Safety Jairus Byrd, a pending free agent who played under the franchise tag in 2013, declined to answer several questions posed by Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.

Here’s the exchange:

Graham: “What was your gut reaction to hearing Pettine had gotten the Browns job?”

Byrd: “I’d really rather not answer that.”

Graham: “You’re entering your sixth season, and the Bills will have their fifth defensive coordinator. What are your thoughts on that?”

Byrd [ laughing ]: “Same as the last one. I won’t answer that one.”

Graham: “How will Pettine’s departure impact the likelihood you’ll return to the Bills?”

Byrd [laughing harder]: “You’re oh for three.”

source  wrote:

Since he is looking to be the highest paid safety in the game, I'd say pass. The defense needs much more than a safety to be successful.

Originally Posted by: Yerko 

Respectfully Yerko, isn't that the same kind of thinking that has precluded us from adding ANY top FA talent on this team since 2006? Eight years without a top FA acquisition?

I would rather pop on a talent that is known as one of the best in the NFL, then stack our picks at other positions of need, DL, OLB, ILB, WR, OT… Also, I would rather pay for one known top talent to address a position of need all-out vs. keeping 4-6 mid-level to lower-level talents on our roster, ones who have not been producing for us: Raji, Neal, James Jones, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly, CJ Wilson, Marshall Newhouse, MD Jennings, Robert Francois, Jermichael Finley. Granted, not all of those players listed are mid-lower level talents, but the scales have tipped on many in terms of age and contract #s to make them lesser values at this point in time.

I'd much rather draft a NT like Nix in R1, knowing we have a player like Byrd signed at S, then hit a ILB in R2, OLB R3, etc should they fall that way. Or, I'd rather have that need addressed so there might be a complete comfort level in drafting a top WR in R1… Imagine.

I can see us lining up with 4 wide, using Jordy, Cobb, Boykin and a 6'5" Mike Evans, or a 6'3" Jordan Matthews (an SEC record setting 9 100 yd games last season)… and not having to worry about our S position. At all. A proven vet back there who also happens to be one of the NFL's best Safeties. Why not?

Sign him and pay the man. Just what we need. It actually IS about freaking time...

Originally Posted by: play2win 

Respectfully Yerko, isn't that the same kind of thinking that has precluded us from adding ANY top FA talent on this team since 2006? Eight years without a top FA acquisition?

I would rather pop on a talent that is known as one of the best in the NFL, then stack our picks at other positions of need, DL, OLB, ILB, WR, OT… Also, I would rather pay for one known top talent to address a position of need all-out vs. keeping 4-6 mid-level to lower-level talents on our roster, ones who have not been producing for us: Raji, Neal, James Jones, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly, CJ Wilson, Marshall Newhouse, MD Jennings, Robert Francois, Jermichael Finley. Granted, not all of those players listed are mid-lower level talents, but the scales have tipped on many in terms of age and contract #s to make them lesser values at this point in time.

I'd much rather draft a NT like Nix in R1, knowing we have a player like Byrd signed at S, then hit a ILB in R2, OLB R3, etc should they fall that way. Or, I'd rather have that need addressed so there might be a complete comfort level in drafting a top WR in R1… Imagine.

I can see us lining up with 4 wide, using Jordy, Cobb, Boykin and a 6'5" Mike Evans, or a 6'3" Jordan Matthews (an SEC record setting 9 100 yd games last season)… and not having to worry about our S position. At all. A proven vet back there who also happens to be one of the NFL's best Safeties. Why not?

Sign him and pay the man. Just what we need. It actually IS about freaking time...

Originally Posted by: play2win