Buffalo Bills open Mini Camp (Darwin Walker)

By Steve

The Buffalo Bills officially opened mandatory mini-camp Monday and well, allegedly that little dweeb John Clayton was there for the festivities. Here's the column he wrote about being there at least, clayton article .

No big surprise, big trade acquisition Darwin Walker was a no-show. He is under contract, although he signed it with the Eagles after the Takeo Spikes trade. Granted it has 2 years left on the 'tract but it pays him something like $2 million while last season he had 6 sacks. Apparently the eight year vet wants more money and more years. True he is an allegedly successful business man, but he aint makin $4-5 million doing something else per season. Furthermore, the Bills wanna fine him, although I don't think he has made an appearance in Buffalo since the pre-draft trade.

Really what I struggle with is the whole idea of the Bills having the option of exercising a clause that would revert his rights back to Philadelphia (the current whiskey of choice by the way) for a 6th round draft pick. If this occurred, and it certainly seems like a possibility, then the whole trade boils down to a 3rd (at best) string Quarterback and linebacker who has played to the caliber of pro-bowlers but probably lost a step in exchange for a FUTURE 6th and 7th round draft pick. Those picks received were for 08 thus, the only thing the Bills got out of the trade, IFFFF Darwin isn't resigned or has a change of heart(haha) then it was obviously a salary dump plain and simple.

Sure the Bills could have used some salary cap relief with Takeo's declining return on investment, but getting a player of considerable value, although he is a malcontent which does decrease his value, the Bills need to sign him. If not just to save face in the whole trade, but also because Walker fills a glaring need at the defensive tackle position. Of course the Bills struggled against the run last year and pressure on the quarterback wasn't the largest concern, the dude can roll in the tackle position. Well if he really does want that much money, you can't sign him, its simple economics, but if the Bills aren't trying in earnest to retain this dude, then we are the clear losers in this whole trade.

According to Clayton at Bills mini-camp Monday, "What a difference a year makes. Bills minicamp opened Monday and Losman looked like a winner. His passes looked crisp and accurate. Receivers ran sharp routes and Losman hit them just as they separated from defenders. On Monday, he was particularly sharp in blitz drills. The ball rarely hit the ground. Receivers caught almost everything."

Uhhh what? Not sure if I should say WOW or RARE, but apparently the Bills defense looks more than anemic and embarrassing leading into 07. I for one have little to no faith in this receiving core beyond Lee Evans. Roscoe has speed and good hands, but can he really be found with his 5'9 168 frame? Josh Reed hasn't proven he has a #2 and the same goes for Peerless, so can this receiver corps turn it around? According to JC they can, I still want newly drafted running back Marshawn Lynch to be increasingly used in the passing game, much much more than McGahee did. Get this kid the ball, or SOME running back out of the backfield, wake up Fairchild!!!

One more rant before I bounce, this one from JC, "And the Bills will need to see great things because the defense will have problems. The defense was respectable last season, finishing 18th overall in total defense (329.6 yards per game) and 10th in scoring defense (19.4 points per game). But the defense took some hard hits this offseason. Gone are linebackers Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher and cornerback Nate Clements. That's too much talent to lose not to take a hit on the field. The Bills, who scored just 18.8 points per game last season, might have to score 23 points a game this season just to get back to the seven-win mark."

Um, big hit? Ok the Bills were 18th in the league in total defense, but that really isn't the defense I remember. In the past 4-6 years with Spikes/Clements/Fletcher and who ever, this defense let the team down in crucial spots, quit in the fourth quarter, and made few big plays. Again, Jacksonville opener in 04, Tennessee last season, any game against the Patriots, and on and on. Like Schopp and the Dog said today, we can lose with these guys and we can lose without them. As long as Poslusney can make tackles 5-8 yards down the field ala Fletcher, and Ellison has two good wheels, better than Spikes, and Webster or Youboty don't always go for the interception or actually make a big play now and then the defense won't get much worse. The safeties have another year under there belt and maybe Fewell's defense is designed to withstand the loss of over hyped over paid players.

Day one of mandatory mini-camp is in the books, isn't it great to have football back????