Hello From Buffalo

[bills_phan]

Well, the Henry thing didn't work out during the draft - I guess we're stuck with two 1,000 yard backs.

Actually, that's a bit of a spin...

I don't see Henry holding out if he's still with the Bills come September, as that's only going to hurt his value when he enters FA next year. I'm not exactly counting on him to contribute much either with him being disgruntled and all and with Willis taking the bulk the snaps. Hopefully we can still move him if/when a top back gets hurt in training camp (it happens every year). Who knows, it might even be Willis (now that I've said it, it can't POSSIBLY happen, right?)

The Arizona front office and fans seem a little bitter that Buffalo didn't want Shelton straight-up. Our boards are getting bombarded by angry Cardinals trolls lately. I don't really get why they're all so pissed at the Bills. In the end I think TD didn't have any options for trading Henry except Shelton in a player-for-player, or a 4th rounder from Philly. I have a hard time understanding why a team like Denver would take Clarette with their 3rd round pick, but would be unwilling to trade that same pick for a proven back like Travis??? Oh, well, I guess that's why I'm not a GM.

Word out of Buffalo is that Donahoe liked Shelton and was ready to make the swap, but the coaching staff talked him out of it because they didn't like the player. Take it for what it's worth - that's the news coming out of the Bills front office. Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally says he's very happy with how the draft went and is confident he has a good starting line as is with the addition of the late round picks and UDFAs. He's been on record in the past as saying he prefers late round picks that he can hand pick and mould. Widely considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the league, I'll take his word for it even though I'm still a bit nervous about our OL. I'm sure this must explain the Bills rather 'interesting' draft strategy this year.

I noticed that you guys just released Clement. Any opinion on his value or why he was released? I wonder if Shelton is soon to follow, as he seems disgruntled as well (who can blame him), and missed the team's first mini-camp. If that's the case, I can see why Denny seems so pissed that he was unable to move either Clement or Shelton before before or during the draft. It'll be interesting to see who picks up Clement and possibly Shelton if he's released, and if they either ends up starting anywhere else.

You guys had a nice draft by all accounts. I'm not sure Arrington is better than Henry, but he certainly had a great year in college last year. Rolle looks great, but I might be concerned about possible character issues. Is Boldin a holdout? That Drew Rosenhaus (sp) is an evil bastard! All in all, you guys seem to be getting better.

Despite the extreme optimism here, I just wouldn't be buying my Super Bowl tickets yet.

Hope springs eternal in the offseason - from the Great Lakes to the Desert!

Good luck!

 

[BigDavis75]

Thanks, but I've been saying no to Travis all along.

 

[Redrage]

Feel free to drop by anytime.

 

[slanidrac16]

Signing Henry would have cost us a lot more money than JJ. If Arrington would have been gone , I still think this trade would have went down.

Cutting Shelton would cost us 3 mil. Cutting Clement will save us 3 mil, if I remember right.

 

[Scott MS]

It'll be interesting to see who picks up Clement and possibly Shelton if he's released, and if they either ends up starting anywhere else.

Who gives a crap if they start elsewhere. So did Pete Kendall. In the end, getting rid of players who aren't committed is a better move for the overall team, and Shelton's committment came into question last year when he came into camp out of shape.

.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Hello,

Like I said when this first came out, the market is minimal for a fumble prone running back who is coming off a major injury. Shelton was the best offer you were going to get. I didn't want Henry, who I think is a marginal starter who played behind a good offensive line. He certainly isn't any sort of a difference maker, which is why Buffalo wisely took McGahee.

If I were you, I would be pretty pissed off at your GM. Meanwhile, I am glad that we didn't go get another retread back.

Chris

 

[bills_phan]

Hello,

Like I said when this first came out, the market is minimal for a fumble prone running back who is coming off a major injury. Shelton was the best offer you were going to get. I didn't want Henry, who I think is a marginal starter who played behind a good offensive line. He certainly isn't any sort of a difference maker, which is why Buffalo wisely took McGahee.

If I were you, I would be pretty pissed off at your GM. Meanwhile, I am glad that we didn't go get another retread back.

Chris

Neither Shelton, Clement nor Henry were pursued by any other team enough for a trade to happen. There is no need for posturing anymore. Henry is a very good back - a pro-bowler. I know that because I've seen every professional game he's ever played and I'm partially happy he's still on my team. I hope he comes around and they can patch things up for 1 year, but it probably won't happen.

