Bills, OL Geoff Hangartner agree to terms
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 4:19 PM EST
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintAs we reported yesterday, the Buffalo Bills hosted Panthers guard/center Geoff Hangartner today at One Bills Drive. The team has announced that they have come to an agreement with Hangartner. Terms are undisclosed. Hangartner likely becomes the team's new starting center, replacing Duke Preston and Melvin Fowler, both unrestricted free agents.
The 6'5", 315-pound Hangartner has 27 career starts, including eight last season, when the Panthers were the NFL's third-best rushing outfit, averaging over 152 yards per game. Just 26 years old, Hangartner was a fifth-round pick out of Texas A&M in the 2005 NFL Draft; he was selected a full round later than two other centers Bills fans may be familiar with - Baltimore's Jason Brown and the aforementioned Preston.
Known more as a technician than as a power blocker, Hangartner has a lot to prove in an AFC East division featuring three opposing 3-4 defenses. Still, Hangartner is a smart player with enough punch to hold his own when he's on his game. He's an excellent angle blocker with above average athleticism, and he's as technically sound as can be reasonably expected for someone who has never been a full-time starter. Intangibles such as field awareness, instincts and untapped potential are strong selling points for the four-year pro.
Hangartner was reportedly Buffalo's highest-priority visit, as the team ranked only Brown - who signed with the Rams for over $7 million annually on Friday - ranked ahead of Hangartner on their list of available linemen this off-season. As we explained last night, the team planned on putting the full-court press on Hangartner to get a deal done. Their success plugs a significant hole along their re-tooling offensive line.
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I was just about to ask that same question. Also, does this mean we aren’t going after Birk at all now?
John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...
by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Feb 28, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
Why not get Birk to play center and Hangartner to play left guard? That might be too much to ask.
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
Birk has out-priced himself on the market; he wants to be played like a guard. :)
If his market value begins to slide, we might see Buffalo jump back into things, but that’s looking like only a remote possibility at this point.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
Hmmmm
I dont no anything about this guy. Seems like we are signing another backup from a team to become a possible starter with the bills. Thoughts? Anyone know about this guy and what their plans are for him?
I second that
someone familiar with this guy please give us a bio or something, strenghts/weaknesses
If we can finagle DE Brian Orakpo and C Alex Mack I will not complain about this team for a whole season. I promise.
i think the idea is
to sign a veteran to play center now and draft a player like mack and have him play guard or vice versa. i saw this somewhere i think on this site.
I doubt that now
That was the speculation if the Bills were to target Birk, who is 32. Hangartner is only 26. I think he is expected to play for several years.
which also means
This also opens options for the second draft pick.
Stop it!
:-)
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
Refresh the browser. Added some scouting stuff on him.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
From Sporting News 2005 NFL Draft Preview:
“Strengths: Moves well and plays with intensity. Plays with a mean streak and is physical at the point of attack. Has experience at guard and tackle. Showed steady progress in college, improving his ability to read defensive fronts and learning to make better line calls.”
“Weaknesses: Could have trouble reaching blocks at the second level. Lacks base and doesn’t always play under control. Was suspended for some off-field problems.”
“Bottom line: Hangartner doesn’t have great initial burst, his footwork needs improvement, and minor character issues are a concern. But he is versatile, with experience at every offensive line position.”
From ESPN Scouts, Inc.:
Comment: Hangartner is a versatile backup who can play either guard or center. He has good size and functional play strength, but he’s more of a finesse position blocker than a road grader. He has a good understanding of angles and body position. He’s an above-average athlete who has good movement skills, reactionary quickness and a high motor. He shows good bend and hand placement in-line to hold his ground. He has good initial quickness and athleticism on pulls and works well off combination blocks. He knows when to stay on his feet and when to cut in space. He matches up best when uncovered in pass protection. He has good awareness and knows when to help on either side. He has the balance and lateral agility to slide and redirect against quick interior rushers. He has active hands and good placement to control with inside leverage. He can struggle initially with explosive, penetrating linemen and needs to work on adjusting quicker after the snap. He doesn’t always maintain pocket depth against interior power rushers.
I don’t think Sporting News or ESPN Scouts, Inc. are the best scouting resources, but that’s all I’ve got. The Sporting News resource is a hard copy and the ESPN resource requires an account, I believe, so I don’t have a link for either source.
