shoretalk

What I am seeing is that Trent Edwards we saw in his first preseason with the Bills. I remember commenting to a friend who is A JETS' fan that this rookie quarterback seems confident and in control. We then saw that Trent Edwards until the Arizona game. The next Trent Edwards we saw was tentative and worse ... but we have no way of knowing whether it was all in his head or partly a reaction to the coaching. Right now he looks and sounds like a winner and every quarterback has his own unique faults. Will be interesting to watch as the season opens up.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments ... there are many of us on this board who echo most of your concerns. All too many people in this anonymous world thrive on vicious attacks on players and posters ... they are either the junior high school bullies relishing the opportunity to use abusive language once again or they are bully-wanna-be's. This has nothing to do with free speech but a lot to do with well thought out decent dialogue, which doens't mean we aren't allowed to be critical of the team, owner, general manager, coaches, and players. However when the only words that can come to mind are those found in the locker room ... I too hope that you reconsider this decision because this board needs comments like yours or else we will all lose out to the bullies but then again that I think is part of their game ... This season has possibilities ... there are some great players and some not very good ones on the team and there are great individuals who give back to the Buffalo community as well as to the communities they come from and there are low-life players. But, as a fan ... this is my team ... the team I cheer on and hope to see win every time they hit the field even though I am in Eagle Country now ... home will always be Buffalo ... so GO BILLS PS: Sadly, you are correct in acknoledging that if you put your name up there would be postings about your career that you do not need to see written by individuals who have no idea what they are writing about.

These are going to be a long couple of weeks because this board is going to jump up and down wanting every castaway that other teams are discarding or rumored to be throwing away. Leinart ... he's just not very good. Now, I am not saying that we have 4 superstar studs at QB but at least our four have been in camp working through the Gailey system. I don't like Fitz as the #1 but he is a leader that the team respects. I will admit to being in the Brohm camp during the off season but Trent appears to have figured out the Gailey system and is looking like he did when we all had great hope for him. Levi in his brief appearance also appears to have promise. So, anyone who is suggesting bringing in a headache quarterback to the Bills ... needs to think again. GO BILLS ... SQUISH THE FISH! PROMO ... they aren't fans. They are people who just love to hear themselves rant and scream. They are the ones who sit behind a family at a game and scream curse words at the players and/or refs thinking that somehow by doing that they will change the course of football history while at the same time they are ruining a special family day. They are the teenagers who feel it's necessary to shout epitats at Edwards during a practice session that is open to fans for our enjoyment. If you are a fan of any team ... you want your team to win NOW ... not tomorrow ... not in 2 years! The only time I can even imagine wanting your team to lose is at the end of the season when they have already failed and have a chance for a higher draft pick. So, the LIST MAKING boys at GR ... they don't even watch the entire game so let them dream of winless seasons ... the board posters who are closet Fin or Patriot fans .... well they need to find a board where they can hope for undefeated seasons. I want the Bills to win every game possible .. am not foolish enough to think that anything close to that is possible but this is a better team with Gailey than with Jauron ... I can only see improvements for us. GO BILLS

I think every true Bills' fan is loving the points being put up this preseason by the team ... it is so refreshing after the Jauron era's philosophy about not trying to score a lot but ... we are still in the preseason. Things are looking much better (And, last year if I recall we were not in the bottom 5 even with no offense) but what matters is what happens when the games count. I think we will be competitive until the end of every game this year ... none of this 4th quarter collapse stuff that cost us games last year. Spiller is for real but so are Jackson and I think THE BEAST is back so we may have the best running back group in the league. If Gailey is creative with Parrish and Evans plus if he uses whatever tight end we have then there will be points up on the board. So ... I am not jumping the gun to playoff dreams but I am excited about this season more than I have been in years!

I am a really big fan of Steve Johnson but ... David Nelson looks like the real thing and he needs to get in the game so that means less playing time for Stevie but Nelson has earned it!

I find it so incredulous that the first response to this VERY POSITIVE posting is a negative ... Yes, we all would love to see a playoff season but for most of us a positive turn around with a coach who cares about winning will be a huge boost to our satisfaction as BUFFALO BILLS' fans. We are on the right road with Chan ... I think we will improve on last year's record but at the very least we won't be sitting around at the end of the game falling asleep at our non-creative three and out offense that would then be followed by a very tired defense trying to get the ball back. BE POSITIVE ... BE UPBEAT ... BE HOPEFUL ... GO BILLS!

What you need to do is watch our RIGHT GUARD ... although I am thrilled to have Andy Levitre manning the left guard position. Frankly, I continue to be impressed by what I see of Bell at left tackle too. This kid has great athelticism, the right physical attributes, and he seems to be learning with each game he plays. If he can stay healthy, I think there will be no one on this board demanding we draft a LT next year when we will be drafting far from the number one slot.

Don't miss the replay ... it is on TONIGHT at 8pm http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork If anything, this puts a good Bills' preseason game in a time slot when non-Bills' fans just might watch it. We may even see the ESPN guys changing their minds a little bit about our team and it is on early enough that maybe the LIST MAKERS over at GR radio might watch the full preseason game.

PASS ... it is really time to stop looking at the oft injured castaways from other teams ... if we are going to have a really good team we need to let our players play and develop! Although I am a Stevie Johnson fan, I have to admit I want to see more and more of David Nelson. With Easley coming back to us next season I feel good about our wide-out's ... just give them time.

And, sadly Bill Cowher would have been grieving the loss of his wife, which would have left the Bills with a head coach whose head wasn't in the game. Instead, we have the head coach that Bill Cowher recommended and he is totally into coaching winning football and turning this team around. Let's start celebrating the first head coach we have had in a long time who is truly a head coach and let's stop playing the who should have been could have been head coach.

Good offensive lines don't just happen ... players have to use their talent and athletic abilities to grow into good/great NFL linemen. It amazes me how people on this board continuously think that Pro-Bowlers just start as Pro Bowl calibar players and that the Bills somehow have screwed up by not getting five of them. Bell is physically gifted, athletically talented and recognized by two different coaching regimes as having the potential to be not just a good NFL LT but a very good one. Both of our guards have proven in their first year that they have the skill and attitude to be long time players in the league (And, even those Pro-Bowlers miss a block from time to time or are a step behind their RB's), we don't have a Kent Hull at center but we have an intelliigent good center who managed to call the plays for a mangled OL last year that resulted in an average rushing gain of 4+ yards per carry while under the coaching guidance of 'we better sit down kids' Jauron. At RT, I need to see more of Green but I suspect that Meredith will be sliding into the RT slot either this year or next. So, the comparison with the 80's OL (GOOD POST by the way) is reasonable ... I think we are going to be very pleased this season as this line continues to learn and mature together. One other poster has Wood eventually sliding over to C and that is a possibility too. But, we have the essential ingredients for a solid line in the NFL. We do need quality back-up players but doesn't every team in the league? Now, if we can throw off this injury jinx that is hurting us. GO BILLS!!!

Thank you so much for the link to this story. What a sad situation ... we as a nation have become so unforgiving and ready to just condemn people for moments in their life rather than for who they really are. I hope that he gets that shot at the CFL and then who knows what can happen after.

If we analyzed most quarterbacks that made 'draft experts' drinking their beer drool who were picked in the 1st round through the years we will find that a significant number of those who were cannot miss picks ... failed miserably including a significant number of those chosen with the top 3 or 4 picks. And, even though we made the JP pick with a #1 just think about Ryan Leaf and others. Every single critic of every single NFL team can look over draft lists of their team and find failures. The Bills' draft record is pretty much in the middle of the pack if what the final analysis is how many players from your drafts are still playing in the league 5 years after they were picked. They might not be superstars but if they make it in the league the picks were pretty decent ones ... So, all of you who dream of your team failing so we can pick #1 and get Locker or some other QB ... just be prepared for their failure on the NFL field!

