PATRIOT64

In my link below,the guy writing the article does make a valid point and I did not realize it until I read this that in reality,I think the Bills let those 3 outstanding players in Fletcher,Clements and Spikes just walk out the door without resistance because they think they can duplicate what New England has done over the years and that is simply do not overpay for a player and if he does not accept the offer let him walk with no apprehension or hesitation.

I really think this is the Bills philosophy but there is one problem - The Bills do not have Belichick or Pioli to pull off letting key players go and don't have the overall talent to overcome these types of moves.

I think the Bills will find out like many other teams who in the future will let their aging but best players go that is you cannot duplicate what NE has done unless you have the FO capable of doing so - Not many teams have a strong FO and coach combos like the Patriots and many will regret losing those players and trying to replace them,some will succeed,many others will fail

I think the copycat Bills will regret this to a record of something like 5-11 this year,They did well in getting Whitner last year and had a good draft this year in getting Lynch and the other rookies but it will be awhile and a few years before it shows on the teams record.

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/a...yle_perso.html

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solman

The Bills have announced their intention not to spend up to the cap (or more precisely, to spend a total amount equal to their cap allocation [which is effectively the same thing]).

They can not be compared to the Patriots because the money they save will go into the pockets of the owners, and not into new players.

DarrylS

The author, Anthony Biali, does not google well but it looks like he is a homer affiliated with Western NY. OTOH, what they seem to be forgetting is keeping the hard nosed veteran who knows how to win al a Willy McGinnest, Ty Law et al.

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

JoeSixPat

I give the Bills a degree of credit for their willingness to take a step backwards in order to move forward - which is what they are doing this season.

But the whole "team oriented" player - especially ones willing to play for less than top dollar is dependent on two things... having a coach/team leader they believe in, and more importantly, winning.

The article misses the point that the players on the Patriots wouldn't be running through walls for a guy who was only giving them 8-8 seasons, nor would they take less than top dollar value.

And while I applaud the Bills for trying to get high caliber players with the right attitude part of me questions how many of these guys there are in the NFL and indeed, those that are out there are attracted to a team and coach such that the Patriots offer.

So a sincere best of luck to the Bills if this is indeed their plan - but its a lot tougher than the Patriots made it look.

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c_nice_37

Exactly. The Bills are the TB Devil Rays of the AFC East.

Sorry for the baseball analogy, but they are becoming pathetic.

RayClay

The Bills made some dumb moves under Donahoe, but nothing compared to the devastating incompetence of Bobby Grier.

The Patriots had no young core of players (only Seymour) and won the first couple with a lot of retread veterans. We're still building the young core of the next generation.

I think Buffalo has some good young talent, but they're a couple years away. Why spend a fortune on players that won't get you to the playoffs, or don't want to play there? (MacGahee).

If they're filling in with affordable vets while letting the kids mature, I think they're smart. They'll spend the money when it leads to playoff success, because that's all that matters.

Levy's pretty old, but i think he's proven he knows how to compete consistently.

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RayClay

Hard to respond to an article whose premise is totally wrong.

What big salaried players did the Pats heartlessly cut to win three super bowls?

Bledsoe? He got injured then beat out for the job. Not Ty Law. they were quite happy to pay that huge contract for a while.

Milloy? It was a good move.

Like every other team doesn't cut players. why not check our retention of players next to the Redskins. Now who treats players as expendable?

Don't get me wrong, there are teams that hang on to players who can't play and acquire "name" free agents who can't play anymore.

The only thing we do differently is judging when a player can still play and when his dollars outweigh his abilities.

The actual Buffalo situation is that the young core, is not going to mature until the present stars retire. Yes, you can acquire leadership for cheap if you're smart.

The Patriots never had a young core and aging vets, they always had a blend. They did have vets they would have liked to keep whose value got bid up.

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Oswlek

Bingo.

The Patriots have never been about not paying guys big money. They have been about not paying big money to guys that weren't worth big money.

It seems that both the media and other teams have misinterpreted this.

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"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

NE39

They may be trying, but they are doing a crappy job of it.

I also doubt they are thinking too long-term. Ralph Wilson is no spring chicken and isn't going to wait around forever for results. Marv Levy is the oldest GM in the NFL (older than Al Davis).

The Pats have always been a value organization when it comes to players. They value a player at a certain amount, and let the player go if they don't meet that value. They bring in veterans who can still play roles because they are good values for the money. They figure they can coach those players up.

It is true the Bills are letting some players go in FA, but they overpay for FA (although they may have to to get them to Buffalo considering they haven't won in a while). Last year they overpaid players like Josh Reed, Peerless Price, Robert Royal and Melvin Fowler. This year they overpaid for guys like Derrick Dockery, Chris Kelsay and Langston Walker. Those players were paid over what their previous production warranted, something the Pats would never do.

The Bills are a very young team with a lot of draft picks from the last couple years playing. They have some talented young players, but they lack depth in a lot of areas (especially on defense). They are hoping their young players develop quickly with playing time and are willing to play them. Their defense doesn't look real good. Their offense should be better if J.P. Losman continues to improve and establishes himself (no sure thing).

They are nothing like the Patriots.

Oswlek

I think your point is correct, but I don't lke the phrasing. Welker, for instance, had not earned as much as NE gave him. But it looks like a near sure thing that he will. Future production is the key factor, not past, which is a key ingrediant that seperates NE's FO - and other good FOs - from the poor.

You are correct, though. Buffalo jettisoned some higher priced guys, and then they just gave that lot of money to guys that don't appear to be woth it.

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"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."