Otherwise, you might try wandering over to Cat Scratch Reader (SB Nation’s Carolina Panthers) and see what the fans over there have to say. Of course, if you are fortunate enough to have some game tape on Hangartner, that’s the best way to obtain an evaluation.
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
thanks ft worth!
good stuff. what do you think? Sound like starter material? I like that with him on the team we can draft whoever falls to us in the second round whether it be Duke Robinson or Alex Mack. I think one will be there. Robinson might even be better than Mack
If we can finagle DE Brian Orakpo and C Alex Mack I will not complain about this team for a whole season. I promise.
No problem at all.
Since I have not seen Hangartner play, I can’t confirm or deny those evaluations. I don’t know what his situation was in Carolina. Did Hangartner only play or start because someone else (Ryan Kalil?) got injured? Was he starter material just backing up better players? Is he an ascending player?
The Bills don’t have a good history of acquiring good free agent offensive linemen. It certainly won’t take much to do better than Fowler/Preston. The center position is not a premium position, so I’m not overly concerned about it.
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
Hangartner
This is a good arrangement for the Bills. Hangartner can play either center or guard, and he can play both positions better than those we had there last season. This flexibility will help us in our draft.
A positive signing, depending on the $$$...
Any upgrade over Preston and Fowler works for me though…now please SIGN PETERS!!!
what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!!!
Another question,
Was he signed to play center or guard?
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
Almost undoubtedly center.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, looks like Center: http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/bills-sign-ol-hangartner/3ed2767d-ee84-4af3-8684-25adad6aeb3b
by Burger Trench on Feb 28, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
listed at 315lbs.....that makes me happier than 305lbs :-)
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
I’m sending the email now.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
Im just a negative nanny...
I just dont think this guy will make a difference. I will “try” to give him the benefit of the doubt, but, I dont get why they go for someone like him instead of Brown. I guess they just dont want to spend their money.
well I do think he will be good
I’m negative usually too but everything I’ve heard about this guy is good. Carolina wanted to resign him, they said he was like a 6th starting lineman, and Carolina had an excellent Offensive Line, and heres something interesting, the guy is so versatile that he lined up as TE on goalline situations!
I do think this guy is a great signing, He’s an immediate upgrade for us at C and if anyother lineman goes down he can immediately step in and be very good. This is just a good solid signing.
I think the way the Bills are spending their money is indicative of a strategy — save as much as possible, and go after the “might just work out” players in hopes of getting a steal. They could sign three key players or shop around and acquire six “maybe” players that perhaps clubs won’t pay as much and thus are easier to sign. It’s a cheap, risky strategy.
If that’s their strategy, then that’s exactly why we remain in this muck year after year. You can’t keep bringing in mediocre players when you have a chance to get better players.
I’m not saying Hangartner is mediocre, just thinking about the strategy of signing more mediocre players.
~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"
Why couldn't he be mediocre?
I mean, he’s been mostly a backup throughout his 4 year career. In effect, we are picking someone’s backup to be our starter.
I don’t mind teams trying to scratch “maybe’s” from the FA market. Just that the FO is taking a higher risk on this. Buffalo being a small market team, I can understand this strategy, but if this is indeed the strategy, then they should draft inline to this thinking as well — always try to get more picks as much as possible. What baffles me is that the past 3 seasons under Jauron we never traded down to get more picks; in fact, we traded up to lose picks. This is what I’m most upset about the Bills’ FO — they perform self conflicting and self destructive strategies. Lack of direction is what’s been killing the team! I’m not just talking about personnel. On field strategies such as power running are “off and on”.
Sorry for babbling…..I think I lost it a little seeing what the Bills have been doing (or not doing) thus far…….
Bills fan half way around the world
This guy will definitely be an upgrade regardless
I like that he played for the Panthers rushing attack last season so he’s part of success. I like the signing. a lot.
If we can finagle DE Brian Orakpo and C Alex Mack I will not complain about this team for a whole season. I promise.
Bills sign younger player with upside, while filling holes....not bad.
Nothing sexy about them, but both Fitz and Hangartner represent smart picks if they work out. Trouble is, these guys do nothing to energize the fan base. They are not going to put butts in the stands. If we somehow land Coles, that would help. We better pull off one hell of a draft!!!!
