The Buffalo Bills Chopping Block

Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

With this offseason well under way this team sure has been busy. The new management has definitely shown thus far that they are shaping the team into something of their own. Not many players have been added but the players leaving are sure on the rise.

On the defensive side of the ball three players that come to mind have been given their walking papers. Both Terrence McGee and Nick Barnett once starters for this team, will be looking to catch on with another club to continue their careers. McGee once an electric return guy and also good in coverage was just ravaged by injuries. From a shoulder to a pesky knee injury he could never recover to compete at 100%. Nick Barnett came to the Bills in the 2011 season and played two years with the club. He played in every game while in a Bills uniform but just in one seasons time every stat he could basically get had decreased. Also it was pretty clear that he wasn’t very good in pass coverage. Alone from these two players George Wilson had also been let go. Wilson had played his way up from the practice squad and shown at times he was ready for the NFL. I think he had a 1 to 2 year run at being a better than average defensive back but that was about it. George Wilson signed on with the Titans 11 days after being released.

The offensive side of the ball has the same outcomes but it a different way. As we all know the Bills receiving corps have been nothing to be excited about but now it will be interesting. Both Donald Jones and David Nelson have both been told the Bills will not tender their contracts. Coming off injury seasons I thought maybe one could have been let go but certainly not both. That being the case the Bills receivers as of right now are: Stevie Johnson, TJ Graham, Ruvell Martin, Brad Smith, Kevin Elliot, Marcus Easley and Chris Hogan. That list is nowhere near what is needed to compete in the throwing game. All you basically have is a starter WR in Johnson and a possible slot guy in Graham. The rest are fill ins if you had multiple injuries and just needed to get by. Something has to be in the plans to acquire a big time WR. Also wasn’t there a report of the Bills wanting to move Stevie to the slot? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the end I think the Bills are doing well on getting rid of everything that they think will hold them back. If I were in charge I wouldn’t stop and also show: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chris Kelsay, Brad Smith and Aaron Williams the door. Also if there was someone in free agency the Bills liked and had to release another player I would have no problem letting Mark Anderson go. Bold moves win championships but in this case I would just like to make the playoffs. What do you think?