C – Matt Birk, then draft his replacement in round 2 (Wood) or 3 (Luigs).

OLB – Leroy Hill – I don’t see them moving Poz this year.

SS- Sean Jones – And move Whitner to FS after teaching him how to tackle.

Would that be considered a “Big Splash”????

be interesting to see how this all plays out. With FA only 10 days away, finally the off-season is about to fully begin. I am so interested in how the Peters deal unfolds. I wonder what the percentage is of him coming back and just playing next season with no new deal and the Bills saying, “Jason, you go out, do every OTA, minicamp, training camp, have a good year and in 2010 we will make sure you get a big deal whether here or elsewhere.” I don’t know how that’d go over. But the Peters situation holds the keys to millions of dollars that could be used in FA or in a trade for another player (Boldin anybody?).

If I’m the Bills I stay pretty mum in the FA. I don’t go after any “big name” FA’s. I’d go get Rex Grossman if he’s available, make an offer for Bertrand Berry, and look at a guy like Brandon Jones at WR. But I don’t think in anyway shape or form should the Bills try to land a Suggs type player or contract. If they do make a big move, I want it to be a trade for Peters that gives us high draft picks or Anquan Boldin in return.

My perfect scenario. Peters for Boldin, Draft Brown or Orakpo at #11, draft Center Round 2, and draft a LB in Round 3 and possibly resign Crowell.

What do we do without a left tackle?? Peters is valued more than Boldin because if you cannot protect the QB, you can’t pass the ball. Crowell isn’t coming back either. Sean Jones is WAY overrated and not the playmaker Atogwe is. I like your draft scenario.

Here’s a starting point for the discussions:

Taking a look at the guys on the target list, which position(s) should we target first in free agency?

OLB – Leroy Hill (young and explosive)

S – Atogwe (guy is a pure ballhawk and HE CAN TACKLE)

C- Brown (guy has playoff experience and a nasty streak)

While Brown might be the most expensive, I think this could be a very real scenario. That being said, I REALLY THINK THE BILLS ONLY GET 2 GUYS THROUGH FA.

that our draft experts really hit it big with Chris Ellis. I believe that we get a center and an OLB through FA and then we draft a DE at 11 and TE in round 2. I LOVE COFFMAN.

is evaluating your tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 targets for each position you go after in FA. That way you can figure out which tier 1 guys will be cheaper than others and which positions tier 3 guys can offer the most value for the cheapest. Anyway, here’s what I’m thinking.

Center – Everyone knows I love Alex Mack. I want to find a way to get him and Orakpo in the first round but a couple of these guys are worth looking into.

Tier 1 – Jason Brown – Youth, experience, and the center in what was a more effective ground game than should have been expected considering the talent at running back and a rookie QB who was throwing to no receivers. I’ll pursue him hard.

Tier 2 – Matt Birk – A two year stop gap while a younger guy develops. I am concerned about a sudden and steep decline in his abilities so I go after him only if Brown is resigned and I don’t think I can trade back up to get Mack.

Tier 3 – Brad Meester – If I sign Meester I’m still going after Mack or Wood in the draft. Meester would be great depth or a guy who can start for a year. At the very least bringing in Meester affords us the right to have he and either Mack or Wood or whoever battle it out in camp for a starting job. He’s insurance if our rookie is not ready to go.

Fullback – Regardless of whether or not we sign or don’t sign a free agent fullback, I’m drafting a guy in the later rounds, either Fiametta or Quinn Johnson in round 5 or 6. I wouldn’t mind either, one is a weapon and the other plows the round. Regardless, could you imagine how good Quinn Johnson or Fiammetta can be if they learn from one of the veterans for a year or two?

Tier 1 – Heath Evans would be the prized possession as he’s a former Patriot and would clearly be able to provide Fewell and DJ with all the goods on the Pats offense, even with their offensive coordinator leaving. He is athletic and a great blocker.

Tier 2 – Tony Richardson – This guy has two great years left and he’s wise an knows the game of football very very well. You want a good role model and mentor for Marshawn Lynch to learn from? Forget a veteran RB, give him a veteran FB. Richardson would also be good for Quinn or Fiammetta as well.

Tier 3 – Lorenzo Neal – If we do go after Jason Brown hard why not reunite he and his fullback in a new city together? Again, like Brown, Neal blocked for a Ravens team that ran better than expected and also has been the focal point of some of the greatest running attacks in the last decade in the NFL. He’s probably on his last leg but I think he can give us one year of showing our offense what toughness means. If we get this guy, we’re draftig Quinn so he can learn from the best.

Wide Receiver – There are only two guys I would target and both are tier 3s. Amani Toomer and Nate Washington. Neither requires us to spend more money than we would like. Amani is choice A because he is experienced and cold provide leadership to our young skill players. He would also help Trent develop in my opinion. He has a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove after the Giants stopped targeting him. A crafty veteran who has been immensely productive in his career with something to prove? Sign me up. Nate Washington I would consider if I know that Hardy will miss most of the the season.

So far, unless I sign Brown I haven’t really spent much money. Part of the reason is in the last part I resigned Greer, Crowell, and extended Peters and Jackson. I also freed up some space by trading McGee an cutting Kelsay. That money has probably gone into signing Toomer and one of the fullbacks as I still prefer to trade up for Mack than spend money on a center. With an aging receiver and an aging fullback (all three guys I listed are 30 or older) I have shored up two problem spots on offense at least in the short term for relatively cheap. I’m confident that with the 3rd or 4th rounder I got from McGee that we can finagle a trade to get back into the first for Mack, maybe give up this year’s second, this year’s third and next year’s second to get into the late teens early twenties. With Mack, Toomer and a FB I think our offense is much much better. Use the pick from McGee to get a tight end to split time with Fine and grab Orakpo with the #11. With all of that done or planned we are free to aggressively pursue the one free agent not named Haynesworth (who is too expensive and probably gonna get tagged) that I would throw a lot of money at.

Sean Jones – I am really content with Bryan Scott and Donte Whitner, a lot more than most people here. But if I can land Sean Jones I’m going for it. Keep Jones on the field as much as possible and rotate Donte and Scott depending on the situation and you’ve got a great situation at safety. I just think Jones would be perfect for this team. If we can’t get him I’m not targeting any other safety available. But I think he is good enough to be a playmaker and I also believe that if Orakpo, Schobel, Ellis, and Denney can provide even a bit of pressure he, Donte, Scott, McKelvin, Greer and Youboty will be the most dangerous secondary in the AFC East.

but not at all reliable. I like Brown at C and Washington as another WR but that’s it. Old fullbacks are useless as they are slow to get to the hole and cannot catch a pass out of the backfield, so what happens when you audible? Matt Birk is 33 and if you sign him, you mas as well resign Whittle. I don’t like that scenario at all. Lets face it guys, the NFL is growing faster and faster as a game EVERY YEAR. These veterans are not.

Whitner can’t tackle and takes horrible angles, did I mention he can’t cover the pass at ALL? Our defensive line creates no pressure or gets any sacks, I think Orakpo would help, but as a rookie is not the answer to all of our problems.

AND everyone can see him handling Jenkins and Wilfork TWICE A YEAR?? Seriously?

Peters for Boldin (Plus an additional pick or 2.)
Jason Brown (Sorry, for as great as Birk is, he’s in the twilight of his career. I forsee shades of Favre.)
JJ Arrington (He could fill in full time, if ever needed.)
LeRoy Hill (His run-stopping abilities would really upgrade the D.)

Question, because i’m thoroughly uninformed on the matter: Can / would the Bills (consider) franchising Peters?

because that isn’t how you run a football team. You can’t bring in a guy for a year, especially at center, because he is the LEADER of the offensive line. This would screw up the whole chemistry. Instead, why not go after someone with playoff experience and a nasty side in Brown who has a lot of YOUTH and POTENTIAL.

And, we’re back. Sorry about the downtime, folks.

Re-posing this question, since it got exactly zero responses before and is kind of what I’m looking for…

Taking a look at the guys on the target list, which position(s) should we target first in free agency?

Center! Top priority. Target Jason Brown

Then OLB – Michael Boley – move to WILL and let Kawika go to SAM.

Then WR Nate Washington or Amani Toomer.

I also like Sean Jones at SS – have to believe he wants out of CLE

“Chris Brown (the team journalist, not the allegedly violent R&B artist)”

Love how you’re willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but have already damned Marshawn as a repeat offender…

Saints released RB Deuce McAllister.
The writing has been on the wall for a couple of months now, with a $7.3 million cap charge and a $3.2 million salary. At age 30 with two damaged knees, Deuce’s future is bleak. He may hope to catch on with a contender, but few NFL teams reserve roster spots for short-yardage backs who don’t contribute on special teams. Pierre Thomas was already a player on the rise, but this news solidifies his value as an intriguing RB2 for 2009. Feb. 17 – 11:55 am et
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

In order-
-C (I’d go Birk, grab one in the draft to back him up/add depth)
-LB (Nothing Suggs-ish, maybe like Leroy Hill or something like that?)
-QB (I’m not sure who, to be honest)
-S (If there’s someone worth getting?)

I don’t have much of a justification for the QB spot, other than I think that a backup QB is more pressing than some of the other problems, and would be harder to address through the draft (I’m not big on any of the QB’s coming out this year).

I really don’t like the WR options (Toomer and Washington? Really?)…just because we could probably get something roughly as threatening through the draft (or draft Hardy v2.0, I realize- I’m trying to channel MRW’s optimism here), or would have to give too much up to get a guy like Boldin.

Is there like an easily sortable list o’ free agents somewhere? I honestly have no idea who all is available (for shame, I know).

I like a center in FA, and like we got Stroud, I wouldn’t mind a trade for a very good DE. i just wonder what our draft board will look like, because more and more I just want the best player available.

Long time-first time (in a long time-I had a membership but it may have lapsed b/c of inactivity). But I’m back and better than ever.

Ok, I realize that FB is certainly NOT our highest priority. Nevertheless, I think a player was left off the “Targets” list, Mr. Guy. How about Leonard Weaver. Sure he’s a RFA, but if the Seahawks put a low tender on him, it wouldn’t cost us a draft pick. And would ANY team pay a FB $1.545M?

Here are the tender amounts per CB’s blog on the Bills site:

“Low tender – right of first refusal & original draft pick – $1.01 million
Middle tender – right of first refusal & 2nd round pick – $1.545 million
High tender – right of first refusal & 1st round pick – $2.198 million
Highest tender – right of first refusal & 1st and 3rd round picks – $2.792 million.”

Thoughts? God Bless and Go Bills!!!

Brian,
Are you anticipating Page will receive at least a Middle Tender?

Leonard was a BEAST as the SS for the Ravens. He knows our system, but do you think there are ill feelings that prohibit him from returning?

Birk+draft/Brown
Hill
Charlie Batch – how can he not be on your list at all???
Amani Toomer

Get me those guys and extend Peters and re-sign Action Jackson.

Day 1 guys:
OLB – Hill or wait until draft
Center – Brown or Birk

Week 2 guys:
Back-up QB
vet WR