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
Where is Coles?????? The man is harder to find than Waldo
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
… but I totally found Waldo. So I’m not understanding where you’re going with this.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
Good.....now go find Coles!!!!!
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
See where I was going :-)
Something tells me I would beat the crap out of you at chess :-)
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
Forget it....I found him in sireric's house!
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
by Joe P. on Feb 28, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I love this place. I really do.
I mean the blog, not the sireric leather S&M basement.
John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...
by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Feb 28, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
Now unlock his arms
and make him sign a contract!
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
I think the guy in black leather looks like a pretty “high motor” kind of guy, hopefully his contract hasn’t been tendered.
the guy in the leather is...
cheap ralph wilson and waldo is our free agent spending money…ON LOCKDOWN!!!
what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!!!
Sometimes, you scare the crap out of me, Joe.
What freakin’ dusty corner of the Internet did you pull this out of?
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
http://www.jtrue.com/cartoons/34.html
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
That is actually Joe’s wallpaper on his PC
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
With all of the "hotties" I have had as avatars
and you think that is my wallpaper???? No and HELL NO !!!!
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
Joe, I have no idea what your wallpaper would look like, but I’m pretty sure it is not appropriate for Rumblings.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
Truth be told
Right now it is a pic of my kids :-)
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?
I’m just hoping that Buffalo doesn’t call the center position ‘solved’ and completely ignore it on draft weekend for the 4th (5th?) year in a row. Basically, Buffalo signed a guy who may or may not be starting caliber material. I’ve never seen the guy play so I’ll hope for the best, never mind recent history.
My guess is that they’ll look at drafting a center that can moonlight at guard for depth purposes, if not to compete with Chambers for one of the starting guard spots.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
He got resigned on Thursday night
And I think we see a C taken in like the 4th to 5th round now. TJ Lang is a very good developmental G that I’ve been hearing good things about.
If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.
I think Buffalo can go ahead and assume that the answer to the center position is Hangartner. I’m not sure what the dollar numbers will end up being, but I bet they paid a good amount and did it so they wouldn’t have to worry about center for a long while.
They don’t have another guy on the roster who is capable of playing center so they literally have to add somebody else. A late round pick is fine by me.
Not me.
I don’t want Buffalo to pin their hopes at center on a guy whose team let him walk out of the door. I’d much rather the Bills get a guy whose team couldn’t keep him even if they wanted to—like Mack or Wood.
They didn’t let Hangartner walk out the door. They’ve been trying to re-sign him for a pretty lengthy period of time. Jordan Gross was lobbying hard for him to stay.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Feb 28, 2009 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
Then what is the point of signing any free agents? The Bills let Jabari Greer walk because they have a good group of cornerbacks and wanted to spend money elsewhere. Should other teams not consider Greer to be a long term starter after giving him 7 mil a season?
Buffalo made multiple attempts to sign Greer to what can only be seen as a fair deal. Personally, I think it would be foolish for any team to give Greer $7 million per year….though he might wind up with an offer in that ballpark. With Dan Snyder having satisfyed his fantasy football gene for the season he probably won’t get more than one such offer.
to sign Greer to what can only be seen as a fair deal
I don’t know how high Buffalo went in the negotiations for Greer, but the only numbers I saw reported were for 4 mil per season. That isn’t even remotely fair. 29 year old journeyman Chris Johnson and his 7 career starts got a contract worth almost 4 mil per season. Joselio Hanson, a nickel CB his whole career, signed for more than 4 mil a season to remain a 3rd CB. Greer will end up getting at least 6 mil per season, and I have to think that Carolina probably ended up offering Hangartner 60% of what Buffalo eventually signed him for. Carolina tried to keep Hangartner they just couldn’t dole out the money necessary to keep him when they already have a good OL.
Last I had read was htat Buffalo offered Greer $5 million per year, though I can’t recall where. He started because he had to, not because he’s a great CB. I like the guy and his story but he’s just not worth a $6 million-$8 million per year investment.
