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Scout.com: Bills have interest in LB Larry Foote

After a pretty busy day one of NFL free agency given the circumstances, Larry Foote's name is one of the biggest left on the market. The veteran 3-4 inside linebacker has drawn interest from the Buffalo Bills, according to Ed Thompson of Scout.com.

There's one problem, however - the Bills have stiff competition for Foote's services. He'll travel to D.C. to visit with the Washington Redskins (another team switching to the 3-4) on Monday and Tuesday, and then will head to the left coast to visit with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. As of this morning, Foote does not have a visit scheduled with the Bills.

Foote, who will turn 30 this June, is an eight-year veteran that spent his first seven years in Pittsburgh, where current Bills Assistant GM Doug Whaley was certain to get a long look at the strong-side inside linebacker. Foote won two Super Bowl rings in his time with Pittsburgh before his spring 2009 release. He spent last season with the Detroit Lions. Foote has accumulated 531 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 3 interceptions and 8 forced fumbles to this point in his career.

Buffalo hosted a free agent visit with Chiefs guard/center Wade Smith on Friday; he was expected to remain in Orchard Park through mid-day today. The team has also loosely been affiliated with Ravens receiver Kelley Washington (link) and Dolphins backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen (link). As expected, the team's first jaunt into free agency under new GM Buddy Nix has been a cautious, under-the-radar tale.

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Foote would be a nice pickup. However, i would be cautious to not overpay him.

If he lands here, were does kawika go? or is it poz that moves outside?

by BillsfanDan on Mar 6, 2010 8:20 AM EST reply actions  

Veek is a WILL in the 3-4. I see him taking snaps at ILB in rushing situations and OLB on obvious passing situations if we sign Foote.

The more I see, the less I know.

by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 6, 2010 8:54 AM EST up reply actions  

We can worry about those guys later. Mitchell could play OLB IMO but we’d have to see how it all plays out.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 6, 2010 9:40 AM EST up reply actions  

feeling may not be mutual

the fact that he has no visit set up says a lot. Our image problem may be continuing. Like the “interesting” angle to Pennington returning to the Fins. He wanted a no-trade clause included. Instead, he’ll get an extra $1.5MM if he’s traded.
Could he have been trying to prevent coming to the Bills as had been so widely speculated?
Personally, I’m glad, but, I wonder if he was “making sure” it didn’t happen. The flip side of that, Thigpen now becomes more expendable. I’m not crazy about that, either.

"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"

by fansince60 on Mar 6, 2010 8:38 AM EST reply actions  

Pennington was making sure he wasn’t traded anywhere. You’ve gotta be in a dark place to think he was singling out Buffalo with that demand. Holy crap.

Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Mar 6, 2010 8:55 AM EST up reply actions  

in florida

sunny here :-)

"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"

by fansince60 on Mar 6, 2010 8:59 AM EST up reply actions  

Yep

He knows he’s washed up. And he is happy leaving his family where they are while he rides the pine soaking up the Florida sunshine. Nothing wrong with that. The guy knows his limitations.

by billskk69 on Mar 6, 2010 9:19 AM EST up reply actions  

We might have stiff competition.

But I still give us the inside edge. The Whaley connection says a lot to me. And Ralph would do a lot to disperse the “cheap” label by offering to beat any other offer on the table.

Simple fact is that we need aa ILB that is of the big bruiser mold; and Larry Foote is the prototype for that position, so why not do everything to sign Larry Foote? Know whst I mean?

The more I see, the less I know.

by CanadianBillsFan on Mar 6, 2010 8:52 AM EST reply actions  

Money speaks volumes

We might have the inside track, but the Redskins have to let him get out of their building without a contract first. And AZ just cleared off a huge amount of money off their books by dumping/trading Rolle, Dansby, and Boldin.

by Renegade23 on Mar 6, 2010 9:10 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah I would never say we had the inside track on a guy who doesn’t have a visit scheduled.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 6, 2010 9:41 AM EST up reply actions  

Sorry

   Maybe it just me but, all the free agents that visit a certain team are being signed by that team. The Bills are being very slow and are justing thinking, looking at or sniffing at certain players. When they do get around to decided if they want that certain player it may be to late. I don’t understand while they aren’t making any moves and calling people in. Smith has been here and now is gone. (Goodbye)

by Bob on Mar 6, 2010 9:29 AM EST reply actions  

Smith’s not gone. He’ll be in Buffalo through this afternoon. Which it says right in this very article.

Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Mar 6, 2010 9:55 AM EST up reply actions  

Smith left. Chris Brown updated that Smith left without the interview. Interviews went long and he had a to catch a flight to Houston…

by kgun201 on Mar 6, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions  

That’s why you’re better than me:

As expected, the team’s first jaunt into free agency under new GM Buddy Nix has been a cautious, under-the-radar tale.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 6, 2010 9:39 AM EST reply actions  

I feel like a heroin addict right now.....

I just need a signing….any signing…..it’ll hold me over for a couple days….

New York City Buffalo Bills Backers
www.nycbbb.com

by BillsNYC on Mar 6, 2010 9:42 AM EST reply actions   1 recs

LOL

Talent withdraws are a bitch!!! They say beers good for that…

by buffalobacker on Mar 6, 2010 10:00 AM EST up reply actions  

I LOL’ed but felt dirty afterwards. Can we say…. like Cookie Monster on Family Guy instead?

by MattRichWarren on Mar 6, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions  

Ha ha, great analogy!

www.Foundation58.org - "Helping Those Who Help Us" in the fight against cancer.

by RIP058 on Mar 6, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions  

hahaha. great clip

"Its always Miller Time
Whens it gonna be Sabres-Offense Time?"
- by Jsz on Mar 3, 2010 6:25 PM PST

by bflo on Mar 6, 2010 10:37 AM EST up reply actions  

Obviously, the Bills need to sign talented players, they should not be afraid to sign players to compete with the current starters. So what if a FA plays the same position as Poz or Mitchell etc etc, the fiercer the competition the better the team.

