Bills notes and quotes post draft

• The Bills are committed to JP being on the roster in 2008.Modrak was first asked what the market was for JP now that 13 QBs were taken (12 different teams). He started to answer, then paused, then asked if he should answer the question. He then stated, "JP's with us and we're glad to have him......and this has nothing to do with JP, but those 13 weren't all 1st rounders......the value is with us....JP is with us.....and we're really glad to have him."
• Todd Mcshay likes the Bills draft... if you care.
• Draft day video with James Hardy at his house party.
• According to PFT,"After landing the draft's top corner in the first round, the Bills were able to find another big receiver other than Devin Thomas to take some attention away from Lee Evans and open up the offense for Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch. Hardy would have been a Pittsburgh Steeler and the first receiver drafted had Rashard Mendenhall been off the board. He could be a dominant red zone player and create mismatches with his tremendous size."
• Ex-Dolphin, Donnie Spragan is in town visiting the Bills.
• The Bills tried to trade up to #31 on Saturday presumably to grab Devon Thomas, thank god that didn't happen. We allegedly offered our 2nd and 3rd.
• Walterfootball.com had Steve Johnson rated high,"[they] gave Steve Johnson a 2nd round draft grade on film, but I'd thought he would go in the 4th or 5th rounds. Here is some highlights I put together. You tell me if you think this is a 7th round talent or a 2nd round talent."youtube clip

Luke Drone QB Illinois state Buffalo Bill UDFA

Luke Drone QB 6-2 210
18 TDS 17 INTS 60.4% completion percentage

Kennard Cox DB, Pitt, second last pick, Buffalo Bill

Dude is the second last pick who gives a shit

Kennard Cox

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 195

7th Round Draft Pick: Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State

Dude is a straight up project. Converted DE to OT. He was our 7th a pick

Height: 6'5
Weight: 301
College: Northwestern State (LA)
Conference: Southland
Hometown: Summerfield, La.
High School: Summerfield

Combine Results:

40 Time: 5.19

Top Performer in:

Vertical jump | Broad jump

Overview

Exciting raw talent with the size, athletic ability and rapid improvement to warrant the patience needed for development. Signed with Northwestern State on a basketball scholarship and has only played organized football since 2005. Originally played defensive end, but was quickly switched to left tackle and has developed into an All-American honoree. Raw as they come, but scouts love his upside.

High School

Bell earned Shreveport Times Player of the Week honors as a senior, as well as an honorable mention All-American in Street & Smith Magazine... played under coach Johnny Jackson and NSU alumnus Dan Weaver at Summerfield High in Claiborne Parish... MVP in District 1-C in senior year averaging 17.75 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game... All-district pick all 4 years, earning first-team honors for final three and Defensive Player of the Year his junior season... part of a 33-7 state championship team during freshman year... also involved in Future Business Leaders of America and FCA.

Analysis

Positives: Long armed, athletic build with plenty of room for additional growth. ... Trim build for an offensive lineman with good overall muscular development in his upper and lower. ... Good overall athlete. ... Good initial quickness off the snap, in pass protection to mirror and when blocking at the second level. ... Quick hands which could become very effective with further development. ... Significant improvement in three seasons with the athleticism to continue development.

Negatives: Raw as they come. ... Quality of competition a concern. ... Lacks the bulk and necessary strength to compete at the NFL level at this time. ... Gets by on his quickness, but lacks explosiveness in his initial hand punch and the anchor to handle effective bull rushers. ... Hasn't learned yet to play with leverage.

Steve Johnson WR Kentucky, 7th round Bills

Dude is 6'3 might be a steal. Raw obviously for a 7th rounder that is what you expect.

Steve Johnson, a senior from Kentucky, began his career at Chabot Junior College. He ended it doing a great job for his alma mater in his last season. Does that great season springboard him to the next level? I am not sure, but it got the scouts to look closely enough at him. He has the size and decent speed, but he needs to work on his hands. He is good but not at the level of the NFL in a lot of things, such as route running and separation.

Scouting Report

Pros: If you are searching for a deep threat, he could be the guy—if he develops the skills that are lacking somewhat.

Cons: He overreacts to a lot of things that most anyone else would not pay a second thought to. That might hurt him with the more strict NFL refs.

Overall: He will come off the board anytime after the middle of the fourth round.

Alvin Bowen OLB Iowa State, Buffalo Bill 5th round

by Steve

Not a center or any o line for that matter no fullback I don't hate the pick. 6'4 220

Awards and Honors
ISU’s Al and Dean Knutsen Award (2006 team defensive MVP) ... First-team all-Big 12 (2006 Big 12 coaches, writers).

2006
Finished season with 155 tackles in 12 games, an average of 12.91 tackles per game to lead the nation ... had several huge games, including a career-high 20-tackle effort in season opener against Toledo ... made 18 tackles against Kansas and 17 tackles against Nebraska ... at Iowa, made 15 tackles and an interception, which he returned 22 yards.

2005
Played in all 12 games, making 33 tackles with a pair of tackles for loss and a sack ... had three tackles in the EV1.net Houston Bowl ... had season-high six tackles against Oklahoma State ... made five tackles against Iowa.

Garden City
First-team all-Jayhawk Conference selection ... SuperPrep JUCO 100 ... led team in tackles (77) and tackles for loss (14) ... also tallied five sacks ... redshirted in 2003 ... coached by Bob Larson.

High School
Led team to 2002 New Jersey state title in Group 4 ... overcame an ankle injury in the semifinals, and ran for 213 yards in the championship game ... coached by Ed Lebida.

Personal
Born Dec. 24, 1983 ... son of Angela Robinson ... nickname is "Ace" ... majoring in liberal studies.

Derek Fine, Kansas Jayhawks tight end Buffalo Bills

by Steve

White bread is 6-3 250 projected to be a seventh rounder by some. He fills a need and I hear he could be an H-back.

Team Captain (2007)

2006 (Jr.): Earned team's Gale Sayers Award for most courageous player... Played in all 12 games and made 10 starts... Finished third on the team with 28 receptions and 355 receiving yards... Tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches... Averaged 29.6 yards per contest... Had a career-long 40 yard reception at Nebraska... Had four or more catches in four separate games... Named KU's offensive player of the game against Iowa State and Toledo and special teams player of the game versus Baylor... A team captain.