I think you are pretty much right with your list but I'd wave goodbye to McCargo and keep Mitchell. Also, tight end is such a mess now ... I agree with Foschi, Stupar, and Nelson but think we will be watching the waiver wire because of Shouman's history of being hurt. Unless Hardy shows something these next two weeks I don't see him as a surprise cut and the IR status of Easley has given Naaman the break he needed to make the line-up (plus his ST work).

Simple answer - NO!

He might not watch the Bills because after all isn't he part of the GR list making team?

Let me see ... he has "a lot of physical gifts" including (but not exclusively) "speed and agility." What you didn't mention is that he has more than the size and reach looked for in left tackles. And, then you note his lack of college experience but wonder why he was not on the starting squad in his official rookie year ... the answer was to spend time in practice developing the skill sets of a player, which of course are not equivilant to game-day action but as this board clearly screams ... 'we don't want someone learning or developing their skills in game situations. So, after a year of developing those skills a coaching regime felt he was ready to be put into the starting line-up because of all of his abilities plus what he had learned in that year "on the bench." And, then welcome to the Dick Jauron 2010 offense geared to not lose with the no-huddle dissolving into total chaos. What did Bell do? Had too many penalties but I wonder if anyone has statistical data on Pro-Bowl left tackles' first year as starters statistics especially related to motion penalties, which were Bell's biggest problem. He was the left tackle on a line that Fred Jackson had great success with and in fact for running backs who averaged 4.4 yards per carry for the season. And, then a new coaching regime comes in led by this fellow Gailey who is offensive minded and dedicated to winning with a strong offense. This Gailey and his staff take a look at Bell and all we hear is how amazing Bell's potential in this league are. How gifted and dedicated he is plus what a strong and rapid recovery he has made from his injuries. So, you say this young man has a "slight chance" to be just a "capable" left tackle ... I say there is s slight chance that is all that he will be ... I think we have someone who will definitely be in the middle mix of left tackles in the league at the least with the potential of being amongst the better ones ... two diametrically opposed coaching staffs both saw the same potential in Bell and it's time for the pessimists of this board to begin asking when our other young tackle will be given a chance on the right side of the line because Meredith like Bell might be the answer we are wanting because there are no teams in the league with all Pro-Bowlers on their line but I'll take Bell and Levitre watching the left side and Wood and Meredith on the right with Jeff's intelligence and line calling ability in the middle.

Frankly, I hope to see this guy named Bell playing for the Bills at left tackle. I understand that he has the size, the atheltic skills, and the football smarts to be a really good left tackle given the real game experience thay any young player needs. In fact, this guy Bell has been analyzed by two professional coaching staffs which are completely oppositive from each other in terms of philosophy and both think this kid Bell is something special. If we are lucky enough to get a player with the size, athletic ability, and football smarts it will be worth investing a year or two of his youthful errors so that we can have a strong LT for a long time.

Agree ... wouldn't be nice if with this new board we stop attacking each other! It just shows the negative world some live in that they felt a need to criticize this post just because the news was on the front page. What it does is allow us to comment on Stupar in a community forum with each of us sharing our insights. As for Stupar, I agree with those who say he should have made the 53 last season but none of us will ever figure out Coach Dick's thinking on anything related to the offensive side of the game. Here's an "average" player who is doing everything right! But then again Pete Metzelars was an average player who did everything right. I don't think Stupar is a great blocker and from the coaching comments they don't either but he is more than adequate plus he can catch the ball with a sense of the goal line or first down marker. Unfortunately we now need back-ups who can play ... GO BILLS and friends on this board let's try to stay positive in our critiques of each other.

