Yes. With the Jets owning the tiebreaker with the sweep, even if we win out and they lose out, the Jets would stay in front of us. Even in a 3-way we lose because the 3-way tie procedures require teams to be whittled down to one per division, which means the Jets tiebreak is all that matters.
anyone else feeling like Fitzpatrick won't be on the roster next year?
He can be cut and the Bills would have only paid $10 million out of the deal they signed.
Unless Nix and Gailey are fired I don't think there is any chance Fitz won't be the #1 QB next season.
They guy isn't Manning, but hell, look at his weapons and offensive line. Who is going to produce with that cast of misfits? When was the last time you saw one of his receivers make a miraculous catch? I don't think I've ever seen it! Yet you watch other teams and week in and week out there are great catches that bail out a poorly thrown ball. We have 1 legit starting WR in S.J., but outside of that they are disgustingly thin at WR.
Will getting playmakers make him an elite QB? No. But I'd take him over someone like Sanchez any day of the week and twice on Sunday. He is a guy who can win you games with even an average defense.
As someone who roots for the Bills because his only family likes them, you guys just need to draft a franchise QB and be done with it. Fitz will never lead the team to anything of importance. Go get a future star, be it Barkley or RG3 or whoever.
After the loud whispers this offseason about replacing him and the 0-8 start, I figured he would have been gone weeks ago. Then when they started winning games, I figured they were going to give him until the end of the season.
Hopefully this helps the Bills to get a win next week, and our young players can get some confidence back heading into next season. Tanking at this point doesn't really make any sense to me. The talent difference between the players that will be available if we finish 7-9 or if we finish 5-11 isn't worth tanking to get.
After the loud whispers this offseason about replacing him and the 0-8 start, I figured he would have been gone weeks ago. Then when they started winning games, I figured they were going to give him until the end of the season.
Hopefully this helps the Bills to get a win next week, and our young players can get some confidence back heading into next season. Tanking at this point doesn't really make any sense to me. The talent difference between the players that will be available if we finish 7-9 or if we finish 5-11 isn't worth tanking to get.
Simple. They want Bowles to start his HC career with a win!
After the loud whispers this offseason about replacing him and the 0-8 start, I figured he would have been gone weeks ago. Then when they started winning games, I figured they were going to give him until the end of the season.
Hopefully this helps the Bills to get a win next week, and our young players can get some confidence back heading into next season. Tanking at this point doesn't really make any sense to me. The talent difference between the players that will be available if we finish 7-9 or if we finish 5-11 isn't worth tanking to get.
Eh, I disagree with this Fish. Losing out really is best for this franchise, better players will be there for them in the draft and hell, it could possibly mean a shot at getting one of the top QB's if they happen to slip. Their confidence will be fine when they think back to the begining of the season when they were 5-1 with a healthy roster.
Pears signs contract extension. Hairston already under contract, Bell will be free agent unless they sign him too.
All this of course measure that we are probably going to see mostly the same o-line next year with Wood and Levitre coming back. Urbik is returning as well IINM.
Eh, I disagree with this Fish. Losing out really is best for this franchise, better players will be there for them in the draft and hell, it could possibly mean a shot at getting one of the top QB's if they happen to slip. Their confidence will be fine when they think back to the begining of the season when they were 5-1 with a healthy roster.
Eh, in the '08 draft, you had 2 5-win teams, and they took one solid starter (Sedrick Ellis), and 1 bust (Derrick Harvey). You also had 7 7-win teams, and they took 2 Pro Bowlers (Jerod Mayo and Ryan Clady), 2 starters (Jonathan Stewart and Brandon Albert), 1 sort of-starter (the seemingly injury prone Keith Rivers), and 2 busts (McKelvin and Chris Williams).
In '07, you again had 2 5-win teams, who took 1 Pro Bowler (LaRon Landry) and 1 starter (Levi Brown). And you had 3 7-win teams, who took 1 Pro Bowler (Patrick Willis), and 2 sort of-starters (Amobi Okoye who busted with Houston but is now having success with Chicago, and Lynch who busted with the Bills but is now having success with Seattle).
I just don't see the talent gap between those two groups of players. Whether we're drafting 7th or 12th, good players will be available. The trick is to find them, develop them properly (which means winning games), and paying them to keep them (which judging by solely by the number of ex-Bills thriving throughout the league, we don't like to do). Tanking really isn't going to help any of that.
Pears signs contract extension. Hairston already under contract, Bell will be free agent unless they sign him too.
All this of course measure that we are probably going to see mostly the same o-line next year with Wood and Levitre coming back. Urbik is returning as well IINM.
So time to draft D again!
I don't mind that. The offensive line hasn't really been bad. They need a tackle pretty bad, but the interior of the line is good when healthy.