As for Hangartner, I hope he’s a stud and will be watching him with great interest. The center position has been neglected for far to long to patch it with a reserve from another team. At this point, we can’t say one way or another if that’s what Buffalo has elected to do—particularly with the draft still 55 days away.
by Ron From NM on Feb 28, 2009 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
I agree that Greer isn’t worth the money he will receive, but at the same time a product is worth whatever people are willing to pay for it. Let’s wait to see the contract that Hangartner got before saying the situations aren’t comparable. Would you pay a backup OLmen 3 mil? What about 4 mil? Carolina tried to resign him and I bet they offered what their fans thought was a fair contract too.
The center position has been neglected for far to long to patch it with a reserve from another team.
Why does it matter that he was a backup in Carolina? A lot of people who wrote comments down in the bottom of the thread seem dissapointed that he was a backup too. KC just traded for a backup QB with about half the starting experience that Hangartner has and everyone around here seemingly loves the move. The Jets just traded for a guy who ended up being the 4th CB (Lito Sheppard) on his team last year, but why does that matter if he is the 2nd best CB on the Jets?
Preston has 20 career starts. Isn’t it obvious that he isn’t any good? Hangartner has 27 career starts. I think that is enough time for Buffalo to figure out how good he is. Carolina didn’t skip a beat when he took over in 2006, 2007 or 2008. Duke Preston is noticeably bad and Hangartner hasn’t been all that noticeable. He is obviously an upgrade over Fowler/Preston. He might not end up being a superstar, but he is an upgrade and one who should be a solid average starter or above average starter for a long time.
Panthers have Ryan Kalil
Hurt last year but will be back in 2009
Gross wanted Hangartner at G with Kalil at C
btw, per Rochester D and C, Fitzpatrick scored 48 and Hangartner 47 on their Wonderlics – the highest in 2005
He has some size
In his interview on Buffalobills.com he said he ways 315
by The Buffalonian on Feb 28, 2009 5:40 PM EST reply actions
Not getting excited...
Trying not to be too negative just like a couple of others that posted their thoughts above, but I don’t trust Buffalo’s pro scouting enough to have a lot of confidence in this signing.
You can’t knock them for trying, but for everyone that says he’s automatically an upgrade, I just don’t know.
Teague, Fowler, Reyes, Anderson, Dockery, Villarial, etc. were all supposed to be upgrades on the interior line too. Some of those guys were decent, some flat out horrible, all left the Bills wanting replacements for them within a couple of years.
by Make a play Whitner on Feb 28, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions
Agreed.
Their history is not a good indication.
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
These names are not easy on the ears..
“Teague, Fowler, Reyes, Anderson, Dockery, Villarial, etc.”
Hopefully, Hangartner will be a little different…
A pessimist would point at the history and say, “We’re doomed.” An optimist would look at the history and say, “We’re due.”
I think we're due Ron...
happy? :-)
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
Dockery was an upgrade...
no diggity. no doubt. He wasn’t awesome but he improved the O Line.
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
he may be the replacement for Dockery
He is built just like Butler and we could still draft a C. Very conveivable
The Bills CAN win every game
by killascript on Feb 28, 2009 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
His interview on bb.com suggests otherwise. He goes on at length about how he wants to play center (did in high school and college) and how he’s going to play center. It would seem that OBD at least led him to believe that he’d be competing for the starting center gig.
by Ron From NM on Feb 28, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
Sure of course competition
Even if we draft an Alex Mack or Unger or Wood, why not have them play guard or of course, have the open competition. That sounds good to me if we can pull that off
The Bills CAN win every game
by killascript on Feb 28, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
Welcome to the Bills Geoff.......
now kick some arse.
12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.
by norcaliangelsfan on Feb 28, 2009 6:45 PM EST reply actions
Now we can go get G/C Alex Fletcher from Stanford in the 4-5th round
and solidify the depth for the OL……w00
12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.
by norcaliangelsfan on Feb 28, 2009 6:49 PM EST reply actions
You and your Stanford guys....
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
Whoops.
I can’t believe I forgot to ask this question – How much did he get signed for? That’s a huge thing to know…
(My bad if someone already posted it and I didn’t see it.)