QB - Well with our QB situation ... unless Trent reverts back to the Washington game it is still his position to lose ... Brohm may be headed to #2 and Fitz to the unemployment lines. WR - I am still in Stevie Johnson's camp and don't think he has done anything to lose the official starting position but I think we will see several players in the mix during the games with Parrish definitely established as the slot receiver. I was really hoping for Easley but now he can be Rookie of the Year next season. Roosevelt has as real shot at making this team! TE - I have no problem at all with Stupar being crowned the winner of the tight end battle. I hate to see the competition dwindle so quickly and am very curious what the cause of Nelson's suspension is since he is saying it had nothing to do with illegal drugs. Perhaps was it related to the migraines he was suffering last year? OL - I agree with you on Meredith over Green but Gailey wants to have his starting five playing together and unless Green makes a total fool out of himself in these last two preseason games it looks like the line is set. I REALLY LIKE what I saw from Bell this past week ... all the naysayers need to take a deep breath because if this kid is healthy we should do just fine on the left side of the line with Levitre and Bell. WOLB - I would love to see Coleman step up ... Torbor was better than I had expected but based on his college work Coleman can be a monster here ... when opportunity knocks open the door. I just can't see Maybe in the starting line up but then again ... gasp ... he was a Number One pick and should be able to start in his second year. SOLB - A true competition ... will be interesting to see who gets the starting nod this week. Kelsay's injury took him a step back ... and haven't heard a word from Chan about him while he has been praising Ellis' progress. CB - McKelvin's game has been moved up a notch and he just may have moved into the starting slot although I think we will see a lot of nickle this season so all 3 will be playing. You obviously left out the DL, which looks really solid ... the safeties where there are not any options to consider with Byrd out ... I just want to see a strong ST unit established so we stop seeing these returns. So LET's GO BILLS!!!

I agree with you on Ellison. Once again this board has chosen to jump all over a guy who plays his heart out. He is not going to be a starting LB for us but if you look back on his contributions to the D the last two seasons inspite of being undersized you can see that he has been a positive contributor. He will be a ST player for us again this year. As for surprise cuts ... not sure if these are surprises but I think they will happen #1 - Hardy-even with the injuries at wide-out, his own injury will just increase the chances that he will be looking for a job. #2 - Fitz - don't think this is a surprise after Brohm's performance last night #3 -Lankster - going into the preseason I thought he was a lock but from all reports from training camp and from his performances in both games I think he's a goner and Youboty benefits (he was great last night) #4 - McCargo - he just can't play the game That's it ... Maybin is an embarrassment especially the way he acted last night. I sure hope that Gailey sat the boy down and told him to stop acting like a superstar stud when all he has done so far is show he can stomp his feet. I would not be surprised or disappointed if the Bills traded him for a future late round draft pick.

Last night Green did look like the weakest link in the O-line but again it is preseason game #2. I thought the back-ups played well but that the officials still like to toss flags at Bills' players even when they haven't done anything wrong. This was evident on at least one of the D-holding penalties and definitely true on the one holding call on Howard late in the game. We have a coach who wants to win and who celebrates winning ... did you see Chan's face lit up last night at the end? something we never saw in Dick ... but part of winning is putting the pieces together. Bell showed his potential and talent again last night now he just has to stay healthy. The middle of our line is strong. And, we have 4 stud running backs to lift the pressure off the passing game ... So, all you Jake Locker dreamers ... we aren't going to have one of the first few picks in the draft unless we trade up.

Biscuit you are so right on! SUPER BOWL BILLS .... oh wait, this was another preseason game wasn't it? But, some really good signs ... Bell at LT had a strong brief first game appearance albeit with some mistakes but I would think that anyone watching can see his potential to be at least a good LT in this league. McKelvin had a game we have been waiting for! And, Kyle Williams is going to be a monster upfront. Although only one pass got to Stevie Johnson it sounds like his route running is drawing attention. There were more good things ... but now let's see what happens at THE RALPH versus Cincinnati.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats veteran safety Sandy Beveridge is leaving football for a career fighting fires. http://www.fanhouse.com/2010/07/26/cfl-pla...become-fireman/ How can we go wrong with Beveridge ... with Byrd hurting here's a local guy who can also help us sell tickets in Toronto! Plus he is a good special teams' guy! Adams is signed and Snead ... Snead ... he was cut before teams had to make cuts ... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/427930-...-bay-buccaneers Let's see what Chan is doing with the team ... and also watch the Raiders' waiver wire ...