Post Classifieds
Bills not shy about interests: Genuine or smokescreen?
By Tony Fiorello
On April 26, 2012
The months of spring bring many good things to sports fans. The start of unrestricted free agency in
the NFL, the beginning of baseball season, the opening of the Stanley Cup playoffs and the NCAA men's
basketball tournament are just a few notable occasions that come to mind.
However, another season happens within the NFL in the months of March and April that some fans
might not know about - lying season.
Lying season, otherwise known as the months and weeks leading up to the NFL draft, is the time of year
when the media talks to members of the teams to try and get a feel for what they might do at the draft.
Fans listen to what they have to say and try to interpret the quotes as best as they can to figure out
what their favorite team is thinking.
A smart fan shouldn't take any of those quotes seriously, though. More often than not, these general
managers, scouts and coaches are just setting up a smokescreen, in order to mislead other teams.
In other words, don't believe everything you hear.
This is especially the case with the Buffalo Bills. Last week, Bills GM Buddy Nix appeared on WGR 550
and talked about the prospects that are in this year's draft class. Nix and his assistants spoke glowingly
about multiple players, including cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Dre Kirkpatrick, offensive tackles
Riley Reiff, Jonathan Martin and Cordy Glenn, and wide receiver Michael Floyd.
I highly doubt that Nix likes all of those players. Granted, he did have a lot of nice things to say about all
of them, and they all fit areas of need for the Bills. But it's not like someone would badmouth a player to
the press - that would be rude. And just because a player may be very good, it doesn't mean that he will
fit what the Bills want to do on offense or defense.
Again, it's all a smokescreen to mask their intentions towards other teams. But if I were to believe
what Nix and his cronies had to say about one player, I would listen to them with ears wide open about
Gilmore, who is The Record's sports staff's choice to be selected 10th overall by Buffalo on April 26.
Gilmore, a product of the University of South Carolina, makes perfect sense for the Bills at that spot.
Here's why: even though Terrence McGee has given the franchise nine solid years at covering opposing
teams' top threats, he's getting older. Plus, his smallish stature is starting to work against him, as he has
endured three straight seasons of injuries.
The team's other top cornerbacks, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence, also have issues. McKelvin
took a major step back last season, as he was repeatedly burned for long gains by the wideouts he's
covered and has struggled in man-to-man coverage. Florence has played well since the Bills acquired his
services in 2009, but he's 31 and won't last much more than another year or two.
Enter Gilmore. The former Gamecock, according to Nix, is "... a good, strong, sturdy corner that can
press..... He makes plays. We like his (physicality) in coming up and (stopping the run)."
Gilmore is exactly what the Bills need - a cornerback who can jam wide receivers like Wes Welker,
Brandon Lloyd and Santonio Holmes at the line of scrimmage and mess up opposing quarterbacks'
timing in the passing game. Additionally, he can help the rest of the defense in stopping the run and can
create turnovers. He would pair with last year's second-round pick, Aaron Williams, to form a potentially
great duo for years at the cornerback position.
There is no doubt in our minds that Gilmore will be wearing a Buffalo Bills hat by the end of Thursday
night. Then again, there could be another team out there that we don't know of that plans to take
Gilmore before the Bills make their selection - they just haven't told us about it.
Oh, the joy of lying season.
Tony Fiorello can be reached by email at fiorello.record@live.com.
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