardless of the "non premium position" crap being spewed. Great football players are great football players, regardless of position. Optimally, it would be great to trade down, get an extra pick, and still be able to select him, but if they have their minds made up on him, I can understand why they would take that high. GO BILLS!!! I disagree. This team has too many needs at premium positions to use the 8th overall pick on a non-premium one. Especially when the hole we're talking about filling would be self-inflicted (by letting Levitre walk).
QCity Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 They may very well be right as there is nobody in the draft who plays his position any better than Chance Warmack. He is John Hannah, Larry Allen, Dermonti Dawson, Larry Little, Gene Upshaw, and Joe DeLamielleure all rolled into one. That would make him the greatest guard to come out of college since David DeCastro!
BADOLBILZ Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 To me it all boils down to how much they value being great at Safety. In other words is it better to invest in a free agent LB so we have one good one, invest in one good safety, one good pass rusher, etc? Or is there more value in being totally solidified in one area? I don't know the answer but I believe Pettine will figure it out. The Bills have valued safety in recent years because the Patriots current offense has a real focus on exploiting poor safety play, which is a problem around the league. There is a lot of handwringing about needing LB's but the Bills could easily end up playing nickel as a base defense more than not. In which case your front 7 is just a front 6 anyway. If you are only going to play 6 big men, at least 4 of them better be DL sized. The Bills may view a free agent safety like Landry as an alternative to a 3rd LB.
jcbillsfan Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 (edited) Fisher could be in play at 8. Kicking Glenn inside Why not draft a prototypical left tackle and have a mauler like Glenn inside. Once get sign wood this Oline would be together for at least 5 years. As for me I would not pay levitre 50 million with 22 grt. Edited February 23, 2013 by jcbillsfan
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