Using the same premise, and as follow up to my last Fan Post, here are the picks from 2011. With only one year to evaluate, it might be too soon, but, here they are anyway. What's your grade (again GPA style) on the 2011 class?

Continue reading this post »

Much has been said over the last few days about how we won't know how successful the 2012 draft is/was until a few years down the road.

OK then, look in the rear view mirror. Considering actual NFL performance, what's your opinion (rating) of the 2010 draft? For comparison purposes, look at it in the GPA format recently used in the recent BR poll. After the jump are the picks. Rate each pick, or just give an overall GPA. And, please, none of that "it was Modrak's draft" stuff. He didn't make the picks.

Continue reading this post »

Twas the morning of Draft Day, and all through the blog

every Rumbler was stirring, everyone in a fog

The Rumblers were nestled all snug in their beds

while visions of draft picks danced in their heads

And Chan in his 'kerchief, and Nix in his cap

Had just settled their brains, they knew who they'd tap

When out on the Drive, there arose such a clatter

We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter

Away to our laptops, we flew like a flash

The phone was ringing, offering draft picks and cash

A little old GM, so lively and quick

We knew in a moment, it must be St. Nix

The Browns, no the Bears, no the Fins no the Eagles, the offers they came

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name

"Now Kalil, now Floyd, now Tannehill and Blackmon

On Gilmore, on Glenn, on Claiborne and Bannon"

To the top of the board, who'll get a phone call?

We can use 'em, we need 'em, we'll take them all

Then he sprang to the podium, to his team gave a whistle

And off went the pick, like the down of a thistle

But, I heard him exclaim 'ere he walked out of sight

"With the 10th pick, the Bills".....well, you'll find out tonight.

Gentlemen (and Ladies),

Over the course of the last several weeks, I've noticed some posters have gone above and beyond the community guidelines and taken a more "personal" tact in response to varying opinions.

The notion that, as a "Bills fan site", only Bills fans with a rosy, positive, outlook need comment is as wrong as those who comment that all hope is lost. Rumblers' heritage, lineage, IQ, etc. are being called into question on both sides.This is not what this should be about.

As the guidelines say, *"attack the persons' ideas, not the person"*. We don't need this.

I, for one, am not very optimistic about the state of the Bills and have some serious doubts about their direction, but, it's only my opinion. It is no better or worse than that of the Rumbler who thinks we will win the Super Bowl in '12. We all should be able to voice those thoughts without being assailed as disloyal idiots, cretins, jerks, homers, and so on- whatever your stand.

So, before you go off on someone with a comment, could I suggest you hit the preview button and read what you are about to say? Then, consider it from the reverse. How would you feel if someone used your words in a comment to you.

Finally, leave out the personal references to the marital status of someone's mother, etc. You can make your point without that.

Post with respect. Thanks.

The Miami Dolphins have signed J. P. Losman to cure their QB problems. Matt Moore has bruised ribs and, there's a chance Losman could be the Fins starting QB when the Bills meet the Fins on November 20, 2011.

I looked for the link announcing it here in Florida, but, it's not even up yet. I heard it on Miami sports radio a few moments ago. They're already heralding the move here as proof positive the Fins are trying to "Suck for Luck".

Sounds about right...

For the first time in 52 years...the first time EVER, Ralph Wilson will miss the Bills' home opener. An avid tennis fan (with whom my brother-in-law has played tennis), Ralph was watching the French Open at home this June, when he lost his balance and fell, breaking his hip. He is rehabbing in Detroit, but is not in sufficient health to make the trip to Buffalo. As anyone with elderly friends or relatives will tell you, at 92, a broken hip can be devastating, even fatal. My mother is 90 and it is by far her biggest fear. Many seniors consider it the beginning of the end.

We'll miss you Ralph. Here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery.

What appeared on the schedule some weeks back as a "strong possibllity" for a win, may not be "as strong" after watching the Raiders-Broncos last night.

