I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the Bills might be close to the worst QB situation in the NFL (http://buffalosportsbeat.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-bills-might-not-have-worst-qb.html). It appears that nothing has nor will change. I even wrote my opinion (http://buffalosportsbeat.blogspot.com/2015/07/ej-struggled-because-of-marrone-sure.html) about this article about how Doug Marrone ruined E.J. Manuel (http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/how-a-rookie-head-coach-derailed-a-rookie-quarterback-then-vanished-with-4-million-071515). I believe it's about 20-25% Marrone's fault, it's still mostly E.J.'s fault as he is inaccurate and you can't teach accuracy.
There is a three-way competition for the Bills' starting QB job. The longer the job is a competition the worst it is for the Bills. The Bills need one of the three to separate from the other two as soon as possible. Accuracy is a problem with each of these three QBs. With accuracy being a problem, I want the QB with the best possible running capabilities and that guy is Tyrod Taylor. Taylor has the best wheels of either of the three and has the least body of work as he just has 35 regular season passes so there is an uncertainty as to whether he is good or bad. Taylor also seems to be the QB that Rex Ryan loves, well loves that is currently on the roster because I'm sure the QB he loves is Aaron Rodgers or Andrew Luck.
Manuel still intrigues me with just 14 regular season along with being a former 1st round pick and the possibility of Greg Roman maybe just maybe turing his game around. Look at what he did with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco. I want nothing to do with Matt Cassel because he has too much of a body of work with little success outside of the 2008 and 2010 seasons. He's just another average, below average journeyman. I want Taylor or Manuel for their athleticism to make up for their deficiencies throwing the football. I mean if Cassel is the guy, fine I'll deal with it. I just won't be enthusiastic. Sadly, if this team misses the playoffs it's mainly because of the QB.
Now this does not mean much to the QB situation for this year but there is a development going on right now that can maybe help this team next year. It seems that Philip Rivers is showing little to no urgency to sign a contract extension with the San Diego Chargers (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/20/report-philip-rivers-showing-little-urgency-in-contract-talks/). Rivers does not want to sign a longterm deal to finish his career with the Chargers because of their uncertainty of remaining in San Diego and possibly moving to Los Angeles. Rivers does not want to move his family to Los Angeles and may just play out this season and become a free agent next year.
I am very interested in seeing the Rivers saga for obvious reasons. Now Rivers is 34 years old and next year, he'd hit the open market (assuming he doesn't re-up) at 35 years old. He might not be what he was a few years ago, but he still shows the ability that makes him one of the top-10 QBs currently in the game and an MVP candidate. After a couple of down seasons in 2011 and 2012, Rivers bounced back big time in 2013 and had a very good year last year, especially the first six games where he looked like the league MVP.
He did however struggle the final 10 games, going 4-6 after starting the season 5-1 and completing 69% of his passes, 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions, a 117.6 rating, and averaged 8.8 yards per attempt. While he had some good games in the second half of the season against Oakland, St. Louis, Baltimore, and the second half against San Francisco, he looked bad against Denver and Kansas City twice, New England, and the worst being shut out against Miami. His final numbers were still respectable throwing for 4,286 yards, 31 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, 7.5 yards per attempt, and a 93.8 rating. Those aren't MVP numbers but on this team and with our problems at QB for years, those numbers would get Rivers a statue out front of Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Rivers is still good and would definitely be the best QB since Jim Kelly. Rivers is 88-56 as a starter, 32 games over .500 which means he needs to go 0-32 in order to be .500, and has thrown 252 touchdowns to only 122 interceptions. Those are very good career numbers. Rivers has only one losing season, that was 7-9 in 2012. He's been 8-8 or better each year while the Bills have been 8-8 or better just four times since 2000.
Thinking ahead to next year, I can't think of any team better suited than the Bills to make a run at Rivers in free agency, assuming he's there. Many teams have their QB in place while others will draft their guy instead of going after a 35-year-old. Plus Rivers will want his choice of the best team that could win the Super Bowl. Who would be better than the Bills with the talent on this team? This team is a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender with the talent on this roster. A QB like Rivers can take this team not only to the playoffs, but maybe to a playoff win or two or maybe even the Super Bowl. This would be like 2012 when Peyton Manning hit the open market and chose the Broncos with their talent over anyone else.
Besides watching the Bills and their QB dilemma I mean battle, we must keep our eye on the Rivers and Chargers contract saga. We can hope that he will not sign a new deal and hit the open market next year. If that's the case, I expect Terry Pegula to make a big run at him and he would choose us over any team needing a QB at that point with the talent on this team.
Showing posts with label San Diego Chargers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Diego Chargers. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
RIP Van Miller; A Celebration of Miller's Life and Famous Calls with the Bills
Sadly this past weekend, Buffalo Bills fans and Western New York lost a legend as Van Miller passed away. Miller died after complications from a stroke at his home in Tonawanda, NY and battled health problems in his final years. He was 87 years old. Miller is gone but will never be forgotten.
Miller was born in 1927 and raised in Dunkirk, NY and did play-by-play for various local sports in the Western New York area. He knew when he was 10 years old he wanted to be a play-by-play announcer. He worked at several different radio stations across Western New York until he got his first big break in 1955. He was hired at WBEN and WIVB Channel 4. Although his job at Channel 4 was supposed to be temporary, Van remained there until retiring in 1998 as the sports director.
When it was announced in 1959 that the Buffalo Bills will be playing for the then American Football League (AFL) in 1960, one of the first things general manager Richard Gallagher did was hire Van Miller to do play-by-play for the new Buffalo team after WBEN got the rights to broadcast Bills games on radio. Miller did play-by-play for some of the best teams in Bills history in their early days in the AFL as he called the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship Games where the Bills whipped the San Diego Chargers both times, allowing one single touchdown in both games. The Bills went to a third straight AFL Championship Game in 1966, with the winner playing in the inaugural Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. But the Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, who got whipped by the Packers in Super Bowl I.
Miller was with the Bills through 1971 when the Bills' radio rights was switched over WBEN's rival WKBW and Miller did not broadcast Bills games for seven years. During Van's seven-year absence as Bills play-by-play, he called games for the then-Buffalo NBA team the Buffalo Braves. Van also called games for Niagara University Basketball and was a part of some of the best moments in NU Purple Eagles history, especially the Calvin Murphy era. Van called Murphy's 68-point game against Syracuse and their run to the NCAA Tournament in 1970, where they upset Pennsylvania University in the first round. He also called games for the Buffalo Stallions Soccer team as well as the University at Buffalo Football team.
He returned as the Bills play-by-play man when WBEN got the games back in 1978 and remained their play-by-play man through the 2003 season. Unfortunately he missed some of O.J. Simpson's best seasons (including his 2000-yard season in 1973), but he was a part of the Bills greatest success from 1988-1993, when they played in four straight Super Bowls from 1990-93 and won five AFC East Division Championships in those six years. Maybe Van's best calls were in the Greatest Comeback Game over the Houston Oilers where they were down 35-3 and won 41-38 in January 1993.
Miller called some of the best players in this era: Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett, Steve Tasker, and many more. Even though the rest of the 1990s did not produce any more Super Bowl appearances, they were still a very good team. In the entire decade of the 1990s, the Bills won 103 games (averaging over 10 wins a season) and made the playoffs eight times in those 10 years with four division titles and four Super Bowl appearances. No word was better used by Miller than "Fandemonium." Talley says he's the one who came up with that while Miller disputes that. Regardless, Miller made the term famous.
Miller has been inducted into six hall of fames, but none greater than the one he made shortly after his retirement in 2004. That year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame honored Van with the Pete Rozelle Award as he became the first local broadcaster to win that prestigious award. What was supposed to be a two-minute speech became a seven-minute speech/stand up comedy routine. I'm sure few if any cared that he went beyond his allotted time.
Miller was inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame last October.
