Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

[The Answer]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6817578

14. Buffalo Bills

Get ready for the new-look Bills in Buffalo. Gone are several of the premier players from last year's squad: London Fletcher-Baker, Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, and Takeo Spikes. In comes Langston Walker, Jason Whittle, and Derrick Dockery on the offensive line, and big Darwin Walker at DT. Buffalo then scooped up Marshawn Lynch — a do-everything back that runs, receives, and blocks — a Dick Jauron/Marv Levy dream at linebacker in Paul Posluszny, and a highly-rated quarterback in Stanford's Trent Edwards on Day 1 of the draft. Ko Simpson and Donte Whitner — two starters as rookies at safety in '06 — are now a year older and wiser, and can mentor John Wendling, an exciting sixth-round pick out Wyoming. Fourth-round pick Dwayne White, a lightning rod running back out of Fresno State, should get to spell Lynch and Anthony Thomas as well. New faces all around, but this is a Jauron team from top to bottom. They could be a surprise team in the AFC.

Biggest gain: Marshawn Lynch, RB
Biggest loss: Willis McGahee, RB

Are they in better shape than they were in January? They're a different team for sure. A lot of the veteran leaders are now elsewhere, creating opportunities for younger players to step up. Lynch will get the ball right away, and this is now Year 4 of the J.P. Losman era. Is this the year he puts it all together and takes Buffalo to the playoffs? Bills fans can only hope.

~The Answer

[casdhf]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

I don't want the hype. I want everyone to thing we're a 5 win team.

[OpIv37]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

Are they in better shape than they were in January? They're a different team for sure. A lot of the veteran leaders are now elsewhere, creating opportunities for younger players to step up. Lynch will get the ball right away, and this is now Year 4 of the J.P. Losman era. Is this the year he puts it all together and takes Buffalo to the playoffs? Bills fans can only hope.

wow, way to take a strong stance on the direction this team is taking!

That's probably the most ambiguous, fence-sitting piece of analysis I've ever read in my life.

But, it goes along with what most of us here have been saying. Some of us take a positive view of it and some of us take a negative view, but we all pretty much agree that this team is loaded with "potential" (for lack of a better word): young, unproven players who could be a huge improvement or a huge disappointment.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

We are a 5-win team, dont worry about it.

[Luisito23]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

I don't want the hype. I want everyone to thing we're a 5 win team.

LOL...I don't either, but it does feel good to get a 'lil bit of props Cas...And also biggest lost WM???...Pass me what you smoking son.......BIggest lost is definetly Clements, and any person who truly knows us can tell you the same....






GO BILLS!!!!!

[OpIv37]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

LOL...I don't either, but it does feel good to get a 'lil bit of props Cas...And also biggest lost WM???...Pass me what you smoking son.......BIggest lost is definetly Clements, and any person who truly knows us can tell you the same....






GO BILLS!!!!!

you could argue Fletcher as well as Clements but a lot of people overrate McGahee because of his name recognition. We're not going to be feeling his loss as much as most people think.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

wow, way to take a strong stance on the direction this team is taking!

That's probably the most ambiguous, fence-sitting piece of analysis I've ever read in my life.

But, it goes along with what most of us here have been saying. Some of us take a positive view of it and some of us take a negative view, but we all pretty much agree that this team is loaded with "potential" (for lack of a better word): young, unproven players who could be a huge improvement or a huge disappointment.

That, Op, is the single most neutral, objective, logical, and reasonable post you've ever made. Bravo!

[BILLSROCK1212]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

100% accurate other than them saying that McGahee was our biggest loss.

[SquishDaFish]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

We are a 5-win team, dont worry about it.

Pat lets make a little wager shall we big mouth? If the Bills win more then 5 games you leave this site for good (no alias) if they only get 5 or less Ill leave and before I do Ill praise the allmighty wana be GM/Coach Ice...errr I mean PAT.

Sound good?

