The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

[ICE74129]

DT, OLB, ILB maybe a CB to compete with Yo, RG and a RB to replace that thug punk Willis.

We can address DT, LB's, RG, CB easilly in FA. Heck we can even sign one LB and draft another to start.

If marv and ralph are willing to make a splash quickly, which will mean an overpay for a couple of those guys, along with a great draft, there is no reason not to be a playoff team in 07

[kernowboy]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Not sure there is much in FA at DT.

I look at Okoye, Harrell and Keenan Carter in the draft of which only the 1st is a R1, Ian Scott in FA, and maybe a trade of a R2 for Randy Starks

Again the LB issue resolves round the horrifically expensive and the underachieving. There really isn't a top MLB so we possibly have already decided on moving Crowell inside. I can see a LB in R1 but also a trade down for Willis or Posluzny.

RG has a number of rich pickings in FA and I'd be disappointed if we don't sign one.

CB has Clements and Samuel but also some youngsters like Ahmed Carroll and Mike Rumph who are still young enough to challenge Youboty. A CB at the start of Day2 is a pick with merit.

Finally, I see us letting Willis run out his contract. We will get him in camp by agreeing not to tag him. Even Rosehaus will make sure such a dumbo will have to run hard to get a contract at the end of 2007. We then let him walk and draft his replacement in the deep RB draft of 2008.

[ICE74129]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

I don't see willis being here esp with Ralphs comments. and if Marv is going to stick by his character comments, I can't see willis being a bill in 07

[TedMock]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

It's weird. I don't dislike Willis because I think he's talented and a tough kid, but I can't stand the sporadic efforts on game day and the stupidity off the field. As was written several times - too bad we can't play the Jets every week. It's funny because he obviously focuses and puts forth full effort against them...primarily because of he and Vilma having a little trash-talk competition before each game. My take on this kid is that he is never going to be the back you can put your team on despite having the size, strength and speed to do so. He'll never be a great back on a bad team a la Corey Dillon in Cincy. He'd be a great back on a great team. Good teams can make any back look good, but he seems like the type who will give full effort if on a good team. His talents will then shine. Having said all that; I'm torn. Again, I like the kid. Part of me just would rather have a workhorse, average back who hits the hole for 3 yards and a cloud of dust, and wants to be part of the foundation that put the Bills back together.

[Michael82]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

DT, OLB, ILB maybe a CB to compete with Yo, RG and a RB to replace that thug punk Willis.

We can address DT, LB's, RG, CB easilly in FA. Heck we can even sign one LB and draft another to start.

If marv and ralph are willing to make a splash quickly, which will mean an overpay for a couple of those guys, along with a great draft, there is no reason not to be a playoff team in 07

Great post, ICE!


If I was Marv, I would be on the phone immediately at midnight with Ian Scott and get him in for a visit asap. Don't let him leave without a contract. He's the first player that I want here. Then I would talk to Lance Briggs, Cato June, Adalius Thomas, and even Na'il Diggs and try to sign one of them.

I'd also be on the phone with the agent for Eric Steinbach, Kris Dielman, Vince Manuwai, and Derrick Dockery. I'd get as many of them as I can in for a visit and try to sign Steinbach to a fair offer and if that doesn't work, try the next one.

If I don't get Scott, I would bring Terdell Sands in for a visit, along with Cory Redding and Mike Myers and sign one of them.

For CB, I would try to re-sign Nate for a fair price, which I know he won't take so then I would turn around and take my money elsewhere. I'd bring these guys in for a visit and try to sign one of them..... Asante Samuel (just to see what he wants), Randall Gay, Jordan Babineaux (he's a RFA, but is worth the look), David Macklin.

For WR, I'd head right towards Drew Bennett and try to get him in here for a visit. And it he doesn't sign, I'd check out Kevin Curtis, Patrick Crayton (he's a RFA but might be worth it if u can pry him from Dallas), Justin Gage, DJ Hackett (he's a RFA but might be worth it if u can pry him from Seattle), Kelley Washington.

I'd then go into the draft and try to fill whatever holes I got left and draft the best available player all the way thru.

[RedEyE]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

DT, OLB, ILB maybe a CB to compete with Yo, RG and a RB to replace that thug punk Willis.

We can address DT, LB's, RG, CB easilly in FA. Heck we can even sign one LB and draft another to start.

If marv and ralph are willing to make a splash quickly, which will mean an overpay for a couple of those guys, along with a great draft, there is no reason not to be a playoff team in 07

I don't think we will see every single position listed addressed. If Fletcher does leave, I see the Bills patching that issue with the players they currently have in place. They might draft a late round LB for depth, but I think they will go into next season with the LBs currently on the roster. They will more thank likely shift a few players around. DiGiorgio will get an opportunity to prove himself at MLB, and let's not forget that Wire filled in nicely this year at the LB position, and while he may be slightly undersized, he maybe better suited for that position then SS.

Willis isn't going anywhere. He's contracted the year and like Fletcher, Marv and the front office will force him to prove himself worthy of a contract by making him play out the season without a renewal. That might mean he's not a Bill in 2008, and if that's the case I think the Bills will instead address the issue then, rather then trying to negotiate heading into this season, or forcing a psotion competition with young blood.

I defintitly see the Bills grabbing both defensive and offensive lineman in FA this offseason. The problem is that I don't see the Bills getting into any bidding wars for them (for any player for that matter). That means we will see the Bills gambling on 2nd tier FAs once again this season.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I firmly believe the Bills grab a CB in the 1st round of the draft. Too many stellar CBs available and Bills history has proven they love their DBs to be plucked out of the 1st round of the draft.

