Eagles trade for Takeo Spikes & Kelly Holcomb... (1 Viewer)

[MrPhoenix]

At least this is one less team ahead of the Rams that we have to worry about taking Okoye.

 

[massraider]

HOPEFULLY Patrick Willis at 1.12

This has got to be a stone cold lock if he's there, right?

 

[CanadianNFLJunkie]

HOPEFULLY Patrick Willis at 1.12

This has got to be a stone cold lock if he's there, right?

Well Marv did show us last year that he will take players who are ranked "nationally" lower on other teams' charts, taking Whitner a bit earlier that most had pegged and then they traded back into the first round to grab McCarty who many felt that he would have been available mid-2nd. Willis would fill a need but then so would the RB Lynch with their first pick. I'd think now the Bills will go RB then LB or LB then RB with their top 2 picks.

 

[Tommy Collins]

HOPEFULLY Patrick Willis at 1.12

This has got to be a stone cold lock if he's there, right?

Well I would hope so. But there has been talk about them moving up to take Adrian Peterson (doubtful in my eyes). There has also been talk of them taking Marshawn Lynch if he's there. Or maybe going with a CB which is also doubtful as they aren't as important in the Tampa 2. I think the most likely scenario is Willis or Lynch. They also need a big run stopping DT. I hope to god they aren't happy with the DTs they have including Walker. I'd rather see them go MLB, HB, DT, CB in that order.

 

[massraider]

HOPEFULLY Patrick Willis at 1.12

This has got to be a stone cold lock if he's there, right?

Well I would hope so. But there has been talk about them moving up to take Adrian Peterson (doubtful in my eyes). There has also been talk of them taking Marshawn Lynch if he's there. Or maybe going with a CB which is also doubtful as they aren't as important in the Tampa 2. I think the most likely scenario is Willis or Lynch. They also need a big run stopping DT. I hope to god they aren't happy with the DTs they have including Walker. I'd rather see them go MLB, HB, DT, CB in that order.

Hmm, what if Branch was there? Would they use 1st rounders on DT's in back-to-back years?

 

[tppt]

Breaking News: Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles was just arrested for stealing in Buffalo. Congratulations to Eagles fans on the move, It must hurt being a Bills fan this offseason.

really? linebackers dont recover from achilles tendon tears, see former bill sam cowart. The running, cutting, starting, stopping, it just doesnt mix with a bum wheel. and TKO is due to receive 4+mil this season. D.Walker will come into a cover 2 scheme. this is what he fits into as he wont be asked to take up space.

 

[switz]

Breaking News: Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles was just arrested for stealing in Buffalo. Congratulations to Eagles fans on the move, It must hurt being a Bills fan this offseason.

you didn't see spikes play last year, did you? if anyone got a steal it's buffalo

 

[switz]

On top of that, they get Holcomb, who may not be the best, but he is a veteran that has played before and has experience. Before anyone says Holcomb sucks, remember how Garcia was viewed before he came to Philly last year. Everyone thought he was washed up and look what happened.

HaHa... at least Garcia had been good at one time. Holcomb is a career backup...

 

[dotman]

Breaking News: Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles was just arrested for stealing in Buffalo. Congratulations to Eagles fans on the move, It must hurt being a Bills fan this offseason.

you didn't see spikes play last year, did you? if anyone got a steal it's buffalo

No, us Eagle fans saw Matt McCoy and Dhani Jones play, that's why we're excited.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

In defense of TKO - He won't be asked to do as much in Phili's scheme. IMO He is there to plug against the run. I think he should be ok taking Dhani's spot regardless.

But the wheels are definitely a concern in my mind.

