Filed under: Bills Obsession, Buffalo Bills, Defence Mechanisms, Rookies, draft picks
Back when we were posting regularly, the Dukes profiled each some of the Bills 2008 draft picks. So we’re gonna give it another go. Up first: Cary Harris.
Cary Harris
Position: CB
Height: 6′0″
Weight: 180
College: USC
Hometown: Pacoima, CA
Why he’s awesome: Projected to go as early as the third round, the Cary Harris pick follows the ultimate fantasy draft rules: pick good players from good teams. And for a slight guy, he’s known as a big hitter with excellent coverage skills.
Why we like him: For a guy with a rep for poor ball skills, he’s come up in big moments for the Trojans, including that above pick in the Rose Bowl this year.
Why we don’t: He’s as durable as a rose petal and held together by strings. He’s missed time for a dislocated shoulder, ankle injuries, had a bad hamstring at the combine (which slowed him to a 4.57 40-time) and had arthroscopic surgery in both ankles prior to the 2008 season.
Tidbit about Pacoima, CA: Oft-battered in his movies Leonardo DiCaprio, tragically dead before his time Ritchie Valens, oft-injured outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. are all from Pacoima. As are the founders of passing fad Juicy Couture, which relates somehow.
Videos that should get you pumped about Harris, provided he holds up:
Filed under: Uncategorized
We’re pretty comfortable in our current blogroll, but we have to add the Ladies… because they are way more popular than us, and added a prominent new Buffalo-fan blogger. Buffalita’s first post is on the Mets’ new stadium (which looks nice, if only they can do something about the neighborhood). And with her bubbly prose and excellent taste in music, we can’t wait to have the Ladies turn some sunshine on the normally dank Buffalo sports scene.
Good stuff.
Filed under: Buffalo Sabres, NFL News, Rookies | Tags: Buffalo Bills Offensive Line, Demetrius Bell, Jason Peters, Karl Malone gave good genes only
We Dukes have been trying to figure out what Russ, Dick and Turk have in mind for filling Jason Peters’ spot since his trade to the Eagles. With the draft in the books, that picture is getting a bit clearer.
For 2009, we have Hangartner holding down center, Brad Butler/Andrew Levitre/Eric Wood at the guard positions in some order, Kirk Chambers/Seth McKinney at right tackle, and Langston Walker at the left tackle spot. (Sorry, Brian, but I don’t think two rookies start on either side of Hangartner this year).
That’s not an awful line, really – true, there aren’t any Pro Bowler’s on that lineup right now, but Wood & Levitre (or does Wood come after Levitre?) project as potential starters, Hangartner’s a good mentor, and Walker got the job done at left tackle to start the season last year. But at the same time, with so many linemen playing out of position, it might take some time to coalesce.
The real X-factor for a potential all-world Bills offensive line is our favorite spawn of Karl Malone: Demetrius Bell.
Last year’s 219th pick was a healthy scratch in all of last year’s games – he didn’t play a single down in a single game, yet the Bills kept him on the roster. And it might prove to be one of the shrewdest moves the Bills have done since converting Jason Peters – Bell is every bit the physical beast Peters was, albeit in a much more raw package.
But in his second year, Bell might be making the steps to become a big-time offensive lineman – at 6′5″, 300+, it won’t take much to make him simply serviceable, but he has the upside to grow into the lineman we always thought Peters would be (only less of a diva).
Filed under: Criminals, Excessive violence, Rookies, draft picks | Tags: Avon Barksdale, Better Know A Draft Pick, Ellis Lankster, NFL Draft, Stringer Bell
Back when we were posting regularly, the Dukes profiled each some of the Bills 2008 draft picks. So we’re gonna give it another go. Up first: Ellis Lankster.
Ellis Lankster
- Position: DB
- Height: 5′ 9″
- Weight: 191
- College: West Virginia
- Hometown: Whistler, AL
Why he’s awesome: He used to be fat, but he dropped the weight because he wanted the rock!
Why we like him: This late in the draft, no player is a guarantee, but we always have a soft spot for Bills’ picks from West Virginia.
Why we don’t: He’s got a rap sheet. We hope he’s matured since then, but…well.
Tidbit about Whistler, AL: For a small town, Whistler has a history of good athletes: Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Williams (not Billy Dee, unfortunately), Ravens tackle Willie Anderson….that’s it. But that’s like 15% of Whistler’s population.