Here's a look back at some of Van's finest moments:
1964 AFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP0a781vZuE
1990 AFC Championship 51-3 beatdown over the Los Angeles Raiders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNlozIBMnro
1988 AFC East Championship clinching win over the Jets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot4raqK0oJI
Ending the 20-game losing streak against the Dolphins 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPFP8bt4Tyo
Jim Kelly's Game-winning TD run against Miami 1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok0fczZw9gE
Of course the greatest Comeback in NFL history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSgfGKhYKu8
RIP Van Miller, you will be greatly missed.
Miller was born in 1927 and raised in Dunkirk, NY and did play-by-play for various local sports in the Western New York area. He knew when he was 10 years old he wanted to be a play-by-play announcer. He worked at several different radio stations across Western New York until he got his first big break in 1955. He was hired at WBEN and WIVB Channel 4. Although his job at Channel 4 was supposed to be temporary, Van remained there until retiring in 1998 as the sports director.
When it was announced in 1959 that the Buffalo Bills will be playing for the then American Football League (AFL) in 1960, one of the first things general manager Richard Gallagher did was hire Van Miller to do play-by-play for the new Buffalo team after WBEN got the rights to broadcast Bills games on radio. Miller did play-by-play for some of the best teams in Bills history in their early days in the AFL as he called the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship Games where the Bills whipped the San Diego Chargers both times, allowing one single touchdown in both games. The Bills went to a third straight AFL Championship Game in 1966, with the winner playing in the inaugural Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. But the Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, who got whipped by the Packers in Super Bowl I.
Miller was with the Bills through 1971 when the Bills' radio rights was switched over WBEN's rival WKBW and Miller did not broadcast Bills games for seven years. During Van's seven-year absence as Bills play-by-play, he called games for the then-Buffalo NBA team the Buffalo Braves. Van also called games for Niagara University Basketball and was a part of some of the best moments in NU Purple Eagles history, especially the Calvin Murphy era. Van called Murphy's 68-point game against Syracuse and their run to the NCAA Tournament in 1970, where they upset Pennsylvania University in the first round. He also called games for the Buffalo Stallions Soccer team as well as the University at Buffalo Football team.
He returned as the Bills play-by-play man when WBEN got the games back in 1978 and remained their play-by-play man through the 2003 season. Unfortunately he missed some of O.J. Simpson's best seasons (including his 2000-yard season in 1973), but he was a part of the Bills greatest success from 1988-1993, when they played in four straight Super Bowls from 1990-93 and won five AFC East Division Championships in those six years. Maybe Van's best calls were in the Greatest Comeback Game over the Houston Oilers where they were down 35-3 and won 41-38 in January 1993.
Miller called some of the best players in this era: Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett, Steve Tasker, and many more. Even though the rest of the 1990s did not produce any more Super Bowl appearances, they were still a very good team. In the entire decade of the 1990s, the Bills won 103 games (averaging over 10 wins a season) and made the playoffs eight times in those 10 years with four division titles and four Super Bowl appearances. No word was better used by Miller than "Fandemonium." Talley says he's the one who came up with that while Miller disputes that. Regardless, Miller made the term famous.
Miller has been inducted into six hall of fames, but none greater than the one he made shortly after his retirement in 2004. That year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame honored Van with the Pete Rozelle Award as he became the first local broadcaster to win that prestigious award. What was supposed to be a two-minute speech became a seven-minute speech/stand up comedy routine. I'm sure few if any cared that he went beyond his allotted time.
Miller was inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame last October.
Here's a look back at some of Van's finest moments:
1964 AFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP0a781vZuE
1990 AFC Championship 51-3 beatdown over the Los Angeles Raiders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNlozIBMnro
1988 AFC East Championship clinching win over the Jets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot4raqK0oJI
Ending the 20-game losing streak against the Dolphins 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPFP8bt4Tyo
Jim Kelly's Game-winning TD run against Miami 1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok0fczZw9gE
Of course the greatest Comeback in NFL history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSgfGKhYKu8
RIP Van Miller, you will be greatly missed.
Friday, March 30, 2012
2012 NFL Free Agency and Trade Round Up
What an amazing free agency and trade period this year for the NFL. There were so many big names that have moved this off season so far, more than I could ever remember. This totally changed the landscape of how and who teams are going to do in the draft. The biggest name was without a doubt future Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning.