 

[JaxBill]

Breaking News: Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles was just arrested for stealing in Buffalo. Congratulations to Eagles fans on the move, It must hurt being a Bills fan this offseason.

you didn't see spikes play last year, did you? if anyone got a steal it's buffalo

Interesting comments in the Philly papers-

Heckert believes Spikes still has a lot of productive football left in him, particularly as he puts more distance between himself and the Achilles' injury. According to scouts, he played his best football in the final four or five games last season. He notched 12 tackles in Buffalo's final game, a 19-7 loss to Baltimore."[An Achilles' injury] is a pretty big injury for a guy who runs," Heckert said. "It usually takes 2 years for a guy to come all the way back from it. By the end of last season, he was playing like he was before he got hurt."

 

[Chunky Soup]

On top of that, they get Holcomb, who may not be the best, but he is a veteran that has played before and has experience. Before anyone says Holcomb sucks, remember how Garcia was viewed before he came to Philly last year. Everyone thought he was washed up and look what happened.

HaHa... at least Garcia had been good at one time. Holcomb is a career backup...

who cares? Reid isn't depending on him to start.

 

[renesauz]

this was a good salary trade for the Bills.something like 9 million for 1.3 million this year alone?as a Bills fan I like the trade, however, like the Willis McGahee trade, this leaves another hole for the Bills to fill and they now have to serve up a near perfect draft with no misses and little room for reaches.

I don't think they have enough cap room to take his current salary

Really? I'm thinking the Eagles had a bunch of cap room before free agency, and I don't recall any major money moves.I DO think a renegotiation is possible, but I don't think the Eagles are tight against the cap.

A lot of Philly's money is tied up in roster bonuses. They can be converted to signing bonuses, and spread out for cap purposes.I hope Spikes can return to something close to form.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Great deal for both teams: Eagles got a LB and Buffalo got cap relief. Both teams got what they were looking for...

 

[Snotbubbles]

really? linebackers dont recover from achilles tendon tears, see former bill sam cowart. The running, cutting, starting, stopping, it just doesnt mix with a bum wheel. and TKO is due to receive 4+mil this season.

See former 49er Julian Peterson.

 

[dotman]

On top of that, they get Holcomb, who may not be the best, but he is a veteran that has played before and has experience. Before anyone says Holcomb sucks, remember how Garcia was viewed before he came to Philly last year. Everyone thought he was washed up and look what happened.

HaHa... at least Garcia had been good at one time. Holcomb is a career backup...

who cares? Reid isn't depending on him to start.

Exactly. I think you could consider him to be one of the better #3 QB's in the league.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I don't get why we always need to say that one team won a trade and one team didn't. They both seem to have gotten what they needed/wanted in this deal. The Bills get another DT to work into their rotation as well as cut a pretty good chunk of salary. The Eagles get a backup QB to compete with Feeley and potentially a playmaker LBer that they desperately needed.

I'll address this more from the Buffalo standpoint since that's the team I'm a fan of.

The Cover 2 requires LBers that attack the ball and can cover large amounts of ground. I'm not sure that TKO can do that anymore. I think that he was a major liability against the run last season. The Cover-2 uses their defensive line to rush the ball most of the time. It's the job of the linebackers to read run or pass and make the plays in the running game. The defensive line flushes the runners outside by getting upfield and the LBers have to be able to pursue them and keep them from turning the corner. Spikes really wasn't able to do that anymore. If he were 25 and 2 years removed from the Achilles injury it would be one thing, but he's over that 30 years old marker.

Walker is actually a pretty good fit in the Cover-2 since he's a good pass rusher and can get upfield quickly. If the Bills can actually manage to grab Patrick Willis, I think that they'll have a prototypical Cover-2. They'll have young, fast LBers that will attack the ball, a defensive line that can get pressure up the field, 2 safeties that can cover a lot of ground while still helping out against the run, and adequate CBs (I think that McGee is actually pretty good, we'll see about the #2 spot).

 

[Snotbubbles]

Anyone who doesn't think this is a good move for Philly really hasn't seen Dhani Jones play much. He was invisible last year. In fact, Spikes almost had more total tackles than Jones and he played 4 less games. A slowed down, hobbled, Spikes is better than a Dhani Jones. Plus Philly didn't give anything of value for the potential that Spikes can return to form.

