What Do You Think About FA So Far?

by killerokapi on Jul 28, 2011 7:50 PM EDT

So, we've had a lot of discussion in the comments about how we feel about Free Agency so far, so why not take a poll on it? At least it'll give us something to do during our ~~Clabo~~ ~~Burnett~~ ~~panda watch (which looks like it will last into tomorrow, unfortunately)~~. Sorry, we are currently out of pandas. I only included Brad Smith and Tyler Thigpen because most folks seem happy that we re-signed Drayton Florence making his inclusion a bit redundant.

Poll

Do you like that OBD agreed to sign Tyler Thigpen and Brad Smith?

Gosh, Yes They're Both Super Awesome!!

74 votes

I Only Really Like Thigpen

17 votes

I Only Like Smith

23 votes

I Think OBD Had a Major FAIL.

78 votes

Geez, I Have No Idea What I Think...

70 votes

262 votes | Poll has closed

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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Comments

there both

pretty good but this is like an average signing for other teams. get clabo as has been linked and an ilb then were talking. I do like taking from the Jets especially since they were a playoff team and he picked us. Hope that means something.

It seems like Uncle Jesse and Cooter have a plan. I wish Waylon Jennings was still around to be narrator.

by JReesor on Jul 28, 2011 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

voted geez

btw they both not great signings. above average but not great

It seems like Uncle Jesse and Cooter have a plan. I wish Waylon Jennings was still around to be narrator.

by JReesor on Jul 28, 2011 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

EPIC FAIL!

let’s review…the Patriot’s signed Ochocinco and Haynesworth. the Jets’ resigned Holmes and are in the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes. the Dolphins’ signed Reggie Bush and Orton and all we can do is sign Brad Smith and Tyler Thigpen? really? this is pathetic. sorry OBD you totally S the bed on this one.

Do you Billeve in FitzMagic?

by buffalofan1 on Jul 28, 2011 8:01 PM EDT reply actions

If we signed; 85, Fat Albert or Bush I don’t think too many people would be happy.

Never confuse movement with action.
~Ernest Hemingway

by NolaBillsFan on Jul 28, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

That's true

But still Brady to Ocho? Geez…

"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"

by J0ckam0 on Jul 28, 2011 8:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Maybe it's just me

It looks like the Pats are getting desperate or too cocky; Albert and Chad. Let’s hope they can cause enough headaches in the locker room to counter anything they do on the field.

Never confuse movement with action.
~Ernest Hemingway

by NolaBillsFan on Jul 28, 2011 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Just like the headaches

that Randy Moss was supposed to cause right? He had a few good years there before he became a problem and they cut ties with him. Didn’t seem like they missed a beat without him either. My problem is everybody in the division is adding pieces to get better and we’re not. Yes you build a team through the draft but Free Agency is there for a reason Budy! Geeshhhh

"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes

by panekattack on Jul 28, 2011 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

You wanted any of Ochocinco, Haynesworth, Reggie Bush, or Kyle Orton????

Perception is reality; but if your perception is off, you live in your own reality. -- perkispower

by thefourwinds on Jul 28, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Greg Olsen would have been nice

The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun

by mob16151 on Jul 28, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yup. He would have. I’m pretty pissed right now.
Buddy has not shown us anything to this point.
And I’m a supporter of him.

Hopefully something happens good in the next day or so.

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jul 28, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not upset by the Bills moves so far

but I’m not thrilled either. I’m still very much in wait and see mode.

by mob16151 on Jul 28, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

He has shown he is not willing to overpay for an ILB.

Never confuse movement with action.
~Ernest Hemingway

by NolaBillsFan on Jul 28, 2011 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

It's pretty apparent we will never ever have a good TE

by BillsThickNThin on Jul 28, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I wanted G. Olsen or Z. MIller

but i realize now that we will run a much more spreadoriented offense than even last years team with Brad Smith we have another gimmicky player who can have an impact on third downs and in the return game freeing up Spiller to get more touches out of the backfield… Brad Smith is a like Reggie Bush lite he returns kicks and can run outside …. and what if we don’t sign Roscoe Parrish next year( i think his deal is up) were gonna need a slot guy

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else." John Madden

by BRIANMULHALL on Jul 29, 2011 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions

No

but this is the best we can come up with? how about that big hole in our linebacker core? we don’t need another WR to the roster.