Manning was let go by the Colts after 14 seasons when he missed the entire season following setbacks from neck surgery and the Colts finished 2-14. The Colts will probably draft Andrew Luck 1st overall in this year's draft and will rebuild. Once Manning was on the market, he was probably the biggest free agent in NFL history. There were questions and concerns as he was 36 and coming off several neck procedures over the last few years. Either teams knew he was medically cleared or just wanted to take a chance at one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history, but teams were coming out of the wood works to make a play at him. The closest teams were the Jets, Miami, Arizona, Washington, Seattle, Tennessee, San Francisco, and Denver. Manning ultimately chose to sign a 5-year deal with the Denver Broncos over a Super Bowl bound San Francisco and Tennessee, where Manning played college ball and was reportedly offered a "lifetime contract" by Titans' owner Bud Adams.
San Francisco appeared to have been the best choice because they were an overtime loss away from going to the Super Bowl with perhaps the best defense in the league, a weak division, and a red-hot first year head coach in Jim Harbaugh. It would appear however that Manning and Harbaugh would clash as Harbaugh seems to be a control freak and Manning I'm sure wants to run the offense like he has in Indy. Even though the NFC West is weak, the NFC as a whole is very strong as there quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Jay Cutler, and even Peyton's younger brother Eli. I'm sure Peyton did not want to play his brother unless its every four years in the AFC and/or Super Bowl. So that left Denver, who won the weak AFC West with an 8-8 record and a QB who seemingly can't throw. Denver has a very good coach in John Fox, a great offensive line, a very good young defense, and a very underrated set of wide receivers along with a good running game. I think Fox would let Manning run the offense while he focuses on the defense. With Manning, the Broncos should without a doubt win the division as there is a talented but underachieving San Diego Chargers team with Norv Turner back, a troubled Oakland team, and a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs team. The road to the Super Bowl is a lot easier in the AFC as he would only have to go through the Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens who don't have an elite QB, and an aging Pittsburgh Steelers team. The question is, will there ever be a free agent as big as Peyton Manning ever again? Can you possibly imagine Tom Brady or younger guys like Aaron Rodgers or even Eli Manning ever available in free agency? Unless the Saints don't resolve their contract issues with Drew Brees, he would not be available.
Manning's signing made Tim Tebow expendable as he was traded to the New York Jets shortly after Manning signed. The Broncos traded their QB who led them to the postseason last year and even beat the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. But Tebow had one of the worst QB Ratings in the league and completed less than 50% of his passes. Tebow and his hype goes to the Big Apple and has to contend with vicious Jet fans, a big mouth head coach in Rex Ryan, and starting QB Mark Sanchez. Tebow chose the Jets over Jacksonville, which is closer to home and would be a huge draw for a struggling franchise, because he knows he can start down the road. Despite giving Sanchez a $20 million signing bonus, Sanchez is on the lookout and has never got the love by the fans and even the team despite taking them to the AFC Championship Game in his first two years. Wait till he throws an interception and the fans will be calling for Tebow. What a mess and I love it.
This next signing hits very close to home and is the one I'm most excited about. Perhaps the best free agent not named Peyton Manning, Houston Texans' defensive end Mario Williams, shocked the league by signing with the Buffalo Bills for nearly $100 million and $50 million guaranteed, which is the most by a defensive player in league history. Williams was the #1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and had a very stellar six-year career so far in the NFL with 53 career sacks. Williams' signing was not only big because it fills a tremendous void for the Bills as they needed a pass rushing defensive end, but it also turns one of the worst franchises in the league's perception around the league around as it now appears that players want to play for Buffalo. Not only did he sign with Buffalo, he chose them first, spent several days there and never left to even talk to another team as he and the Bills wanted each other. This is such a huge impactful signing for the Bills faithful and still has me buzzing. This is the biggest signing for the Bills since they signed Jim Kelly from the USFL, even though he had his draft rights. But Kelly coming to town was a big deal and it led the Bills to their greatest time in franchise history. The biggest free agent name that went to a small city that I can think of was when Reggie White signed with Green Bay back in 1993 when no one wanted to go there and look, they are one of the league's best teams over the last two decades. I'm hoping Williams' impact on the Bills is just the same. Also, the Bills added Mark Anderson to the line and his 10 sacks from New England a year ago to make the Bills from one of the worst defensive lines in the league to one of the best.