I still think they will draft the best interior lineman available in the 2nd or 3rd round
The Bills CAN win every game
I certainly hope so
One of my biggest fears this offseason is that Buffalo would bring in a 2nd tier free agent lineman and call it good. The team needs to develop linemen, not poach them continuously. Is it a coincidence that Buffalo’s two best linemen—Butler and Peters—didn’t start with other teams? Yes, Preston started with Buffalo, too, so the Bills can certainly muck up drafting linemen as well.
they
will deff draft in the third round now like a Wood or mayb even that Caldwell kid from Alabama he looked great in the Senior bowl and played both center and guard
BILLS WILL CHOOSE A CENTER IN TEH 2ND ROUND
I like this guys attitude, but he’s just another role player…he will get murdered by wilfork and jenkins….Preston was showing some aggression and attitude towards the end of the year, even though he cost us a game…i think we will pick a TE first round and then a center 2nd round….Im kinda disapointed with the free agence pickups this year……
PS…i like Birk but he is way too overpriced. Im not happy so far……what do u guys think?
I don’t agree with any of you guys who are saying that Buffalo will be looking at center early in the draft still. I think it is much more likely that Buffalo drafts a true road grader type guard like Herman Johnson or Kraig Urbik.
Hangartner is 26 years old and I’m guessing he signed at least a 4 year deal. Buffalo will consider the starting center spot to be filled for both the short term and the long term. Hangartner isn’t going to come in and suck. Worst case situation he ends going the path of Villarial or Dockery where he represents an immediate upgrade, but never lives up to the contract or struggles with injuries and is released before his contract ends.
Now if Alex Mack (who I still think is easily the best center in the draft) is somehow available to be taken with the 42nd pick, I think you can draft him to play either guard or center. But I don’t think Wood in the 2nd round or Caldwell in the 3rd or anything like that will happen.
In your line of thinking, they could probably grab Shipley in the 5th or so?
John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...
by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Feb 28, 2009 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah something like that. They absolutely need to grab a center at some point and I don’t think they will go into the draft with a specific plan on when they are going to grab one, it will all come down to who is available at what points in the draft.
Depending on how Buffalo has its draft board set up, they could take a bigger guy who can play some guard like Edwin Williams in the middle rounds, or a heady guy who could backup center and excel at special teams as a rookie like Shipley. Robby Felix, Cecil Newton and some guy that I don’t think anyone here has ever mentioned before named Alex Fletcher would also be names that I would love to hear called somewhere around the 5-6th round.
A.Q. Shipley
will be gone by the 3rd round.
Bills fan half way around the world
Think so? I would think that he would be around come the 4th or even 5th. Anything is possible.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
I really hate your worst case scenario
It’s exactly what Buffalo has done for the past several years. I’m hoping for the best out of Hangartner but am leery of another 2-4 wasted years at center.
by Ron From NM on Feb 28, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
I think we should grab TJ Land as our G in the 5th, and look for a project C in the 6th
IF and I repeat IF, the Bills don’t go with a C in the 2nd.
If we get Coles, I have to think the Bills rework their board to look something like this.
Fall back from #11, say the 18th pick and grab another 3rd rounder to boot.
At #18- Pettigrew
At #42- Barwin
At #75- Wood
At #82- Sidbury
If that happens, we get our #1 TE, our 4th DE, our #2/3 C/G prospect and we get our #7 DE prospect.
If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.
Yeah, Ron, that’s why its called the worst case scenario, but seriously was Dockery all that bad? Or was he an average starter who was just way overpaid? Was Villarial a bad player or was he a good guard who just wore down and couldn’t stay healthy and feel apart at the end of his career?
If the Bills end up cutting Hangartner before his contract expires it will be because of injuries like Villarial, or they overpaid like Dockery and not because he stinks like Fowler or Preston do. That’s my point there.
Yeah. Unfortunately that is what I see as well. As much as I hope that Hangartner was picked up for depth, or to give us Guard/Center flexibility in the draft, I think there is very little chance now we take a great center in the draft unless one falls to us in round 2. No way at #11, and no way we trade down.
Bringing in Hangartner doesn’t mean OBD will sit at #11. As I put in my pre-free agency draft I don’t know that Buffalo will have anyone worth taking at #11.
Yeah I should have specified I meant ‘Trade down for a center’. If most mocks are accurate about who will be picked in front of us, I would love for Buffalo to trade down in any case.
