Super Bowl Story Lines and the Buffalo Bills

by Ron From NM on Feb 2, 2009 2:58 PM EST in Opinion Comment 35 comments

A few story lines that could have an impact on the Buffalo Bills evolved over the course of Super Bowl XLIII and in the aftermath.

First, Pittburgh's center (Justin Hartwig) turned in a Melvin Fowler/Duke Preston-esque performance that came close to costing the Steelers the game. Arizona's Darnell Dockett isn't a bad DT, obviously, but Hartwig had him looking like Super Bowl MVP material if the Cards had pulled the game out. If there was any doubt in Mike Tomlin's mind about taking a C in the first round of the draft, I think that shoddy performance erased it. There will be at least one C taken before the Bills get around to addressing the position in all likelihood.

Second, Larry Foote may be on his way out in Pittsburgh. Pro Football Talk had a story up about him being unwilling to take a pay cut. He could be cut sometime in the offseason, adding another LB to the deep free agency pool at that position.

Third, Mike Gandy was, well, Mike Gandy. With Kurt Warner maybe having 1-2 years left in the tank and the Cards obviously having the core needed to make a serious Super Bowl run, I can see the Cardinals looking to trade up - way up - in the draft if there is a LT they see as an immediate starter. Swapping with Buffalo could be attractive to the Cardinals... and to the Bills as well.

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trade with Cards and pick right before the Steelers, thereby stealing Alex Mack.

Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.

by poz on Feb 2, 2009 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fitzgerald for Peters? hahahhaha never happen – but i might be inclined to do so

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider

by J2 on Feb 2, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

for the right price I bet they would consider dangling Boldin out there.

Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.

by poz on Feb 2, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that first round pick plus peters probably.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

would you pull the trigger on that trade?

Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.

by poz on Feb 2, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

1st round pick + peters for Fitzy = no way

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider

by J2 on Feb 2, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't...

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For Fitz? I would need to consider it at least

Counter offer with a 3rd and 6th maybe.

Boldin, no way at all Peters and a First, they would have to be happy just with Peters.

I told the witch doctor that I was in love with the Buffalo Bills, and instead of telling me to say "Oh eeh oh oh ah, ting tang walla walla wing bang" in order to make me feel better he told me to buy a gun and end it.

by WABillsfan on Feb 3, 2009 2:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You guys are wasting your time. Fitzgerald is going nowhere.

by bruuuuce_02 on Feb 3, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmm.

Do you think the Bills might sign Hartwig to replace Preston/Fowler?

Gandy was bad.

What would it cost the Cards to swap up that far?

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gandy, three brutal holding penalties.

Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.

by poz on Feb 2, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

cost.

Just to throw some out there:

Boldin?

Tag-and-trade Dansby and a lower round pick

Their first (31st overall), second and 4th (that would leave them still short, but I’d take it if I were Buffalo)

This year’s first and next year’s first

John I.

by jri111 on Feb 2, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The #11 pick is worth 1250, while the #31 pick is worth 600. The Cards could offer a 2nd rounder this year and a 2nd next to get in the ballpark. It might be worth it to Arizona to trade the 1st and 3rd this year and 1st next year if they had a guy really targeted in the top 10 who was on the board at #11. Even a pair of first would be worth it to me to drop back to #31, particularly if Buffalo snags a DE in free agency.

I don’t see the Cards dropping Bouldin, though. He’s part of the reason they made the Super Bowl run. If they want to get back they need him for at least another year.

by Ron From NM on Feb 2, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

so the Bills pick up a third this year and a first next. I’m sold.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would dance for joy for several days if we snagged their 2009 and 2010 1st rounders along with say a 4th this year

That would make me a very very happy Bills fan, especially if we get our OLB and DE in FA.

by WABillsfan on Feb 3, 2009 2:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and I wouldn’t want Hartwig after his performance against the Cardinals. He made them look like Pat and Kevin Williams.

by Ron From NM on Feb 2, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't either...

but that doesn’t mean they don’t do it.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cards OLine

really lost the game for them – couldn’t hold off OLBs from Pittsburgh

and Pittsburgh’s would have been the culprit had they lost

Wells was an RFA we made a play for that they matched.

