Tim Graham

  (3:02 PM)

Hello from Stow, Ohio, where I'm visiting family but still have time to talk football. Let's get rolling.

Nick Spills, BLO

Buffalo Bills - Chicago Cubs. Same colors, both utterly pathetic. Who wins a championship first???

Tim Graham

  (3:03 PM)

Cubs. They seem to put forth more effort to put a winner on the field.

Justin (Baltimore, MD)

Do you think Jim Leonard is that good or just a product of the Ravens system that allows anyone alongside Ed Reed to succeed(W. Demps, D Landry).

Tim Graham

  (3:05 PM)

Leonhard certainly is helped by the supporting cast around him in Baltimore. I don't think he could do the things in Buffalo that he's doing now, but he is the type of player you can't help but root for, the type of player every championship team needs.

Nick (Bills, NY) :

tim, are you hosting a chat today, you better say yes!

Tim Graham

  (3:06 PM)

Yes, sir!

matt, plantation fl.

What do the Dolphins have to do in the offseason to stay on top of the divison, and who do you see them possibly acquiring?

Tim Graham

  (3:08 PM)

They need offensive line depth, and three of their four starting DBs are unrestricted free agents. A receiver that makes defenses cringe would be helpful to the offense.

Tim Graham

  (3:10 PM)

Let's see ... We've had 37 questions and Andy from NYC has asked 24 of them ... all the same one, too

Tim Graham

  (3:11 PM)

Andy, please stop jamming the queue.

Dennis (Trinidad & Tobago)

Lots of speculation on Matt Cassel's trade value. What's your opinion having talked to others and when do you think the Pats would trade him (assuming TB is healthy)?

Tim Graham

  (3:13 PM)

It looks like Cassel's trade value starts at a high first-round pick and probably includes additional picks beyond that.

David (Nassau, Bahamas)

Hey Tim big fins fan, what do you think the dolphins should do in free agency and the draft? i like Suggs in fins uniform

Tim Graham

  (3:15 PM)

There's a tropic theme here ... But maybe the cervezas are getting to you. I shared my thoughts on that already ...and there haven't been many questions asked.

Matthew, NYC

I guess my question got lost in the pre-chat cue. Here it is again. Do you like the hire of the Dolphins new O-line coach. How big of an upgrade is he, what will we see different? (Maser wasn't that bad considering what he had to work with)

Tim Graham

  (3:17 PM)

I'll be honest. I don't know much about him. The Dolphins must have been really down on Maser to fire him after an 11-5 season.

Matt

You mentioned "a receiver that makes defenses cringe" when talking about the Dolphins. You think there's a chance that could be Harvin from Florida?

Tim Graham

  (3:18 PM)

I'm not sure Harvin is that player. Besides, who wants to bank on a receiver who's always hurt? Even when he played he was fighting through something.

Trevor, NY

With an automatic 6 wins in the AFC east, would you say the Patriots make another run at 16-0 next year?

Tim Graham

  (3:20 PM)

What are the six automatic wins? The AFC East plays the NFC South and the AFC South next year. 11 or 12 wins would be a good season.

Brett Favre

Hattiesburg, MS > New Jersey, true or false?

Tim Graham

  (3:21 PM)

Why are you asking me? You've been to both places. I haven't.

Chris (Baltimore)

What are the Jets going to do with there cap situation, which is currently over the limit for next year?

Tim Graham

  (3:21 PM)

All signs point to Favre not being a Jet next year.

Andrew (Miami, FL)

Do you see Parcells trading our first round pick in the draft to accumulate more picks in the later rounds?

Tim Graham

  (3:22 PM)

That has been his m.o. in the past. I'm sure he'll be shopping around.

Ryan, Port St Lucie

In regards to the Receiver that makes team cringe, How about Hakeem Nicks,Kenny Britts, Or Mahammed Massaquoi?

Tim Graham

  (3:22 PM)

The only thing that makes me cringe about those guys is spelling their names.

Miles (Bristol Rhode Island)

tim, i could do a way better job than you, obviously.

Tim Graham

  (3:23 PM)

It's a shame things didn't work out differently for you.

