It's been awhile since I made one of these and caused a ruckus, so I felt it was time.  There seems like a lot more people on here and of course the familiar faces also, so let me recap some peeps on me and what I want for these Bills.  

Last year I wanted them to draft Tebow.  I thought he was a bit of a project but basically a can't miss one because of his heart and dedication.  I got quite the following on here to see it my way also, but alas, Tebow was not in the cards and instead the Bills took Spiller.  I was disappointed, but not in taking Spiller as much as not taking Tebow.  (fun little jab here, but at least Tebow was responsible for 11 tds, which is 9 more than Spiller, that said I like Spiller and think he will be a real asset sooner rather than later, but the jury is still out whether or not he will be a bigger asset than Tebow).

So everyone knows on this site that I don't think Ryan Fitzpatrick is a long term solution to the qb position for the Bills.  I really hope that is the prevailing opinion about him on this site, but I do know and respect others, but I will never see it their way.  (side note, i had a dream that i played catch with Bledsoe, and I told him I hated him when he played with the Pats but would kill to have a guy of his caliber qbing the team now).  

With all that in mind, I am going to give up what I believe is the best pick for number 3 in the NFL draft.  I usually dont go further than the 3rd round, because quite frankly its such a wild card and also I just don't have the proper knowledge to go that deep.  

First, I don't want a defensive lineman for the 3rd pick.  There I said it.  I like defense as much as the next guy, but I think Kyle, Edwards, Carrington, Troup and Stroud are sufficient at this point in time, and I actually think a lot of our problems are in the LB core.  With that said, there is NO run stuffing LB that will ever be worth a top 5 pick.   (please differentiate between run stuffer and pass rusher).  I also think its highly unlikely chan and Nix go for a pass rushing LB in this draft.  Moats came on strong last year and Merriman was just signed for a couple years.  That and the fact that Maybin is cheap enough to not cut this year and Kelsay is here for the long haul (whether we like it or not) make me think they will not be investing heavily on that position.  

Second, I love AJ Green.  I am a bit biased as I am from Georgia and they are my second favorite team behind my Gators.  I think he is a game changer and would complete this offense.  I love his heart and I think hes a good kid.  People say "well its too crowded at WR" but I disagree.  Lee Evans has never lived up to his billing, and this is coming from a HUUUUGEEEE Evans supporter, but he is what he is.  He struggles to get open and is only a deep threat which seems to be losing a step.  I don't know how franchises work (the ins and outs) but if I could, i would try my hardest to trade him, basically for anything at this point.  Steve is the new number 1, and while that may be premature because of only one productive year, I believe (hope) that he will prove me right this year.  David Nelson has been quite the surprise to many of you, but I was excited from day 1 when he signed.  He is and will continue to develop into a great slot option.  Parrish, what to do about Parrish. Is it any surprise that the first year Parrish got a lot of touches, that he got hurt pretty early? (yes half way is early).  I like him, I think hes a great return guy, but I never see him holding up the entire year going over the middle and he lacks straight away speed to be the deep threat, I am unconcerned if he loses reps.  Easley, well, Easly isnt in this discussion because he has proven jack so far and until he shows something on the field of play, I won't think much of him.  Therefore I don't think AJ Green would have a problem getting playing time.  Additionally, you have to think, is AJ better than those guys I just listed?  I would say yes as to all of them except Steve, so even if there is quantity, there isnt the quality that is AJ.

Third, I think Cam Newton is the same physical tools as Tebow.  But what made tebow was his heart, his dedication and his leadership.  Cam left UF amid serious character accusations, played some JUCO and then apparently his dad (and dont tell me he didnt know his dad was doing this) tried to get a school to pay them for him to play there.  Basically went to be a one year mercenary in Auburn and then bolted once he could.  Do I blame him? No, but when you step back and look at the entire picture, something just smells different.  That being said, he seems more polished than Tebow did and is working his tail off to fix his flaws, and that says something too.  His only full year he posted a 66% completion percentage, thew 30 tds to 7 ints and threw for almost 2,900 yards in what could be considered the hardest conference in all of the NCAA (5 NC's in a row people, you may not think they are the hardest, but you have to admit they are in every discussion).  He is a physical specimen in 6'6 and 250 pounds and has the durability of a linebacker.  He's right handed (that seemed to bother a few about Timmay) and dont forget he ran for almost 1500 yards too.  My only concern? Character and his father.  They are both his biggest liabilities.