Rumor about Lankster that started RIGHT HERE: That arrest mentioned above? Well we have it on no authority that Lankster is totally cool with being an extremely late round draft pick. The man is a business man, pure and simple – as if Stringer Bell and Avon Barksdale were combined in one, compact package with mad ups. True, the Bills have a bunch of defensive backs, and true, you can never have too many. But the Bills aren’t looking for him to play too much – there’s bills to pay.
So there’s this rumor that Brady Quinn might be traded to San Francisco.
But it’s too perfect. I mean, Brady Quinn, in San Fra…….oh dammit, this is too easy.
…
…
…
…
Ah screw it:
Filed under: Bills Obsession, Buffalo Bills, Dukes of Awesome Field Trips, Miami Sucks, Uncategorized | Tags: 97 and humid is not comfortable, bills miami, dolphans suck, miami dolphins jingle
- Look real close, it’s there.
- THAT is dedication.
- does torquiose + orange = pink?
- Fan of the Game
- Bye, bye.
Filed under: Buffalo Bills, Defence Mechanisms, bitterness, draft picks, idiots, stupid sports traditions | Tags: Fred Jackson, marshawn lynch, nfl free agency, Running Backs, setting a bad example
So Freddie Jackson is another no-show to Bills voluntary workouts, along with Terrell Owens and Jason Peters.
With TO, you know you’re gonna get a top flight athlete who knows the game, regardless of his off-the-field shenanigans.
With Peters, it’s a situation that we knew about, with him holding out for a new contract or new team, whether he deserves it or not.
Now there’s Fred Jackson, a restricted free agent. The Bills do have the upper hand, owning his rights and the ability to match contracts with any other team. And with a glut of free agent veteran backs out there, there’s a very good chance the Bills won’t have to match one of those offers.
So at face value, the Bills are playing this smart, in line with their usual negotiating style. Eloquently titled “Fuck you negotiations” by realwiley – the Bills always play like they have the upper hand, even if they do not. And with the market and needs (lots of RBs, having a stud back in Lynch), this seems smart.
But the Bills would be smart to simply sign F-Jax to a reasonable contract and get his ass into the fold as quickly as possible:
- The looming suspension of Marshawn Lynch: The safe bet is the Bills will be without Marshawn Lynch for at least two games, but possibly as many as four. So it’s understandable that the Bills looked for a veteran backup – Fred Taylor and… Maurice Hicks? I guess if you’re getting a backup-backup, Hicks is a step up from Xavier Omon, but not much. Fred Jackson had almost twice the yards of Hicks’ best season (2005) last year. And F-Jax has been very effective both in support of and in place of Marshawn Lynch. And while there are more experienced replacements out there, they’re also more expensive.
- Public Relations to NFL Players: Right now, Buffalo has a reputation of being a team of last resort for many veteran players. All you have to do is look at our free agent signings and losses over the years – Marcus Stroud was considered damaged goods, and it took a lot of money to win his services. Terrell Owens was pretty much out of options. Jason Peters wants out, and so did Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield and more. Mainly because the Bills didn’t want to pony up for proven talent that they developed. Kawika Mitchell was a lone exception – the Bills were insanely lucky to get him (even if his impact has yet to be gauged). I know money plays into this, but being proactive in signing F-Jax – a reliable contributor – could have an impact in how Buffalo is perceived by players.
- There’s no one out there better: The current crop of NFL free agent RBs includes Ruben Droughns, Ahman Green, Rudi Johnson, Warrick Dunn and Dominic Rhodes, about the only back that would be intriguing for the Bills would be….I guess Dunn, really. Johnson wants to start full-time, and the others are either old or ineffective now. Dunn is old, but he can still play and probably would take a back seat to Lynch. But that would render F-Jax to 3rd back, when he’s much more than that, and being only 28, gives you more production at a chaper price.
So I just don’t get why the Bills are holding back on F-Jax – we can’t afford valuable contributors to be out of workouts with the regularity the Bills seem to maintain – it sets bad precedent for the current team and any other players we might hope to attract. And it certainly isn’t making Turk, Dick and Perry’s job any easier.
Filed under: Bills Obsession | Tags: trent edwards, Jay Cutler, Begging Forgiveness, Karma Kowtow, We love YOU and only you trent
Dear Trent,
Hey, baby, we just wanted to drop you this note before things get, you know, out of hand. You know we’ll always love you and would never do you dirty, especially for some bitch-ass quarterbacks. Sure, we talked some game about trading you for that ho Jay Cutler, but it was just game, baby! That’s just how the business works, you know that! We were just throwing smoke screens out there – we don’t REALLY think Cutler is better than you – you’re all clutch, baby!
I’m not trippin, baby – I’m not just saying this because Jay’s already taken by those Chicago skanks Bears. And don’t mind FTLT – you know they’re the jealous sort. Not like us, baby. We know we got something good goin here and would never do anything to ruin it.
After all, who took a chance on your broke down sexy ass. Remember, we left our hirsute former love for you. And who got you that shiny new toy you wanted? You and I both know it’ll make our relationship hotter higher maintenance sexier stronger.
So, you know, just cuz we talked about it, let our fans talk about it, came up with scenarios in which it could happen, figured out how it might make sense, how it might make us better and scoped out that big, big Cutler-arm, it was only that: talk.
Who loves ya baby?
Now come give us some sugar touchdowns. No you can’t have more money.
Love,
The Dukes of Awesome.
Filed under: Bills Message Boards, Bills Obsession, Buffalo Bills, JIM KELLY = BADASS, draft picks | Tags: Bills Shake'n'Bake, Chad Pennington, Jay Cutler, Trade Scenarios, trent edwards
Let me start by saying this: I really like Trent Edwards. I think almost all Bills fans do. He’s smart, he’s accurate, and he’s talented.
But he’s also injury prone. Always has been too – part of that is from playing behind lackluster offensive lines at both Stanford and with the Bills, but, well, he always seems to be dinged pretty good. It’s not that I don’t think he’s tough, but some guys just don’t have the luck. And based on his history, Trent’s talents might be overcome by luck.
Which is why, unfortunately, the Bills should make a grab for Jay Cutler. Yes, Mendola, Bills fan message boards, FTLT et. al, you’re on to something.
Comparing most (yearly) stats, Cutler is measurably better across the board – more TDs, more passing yards, higher passer rating. You could argue that Edwards has a better win-loss record and better 4th quarter stats - and you’d definitely be correct – but overall, it’s hard to argue with Cutler’s Pro Bowl selection last year, and his ability to absolutely take over games. He also had to make up for absolutely horrendous Denver defenses in his tenure as starter.
I truly believe Trent Edwards is and will be a really good quarterback, and I’d honestly be content if the Bills kept him (especially with Brian Galliford’s projections + TO). But the Bills are in the unique position of having a skill-rich offense (Marshawn, Evans, Reed, Steve Johnson, TO, and whichever tight end the Bills draft) and assets desirable to the Broncos, namely a quality starter in Trent Edwards and draft picks.
What it ultimately comes down to is ceiling:
Trent Edwards is a talented, smart quarterback with an adequate arm who is injury prone. Best comparison: Chad Pennington. A very good quarterback, and you can win with him.
Jay Cutler is constantly compared to Brett Favre, but a more apt comparison (and what sends Bills fans into a tizzy) is Jim Kelly. A big, smart QB, rocket arm, and attitude. I think Cutler has gotten a bad rap in this whole scenario, as both Cutler and the Broncos have behaved, well, oddly in their falling out. But remember that screaming match Cutler got into with Philip Rivers and the entire San Diego bench? And then the fact that he f@cking won?
That’s badass like Jimbo. Which is why the Bills should probably consider it.
(PS, I know Mendola already did the Jimbo-Jay comparison. He is quite awesome and dashing.)
Filed under: Bills Obsession | Tags: Buffalo Bills, Real Estate Market, Terrell Owens, This Can't Be Real., TOronto, Toronto Star
Welp, here’s another nail in the Buffalo Bills’ stay in Buffalo coffin: Terrell Owens has purchased a brand new condo on Toronto’s waterfront, presumably as his “local home” for his tenure in Buffalo.
According to the Toronto Real Estate Board and the Toronto Star, Owens bought a waterfront condo just off Queen’s Quay in downtown Toronto.
If you’ve ever been there, the high rise condos that are all over Toronto are pretty nice, so I can’t say I fault TO for choosing that over Buffalo’s Waterfront Village condos or something similar.
As for the commute? Well, it really only takes an hour or so to get from TO to Buffalo, so it’s not bad. I’d imagine TO doesn’t mind the drive.
Plus we know TO loves theater.
- **Update: April Fool’s. To those 50 or so people who saw this. We’re just so goddam clever, aren’t we?***
