There’s a big difference in going after a player aggressively, and actually landing that player. I think the Bills have gone hard after players every year (behind the scenes), but they just can’t play ball with the big boys.

I envision it much in the way Jauron talked following a loss (his 6-6 vs 12-0 perspective): “Well, we’d have liked to sign Terrell Suggs, but, well, you know, Keith Ellison played every game for us last season, and, well – he’s a good player pound for pound. We’d truly have liked Suggs, but we’ll take Ellison and move forward.”

Berry and Dansby from Arizona. One is a veteran leader, and the other is a solid young player.

No elite centers in this draft? Someone has been partying with Leroy Hill. Over time we may easily see more than one elite center come out of this draft. If anything it is a rare year for the position. That comment is just nutty.

Here’s a good free agent tracker source:
http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=9&c=12&nid=83&lnid=83&yr=2009
I like it also because of the grading system they use. Interestingly they grade all three Ravens LB’s as elite. Realistically the Bills do not land any of the three. But the good news is that there are many good FA linebackers available and that is why I have said OBD will target one in free agency. God pool there.

The only thing that worries me about Crowder is his knees. Anyone have more info on that subject? He sure is the right age to go after. I still don’t think OBD will push to resign Crowell. Too much baggage. But what direction will they go – MLB and move Poz or OLB – who knows. A misdemeanor weed charge shouldn’t be a deal breaker and may lessen the price for Hill.

There are some good OG free agents coming to market and mabye we will pursue one of them. Just a guess but I hope so. Dock could use some competition.

Not a good FA pool for TE’s. I would assume that Houston will find a way to resign Daniels so that leaves but two, LJ Smith and Bo Scaife, either of which would be an upgrade over what we have. So what will OBD do? Pettigrew’s blocking skills are better than his receiving skills. They like that. So do you grab Pettigrew at 11 even if Orakpo or Brown or Maybin is still on the board?

It is a very good sign that we went after Cameron Wake. Just not aggressive enough. Let that be a lesson to OBD as we head into free agency. Want your man? Show it! Be AGGRESSIVE with your offer.

Cameron Wake. The Dolphins simply made a more aggressive offer. I cannot remember where I read that but basically we got outbid. It seems that the market for good free agents has increased a lot recently. I look at what free agent CB’s in particular are getting and it is a head scratcher. I wonder if we could have landed Gonzales with a more aggressive offer.

I see your point with the difference between “elite center” and “elite center prospect”. However I would confidently say that there is one “elite center” already in this draft. So I’ll rephrase that to say that in all probability there is more than one elite center prospect in this draft that will become an elite center in the NFL over time.

No elite centers? Uh oh, there’s going to be some comments here about that one….

If anyone is happy w/Pettigrew at #11, they should have their head checked!!!

I’m not sure how going after Cameron Wake is a sign that the Bills will be active in FA. He got a $4.9M contract over 4 years, not exactly a bank breaker. If anything, that shows the Bills will try to keep signings cheap and hope to hit on a guy with more potential than production thus far….

However, if we do hard after some bigger names, I’d expect it to be at the LB and C position. I’m sorry, but I still don’t see how the Bills would ever be able to bring in Peppers or Suggs. Sure, they may have interest, but $$$ is going to be the issue. Might as well try concentrating on the better LB’s and maybe Jason Brown.

a fire has been lit. Everything I have read says Mack is the best interior lineman and could go anywhere between picks 20-40. I’m sure he will be gone by the end of the 1st round. The Bills will have to trade back up to get him.

Pettigrew while not worth it at #11 is a monster of a TE prospect. Everything lately has said he is so polished physically, such a good blocker, and sure handed that he will excel immediately at the next level. Problem is he isn’t the natural pass catching playmaker that you would want at the #1 TE in the draft IMO. He will be a great pick though late in round 1.

The Bills have no need to be “more active” in FA. The last thing they need to do is blow a bunch of money in overpriced mediocre talent. I fully expect them to sign 2 veterans at LB DE or C. then come the draft they will go simply take the hgihest guy on their board and will not take a DB, QB or RB in the first 3 rounds.

Get him. He will be worth the price.

Cards FA DE Smith likely to be on market
By Chris Brown – Posted January 26th, 2009
With teammates like Kurt Warner, Karlos Dansby and fellow DE Bertrand Berry likely higher on Arizona’s priority list this offseason, DE Antonio Smith may be out there for the taking. Smith is set to turn 28 next October and is not exactly a sack fiend, but some NFL talent evaluators believe he’s yet to reach his peak.

I’m not saying he’s the answer for the Bills pass rushing problems, but he is a free agent that is expected to be on the market and he does fit the age profile of Buffalo’s past free agents as Buffalo during Dick Jauron’s tenure likes to sign players with experience that still have 4-5 years of prime football left in them.

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2009/01/26/cards-fa-de-smith-likely-to-be-on-market/

I am not a huge fan of bringing in someone who is “not exactly a sack fiend”. Someone we should ook at though.

There are obvious ones like Vilma and Suggs but I also like DT Rocky Bernard from Seattle. I don’t think we can afford to go with Raji in this draft but I do think DT could use a boost and Bernard would seriously upgrade our run defense and give us a pass rusher from inside. I think he, Kyle Williams and Stroud would make for one of the best DT rotations in the NFL. Bernard has averaged around 4 sacks a season in his career and usually tallies between 35 and 45 tackles. In his best season he finished with 8.5 sacks and 52 tackles. He’s 29 years old and I would guess he will fly under the radar this free agency with so many big name D-Lineman hitting the market. If we’re going to draft DEs, Cs, and TEs, Bernard could be a great way to solidify our interior D-Line.

The free-agency period hasn’t begun yet, so it’s too early to tell for sure, but fact the Bills went hard after CFL sackmaster Cameron Wake — they lost out to the Dolphins — could indicate they’ll be active in pursuing free agents.

Couldn’t agree more. I mentioned this right after the decision to keep Jauron for 2009 came around, and the few of you who believed me have talked yourselves out of that notion over the last month or so. Believe it. Buffalo’s going to go hard after players this off-season.

Why do many of you think the Bills’ will be aggressive in FA this year? If Peters gets signed to an extension, there won’t be much room left. I don’t get this kind of thinking…

Well. I’ve read evry single comment in this post, and of others about FA and Draft. Sometime I feel bad because as much as I really really want to believe the FO will be very active at FA and bring playmekers to the team, there is a part of me who thinks this is not going to happen this way.

Well, let’s see what can really happens at FA. I think Bills will bring a good/ very good DLB bu not because they will go hard pursuing the big names, but because there are a lot of very goods/goods DLB at FA, and a deep draft class at this position too, so it’s almost impossible bring a good DLB if you need at FA or Draft. LeRoy Hill will be a possibility because he became a bargain after his drug possession.

Second, I think they will bring some DE, but not big names like Suggs or Peppers, but maybe they will bring someone to justify to the fans the FO concern about pass rush.

Third, as much as I pray every day for it happens, I don’t think they will cut Kelsay ( Please God don’t listen this). Jauron is not the guy who throw his players or staff form the bus. I hope the FO do it with Kelsay, his contract makes no sense at all.

Fourth, the FA class of TE sucks, but I think the FO can bring some guy like Bo Scaife to depth.

I think they will give a new contract to Peters, unless he wants to go out.

Well, then they go to Draft and will try to do their best bets there. I think they will draft a DE in 1st, a TE in 2nd, and a C in 3rd. Well, it’s january, too early to fight for some nomes, but if it happens I will be happy. And really anyone will be happy if "Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew is the pick ". I’m not!!!

Well guys that’s it. It’s are only a few thoughts about a long offseason ahead us. There are a lot more to discuss until FA period and then Draft. I really like read comments here, we learn a lot with you guys and we can agree or not and create good arguments to agree or not!