Jonny (LA)

Assuming Rex Ryan gets the Jets HC gig, which Raven free agents do you think he pursues? I like Bart Scott inside LB for their scheme...

Tim Graham

  (3:25 PM)

Unlike coaches who bring their assistants with them to new jobs or GMs who bring their football ops people, cherry picking players is tough when there's a salary cap involved.

Shane (DC)

Of the Ravens key free agents (Lewis, Brown, Scott, Suggs, and Leonard), which ones do you think return next year? Also have we seen the last of C. McAllister in Bmore?

Tim Graham

  (3:28 PM)

Since I cover the AFC East and have been pitching in on the Ravens, I will have to admit I'm not sure what's going on behind the scenes in Owings Mills. But I'm sure they want all of those guys back. McAlister probably is done, though.

Ryan, PSL

SO are you saying you havent watched them play? The dolhins arent going to draft a WR early, so guys like Darius Hayward Bey, Jeremy Maclin arent going to e realistic options. The only "cringy" type of receiver in FA is TJ.I think Solid Oline play will make all the receivers better. Jason Brown, then draft Duke Robinson and Max Unger.

Tim Graham

  (3:29 PM)

Nobody could have said it better.

Ryan, Port St Lucie

Tim, With the new signing of a Oline coach, it leads me to believe that Carey will be resigned. Maybe they thunk Masser wasn't that great of a Oline coach and thats why he regressed this past year. Well that and Poor guard play. Thoughts?

Tim Graham

  (3:30 PM)

Satele regressed this year, too.

dj (bradley airport, ct)

thanks for helping me pass the time while i wait for my flight! what would I do without you?

Tim Graham

  (3:31 PM)

Based on the questions that aren't making the cut, you'd probably be better off pretending you're at the zoo and watching the people in the glass-enclosed smoker's lounge.

Bills_Chick

if Dick Jauron loses a couple games in the beginning of the season, do you think Ralph will pull the plug and make April the interim?

Tim Graham

  (3:32 PM)

No. I think Jauron will last the entire season.

Xander (Philly)

So you dont think the Bills, who have tons of cash and D-line needs, will chase either Haynesworth or Peppers?

Tim Graham

  (3:34 PM)

Tons of cash? If you mean they're under the cap, you're right. If you mean they'll spend money, they haven't shown any signs of that in recent years. Of the 69 players who came through Buffalo last year, 39 of them made the league minimum. The Bills don't spend money.

Rick-Lowell, MA

In your opinion, what is Cassel worth? Some have said the market is a mid first rounder, but adam schefter said on the radio this morning that it's more likely something like a 2nd and a 5th. What does your gut say?

Tim Graham

  (3:35 PM)

I answered that one already ... high to mid first-rounder to start. More picks to get the deal done.

Cole, ORF

What do you think the Pats are going to do with Matt Cassel? Where do you think that Pats are going to go with the 24 pick in the first round?? Why did Belichick get completely looked over for the coach of the year spot??? I think he did the best coaching out of any other coach in the league. I was baffled to find out he didn't even get one vote. Have you heard any further news on the condition of Tom Brady????

Tim Graham

  (3:37 PM)

It all depends on Brady's knee. If Brady can recover in time to be effective from the beginning of the 2009 season, then the Patriots probably will trade Cassel. If Brady doesn't recover to their satisfaction, then they'll keep Cassel.

Bills_Chick

any idea on which direction the Bills will go for backup QB? vet or rookie or Hamdan?

Tim Graham

  (3:38 PM)

Thy need to acquire a steady veteran because Edwards is injury-prone. If they want to win in 2009, they can't afford to have a rookie or Gibran Hamdan as the primary backup.

JJ: Hibbing,MN

hey tim, because of the brett farve trade shouldnt green bay get the jets first round pick because of how much he played im not really sure about how that will work out?

Tim Graham

  (3:38 PM)

The Jets needed to reach the Super Bowl for the pick to turn into a first-rounder.

Xander (Philly)

Dang, you're a downer for the Bills nation, arent ya...

Tim Graham

  (3:39 PM)

I think the organization does just fine by itself.

Jason (Seattle)

How do you think the chats going so far?

Tim Graham

  (3:39 PM)

Not well.

