Here or Gone: Robert Royal

[G. Host]

I will post a public poll a day whether a player will be on Bills' roster game 1 of the 2008 season. All polls will end on March 1 which should be before free agency starts. If any player retires before March 1 then the player will be removed from statistics. This should give us 65 polls or more whether a player remains and at start of 2008 season I'll post a chart who is best prognosticator and some other states such as who guessed the most players gone, etc.

Note: This is a prediction on what the Bills will do not what YOU think they should do. A vote of 'No' means the player will be cut, traded, injured and put on IR, retired, or put on some other list as long as it is not active roster. I will NOT vote to make judging impartial.

http://members.cox.net/billswatch/20080102.GIF

Fourth poll is on Robert Royal:

Discussions on why player may be gone are fine and encouraged but this is not an essay and only answer written counts.

Previous Polls
Peerless Price: Voters: 51 (so far).
http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/sho...d.php?t=142972 (http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=142972)
Anthony Hargrove: Voters: 66 (so far).
http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/sho....php?p=2263910 (http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?p=2263910)
Ryan Neufeld: Voters: 30 (so far).
http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=143132

In response to PM asking if there will be any "badges" for this, there are none although I'll use my own ZBs to give out some tropheys for those who pick the closest to what front office decides.

[YardRat]

Royal will stick...most likely return as the starter.

[yordad]

This is the toughest one yet. I think we draft at least one TE. And, hopefully a true FB.

If we draft a FB, that leaves room for two of Schouman, Royal, and Gaines. So, he has a 67% chance all things considered equal. I believe Schouman is still eligible for the practice squad, so that is a possibility. That way we keep them all.

But, I think Schouman could rise to the top, giving Gaines and Royal a 50/50 shot. To my knowledge Gaines is cheaper, and them being basically interchangeable, money could be the deciding factor.

I will consider the chances of Schouman going to the Practice squad equal to the chances of him raising to the top, so it is a wash.

So, 50% chance no full back = 100 % chance Royal stays.

50% FB = 33 % chance he is cut.

I give him 5 in 6 chances to stay. 83% chance. Which I will round down to 80% for contractual reasons.

Smart money is on yes.

[Philagape]

He'd make a good No. 2 TE

[Nighthawk]

Not a great talent, but seems like a good guy to have on the roster. He'd make a good #2 TE.

[The Jokeman]

He's better suited as a #2 TE and is well liked in the lockerroom I can't see letting him go but do predict we take a Rookie on day 1 of the draft such as Dustin Keller who's a better receiving threat.

[Bone]

Yes, he will be on our roster next year as a our #2 tight end.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Michael Gaines is currently the best receiving TE on the team. He dropped a few but was consistently open. If the Bills were to draft a guy like Rucker, he would likely end up 3rd on the depth chart behind the rookie and Royal due to his experience and more rounded game.

[Scumbag College]

As average as Royal is, he's still the best TE on the Bills. The only way I see him getting cut is if he gets beat out in training camp for the starting job and the Bills don't want to pay a couple of million dollars in 2008 for a #2 TE.

[Oaf]

Royal would be good as our #2. Gaines as a #3, and Shouman as the #1 or #2 FB.

[shelby]

Yes.

[Night Train]

He'd make a good camp cut

Corrected

[bigbub2352]

We need a number 1 and with Royal and Gaines goin 2 and 3 we would be real solid for blocking in the run game as well as pass protection because both are solid in those areas

[mysticsoto]

I think the question that needs to be answered 1st is, how much of a cap hit would he be if we let him go? I know he had been given a pretty decent contract when he came here and he hasn't lived up to it. And I will agree with the above poster that said Gaines has been the better TE between the two - despite his drops and Schouman might have the better overall potential.

If the FO sees Schouman very highly, then I see both Royal and Gaines remaining, and any TE that is drafted will likely go on the PS which means a 2nd day pick...

[G. Host]

I think the question that needs to be answered 1st is, how much of a cap hit would he be if we let him go? I know he had been given a pretty decent contract when he came here and he hasn't lived up to it.
TE Robert Royal - 5 yrs. $10M. SB $2.5M. Base $585,000 (2006); $1.3M (2007); 1.675M (2008); $1.525M (2009); $1.44M (2010). $975,000 LTBE Incentives.

Since he has three years left $1.5M would be excellerated to this year.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Keep him but be on the lookout for a difference maker at TE...

[FlyingDutchman]

I think both Royal and Gaines were both "servicable" but we have not had a productive TE since Riemersma. We need to address this in the draft to help a young QB. I agree with most here, Royal should be the #2.

[jamze132]

I say no. We are going to draft a TE on day 1 hopefully and with Shouman returning from injury hopefully, we aren't going to need Royal. Gaines can catch ball as well as him and that's not saying much.

[Michael82]

He'll stay.