Do you Billeve in FitzMagic?

by buffalofan1 on Jul 28, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

"no fatty lady singing"

It’s not over yet. IF they land Clabo and/or Burnett, it’s a a success.

There was a need for a backup QB, and Thigpen gives Fitz a backup that is at least semi competent. Brown is a project still, and Brohm is gone, saving us from cringing at just the thought of him going back out there.

I have reasoned myself to be OK with the Brad Smith signing with this: Helps us by hurting our opponent. The Jets liked to use Brad Smith in their gimmicky plays and on returns. But this might just be me reasoning myself into liking something i don’t really like.

by NDbuffalo on Jul 28, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

clabo signed with Falcons

9er/chiefs fan from berlin – berlin is in germany – not a native speaker – mistakes may occur

by ezoo on Jul 28, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Fixed it

"I don't think I'm better than you, but I don't think that I'm worse" ~ Ani Difranco

by killerokapi on Jul 28, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m glad the Pats got Ochocinco and Haynesworth. One’s skills are diminished and the other is a loose canon. Remember when Albert spiked the guy in the face and says he doesn’t remember it? That’s a little scary. As for the Dolphins: is Bush much of an upgrade over the strong running game they have had recently? Or is Orton going to leads them to the promised land? The Jets’ signing Holmes helps them, but at 10M(?) a year we would never have been in the running for that anyway. I guess my point is, we are building this team for the long haul. It’s hard to stay patient, but when we do get good, we will have a solid foundation of ‘our guys’, not some hired guns.

by JapanJohn on Jul 29, 2011 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions

This argument is getting really overdone around here. Please tell me how any of the above (except possibly Asomugha who we will not have a real shot at to be honest) would be good fits for us? So the other teams are making flashy additions. Big deal. You want Fat Albert? Really? Why? The Bills don’t need a reclamation project right now. The whole freaking team is already a reclamation project. And Bush would do…. what for us? Ocho? Reall? Didn’t we already try out that particular brand of crazy train with TO? Yeah. Did you want Orton?

Here’s the thing. Other teams signing big names at positions that aren’t really huge needs for us is really irrlevant. I’m not sure that the Pats signings even make them a better team. It just gives them more press. Why is everyone so upset that other teams are signing people we don’t really want anyhow????

"...and dance by the light of the moon!"

by bflogrl on Jul 29, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Brad Smith

How many freaking kick returners does one team need?

Really folks, how many? Unless Buddy and Chan suspect that KR will be the most overworked position on the team.

This is a wasted roster spot, wasted salary. There’s a reason why the Jets didn’t resign him! They are smart.

Our Wang don’t Hang; it’s a Calloway Wood cause we got Levitre.

by ChipShot on Jul 28, 2011 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

Yes. They signed him specifically to be a kick returner.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 28, 2011 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I detect some sarcasm BG :)

Seriously ChipShot, do you even know who Brad Smith is?

He was a monster 1st down machine running their wildcat package, sure he’s a package player and not a full time player, but teams knew when he came in what was going to happen, and they still couldn’t stop it.

Girls use hair spray, Men don't.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!

Don't be a Paully!

by The Buffalo Kid on Jul 29, 2011 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm

No earth shattering moves to date but I like what FO has done minus O/L issue they hate to address based on previous experiences; I for one understand why.

Baby steps are for babies. Step it up buffalo!

by buffalobacker on Jul 28, 2011 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously ?