The Raiders showed a surprising command of the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. McFadden and Bush ran for 190 yards. McFadden ran for 150 while Bush made the tough, short yardage runs. On defense, Orton was pressured repeatedly and sacked four times. Special teams was, well, special too. Janikowski kicked a 63 yard FG (the game was in Denver) and Lechler gave the Raiders good field position on several occasions.

Frankly, the Raiders performance was, in many ways, as surprising as that of the Bills. The Bills will need to repeat and perhaps exceed their showing against the Chiefs. The Raiders looked considerably more formidable than the Chiefs.

There were Raider weaknesses. The Raiders committed 15 penalties and played some sloppy football. They were unable to mount much of a passing attack with only 99 passing yards. If the Bills can maintain their error free execution and the Raiders continue to make mistakes, the Bills may again have the "strong possibility" of a win. In any event, it shapes up to be a much more interesting contest than it appeared to be several weeks ago. Go Bills.

It's being reported David Garrard is being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. What are your thoughts on him as a replacement for Thigpen? I'm not impressed with Garrard as a starter of late, but, my opinion is that Garrard would be a step up as a back-up QB for Fitz. Garrard's mobility would also fit Gailey's style of offense. I think he provides better insurance if Fitz goes down. Makes sense IMO (so it's unlikely to happen).

Like the Perseid meteor shower, the latest bit of Bills news streaked in and, like the meteor shower, left many slack jawed and speechless. The Evans trade got me to thinking (more) about this front office and Buddy Nix, in particular.

The arguments in the form of comments on BR cover the gamut from fandemonium to abject anger. But ultimately, it comes down to right and wrong. And this seems to be a recurring theme in assessing the "CHIX" era and more specifically, Buddy Nix. Right move/ wrong result, wrong move/wrong result, rarely right move/right result.

The trade of Lee Evans is the latest "good" example. One poster posed the question, "What was Nix thinking?". Well, many made a case that it was the right move. A 30 year old receiver, a stable of young receivers, a chance for  the youngsters to step up. All noble motives. But then there's the wrong. What about the team "psyche" over losing a team leader? What about the timing? And, then there's the issue of compensation. "A 4th?", many asked.

For some seemingly inexplicable reason, the Bills front office rarely does things that would be mistaken for conventional, within the norm, or standard procedure for an NFL front office.

Pick a topic:

Draft? We had a plethora of holes to fill on both sides of the ball last year and this year. So, of course, last year, the Bills take Spiller while having 2 serviceable, veteran running backs. "No one ever picks a running back that high"- except the Bills. This year, faced with unmeasurable lack of depth on the offensive line, the Bills go almost exclusively defense(again). Does any team play an entire game with just defense? Judging by last years time of possession and two years of drafting, one team is moving closer to trying.

Free Agency? Nix has preached "build through the draft" and, judging by his actions, he's a man of his word. Several candidates that would have seriously upgraded the talent on this team came and went elsewhere without so much as a hint that they might come to Buffalo. A case could be made that they didn't (or wouldn't) because of the air of dysfunction that the organization itself seems to propagate and almost nurture.

Contracts? Does any team pay a player a big roster bonus and then trade the player a week later. Of course not. Well, apparently one team does. Does anyone reward a player with a huge contract extension for being a "leader in the locker room", yet his play on the field is open to question? Well, one team does.

Salary Cap? Or maybe salary floor? Again, one of the top five teams with money to spend (needs to spend) trades a veteran team leader after apparently paying a roster bonus, in what some described as a "salary saving move". Huh? OK, they're going to spend it in free agency, right? See above.

Roster moves? How about a QB competition that really isn't a competition? And, first prize for the winner of the "competition" is a one way trip to the unemployment line two weeks later. What team staffs it's QB position with, not one, not two, but three backup QBs? Don't be silly. Oh, wait. What team knows better than the other 31 that those teams have "stars" on their practice squads just waiting to be discovered? Kind of like "American Idol, NFL style". Who needs to waste time drafting, trading, or signing free agents, when there's low hanging fruit on 31 trees?