2005 (So.): Started all 12 games at tight end... Ranked fifth on the team with 22 receptions... Averaged 11.1 yards per catch and scored one touchdown... Posted a season-best 25-yard reception against Iowa State in KU's regular-season finale.

2004 (Fr.): Played in all 11 games, including a start in the season-opener against Tulsa... Hauled in his first two career catches for 16 yards against Colorado... A special teams standout... Tallied 12 total tackles including eight solo stops... Selected by the coaching staff as the special teams player of the game against Iowa State.

2003 (RS): Redshirted... Gained valuable experience on the scout team... Won the team's Otto Schnellbacher Award for Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year.

2002: Originally signed with Kansas in the spring, but did not enroll in school due to an injury.

High School: An all-state performer at Sallisaw HS... Was the Muskogee Phoenix All-Area Co-Offensive Player of the Year... Named all-district and the best offensive player in District 4A... Named the team's most valuable player after his senior season... Helped Sallisaw to a combined 26-2 record as a junior and senior with a pair of state runner-up finishes... Broke the school record for yards receiving in a season (798) and in a career (1,792)... Had 34 receptions for 798 yards as a senior with eight touchdowns... National Honor Roll selection and American Character and Citizenship Award winner... Coached by Ron Lancaster.

Personal: Born in Sallisaw, Okla... Majoring in American studies... Main hobby is playing golf... Likes to do card tricks... Parents are Mike and Gail Fine... Has one brother and one sister.

Favorites: Best part of football - Playing in front of large crowds; Athlete - Brett Favre; Non-Sports Hero - Mom (she is a great example); Movie - Braveheart; TV Show - That 70's Show and House; Food - Cheesecake; Best thing about KU - The campus and variety of people that make it a great place

Reggie Corner Akron Buffalo Bill 4th round

by Steve

Evident the Bills are hedging their bet. And they feel like whatever they do in the first round they have to duplicate in the 4th round ala 2007. He is old, 24, and is small 5'7ish but he is a ball hawk with 7 picks last year. Too bad he played in the MAC. Maybe he made some sick tackles om James Starks, who knows.


Listed as a senior last year, but gained a fifth year of eligibility after meeting NCAA progress towards a degree requirements ... Tabbed preseason second team All-Mid-American Conference by MAC Report Online.
Senior (2006): A preseason first team All-MAC selection by The Sporting News, Corner had a streak of 25 consecutive starts snapped at North Carolina State ... Did play all 12 games, starting 10 ... Although he did not start in the upset win over the Wolfpack, he tallied four tackles ... Led the Zips with four interceptions, tying for 44th nationally and fifth in the MAC with .33 picks per game ... Also, with eight pass breakups to go along with his four INTs, ranked fifth in the MAC and 39th-t in the NCAA in passes defended (1.0 per game) ... Had 44 tackles on the season ... Picked off his first pass of the season at Central Michigan ... Followed that with a pick and six tackles, five solo, in a win over North Texas ... Recorded a season-high seven tackles at Toledo ... Third INT of the season was in a win over Buffalo ... Ended the season versus Western Michigan with a five-tackle performance and an interception, which was returned 38 yards.
Junior (2005): Started all 13 games at cornerback ... Led the team and ranked tied for 93rd nationally in passes defended (0.85 pg) ... matched Dionte Henry with a team-best two interceptions ... One of just two players to start all 13 games in the secondary (also John Mackey) ... Opened the year with four solo stops at Purdue ... Had five tackles at Miami and matched that mark at Ball State, including four solo stops ... Returned a pick 14 yards in Akron’s 24-14 win at Bowling Green ... Recorded his second interception of the season versus Ohio, bringing the ball back 15 yards ... Tallied a season-high six tackles, including five solo stops, versus. Memphis in the Motor City Bowl ... Earned the defense’s Most Improved Player Award (along with Jermaine Reid).
Sophomore (2004): Started all 11 games at cornerback ... Tied for the team lead with six pass breakups ... Six of his seven tackles were solo stops at Virginia ... Tallied a career-high 10 tackles (eight solo) as the Zips topped Central Florida by a 26-21 score ... Picked off his first career pass and finished with seven tackles (five solo) in a 35-23 win over Ball State ... Snagged his second interception of the season to go along with three solo stops at Ohio.
Freshman (2003): Enrolled in January and sat out the fall while fulfilling academic requirements.
Prior to Akron: As a senior had three interceptions and caught 43 passes for 739 yards and 12 touchdowns ... 45 catches for 749 yards and eight scores in 2001 ... a two-time All-Ohio selection ... first team all-district and all-county as a junior and senior ... first team pick by the Canton Repository ... member of McKinley’s 1998 state championship team ... also ran track where he was a member of the state champion 4x400 relay team

Chris Ellis DE 3rd round Buffalo Bill

by Steve

The Bills don't like Kelsay and Denney and for that matter Schobel. Who needs a Center or a tightend or another DT when you can go defensive end. Hopefully this dude grows into his 6'4 + frame.

Chris Ellis - DE | (6'4", 263, 4.71) | VIRGINIA TECH
Flags: (C: CHARACTER) Problems on and off the field(D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

Strengths: Quick, anticipates snap counts fairly well and flashes the ability to disrupt running plays behind the line of scrimmage. Takes adequate angles to the ball, plays with a good motor and makes some plays in pursuit. Is fast enough to turn the corner, has above-average but not elite closing speed and is a relentless pass rusher. Can change directions quickly and is capable of developing effective double moves. Wraps up upon contact and is a sound open field tackler that Flashes the ability to deliver the big hit. Tall enough to add bulk up and should get stronger at the point of attack.