They signed a third string QB in Thigpen and fourth string QB/ utilty player in Smith (lets face it Fitzpatrick is a second string QB anywhere else) while they lost out on any possibilty of signing a stud right tackle that would have instantly improve the Bills. Signing Smith is no different than drafting Spiller with the first pick last year. They are both luxury picks in a time that the team has huge needs to fill. I am not sure Poz was a huge loss, but if the Bills thought he was worth keeping, and they stated time after time that he was, they failed miserably. Resigning Florence was significant as the Bills were unlikely to be able to bring anyone better in. It is more and more unlikely that the Bills will address their glaring holes by signing anyone that would upgrade the mediocre talent that they have at several positions. They desperately need a RT, TE, and inside linebacker. A number one wide reciever is also a glaring need as Evans is a number two at best and Johnson is a number three on any other team. With 40 million dollars to spend it would seem that they would want to fill in some of those holes with young up and coming players. Having said that, at this point in time with a totally disfunctional operation, what star player would even consider Buffalo? If you think for one minute that Clabo was even considering Buffalo you are deluded. Clabo was simply playing the Bills to get what he wanted from Atlanta. Play for a winner or play for Buffalo at the same price? not even a question. There will not be any big name free agent signings or even players that would upgrade any position of need in Buffalo. It is unfortunate that the Bills continue to spin their wheels as the rest of the AFC East make move after move to get better.
I have to give Nix credit, he seems to want to do the right things and make the right moves, but it seems that Brandon, Overdorf and Ralph continue to hold this team down. Good luck with the philosophy of building through the draft as any good player will bolt for green pastures as soon as their first contract is up. It would seem that it would take 5-6 years at the least to build through the draft and by then your star players are gone. Can anyone tell me of one team that has built a winner year in and year out via the philosophy of building through the draft and not signing any notable free agents and if so are they perenial winners ?

by popey on Jul 28, 2011 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

:-(

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jul 28, 2011 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

The Steelers

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Jul 28, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

The Chargers build a winner through the draft

I agree with most of what you’re saying except for a few parts. First I agree that Evans is a fringe #1 probably better suited as a #2 WR but Steve Johnson definately proved last year that he is fully capable of being a #2 WR for any NFL team. There’s no way you can convince me that with ANY other NFL team he would be a #3 WR at best c’mon man. Hell with some teams he’d probably be their #1.

Second is I don’t really know how you can excuse Buddy from the blame for a lot of this. Do you know for a fact that Brandon, Overdorf and Ralph have tied his hands down and forced him to just sit on the sidelines of free agency and watch everyone else make plays? I’ve heard Nix time and time again say that you build a winner through the draft and we will pay for production. If our guys produce then we will resign them yet he let’s poz walk and resigns kelsay for 6 mil. a year. It seems to me that Nix is almost anti-free agency and it’s really hurting us. I agree that you build a winner through the draft, but you upgrade and add playmakers through free agency get a grip Buddy you stubborn old goat!!

Other than those points I agree with you, it’d be crazy for any big name/ upgradable free agents to even consider signing with Buffalo with the disfunction this team is showing, an uncertain future, and every other team in the divison adding pieces to get better. All this has done is hurt us, and as you said we have to spend about $40 million, unfortunately it looks like we’ll be overpaying average to below average players just to fill that quota.

"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes

by panekattack on Jul 28, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

The Chargers build a winner through the draft

I am not a big supporter of Nix at this point, but am willing to give him a little bit of a chance. The one thing that has not changed since prior to Nix arrival is the insanity, or is it senility of the front office. I posted a comment the other day regarding the question of what has changed with this organization. I was refering to Ralph, Brandon and Overdorf, but it was taken as a slam to those that actually control football operations and not the personel. I was blasted for those comments because the Chix experiment is new. But has anything really changed? Maybe from the X’s and O’s on the field, but not from the front office. Is it Nix’s fault that they pay Kelsey 6 million a year to be a locker room leader or is it the rest of the front office that controls the money? Kelsey is a decent player in the 4-3, but is out of place in the 3-4 just the same as Poz was. Niether one of them are good in coverage and were forced to play out of position.
I am not saying go out and get the top market player from every position (that experiment fails badly in Washington year in and year out), but rather upgrade to players that can help push you over the top. Picking up luxury “slash” players and paying them a high salary is not going to keep Fitzpatrick upright and healthy or give him a dependable TE with hands that can also block to get him out of a jam. Picking up a luxury player is not going to help your defense stop the run any better than it did last year. Despite his inabilty to cover a girl scout in traffic, Poz was the Bills best linebacker against the run and now you hope a rookie LB will be defensive rookie of the year and be a significant upgrade to make you a great run stopping defense.