The way I see it. If Spikes is only 80% of himself he's still an upgrade over Dhani Jones.

If he can get back to 100% he was an absolute steal.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

Anyone who doesn't think this is a good move for Philly really hasn't seen Dhani Jones play much. He was invisible last year. In fact, Spikes almost had more total tackles than Jones and he played 4 less games. A slowed down, hobbled, Spikes is better than a Dhani Jones. Plus Philly didn't give anything of value for the potential that Spikes can return to form. The way I see it. If Spikes is only 80% of himself he's still an upgrade over Dhani Jones.If he can get back to 100% he was an absolute steal.

Totally agree.

 

[GroveDiesel]

really? linebackers dont recover from achilles tendon tears, see former bill sam cowart. The running, cutting, starting, stopping, it just doesnt mix with a bum wheel. and TKO is due to receive 4+mil this season.

See former 49er Julian Peterson.

Peterson also tore his when he was 26. Spikes tore his when he was 28/29. Those 2.5 years could make a fairly large difference. I really do wish TKO the best. He's a class guy, a great team guy and has a real passion for the game. I hope that he has a great year for the Eagles and can finally have a taste of the playoffs.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Anyone who doesn't think this is a good move for Philly really hasn't seen Dhani Jones play much. He was invisible last year. In fact, Spikes almost had more total tackles than Jones and he played 4 less games. A slowed down, hobbled, Spikes is better than a Dhani Jones. Plus Philly didn't give anything of value for the potential that Spikes can return to form. The way I see it. If Spikes is only 80% of himself he's still an upgrade over Dhani Jones.If he can get back to 100% he was an absolute steal.

Get Dhani, his bowties, and his air guitar OUT of Philly!

 

[Obie Wan]

i would expect we will seeWLB GaitherMLB TrotterSLB Spikesand in some spots wouldnt be surprised to see gaither move into the middle and gocong also getting some time

This should be the starting LB corps in Week One barring injury...with the possibility of Spikes moving inside in nickel and dime situations so Trotter doesn't have to play passing downs.

Spikes wasn't playing on passing downs for teh Bills before he was hurt.Can't see how he plays on 3rd downs now that he can't move.good luck with that!

 

[Obie Wan]

HOPEFULLY Patrick Willis at 1.12

This has got to be a stone cold lock if he's there, right?

Bills will move up to #10 to make sure it happens.

 

[renesauz]

I don't get why we always need to say that one team won a trade and one team didn't. They both seem to have gotten what they needed/wanted in this deal. The Bills get another DT to work into their rotation as well as cut a pretty good chunk of salary. The Eagles get a backup QB to compete with Feeley and potentially a playmaker LBer that they desperately needed.I'll address this more from the Buffalo standpoint since that's the team I'm a fan of.The Cover 2 requires LBers that attack the ball and can cover large amounts of ground. I'm not sure that TKO can do that anymore. I think that he was a major liability against the run last season. The Cover-2 uses their defensive line to rush the ball most of the time. It's the job of the linebackers to read run or pass and make the plays in the running game. The defensive line flushes the runners outside by getting upfield and the LBers have to be able to pursue them and keep them from turning the corner. Spikes really wasn't able to do that anymore. If he were 25 and 2 years removed from the Achilles injury it would be one thing, but he's over that 30 years old marker.Walker is actually a pretty good fit in the Cover-2 since he's a good pass rusher and can get upfield quickly. If the Bills can actually manage to grab Patrick Willis, I think that they'll have a prototypical Cover-2. They'll have young, fast LBers that will attack the ball, a defensive line that can get pressure up the field, 2 safeties that can cover a lot of ground while still helping out against the run, and adequate CBs (I think that McGee is actually pretty good, we'll see about the #2 spot).