Of course I also thought that we should have traded down last year and taken the #2/3 CB, #1 TE and Hardy, instead of the #1 CB and Hardy.
Now Im just crossing my fingers that those players we do take are useful in a variety of systems, so if we do have a coaching change in 2010 the draft isnt wasted.
same o' same o'
another backup we hope will be okay. Every year we get our hopes up and we watch the names go to other teams. It’s hard not to get frustrated but it seems like we do. They have the money but yet we get other teams backups hoping they are our treasures. I’m not a pessimistic,but DARN!!! Come on…. I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!! I just wanna win.
Who exactly were the names that they were supposed to get?
Brown? Who is now the highest paid center in the league playing for a team that he doesn’t want to play for because no one thought he was worth the money that he got?
Birk? Who is still available but has priced himself out of every market?
Saturday? Didn’t even make it to free agency.
That other guy? You know the one. He plays line. Such a big name that I can’t even name him.
by twoeightnine on Mar 1, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
Jonathan Vilma
Laveranues Coles
Sean Jones
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
Vilma is off the Market. He just signed a 5 year deal with the Saints
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 1, 2009 2:29 AM EST up reply actions
I was responding to who the Bills should have tried to acquire already.
That includes Vilma.
But yes, you are correct. So in this case, even though OBD won’t do it, I would bring back Angelo Crowell (if healthy). :)
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
agreed
i’d bring Crowell back in an instant
by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 1, 2009 9:50 AM EST up reply actions
Coles and Jones are still available.
And Vilma re-signed with the Saints without talking to anyone else.
This was a post about an OL that they signed, I would assume that it was a complaint about them not signing one of the big name OLs. Of course knowing this fanbase it was a complaint about them not signing Haynesworth and trading for Cassel and bringing in the ghost of Barry Sanders.
Buffalo's not taking a Center high in the draft anymore
Maybe a guard to replace Dock, but not a Center. Think about it. The Bills website, Chris Brown’s interviews, they all indicate that GH is going to play center. No talk of playing guard. That and we hear they’ve courted Geoff H this intensely…why would they do so for mere flexibility? It must mean they plan to build with him as the answer to the C problem.
Buffalo will probably also select a project Center (round 3-6) to develop. GH is 26, so if he develops into a good player, we’re good. If he fouls it up, we have a developmental prospect with some experience there.
If we can snag Coles I’ll be pretty satisfied with our Major offensive needs, as long as we bag a guard. Defense can then be our unquestioned priority.
disappointed
Just like a lot of other Bills-fans, I haven’t exactly been pleased with who we’ve acquired in FA to this point. We’ve gotten our backup QB-situation solved and we’ve hopefully acquired a legitimate center for the next five seasons in Hangartner.
The problem is: This plain and simply isn’t enough if we want to make the playoffs!
We still need the following:
- Starting LG (Kirk Chambers is a career backup and I will officially throw up, when the Bills exclaim that he’s their starting guard.)
- Starting TE (To me, we need to trade for Owen Daniels. Trent values TE’s more than WR’s, so adding a Pro Bowl TE like Daniels would be a heads up move in my opinion.)
- Starting OLB
- Starting DE (Chris Kelsay is the most useless and overpaid player on the Bills team imo.)
- 2. WR —> Lavaranues Coles (we need to sign him)
- Competition for Bryan Scott at SS (Sean Jones would be a helluva pickup, though not likely)
That’s a total of six players we need to add to our roster, so if Dick Jauron, Tom Modrak, John Guy, Jim Overdorf want to keep their jobs after this upcoming season, then they need to get it done, because this season is: playoffs or ‘getting the sack’.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Mar 1, 2009 4:54 AM EST reply actions
I don’t know what the plan is at left guard. There are any number of possibilities. The draft pick compensation for Daniels is ridiculous, I believe. I don’t know if the compensation for Daniels can be negotiated for less. Without giving up those draft picks, the Bills could probably draft a tight end better than Daniels. At OLB, I think the Bills should re-sign Angelo Crowell (if healthy). Starting DE will probably come through the draft. At WR and SS, I think acquiring Coles and Jones makes sense; I don’t think that’s too much to ask for. The Bills don’t have to emulate the Redskins to improve their roster. Just try to compete is all we are asking for.
Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.
