I really hope we can pull of Stroud.  That along with Mitchell adds toughness and nastiness to our defense.

Now, I'm starting to think we need to deal Losman if we can, and grab that pick to help our when deal 1 or two picks for Stroud.

Either way, we need to get a WR.  Not sure who that is.  

6'3" 216 lbs he has all the tools, but from what I've read and seen he just isn't a big play guy.  I think I'd rather have hackett over him if I had to choose

Surprised there wasn't more chatter on the Mitchell signing.  I don't think he's a game changer by any means, but he seems to be physical.  I really don't now much about him.  No one here, at least to my knowledge, championed his cause.  I just hope he can run.  If anything, this probably rules out a Rivers/Connor draft pick.  I still can't help but wonder - how does a SB winner whose defense beat Tom Brady, in his prime years, get only 3 million plus a year?

As to this DT stuff.  Wow; lot's of talk here.  I thought I was the only one passionate about getting a DT.  I was wrong.  Really surprised they just let Tripplett go.  If anything, I can't believe they didn't try and trade him for something.  I thought the guy would serve well as a backup to McCargo in that 3 spot, or whatever the hell they call it.  I never thought they would just let him go.

Stroud.  Whenever I thought of Jax's defense, I always thought of Stroud and Henderson, and the word "nasty."  At 306 lbs, I think he plays "bigger."  As he's the only real DT available now with any worth, and he's in town, and Tripplett is gone, I'd have to assume, like many of you, that it's a close to being a done deal.  If he's healthy, I'd like him - a lot.  I agree with something Kurupt said too; something along the lines of DTs being good in to their thirties, even will all of that extra weight.  Great point.  And as far as the thirties go, I completely agree with sireric's sentiments that being 30 ain't so bad.  Anyway, as long as he's healthy, I wouldn't have a problem with a 3rd and a 5th for him.  Those are extra picks, one from ...

Labill & Co.  Loved that comment.  McGahee was a d***.  But in reality, he gave us two decent seasons, a possible really good QB, and maybe an almost stud DT.  Better yet was the Peerless Price reference to getting McGahee.  Reminds me a little of how the Mogilny trade played out...

No Wilford, huh?  A few of you guys were really high on him.  At times, I thought a few of you might have been his agent in disguise.  Where are Jonhson and Hackett today?  No word on them?  Are they red headed or something?  And how does Joey Porter get 30 million?  That really didn't surprise me.  I've said 2nd tier WRs would get that much.

I got no beef with Troupe coming in here.

So for now, if free agency and a trade gets the Bills a starting DT, a starting LB, and a new TE, I'll be happy with it.  I'd still like to get a WR, just so they're not "forced" to pick one high in the draft.

Again, nice work Bills fans.  And as always Brian - great web site.

But what I don't get, is if they don't get Stroud, what are they going to do?  That would really imply taking their chances in the draft, and that's not smart.

Why couldn't they have traded Triplett, or at least keep around to see how the draft plays out?  I'm confused here..

One of you guys is saying 1.1 to the cap, real money 2.7.  The other is saying 6 cash to the cap.  Whatever it is, I'm sure it's somewhere in between.  

I think the answer is whether or not there was a signing bonus due soon.  Otherwise, I really don't see the reason to dump him now.

Rather than deal with a guy who is now angry, they choose to cut him, bring Stroud in, and wait and see if Triplett gets a new contract soon. If he doesn't I wouldn't be surprised if they bring him back at a lesser number as not many teams are looking for him.

This way we have Stroud and McCargo as the #1 and 2 DTs, with Williams and Triplett (at a lower cost) as the #3 and 4 backups, not a bad group.

That is the logic I would use.  Jauron said today he wants toughness, physicality.  Triplett does not bring that, he is not the kind of DT they need to allow these LB's to swarm sideline to sideline to attack ball carriers.

ROGERS TRADE OFF

The trade between the Lions and the Bengals for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is apparently off.

According to Mike O'Hara of the Detroit News, the deal was not consummated and the Lions will be looking to send Rogers elsewhere.  The two teams had agreed that Rogers would head to the Bengals for a third-round and a fifth-round pick.

In our view, that's not bad news for the Bengals.  Maybe it means that someone within the organization raised an alarm about the 2007 allegations against Rogers regarding his conduct in a strip club.  Though he wasn't charged, is that really the kind of guy that the team should be signing giving its recent history of struggles with off-field issues?

-- Hey, we may have a chance on this one guys! What a killing it would be if we bagged both? Though that would NEVER happen, could you imagine if the Bills coughed up both 3rds and our 5ths for BOTH Stroud and Rogers? Holy Cripes!

WABillsfan - why do you say Stroud deal is off?  Do you think Rogers' sudden availability stalls talk?  If I'm guessing, and I only am, I will say that Jauron nixed any attempts at Rogers.  If they wanted him, he would have been had at 12:00:01 this morning.

BRUCE LANDS IN SAN FRAN

You know, we thought for a second about setting this story up by tapping into certain stereotypes about San Francisco and men named Bruce.  But we're now officially above such attempts at obvious and lowbrow humor.

Anyway, the 49ers have signed receiver Isaac Bruce to a two-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network.

The move reunites Bruce with Mike Martz, who was the Rams' offensive coordinator for their only Super Bowl win and thereafter the head coach for six seasons.

-- This looked like a forgone conclusion as soon as he was cut and with Mike M out there running the show,

FLORENCE A JAG?

Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence is looking for a new team.  On Friday, he visited with the Bucs.  But now he's on his way to Jacksonville, and he's expected to join the Jaguars.

Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, a deal with the Jags is "all but done."

Meanwhile, former Chargers running back Michael Turner remains in Atlanta, and his agent is negotiating with the teams about a contract.

-- Ummmmm, this would be bad, I like the look of this kid, and that means were going to be scrambling to get Vet help at this position with more teams than quality players. We are not amused, as the Queen would say.

LITO OUT THE DOOR?

With cornerback Asante Samuel in the fold, the Eagles are now going to attempt to trade cornerback Lito Sheppard, according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network.

Calls are already coming in for Sheppard, a first-round draft pick in 2002 who is still only 26 years old.  

In recent weeks, there were rumors that that Sheppard was on he block, and the team strongly denied it.  In hindsight, it's likely that the Eagles didn't want to tip their hand regarding their plans to pursue Samuel.

Sheppard is under contract for four more seasons, with base salaries of $2 million in 2008, $3 million in 2009, $3.7 million in 2010, and $4.25 million in 2011.

ROGERS TO BROWNS A DONE DEAL

According to Hondo Carpenter of SpartanNation.com, who as we understand it is very well plugged in as to the goings on in Motown, the Lions have finalized a trade of defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to the Browns.

In return, the Lions reportedly will get cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round draft choice.

Carpenter says that the league office rejected a trade that would have sent Rogers to the Bengals for a third-round and a fifth-round pick.

-- Not sure as to why the League Office would have shot down the Rogers trade unless they were afraid of the dude getting into truly serious trouble down there where they seem to be trying to get in the Police Blotter on a nightly basis. Good move by the Browns I have to admit.

Stroud deosn't want to hear, "Well, we'll take you off of Jax's hands, as long as we just keep the contract status quo.  Sound good?"

As stupid as it sounds, I think Stroud would feel insulted if he were the only first tier DT to move, and not get a contract extension.