by popey on Jul 29, 2011 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions

So quick to throw everyone under the bus

Give it another year. In all seriousness. Signing notable free agents because they are notable isn’t always the way to go. Dallas, Washington, and Oakland all show us that no matter how many shiny objects you pile together you won’t necessarily win a championship. I would love for the team to land some bigger names in FA, but until the team starts to win they would need to shell out more money to lock up a guy than another team. You tie up all your money in one or two big name guys and you are left with little to pay your young guys after they develop.

While they haven’t landed the “big name” player we would all like, at least they have been talking to guys at positions of need. At least Nix seems like he has a clue of what this team needs to be better, not running out to resign TO to get a big name.

3 years to rebuild a team. this is just year 2. give it time. gotta believe.

by NDbuffalo on Jul 28, 2011 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

So next year they draft Andrew Luck number 1, then they get a RT in the second round, a TE in the third and a number 1 WR in the fourth and they all contribute so much that the Bills finally end their play off drought in the 3rd year and become playoff winners ??? Wow, please send me some of that Kool aid. No big name player is coming to Buffalo, but find those that can come in and make a difference.

by popey on Jul 29, 2011 7:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Never said they would land Luck and build everything in the draft next year. If the team is better, wins more games and starts to look like a contender then the team can start signing players away from other teams without having to overpay them. I was simply stating that they have a plan and are sticking to it. I am not a Kool aid salesman, sorry.

by NDbuffalo on Jul 29, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not sure Poz was a huge loss, but if the Bills thought he was worth keeping, and they stated time after time that he was, they failed miserably.

Poz isn’t worth anything near 7.5 million a year – that’s wrong popey

but it seems that Brandon, Overdorf and Ralph continue to hold this team down.

how is that even remotely the case? You could make the case for Ralph but Overdorf an Brandon? Now your just spitting hatred for no reason.

It would seem that it would take 5-6 years at the least to build through the draft

Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey are on a 5 year plan – so you are correct there. Then they will try like heck to keep their best players. You don’t pay 7.5 million a year for a guy like Poz – that’s insane.

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I like the Brad Smith signing.

He’s a great special teamer, solid return man, and an interesting sub package guy. He consistently burned the Bills…

Why didn’t the Jets try to resign him? They’re looking at the too hard to spell his name correctly CB from Oakland. From what I heard on Shred and Reagan yesterday the Jets didn’t counter offer to keep money free for that bidding war.

Why else do I like this signing?

Mcgee is getting older and more frail.
Parrish seems a bit frail these days.
And this allows CJ to focus on a single position, RB. It gives him the ability to really hone in on what it takes to be an NFL RB.

In regards to Poz and some of the other misses, I’m disappointed but I’m not going to scream about it. Were any of the players we missed on the key to us hitting the Super Bowl this year? No? Then why in blue blazes would we grossly overpay a guy that may or may not be here as this rebuild culminates (I’m looking at you Clabo!)?

by aquias on Jul 29, 2011 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

if we paid 7.5 million a year for Poz I would have been more pissed than I was to lose him in the first place.

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed, I’d have been stunned at that

by aquias on Jul 29, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

recd- totally agree

we would have been giving him his guaranteed cash in 2 seasons when shepp outshined him this year… so we saved cap. not that we needed to

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe that I clearly stated multiple times that I personally never felt Poz. was worth the money. It was the Bills that stated over and over again that they thought he was worth keeping and he was their number one priority. My comment was to point out that they are incapable of even signing their own players that THEY think make this team better. Poz is not as big a loss as some people think and that was never my point.
I don’t think that it is spitting hatred for no reason, these are the guys who control this team financially and they don’t seem to make the right decisions. I know it is a lot of negativism, but I am truly a Bills fan and just want to see them put a competitive product on the field.

by popey on Jul 29, 2011 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

he certainly was their top priority – but at what cost?

