Buffalo Bills Offseason Outlook: Linebackers

[LouGrant]

The Zone
2/10/03

<img src="http://www.billszone.com/images/players/nfl/quarels.jpg" align="right" border="2"><BR>The free-agent linebacker crop is probably the best among any player category in the NFL this offseason.
The Bills need at LB this offseason is for an outside linebacker with speed assuming that Fletcher will remain in the middle. If not, then some MLBs or ILBs are worth looking at. As well, there may be some MLB/ILBs that would consider playing on the outside as well. <BR>Additionally, due to somewhat of a glut in the market for linebackers, the chances increase of the dollars required in signing them will be less than what they perhaps should be. This may bode well for the Bills, which if they play their cards correctly, may in fact end up with two outstanding linebackers dependent upon whether or not Price is signed. The Bills would score real coup if they could get one of the first 4 linebackers below and say a guy like Barber to boot. Barber leads the list of “group B” LBs, which based on this free-agent crop, is nothing to sneeze at....MORE... (http://www.billszone.com/YourSite/global/templates/view.php?state=news&action=YourSite_content&month=2&nid=4026)

[Tatonka]

maslowski was not mentioned? i am baffled

[EDS]

As far as FA goes, LB has to be our top priority. All the good defensive tackles don't look like they will make it to FA (i.e, Noble back to Dallas, Hunt back to GB, Gardener back to Washington). Since the only potential signees at that position will not represent a major talent upgrade over a more experienced Edwards and Bannon, LB is where we need to spend the cap space. I am not sure a guy like Thornton will be that big of an upgrade, nor do I think it is worthwhile spending a lot of cash on a guy like Sam Adams, who is going to be two years removed from his best years. Besides, we have zero talent at OLB currently on our roster. None. At least we have DTs on the roster.

I think the Simmons guy from Seattle sounds like a stud and a great pick-up if he is available. A playmaking linebacker that runs a 4.3 (according to ESPN) is exactly what this defense needs. Maslowski would be an upgrade but I don't think he is the type of athlete we need to make our defense work. One of the strengths of the Tampa Bay defense was speed at linebacker and that is something we need to emulate.

[Dozerdog]

Simmons - I wonder why you don't hear a lot about him-


If he's so good- why is a poor defensive team like Seattle going to let him go?

[WG]

Seattle's gonna be "the Cincy of the NFC" if they aren't careful. Detroit is in the running too, Seattle's making a strong bid.