Rick-Lowell, MA

Does the fact that this is a fairly strong free agent class for QB's hurt Cassel's value?

Tim Graham

  (3:41 PM)

I'm not sure of that, but what does help Cassel's value are the decisions of Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. Teams that might be on the fence about going with a QB of the future or taking a shot on Cassel have fewer reasons for the former.

Denny Green (gettin paid by Coors)

Tim, these chatters are who you thought they were!

Dan (North Wales, PA)

So tell us straight - is Ralph not hiring a GM because he's waiting for Jauron to fail in 09 and Cowher to swoop in and save the franchise!?

Tim Graham

  (3:42 PM)

No. He's not hiring a GM because he still feels burned by Tom Donahoe and can't bring himself to trust "outsiders"

the chat room calling you out

your chat stinks today, less football more goofing!

Tim Graham

  (3:42 PM)

I feel shame.

Xander (Philly)

Dang, you're just cranky. When you're old i think people are going to label you as a "bitter old man."

Tim Graham

  (3:43 PM)

OK, how's this? Bills will go 11-5 and reach the AFC title game next year. Edwards will start every game. Dick Jauron will win Coach of the Year.

Tim Graham

  (3:43 PM)

Bank on it!

Donovan McNabb

Xander, pipe down and be thankful that the chat can't end in a tie.

Rick-Lowell, MA

I just heard Mike Reiss (Boston globe) say that the Pats are likely to attack their CB needs via the draft. Didn't they do that last year? They used a 2nd and a 4th rounder on CB's. While you can never have too much talent, wouldn't it make sense to draft other positions and fill the CB needs with a veteran while the young guys they have get up to speed? How many young CB's can they have on the roster to develop?

Tim Graham

  (3:44 PM)

They sure did attack their CB needs last year. Not only id they draft two, they brought in a slew of free agents to training camp and signed Deltha O'Neal before the season started.

Scott Pioli (Kansas City)

Who would win in a fight, Al Davis or Ralph Wilson?

Tim Graham

  (3:45 PM)

I'll have to go with Al Davis. I can picture him swinging that gold medallion like a tire chain.

Josh (SYRACUSE)

wow it must be rough in Ohio , you seem like we are annoying you

Tim Graham: (ESPN):

waaaaaaaaa the chatters are picking on me!

Tim Graham

  (3:46 PM)

And yet you have nothing better to do. Thanks for stopping by to heckle.

Shawn (Odenton, MD)

Your buddy Mark Gaughan from the Buffalo News completely disagreed with your Bills/Pats HOF post from earlier in the week in his chat today. And he's on the voting committee. Defend yourself!

Tim Graham

  (3:47 PM)

What did he disagree with?

Dan (North Wales, PA)

Have you ever been to Ohio? It's worse than Syracuse.

Tim Graham

  (3:48 PM)

I was born and raised there.

Tim Graham

  (3:48 PM)

And if you looked at the first sentence of this chat, you'd know I'm there right now.

Bill (York, PA)

What position do you think the Bills should go after at #11? DE?

Tim Graham

  (3:49 PM)

They have so many needs, they could go for the best player available and not be wrong. They want a center, but 11 is way to high for that position, especially this year. But defensive end is a need.

Ed Hochuli (Somewhere with a whistle)

That's illegal procedure on the chatters, not enough questions asked, that's a five-yard penalty and it's still 1st down!

Tim Graham

  (3:50 PM)

I agree, Ed. It's probably 80 percent questions about me in the queue, 20 percent about football.

Dan (North Wales, PA)

Chris Brown from the buffalo bills blog makes a case for Bo Scaife in Buffalo next year...are the Titans dumb enough to let him go? And would he be worth it for Buffalo? Please tell me Robert Royal goes the way of the DoDo bird.

Tim Graham

  (3:52 PM)

They might not have a choice. He's an unrestricted free agent.

Perry(Taunton, Mass)

do you think cassel will end up with pioli in kansas city?

Tim Graham

  (3:53 PM)

It's possible, but a Cassel trade -- if it were to go down -- wouldn't happen until closer to training camp.

Andy (NYC)

Tim, what free agents/trades are available that would improve the Bills? T. Gonzalez? Birk?

