By
Eric Vozzola
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Bills' Offseason: Is it Worth it?
The Buffalo Bills have been busy lately, first trading away WR Peerless Price
to Atlanta for some much-needed cap room. With some of the new money, Buffalo
Bills' GM Tom Donahoe and head coach Gregg Williams have already started
building up their defense, acquiring linebackers Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey.
The Bills also hired Dick LaBeau, former Cincinnati Bengals head coach, as
assistant head coach. But will all of this work really help the Bills next
year?
When news first broke out that Peerless Price (5-11, 190) was an Atlanta
Falcon, most NFL fans weren't ecstatic or morose about this deal, but they
didn't let it pass by unnoticed. The teams in the AFC East were glad to hear
of the deal, because they can now switch most of their coverage to Eric Moulds
when they duel against the Bills. On the other hand, NFC South teams will
now have to play against a fully-loaded Atlanta Falcon offense. With QB Michael
Vick and WR Peerless Price, the Falcons will be a top contender in the NFL
this year. This deal definitely hurt the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo fans are arguing that getting rid of Price was the way to go, because
they never would've been able to stay under the cap with him. This is true,
but the Bills could've gotten much more for Peerless Price, who had 1,252
receiving yards and 9 touchdowns last season, than one first-round draft
pick.
The Bills are obviously entering 2003 thinking defense. They have already
signed OLB Takeo Spikes, who lead the Cincinnati Bengals in tackles four
of the last five seasons, topping 100 each year. Spikes is a notable addition
to Buffalo's defense, but he will not be able to carry this D alone. That
is where linebacker Jeff Posey (6-4, 249) comes in to the picture. Buffalo
signed Posey, an unrestricted free agent, on February 28. Last year, he led
the Houston Texans in sacks with 8, even though he only made nine starts.
On March 10, Dick LaBeau was announced assistant head coach of the Bills.
LaBeau played 14 years as a defensive back in the NFL, and he has coached
for the last 30. His coaching past includes the Philadelphia Eagles, Green
Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals twice. LaBeau needed
a job and Buffalo gave it to him -- and I don't see him creating a major
impact on this franchise in the near future.
"So," you ask, "What does all of this mean?" I reply, "It means absolutely
nothing." The Bills have replaced Peerless Price with a downgrade to Takeo
Spikes, and they have picked up another linebacker. Yes, the Bills' defense
will improve, but their lack of quality wide receivers will cause their offense
to struggle. With a mediocre offense and a subpar defense, it looks like
the Bills will have to stick out the season and hope for better next year.
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