Alan Branch

[Maximilli]

1 yr 3mil to the bills

[X-Era]

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/319148321816072192

[Maximilli]

What u think good deal dont know much about him

[ServoBillieves]

Huge (literally) signing.

Needs to get his paws in the air more though.

[Scumbag College]

Hopefully a strong DLine will make up for the deficits at LB.

[ServoBillieves]

What u think good deal dont know much about him

Prototype NT. If we're doing the 3-4 4-3 hybrid thing, when we're in the 3-4 he and Kyle Williams should be switching back and forth in the middle.

[Buddo]

Can he play WR or TE - because we still need some of those, quite badly.

Joking aside, seems like another solid pickup to me. Not averse to a 'prove it or move it' deal, providing we can follow it through if he's a roaring success.

[GingerP]

They signed him to a 1 Year/$3M deal.

[DraftBoy]

Good deal with great value. Guy can run in the 3 or 4 man front and will be a load to handle. Also finally gives us some rotation options with Dareus, KWill, and he.

[HAMMER]

Here come the Douchers in 3...2.....1........

[Novacane]

Here come the Douchers in 3...2.....1........


OP must be busy right now

[RedEyE]

I'm actually impressed by this signing. The defensive line is going to be fun to watch this year.

[TedMock]

Good deal with great value. Guy can run in the 3 or 4 man front and will be a load to handle. Also finally gives us some rotation options with Dareus, KWill, and he.

He's been in a base 43 and base 34. Played NT, DT, DE. Ability play from the 0 to the 5. Nice addition.

[MidnightVoice]

I'm actually impressed by this signing. The defensive line is going to be fun to watch this year.

That is what I thought last year :(

[Scumbag College]

I think Torell Troup's reign of terror in Buffalo might be over.

[mikemac2001]

I think Torell Troup's reign of terror in Buffalo might be over.

or spencer johnson...or both

[cookie G]

What u think good deal dont know much about him

Huge, 6'6" 330 lbs.

Considered an underachiever at Michigan, that's why he fell out the 1st at draft time. Spent a few years in Zona before going to Seattle. Not sure why Seattle didn't keep him...seemed to play well for them.

As someone else said...this answers some more questions about Troupe.

[RedEyE]

That is what I thought last year :(

lol

I should have finished "...without Dave Wannstadet."

[PTI]

Cut the now underachieving Kyle Williams or trade him.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Sure, why not? At least we have a more prototypical NT-type/block eater to anchor whatever D this is supposed to be.

[X-Era]

I think Torell Troup's reign of terror in Buffalo might be over.I hope so

[more cowbell]

Solid move...suddenly our depth at DT/NT looks much better.

[ServoBillieves]

Cut the now underachieving Kyle Williams or trade him.

This is the most intelligent post I think I've ever seen.

[X-Era]

Its a quality signing. Inexpensive and improves our depth at a minimum.

[better days]

They signed him to a 1 Year/$3M deal.

Damn, there goes the little salary cap the Bills had.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Solid signing.

Give me a a veteran LB like Dansby, Harrison, Spikes, or even bring back Barnett, and a decent OG and I'll deem this FA a non-failure.

[EDS]

What does this mean for Carrington?

[Pinkerton Security]

What does this mean for Carrington?

I think he's more of a 3-4 DE, so I see him getting rotational time. Hes not an NT in the 3-4, not big enough

[Novacane]

Op hasn't chimed in and he's been posting in other threads. Must mean the Bills made a good signing and he's to big of a negative nancy to admit it.

[justasportsfan]

Give me a a veteran LB like Dansby, Harrison, Spikes, or even bring back Barnett, I dont want to bring in aging slow players for the sake of just having players.

[jimbohastle51]

Nice signing. If our d-line plays the they should then they are one of the best in the league.

[jimbohastle51]

I got a feeling Barnett comes back on the cheap. He was joking with his tweets yesterday but you can tell he wants to be back in buffalo.

[Fixxxer]

This must be terrible news for the 2 win brigade.

[EDS]

This must be terrible news for the 2 win brigade.