Good analysis...this should be a win-win trade, as most of the best ones are. Walker was likely the odd man out in Philly, and Spikes was likely out in Buffalo. BOTH players should fit better with their new teams then their old. Holcomb is expensive for a third QB...but it's hard to care much about a sub-2 mil/yr. contract.One interesting thing to me is that this deal flys in the face of normal operations for the Reid led Eagles. Spikes is a little on the expensive side for a LB in Reid's schemes. And unless he restructures, it may force the Birds to convert some roster bonuses to signing bonuses.One of the things that has kept the Eagles so competitive year in and out has been their belief that roster bonuses offer more long term stability in the cap, and allow them to cut players when they don't work (ala T.O.) without creating dead money in the cap.Obviously, the Eagles are departing a little (not drasticly) from their normal M.O. in a strong effort to bring home the ring now.I hope it works! :fingers crossed:

 

[JAA]

Darwin Walker gave us some good years, but he was just woefully out of place on that defensive line; the Birds needed him to be a run stopper, space eater and that's not his game. Clearly the Eagles interior run defense was THE main priority of the offseason and this helps solve the problem in two ways: One, Spike (IF HEALTHY) gives them the best outside linebacker the team has had under the Reid regime...Two, the Birds didn't have to give up a high draft pick which gives them a much better chance of drafting a big interior tackle in April.

We need to see contract details first. The deal was supposedly contingent on Spikes having a new deal.I like Gaither. I like having the depth better as well as someone for Gaither to learn under.Little risk here. THough I dont know about the Holcomb part though

 

[Keg]

i would expect we will seeWLB GaitherMLB TrotterSLB Spikesand in some spots wouldnt be surprised to see gaither move into the middle and gocong also getting some time

This should be the starting LB corps in Week One barring injury...with the possibility of Spikes moving inside in nickel and dime situations so Trotter doesn't have to play passing downs.

Spikes wasn't playing on passing downs for teh Bills before he was hurt.Can't see how he plays on 3rd downs now that he can't move.good luck with that!

with Gocong I think you could see him and spikes split time in the nickle but if that doesnt work out it wouldnt surprise me to see the birds use dawkins in that roll at times

 

[On The Rocks]

At least this is one less team ahead of the Rams that we have to worry about taking Okoye.

I think Okoye will be gone before pick #12 to either the Redskins or Dolphins which is one of the reasons the Bills wanted Walker in this deal.However I am no saying I think Walker is = to Okoye (based on Okoye's potential)

My guess is the Bills didn't think Okoye would be there at #12 and didn't think he was worth giving up a later draft pick to trade up for.

I don't think it is any guarantee that the Bills will get Patrick Willis either. He seems like a perfect pick for the 49ers at #11 unless they trade down a few slots and take Ginn.

And if Willis is there at #12 there is no guarantee the Bills would take him. I hope they do, but you never know. They still have a need at RB. They could get Peterson, or trade up to get him. They also still have a need at CB. They might look at David Harris or a guy like Quincy Black to fill the holes at LB. Or grab a vet, after the June 1st cuts.

I think it is funny that anyone thinks either team made a steal in this deal. It was a good trade for both teams.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Little risk here. THough I dont know about the Holcomb part though

Think of it as:1. Walker for Spikes. It's hard to see how the Eagles are taking a big risk here. If Spikes never returns to form, it's not like they gave up a critical player or high pick for him or anything. 2. Holcomb for a 7th round pick. Um yeah okay whatever.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I think it is funny that anyone thinks either team made a steal in this deal. It was a good trade for both teams.

