The 2007 Offseason Thread

[ice grillin you]

Even a one-legged Spikes is better than the banjo-picking funhole he'd replace.

In.

i cant believe im even saying this but id rather have dhani than spikes...dhani as weak as he is he doesnt get torched by the te like spikes would...id rather have a non tackling non playmaking vanilla wafer sam than a guy who is repeatedly getting burnt for big plays by the te (and guys out of the backfield)...especially if it means giving up a pick for spikes

Also - it occurs to me that the Eagles could move Spikes inside and use Trotter as a rotational guy if his gimpy knees can't hold up anymore.

this is the only scenario that works as far as getting takeo

[Rome]

How do you know Spikes would get torched by anyone?

If the Eagles are interested in him, we would have to assume that he's completely healthy and ready to go.  If so, he's ten times the player Jones is, IGY.

If he isn't healthy, then he wouldn't pass the physical, and the deal would be off.

Bottom line: A healthy Spikes >>>>>>>>>>>> Jones.  A gimpy Spikes = not an Eagle.

[ice grillin you]

spikes is not an olb anymore...period...if you think hed be better than dhani then ill say maybe...i think hed be stronger and better against the run (obviously) but takeo cannot run with te's at all....id rather have a guy that plays the position and stinks than a guy who shouldnt be playing the position at all...again especially if youre gonna give up something for him...dont get me wrong this is a 6 of one half dozen of the other argument...i dont really care who plays there as they both will stink...but i dont wanna give up anything for a guy who isnt going to be a real improvement...id rather the change be for free and come from within (move gaither over) or from outside with no cost (a draft pick or UFA)

[Rome]

What is your basis for saying that Spikes can't keep up with tight ends anymore?   I haven't read that anywhere. 

In the last game of the season last year against Baltimore, Spikes led the team in tackles.  If someone is leading the team in tackles, that says to me he can still play, especially at the linebacker position.

Whatever, though.  It's useless to discuss this because the Eagles won't get him anyway.

Still... here's an article from the Bills website from January 16th on Spikes...

Spikes Wonders About Future of Bills Defense
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist   Last Updated: 1/16/2007 1:11 PM ET

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It may not be something Takeo Spikes wanted to think about, but when the 2006 season came to a close on New Year's Eve it quickly came to mind. How much will things be different on the defensive side of the ball for the Bills in 2007?

For Spikes there was the realization that it could be dramatically different in terms of personnel. Sure there are changes every year in this era of free agency, and Buffalo's linebacker has seen good veteran players depart before.

What could make this offseason different is a total of three defensive starters are free agents and all could be playing elsewhere next season. Spikes has already contemplated the possibility of Nate Clements, London Fletcher and Chris Kelsay all wearing different uniforms in 2007.

"Yeah, you definitely think about it," said Spikes. "It took less than a week for me to even think about it. I thought about that earlier in the year and that's being realistic. That's how this game goes. It's the nature of the business."

"We'll certainly be interested in our guys," said head coach Dick Jauron of the team's impending free agents. "Our guys may want to test the market and we understand that, but we'd like to be kept in the loop and keep the conversations up with them and be as honest as we can be with them and keep an open mind as we chase our guys and others. That's the game, that's the business. Only time will tell."

Spikes, who benefited from free agency himself when he signed a lucrative six-year deal with the Bills, understands that some close teammates have to do what's best for them in free agency. At the same time he recognizes if the starting roles of Clements, Fletcher and Kelsay all have to be filled on the defensive side of the ball for Buffalo things will look dramatically different.

"Hopefully we'll get guys to come up and fill those voids," said Spikes. "Players like Nate, London and Kelsay are all different in their own way. They each bring something special to the table. Putting somebody in their spot, if they're not here next year, is not easy to do. I guess that next man won't have to worry about filling someone else's shoes, because he has his own special talents to bring to the table."

Not having Fletcher as a teammate next season would be especially difficult because of the bond the two linebackers have developed over the past four seasons. The two men found it hard to keep it together before taking the field in Baltimore for the season finale.

"He was emotional before the game," said Spikes of Fletcher. "I couldn't even look at him. I might have lost it."

That's why prior to the last game of 2006 Spikes had some words for his defensive teammates.

"One of the things I told the guys is to play every play like it's your last, mainly because it's the last time we'll ever be together as a team," Spikes said. "And you never know who is watching for the first time so you want to leave a good impression."

And Spikes did finish strong as he was the team's leading tackler in the final game at Baltimore. It was the second time the strong side linebacker was the top tackle producer this past season. But did the former Pro Bowl player show enough to convince the organization that he can again be the impact player he was two years ago?