There were a good amount of wide receivers available as Vincent Jackson left San Diego to go to Tampa Bay and Jackson's spot in San Diego was taken by Robert Meacham, who left New Orleans. Perhaps the biggest wide receiver signing was the 49ers signing Randy Moss, who was out of the league last year. They also added Mario Manningham. Brandon Lloyd was very vocal about playing for the Patriots and Tom Brady and made good on his promise by signing with them. Lloyd reunites with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was Lloyd's head coach in Denver when Lloyd led the league in receiving yards two years ago and was his offensive coordinator last year in St. Louis. Lloyd should be close to or at his numbers two years ago playing with Brady, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez. The Saints re-signed Marques Coltson while the Colts re-signed Reggie Wayne. Pierre Garcon left the Colts to go to Washington. The Steelers signed speedy Mike Wallace to a first round tender on the restricted free agent, which means any team can sign him, but give up a first round pick to the Steelers for him. It appears he will remain in Pittsburgh as no one has given up a first round pick yet. Laurent Robinson and his 11 touchdown catches from a year ago move from Dallas to Jacksonville. Dwayne Bowe was another big time receiver to hit the market until he was franchised by Kansas City while the Bills locked up Stevie Johnson before he was set to hit the open market and were forced to use the franchise tag. Even though he was not going to hit the open market this season, the Lions made sure Calvin Johnson did not in the future by giving him a record $60 million guaranteed signing bonus.
Other notable free agent signings: corner back Brandon Carr from Kansas City to Dallas, guard Carl Nicks from New Orleans to Tampa Bay, corner back Cortland Finnegan from Tennessee to St. Louis to be reunited with his former head coach Jeff Fisher, offensive tackle Eric Winston from Houston to Kansas City, and the Saints added a couple of defensive players in lieu of possible suspensions in the wake of "bounty gate" in linebacker Curtis Lofton and defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley.
There were two more quarterback moves that did not involve Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. Alex Smith, despite looking around after the 49erswere trying to lure Manning, went back to San Francisco to sign a 3-year deal. Smith guided the 49ers to a 13-3 record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. Smith had a bounce back year after being considered a bust after being taken #1 overall by the 49ers in 2005. This past season Smith improved his game with the help of new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Despite going all the way to the NFC Championship Game, Harbaugh and the 49ers felt they needed to upgrade and no offense to Smith, they did so they went after Manning. After Manning turned them down, they went back to Smith, who was in Miami looking at a possible deal there. Smith's common sense got the better of him, despite getting hurt by the 49ers he chose to go back because it was the best option for him. They gave him more money than they would have so his trip to Miami got him more. They did not want to lose the guy who went 13-3 if they lost out on Manning. Settling in this case isn't so bad. The other major QB signing was Seattle signing Matt Flynn, who was the backup in Green Bay. Flynn, who was a 7th round pick out of LSU in 2008, started only two games in his NFL career, but both starts were very impressive. In 2010, he lost a close game to New England on the road and last year, he defeated a Detroit Lions team that still had something to play for in the last game of the season. In that game, Flynn threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-41 win. There's no doubt Flynn has some talent, but I question if he's the real deal or is the system he plays in with really good wide receivers? I'm still leaning towards the latter until I get to witness more starts. Seattle needs a QB as Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst are not the answers. I just wonder if it's Flynn? They might have not been able to draft one and could not sign Manning. So they had to go to Plan B. Flynn reminds me of guys such as Kevin Kolb, Derek Anderson, and Rob Johnson who started a few games and impressed people because of a system and land full-time roles and fail. These guys are backups for a reason and I will never go after a system quarterback. Good luck Seattle, I hope it works.
This was one of the most amazing free agency periods I can ever remember. If this what the off season will be like, and we are far from done my friends, then I can't wait to see what the season and the Super Bowl holds for us!!