Tim Graham

  (3:53 PM)

Yes, both of those players would improve the Bills.

Cubical Man

I have a football question. Why am I not getting paid to run around and tackle and instead find myself in a gray, semi caged office enviornment?

Tim Graham

  (3:54 PM)

Your affinity for vending-machine cuisine is a good place to start.

Andrew (Ohio)

Can the dolphins repeat, or did they vastly over perform?

Tim Graham

  (3:55 PM)

Sure, they can repeat as AFC East champs. But I think 11 wins will be difficult. The division has a tough schedule next year.

THE BOSS AT ESPN

you stink!

Tim Graham

  (3:56 PM)

And yet my checks keep getting processed. Thanks for signing them.

Shawn (Odenton, MD)

Well, he thought Vinatieri, Harrison, and Law (and maybe Seymour) would all eventually make it in. But mostly his point was its sort of an exercise in silliness to speculate how people will vote in 10 years. But since you had no AFC East teams to cover in the playoffs, I can't blame you for starting a discussion. My take - does it really matter? You know most of the Bills in the HOF would trade it for one Superbowl ring. And I as a fan would certainly do the same.

Tim Graham

  (3:57 PM)

Those weren't my opinions on the Patriots players getting in/not getting in. Those were John Clayton's opinions. He's on the Board of Selectors, too.

Chris (NY)

Did you take your profile pic when you were 14 years old???

Tim Graham

  (3:57 PM)

I think I was 33.

Perry(Taunton, Mass)

could kansas city trade the 2nd pick for cassel?

Tim Graham

  (3:59 PM)

A Cassel trade couldn't go down before the draft. The whole purpose for putting the franchise tag on him is for insurance on Tom Brady. The Patriots won't know enough about his knee before the draft.

Sam, Lynchburg, VA

Who has the better year next season respective of position? Vernon Gholston(new coach and second year could go a long way for him), Mayo or McKelvin?

Tim Graham

  (4:00 PM)

In order: McKelvin (because people will notice him), Mayo (he'll be as good as he was this year, which is great) and Gholston a distant third.

Wait...

I don't know the HoF article that is being discussed, but did Clayton say that Vinatieri wouldn't make it? That's just turrible.

Tim Graham

  (4:01 PM)

He thought the best candidate after Brady was Richard Seymour but that he probably didn't have enough sacks.

Tim Graham

  (4:01 PM)

Keep in mind, only one kicker is in the Hall of Fame. Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson aren't even in, and they have about 1,000 more points than Vinatieri.

Jeff (East Bay, CA)

Keith Kidd says Rex Ryan is a good pick for the Jets. What say you Tim Graham?

Tim Graham

  (4:02 PM)

I like Rex Ryan's work a lot. He deserves to be a head coach.

Babysitter Bob, Your House

Answer this question young man or it's to bed without supper for you. Sean Peyton thinks he can control T.O, is he a good second option in N.O? I know that Patten and Moore have come on the last two years, but T.O would put them over the top talent wise, but only if he makes 5 million or less a season.

Tim Graham

  (4:03 PM)

Nobody is going to tame T.O. It works for a year and then it implodes. The best bet is to bring him in and know that you're going to part ways soon.

Panthers Fan

Why do you hate the Panthers?

Tim Graham

  (4:04 PM)

Florida or Carolina? I haven't been asked a question about either today, so I don't know what you're after.

delayed traveler

airport bar - bloody mary or beer?

Tim Graham

  (4:06 PM)

Beer. You never know what you're going to get with a bloody mary, and at airport prices, a bad drink is a bummer. You should order bloody marys from bartenders you know.

Chris (Baltimore)

Is Matt Stover a HOF kicker??

Tim Graham

  (4:06 PM)

No.

FlaFitz (Boca Raton, FL)

Tim I was wondering if you ever reached out mark gaughn about Reed and the Hall of Fame?

Tim Graham

  (4:07 PM)

I worked with Mark for eight years. I know his opinion on the matter, and it's the same as John Clayton's and mine. He deserves to get in, but he'll have to wait a while.

George D.C

QB for the Jets next year is...

Tim Graham

  (4:08 PM)

not on the roster.