Fourth Patrick Peterson is a lock down Corner.  He is a big physical Corner than can run too, and hoestly, people may have disliked the Jauron approach of never having enough corners, but you really can never have too many lock down corners.  That being said, when you read in between the lines, I don't think Nix is leaning towards Peterson, and I have doubts as to his availability at number 3 with Denver having Champ lose a step of two and in need of defensive help.  

Well I believe I have beaten around the bush enough, but theres a reason.  I simply dont know who i want more.  The next few months will be very important to me in evaluating Newton and Green.  Newton more so, because I basically know Green is incredible, but I can say, there are only three people I want with number 3.  Green, Newton and Peterson, and not necessarily in that order.  So will get back to you but I would love for everyone to pick one of them and sell me (and the community) on any of them.  And honestly, your not gonna talk me into bowers, miller or any other lineman, sorry.  I think 2nd round is where we pick up a DL or LB, and I think thats the smart move.

Ok, so I write these from time to time when the blog gets really busy and I read through all the comments and find out that about 1000 things are discussed in ever comment section not matter what the actual story says.  So here are my thoughts and it can give a big catch all to those of you upset or just want to complain about anything and everything.  No flame wars though, because after all, thats just stupid.

First, I have read a ton of guys complaining that they should have got something for TE, and I genuinely see your points, but you have to also look at what was probably the reality of the situation.  How many teams out there have a QB need?  SF? JAX? Who else really? Cleveland?  Which one of those teams do you think would actually give up a draft pick to get a guy that probably won't upgrade their position all that much, if at all?  All three are in the beginning of terrible years and will most likely need all the draft picks they have and can get (much like the Bills).   This might be a dumb question, but would you be happy if the Bills traded for someone like Garrard?  Trading away some picks for a QB that no one realistically thinks would be all that much of an upgrade?  And of course there were waiver claims, he was a starting QB in he league, and for free, what else could you want?  Like someone else stated in another comment, the demand for free is very very high, but raise to a dollar and you see a lot of people suddenly slink away...

Second, I have read (even from our illustrious leader) about how they think the Bills are currently running a knee-jerk reaction type philosophy in running the front office.  My serious and honest question is, how could they have done better?  Lets really look at what happened i the off season with the QB position.  First they had an "open" competition (in quotations because I know many think it wasn't all that open, but regardless that is what it was sold as) in which not only did TE win, but by our own eyes (editors and fans) TE clearly out-performed the others throughout the entire camp and off-season training.  Of course he gets the nod as the starter, and then look at what he did.  He couldn't even break 300 yards after two games!  He moved the ball down the field efficiently  ONE TIME.  Thats right, by my observations one time did TE actually move the ball well, and that was at the end of the game when the fin's backed off their coverage and blitz schemes.  That is not a NFL QB folks.  So they bench him.  Should they have kept him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future just to get cut at some point?  Or should they have just cut him, and let him have another chance somewhere else?  I think as an organization, they did the right thing.  There was no more use for TE in Buffalo and they did the right thing and let him go.  

Third, wasn't everyone in the off-season basically saying that by the time the season came around, either TE, Fitzy or BB was gonna get cut?  Well, everyone was right, it was just 3 weeks later than everyone thought.  Obviously the off-season competition didn't really prove much, because (much like almost all of us complained about) TE is awesome in a practice setting.  Most QB's are.  When its not on the line, they can do whatever they want, and it doesn't really matter.  People have a lot more confidence when their mistakes don't really mean much.  Then the real season began and the FO realized that TE is what he is.  He is a smart, good kid, with what seems like good leadership skills, that just can't put it together on the football field during a real game.  It's unfortunate and I was a big TE supporter, but it is what it is.  I hope nothing but the best for the guy, and if playing football doesn't work out it seems as though he will do well in other things in life.  

