For those of you that missed it last week, we here at Buffalo Rumblings finished identifying and prioritizing the Buffalo Bills' top 13 needs heading into the off-season. Upon completion of that task, I asked for y'all to start listing names of free agent targets that you'd like to see profiled here at Rumblings. Right now, that list includes 34 names, but strangely, most of them are wide receivers. More names, people!
Just as our very own MattRichWarren did last week, Bills play-by-play radio announcer John Murphy takes a look at Ralph Wilson's Hall of Fame credentials. No word on whether the "inner circle" would theoretically be inducted with him.
Got a couple of tasty Tim Graham opinions to share with you from his latest AFC East Mailbag, one of the best reads on the Internet:
On the Bills' needs at TE, C, DE and LB heading into the Draft in response to a fan's opinion that the team should pass on Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew...
You're correct that defensive end and linebacker are needs. The Bills also need a center, but that's not a position you take in the top third of the first round unless he's elite, and there are no elite centers in this year's draft class. That said, Bills fans should be happy if Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew is the pick.
No elite centers, huh? Sounds about right. Louisville's Eric Wood is looking better and better every day as the Bills' ideal second-round target, provided nothing is done at the position in free agency.
Oh, and speaking of free agency, Graham's got something to say there as well (after defending Dick Jauron for the umpteenth time - he's a brave soul, that Tim Graham)...
The free-agency period hasn't begun yet, so it's too early to tell for sure, but fact the Bills went hard after CFL sackmaster Cameron Wake -- they lost out to the Dolphins -- could indicate they'll be active in pursuing free agents.
Couldn't agree more. I mentioned this right after the decision to keep Jauron for 2009 came around, and the few of you who believed me have talked yourselves out of that notion over the last month or so. Believe it. Buffalo's going to go hard after players this off-season.
Oh, heck, let's get one more for you - on whether or not former Indianapolis defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, a proponent of the Tampa 2 under Tony Dungy, would make a good addition to Buffalo's coaching staff...
Hate to break it to you, but it's not going to happen. Word out of Orchard Park is that Dick Jauron wants to keep his staff intact. The only way defensive coordinator Perry Fewell won't be back is if he leaves on his own accord; defensive line coach Bill Kollar split for a Texans promotion. As for Meeks joining the Bills as an assistant, I'm sure he'll have better offers to consider.
Meeks caught my attention when he was fired, and with his experience, he'd look pretty good in some sort of advisory role to Fewell. But as Graham alludes to, that's merely a pipe dream of sorts, since Meeks is sure to get, you know, a real job offer elsewhere. But it's something to keep in the back of your mind, at the very least.
We've got news updates on three potential free agent targets of the Bills during the off-season...
- Ravens DE/LB Terrell Suggs, along with teammates Ray Lewis and Bart Scott, are willing to give the Ravens a "home-town discount" in an effort to stay together in 2009. Sounds like he wants to re-up with Baltimore pretty badly.
- Seahawks LB Leroy Hill, an unrestricted free agent that wouldn't look to bad as Buffalo's starting strong-side 'backer in 2009, is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges. Good one, Leroy.
- Miami's Channing Crowder - an inside linebacker in their 3-4, but also a potential outside linebacker in a 4-3 - is "heading toward splitsville" with the Dolphins. Could he be one of Buffalo's free agent targets? Time will tell, but he's certainly an interesting name to ponder for the time being.