Kurt (Cleveland, Ohio)

Go grab yourself some Skyline right off of Steels Corners!!

Tim Graham

  (4:08 PM)

I just might. I'm about 5 minutes away.

Andrew (Miami, FL)

Bank on this: Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams each have 1200 all purpose yards next season.

Tim Graham

  (4:10 PM)

I've already told my investor. We're riding it.

Tyler(Charlotte)

Do you think a ravens vs. cardinals superbowl would be the lowest rated ever?

Tim Graham

  (4:11 PM)

There are some great story lines to sell in that matchup, though. But,you're right. The markets aren't the most glamorous.

Steiny (NYC)

Will Mike Nugent be with the Jets next season?

Tim Graham

  (4:12 PM)

50-50 ... Kickers are such fungible commodities. The new coach might have a guy he likes.

Xander (Philly)

I heard Jim Kelly say on NFL radio on Sirius (last year) that he would make sure the Bills didnt leave Buffalo and that he already had investors lined up. Think he's bluffing?

Tim Graham

  (4:13 PM)

I'm not convinced. Plus, one of his major benefactors is Jack Kemp, who is in poor health. Ralph might outlive everybody.

Miles (Bristol Rhode Island)

i find your chat both shallow & pedantic

Tim Graham

  (4:13 PM)

And we know what the diagnosis was for the last guy who said that ...

trevor nyc

what should i eat for dinner?

Tim Graham

  (4:14 PM)

An assorted sub.

Matt (Boston)

Is Janikowski a HOF kicker, or just a HOF street fighter?

Tim Graham

  (4:15 PM)

He might be a Hall of Fame drinker.

Tim Graham

  (4:15 PM)

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Conor (Connecticut)

How can the Vikings become a ligitmate Super Bowl contender next year?

Tim Graham

  (4:15 PM)

Stable quarterback play would be a nice start. Where they find that guy, I'm not sure.

misfit6991(buffalo,ny)

odds of the bills not signing Crowell and drafting Rey Maualuga?

Tim Graham

  (4:16 PM)

Crowell isn't coming back. Not sure if Maualuga will be available at No.11.

Matt (Boston)

So in a head to head to head cage match, who survives? Janikowski, Frank the Tank, Belushi?

George D.C

Not very helpful. Jets get a QB in free agency? Draft? Who should be on their radar?

Tim Graham

  (4:19 PM)

The Jets have enough young quarterbacks. And sorry I can't be helpful in solving the Jets' primary problem. 32 GMs worry about their quarterback situations every year. They get paid to do that stuff and about two-fifths of them can't figure it out.

Jofus: (Atlantic City, NJ)

JP Losman... Starter elswhere in NFL, Back-Up, AFL or wal-mart greeter?

Tim Graham

  (4:19 PM)

Backup.

Mike

Is there something wrong with being a Hall of Fame drinker? At least he's good at something, right?

Tim Graham

  (4:20 PM)

We all need to be good at something. I'm good at few things. That happens to be one of them.

HP in PA

If you swap Flacco and Ryan, similar results or are the Ravens a no brainer for the superbowl?

Tim Graham

  (4:21 PM)

Ryan ran the Falcons offense like a veteran. Flacco is protected in the Ravens' scheme. I would say the Ravens would have a better chance to win each week with Ryan because their offense would be able to do more.

BUFFALO THE CITY

i think your time in our city helped your drinking ability

Tim Graham

  (4:22 PM)

No question. I went from living in a city with no last call (Las Vegas) to one that goes until 4 a.m. I have endurance.

Brian (Orlando, FL)

Do you see the Bills locking up Fred Jackson long-term? Or do they just tender him for the next two years and see what happens?

Tim Graham

  (4:23 PM)

I'm not sure what they'll do. I can see it going either way, but I think they'll do the right thing and give him at least atwo-year deal.

Brian (Orlando, FL)

In your opinion who was more important to the Patriots organization - Pioli or Belichick?

Tim Graham

  (4:23 PM)

Belichick. He has final say in all football operations matters. Pioli worked for him.

Tim Graham

  (4:24 PM)

Time to wrap it up, folks. Thanks for dropping by to kill some time. See you next week.