Aren’t those types of transactions the type that we have loathed as a fan base for years? Overpaying for medicore talent – then we don’t over pay and all of a sudden we’re incompetent because we didn’t keep him? This makes no sense

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

well

Im glad we r trying. Can u believe we’re not just sitting on our hands ……GO CHIX

by CarJak_101 on Jul 28, 2011 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well

Do you seriously believe that any of those big name players were ever truly considering coming to Buffalo? It is nothing more than the front office making a play to make the fans think that they are actually trying to make the team better.

by popey on Jul 29, 2011 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh for God’s sake. Yes, the Bills begged Tyson Clabo to pretend that he was interested in signing with them, and got him to do so by carefully explaining that they were trying to hoodwink their highly intelligent fan base. Yeah. That’s plausible.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 29, 2011 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

That a gratiutous use of the word Hoodwink

ill be sending out a fine in the mail

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else." John Madden

by BRIANMULHALL on Jul 29, 2011 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

The Bills had no shot at obtaining Clabo. Clabo was using the Bills to simply increase the offering from Atlanta. Look at the players that the Bills were “interested in” Have they had a shot of even coming close to signing any of them? Those are your words that people would think that Clabo had some pre determined plan with the Bills. That is not it. Clabo can fein interest all he wants, the reality is that he was never coming to Buffalo. The Bills front office can make the “play” that they are going after any player they want, but you and I both know that no top tier player in his prime is going to come to Buffalo. It does nothing more than give the die hard fans false hope that they are going to get these top tier players.

by popey on Jul 29, 2011 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

much more likely

clabo was pitting us against ATL to jack up their offer. why would he leave a potential superbowl contender for, uh, well, one of the WORST teams in the NFL (disagree? see: our record, QB (sorry Fitz fans), line (right side), lbs (who even knows), etc… (you know, man corners, SS, DE depth…. we don’t even have half a starting squad on either side of the ball yet haha)

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

lets sign some D though. I know its not just our decision but come on we need to get some defensive players in here.

by Jasey on Jul 29, 2011 1:43 AM EDT reply actions

Does anyone have an updated salary cap standing for this team?

I worry that the Bills will have to overspend on sub par talent to reach the floor. I know they can always extend and rework contracts of current players but I am not a fan of having to do so just to reach the florr of the cap.

by Al Bundy is my hero on Jul 29, 2011 7:33 AM EDT reply actions

Decent signings

but on paper, at least, it appears we haven’t done enough to bolster our fortunes against the other teams in the AFC East. We did get a decent backup QB, and have another weapon that will help us keep opposing D off-balance. If Fitz can manage to spread the ball around, our offense should be exciting. However we continue to have a gaping hole at TE, and a fustercluck at RT. We also are still desperately in need of quality at ILB and SS to fill the holes left by Poz and Whitner, as well as a few other veteran depth options on the defense. I’m really not sure that Sheppard and Searcy are the answer for right now. We might be two steps forward with Darius and with our QB position shored up, but we’re two steps back without quality veterans who can make the tackles in the middle of the field. If Miami manages to upgrade the QB spot as well, it is probable that our win total this season will be lower than last.

by NoiseIsTheBestRevenge on Jul 29, 2011 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

People!

It’s day THREE of the FA period. Chill out! We have many more days to go (like ’till September 10?) before you can say the FO “failed” in FA this year.

by ChuckBuffInFlo on Jul 29, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

chill out?

we have pretty much gotten worse by doing nothing. we lost a 2nd round LB, we failed to sign a pro bowl RT, and unless we can somehow secure Cromartie, or Burnett (still a vet coming off injury) or some cap victim, we have seen our division competitors improve… (the pats in ridiculous manner… Haynesworth and Ocho Cinco for some 5ths and a 6th? come on. ) and we signed…. Brad Smith (dont get me wrong, like him, but what is he? a WR? a 3rd/2nd QB? a 3rd/4th RB? a wildcat threat when we ran it like 2x last year?) and our rookies. well, most of them.

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions