The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

[BertSquirtgum]

Sounds reasonable. I'm disgusted. I love Sammy Watkins but I dislike very much what it took to get him. If EJ sucks again this year, this team will be set back 5 years because of this stupid decision.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Russ-Brandon-We-made-a-bold-move/3b340387-cd0a-4198-890c-02d08a1a5c2e

Q: Were you more willing to give up next year’s number one pick because of the ownership change and nobody knows what the future holds?
RB: Not at all. From that standpoint, we’ve been very upfront about that. It’s business as usual. I’m not worried about anything relative to the sale of the franchise when it comes to the football operation. When it comes to how we go about our day to day business and everything we do, it’s business as usual. This trade was made as a football decision that is focused on the 2014 season.
DW: To answer it in football terms, we’re willing to give up not making the playoffs again for Sammy. That’s what we looked at it as. We want to make the playoffs, so being 14 and not making the playoffs, that is the tradeoff we expected

[swiper]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

I guess I feel the same. Love the player. Don't love what we gave up. Even if I liked Manuel (which I don't), it doesn't make a lot of sense. 2013 - 2 high round WRs, Mike Williams, Now Watkins. We had Stevie Johnson. And, oh yeah, if you want to throw in the 3rd that Nix wasted on TJ Graham in 2012.

If they had a proven franchise QB, you couldn't complain about it. But, again, even if you like Manuel, he's fragile. And they don't have any veteran QB to back-up. Hate giving up that #1 for any WR with the QB situation they have.

[BLeonard]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Pretty sure you're misreading it... Your title says:

The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Whaley actually said:

we’re willing to give up not making the playoffs again for Sammy.

Worded very funny, I'll admit, but the intent, as I read it, was that they plan to make the playoffs.

Couple other quotes support this theory:

"We’re building our roster now and granted you hate giving up number one picks, but we thought what he brings to us now is worth the low one that we’ll be giving up next year."

Q: You said you were giving up a low first round pick, is that a guarantee of the playoffs?
DW: That’s not a guarantee. I’m saying we expect it to be low.

A "low pick" obviously meaning later in the round, meaning that the Bills had made the playoffs, or at least improved significantly from 6-10.

Personally, I'm not happy with what they gave up, but ultimately, the success or failure of the trade won't be determined until we know where that 2015 1st rounder is... If it's in the top 10 (again) then it's safe to say it probably wasn't worth it... But, if it's in the 20's, it becomes much more palatable.

One thing is for sure: There will be no reason to root for losing for a better draft pick this year...

-Bill

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

I don't know. The way it's worded, it looks to me like he's saying they were willing to not make the playoffs in 2014 to draft Watkins.

[BLeonard]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Then, your thread title is wrong:

Thread Title Says: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.
Whaley's quote: The Bills were willing to give up not making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

See the difference...?

Again, very oddly worded by Whaley, but it's pretty clear, based on his other quotes in the presser that they intend to make the playoffs in 2014.

-Bill

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Either way. I think they gave up too much because I think they have way too much faith is EJ. If EJ doesn't make the jump to the next level, we as fans are in for a hurting without next years first. Another 3-5 years of being the laughing stock of the NFL.

[BLeonard]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

I don't know. The way it's worded, it looks to me like he's saying they were willing to not make the playoffs in 2014 to draft Watkins.

First, to a fanbase that hasn't seen the playoffs in 14 seasons, essentially conceding that they wouldn't make the playoffs would be about the dumbest thing he could say, especially after giving up the team's first rounder in 2015...

Second, it doesn't jive with the other quotes that I mentioned:

Q: How do you feel about giving up next year’s first round pick?
DW: Very high cost. We thought it was a calculated risk and a risk we were willing to take. The high costs not making the playoffs is something we weighed in and we thought this guy was going to get us to the playoffs. We think for us, the Bills organization, Mr. Wilson and the Bills nation out there, it was well worth it.

We’re building our roster now and granted you hate giving up number one picks, but we thought what he brings to us now is worth the low one that we’ll be giving up next year.

If he was saying "we're not making the playoffs in 2014,' then the pick they would be giving up in 15 would be a high pick, not a "low one."

Q: You said you were giving up a low first round pick, is that a guarantee of the playoffs?
DW: That’s not a guarantee. I’m saying we expect it to be low.

Reiterating the above point... A "low" pick would be later in the round, meaning that the Bills were significantly better on the field.

Q: Do you feel your job is on the line if you don’t make the playoffs?
DW: I’m a competitor and call me crazy, I like those odds.

Again, if he had just told everyone, "we're not making the playoffs in 2014," why would him being a competitor and liking the odds matter...?


Bottom line that we can very likely agree on: You don't make this kind of move, trading away a 1st rounder next year, unless you feel that pick will be later in the round.

That's what I feel Whaley was getting at: They were willing to make the trade, potentially mortgaging the future, because the felt that getting Watkins would make that risk worth taking.

Again, if the Bills make the playoffs, or at least come close, the pick will be in the middle or lower part of the round, making it less valuable, making thee trade to get Watkins to elevate your team to that spot more worth it.

If they don't and are picking in the top 10 again, Whaley and co. look like idiots for trading away the pick, when it didn't have an effect on the results on the field.

-Bill

[BLeonard]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Either way. I think they gave up too much because I think they have way too much faith is EJ. If EJ doesn't make the jump to the next level, we as fans are in for a hurting without next years first. Another 3-5 years of being the laughing stock of the NFL.

This, we can agree on. Hell, Whaley and Brandon probably have their doubts too... But, they certainly aren't gonna tell everyone about them now, when they just dealt next year's #1 away.

-Bill

[ICRockets]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Either way. I think they gave up too much because I think they have way too much faith is EJ. If EJ doesn't make the jump to the next level, we as fans are in for a hurting without next years first. Another 3-5 years of being the laughing stock of the NFL.

But don't we want them to have faith in EJ? Don't we want them to make decisions based on having a positive attitude about our chances to turn it around? I'd much rather have a front office that comes at it from a point of optimism than one that says "god, we suck, we need to play it safe and just try to incrementally suck less each year."

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

But don't we want them to have faith in EJ? Don't we want them to make decisions based on having a positive attitude about our chances to turn it around? I'd much rather have a front office that comes at it from a point of optimism than one that says "god, we suck, we need to play it safe and just try to incrementally suck less each year."

Sure they should... but they shouldn't have traded away the safety net for 1st round QB if EJ stinks it up again in 2014.

[Meathead]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

it looks to me like he's saying they were willing to not make the playoffs in 2014 to draft Watkins.

how would getting the best wr in the draft prevent them from making the playoffs this coming season?

i think bill is right, it was an awkward tongue in cheek way to say the bills expect to make the playoffs this season and thus the pick they gave up will be a late first rounder. if thats the case then yeah the trade was probably worth it. if not and the bills end up in the top ten picks again next season, this trade could look like a total disaster

[Meathead]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

still dont know what 'being 14' means. is that a reference to 2014, which is this coming season? very strange couple of sentences

[billsfanryan]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Sure they should... but they shouldn't have traded away the safety net for 1st round QB if EJ stinks it up again in 2014.

Regardless of this trade there was 0% possibility that this team took a qb in the first round next year. Nfl teams don't draft qbs in the first round and give up on them after 2 years.

I don't see this as mortgaging the future so much as going and getting a game changing elite talent. To me, mortgaging the future is what Washington did for RGIII and they may have ruined the guys career already.

[ICRockets]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

Sure they should... but they shouldn't have traded away the safety net for 1st round QB if EJ stinks it up again in 2014.

You understand this makes no sense, right?

"I'm glad they're making bold moves to get the players they believe will make this team the best version of the Buffalo Bills they can be, but did they have to make such bold moves to get the players they believe will make this team the best version of the Buffalo Bills they can be?"

[Meathead]

Re: The Bills were willing to give up making the playoffs in 2014 to obtain Watkins.

tbh theres no doubt in my mind this move probably doesnt happen if the bills had a stable ownership situation. that doesnt mean it wont end up being a great move, it just means for whaley and brandon theres almost no advantage to playing it safe right now and everything to gain by going for a homerun

why would you sit there and take an OT/WR at 9 and then somebody in next years first round where BOTH guys are likely to need at least one season to develop, when you can get a guy that can start right now (watkins)? yes, youre trading two potential starters for one, but youre getting that one as a starter right now

considering the reality of the ownership situation, i would feel stupid if i were whaley or brandon and didnt make this move