Weaknesses: Undersized and is vulnerable to wearing down if asked to play an every-down role. Plays a little too high, doesn't have great lower body strength and is going to struggle to anchor when teams run at him. Doesn't deliver a powerful punch and can take too long to shed blocks. Relies on burst too much, doesn't do a great job of setting offensive tackles up to the outside before redirecting inside and isn't capable of regularly beating double teams. Lacks ideal awareness and doesn't always get hands up when isn't going to get to the quarterback. Charged with obstructing an officer in late September 2006 and Virginia Tech suspended him for the Georgia Tech game as a result. Underwent shoulder surgery to repair torn labrum in right shoulder in 2003, slowed by shoulder injury during 2006 season, he missed 2007 spring practices after undergoing shoulder surgery and his durability is a concern.

Overall: Ellis was redshirted in 2003. In his next three seasons (2004-'06), he appeared in 38 games (21 starts) and registered 112 tackles (27 for losses) and 13.5 sacks. As a senior in 2007, he started all 14 games and posted 53 tackles (nine for losses), 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception (which he returned five yards for a touchdown) and five pass breakups. Ellis sat out 2007 spring drills after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He had the same surgery in October of his redshirt freshman year ('03). He also suffered a right shoulder sprain in 2006 but played through the injury. In 2006, he was arrested for disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. Ellis' injury history and problems anchoring against the run make him a fringe first day pick but he's got the frame to add some weight and get stronger at the point of attack so there's a lot to like about his upside in a one-gap scheme. In addition, he has the burst and top-end speed to make an immediate impact as a situational pass rusher.


* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

James Hardy Buffalo Bills

by Steve

Wow what a great day for Bills fans. Dude is a straight beast, i wanted him @ 11 kinda and he falls to us at 41. Tall beast in the red zone he had 16 tds last year wow ballerish for Modrak and co.

6'7 220

James Hardy turned a few heads in Indianapolis by running a 4.47 40 yard dash. Hardy also did 18 reps on the bench press at the NFL Combine, showing he has the upper body strength to get off press coverage in the NFL. Hardy has some minor character issues, but a team in need of a number 1 receiver will look his way in the first round.

James Hardy had an impressive pro day in Bloomington. Hardy finally showed off his jumping ability, recording a 37 inch vertical leap. He also looked good in position drills, dropping just two passes all afternoon. Hardy is a first round talent, but could possibly slip to the top of round two because of character issues.

Leodis McKelvin Buffalo Bills

by Steve

Great pick by the Buffalo Bills front office. If the Bills took Devin Thomas I would have launched my tv and laptop through a window. He is still on the board at 23 and there is no wide receiver going any time soon. A cornerback bolsters a defense that has a weakness in the backfield. True a cornerback isn't a necesity in the Tampa 2 defense, but he is a better selection at eleven than Thomas.

Here is a story about him I did two days ago.

Height: 5-101/4 | Weight: 190 | 40-Time: 4.38

Official Bio

Strengths: Very athletic...Has good size...Excellent timed speed with a burst to close...A solid tackler...Outstanding footwork...Great hands...Has fluid hips and is smooth in his transition...Natural man coverage skills...True playmaker who is a threat to take it the distance every time he gets his hands on the ball...Also a dynamic return man. Weaknesses: Relatively marginal instincts and anticipation...He doesn't have a lot of experience bumping at the line...Could do a better job in zone coverage...Too aggressive and plays a little out of control at times...Did not always play against elite competition. Notes: Hails from the same college program that produced Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware...For his career he averaged 13.1 yards per punt return with 7 touchdowns and 23.7 yard per kick return with one touchdown...Named to several All-American teams after averaging 17.4 yards and with 3 TD's as a punt returner in '07...Draft stock soared as a senior and quietly emerged as one of the best prospects at his position..Has starting potential as a corner and should be a top-notch return man.

NFL draft running diary

2:59 Yo, Steve turn it up, 10 sec0nds" -Schrum

3:00 Can I get an HD camera? - steve

3:01 Brian has mentioned Chris long has looked like Paul Pos at least 4 times.

3:02 Why is Kiper having a power trip taking the seat on the right?!- Schrum

3:09 Dude, if Dorsey is on the board he has to be drafted by the Buffalo Bills.. period"-steve

3:11 Why did it take 10 minutes to announce Chris Long St Louis?

3:18 Damn, no Eli face from Matt Ryan holding up the jersey.

3:20 Ryan will be a bust, I would have bolstered the defense and takin Dorsey time will tell -steve

3:24 Key Loss for the Bills: Larry Tripplet, lol at the ESPN bottom line.

3:28 LaMont, Rhodes, Fargas, McFadden?! Lotta money in the back field.

3:34 Where did Dorsey get that huge friggen watch?!

3:44 Boring draft so far no surprises wtf.

3:57 Lotta trades early is not good for the Bills to get out of 11.

4:01 Text from t-wreck "Picks 5 and on?" What a pathetic asshole, he is a bar right now...

4:13 Jerod Mayo shock, wow.

4:13 Buffalo Bills on the clock

4:19 I love the pick, no Devin Thomsa so I'll take it.-steve

Expect a lot of trades today

There are already a lot of trades and there are 3 hours to go so expect a lot of movement, players packing their bags, and hopefully the Bills bust a move. Day one the Bills pick 11th and 41st. Day two their picks are 72nd (9) 114th(15th in the 4th round), 132nd(34th in the 4th round), 143rd(10th in the 5th round) 147th (14th in the 5th round), 179th (13th in the 6th round), 219th(12th in the 7th round), 251st (44th in the 7th round)

• Saints and Ravens moving spots?The Ravens want to draft a quarterback and they don’t think they’ll be able to nab their first choice, Matt Ryan of Boston College, with the eighth pick in the draft. That would then lead the Ravens to try to trade down and select their second-rated quarterback, Chad Henne of Michigan, and Clayton reports that they’d be willing to take Henne as high as 10th, the pick the Saints own.
• Cowboys and Dolphins busting movesLooking to get back into the fourth round of this weekend's NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys on Friday traded linebacker Akin Ayodele and tight end Anthony Fasano to the Miami Dolphins for a fourth-round pick, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter.
• No link but, rumor has it" ESPN Radio's Bob Valvano just said the Bills are offering second-, fourth- and fifth-round picks for Jeremy Shockey."
• Bills and Chiefs to swap picks?he Chiefs are rumored to want to move up in a trade with Buffalo at #11 to perhaps draft an offensive tackle...The Bills are reported to have heavy interest in Thomas, and could land him at No. 17."