If we get a C than our line is better than Pittsburgh’s or Cards

by freddyjj on Feb 2, 2009 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Another Buffalo Super Bowl storyline

From rotoworld.com

According to a gossip column in the NY Daily News, Matt Cassel was urinated on in the bathroom during the Super Bowl. An intoxicated man allegedly tried to cut in front of Cassel at the Raymond James Stadium urinals. After Cassel told the drunk to wait his turn, the man “barged in and proceeded to purposefully pee directly” on Cassel’s leg. Security tossed the liquored-up individual, but Cassel was forced to return to his seats with smelly wet pants. He’ll surely be able to replace them with what’s set up to be an exceptionally lucrative offseason.

That is absolutely priceless.

Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.

by poz on Feb 2, 2009 3:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha, that’s good, but how is it Bills related? ;)

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by Brian Galliford on Feb 2, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's nice to see other people get pissed on instead of us getting pissed off.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

anytime a Patriot gets urinated on, its Bills related haha

Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.

by poz on Feb 2, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is it insane to think...

The cards might offer their 1st (which is really a 2nd in reality) and Boldin for Peters? Would they give up a 1st rounder for a proven LT?

"Buffalo Bills Football 2009 (sponsored by Labatt): A Future as Uncertain as the Beer You’re Drinking"

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Feb 2, 2009 4:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

IF the Bills didn't have one, I would

Why not, especially a player who is on the right side of 30, who you could lock up for seven years with a new deal…i wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills moved him, even if it would be one of the worst bone-head moves we’d ever done. So I hope we don’t…make the big man happy so he goes to training camp

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Feb 2, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Darnell Dockett has been a Pro Bowler, so it’s not like he’s some slouch or something. And he was beating more than just Hartwig out there last night, at least from what I remember.

I think it’s a bit crazy to drop from #11 to #31 in the draft. The only way I’d consider it is if AZ gave us #31, #63 and next year’s 1st. And that’s a lot on their side. If they were willing to do that, I think they could get higher than #11. I don’t think their 1st and 2nd is anywhere near enough to move up though, it’s got to include a high pick for next year.

And I think it’s moot anyhow. Why wouldn’t they just move 2007 1st round pick, Levi Brown over to LT? He was a LT at Penn State and I can’t imagine they’d have drafted him in the top 5 to play RT….

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Feb 2, 2009 4:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That there, that's -

the opinion of reason.

"Buffalo Bills Football 2009 (sponsored by Labatt): A Future as Uncertain as the Beer You’re Drinking"

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Feb 2, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he was in a way

Don’t forget they drafted him with Leinert in mind that draft since Matt is a lefty QB, which means Brown WAS covering their perceived starters backside. Here is the thing though K, IF they felt Brown could play LT, why wasn’t he moved over there when they knew Warner was the man for the season? Thats the only Q? I got on this one.

by WABillsfan on Feb 3, 2009 2:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

According to Clayton they still think Leinhart is the future...

so keeping their stud tackle on the right helps now and helps the future.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 3, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be an awesome trade

For the Cards to go from the bottom to 11, we’d probably get a 3rd, and a 5th, or a 4th and a 2011 1st round pick… I’d do it… especially if we took Mack there

by D.C. Fan on Feb 2, 2009 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That is a spot we could take Mack

and have it be a value pick if he is still on the board.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 2, 2009 5:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Off all this talk reinforces how important

linemen are. Unless you have a rare QB, without blocking you have little offense. Same goes for defense and a pass rush. I wonder if the Bills – and many fans – will ever realize this. Drafting wide receivers or running backs every year as number one picks doesn’t get it done. Ask the Lions.

As for centers……well……ask Jim Kelly how important Kent Hull was to his offense.

by ccthemovieman on Feb 2, 2009 8:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Look at the Rams this year with Bulger and a swiss cheese O Line.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 3, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BTW - I don't necessarily agree that we should be drafting Linemen in round 1.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Feb 3, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Minnesota

It would be nice to see the Bills get Mack, but some draft boards have the Vikings taking Mack at #22, since Birk is a free agent and they will not have a center. It would be quite a line with Hutchinson, Mckinnie and Mack opening holes for Adrian Peterson.

by BuffaloWhiner on Feb 3, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I say we address Linebacker and Center (if we can) in free agency. Linebacker is such a deep position in FA, we would be stupid to draft a guy. We need a big d-lineman with our top pick in this draft.

by bruuuuce_02 on Feb 3, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs