Around the AFC East: Buffalo Bills

It's time for part two of this week's edition of ATAFCE.

So let's turn our attention to the Buffalo Bills.  Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings shares his thoughts below:

Matty I: I'm sure you've read over on my site exactly what I think about Donte Whitner's rather bold guarantee in which he said the Bills will make the playoffs.  What are your thoughts on Donte's guarantee?

Brian G: I'm torn between admiration and shock.  First of all, you have to realize how rare this is for a Bills player.  It's been a very long time since this team has had a player confident enough to make so bold a statement, and while you typically cringe when you hear something like that, you have to admire the kid's guts (or stupidity, one or the other).

My problem with the whole situation is that it's Donte Whitner.  If Jason Peters, Marshawn Lynch or Aaron Schobel is making that guarantee, great - I'd have no problem with it.  But Whitner is just a kid trying to become a team leader when he's proven very little on the field.  We're talking about a guy who, after 29 starts, still takes bad angles in run support - leading to some big rushing gains - and has two career interceptions.  (And one of those came off of Cleo Lemon.)  He's a former #8 overall pick who, as it stands, hasn't really lived up to the hype that most Top Ten picks eventually deliver on.  Whitner should have kept his mouth shut until he asserted himself as a playmaker on the field; otherwise, he's just a loudmouth kid spouting off, at least in my book.

So, in abbreviated format: I have no problem with certain Bills players guaranteeing the playoffs, even if I remain skeptical about that topic; I do have a small problem with Whitner doing so, however.

My Take: Well at least Brian sees this in somewhat the same light as I do.  Of all people, Donte Whitner is not the player who should be making any guarantees.  But, in all honesty, I hate when any professional athlete makes guarantees.  After all, they don't mean crap anymore.  Remember Joey Porter's guarantee that the Dolphins would beat the Raiders last year?  How that work out?

As far as the Bills go, I can't say they are a bad team.  But I think, at best, they finish 8-8, which is not good enough to make the playoffs in the tough AFC.  I said it right here and I'll say it again: the Bills will not make the playoffs.

Anyways, be sure to head over to Buffalo Rumblings to check out my response to his question.

I'll be back with the conclusion of "Around the AFC East" in a little...