Draft order:
ROUND ONE
1. Miami
2. St. Louis
3. Atlanta
4. Oakland
5. Kansas City
6. New York Jets
7. New England (from San Francisco)
8. Baltimore
9. Cincinnati
10. New Orleans
11. Buffalo
12. Denver
13. Carolina
14. Chicago
15. Detroit
16. Arizona
17. Kansas City (from Minnesota)
18. Houston
19. Philadelphia
20. Tampa Bay
21. Washington
22. Dallas (from Cleveland)
23. Pittsburgh
24. Tennessee
25. Seattle
26. Jacksonville
27. San Diego
28. Dallas
29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis)
30. Green Bay
* New England (forfeited)
31. New York Giants

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs Leodis McKelvin

by Steve

Most agree going wide receiver at 11 is stupid. Especially with the "talent" in this years draft, so really the question is DRC or Leodis with the eleventh pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Here is my professional analysis.

vsCategory 1: Name
Leodis is a solid first name, rare, somewhat original, and it doesn't seem like his parents were trying to hard with this selection. However, any hyphenated name with 16 letters will take the cake any day. Plus an acronym like DRC seals the deal. "D.R.C." gives DRC the win. Plus who doesn't wanna see how small a font the NFL will have to use to get that whole name on the back of a jersey.

Category 2: Major in College
DRC is a psych major and L-MC is in sport and fitness management. One will be able to psych out the opponent while the other will be able to explain to the receivers he destroys and the quarterbacks he intercepts how to stay healthy. Hmm I don't like either major but one would have to assume psychology is a bit tougher than sport and fitness management. D-rodg steals another one.

Category 3: Number of kids + arrests
God damn it, google and yahoo news are all about the draft. I couldn't find one story about arrests or children. Give 'em a signing bonus and a summer heading into the NFL and hopefully that changes.

Category 4: weird shit
According to L-MC's wikipedia page, he was drafted 6th overall by the New York Jets. Interesting since the draft is Saturday. However... DRC only has only kidney. It never worked since birth and he had the useless appendage removed when he was eight. Damn, DRC takes another.

Category 5: Hottest chick to come up in Google pictures when his name is input
All I got when I typed in DRC's name was some Broncos cheerleader. Her cleavage was zero and her arms were covered. On the contrary, L-MC's name was put in and none other than Lucy Pinder's picture came up. This was no normal Pinder snap shot, nope this one was of her in a bikini soakin wet in the water. Safe to say he wins.

Category 6: Famous Alumni
Troy University vs. D2 Tennessee State? Ouch. Evidently it is Alfred G Hansen a four star general vs well, DRC. Looks like DRC wins cause no one gives a shit about Alfred Hansen.

Other categories Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie wins:
Most famous cousin, Antonio Cromartie
Worst number in college, 45
Worst picture on your Bio page
Taller cornerback
Younger cornerback

Other categories Leodis McKelvin wins:
Most google search results, 146,000
Best Youtube highlight
Best school mascot
Better hometown, Waycross, GA.

What the Bills need to do Saturday

by Steve

True the first round is only 10 minutes and it is only the first and second rounds on Saturday, so maybe the title should read what the Bills have to do this weekend, but I digress. As Coast is meticulously breaking down each need position (WR and CBof the Bills in anticipation of the draft I'm going to tell you what the Bills need to do.

The Bills were a bad team last year, yeah yeah, they were 7-7 with 2 to play and staring at a potential playoff birth, and the Giants did win the Superbowl somehow, but lets not fool ourselves, they were and still are far away. Mitchel and a healthy Stroud are a solid first step, but lets face it this offense is pathetic.

Where is the impact wide receiver? Lee Evans, he is walking come March 1, and if he is double covered or hurt, there is no one else, the cupboards are bare. Playmaking tight end? Pshht please. The Bills unofficially have the worst TE corps in the league. There pretty much is no reaching at this point for the Bills where ever they take a tightend.

They pick11th, that is to early to go wide receiver with this draft class. At least from what I have read. I want someone tall but I don't want someone like Troy Williamson or Matt Jones who is a complete bust.(Aside for a moment, when the Eff did JAX get Williamson and Porter? I didn't realize WRs grow on trees in J-ville shit) The Bills need a red zone threat and a possession receiver that can go over the middle, is there someone in the draft that fills both needs?

Other than tight end and wide receiver the Bills have general needs on defense. My philosophy is go defense at every position in the draft, or at least as much as possible. True I hated the Marshawn pick as stated here, embarrassing, yes. I just don't like offense early in the first, they don't have the impact and seem to be more prone to being a bust.

Soo here is what the Bills have to do:

Trade into the 20s! Yes it is not easy, and the value might not be there, but paying a potential bust WR @11 who doesn't deserve to be drafted there is worse. The Eagles may look to move up, and who knows what other teams love, they could be coveting a player that the Bills just don't need but maybe the Broncos Panthers or Bears are staring at someone the Bucs want...

Maybe get another 2nd perhaps late, get a value CB in the mid 20s of round one. I don't think Rodgers-Cromartie will be around at 11 any ways. Maybe someone like Talib or Cason will be available later. Use the two 2nd round pick to go TE and WR. If all else fails go CB at 11, WR at 42 and the TE early in round 3 while trading up and giving up a 6th or something.

All I know is the Bills better draft a cornerback in the first two rounds, 2 wide receivers in the first 5 rounds and a tackle in the first 5 rounds. The rest linebacker defensive tackle and defensive end. And god damn it can Losman be traded? Oh wait no its too late because there are no decent/reliable back up Quarterbacks. Son of a bitch.

2008 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers

by Coast

The Bills are in desperate need of a big receiver. They have three wide receivers on the roster right now that will be on the 2008 53 man roster. Lee Evans, who is in a contract year, is only 5'10, Josh Reed is also 5'10 and Roscoe Parrish is 5'9. Not only is this unit way undersized, but a year from now, it will be most likely without Lee Evans.

