shoretalk

Right now I don't think any team is afraid of any other team ... these are the days of optimism for all (With the exception of a few "Bills' fans" who for some reason would rather always have "their" team fail rather than taking a collective deep breath and dreaming of the possibilities right now.). That being said ... this team has the most potential of truly being a defensive force than any of our teams since the days of Bruce and the Biscuit! Our defensive front eight will be messing with each offensive line they face this year and that should give our offense more time, which leads to more wins (the offense already showed its potency when everyone was healthy last year). GO BILLS but let's wait until opening day before we start to imagine that other NFL teams are afraid of the Mean Bunch down at the One Bills Drive corral.

I cannot imagine him not making the team but the competition will keep him far far away from the starting backfield. He has shown potential before but when it gets to game situations he's always trying to figure out how to make the big touchdown producing interception and all that thinking causes him to let his receiver catch the ball. We will probably see him on punt/kick returns and even with that there will be some team out there willing to give him an overpriced contract next year.

First prayers for the families .. What an incredible tragedy and reflection of the world we have created. #1 - The guy being interviewed said he hit one of the two strangers in the face because there was an argument? Over a woman? Guess that striking out is the first natural reaction when you disagree with someone. #2. Then his friend hits the other guy over the head with a bottle! What were they thinking that these were the breakaway bottles used in movies?? Coming out of the movies yesterday my wife, 27 year old daughter and I reflected that once again the level of violence in films is increasing and with computer enhancement the images are more powerful. Is it any wonder that naive young men (And, women) do not hesitate to use violence to resolve their problems. And, finally ... #3. It is way too easy to get a gun and once you have a gun the trigger is just a moment of anger away from being pulled. No 19 or 20 year old who cannot drink legally should be allowed to own any gun!

I honestly can't vote until we get a couple of weeks into the season. There is a home team bias in my system and frankly we don't know if Merriman is healthy enough to really play once the season begins. There is no doubt that this Bills' line if healthy is going to bring some havoc to opposting teams and it has the potential to be the best. Detroit has some character issues but they are still right up on top as are the Giants. Post this again once the season starts and I'll add my vote.

Yes Stephon Gilmore is apparently a very talented athlete and he did play quarterback in high school. However, he is using those quarterback skills to develop into a quality cornerback and it makes no sense at all to add him to an already crowded mix for the occasional 'wild cat.' We have Brad Smith ... we have Vince Young (I am assuming he wins the #2 spot behind Fitz) and we even have Freddie Jackson. There is no good reason to waste the developmental time of Gilmore nor risk his getting injured for the sake of this one silly formation. And, no... I don't think I have read this topic before.

Veteran wide out maybe we can get him as our #2 - go git him Buddy!!!! Seriously, this melt down is reflective of the team circus that Ryan runs. After the Jets lose this year maybe Rex will finally be sent back to the assistant ranks where he belongs!!! I am so happy with the character of the team Buddy and Chan have put together!! We don't need distractions, we need team players who want to be playing in Buffslo!!

If we don't sign him I am so giving up on this team!!! Wilson is so cheap; heck we still haven't signed our #3 pick! Ocho is exactly the quality old vet we need!!! Just look at his numbers with the Bengals!!! Git er done Buddy!!!

These are the tough realistic moments for those of us who are fans. Brian Moorman has been our one clear and consistent Pro-Bowl level player during the last ten years. We each have special moments that we remember his abilities running a fake punt but perhaps it has been his contributions to the Buffalo community that have made him a true Pro-Bowl quality person. That being said ... he is 35 years old. Powell excelled in college. His punts are almost amazing especially with his collegiate ability for placement. Our Buffalo Bills for the first time in recent memory are a team that will have to cut quality players because even better players are on the roster. This is definitely going to happen on our defense, perhaps on the offensive line, and some of us would say among the receiving corps. It also may result in a quality player and man named Brian Moorman finding himself playing for another team this year (I have no doubt that he better than at least half the punters in the league) if this young rookie shows that his current abilities and future potential will help the Buffalo Bills more than the memories of Moorman. Let the competition begin!

The key phrase is fully recover ... I cannot even begin to think how great our defense could be with a fully recovered Merriman! A partially recovered one will be a tremendous asset to the team!!! A fully recovered Easley is a mystery. I have been a fan since we drafted him but will admit he is a complete unknown. Fully recovered he might be this incredible #2 receiver opposite Stevie or he might be Hardy revisited.

Ok ... this may not be my favorite source of reference material but I know that I read other quotes from either Gailey, Nix or Wannstedt but Sheppard is the 2012 starter There are never total guarantees but coming out of the 2011 season in January to state that he is your guy to me is not quite out of context ...

Hate to tell you but Sheppard is going to be one incredible MLB. If you noticed at the end of last season he was one of just a couple of players guaranteed their position by the coaching staff SHEP is guaranteed(I found the link ... I know at least one person thought I made up my assertion that in January Sheppard was the one definite starter on the D). He took over the middle in that messed up defense last year without the benefits of OTA's plus with that early season injury. When you throw in the D-line he will be playing behind and with Barnett at his side ... he is going to just continue to improve. I like Chris White as a #2 MLB in college and last year's preseason he seemed to have the skill set that is needed. Plus now we have THE TANK! It's time to just sit back and celebrate that we are going to finally have an awesome defense, which will mean our offense will be that much better!