Be honest, does Alan Branch really move the needle? I am not saying he isn't a nice depth/situational player, because he is, but until the QB issue gets resolved its just lipstick on a pig. It is also a one year deal so assuming the team does improve and he is an important piece of that there is no guarantee he remains a part of the organization going forward.

[streetkings01]

I got a feeling Barnett comes back on the cheap. He was joking with his tweets yesterday but you can tell he wants to be back in buffalo.I think he was cut for performance not salary.........doubt he'll be back.

[better days]

Be honest, does Alan Branch really move the needle? I am not saying he isn't a nice depth/situational player, because he is, but until the QB issue gets resolved its just lipstick on a pig. It is also a one year deal so assuming the team does improve and he is an important piece of that there is no guarantee he remains a part of the organization going forward.

In the same respect, drafting ANY player except a QB in the first rnd is ALSO putting lipstick on a pig. The NEED for a QB is the elephant in the room & she will step on that pig & squash it.

[JoeMama]

I think this is a smart move.

It never hurts to add another BFG (big fat guy) to the defensive line rotation.

That way you can sub players when you need to and keep guys fresh. Late in games it's fantastic to have that kind of depth and flexibility so BFGs aren't slowing down.

The GMen do it pretty well, but they also have freakish talent at DE.

On paper our defensive line looks pretty good. I'm interested to see how they perform as a unit under Mike Pettine.

[Fixxxer]

Be honest, does Alan Branch really move the needle? I am not saying he isn't a nice depth/situational player, because he is, but until the QB issue gets resolved its just lipstick on a pig. It is also a one year deal so assuming the team does improve and he is an important piece of that there is no guarantee he remains a part of the organization going forward.

what needle? It moves the depth needle alright. Marrone is yet to coach a game and some people are predicting and wishing 2 wins for this team. That is BS.

[fluteflakes]

Huge, 6'6" 330 lbs.

Considered an underachiever at Michigan, that's why he fell out the 1st at draft time. Spent a few years in Zona before going to Seattle. Not sure why Seattle didn't keep him...seemed to play well for them.

As someone else said...this answers some more questions about Troupe.

Seattle just added a lot of depth to their D-Line and figured they had enough young blood to cut Branch loose, he actually played very well for them last season. Love the move, good depth, great replacement for Johnson and Troupe. And os actually one of the better run stuffing DT's in the league, which we all know how badly we needed one. Good addition for Pettine to scheme around with.

[swiper]

I think he's more of a 3-4 DE, so I see him getting rotational time. Hes not an NT in the 3-4, not big enough

ROFL. Carrington is 6' 5".

[fluteflakes]

ROFL. Carrington is 6' 5".

Width, not height.

[YardRat]

Decent signing.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Width, not height.

Yeah Carrington is barely 300 lbs at 6'5, too small for a traditional 3-4 NT role.

[swiper]

Width, not height.

NFL, BB.com, ESPN etc have him at 301 or greater. I understand what you are saying, but I think he'd be just fine if he was asked to man that spot. He's more of a DE in the 3-4 though.

I hope this Branch guy doesn't turn out to be like lazy fat-Pat Williams who built a career of giving effort on 1 out of every 3 downs he played. He sounds the same.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

NFL, BB.com, ESPN etc have him at 301 or greater. I understand what you are saying, but I think he'd be just fine if he was asked to man that spot. He's more of a DE in the 3-4 though.

I hope this Branch guy doesn't turn out to be like lazy fat-Pat Williams who built a career of giving effort on 1 out of every 3 downs he played. He sounds the same.

Are we still talking about Carrington? That's asking an awful lot of him. Look at the guys who have played traditional NTs around the league ATM: Isaac Sopoaga 6'2 325, Casey Hampton 6'1 325, Paul Soliai 6'4 355, BJ Raji, 6'2 337, Cam Thomas 6'4 335. etc. Much bigger guys. Carrington is on the smallsih side to even play one of those penetrating nose tackle types but Kyle Williams went to a pro bowl playing like that so why would we put Carrington there?