The problem with this years draft class is that there is no value in taking a wide receiver at 11. I have read that none of this years wide receivers are even first round talents. This does not mean that WR is not a deep position though, there are a lot of guys that could be value picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, just not at 11.

1. The top ranked receiver right now is Devin Thomas. Devin Thomas would be a major reach at number 11, but the Bills have been known to reach for players. He is currently ranked 21st overall according to Scouts Inc. Devin Thomas (MSU), has decent size at 6'1 7/8" and 216 pounds. He also had a solid 40 time of 4.4 seconds.

Strengths: Great hands, good runner after the catch, good second gear, good at changing directions and strong enough to drag defenders.

Weaknesses: More dangerous after the catch than as a vertical route runner, needs polishing when it comes to running routes, not much experience in major college football, below average acceleration, Inconsistent effort as a blocker.

My Take: I would like to get Devin Thomas, I just don't see the point in drafting him at 11. The only way I would like him is if we traded back into the first round. The fact that Thomas is better at running after the catch than running vertical actually is a plus for me. We have our vertical guy (at least for this season). We need a guy to go over the middle and draw some attention and make plays and it seems like he could do that. Route running and blocking can be coached, but really, what great receivers actually want to block? He was a "one year wonder" at MSU so he doesn't have much experience. That does not bother me at all...look at Randy Moss-he played in the MAC. TO played at Tennessee Chattanooga. How much does major DI experience really matter?

2. The number two ranked receiver this year is Limus Sweed from Texas. Sweed does have big game experience at the college level and played against elite college competition. Sweed is 6'3 7/8 215 pounds and ran a 4.549 40. This is ideal size for a guy that I want the Bills to bring in. I wish he was faster, but again, with a speedster on the other side of the line, the Bills don't really need a guy with blazing speed. With that size, 4.549 is acceptable.

Strengths: Rare size, well built, and extremely fluid for his size. Instinctive route runner, good at finding soft spots in the zone. Soft hands, good concentration, good at shielding defenders to adjust to the ball once in the air. Difficult to defend one on one in the red zone. Good strength and leaping ability on jump balls. Has good confidence. Good at changing directions. Very competitive, a hard worker, elusive.

Weaknesses: Durability, lacks a great initial burst and route running can use some improvement.

My Take: Limus Sweed seems like the ideal fit for Buffalo. He is competitive and a hard worker, so he seems like he is a player with good character. Again, his size and skill set seem like an ideal complement to Lee Evans. His ability to go over the middle and make people miss seems like it could be a huge asset. The major concern of course is his durability. Sweed has suffered wrist injuries. Didn't we draft a guy in the first round in 2004 that suffered a knee injury in college, and 2003 didn't we draft a guy who couldn't even play because of injury for a year? I am not going to shy away from some one because of a wrist. The problem of course is, where can we get Sweed? There is little to no chance that he will be there at 11. Who is to say he will even last past Devin Thomas? In order to get Sweed, we would have to trade back into the first round which as we all know is something that we aren't afraid to do. I would prefer Sweed to Thomas in a heart beat.

3. The third ranked WR is Malcolm Kelly from Oklahoma. Kelly has good size at 6'3 3/4 and 224 pounds but has had well below average workouts as far as the measurables go. Talk about a guy whose stock has been falling. Kelly was the no brainer number one receiver in this class until he actually worked out. His 40 times at his pro day were upwards of 4.7. Then he made excuses saying that Oklahoma didn't tell him what type of turf he was going to be running on. He re ran his 40 yard dash on astroturf, the fastest surface, and his time was still bad. So, not only has he been slow, he tries making excuses for it. Also, it has been rumored that he is overweight. How can you not be in the best shape right now of your life if you are Malcolm Kelly? You are about to enter the NFL draft. Makes me question this guys determination and work ethic.

Strengths: Excellent combination of size and speed, plays faster that his measurables. Very natural pass catcher. Strongest hands of any receiver in the 2008 class. Wins most jump balls and is a threat inside the red zone. Very smooth for his size. Smooth and fluid after the catch and runs very strong. Gains tough yards at the end of his runs.

Weaknesses: Lacks top end speed. Not very explosive after the catch. Needs to improve route running. Injury issues-missed time at end of last two college seasons.

My Take: Kelly should have had better workouts and should be in better shape right now. That is a concern for me. His 40 times were pathetic. I wonder if his knee is still an issue. Also, what's with making excuses? Come on...you mean to tell me astroturf and field turf will make that significant a difference? At least when you re ran on field turf you could have improved your time. All that said, Kelly has great size and seems like someone who would be a good fit opposite Evans. What we need is a guy that is big, and can be a red zone threat and draw attention away from Lee. Kelly can do that, as can Sweed especially, Thomas too. It should be interesting to see where Malcolm Kelly falls to in this draft. After being easily a first round prospect, could he drop into the early 2nd? That would be big for Buffalo as it will be less costly to move up. If the Bills can't land Limus Sweed and Kelly is there in round 2, they should make a play for him.

4. DeSean Jackson from California is the next ranked Wide Receiver. I am not going to get into him very much because he is way too small (5'9 160). He pretty much is Roscoe Parrish and the chance the Bills draft him is 0.

5. Mario Manningham from Michigan is next and should be a player that is available right around 42 when the Bills pick in the 2nd round. Manningham is smallish at 5'11 and has character issues. For these reasons, I am not going to get into him very much as he does not fit what the Bills need at all.

6. James Hardy, Indiana, is the sixth ranked receiver in 2008. Hardy is an interesting player. He has ridiculous size at 6'5 3/8 and and ran a decent 4.49 40 which with his size can be dangerous.

Strengths: Obviously has great size. Can shield defenders and be a threat in the red zone on the jump ball. Shows good toughness over the middle and can hang on to the football when taking a hit.

Weaknesses: Needs to polish his route running. Lacks ideal speed and ability to separate from man coverage. Not much of a big play threat after the catch. Inconsistent effort when blocking. has some character issues. Was suspended for 2 games in 2006 because of an off field incident.