[The Answer]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

31. Miami Dolphins

Rough off-season in Miami. The Nick Saban debacle was a disaster and the start of the Cam Cameron era hasn't been much better. Joey Porter was involved in a highly publicized, embarrassing off-season slapfest with Levi Jones at a Las Vegas casino; the quarterback position is still an enormous question mark; and the head coach was heckled and mocked when announcing the team's first round pick at a draft party. Oh, and Ricky Williams — still linked to the Dolphins at least in the public eye — failed another drug test. Wes Welker's gone, so is Travis Minor, Damion McIntosh, Tony Fonoti, Randy McMichael, David Bowens, Darian Barnes, and Joey Harrington. Solid blockers Mike Rosenthal and Cory Schlesinger were added, as was David Martin, Cameron Worrell, and Porter. In the draft, they raised eyebrows by selecting Ted Ginn, Jr. over Brady Quinn, while taking a quarterback (John Beck) in the second-round. Lorenzo Booker, a disappointment at Florida State, was a first day selection as well. It's a totally new team. That could, of course, be a good thing.

Biggest gain: Ted Ginn, Jr., WR
Biggest loss: Wes Welker, WR

Are they in better shape than they were in January? Well, who's playing quarterback on opening day? Trent Green? Daunte Culpepper? John Beck? Cleo Lemon? A lot of questions like that down in Miami? The Dolphins could very well be the surprise team of the AFC. I just don't see it happening.

~The Answer

[The Answer]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

7. New York Jets

Very busy off-season for Tannenbaum, Mangini and Co. New York 's biggest move was a pre-draft deal to bring in 1,000-yard rusher Thomas Jones from Chicago. Jones — who will be paired alongside rookie standout Leon Washington in the backfield — brings another playmaker to the Jets efficient offensive attack. New York also took a low-risk gamble on the former #3 overall draft pick from the 1998 NFL Draft, Andre Wadsworth. Darrelle Revis and David Harris, the team's first and second round draft choices, should start next season on defense.
Biggest gain: Thomas Jones, RB
Biggest loss: B.J. Askew, FB

Are they in better shape now than they were in January? I'd say so. New York added a feature tailback via trade, and two potential starters on defense through the draft. They didn't lose much in doing so, either. At the very least, they kept pace as the second best team in the AFC East.

1. New England Patriots

No team cleaned up this off-season quite like New England. Aside from the Randy Moss deal, the Pats also picked up arguably the number one defensive player on the free agent market in Adalius Thomas, a guy who led the Dolphins in punt returns, receptions, and receiving yards in '06 in Wes Welker, and Sammy Morris, Kyle Brady, and Tory James. They also re-signed Asante Samuel and Larry Izzo. Though I don't love their selection of Miami's Brandon Meriweather with the 24th pick as much as some others in the media, he'll no doubt contribute as soon as next year. Then there's Mr. Moss. Is he a Hall of Fame receiver? The guy Tom Brady's always longed for? Or is he a malcontent whose best days are behind him? We'll have to wait and see.

Biggest gain: Randy Moss, WR
Biggest loss: Corey Dillon, RB

Are they in better shape now than they were in January? Yes. That is, of course, unless Randy Moss goes insane and infects a locker room full of model citizens.

~The Answer

[justasportsfan]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

wow, way to take a strong stance on the direction this team is taking!

That's probably the most ambiguous, fence-sitting piece of analysis I've ever read in my life.

But, it goes along with what most of us here have been saying. Some of us take a positive view of it and some of us take a negative view, but we all pretty much agree that this team is loaded with "potential" (for lack of a better word): young, unproven players who could be a huge improvement or a huge disappointment.

WTF??? Believe it or not coming from you that's a very positive post.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

Pat lets make a little wager shall we big mouth? If the Bills win more then 5 games you leave this site for good (no alias) if they only get 5 or less Ill leave and before I do Ill praise the allmighty wana be GM/Coach Ice...errr I mean PAT.

Sound good?

No..
Make the over/under 7 and you have a bet.
8 wins or more, I'm gone
6 wins or less, you're gone
7 is a push.

Basically, my proposed bet is zero win/loss improvement from last year.

[casdhf]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

Post groaned at by:

LT teh ghost (Today)

[OpIv37]

Re: Foxsports: Ranking the offseasons

WTF??? Believe it or not coming from you that's a very positive post.

see, I'm not always negative just to be negative, despite what you and mystic may say....