If Spikes returns to his former Pro Bowl level of play, this would definitely be a steal for Philly. It seems to me that Philly traded away an okay starter-caliber player (who probably wouldn't have actually started for them) to get a high-variance player who may have a couple of great years left or who may be merely mediocre.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I don't get why we always need to say that one team won a trade and one team didn't. They both seem to have gotten what they needed/wanted in this deal. The Bills get another DT to work into their rotation as well as cut a pretty good chunk of salary. The Eagles get a backup QB to compete with Feeley and potentially a playmaker LBer that they desperately needed.I'll address this more from the Buffalo standpoint since that's the team I'm a fan of.The Cover 2 requires LBers that attack the ball and can cover large amounts of ground. I'm not sure that TKO can do that anymore. I think that he was a major liability against the run last season. The Cover-2 uses their defensive line to rush the ball most of the time. It's the job of the linebackers to read run or pass and make the plays in the running game. The defensive line flushes the runners outside by getting upfield and the LBers have to be able to pursue them and keep them from turning the corner. Spikes really wasn't able to do that anymore. If he were 25 and 2 years removed from the Achilles injury it would be one thing, but he's over that 30 years old marker.Walker is actually a pretty good fit in the Cover-2 since he's a good pass rusher and can get upfield quickly. If the Bills can actually manage to grab Patrick Willis, I think that they'll have a prototypical Cover-2. They'll have young, fast LBers that will attack the ball, a defensive line that can get pressure up the field, 2 safeties that can cover a lot of ground while still helping out against the run, and adequate CBs (I think that McGee is actually pretty good, we'll see about the #2 spot).

GD's last two posts are excellent.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I don't think it is any guarantee that the Bills will get Patrick Willis either. He seems like a perfect pick for the 49ers at #11 unless they trade down a few slots and take Ginn.

And if Willis is there at #12 there is no guarantee the Bills would take him. I hope they do, but you never know. They still have a need at RB. They could get Peterson, or trade up to get him. They also still have a need at CB. They might look at David Harris or a guy like Quincy Black to fill the holes at LB. Or grab a vet, after the June 1st cuts.

I can only imagine what will happen if the Bills are up at #12 and both Peterson and Willis are there. Either way there are going to be a lot of Bills fans and a lot of Bills fans Frankly, I hope that Peterson is already gone by that point and the Bills can take Peterson. Peterson would be hard to pass up but I think that LB is a more urgent need right now. The Bills could still take a RB in the 2nd round that could give them solid production.

I definitely think that it means that the Bills won't be trading up to try to get Peterson, which is what I thought all along.

What would really be bad is if the #12 pick comes up and both Peterson and Willis are already gone. At that point you're looking at either taking a lesser player at the position or taking someone like Leon Hall at CB instead. If both Peterson and Willis are already taken, I actually hope that the Bills try to move down a few spots.

 

[On The Rocks]

Frankly, I hope that Peterson is already gone by that point and the Bills can take Peterson.

a little excited are ya?

 

[GroveDiesel]

Frankly, I hope that Peterson is already gone by that point and the Bills can take Peterson.

:X a little excited are ya?

Posting here, working and talking on the phone at the same time doesn't work. Of course I meant take Willis.

 

[Chubbs]

Spikes was a great leader and guy in the community, but at 30 coming on the Achilles, not worth the chance with the money he was getting.

But the key thing to read from this TRADE is:

"With the 12th Pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select,........................................

PATRICK WILLIS, LINEBACKER OUT OF OLE MISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[On The Rocks]

from Mike Hallbrook at Pro Football Weekly:

Bills Trade Away Spikes

The news that the Bills have traded OLB Takeo Spikes to the Eagles in a package deal with backup QB Kelly Holcomb for DT Darwin Walker and a conditional 2008 draft choice (believed to be a seventh-rounder) is not a surprise, considering the team's coolness this offseason whenever asked about Spikes’ status.

I suspect the Bills just couldn’t shake the memory of how former Pro Bowl LB Sam Cowart was never the same for them after suffering the same kind of Achilles injury that Spikes suffered.

And I’m sure that they were closely monitoring Spikes’ performance last season, looking for clues that he had lost a step or some of the explosiveness and suddenness that made him one of the top outside linebackers in the league.

Talking with scouts recently as we work on PFW's annual preview magazine, there is a feeling that Spikes is no longer as fast as he was prior to the injury he suffered early in the 2005 season and that cost him the last 13 games of the season. That Spikes is 30 years old and has eight-plus seasons of wear and tear on his body makes it understandable why the Bills have been thinking about other options.