I’m not sure why your expectations were to make the playoffs by having a big free agent period.
The playoffs weren’t happening either way. If that’s your criteria for being disappointed thus far, then it’s pretty easy to understand.
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by Brian Galliford on Mar 1, 2009 7:48 AM EST up reply actions
Take it back.
The playoffs weren’t happening either way.
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
You do realize that trading for Daniels
would essentially cost us everything else right? He was tendered at the highest rate which means that the Texans would want a lot for him in a trade. At least our first and a third or fourth at the minimum.
And how do you know that Edwards values TEs more than WRs? A) He’s never had a top flight TE here. B) He didn’t use them in college, his TEs never put up more than 250 yards in a season and were always a 4th or 5th option.
...
Brian – you’re being naive. Do you seriously believe that this team with this mediocre talent can make the playoffs considering our very difficult schedule? I’m not advocating signing every big-name free agent like a lot of other Bills-fans do; I’m simply advocating for the Bills to at least try and improve the level of talent on the team. That’s something they haven’t managed to this point, which is why I think it’s in my right to be dissatisfied with the Bills front office.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Mar 1, 2009 7:55 AM EST reply actions
What part of
The playoffs weren’t happening either way.
Did you miss?
No, I don’t think the team is playoff-caliber, and I’ve never pretended to. That doesn’t mean these have been bad signings. I’m not the type of guy to get all riled up about free agency, because as I’ve mentioned numerous times, there is ZERO correlation between shiny free agent toys and putting a winning product on the field.
You want to win? Screw the free agents. It’s all on Trent Edwards.
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by Brian Galliford on Mar 1, 2009 8:01 AM EST up reply actions
...
If you’re saying that you don’t believe the Bills will make the playoffs, you’re in other words saying that Trent Edwards will fail, since all – according to you – is on his shoulders. One way to avoid Edwards failing could perhaps be by adding a proven veteran WR in Lavaranues Coles and perhaps make a trade for Owen Daniels. That would give Trent tremendous weapons and that would make his job as a young QB a whole lot easier. The problem is: This front office – and more specifically pathetic John Guy – isn’t exactly helping their young QB by not adding any weapons.
This team needs an immidiate infusion of talent, not 8-9 more youngsters, who need to get accustomed to what NFL is like. We already have one of the youngest teams in the NFL; why don’t we for once try to add some veterans, who know how to get the job done, and who thereby could help us get to the promised land – playoffs.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Mar 1, 2009 8:23 AM EST reply actions
Signing every weapon out there for Trent is enticing sure, but it doesn’t guarantee improvement for Trent (that’s all on him), and it cripples the team financially.
Aren’t we trying to sign Coles? Isn’t that, at the very least, trying to “add a proven veteran WR”?
Don’t teams add an “immediate infusion of talent” every year and still suck? Weren’t the Jets supposed to make the playoffs when they added Favre, Faneca and Pace?
Once again, there is no correlation between adding high-priced, “impact” free agents and putting a winning product on the field. I don’t want the team to try to get better. I want them to win. The only way that happens is if we’re smart in free agency, draft well, and most importantly, Edwards gets it. So I’m not gonna get all fired up when we don’t sign the Houshmandzadehs of the world, because it wouldn’t matter the way everyone thinks it would matter.
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by Brian Galliford on Mar 1, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
..
Brian – it’s fine that you’re an optimist, but the fact remains: We haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999.
That’s why I think it’s people’s right to be upset with the way things are being run at OBD.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Mar 1, 2009 8:32 AM EST reply actions
I’m not saying it isn’t your right to be upset. I don’t know how you got that impression. But it’s also my right to disagree with you.
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by Brian Galliford on Mar 1, 2009 8:34 AM EST up reply actions
Now we can go get Duke
Robinson not Preston in Rd 2.
Peters, Robinson, Hangartner, Butler, Walker as starters in 2009.
Before we weren’t taking a G until late rounds now we’re thinking 2nd. Do we have to give up a first for Daniels or is that something that can be negotiated? It just seems we got alot of holes going into the draft.
To sign him would take a 1st and a 3rd.
To trade for him would take something comparable. No way the Texans would let him go for less than a 1st and something else.
Before we hadn't released our starting LG.
It became a need then.
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
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