Progress Report-1 week plus

[YardRat]

DT-Traded for Stroud, signed Johnson, cut Tripplett. Net difference = HUGE plus.

LB-Mitchell was a good signing and a definite upgrade to the line-up. Plus.

CB-No rumours, no visits...nothing. Cut Thomas. Webster signed with Pats. Loss.

Safety - McCree signs with Denver. If Ko's ankle is OK, this is a push. If not, and the team was looking for a vet to either A-buffer themselves from Simpson's injury or B-bring in another safety, move Whitner to corner and address two positions, and failed to do so, then this becomes a loss.

WR-Almost a solid week with no news or action on this front. Johnson still in limbo. Hackett still out there, but a non-factor at this point. Nobody else worth even looking at who could step in at #2 from the start. Lost Aiken to Pats. Peerless gone. If Johnson signs elsewhere, this is a loss.

TE-Troupe signs with Tampa. Crumpler with Titans. Signed Teyo Johnson before FA. Lost Gaines. Loss.

#2 QB-Nobody on the radar, apparently, and JP most likely out the door. Loss.

C-Again...Nobody on the radar, but at least we haven't cut Fowler yet. Push.

RG-I'll put the re-signing of Whittle for depth under here. Push.

FB- No news on the kid from Atlanta. Signed Barnes before FA. Push.

No news is supposed to be good news, but in the Bills case this off-season it's becoming the opposite. The team went into free agency with at least four glaring needs (two on both sides of the ball) and the opportunity to address all four have been there early.

Kudos for addressing DT and LB quickly, but the longer the FA period progresses, the more it looks as if the team is willing to sit on it's hands and wait for the draft to address the offensive side of the ball. Big mistake.

We hit big on defense, and appear to be in a position of going into the draft without feeling it's necessary to address any spots with the expectation of a rookie being able to contribute immediately. We can draft for ability and value, instead of need, and allow the new guys to grow at their own pace. Eventually, some players may step into a starting role, but at least the entire squad won't be expected to cover while one or two are getting OJT in games that count.

The same can't be said for the offense. The longer we go without at least snagging a WR and a TE, the bigger priority it becomes to get one early in the draft. Unfortunately, that strategy will not only hamper the offense, but could affect the defensive side of the ball as well. Without, at least, a viable #2 receiver already on the roster, the need for one decreases the opportunity for flexibility at the draft, and could restrain the team from actually getting the eventual replacement for Greer or McGee or a pass-rushing specialist at DE and increase the chance that we 'reach' for a player that might be available with our next pick but we can't afford to pass up for the fear of losing out altogether.

Without a vet back-up at QB, we'd be looking at another unproven commodity to fill a vitally important role, arguably the most important position beyond the starting 22 and specialists. The dominos, in such a scenario, won't be falling in our favor.

As of this moment, the FO should get an 'A' for defense, an 'F' for offense, and overall a 'C-' for what they've been able to accomplish, but at least the opportunity (Johnson and maybe Hackett, specifically) is still there to salvage a 'B'. Unfortunately any higher grade has already passed us by.

[mybills]

Again you call this a loss, YR. If we still have JP, you can't call it a loss. He's not gone like Gaines, Webster, etc. It's just one less need to address. Besides, everyone seems to think that Trent will start all of the games, so it won't matter if we keep JP or trade him. BUT---JP is a plus if Trent gets hurt.

[YardRat]

I don't thimk it's beneficial he remains with the team and expect him to get traded. He's already shown flashes of being a disruption and his presence only provides the possibility of creating divisiveness in the locker room.

Assuming he gets traded, and we don't have a replacement yet = loss.
Assuming he stays, the cons outweigh the pros as to what he adds to the team = loss.

[mybills]

I guess we'll just have to disagree. I wonder though, how he went from "not good enough to start", to "he's a better back up than starter", to.."not worth keeping". The latter makes no sense no matter what he said or didn't say. He's under contract and will have to perform his duties no matter what. I would hold off on a loss, push, or plus comment until something happens.

[YardRat]

I guess we'll just have to disagree. I wonder though, how he went from "not good enough to start", to "he's a better back up than starter", to.."not worth keeping". The latter makes no sense no matter what he said or didn't say. He's under contract and will have to perform his duties no matter what. I would hold off on a loss, push, or plus comment until something happens.

Did you sleep through the entire Flutie/Johnson debacle, or just too stoned to soak any of it in?

Two 'starters' on the same team = Trouble. Notice the capitol T.

[BADTHINGSMAN]

Good read yardrat.. Although I consider cutting Price at WR a plus.. I see the point that no upgrades have been made yet..

[mybills]

Did you sleep through the entire Flutie/Johnson debacle, or just too stoned to soak any of it in?

Two 'starters' on the same team = Trouble. Notice the capitol T.

OMG! Are you thick or just a brick wall? He's under contract as a Bill. It doesn't matter what he says, or what he doesn't like. If he's the back up, he'll have to play (period)

[YardRat]

OMG! Are you thick or just a brick wall? He's under contract as a Bill. It doesn't matter what he says, or what he doesn't like. If he's the back up, he'll have to play (period)

Yes it does matter...The last thing this team needs right now is a holdover former starter that's been relegated to second string yet still believes he should be the #1 man.

I don't know about anybody else, but I'm sick of Flutie/Johnson, Bledsoe/JP, Holcomb/JP, Edwards/JP QB controversies. Edwards is the starter, and whoever backs him up has to bring the attitude that acknowledges he is #2 on the list no questions asked. JP has already indicated otherwise, so he's not the man for the job.

[Pinkerton Security]

Other than going after Asante Samuel, which CB would you want the bills to overpay? Jacques Reeves? Marcus Trufant? A costly trade for Lito Shepard? IMO there was no one to go nuts over besides Samuel. I dont see this area as a loss, unless we fail to act on it in the draft.

[Night Train]

the longer the FA period progresses, the more it looks as if the team is willing to sit on it's hands and wait for the draft to address the offensive side of the ball. Big mistake.

That's assuming there's good quality still making the rounds and I see issues with all the remaining so-called names, in terms of actual talent and injury history.