[ICE74129]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

We will NOT grab a CB in the first round! Marv knows as well as anyone Line and Linebackers are whats needed on this team badly

[ICE74129]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Mikey, I think marv will have scott here ASAP as well as a couple guards and LB's. I don't see us going through the first week of FA without a RG, DT and LB signed. That said, I can see us then taking ILB with the 12th pick in the draft.

I also see a #2 WR like Drew coming in as well as us drafting RB in the 2nd and bpa from there on out. Either way we wont' draft a CB in round one

[RedEyE]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

We will NOT grab a CB in the first round! Marv knows as well as anyone Line and Linebackers are whats needed on this team badly

Says you. We will see here very shortly.

[ICE74129]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Says you. We will see here very shortly.

yep

[RedEyE]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Let's put a friendly little wager on it. I have 9K zone bucks on the Bills taking a CB with their first round pick. What do you say? Do you feel that they will address the DL, OL, or LB position first?

[ICE74129]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Let's put a friendly little wager on it. I have 9K zone bucks on the Bills taking a CB with their first round pick. What do you say? Do you feel that they will address the DL, OL, or LB position first?

Cant say till closer to time. I need to see what is addressed in FA. I feel it is LB, Marv knows its more important than CB esp in this defense.

But if they sign two LB's then the need is gone.

[Michael82]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Mikey, I think marv will have scott here ASAP as well as a couple guards and LB's. I don't see us going through the first week of FA without a RG, DT and LB signed. That said, I can see us then taking ILB with the 12th pick in the draft.

I also see a #2 WR like Drew coming in as well as us drafting RB in the 2nd and bpa from there on out. Either way we wont' draft a CB in round one

I hope he does sign both Scott and Bennett. That would be a good start to the offseason.

[kernowboy]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Well not wanting to repeat word for word another post but here goes

Marv has always stated a desire to build through the draft. I don't see any big FA signings as there is a concern that no matter how good someone has been elsewhere, new surroundings don't always lead to top performances.

With so much money invested in Reed and Price, and with the child rompers off JP, I think we'll see how they go next season before considering changes. Only Davis is a FA, and I do like the idea of signing Kelley Washington, who while injury prone has the size and the talent. However with Shelton likely to go, I can see a move to a 2 TE set especially if we can pick up Greg Olsen in Round2

At RG, because of the depth in FA I feel we may have our biggest signing here. Dielman, Dockery, Diehl (if he's a FA) or Manuwai even Womack look good here.

At DT, we can also look at Starks who may cost a R2 pick in trade or Hawthorne, a real wildcard, but with size, youth and someone who is slowly progressing into a decent run stuffer. But there could a decent NT in the R3 with Keenan Carter, Paul Soliai or maybe even Justin Harrell if he falls.

I agree with Willis running out his contract. A RB of Day2 to replace Shaud Williams would be a bonus. Take your pick from Garrett Wolfe, Clifton Dawson, Lorenzo Booker etc

I don't think we'll use R1 for a CB, more like R4, while we give Youboty a shot. As mentioned, the Tampa2 doesn't need immediate ProBowlers.

I would be enormously concerned to think of starting DiGiorgio or moving Wire into the LB corps. I'd like a FA signing, but all the top rate guys will be enormously expensive, some have character issues and could be tagged anyway. A trade down and a LB toward the bottom of R1 would not remotely be a surprise ... maybe even a second LB on Day2 to provide depth - Zak DeOssie of the Browns, an intelligent Ivy League guy.

So FA to include a:

RG - take your pick
WR - a big guy who would come cheaply and might become a No2 in time
CB - a guy to compete with Youboty - I still think Rumph has the intangibles

and a draft if no trading of picks occur of

R1 - a trade down and grabbing a LB
R2 - a TE especially if Olsen is available, a better option than a big slow WR
R3 - a NT
the xtra pick - depth for the OL or a CB
R4 - whatever position we don't grab above
R6 - more depth for the LB corps. We don't want to be starting Wire
R7 - a scatback RB
OFA - a FB for variation.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Re: The needs are reasonable and clear and the cap room is there

Great post, ICE!


If I was Marv, I would be on the phone immediately at midnight with Ian Scott and get him in for a visit asap. Don't let him leave without a contract. He's the first player that I want here. Then I would talk to Lance Briggs, Cato June, Adalius Thomas, and even Na'il Diggs and try to sign one of them.

I'd also be on the phone with the agent for Eric Steinbach, Kris Dielman, Vince Manuwai, and Derrick Dockery. I'd get as many of them as I can in for a visit and try to sign Steinbach to a fair offer and if that doesn't work, try the next one.

If I don't get Scott, I would bring Terdell Sands in for a visit, along with Cory Redding and Mike Myers and sign one of them.

For CB, I would try to re-sign Nate for a fair price, which I know he won't take so then I would turn around and take my money elsewhere. I'd bring these guys in for a visit and try to sign one of them..... Asante Samuel (just to see what he wants), Randall Gay, Jordan Babineaux (he's a RFA, but is worth the look), David Macklin.

For WR, I'd head right towards Drew Bennett and try to get him in here for a visit. And it he doesn't sign, I'd check out Kevin Curtis, Patrick Crayton (he's a RFA but might be worth it if u can pry him from Dallas), Justin Gage, DJ Hackett (he's a RFA but might be worth it if u can pry him from Seattle), Kelley Washington.

I'd then go into the draft and try to fill whatever holes I got left and draft the best available player all the way thru.

I can't argue with even a single punctuation mark.

Great GM'ing.