LabattBlue Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 How can the Bills be a "win now" or "going for it" team when they let arguably their best player(Byrd) walk in FA and then traded their best WR(Johnson). I am okay with the retooling, but make no mistake about it, their moves are not indicative of a win now team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Byrd was not their best player. There is no argument there. And he's far more easily replaced than other guys. As for Stevie, he may have arguably been the best WR, but that will likely prove to no longer be the case. Mike Williams has shown to be equally as good, and Watkins should be even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) How can the Bills be a "win now" or "going for it" team when they let arguably their best player(Byrd) walk in FA and then traded their best WR(Johnson). I am okay with the retooling, but make no mistake about it, their moves are not indicative of a win now team. Johnson was 4th on the depth chart at the time of the trade (in all likelihood). Byrd was a good player (not a great player). He struggled in run support and was limited athletically. He has great instincts and a nose for the football. I am not sure at this point though if he is a better safety than Aaron Williams. Byrd is a top 5-10 safety but not Ed Reed in his prime. If you weigh the additions vs. the subtractions this team is MILES ahead of where they were last year IMO. They are better at RB, OL, LB, WR and CB. In theory the QB play should improve as well. The DL is virtually the same and ST should be better. The only place that they are weaker is at S and they have some talented (albeit raw) players to take over Byrd's spot. Edited May 11, 2014 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voodoo poonani Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Johnson was 4th on the depth chart at the time of the trade (in all likelihood) The only Bills receiver to have three consecutive 1000 yard seasons was 4th on the depth chart? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 The only Bills receiver to have three consecutive 1000 yard seasons was 4th on the depth chart? in 2014............................yes. How ANYONE can have followed the Bills the last few days and not think that they are trying to win now is beyond me. ALL teams lose players and move on. Some 'fans' cannot. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 I don't get the continued "Bills let Byrd walk" talk. It takes two to make a deal. Isn't it true that every "committed" team loses players to free agency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockinon Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 I like your handle LabattBlue. But really? The Bills have just built perhaps the most dominant offensive line in the NFL and picked up one of the most dynamic receivers to come out of the college ranks over the last 5 years. And you don't think that is a win now mentality? Not sure what more you could ask for out of a draft. As for "Oh, my groin hurts Johnson" and "The Bills can't pay me enough to stay here, Byrd", the Bills did what was best for the team. Sit back, have another beer(if that isn't strong enough, try the Blue Royale....it's awsome!!) and wait to see how this plays out. I think you may be suffering from the withdrawal symptoms and it ain't from the beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 The only Bills receiver to have three consecutive 1000 yard seasons was 4th on the depth chart? Yes, Watkins, Williams and Woods were all going to be ahead of him in 2014. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) How can the Bills be a "win now" or "going for it" team when they let arguably their best player(Byrd) walk in FA and then traded their best WR(Johnson). I am okay with the retooling, but make no mistake about it, their moves are not indicative of a win now team. Because you weren't going to get the best of Byrd forcing him to play here. His plantar fasciitis would have mysteriously returned. He didn't want to be here. You move on. Edited May 11, 2014 by PromoTheRobot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice of Truth Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Definitely should have kept Byrd. I don't care if we thought we had to overpay. If we drafted and retained talent we whould have Whitner and Byrd. Maybe put whitner at strong safety. As always though, our future rides on the QB. We go as EJ goes and I'm not too confident about that. I think he has potential but we're basically betting our future on a guy some teams had a 4th round grade on and who has had surgery on both knees I believe. Not exactly a sure thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 I don't think either of these situations are contradictory to the team winning now. Stevie is quite the opposite of that. The trade was addition by subtraction in the plan of Whaley winning. The WRs replaced him are better than he is. And they have bought in to the culture. they didn't think he would handle his new role well and cut the cord. They have seen enough of him, on the field and in the locker room. They wanted him gone so much they are eating the dead money and bonus they just paid out. This may not have anything to do with him as a person, his production under a different regime, or his love of Buffalo. It has to with his negatives outweighing his positives. The Bills wanted to keep Byrd. They tried very hard to keep Byrd but only on a long term deal. The one-year tag was going to create negatives that do not fit with "winning now,: Byrd tried very hard not to stay. The end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maury Ballstein Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Whitner sucks. That is all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted May 11, 2014 Author Share Posted May 11, 2014 Yes, Watkins, Williams and Woods were all going to be ahead of him in 2014. I'd love to be convinced that I am wrong, but what you stated above is laughable. With Williams track record in Tampa, it wouldn't suprise me if he doesn't even make it out of training camp, let alone being a more productive WR than Johnson,and that is coming from someone that was never that big of a fan of Stevie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) How can the Bills be a "win now" or "going for it" team when they let arguably their best player(Byrd) walk in FA and then traded their best WR(Johnson). I am okay with the retooling, but make no mistake about it, their moves are not indicative of a win now team. This year he was likely 3rd best with Watkins and Williams as 1-2 and probably a good chance in year 2 Robert Woods is going to be as good if not better, plus the nagging groin injury going on 3 years now and the fact its been rumored that him and Marrone didn't see eye to eye made it a pretty easy decision... Imho, I don't think Stevie wants to put in the type of work and effort Marrone wants, see the "no off-season conditioning program" comments...wanting to win and doing whatever it takes to win are completely different things Edited May 11, 2014 by matter2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 As good as Stevie was he did drop some passes that where right in his hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) I'd love to be convinced that I am wrong, but what you stated above is laughable. With Williams track record in Tampa, it wouldn't suprise me if he doesn't even make it out of training camp, let alone being a more productive WR than Johnson,and that is coming from someone that was never that big of a fan of Stevie. Williams' best seasons rank right there with Stevie's and he is more physically imposing. Yes, he has been an idiot but that goes without saying that as of today he was going to be starting on the outside. They have always planned on Woods playing the slot role and he is another guy that is just more physically gifted. He was brought in to play that role. Watkins is the most talented WR that this team has had since Eric Moulds (and maybe back to Andre). I am actually a little surprised that you find it unfathomable that Stevie was their 4th option at WR? Edited May 11, 2014 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 I'd love to be convinced that I am wrong... I'm betting not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heitz Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) ... Edited May 11, 2014 by Heitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Security Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Byrd was not their best player. There is no argument there. And he's far more easily replaced than other guys. As for Stevie, he may have arguably been the best WR, but that will likely prove to no longer be the case. Mike Williams has shown to be equally as good, and Watkins should be even better. Byrd was without a doubt their best player, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Byrd was not their best player. There is no argument there. And he's far more easily replaced than other guys. As for Stevie, he may have arguably been the best WR, but that will likely prove to no longer be the case. Mike Williams has shown to be equally as good, and Watkins should be even better. Byrd wasn't even our best player on defense. Now I have a ton of respect for Byrd as a football player and his instincts (the strength of his game), are second to none. But I honestly feel he won't be missed at all. I know, that's heresy to some around here, but I really don't think our secondary will miss a beat. And as much as we all loved SJ (with apologies to curitiba), the moment Watkins signs, he becomes our best receiver. Yeah, I know all about how rookie receivers "take time" but Watkins is cut from a different cloth. GO BILLS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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