With no salary cap anyone one else scared that we are at the beginning of watching the NFL turn into MLB? The big cities can bring in so much more non-sharing revenue that will give them a huge advantage for going after the big names. Is what the Bears pulled off yesterday by signing Peppers, Taylor and Manumaleuna the start, all it takes is 1 team to start the frenzy!!!!

"Whether or not you write well, write bravely"

by Goose22 on Mar 6, 2010 9:50 AM EST reply actions  

I think Foote will sign with the Cardinals...

…but if he did come here, it does make me wonder where exactly we would play Mitchell. We know where Poz and Foote would go, ditto all of our converted DEs. Mitchell could potentially play all four spots though. It would nice to have- its been a long time since we had a problem with finding time to play talented players on defense. I suspect we’ll pick up someone like Ayodele though.

by PozDispenser on Mar 6, 2010 10:12 AM EST up reply actions  

My guess would be outside, maybe LOLB. Schobel and Maybin are anything but a lock.

Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.

by WhyBillsWhy on Mar 6, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions  

Wade Smith

meeting media in BUFF today. “Could be” first one! (hopefully not the only one)

"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"

by fansince60 on Mar 6, 2010 10:26 AM EST reply actions  

Smith

Don’t let him leave OBD w/o a contract!!!

Keep us posted Brian – PLEASE!

Season Ticket Holder Sec: 312, Row: 15
"There's NO place like home when it's the Big Tree Inn"

by Pocono Bob on Mar 6, 2010 10:32 AM EST reply actions  

yea cuz smith is so good, we just can’t let him leave!!!

by csc06258 on Mar 6, 2010 1:03 PM EST up reply actions  

If Washington is moving to a 3-4

They should be all over Foote and ready to pay him more than the Bills would.

Arizona is likely to make him a priority after Dansby left.

The Bills have Poz and Mitchell who can probably play inside already. Is there as much playing time available here?

I can’t see Foote coming here unless the Bills overpay him, which I doubt they are going to do.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Mar 6, 2010 11:31 AM EST reply actions  

Brian,

do you think not going after a guy like foote would greatly increase the prospect of drafting mcclain 9th overall? what would our LB’s depth chart look like if we draft mcclain, or if we sign foote? or both? I don’t want the neither, as we’re all aware of what that looks like? I’m just having trouble figuring out what our current personnel can play in a 3-4 scheme.

Later Losman!

by rockybillboa on Mar 6, 2010 11:31 AM EST reply actions  

I’m not Brian, but I’ll answer your question. McClain is a weakside ILB, which is the same position as Poz. Therefore, it’s fairly unlikely we draft McClain at #9 unless he’s the BPA and our staff feels he can be a difference-maker. Foote is a strongside ILB and would likely start alongside Poz and Mitchell can move outside if need be. I personally don’t think it’s likely we sign Foote unless he’s cheap and instead, it’s much more likely we draft an inside linebacker who can play the strongside somewhere in the middle rounds.

by Jeff Winters on Mar 6, 2010 11:49 AM EST up reply actions  

much obliged. perspective is everything

Later Losman!

by rockybillboa on Mar 6, 2010 12:00 PM EST up reply actions  

lb situation

sounds like kawika and poz inside some combo of ellis, maybin and schobel outside/maybe scott. Suprised we did not go after boldin, seemed like a cheap price. Hoepfully, we do not overpay for some veteran on the wrong side of youth. I am betting on an extreme penny pinching year.

by wab2 on Mar 6, 2010 12:31 PM EST reply actions  

they didn’t overpay. but those picks aren’t that cheap

Later Losman!

by rockybillboa on Mar 6, 2010 12:55 PM EST up reply actions  

COME ON COACH GET SOMEBODY

COMPLAIN wehat you want they just say that so it looks like we are DOING something and the END. ALL the players that come end up some were else why cause we dont have the Cojones to say we are paying this guy and he is going to be a FORCE for our team THE BUFFALO BILLS plain and SIMPLE

by abayarde on Mar 6, 2010 1:39 PM EST reply actions  

same old Bills

,no open pockets from wilson.There going to wait and sign a bunch of nobuddys !

by Jantheman on Mar 6, 2010 6:08 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah

Something like 12th highest payroll in NFL. Damn Ralph “no pockets” Wilson.

by buffalobacker on Mar 6, 2010 8:08 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

Actually, and I quote Mark Gaughan and his article ‘Bills’ Nix declines to uncap his plans’, the Bills ranked 25th out of 32 teams in overall player salaries.

"The one commonality in both places (Oakland and Buffalo) is an aging owner who keeps interfering too much. Ralph Wilson continually butts his nose in the football operation and tells the team who to draft"

by BillsfanfromDenmark on Mar 7, 2010 5:49 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah I’ve emailed Gaughan about that before. USA Today says we were 11th. Gaughan says he hasn’t seen those figures and is going to use his. Take it for what it’s worth.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 7, 2010 8:42 AM EST up reply actions  

well thats based on CAP numbers too.........

which we know CAP numbers are different than salary numbers………..

But yeah Im with you MRW

The only cure for a bad today is tomorrow.

by norcaliangelsfan on Mar 7, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions  

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