I wonder if you're happy that Shelton's still an Arizona Cardinal?

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Arizona front office and fans seem a little bitter that Buffalo didn't want Shelton straight-up. Our boards are getting bombarded by angry Cardinals trolls lately. I don't really get why they're all so pissed at the Bills...

If that's the case, I can see why Denny seems so pissed that he was unable to move either Clement or Shelton before before or during the draft. It'll be interesting to see who picks up Clement and possibly Shelton if he's released, and if they either ends up starting anywhere else.

I've got to ask - who on this board seems bitter about how the weekend panned out? We got exactly what we wanted - had a great draft and TD looks like a complete schmuck with a big problem in his locker room. We're all smiles over here - don't project your feelings on to us.

And where exactly does Denny seem "so pissed" about ANYTHING? Again - we were the winners coming out of the weekend.

Seems like your comments are kind of out of nowhere - kinda like your GM's expectations for a broken down, fumble prone RB who lost his starting job.

Also - for all the pimping you did of TD - has he even gotten you guys into playoffs since he's been there? Not trying to dig - don't know the answer.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I am ecstactic that Shelton is still a Cardinal.

He is a very good player who had a down year. I will be very upset if we cut him...just like I was with Kendall. You can never have enough good offensive linemen. I could understand the logic if we saved a bunch of cap by cutting or trading him, but we don't.

And I am not calling you a troll, just saying that I think and have said since day 1 that Travis Henry is trash and I don't want him.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I wonder if you're happy that Shelton's still an Arizona Cardinal?

solid depth and a great draft with no head cases or people saying they will sit out the season and then leave without getting any compensation. Yeah - I'm pretty happy with the way it shook out.

 

[Renz]

Also - for all the pimping you did of TD - has he even gotten you guys into playoffs since he's been there? Not trying to dig - don't know the answer.

No, he hasn't.

 

[Cheesebeef]

No, he hasn't.

then why all the adulation - especially from fans of a franchise that actually has been pretty successful over the last couple decades?

 

[AJZ]

Hello,

I didn't want Henry, who I think is a marginal starter who played behind a good offensive line.

Huh?? I think you are getting things mixed up......Travis is the pro bowler and our line is what is marginal....has been for several years now.

 

[Renz]

then why all the adulation - especially from fans of a franchise that actually has been pretty successful over the last couple decades?

Ya got me. Donahoe was canned by the Steelers and hasn't done squat in Buffalo to justify all the "TD's the MAN!" crap you read on the Bills boards.

To be fair though, a lot of fans on the boards think he's an idiot.

 

[AzCards21]

Henry is a very good back - a pro-bowler. I know that because I've seen every professional game he's ever played and I'm partially happy he's still on my team.

That's the reason you screwed up. We aren't even partially happy he came here or not. We couldn't care less, the asking price for him was too high. We did better with JJ under the circumstances. Good luck with Henry.

 

[CardinalChris]

Shelton played last year injured and was hurt all offseason, hence his "out of shape" stature. Then he came to camp and tried to play through it, not telling anybody and possibly hurting himself more. The guy gets MORE credit, not less from me for last year. He also never publically complained, he showed up and played, and played a position he didn't want to. I'm not down on him and am glad he's back.

Clement was just never the same after his second year back injury. It was like watching a peg-legged pirate trying to pass block. It was time to part ways.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Huh?? I think you are getting things mixed up......Travis is the pro bowler and our line is what is marginal....has been for several years now.

No I am not getting things screwed up.

Buffalo offensive line was good.

Travis Henry is a marginal starter playing behind a good offensive line.

I am not talking about the Cardinals.

 

[CardShark]

Shelton is at his playing weight and ready to come into camp just as soon as the Cards okay it. They kept him out pending the possibility of a trade. To keep him from risking injury. We are very glad he's still a Card. Tried to explain that last year wasn't the true Shelton. The Bills missed out on a solid left tackle.

 

[AJZ]

No I am not getting things screwed up.

Buffalo offensive line was good.

Travis Henry is a marginal starter playing behind a good offensive line.

I am not talking about the Cardinals.

I think you are confused. Most folks who know anything about the Bills will tell you that our O-line has been our achilles heel for a while now. Travis never had a good line to run behind.

