TimGraham

Thanks, and right back at ya! We're still in Florida.

That's all it would be -- a guess. There are so many X-factors involved with this group, especially with two rookies. But as mentioned in the story, the Packers had three of them starting three years ago and made it to the NFC title game in their second season together. Throw in an O-line injury and everything is further out of whack. The more I think about it, the more I can't even begin to guess. But I'd find it hard to believe they'll be good to go in Week 1. And thanks for letting me know you liked the story. I figured of all the Bills rookies I could have spoken to this week, Wood and Levitre would be the most interesting.

1. Bills fans love the underdog. They symbolize what the city stands for. And they often find themselves in bigger roles than you might expect because the Bills don't spend as much money on their depth players as other teams. One injury, and a guy who might not make another team suddenly is starting. 2. I have met Rex Ryan several times and have found him to be disarmingly funny, self-effacing and brutally honest. Schottenheimer was under contract for one more year. Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan agreed it would be better for continuity to have him back. Schottenheimer is highly regarded in the NFL and will be a head coach soon, maybe next year. 3. I used to golf but haven't in about seven years. 4. I'm a coward.

I spent only about a half hour with them, but I can say they both seem like nice guys. Wood and I had an especially enjoyable chat about Louisville, where I have a lot of family and he plans to make his permanent home.

Coincidentally, I spoke to both a couple days ago: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-9-5/R...e-overhaul.html

All is quiet right now, but no need to get alarmed yet. Contract terms become pretty obvious as players around the league sign, and the Bills don't have any landmark players (No. 1 overall pick, top-five pick, first quarterback taken, etc.). I don't foresee any holdouts in this group.

Teams rarely update their depth charts after the draft. Some don't update them at all. The Jets' official site still lists Brett Favre as their starting quarterback. The Dolphins have a policy that they won't post any depth charts during the offseason. The reason is because they can be so misleading this time of year.

Nope, still a club of one. Big difference between a guy saying he prefers Jackson to Lynch and another saying there is zero proof Lynch is better than Jackson. I'll respect a guy's opinion when he spells it out as just that and doesn't promote his attraction as irrefutable fact.

I have no idea if your per-down stats are accurate, but your first downs aren't close. Fred Jackson had 34 rushing first downs last year. Lynch had 54.

It can't hurt. McCargo's relationship with Bill Kollar was beyond repair. A fresh face and a new set of ideas very well could stimulate McCargo into actually giving a damn for once.

Fine. That was for the original question. But you keep using the term all-purpose yards over and over in giving your analysis. You need to learn the terms. If you mean yards from scrimmage, then say yards from scrimmage. I don't think you're a very savvy football observer based on your theory Fred Jackson is better than Marshawn Lynch. Your lack of understanding the stats only underscores my initial impression. I was trying to be nice, but I've lost patience. I'm moving on to other things now.

You need to learn the definitions of what you're quoting. All-purpose yardage includes kickoff and punt returns. It certainly does skew numbers when comparing players. I think I'm done here.

That's a coaching question, isn't it? That's called situational football. If the Bills want Jackson on the field on third down, he'll make a higher percentage of the first downs. But you say ZERO proof? Well, for one, I use my eyes. But if you need stats, try looking up the numbers on first down and second down. I have a feeling you'd find some proof there. Buffalo was in the top 10 last year in yards gained on first down and there are no wild passing numbers to skew that. The Bills ran 107 times on first down. Only three AFC teams ran more often on first down (Patriots, Dolphins, Ravens). I don't have the breakdown in games both Lynch and Jackson played (perhaps you do), but I'm sure Lynch got a great majority of those, making him one of the NFL's most productive backs on first down.

But what percentage of Jackson's were passes?

It's like vanilla or chocolate. There's no wrong answer.

To borrow a phrase from "Hockey Hotline," if Fred Jackson gets the same amount of touches as Marshawn Lynch (barring injury) I'll make you a watch. So don't hold your breath about Jackson proving your theory correct. But I'm picking Lynch anyway.

That's why I can't buy into the Bills for 2009 until I'm shown something.

You said that the Bills being competitive against the Patriots in the season finale should be used as further proof Peters wasn't that good. You quoted the rushing numbers from that game. The left tackle wasn't the only different starter in that game. You were using selective reasoning. If that proves the left tackle from that game was better than Peters, then why wouldn't the running back be better than Lynch? To which, of course, you would say "That's foolish. Everybody knows Lynch is better than Jackson." And that's when I would say "I know."

I have seen that parody. Kissing Suzy Kolber is a funny site. I think the Trent Green guest spot is just because King is on vacation. Perhaps Green's agent, in an attempt to get him post-retirement exposure, proposed it. In years past, I think there just wasn't a column when King took time off.

I think it's a wonderful strategy for the future.

Rookie pass-rushers aren't like rookie cornerbacks. They can produce immediately. Jevon Kearse, Dwight Freeney, Simeon Rice. Check out their rookie numbers. Chris Long came very close to being the No. 1 overall pick last year. Getting beat by a couple rookies doesn't mean the guy sucks. Rookies go to the Pro Bowl all the time, so the logic that a great player shouldn't be beaten by a rookie doesn't wash. And if you want to make the statement about how well the Bills did running the ball against the Patriots in Week 17, why not go ahead and say Fred Jackson is better than Marshawn Lynch, too? For the record, this is what I think: * Peters had an off year. * The Bills had no choice but to trade him because of the contract issues. * Bills fans have every right to hate the guy for the way he handled himself. * That does not mean the Bills offensive line will be better without him or Langston Walker will be better left tackle this year. A HUGE leap too many people are making.

ESPN has a contract with Elias Sports Bureau. We're not allowed to quote STATS Inc because it's a subscription service we don't use. But if another outlet quotes STATS, we can say so-and-so reported these numbers ... That's what I did in the "How many sacks did Peters really surrender?" post.

Interesting theory, but one major hole. Fans, coaches and players each have an equal, one-third say in Pro Bowl voting. The fans didn't vote him in. The NFL releases only the top five in fan balloting and he didn't make it. They were Jake Long, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Matt Light, Michael Roos and Joe Thomas. To become a starter, Peters would've needed selection by both the players and the coaches. In your theory, that means the coaches (who are considered management) also were involved in a conspiracy to drive up the contract of one player and, by extension, possibly force their own teams into salary-cap strife because having a player go from a bargain to one who will figure into franchise tenders is bad for teams when it comes to keeping their own players.

Jones gave up 10.5 two years ago. Pace has a lot of 8's and 9.5's. Can't find Ogden, but about to get on a plane.

I'm just getting into this thread, so somebody else might have posted this, but just in case ... Charlie Anderson was in his fifth NFL season last year.