TimGraham

Exactly. Those jerks.

Sorry. I meant 1971. Sadly for Bills fans, the only things that don't jibe on the merged records are titles.

I'm sorry ... Do I know you?

That reporter was me. And based on the reception he keeps getting, I'm sure he feels your gratitude.

Keep in mind AFL records became NFL records after the merger, so the Briscoe and Harris starts go down as "NFL history." But the first merged season was 1970. That means Harris would have been the first black starter in the NFL when he started for the Bills that year.

I'll be writing a story on McCargo for Monday. I spoke to him today. He seems like he's in the right frame of mind. We'll see if that translates on the field.

The quote to an ESPN reporter was TV guy George Smith, who also was there today and spoke with T.O. off camera for about a minute when the news conference was over. Smith mentions this exchange on the video report that can be found on my blog.

That's exactly right. I pounded T.O. He didn't know what hit him. He's never encountered an interviewer like me. NEVER! He bowed to my furious questioning. And he'll do it again! He can't cope with a guy who has mastered interviewing Tim Connolly! For the record, here's the verbatim transcript disseminated by the Bills PR department. I asked the last three questions, and he wasn't one bit annoyed. I dare say he was eager to get this off his chest. I never mentioned Roger Goodell's name, referenced dogfighting or the word "suspension." John had it pretty much dead on. I asked "Since you're a voice people listen to in the NFL, what's your take on the Michael Vick situation?" T.O.'s a big boy. He could have said "It's a league matter and I'll leave it at that," or "I'd rather not comment." And then we would have thanked him for his time. WIDE RECEIVER TERRELL OWENS Training Camp AM Practice – July 26, 2009 On getting involved in a new offense It’s coming along. Out here, we’ve made some connections and everyday is a work in progress. We’re just out here trying to get better. That’s what training camp is all about. On how he will affect Lee Evans’ production on the field I just try to bring my leadership as far as the things that I do in practice. That’s obviously working hard and trying to win for him. I think my tempo in practice is obviously rubbed off on some of the other guys. I’ve always been labeled as a hard worker so I do nothing different than I did in San Francisco, Philly or Dallas. I think everyone knows that I work hard and that’s part of my preparation for every practice and going into the games and throughout the season. I just try to lead by example. On what he worked on with wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert after practice Just different stuff. I’ve been in the game for awhile so every coach has their coaching style. Teaching different things as far as releases. Obviously there are some different routes. So anything that can be an advantage for me, with my size, and kind of mix up things from what I’ve done in the past to obviously make me a better receiver. Every coach that I’ve had, like I said, has a different coaching style, so I try to adopt and adjust to what they have, teaching me-wise. On if he is still learning after 14 years in the NFL Yeah, definitely. Coming here, obviously guys play different defenses. I’m in the AFC this year, so there are going to be some differences as far as coverages and how teams play me. So I’m just trying to gain whatever knowledge that I can about those coverages, about how they’re going to play me this year. Those guys are familiar with the way teams have played Lee the years he’s been here so I’m just trying to soak up everything that I can to become productive on the field. On if he expects any differences playing in the AFC No. I mean, once you get out there in between the lines it’s all about playing football and becoming a football player. Some things you kind of go with the flow and sometimes plays don’t happen as they’re designed. But being a football player and having that experience, you kind of make plays when there aren’t plays there. On if it takes time to develop timing with a new quarterback It’s more so with Trent (Edwards). Trying to gage my gate, how fast I am, what I do before I go in and out of breaks. It’s all about timing. I think that’s what the OTAs and the minicamps are for. We’ve gotten in rhythm and we’re definitely trying to get on the same page. On his stance on the Michael Vick situation I think it’s unfortunate. I think the way the commissioner has handled it, I think it’s unfair to Michael Vick. I think he’s done the time for what he’s done. I don’t think it’s really fair for him to be suspended four more games. That’s almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground. I think a lot of guys around the league need to speak up. I think the players union needs to step in because the guy’s already suffered so much. To add a four-game suspension on a two-year prison sentence, that’s ridiculous. On if he thinks Vick will get a chance to sign with an NFL team He should. Why shouldn’t he? There was a number of guys around the league that have done far more worse things than that and gotten second chances, so I don’t see why he shouldn’t. On if he would ever want Michael Vick as a teammate Well, why not? Again, Michael Vick is a guy that really hasn’t had any character issues besides that that he got a prison sentence for, so why not?

It has more to do with the Bills being the only team on the field since Saturday.

The team doesn't have to collect. I'm not saying this is what happened, but they could have negotiated away the fines as part of getting him to report. For example: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2999778

Thanks, dog. Good to be back. I like the commissioner's decision not only to suspend Vick for a few games (we don't know for sure how many yet), but also to do it now. He is doing the NFL front offices a service with the timing of this because once the suspension is announced, all 32 teams will have enough time to decide if they want to bring him in with full knowledge of how many games he'll be available. No more guessing. There will be interest in Vick around the NFL, but this situation is such a wild card; I can't predict what teams will be most interested. The four teams on my beat (AFC East) would seem to be long shots at best. The Patriots are often mentioned, but I think that rumor gained speed because the Patriots never comment on any rumor. Nobody in Foxborough will shoot it down, so many assume it must be true. But the Patriots don't say squat about their personnel preferences. One team mentioned on Colin Cowherd's show today (Erik Kuselias was filling in) was the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it made some sense.