"I'll stick with what I've said throughout the year," said Jauron. "He played through a lot of minor things, he played through a lot of major things, he played his way back in, he never complained, he was a leader on our football team and I believe that he got progressively better even though he had some setbacks in there, some injury setbacks that accumulated through the year. I have a lot of respect for him, for how he handled the whole situation."

But Spikes is entering the final two years of his contract when his base salary will be at its highest. The Bills will likely think about the return on their investment.

Regardless of what anyone else thinks, Spikes is convinced he will again be he player he once was.

"When next year comes it'll be that much better," said Spikes of his Achilles. "I look forward to next year, I really do."

"I've never talked to our doctors or any trainers about it," said Jauron as to whether Spikes will be a better player another full year removed from the 2005 injury. "But I don't see any reason to suspect that he wouldn't be."

Despite who may depart via free agency, Spikes remains optimistic that there is a foundation in place from which the team can grow and improve in 2007.

"There are a lot of pluses going into next year," said Spikes. "We don't have to start over with a new scheme and people doing things and learning. And the bulk of the roster is coming back."

[ice grillin you]

What is your basis for saying that Spikes can't keep up with tight ends anymore?   I haven't read that anywhere. 

from watching him play the last several years


In the last game of the season last year against Baltimore, Spikes led the team in tackles.  If someone is leading the team in tackles, that says to me he can still play, especially at the linebacker position

matt mccoy says


like i said spikes may be better than dhani but dont be so sure of that...i think people are using their hatred of dhani and their thoughts of 2002 takeo and turning that into giving up a draft pick for spikes a good move

again this is not a huge deal...im simply saying that if it takes a draft pick to get takeo spikes i wouldnt do it...if they do do it tho i will have no complaints

[dis12]

interesting that on KFFL, it was posted in this order.

Eagles | Team showing interest in Spikes
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:17:42 -0700

John Murphy, of Yahoo! Sports, reports the Philadelphia Eagles are showing interest in possibly obtaining Buffalo Bills LB Takeo Spikes, according to a league source. Spikes would need to pass a physical and negotiate a new deal. The source believes the Bills could receive a mid-to-late round choice in the 2007 NFL Draft if both conditions are met. The Eagles would likely move Spikes to the outside if they acquire him. The team could also move him inside and make LB Jeremiah Trotter more of a two-down linebacker.


Giants | Team showing interest in Spikes
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:17:14 -0700

John Murphy, of Yahoo! Sports, reports the New York Giants are showing interest in possibly obtaining Buffalo Bills LB Takeo Spikes, according to a league source. Spikes would need to pass a physical and negotiate a new deal. The source believes the Bills could receive a mid-to-late round choice in the 2007 NFL Draft if both conditions are met.

I'm not sure which I'd rather see...although IGY and Rome have said plenty.   Obviously, if $ start to creep, Birds will bail.

[PhillyGirl]

i would rather the eagles go after wilson.

He of the failed Giants physical?

[BigEd76]

What is your basis for saying that Spikes can't keep up with tight ends anymore?   I haven't read that anywhere. 

from watching him play the last several years

Well, since you don't watch anything besides the Eagles, and they haven't played the Bills since the game after Limbaugh's comments 4 years ago, that's a good analysis.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Get Spikes. NOW!

Igy, for you to say you would rather have Dhani than him is crazy talk. I kid you not when I say I would rather have Seth Joyner now at SLB than Dhani.

[Magical_Retard]

i would rather the eagles go after wilson.

He of the failed Giants physical?

yeah who cares get him in for our own physical and since his value has decreased im sure the eagles wouldnt mind offering a 7th rd pick for him.

[Sgt PSN]

What is your basis for saying that Spikes can't keep up with tight ends anymore?   I haven't read that anywhere. 

from watching him play the last several years

Well, since you don't watch anything besides the Eagles, and they haven't played the Bills since the game after Limbaugh's comments 4 years ago, that's a good analysis.

Ed beat me to it.  Although I wouldn't have remembered that the Limbaugh comments came after that game. 

Side note:  That Eagles/Bills game was a lot of fun to watch because not only did the Eagles finally show up after a disappointing 0-2 start but Westbrook gave us a glimpse of the future with a beautiful game clinching 60+ yard td run. 

[SD_Eagle5]

Buffalo was 7th in the league vs. the pass last season, so Spikes can't be that bad. Plus, our problem isn't with stopping the pass, its with the run, if you add a LB who doesn't get trucked every sweep he's worth it. Spikes for a late round pick with a re-negotiated deal is a steal.

[BigEd76]

That 2003 season was the one where it started with home losses to Tampa Bay and New England in the Linc debut, then Limbaugh attacked during the bye week, then they won 11 of their next 12...

[MDS]

Rush might have been hopped up on some pills then, give him a break.

[BigEd76]

Apparently they said on Sportscenter that the Eagles are now the frontrunners to get Spikes and a trade is "imminent"...