[swiper]

Are we still talking about Carrington? That's asking an awful lot of him. Look at the guys who have played traditional NTs around the league ATM: Isaac Sopoaga 6'2 325, Casey Hampton 6'1 325, Paul Soliai 6'4 355, BJ Raji, 6'2 337, Cam Thomas 6'4 335. etc. Much bigger guys. Carrington is on the smallsih side to even play one of those penetrating nose tackle types but Kyle Williams went to a pro bowl playing like that so why would we put Carrington there?

LOL. I wasn't suggesting he play starting NT.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

LOL. I wasn't suggesting he play starting NT.

Why would you want him as even a rotational NT? You've got several much better options on the roster, even before Branch came along. Carrington's a DE in the 3-4.

[better days]

NFL, BB.com, ESPN etc have him at 301 or greater. I understand what you are saying, but I think he'd be just fine if he was asked to man that spot. He's more of a DE in the 3-4 though.

I hope this Branch guy doesn't turn out to be like lazy fat-Pat Williams who built a career of giving effort on 1 out of every 3 downs he played. He sounds the same.

Pat Williams is not a HOF player, but he was VERY GOOD. If Branch plays as well as Pat did, I will be VERY HAPPY with his signing. Pat played 13 years in the NFL as a STARTER. Pretty damn good career.

[The Jokeman]

Solid signing.

Give me a a veteran LB like Dansby, Harrison, Spikes, or even bring back Barnett, and a decent OG and I'll deem this FA a non-failure.

Dansby is the only guy on your list I'd consider everyone else is way past their primes and not worth adding. I'd also like an OG and if he does get cut would love to add Nate Washington.

[The Jokeman]

I hope this isn't true but http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4157/alan-branch reports under contract details:

4/2/2013: Signed a one-year, $3 million contract. Another $350,000 is available through incentives. This has to be a mistake, right, when in earlier posts there was talk of him signing for the vet minimum for other teams.

[swiper]

Why would you want him as even a rotational NT? You've got several much better options on the roster, even before Branch came along. Carrington's a DE in the 3-4.

Right. I said that. He was drafted to be that.

[swiper]

Pat Williams is not a HOF player, but he was VERY GOOD. If Branch plays as well as Pat did, I will be VERY HAPPY with his signing. Pat played 13 years in the NFL as a STARTER. Pretty damn good career.

Fat, lazy Pat was good on every 3rd play. Otherwise he stood around.

[better days]

Fat, lazy Pat was good on every 3rd play. Otherwise he stood around.

Yeah, that is the reason he STARTED for 13 years. You don't know ANYTHING about football.

[JoeMama]

Yeah, that is the reason he STARTED for 13 years. You don't know ANYTHING about football.

Pat Williams :drool:

[better days]

The Final Coundown :ignore:

You don't know ANYTHING about ANYTHING.

[JoeMama]

The Final Coundown :ignore:

You don't know ANYTHING about ANYTHING.

Pat Williams shows up to the Bellagio 5 babes deep on each arm.

And he says Europe's The Final Countdown is the greatest song ever written.

Who are you to challenge it???

[better days]

Pat Williams shows up to the Bellagio 5 babes deep on each arm.

And he says Europe's The Final Countdown is the greatest song ever written.

Who are you to challenge it???

I am a person with TASTE & intelligence.

The Final Countdown SUCKS.

But Pat Williams did not. Like I said, if Branch plays anywhere near as well as Pat, I will be HAPPY.

[Pinkerton Security]

ROFL. Carrington is 6' 5".

What is your point?? Know who else is tall, Chandler. Should he play NT? You make no sense.

[justasportsfan]

Fat, lazy Pat was good on every 3rd play. Otherwise he stood around.

He was eating up blockers while he stood around. That's all they have to do to allow others to get free and make plays.

[jwenger]

He was a pocket collapser in college and I wanted to get him in the draft.
A 1 year contract should be expanded if he works out. He will give the LBs
freedom to do their jobs.

[BillsFever21]

It's nothing more then adding to our depth and rotation. He isn't going to be the difference between a good defense or a bad defense. He's a decent player in a rotation and it's only a one year deal. There are no cap implications after this season.