Manning was let go by the Colts after 14 seasons when he missed the entire season following setbacks from neck surgery and the Colts finished 2-14. The Colts will probably draft Andrew Luck 1st overall in this year's draft and will rebuild. Once Manning was on the market, he was probably the biggest free agent in NFL history. There were questions and concerns as he was 36 and coming off several neck procedures over the last few years. Either teams knew he was medically cleared or just wanted to take a chance at one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history, but teams were coming out of the wood works to make a play at him. The closest teams were the Jets, Miami, Arizona, Washington, Seattle, Tennessee, San Francisco, and Denver. Manning ultimately chose to sign a 5-year deal with the Denver Broncos over a Super Bowl bound San Francisco and Tennessee, where Manning played college ball and was reportedly offered a "lifetime contract" by Titans' owner Bud Adams.
San Francisco appeared to have been the best choice because they were an overtime loss away from going to the Super Bowl with perhaps the best defense in the league, a weak division, and a red-hot first year head coach in Jim Harbaugh. It would appear however that Manning and Harbaugh would clash as Harbaugh seems to be a control freak and Manning I'm sure wants to run the offense like he has in Indy. Even though the NFC West is weak, the NFC as a whole is very strong as there quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Jay Cutler, and even Peyton's younger brother Eli. I'm sure Peyton did not want to play his brother unless its every four years in the AFC and/or Super Bowl. So that left Denver, who won the weak AFC West with an 8-8 record and a QB who seemingly can't throw. Denver has a very good coach in John Fox, a great offensive line, a very good young defense, and a very underrated set of wide receivers along with a good running game. I think Fox would let Manning run the offense while he focuses on the defense. With Manning, the Broncos should without a doubt win the division as there is a talented but underachieving San Diego Chargers team with Norv Turner back, a troubled Oakland team, and a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs team. The road to the Super Bowl is a lot easier in the AFC as he would only have to go through the Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens who don't have an elite QB, and an aging Pittsburgh Steelers team. The question is, will there ever be a free agent as big as Peyton Manning ever again? Can you possibly imagine Tom Brady or younger guys like Aaron Rodgers or even Eli Manning ever available in free agency? Unless the Saints don't resolve their contract issues with Drew Brees, he would not be available.
Manning's signing made Tim Tebow expendable as he was traded to the New York Jets shortly after Manning signed. The Broncos traded their QB who led them to the postseason last year and even beat the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. But Tebow had one of the worst QB Ratings in the league and completed less than 50% of his passes. Tebow and his hype goes to the Big Apple and has to contend with vicious Jet fans, a big mouth head coach in Rex Ryan, and starting QB Mark Sanchez. Tebow chose the Jets over Jacksonville, which is closer to home and would be a huge draw for a struggling franchise, because he knows he can start down the road. Despite giving Sanchez a $20 million signing bonus, Sanchez is on the lookout and has never got the love by the fans and even the team despite taking them to the AFC Championship Game in his first two years. Wait till he throws an interception and the fans will be calling for Tebow. What a mess and I love it.
This next signing hits very close to home and is the one I'm most excited about. Perhaps the best free agent not named Peyton Manning, Houston Texans' defensive end Mario Williams, shocked the league by signing with the Buffalo Bills for nearly $100 million and $50 million guaranteed, which is the most by a defensive player in league history. Williams was the #1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and had a very stellar six-year career so far in the NFL with 53 career sacks. Williams' signing was not only big because it fills a tremendous void for the Bills as they needed a pass rushing defensive end, but it also turns one of the worst franchises in the league's perception around the league around as it now appears that players want to play for Buffalo. Not only did he sign with Buffalo, he chose them first, spent several days there and never left to even talk to another team as he and the Bills wanted each other. This is such a huge impactful signing for the Bills faithful and still has me buzzing. This is the biggest signing for the Bills since they signed Jim Kelly from the USFL, even though he had his draft rights. But Kelly coming to town was a big deal and it led the Bills to their greatest time in franchise history. The biggest free agent name that went to a small city that I can think of was when Reggie White signed with Green Bay back in 1993 when no one wanted to go there and look, they are one of the league's best teams over the last two decades. I'm hoping Williams' impact on the Bills is just the same. Also, the Bills added Mark Anderson to the line and his 10 sacks from New England a year ago to make the Bills from one of the worst defensive lines in the league to one of the best.
