Monday, April 5, 2010
So you didn't get McNabb... now what?
5:55 AM | 
Posted by
Nick Mendola
Quick thoughts always available here: http://twitter.com/NicholasMendola">twitter.com/NicholasMendola
(WGR 550) -- After years and years of frustration, it's not in Bills fans' best interest to award loser points for effort in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes. You either get the guy you want, or you don't. But the Bills reportedly dogged pursuit of the veteran quarterback does say something important.
Buffalo's Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey know they need better.
The Bills had an offer on Philadelphia's table that was reportedly as good as anyone else's best, including Oakland and Washington, where McNabb ended up. Buffalo had also issued a contract extension to the former Syracuse star, but it ultimately wasn't enough. Odds are McNabb got a list of teams willing to give the Eagles what they wanted, and the chance to immediately get back at the club that's quitting him is very alluring.
The Eagles are playing a bit of Moneyball. They used a second-round pick on Kevin Kolb a few years back, and would rather deal from a position of power with McNabb than lay back and watch his value drip away. In other words, at this stage in his career, the "loses value the minute you drive it off the lot" maxim applies.
In my opinion, the arguments for and against McNabb to Buffalo were both right. It's just hard to view it that way if you're one of the extremes -- for or against it.
If you wanted McNabb here, you believe that quarterback is the most important position on the field and that there's a better chance of winning with one who's an option miles better than the trio on your roster. You believe that McNabb could make every skill player on the Bills offense more dangerous and that he has enough gusto and moxie to improvise behind a first or second round left tackle while the rest of the draft focuses on the defense.
If you didn't want McNabb, you believe the likely truth -- that the Bills are far away from being even a good football team. Even in the mercurial world of NFL parity, the Bills are switching to a new defense and have a lot of question marks on their offensive line. You know Chan Gailey has found success with average at-best quarterbacks like Tyler Thigpen, and hope that Brian Brohm, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Trent Edwards can stopgap their way to an "entertaining in a good way" season.
Regardless, it's good that the Bills acknowledged the weakness under center. There's been no boring "we like what we have" rhetoric from Gailey and Nix, just a little bit of hope and belief in what their management can bring to the team. To be honest, I'm starting to hate the idea of quarterback at No. 9 unless Sam Bradford miraculously drops there. Depending on the price tag -- and it wouldn't be a first if it were a trade -- I'd be intrigued by the idea of Jason Campbell, who has improved every season in Washington. You could even talk me into trading an air pump and four footballs for former Gailey signal caller Tyler Thigpen.
It's not that I don't believe Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Dan LeFevour or Jimmy Clausen can have remarkable success. I just think you need that speed freak of an outside linebacker or that roadblock of a left tackle. With Jake Locker among the many brilliant quarterbacks potentially available in 2011, the Bills have the luxury of picking the best player at any position of need. No. 9 doesn't seem like quarterback territory, as sexy as that would be.
Email: nick@wgr550.com
(WGR 550) -- After years and years of frustration, it's not in Bills fans' best interest to award loser points for effort in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes. You either get the guy you want, or you don't. But the Bills reportedly dogged pursuit of the veteran quarterback does say something important.
Buffalo's Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey know they need better.
The Bills had an offer on Philadelphia's table that was reportedly as good as anyone else's best, including Oakland and Washington, where McNabb ended up. Buffalo had also issued a contract extension to the former Syracuse star, but it ultimately wasn't enough. Odds are McNabb got a list of teams willing to give the Eagles what they wanted, and the chance to immediately get back at the club that's quitting him is very alluring.
The Eagles are playing a bit of Moneyball. They used a second-round pick on Kevin Kolb a few years back, and would rather deal from a position of power with McNabb than lay back and watch his value drip away. In other words, at this stage in his career, the "loses value the minute you drive it off the lot" maxim applies.
In my opinion, the arguments for and against McNabb to Buffalo were both right. It's just hard to view it that way if you're one of the extremes -- for or against it.
If you wanted McNabb here, you believe that quarterback is the most important position on the field and that there's a better chance of winning with one who's an option miles better than the trio on your roster. You believe that McNabb could make every skill player on the Bills offense more dangerous and that he has enough gusto and moxie to improvise behind a first or second round left tackle while the rest of the draft focuses on the defense.
If you didn't want McNabb, you believe the likely truth -- that the Bills are far away from being even a good football team. Even in the mercurial world of NFL parity, the Bills are switching to a new defense and have a lot of question marks on their offensive line. You know Chan Gailey has found success with average at-best quarterbacks like Tyler Thigpen, and hope that Brian Brohm, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Trent Edwards can stopgap their way to an "entertaining in a good way" season.
Regardless, it's good that the Bills acknowledged the weakness under center. There's been no boring "we like what we have" rhetoric from Gailey and Nix, just a little bit of hope and belief in what their management can bring to the team. To be honest, I'm starting to hate the idea of quarterback at No. 9 unless Sam Bradford miraculously drops there. Depending on the price tag -- and it wouldn't be a first if it were a trade -- I'd be intrigued by the idea of Jason Campbell, who has improved every season in Washington. You could even talk me into trading an air pump and four footballs for former Gailey signal caller Tyler Thigpen.
It's not that I don't believe Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Dan LeFevour or Jimmy Clausen can have remarkable success. I just think you need that speed freak of an outside linebacker or that roadblock of a left tackle. With Jake Locker among the many brilliant quarterbacks potentially available in 2011, the Bills have the luxury of picking the best player at any position of need. No. 9 doesn't seem like quarterback territory, as sexy as that would be.
Email: nick@wgr550.com
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