My Take: Hardy is an interesting prospect. How can you not love that size? At nearly 6'6" he would give the Bills an instant threat in the red zone. He would be a full 8 inches taller than any other receiver on the Bills roster. I am not too worried about his off field problems. 2006 was 2 years ago. Route running is coachable. If Hardy is around at 11, and the Bills are unable to make a move up in the draft to get one of the other big 3 (Thomas, Sweed, Kelly), then Hardy is probably a no brainer pick.

The Bills must get one of these players, except DeSean Jackson and Mario Manningham. Ideally, you would like to see the Bills get Limus Sweed and if not him, then Malcolm Kelly. Both of these guys would be good fits on Buffalo's offense. In either case however, the Bills will be forced to move up to the end of the first round which they wouldn't hesitate to do (see Poz and McCargo). I would think that Devin Thomas is a reach at 11 and would be drafted too high to move up and get him. If all else fails, take James Hardy at 42. Hardly has great size and upside. The Bills cannot take Devin Thomas at 11. I think Buffalo will make a trade to the end of round one to land Sweed or Kelly.

2008 NFL Draft Preview: Cornerback

by Coast

The Bills have two major needs in this draft. The number one need is wide receiver and number two is cornerback. The 2008 cornerback class is filled with first round talent, most of which will be available when the Bills pick at number 11. This years class is led by two non power conference players with major upside. Instead of pretending I am an expert on these dudes, I am going to steal what I find appealing from ESPN insider.

1. Leodis McKelvin, Troy...5'10", 190, 4.379. That 40 time is eye opening right away. At 5'10 190 he is decent size for a corner. McGee is only 5'9 and while Greer is 5'11, he is skinny at 180 pounds. Strengths: explosive athlete, good technique and footwork in coverage, Can keep with quicker WR's on double moves and also shows the hip-fluidity and closing burst to turn and run with faster receivers on vertical routes. Weaknesses: Does not like to support the run and will avoid contact if at all possible, Bigger WR's usually can dictate their routes, marginal ball skills. My Take: Leodis has good speed and decent size although a little short. He is obviously a great athlete and apparently is an explosive punt returner. I don't like at all that he avoids contact and allows big receivers to pretty much do what they want. That will not help us at all to stop Randy Moss, who scored 4 touchdowns in one half. The Bills defense depends on take aways and if this guy can't pick off the ball, then I don't want him. He may be a good player, but I don't think he is a good fit for the Bills.

2. Dominique Rogers-Chromartie, Tennessee State...6'1", 184, 4.33. DRC is even faster than McKelvin and has great size. Strengths: Displays better technique than most small-school corners, especially in terms of his hands in press-technique, exceptional closing burst, Reads quarterback's eyes, aggressive and jumps routes, good ball skills, is a playmaker in coverage and flashes the ability to pick up big chunks of yards after turnovers. Weaknesses: Does not support the run as aggressively as we would like to see and he must improve his efficiency as an open-field tackler, Does not possess great upper body strength, Played at a small school and there is some concern about ability to make the jump to the NFL. My Take: This dude is a beast. 6'1 and runs a 4.33? Wow. He sounds like he can be a play maker on our defense which depends on speed and take aways. His size and ability to press coverage makes me like him a lot better than McKelvin because the only way to stop Moss is to press him and run with him deep and let's face it, Moss is the only major threat at WR in our division, and Chromartie can do both. After all, his cousin is the best DB in the NFL right now in Antonio Chromartie. I would love for the Bills to draft DRC at 11.

3. Mike Jenkins, South Florida...5'10", 197, 4.379. Jenkins has good size and has a better build than the previous two corners mentioned. Also, He played in a BCS conference, so he has faced more NFL caliber players than McKelvin and Chromartie. Strengths: second gear when tracking the ball downfield, Possesses outstanding top-end speed and can make up ground when the ball is in the air, good instincts and closing burst when turned loose on the blitz. Weaknesses: doesn't use hands that well and gives away the inside too much, lacks ideal ball skills. Mis-times some of his jumps, locates the ball late occasionally and will knock down some passes he should intercept, Character is a concern after 2007 arrest/suspension. My Take: Same problem as McKelvin-lacks ideal ball skills which, again, is a necessity on our defense. He has character issues which Jauron/Modrak and company will not like. Again, not an ideal fit for the Bills.

4. Aqib Talib, Kansas...6'0", 202, 4.44. Talib has great size at over 6 feet tall and great build at over 200 pounds. His 40 time is slightly lower than the first three players but his size makes up for it. Strengths: outstanding combination of height, bulks and natural athleticism, displays fine all-around ball skills, naturally instinctive, not afraid of a physical challenge and possesses the size to match-up one-on-one versus bigger receivers on an island, Very durable. Weaknesses: Gambles too much in coverage, Footwork needs lots of polishing, Lacks power as a hitter and more of a drag-down tackler. My Take: Talib seems like a beast too. His size is ideal. Again, back to the Randy Moss factor. We need someone not afraid to knock him around and Talib wouldn't be. It seems like his weaknesses are correctable, like footwork and getting him to stop gambling too much. I love his big play ability just like DRC. I have heard some stuff about character issues, but I don't care. With his size, it seems like his tackling can be coached up as well. Talib is definitely my number 2 choice of these 4 players. I also like how he played in a power conference.

The Bills need to get one of these four players when they pick in the first round. It is almost guaranteed that at least two of them will be there when they pick and maybe 3 or 4. If DRC is there at 11, the Bills should take him. He may not be polished but has ridiculous upside. If not, I would prefer Talib over Jenkins and McKelvin. If Buffalo passes on corner in the first round, they could get one of the following players in round two-although them skipping on a corner in the first means they probably took a wide receiver which would be a terrible decision.

Brandon Flowers, Va Tech...5'9", 189, 4.549
Antoine Cason, Arizona...6'0", 191, 4.45
Tracy Porter, Indiana...5'10", 188, 4.37
Justin King, Penn State...5'10", 192, 4.309

I would not be happy with receiver in the first and then one of these guys in the second. Flowers' 40 time is bad. I like Cason's height and love King's speed but I don't know anything about any of these players and honestly, have never heard of Porter and King. Let's hope for DRC and if not him, then Talib.

