X-Era
03-02-2009, 03:39 PM
I think we have several factors that are preventing us fans from getting too excited.
1) The Bills are perpetually mediocre. Players who might want to come here need to think about that
2) Dick Jauron is on a very short leash. Players wonder if he will be here next year and if he leaves, a guy like Coles might wonder if he doesnt head out the door too, new coaches want their own guys.
3) We wont overpay for free agents just to get them to come here. And when we dont, they look at the other things Im listing and other teams become more attractive.
4) We bank on the draft. Why? players are relatively cheap, and the competition is fair where each team picks based on how bad they are. We end up getting a chance to draft a decent player because they player, nor other teams have any choice in the matter... we pick where we pick and we pick whop we want.
But if all that's true, why not go the trade route more? I agree to build through the draft. But that often means mortgaging now. Havent we seen enough of that here? What did Ellis or Bowen bring to the table last year? Hell even Hardy? We isnt Waters worth more than both to this team right now?
The other thing to remember is that if Marcus Stroud were simply released or allowed to become a free agent. What are the chances then that he signs with us? Very slim. Because other teams will pay him what hes probably worth, he gets to make the choice, and we lose again.
The best chance for this team to add high quality, top tier guys is through trades. We can argue the picks arent as valuable as the new player, we dont have to pay the going rate (like Stroud), and often the player has no choice.
If it works, you add top talent, you get better quicker and become a contender, free agents start to want to come here again. All for the cost of draft picks that may never become anything anyway.
1) The Bills are perpetually mediocre. Players who might want to come here need to think about that
2) Dick Jauron is on a very short leash. Players wonder if he will be here next year and if he leaves, a guy like Coles might wonder if he doesnt head out the door too, new coaches want their own guys.
3) We wont overpay for free agents just to get them to come here. And when we dont, they look at the other things Im listing and other teams become more attractive.
4) We bank on the draft. Why? players are relatively cheap, and the competition is fair where each team picks based on how bad they are. We end up getting a chance to draft a decent player because they player, nor other teams have any choice in the matter... we pick where we pick and we pick whop we want.
But if all that's true, why not go the trade route more? I agree to build through the draft. But that often means mortgaging now. Havent we seen enough of that here? What did Ellis or Bowen bring to the table last year? Hell even Hardy? We isnt Waters worth more than both to this team right now?
The other thing to remember is that if Marcus Stroud were simply released or allowed to become a free agent. What are the chances then that he signs with us? Very slim. Because other teams will pay him what hes probably worth, he gets to make the choice, and we lose again.
The best chance for this team to add high quality, top tier guys is through trades. We can argue the picks arent as valuable as the new player, we dont have to pay the going rate (like Stroud), and often the player has no choice.
If it works, you add top talent, you get better quicker and become a contender, free agents start to want to come here again. All for the cost of draft picks that may never become anything anyway.