Add in the fact that he is scheduled to make $4.6 million this season and the Bills have announced their intention not to spend more than the NFL’s $112 million salary cap for 2007, and it’s clear that Spikes no longer was in the team's plans.

However, while I understand the move from a financial standpoint and realize that the chances of Spikes ever returning to his Pro Bowl level are remote, I can’t help but wonder if the Bills aren’t pushing things a bit too much.

Yes, they had an exceptional 2006 draft that produced four defensive starters, and could net two more (DT John McCargo, CB Ashton Youboty) before all is said and done. And while the draft is the best way to build a team, it’s unrealistic to believe that they’ll be able to grab a similar collection of starting-caliber players in the upcoming draft.

Second-year LB Keith Ellison, who fits well in the Bills’ Tampa-2 defensive scheme, was a pleasant surprise last season. He contributed as a starter both when Spikes was saddled with a hamstring injury early in the season and when Angelo Crowell was knocked out by a broken leg late in the season.

While Ellison is a willing hitter and has good speed and coverage skills, he is very undersized at 6-0, 228 pounds, which raises a concern whether he can hold up over a full season.

Also, I wonder if the Bills accurately factored in the effect of Spikes’ hamstring injury last season. I mean, he made a big play on the first play from scrimmage in the season opener at New England when he strip-sacked Tom Brady and forced a fumble that was returned for an easy touchdown by London Fletcher-Baker, before Spikes got hurt and missed the rest of the Bills’ loss to the Patriots and the next four games.

Granted, that sack was Spikes’ only sack of the season. And he registered zero interceptions and only one forced fumble. But he started to come around late in the year when his hamstring finally healed, and he was a standout in the Bills’ season-closing loss at Baltimore, making 13 tackles, 11 of which were solo. It was those last couple of games, in fact, that reportedly sold the Eagles on trading for Spikes.

The Bills will miss Spikes’ value beyond the field.

He has always been admired and respected for his hard work, especially off the field with his desire to be in the best possible shape at all times. He is a weight-room warrior, a leader, a student of the game, and he sets a great example for younger players.

Yes, he was reportedly unhappy that the team let his buddy Fletcher-Baker and CB Nate Clements go. And he wanted a contract extension despite having two years remaining on the six-year deal he originally signed with the team. But he didn't go to the media to express his displeasure, and it didn't prevent him from speaking highly of the franchise or from being willing to do whatever it took to make the team better.

If you’re a Bills fan who liked Spikes and was at Ralph Wilson Stadium back in December 2002 when the Bills whipped Spikes’ Bengals and the Buffalo fans chanted, “We want Takeo,” and made it known that he was going to be a fan favorite, you must have been rooting for the Bills to ship Spikes to a championship-caliber team, since they were determined to trade him.

The man has never played in the postseason, and it would be a shame if he ended his career going from non-playoff team to non-playoff team before calling it quits.

Philadelphia should be a great landing spot, since the Eagles have the pieces in place to make a run to the NFC title. If he can become the Pro Bowl player he once was, it might put the Eagles over the top, because he would be the best player in the LB corps, hands down.

Spikes is the fourth veteran starter to be let go by Buffalo this offseason, opening up yet another hole to fill by a team that was surprisingly competitive last season and actually challenged for a playoff berth briefly in mid-December.

The addition of Walker at a need position (defensive tackle) is a positive one. He is experienced and should be a great fit in the Bills’ defense as a run stuffer who can get up the field and apply pressure. He had six sacks last season and will help keep Larry Tripplett and John McCargo rested and make them more effective.

While Spikes, Fletcher-Baker, Clements and RB Willis McGahee weren’t elite players, they were the best at their positions on the Bills’ roster. Most troublingly, there are no real replacements on the roster.

Fletcher-Baker’s departure early in free agency already means that the Bills had a LB vacancy. Now, if Spikes goes, Buffalo will need to find either a middle linebacker, which would allow Angelo Crowell to stay outside, or move Crowell inside and find an outside ’backer to team with Ellison.