Bills schedule

by Steve

Ok, well I was wrong about the Browns v Bills on Thanksgiving, but I was right about them playing each other at night during the week. I was also right about a few other things but whatever. The Bills have another Monday night game at home and they start the season at home. Both are pluses, however, the Dolphins rivalry is officially dead, they play their biggest rival in Toronto?!1 WTFFFFFFFF!?

Wow, the first 5 weeks of the season before the BYE aren't that bad. The Seahawks were 3-5 on the road last year, they have both home games against teams from the West coast, and the Rams and Cardinals aren't that good. True, the Jaguars are good, but they aren't great, and are beatable early in the season. Wasn't Del Rio on the hot seat early last year? Yes, isn't Garrard unproven at best? Yes, plus Freddie T is a year older.

Other highlights include the Patriots at home last week of the season, arguebly for the Division, or the game will be meaningless for them and we can romp on back ups ala Pittsburgh in 2004. Holy shit, i'm depressed.

4 West Coast teams have to make the trip all the way to Buffalo, I love, there are no division games until week 8, the Jets suck, and well, week 9 against the Pats. At least we get 2 weeks to prepare for Norv Turner and the Chargers.

Bills could and should win at least 8 games, if they don't make the playoffs this is an embarrassment of a franchse, fauckkkk

Buffalo Bills schedule eve

by Steve

Since coast is a douche and never writes any more I'll write it up. Here is a juicy rumor about the Bills playing against the Browns on Thanksgiving night. holy mole-y that would be sweet. Exacting revenge on those piece of shit fans from Cleveland. They treated us like shit when we were there last year, and i'm doing the same thing this year.





I predict the Bills will get a home night game, not sure if it will be the T-giving game or not, but the way Buffalo showed up for the two games last year, it would seem likely to me Buffalo gets another home night game.

We'll probably open up on the road, I'll say somewhere like NY Jets, we only have 2 home games after Dec 1st and the Bills will play a late December game against an NFC West opponent so either San Fran or the Seahawks. I guarantee it is home game #7.

Of course we will be playing the Patriots after the bye, and we'll be playing in Miami early in the season so it is nice and hot and the Dolphins will be coming to town late in the year when it is cold. Oh yea, and guaranteed 7 home sell outs.

WTF though, why did the NFL announce the preseason schedule like 2 weeks ago and needed this much time to friggen come up with the real schedule. I guess carry out the season all 52 weeks.

Masters preview

by T Wreck

Tiger is the prohibitive favorite so I am going to leave him out of the discussion, as I do not think he will finish in the top 10 anyways. This is my predicted order of finish and if you don't like it say it to my face like a man....

1. Reteif Goosen - Baller in the majors everyone knows that, give this man the green jacket! What better place to gain some confidence than at Augusta National, where he has finished T3, T3 and T2 in his last three starts?

2. Vijay Singh - How good is this guy? He's undergone a major swing overhaul in recent months and can't seem to settle on a putter, and yet through it all, Singh remains one of the world's foremost talents, even contending for a few titles while in the midst of such changes.

3. Sean O'Hair- The first of a few young guy on this list who hits the ball a long way and doesn't seem to get rattled in high-pressure situations.

4. Stewart Cink- Guy is from Georgia, Georgia won the SEC tourney .. coincidence???

5. K.J Choi - Baller is due to step his game up in the majors 4 sho.

6. Ian Poulter- Wears pink pants but wants to be the best..If the outspoken Brit is ever going to challenge Tiger Woods, as he indicated in a magazine article earlier this year, this would be a great place to start.

7. Geoff Ogilvy - The Aussie knows what it takes to win a major, and hes playing well after ending Woods win streak two weeks ago. Look for him to contend.

8. Andres Romero- A t-wreck sleeper for my homies shout me a holler when this guy is owning Amen Corner come sunday baby... diaper dandy!!

9. Jonathan Byrd- Hmmm, hits the ball a long way, was second in putting average last year, has proven he can finish down the stretch. Kid is money from the line..

10. Lee Westwood- Guy could win 9 out of 13 top tens on the Euro circuit this year... look what fukudome is doing this guy could ball ..

There ya go if Tiger wins i'll never watch golf again..

Bills on the clock

Calipari slash Memphis choke

by Steve

What a fuckin choke job. Free throws are, get this, free points. Memphis blew more than Paris Hilton when it came to 'free' points during the regular season in the rigorous Conference USA in 2007/08. They thought they had their problem fixed in the NCAA tournament, they thought wrong.

I was very weary in taking the Tigers -2 in this game. They weren't that good, they lost to Tennessee. True they only had 1 loss, but when you play in conference USA, ya know, not against teams like Syracuse, UConn and Gtown all season you're going to win 37+ games. C'mon... Um, congrats Kansas?

I tease the over and Memphis and lost both teases. My friend lost the over and it went to over time, i'm not sure what is worse losing the over in a game that goes to OT or losing $590 on Memphis -2. Ouch.

There are rumors circulating that the dude that made the pass before OT, in regulation, for Kansas had half his foot out of bounce, there for it shouldn't have been a tie game after Chalmers made a sick fading to his left shot with 2.5 seconds left. The alleged out of bounce foot came with something like 45 seconds left and the Tigers still uncomfortably winning.

Wow these type of bullshit games where someone like Bill Self can win a National Championship make me want to stop gambling. Then again maybe they want me to gamble more. You take the odds, or the over night baseball lines, and I guess you'll win. Just don't bet on John Calipari and a team from a fuckin midmajor. Faaaaaaauck.

The Big East will Pwn in 2008.

Buffalo Bills news

-- Falcons Could Trade for J.P. Losman --
Thu Apr 3, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com
#
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports new Falcons HC Mike Smith did not rule out a trade for a veteran quarterback, perhaps Buffalo Bills QB J.P. Losman.

Bills 2008 Preseason Schedule
Date Opponent Time Network
Aug. 7-10 @ Washington TBD WKBW-TV
Aug. 14 vs. Pittsburgh 7:30 pm WKBW-TV (toronto)
Aug. 24 @ Indianapolis 8 pm NFL Network
Aug. 28 vs. Detroit 6:30 pm WKBW-TV

Losman and Fowler ballin'....Buffalo Bills’ Melvin Fowler joined teammate JP Losman along with Daryl Boykins for lunch poolside at Bare Pool Lounge Saturday while enjoying strawberry daiquiris..