Fourth, I have heard some "rumblings" about signing Levi.  Why is this an issue?  Who else could they have signed? And why?  He will be a clipboard holder.  Who else out there (that would be on the active roster) was worth it?  3rd QB (correct me if I am wrong) doesn't count towards that 45 person active roster, so what's the harm.  If he is needed (by some stretch of the imagination) at least he knows the playbook!

So what are we really left with?  TE getting cut (which was a real possibility before the season started) and Fitzy and BB being the main two guys, with Levi the young guy to groom a lil.  Not that big of a deal.  

Also I would like to say something about Marshawn Lynch.  I am a big Marshawn Lynch fan.  I would hate to see him go, but if, and i stress IF the reports are true that they are now shopping him, I wonder what his price will be.  Rumor was over the off-season that they were offered a 3rd (who knows what else, and who knows if that's actually true).  I for one would be fine with a trade with GB (title contender that needs a RB, Jackson is not as good as Lynch) for a 3rd and maybe a later round pick or even Hawk and a pick.  I think the Bills are in the driver's seat with this though, as they certainly don't NEED to trade them as much as other title contenders are going to NEED a quality RB.  So in retrospect maybe it was the right call to wait for the season, let the guys contending make a bid (hopefully over-bid) for a piece of the puzzle that could take them all the way. 

I guess in conclusion, I have no problems with how the FO has handled these past fews days.  It all kind of makes sense to me.  I know many of you feel differently, but honestly, what was the better (and practical) move? Now if they are actually considering re-signing Kelsay to that ridiculous contract, I will have a different view of course....

First and foremost, the reason I am writing this post is two-fold, one: this amazing picture that I have never seen before

via talleywhackers.files.wordpress.com

That. Is. Awesome.

And the second reason I am writing this is because I had an awesome response to poz not too long ago but since it was late and I was tired, instead of pushing the "preview" button I pushed the cancel button.  So here it goes (for those of you that actually care.)

First I'd like to talk about the 2010 offseason.  I think some people around here are starting to miss the point of the 2010 offseason, which was two fold, one, bring in a new head coach to help our anemic offense, and two to transition to the 3-4.  Basically that was the Buffalo Bills offseason in a nut shell.  So it confuses me when people around here lately are about to throw themselves off of a bridge because the Bills lost the opener to the Dolphins.  It's like most people just thought that Chan could come in here hand TE a medal (ala Wizard of OZ) and therefore TE would have the confidence and courage he needed to take this team by the haunches and lead it.  And let me get this out real quick, I like TE.  I think he has the potential to be a really good QB.  That being said, there are many QB's that come around that have great potential and never live up to it.  I don't know TE's problem, I don't know if it was Wilson's hit (although I really hope not, because an NFL QB should be ready for terrifying hits), I don't know if it can all be blamed on coaching (although I think Jauron was a terrible offensive coach and obviously that hindered TE), and I don't know if its just TE not being able to mentally step into that starting role like he should.  Something tells me its the combo that is killing him.  I also have to say that I think TE can bounce back.  More importantly, for his career to have a shot, he needs to bounce back.  

Ok with that out of the way, this organization brought in what they thought was going to be the "offensive guru" in Chan Gailey.  Something that the entire fanbase was clamoring for after watching the Bills offense the past few years which could be best described as inept.  What bugs me is that it seems the majority of these "the sky is falling" posters out there are ready to call him Jauron the 2nd or whatnot.  It was one game people!  Chan even admitted he did a terrible job last Sunday, more than I can remember Jauron saying (but then again i try to block out everything in the Jauron era, so maybe I am misremembering).  Chan should be a run first coach.  He knows this, and even alluded to it when he said that he had "too much" in there last Sunday.  I am not gonna hang a coach out to dry for one game, even if it is against the hated fish.  Chan was this organizations answer to the offensive problem, deal with it, because that is how its gonna be for a few years.  And why was Spiller drafted?  Well because he was an incredible talent that comes along only once every two years or so, and above all the Bills needed a playmaker on offense.  While the Bills had talent on the offensive side, they didn't have that gamebreaker talent to change a game on a single snap.  That was what Spiller was brought in for.