 

[JasonKGME]

I have a hard time understanding why a team like Denver would take Clarette with their 3rd round pick, but would be unwilling to trade that same pick for a proven back like Travis??? Oh, well, I guess that's why I'm not a GM.

Actually I think I can explain why the best on the above, look at it this way currently:

Travis Henry = Proven Commodity, however injured and does have some fumbling problems, so he's not a lock to be a 1300 yard rusher again at this stage

Maurice Clarett = 1 Hit wonder in college, will that equate to the NFL no one knows for sure.

Basically both have risks and both could be solid backs, so the reason why you take Maurice instead of Henry?....




In the 3rd round you grab Maurice Clarett with most likely a 4 year contract and a RFA 5th year for next to NO MONEY. Looking at about $350K signing bonus, and an average cap hit around $300K per year. So if he sucks after 2 years he's gone no issues. On the other hand if he rocks (and lets be honest in Denver he's got a hell of a chance) you got him for nothing.

Henry on the other hand you'll either have to sign long term up front taking a risk if he doesnt return to form, or you take the risk that he isnt going to cost an arm and a leg if he does perform and you have him play under his current contract.

Your better off waiting until Buffalo releases him either this year if he does hold out and you cant trade him, or next year when he becomes a free agent you can sign him to a longer term contract probably for less money then it would take this year.

 

[ThunderCard]

I think you are confused. Most folks who know anything about the Bills will tell you that our O-line has been our achilles heel for a while now. Travis never had a good line to run behind.

I agree with you AJZ... There line was horrible and it was a miracle Willis was able to do so much damage. Imagine if you had a good O-Line with that killer D. Just maybe you might have surplanted the Pats this year, but the draft and free agency sort of killed that.

Watching every minute of every Cards game and I will easily say LJ Shelton has been the best Cards lineman every year except last year. We took him out of his normal position and asked him to play everywhere and it shook him a little. I guarantee you though that the Bill's missed out on top 10-15 Left Tackle. All through 1999-2003 there was consideration that he was a pro-bowl caliber Tackle.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

I have a hard time understanding why a team like Denver would take Clarette with their 3rd round pick, but would be unwilling to trade that same pick for a proven back like Travis??? Oh, well, I guess that's why I'm not a GM.

That 3rd round pick Denver invested in Clarette was not tradeable as it was a compensatory pick.

 

[AJZ]

I agree with you AJZ... There line was horrible and it was a miracle Willis was able to do so much damage. Imagine if you had a good O-Line with that killer D. Just maybe you might have surplanted the Pats this year, but the draft and free agency sort of killed that.

Watching every minute of every Cards game and I will easily say LJ Shelton has been the best Cards lineman every year except last year. We took him out of his normal position and asked him to play everywhere and it shook him a little. I guarantee you though that the Bill's missed out on top 10-15 Left Tackle. All through 1999-2003 there was consideration that he was a pro-bowl caliber Tackle.

You may be exactly correct, bro. I don't really have anything negative to say about LJ. I figured the Bills would be fine whether the trade went down or not.....though I will admit, if LJ is as good as some of you say he is, the Bills may regret not pulling the trigger. I have no clue what our Oline coach is planning to do at left tackle, but things improved last year and I'm optimistic they'll improve further this year.

 

[joeshmo]

In the 3rd round you grab Maurice Clarett with most likely a 4 year contract and a RFA 5th year for next to NO MONEY.

95% of 3rd rounders sign 3 years deals. And you are a RFA in the 4th year, 5th year you are free to go where ever you want.

 

[ThunderCard]

You may be exactly correct, bro. I don't really have anything negative to say about LJ. I figured the Bills would be fine whether the trade went down or not.....though I will admit, if LJ is as good as some of you say he is, the Bills may regret not pulling the trigger. I have no clue what our Oline coach is planning to do at left tackle, but things improved last year and I'm optimistic they'll improve further this year.

AJZ,
I also think the reason you and other Bills fans were getting so much static was due to past Cards mistakes. Teams in the past have walked all over us in the draft and trades and this time with Denny here it did not happen. I actually like the Bills board and the people over there were really nice when we played last year. I hope the best for the Bills and hope you understand that we were tired of being pushed around by bad trades. TD sort of came off strong and made our best O-Lineman besides BIG look weak so that is why a lot of us probably took it personally.

After all that is said I hope the Bill's take Anthony Clement and start him on you're left side.