I have no idea. If they didn't, I doubt they'd ever admit it.

I don't know why you'd have the perception ESPN would want to keep a lid on Spygate. ESPN was at the forefront of turning that story into a major scandal. The Patriots and ESPN do not necessarily get along to this day because of it. That's why I laugh every time somebody on this board or in my blog comment section writes about ESPN's love affair with the Patriots. When it came to Spygate coverage, ESPN and the Boston Herald were mentioned in the same breath, with the New York Times closely behind. There's a lot of scar tissue there. If there was another Spygate angle to explore, I'm sure ESPN would have no compunction. That said, I'm not going to write a story giving credence to a "perception is reality" piece on my blog when I think the perception is misguided. If you polled the average football fan about the Dolphins and the Wildcat, I'd predict most would say it was their base offense. That doesn't mean I need to write a story about it.

Hello, everybody. I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I tried to unplug myself from football as much as possible the past three weeks and rarely logged on to a computer. I even -- gasp -- missed "The T.O. Show" debut. OK, Tortured Soul. I'll take a crack at these. But I have to say you might want to think about finding work in Vegas. These are some tough numbers. Under on the wins. I'm thinking 7-9 at the moment (that could evolve as we learn more in camp). Over on division wins. Under on Maybin sacks. Over on Schobel sacks. Over on McKelvin interceptions. Over (but barely) on T.O. touchdowns. Sacks allowed are dubious, but if we're going by the STATS Inc. numbers, I'll say over.

So huge and cumbersome a seventh grader could carry it on his shoulder in 1983. Ever hear of a tripod? That's what the Patriots used for their mind-boggling, 22nd century technology. As for your Betamax with remote control on a cord ... That wasn't a recorder. It was a tape player. I hope you didn't try to film your wedding or birth of your children with a piece of equipment that didn't have a lens. The Patriots didn't hide their cameras. Nobody ever accused them of hiding their cameras. Teams are allowed to film all sorts of things during a game. What matters is where they're pointed.

Zing!

Agree on all counts, Lori. As someone mentioned as a way to dismiss the notion the Patriots are a dynasty, they won their last Super Bowl after the 2004 season. To be harping on what impact Spygate may or may not have made on their success almost five years ago is about as relevant as Flutie-Johnson.

No, Lori. I'm confident he's serious. This is a guy who doesn't think video cameras existed 20 years ago even though I remember doing projects with them in school when I was in seventh grade. That was 1983, and the technology wasn't new. Whatever. This thread only proves the misconceptions out there regarding Spygate. We've had accusations the Patriots new the Rams' plays in the Super Bowl, the Boston Herald is making up stories that DILUTE their own scoop and assertions Jay Fiedler is backing the company line because he's incapable of speaking his mind. To restate what Herm Edwards, another of the so-called aggrieved, who actually could be seen waving at the Patriots cameras (and didn't turn them in because he didn't think it was a big deal), told me last month: "If you're naïve to believe that helped him win a Super Bowl, you're kidding yourself. I don't believe that."

And the two teams in the post right above your response. But you must not have noticed those.

I hear you on all points.

Jimmy Johnson says the Chiefs taught him how to do it 20 years ago. http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/p...e-is-overblown/ Q: Did you ever steal signals? JJ: Oh in a heartbeat, yeah. Yes I did. Q: Via video, Jimmy? Or no? JJ: Oh yeah, I did it with video and so did a lot of other teams in the league. Just to make sure that you could study it and take your time, because you’re going to play the other team the second time around. But a lot of coaches did it, this was commonplace. Q: But did you do it by taping the signal caller? JJ: Yeah. Q: Oh you did. JJ: That’s what I’m saying. I was saying one of Marty Schottenheimer’s scouts, Mark Hatley, who has passed away now, Mark told me that’s how they did it, and Howard Mudd their offensive line coach with Kansas City, who now coaches for Tony Dungy, he was the best in the entire league at stealing signals.

Sure. I'll give provide a link that proves Christ is the son of man, too.

I thnink his opinion is more valid than yours or that of any other fan who insists Spygate really mattered. I'm explaining why I don't think it was a big deal to those who think I'm an apologist. Fiedler is an NFL quarterback who played against the Spygate Patriots and whose livelihood was impacted. You care more than he does. I find that a little sad and a little amusing.

I disagree. Fielder is no longer an NFL employee. He doesn't do business in football anymore. He has no reason not to speak his mind.

Jackson didn't make the team through an open tryout. http://www.scbandits.com/news_detail.cfm?id=180 Being brought in to work out isn't the same as hosting a bunch of unsigned players to audition. An open tryout is how Vince Papale made the Eagles. Players rarely make a team. This was an open tryout: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/200...lls-tryout.html It's a needle-in-a-haystack approach.