The one you think will be a Bill I think he is already committed elsewhere ... but if you want to see him in a Jim Kelly jersey that's ok ... enjoy those very odd fantasies ...

The update from our friends said, "When asked about the draft class he said he barley knows who they drafted, with exception of Brooks from LSU because the have the same agent." It does not say he didn't know who we drafted ... it was his response to the question about the draft class. After two days of OTA's he "barely (note prior spelling error) knows who they drafted," which I assume means he barely knows how well they play. I am sure he knows who they are.

No Ralph is too cheap - our third rounders are always last to sign - Graham doesn't want to play - We should have taken Wilson - I am so done with the Bills On a different note - sure looks like he fits in! Unsigned rookies can participate in these OTA's but not training camp.

There has been no doubt about Kelsay being a good player (never a superstar) who has consistently had the support of coaches and fellow teammates. They are the ones who know better than anyone on this board. The 'contract' seems to have really bugged people as if it was their child's milk money but in my mind all of the players make more than guys playing a game should make and all owners make more money taking advantage of our love of sports but taking that into consideration, I want a player like Chris Kelsay on my team playing the position he is skilled at most, which isn't OLB.

I love that young people are interested in writing and reporting but the internet has led to the fraud of people being credited with being more than they really are. The Bleacher Report is like reading a series of postings here on our worst days. As soon as I saw the source I knew not to take any credence in it other than as a point of discussion. His lack of experience, sources, and knowledge showed through in his commentary that the Bills should bring in all five even though no other team has thought to bring in one of them. I wish the kid well but I like the rule suggestion because some people might get fooled into thinking that these reports were anything more than youthful dreaming.

This is finally a year when the underperforming slightly below average players will not have the opportunity to stick with the team. OTA's, ongoing personal work between the OTA's and training camp, and training camp will make decisions a lot easier than we think. Those young players who have managed to hang on better be showing their faces regularly at THE RALPH from now on even when the team isn't together. As for Troup versus Edwards ... Edwards is a consumate pro who works hard. Troup based on his recent interview is a hurting player with potential. I liked the pick but since college he's been nothing but hurt. I'd say Troup needs to really show himself this summer or out of the two he is the first one to the door unless we get a trade opporutnity for Edwards.

Cannot imagine any player with a contract not showing up if he wants to play on a winning team!! It sounds like the Bills to a man are excited about the season ... maybe we'll get some hints from the OTA about Chan's onfield plans.

Thank goodness he doesn't know what round Tom Brady was drafted in. It has been a long time since a fan wrote something this sullen and depressing. If I have time I'll have to do some digging about other players who were either free agents or low draft picks. As for our coach, right now I cannot think of any one coach that I would rather have. He and Buddy arrive at a team with nothing ... the national media repeatedly praises him for his abilities to work with players and his track record outside of Buffalo is not that bad. I can't wait for this season to start!!

I understand that there are planned protest marches heading towards the Washington Monument as we speak ... lawsuits are planned ... this is so criminal that the National Football League conspired to prevent the two teams in the spotlight from understanding that the true HOF quarterback was sitting there to be drafted. Just think how many sweet innocent psyches have been destroyed with the exception of the future generations in Seattle. Perhaps MicroSoft or Starbucks was involved ... I don't know but I think we should all file a class action law suit ... it hurts so much to miss Brady because Ralph was too cheap to pick him up at a #4 or a #5 and now this ... This is such a disgrace ... I think I am going to go sulk ...

When I read the story first thing I thought of was whether he was describing his own style of play. I really never complained about Mr. Bell because when he was healthy he did an adequate job at LT. His lack of aggressiveness (Funny ... as I write this I think of how I have seen Wood, Levitre, Pears, and Urbik get down field with an energized aggressive style of play but if Demetrius Demetress feels it was the team's way of playing he can do that.) may have protected him from additional injuries but it seems that he is going to have a hard time replacing Peters on the Eagles' line.

I love that we have a quarterback willing to examine what he's done wrong and willing to admit he has just been 'heaving' the ball at times. This also says a lot about Gailey and Nix who brought Lee in. Fitz is admitting he is learning from Lee and Young has stated that Coach Lee is important to him as he tries to comeback from whatever quarterback misfit island he has been on. How can any true fan not be excited about the direction that the Bills are heading in and this coming season. Could it be that the reporter visited on a day when Young was out of town (they are not in mandatory practice mode yet)? Young has been quoted saying he wanted to be coached by Lee so I am sure that when Young is in town he will be at the film study too (Or, Lee might be accumulating the Eagles' film from last year still ...).

Cannot believe the Wilson-Graham discussion & we passed up Tom Brady too probably because Ralph is cheap!!! In fact since Wilson's practices with Seattle's rookies have already elevated him to HOF we should be complaining that we didn't take him with our 1st round pick!! As for Graham not being signed yet - Ralph is cheap! We always sign our #3 picks after everyone else! I am so done with this team!!! And, Fitz needs to be benched now so he can't throw any interceptions this year and risk the Bills season!

Sorry to hear about your dating life ... have you tried Match.com?? They are supposed to have a significant success rate. As for #`12 Yes, you are right Joe Ferguson will always be Number 12 but then again so will Jim Kelly. I hope that Zebrie can be half the OL that Billy Shaw was ... The number history brings back some great memories even from of our so so teams. I just hope that #94 quickly becomes one of those classic Bills' uniform numbers that every Bills fan and every quarterback in the league cannot forget!