And Chris Henry was cut...

Florida Marlins baseball preview

by Steve

It looks like it is going to be another long wet mostly empty Dolphin Stadium in 2008. Of course there are some bright spots, Han-ram, the hammer, and thats mostly it. The fish have prospects and not much else. Until a new stadium is built this team will continue to be a bottom feeder with potentially great players and trade them away. The owner is pathetic, he gets nearly $60 in revenue sharing tv deals and luxury tax money yet his payroll is $21 mil, pathetic.

Infield
This team went from having one of the most potent dangerous offensive infields in baseball to being average with the loss of Cabrera at third. This is especially true since they have no real replacement. Hanley Ramirez at SS is a stud, power, average, patience at the plate, he's better than Jeter without the leadership qualities. Uggla is one of the more underrated 2b's in baseball and one of the best Rule 5 draftees in a while. Mike Jacobs has pop in his bat at first but is still pretty raw. Jorge Cantu right now is the third baseman, and at one time did hit 28 dingers and over 100 rbi but we'll see how he bounces back from a mediocre '07. I don't even know who their catcher Treanor is and neither does anyone else, he is 32.

Outfield
The outfield is a mess right now. Alejandro De Aza won the starting job in CF but for back to back years after winning it sustained a bad injury and will miss some time. Potentially really good RF Jeremy Hermida is hurt and will miss at least the first week as will Cody Ross who was penciled in at CF behind De Aza. Currently Maybin is in AA working on his game. Pssht please. Luis Gonzalez is going to get playing time and stroked one out Tuesday vs the Mets so who knows with him. Josh 'the hammer' Willingham is solidifed in right and may move up in the pantheon of power hitters in the NL before the season is done. Amezega will get playing time everywhere as well.

Pitching
The rotation might be in as big of a mess as the outfield. Right now. career loser Mark Hendrickson is the ace of the staff which is beyond laughable. Solid young arms like Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez are both hurt and would be near the top 5. Sanchez may be back in May while Johnson has a ways to go after Tommy John got his elbow, maybe July if he's lucky. Lefty Scott Olsen is a head case but when he is on he is solid probably a #4 on most teams but has potential. Justin Miller was one half of the blockbuster trade sending Willis and Mags to Detroit. He is their number three and has the potential to be a #1 in two years. Ricky Nolasco and Rick Vandenhurk round out the rotation, both righties. Both are 25 or less and have upside. I like Nolasco's stuff better but struggled in 2007 while Vandenhurk didn't fair any better.

Prognostication
Fredi Gonzalez is going to be so busy before game day piecing together a pitching staff and line up I don't know how he is going to have time to actually manage and gel this team into something respectable. They have some pieces but little veteran leadership or foresight. Not really sure what the plan is in SoBe besides letting hall of famers leave and rebuilding every 3 seasons. The only thing this franchise should be building is a new stadium. The current ball park is a joke, but with this scouting department and ability to groom major leaguers, if they do ever actually spend money watch out. Then again they may just win a World Series every 6-7 years and laugh at teams like the Phillies and Indians who can't win shit.

Record 71-91

New York Yankees 2008 Preview

Guest Post: AJ

Without injuries in the first half last year, the Yankees would have cruised on their way to the AL East crown and wouldn’t have played in the bug infested confines of the Jake. They were 73-39 in their last 112… that’s .652 for those of you without a calculator handy.

Coaching

Joey G. is not Joe Torre. He is not going to let opposing pitchers get away with hitting his players and he’s not going to put up with whiners. He is a fierce competitor, whereas Torre was more of a ‘manage the attitudes of the players’ kind of guy. He will mix in more small ball and grit than we have seen in the last decade or so. Who knows if he will get along with Hank? If he can… it may mean great things for the Bombers.

Dave Eiland may be more important for the Yankees success than Girardi. He comes up from the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees where he coached and played a key role in the development of both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. He will have his hands full and should expect to see a lot of the familiar faces as the Yankees try to figure out their bullpen.

Infield

The left side of the infield needs no mention, it may be top 5 best ever. Cano is poised to have an MVP type season. He’s going to have about 200 hits this year with a batting average around .340. He makes plays look easy with his range and his cannon. As for first base, you can expect to see Giambi there for much of the season. However, with more options at DH, you can expect to see a lot of Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betimit on 1B… heck, Morgan Ensberg is even an option this year.

Outfield

Melky isn’t going to wow anyone with the bat in his hands but he should make up for his average offense with solid D in center. Damon and Matsui will probably split a lot of time in left field with Damon moving over to center on occasion. Unfortunately, at this point in Damon’s career, he doesn’t have the athleticism to cover the ground he once did. Bobby Abreu doesn’t have much to worry about as far as competing for the starting job in RF. From time to time, Duncan’s going to be out there for his right-handed bat in the lineup.

Catcher

Jorge’s old body is bound to give him some troubles as the season progresses. He defied the aging process last year somehow and had a career year, don’t expect that again though. He is probably going to begin to show the signs of the wear-and-tear that catching takes on one’s body. Luckily, there are 9 Molina’s and one named Jose plays for the Yankees. He will need to produce and be reliable enough to keep Jorge from being worthless come October.

Pitching

The biggest question mark for the Yankees in the last 10 years is this team’s pitching staff. Pettitte has already shown that health may be an issue with his aging arm and back. Mussina may be in the minors on April 16^th unless he gets his location back and can get in the head of the batters he faces. Chien-Ming is solid and should provide 17-20 wins for the third consecutive season. How will Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy fair? Will Joba be starting? Is the Princeton grad (Ohlendorf) going to stick around or is it going to be a new face every few weeks in the bullpen? Can Billy Traber be reliable enough to shut down opposing lefties? The answers to these questions will undoubtedly indicate where the Yankees are come July. If there are some holes, don’t be surprised to see Hank and Cash making moves at the deadline.

Prediction: 94-68