Clements, whom the team had no intention of paying the kind of money he ultimately got from the 49ers, was clearly the Bills’ top cover corner. Terrence McGee is back but coming off a down season, and he’s undersized for a No. 1 corner. Youboty enters his second season almost like a rookie after failing to see the field in more than three games last season.

Finally, McGahee’s loss hurts because the only running backs left on the Bills’ roster are Anthony Thomas and Shaud Williams — neither of whom is a dynamic player who will help improve the offense.

Without the team coming out and saying it, there’s no disputing the fact that the Bills are fully in rebuilding mode — as the Spikes deal has once again proven.

 

[Thorpe]

This is the good thing about an 80 year old GM that has been in the league for 45 years. He can make the moves he wants to make to help the team and he doesn't have to worry about what people say at the time of the trade, and he doesn't have to worry about getting another job if a move doesn't work out. One thing Levy has made clear is that if a player doesn't want to be in Buffalo, he won't be here long. Spikes made it clear he wasn't interested in playing for a rebuilding team last year when Vincent was cut.

 

[-OZ-]

That's because they had stiffs like Mark Simoneau, Shawn Barber and Dhani Jones.

Yes... Barber is also the answer to Massraider's question in post #1792 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT. Not a great year, but serviceable in most leagues.Dhani Jones did alright in NY before heading to Philly.

 

[switz]

from Mike Hallbrook at Pro Football Weekly:

Bills Trade Away Spikes

While Spikes, Fletcher-Baker, Clements and RB Willis McGahee weren’t elite players, they were the best at their positions on the Bills’ roster. Most troublingly, there are no real replacements on the roster.

Fletcher-Baker is OLD, Spikes is not fully recovered, and McGahee didn't want to play for the team...Marv is making moves looking at the long term, and honestly, I don' think that Spikes or Fletcher were the best LBs last year.

 

[Obie Wan]

I don't think it is any guarantee that the Bills will get Patrick Willis either. He seems like a perfect pick for the 49ers at #11 unless they trade down a few slots and take Ginn.

And if Willis is there at #12 there is no guarantee the Bills would take him. I hope they do, but you never know. They still have a need at RB. They could get Peterson, or trade up to get him. They also still have a need at CB. They might look at David Harris or a guy like Quincy Black to fill the holes at LB. Or grab a vet, after the June 1st cuts.

I can only imagine what will happen if the Bills are up at #12 and both Peterson and Willis are there. Either way there are going to be a lot of Bills fans and a lot of Bills fans Frankly, I hope that Peterson is already gone by that point and the Bills can take Peterson. Peterson would be hard to pass up but I think that LB is a more urgent need right now. The Bills could still take a RB in the 2nd round that could give them solid production.

I definitely think that it means that the Bills won't be trading up to try to get Peterson, which is what I thought all along.

What would really be bad is if the #12 pick comes up and both Peterson and Willis are already gone. At that point you're looking at either taking a lesser player at the position or taking someone like Leon Hall at CB instead. If both Peterson and Willis are already taken, I actually hope that the Bills try to move down a few spots.

Bills will trade with houston to #10 to grab Willis ahead of SF.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Update: Walker was dealt because he was demanding his contract to be renegoiated. Good luck with that Buffalo.

Also, there are strong rumors that Holcomb won't make it to training camp before being cut.

 

[Pat Patriot]

Spikes and Trotter on the field at the same time is PARTY TIME for any QB/TE/RB combo. I would audible to pass EVERY PLAY. Neither of them can run any more.

Its not a bad trade because they gave up nothing. Walker =

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Spikes and Trotter on the field at the same time is PARTY TIME for any QB/TE/RB combo. I would audible to pass EVERY PLAY. Neither of them can run any more.Its not a bad trade because they gave up nothing. Walker =

I agree.Spikes is a shell of his former self.