There were a good amount of wide receivers available as Vincent Jackson left San Diego to go to Tampa Bay and Jackson's spot in San Diego was taken by Robert Meacham, who left New Orleans. Perhaps the biggest wide receiver signing was the 49ers signing Randy Moss, who was out of the league last year. They also added Mario Manningham. Brandon Lloyd was very vocal about playing for the Patriots and Tom Brady and made good on his promise by signing with them. Lloyd reunites with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was Lloyd's head coach in Denver when Lloyd led the league in receiving yards two years ago and was his offensive coordinator last year in St. Louis. Lloyd should be close to or at his numbers two years ago playing with Brady, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez. The Saints re-signed Marques Coltson while the Colts re-signed Reggie Wayne. Pierre Garcon left the Colts to go to Washington. The Steelers signed speedy Mike Wallace to a first round tender on the restricted free agent, which means any team can sign him, but give up a first round pick to the Steelers for him. It appears he will remain in Pittsburgh as no one has given up a first round pick yet. Laurent Robinson and his 11 touchdown catches from a year ago move from Dallas to Jacksonville. Dwayne Bowe was another big time receiver to hit the market until he was franchised by Kansas City while the Bills locked up Stevie Johnson before he was set to hit the open market and were forced to use the franchise tag. Even though he was not going to hit the open market this season, the Lions made sure Calvin Johnson did not in the future by giving him a record $60 million guaranteed signing bonus.
Other notable free agent signings: corner back Brandon Carr from Kansas City to Dallas, guard Carl Nicks from New Orleans to Tampa Bay, corner back Cortland Finnegan from Tennessee to St. Louis to be reunited with his former head coach Jeff Fisher, offensive tackle Eric Winston from Houston to Kansas City, and the Saints added a couple of defensive players in lieu of possible suspensions in the wake of "bounty gate" in linebacker Curtis Lofton and defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley.
There were two more quarterback moves that did not involve Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. Alex Smith, despite looking around after the 49erswere trying to lure Manning, went back to San Francisco to sign a 3-year deal. Smith guided the 49ers to a 13-3 record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. Smith had a bounce back year after being considered a bust after being taken #1 overall by the 49ers in 2005. This past season Smith improved his game with the help of new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Despite going all the way to the NFC Championship Game, Harbaugh and the 49ers felt they needed to upgrade and no offense to Smith, they did so they went after Manning. After Manning turned them down, they went back to Smith, who was in Miami looking at a possible deal there. Smith's common sense got the better of him, despite getting hurt by the 49ers he chose to go back because it was the best option for him. They gave him more money than they would have so his trip to Miami got him more. They did not want to lose the guy who went 13-3 if they lost out on Manning. Settling in this case isn't so bad. The other major QB signing was Seattle signing Matt Flynn, who was the backup in Green Bay. Flynn, who was a 7th round pick out of LSU in 2008, started only two games in his NFL career, but both starts were very impressive. In 2010, he lost a close game to New England on the road and last year, he defeated a Detroit Lions team that still had something to play for in the last game of the season. In that game, Flynn threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-41 win. There's no doubt Flynn has some talent, but I question if he's the real deal or is the system he plays in with really good wide receivers? I'm still leaning towards the latter until I get to witness more starts. Seattle needs a QB as Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst are not the answers. I just wonder if it's Flynn? They might have not been able to draft one and could not sign Manning. So they had to go to Plan B. Flynn reminds me of guys such as Kevin Kolb, Derek Anderson, and Rob Johnson who started a few games and impressed people because of a system and land full-time roles and fail. These guys are backups for a reason and I will never go after a system quarterback. Good luck Seattle, I hope it works.
This was one of the most amazing free agency periods I can ever remember. If this what the off season will be like, and we are far from done my friends, then I can't wait to see what the season and the Super Bowl holds for us!!
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