Eh, in the '08 draft, you had 2 5-win teams, and they took one solid starter (Sedrick Ellis), and 1 bust (Derrick Harvey). You also had 7 7-win teams, and they took 2 Pro Bowlers (Jerod Mayo and Ryan Clady), 2 starters (Jonathan Stewart and Brandon Albert), 1 sort of-starter (the seemingly injury prone Keith Rivers), and 2 busts (McKelvin and Chris Williams).
In '07, you again had 2 5-win teams, who took 1 Pro Bowler (LaRon Landry) and 1 starter (Levi Brown). And you had 3 7-win teams, who took 1 Pro Bowler (Patrick Willis), and 2 sort of-starters (Amobi Okoye who busted with Houston but is now having success with Chicago, and Lynch who busted with the Bills but is now having success with Seattle).
I just don't see the talent gap between those two groups of players. Whether we're drafting 7th or 12th, good players will be available. The trick is to find them, develop them properly (which means winning games), and paying them to keep them (which judging by solely by the number of ex-Bills thriving throughout the league, we don't like to do). Tanking really isn't going to help any of that.
I agree with you that the gap in talent usually isnt that different from picks 7-12 but my point is that picking 7th could mean a shot at one of the top qbs where as 12th pretty much guarantees we wont... It's prolly all just a moot point anyways because I dont think that we draft a qb now that Fitz is signed long term. I am just under the opinion that I'd rather pick higher then win meaningless games at the end of the year. I am fairly sure we would have drafted Willis over Lynch in 07 if he was still there when we picked, seems like I remember that being the talk anyways... imagine if that would have been the case. Just 1 less win that year and it could have been!
I agree with you that the gap in talent usually isnt that different from picks 7-12 but my point is that picking 7th could mean a shot at one of the top qbs where as 12th pretty much guarantees we wont... It's prolly all just a moot point anyways because I dont think that we draft a qb now that Fitz is signed long term. I am just under the opinion that I'd rather pick higher then win meaningless games at the end of the year. I am fairly sure we would have drafted Willis over Lynch in 07 if he was still there when we picked, seems like I remember that being the talk anyways... imagine if that would have been the case. Just 1 less win that year and it could have been!
I was all Willis that year, but my backup plan was exactly what they ended up doing. Lynch with the first, Poz with the second.
Seemed like a great draft at one point (Lynch, Poz, Edwards). That changed quickly.
My friend and I were talking NFL draft after the Sabres game last night and outlined the Bills needs. Here are my thoughts listed by priority
1) Stud pass rushing DE or OLB. We have zilch for a pass rush. Pass defense is horrible largely in part to this.
2) CB (secondary) depth. Williams may be good, hard tell with injuries but he has shown some flashes. McKelvin can't cover himself with a blanket... much less WRs. Maybe he would be better if opposing QBs didn't have time to pick their spots passing, but I think we still should get some secondary depth
3) If a franchise type QB falls into our lap (a lot of teams seem reasonably set at QB so one call fall to us, especially if we keep on losing and moving up the draft chart.
4) Another top notch wide receiver to complement Stevie. Steve is a pretty good WR aside from having some key drops. I'd like to see a guy that is a deep threat so we can stretch opponent's secondardy and not be caught up in a short passing attack that other teams end up keying on.
5) More help on the O-line. Before the injuries (esp to Wood) the O-line did a reasonable job but I'd like to see us have on a consistent basis good enough protection to allow for a deep passing game.
I don't watch much college ball but I did catch the LSU George (?) game a few Saturdays ago and was really impressed with Tyrann Mathieu. He's a small CB who reportedly has great ball skills, reads the QB well and flies to the ball. Here is a link to a scouting report on him, I don't know how reputable this site or scout is but at least it is some info. If we ended up drafting outside the top 10 and there isn't a great DE available this guy could be an intriguing pick.
Seemed like a great draft at one point (Lynch, Poz, Edwards). That changed quickly.
It was a great draft. Buffalo just doesn't know how to develop and utilize players. Just take a look at Marshawn's numbers this year with Seattle:
12 games, 969 yards, 4.3 average and 9 touchdowns. His highest touchdown total in one season with Buffalo was 8 in 15 games.
Poz is similar. He still has a great tackling number this year, but he's also better in the passing game. More passes defended than he ever had in a single season here, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. He had four total interceptions his entire four years in Buffalo, and 14 total passes defended.
Both of those guys should've been all-star players for Buffalo. The reason they aren't has more to do with the team than it does the individual players.
Lynch was an all-star player here. Then he got complacent for a contract and got gifted with the NFC West. All he did last year was that amazing playoff run. Whether or not he's just playing for a contract this year remains to be seen.
Johnson says he wants to stay with Bills, but future in jeopardy
Quote:
Stevie Johnson could be down to playing his final games with the Buffalo Bills after contract talks broke off a few weeks ago.
The team's top receiver -- and most colorful player -- would prefer to re-sign with the Bills. However, Johnson is wondering where his future rests after the team rejected his last offer.
Based on how negotiations ended, Johnson said the ball is essentially in the Bills' court because there's no reason for him to re-open talks before he's eligible to become a free agent this offseason.