Rebuilding plan? Surely, everyone needs one, everyone has one, everyone approaches it from both sides of the ball, building out from the trenches. Everyone uses a careful mix of draft, free agency, and rewarding veterans for their play, right? Not so fast Lombardi breath! One team has a "fresh approach". Keep 'em guessing by drafting positions you already have depth in. Don't draft players who will help the the other ones you drafted. Prove to free agents who come to visit that, yes, "we are what you think we are", Wait! Why are you leaving? OK, we know you can run, stop! Have a team motto like, "another team's trash, is our treasure" Catchy yes?

There's an old saying in the military, 'There's the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way". In the case of Buddy and the Bills, it's being re-written as, "The right way, the wrong way, and the Bills way" Ultimately, I think it will be proven the Bills way is synonymous with the wrong way. It's not just drafting, it's drafting the right people. It's not just being active in free agency, it's getting help at key positions. It's not just extending contracts, it's recognizing talent and rewarding it. It's not just a plan, it should be a plan that is quantifiable, measurable, palpable. It's not just being a GM, it's being an effective, knowledgeable, astute GM. Doing the right things is only part of it. Doing the right things, right, is what it's about. Doing the right things wrong, is what Nix has done so far. Trading Evans is the latest example. Trading Evans was right. What Nix traded for, when he did it, how he did it, was wrong.

Ed. note: Bumped from the FanPosts. Nice catch, friend, and a perfect example of what we look for in our FanPost section. - BG

Compounding the uncertainty of the preseason, lockout, et al is the headline from Chicago yesterday regarding the state of the playing surface at Soldier Field. Under the extreme heat in the Midwest, it appears the ground crew failed to "adequately water" the new sod recently installed. The result was a shrinking of the sod, opening up the seams and creating "cracks". It was so bad the Chicago Bears canceled their practice in the stadium that was to be attended by thousands of fans. The fans were turned away after the team arrived and deemed the field unplayable.

Who is scheduled to play the first preseason game on that parched earth? You know the answer. The question becomes what should the Buffalo Bills do? Given our penchant for injury as well as the use of common sense, if I were the front office, I'd look long and hard at the option of not playing the game. While the Chicago Parks District says it's "easily correctable", I would send an advance party to examine the field and determine its suitability. If unacceptable, stay home and tell the league 'no thanks'.

Both Brian Urlacher and Jay Cutler have openly criticized the field as unsafe. Do we want to risk injury to any of our players knowing there is a problem? Can we afford an injury to any of our players in what amounts to a meaningless game?

I hope the Bills do their homework and react accordingly. We don't need the season to be over before it begins.

Mark Clayton is out for the season with a knee injury. Here's another opportunity for Buddy Nix to get something for one of the few value players on the team. I say trade Evans to the Rams. Lee gets to field passes from Bradford and we get to continue our rebuild through the draft. We're going nowhere. It has to frustrate Evans and a change of scenery and someone who can actually throw an accurate long ball might ease that frustration.

Fan frustration, however, burns eternal.

Brian mentioned earlier that many topics get hijacked into discussions about the team, what's wrong, how to fix it and so on. Well, a couple responses were along the theme of "Then, when do we get to discuss THAT? So, I thought why not create the platform and do just that. I've included a poll with some (certainly not all)"sore points". So, vote for your favorite gripe, add your own and let the comments fly. Get it off your chest!

The current issue of GOLF Magazine names the best golfers in the NFL. The BILLS placed 2 players on the teams.

Hangartner was named to the offense with a 7 handicap. Kyle WIlliams was named to the defense with a zero (scratch) handicap.

I thought these guys were supposed to be working out in the off season!

I wouldn't want to "be the ball" (nanananana) when these guys tee off!

Here's the link: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2007044,00.html

Brian's recent post about available QBs raised the question of the value (or lack thereof) of the NOTA option. And, assuming the NOTAs are gravitating to one of the current QBs, i.e. Edwards, Fitz, or Brohm, the issue came up of which one you would prefer. Here's another poll.

Given only these 3, who would you like to see start in '10? There is no NOTA option! Pick one and state your case in the comments, if so desired.