I want to talk a little bit about all the people saying "we need two tackles, or we need a new QB or why didn't the Bills draft better than they did in 2010" and blah blah blah other ramblings about how this team is horribly run.  Here is my take.  Nix came in and thought he had some pretty good talent on the offensive side of the ball.  I mean, I did too, and still do today.  Lee Evans may not be the Steve Smith we want him to be, but with a good QB and a solid number1 or 2 WR on the other side, Evans is a nice weapon to have.  Fred Jackson had just come off his best season as a pro, including breaking a few records, and Marshawn Lynch was in the stable as the bruiser RB with only 2 and half years on the tires.  Trent Edwards had shown flashes of being good, while also showing that he needs a lot of help (something I am sure Nix thought would be handled by Chan).  Looking at the dreaded OLine, the Bills had just drafted two pretty good guards in Eric Wood and Andrew Levitre, had recently signed Hang and had a really young Demetrius Bell and (as of that time) a good RT in Butler.  Thats not a terrible line there folks.  Obviously both Chan and Nix saw things in Bell they liked in order for them to shy away from drafting a tackle in the 1 or 2 round, not matter the reach or "value" (cuz lets face it, if they were as desperate as most of you are, they would have reached and taken a tackle if they truly felt they needed it.)  The only offensive problem where talent was lacking was arguably the WR position, and thus the reason they brought in like 10 guys in for camp to have the good ones float to the top (which they did.)  Because of these factors, Nix took it upon himself to help out the talent on the defensive side of the ball.  The Bills were murdered last year against the run.  

To clarify, the Bills were so bad against the run that on my fantasy football team, I would search for the starting RB that played the Bills or even the backup and start them over whoever I had drafted knowing they would bring in lots of points, and it worked every dang week.  I think Nix looked at the defense and figured it most likely wasn't Fewell's fault, because it seemed that many insiders thought Perry did a pretty good job with the talent he had.  And that right there was the problem, he had very little talent.  Besides the secondary, who played on the Bills defense last year that stood out?  Schobel?  Well I think Nix saw the writing on the wall with that one.....who else?  Poz maybe?  Perhaps Kyle Williams?  Thats sad folks.  Really sad.  So in order to fix this problem Nix spent the majority of the draft, and FA period to shore up and bring in more talent for that defense.  THAT is why Troup was taken in the second and Carrington in the 3rd, THAT is why Edwards and Davis were the two biggest FA acquisitions, and THAT is why they didn't draft a LT or a QB or a (fill in the blank).  The Bills NEEDED to upgrade that front 7.  The talent simply wasn't there.  

That is my opinions and observations of the offseason.  Also, I don't know how to use this "jump" thing, or else I would have used it......

I thought I would share this with the group.  He has really impressed during the camps/OTA's and preseason.  Right now I believe he is penciled in as the number 4 WR on the Bills.  This just makes me think that it wasn't necessarily the WR's that were the problem in the passing game last season, but perhaps Tebow (and the coaching staff directing him) not getting beyond that 1st or 2nd read before running for it.  Buffalo Rumblings had a good article on it at their website too if anyone is interested.  Nelson has caught two TD passes so far in the preseason....not bad for a undrafted rookie free agent.

Buffalo Rumblings Article

I have just started a free fantasy football league on yahoo.  I would like everyone on here to join if they would like.  It is free and open to 16 teams.  Please email me (bottom of the page) if you would like to join.  Standard Yahoo rules apply, although I have changed QB passing TD's to 6 points and added in incentives for reaching certain milestones in rushing, receiving and passing.  I believe you have to have a yahoo account to join.  I am trying to keep it rumblings centered but will invite more people to join if it doesn't get filled (but I may drop the team number to less also depending on interest).  We will have a live draft on August 31 9pm Eastern time, but can be changed if needed to be.  Also has anyone else noticed CJ Spiller in some new Subway ads proclaiming he adds onions to his meatball sandwich?  ME TOO! Sweet.