TimGraham

Call me out? We're in agreement. If it's worth reporting, we report it. But don't say we have an agenda, which is what this whole thread is about: "The big bad media is out to get T.O. and only reports the negative stuff." No, we report the newsworthy stuff. The Alzheimer's story is displayed prominently on the ESPN main NFL page and has been for much of the day.

I guess I should have read the whole thread before I commented.

There are a lot of internet T.O. reports floating around out there that the mainstream media hasn't reported on. So don't get too worked up about everybody tripping over themselves to paint T.O. as the villain. Over the weekend. South Beach. Field sobriety tests. Offering his autograph to get out of a ticket ... The links aren't tough to find. But if the media really wanted to hammer T.O., they would have jumped on this. I'm not touching it, though.

Yes, Russ Brandon is here along with a few other members of the Bills front office.

I don't see any Bills trades being stimulated by the talks here. Some flirting has taken place, but from what I understand there have been no serious overtures made.

The death of boxing has so many elements to it, but not being able to relate to the fighters is a significant one. The upper weight classes are dominated by former Soviet Bloc nations. The lower weight classes are dominated by Spanish-speaking and Asian fighters. The average U.S. fan doesn't get to know the personalities because of cultural and language barriers. The lack of boxing on free TV and the rise of MMA as a hip sport among younger, money-spending fans don't help. Boxing, like horse racing, has become an old man's sport. Sponsors are sinking money into MMA instead.

I don't think it will impact the commissioner's decision at all. Unless there's a shocking verdict and Lynch doesn't get suspended at all, he will not be playing in that game.

You're assuming in that scenario that the NFL is like the real world and phases out proven talent. In businesses where it doesn't matter who is doing the work, you would have a point. But in the case of the NFL, proven talent never is phased out in exchange for cheaper talent. Never. Superstars always will get paid, so escalating rookie salaries are great for elite players. A janitor or a blogger can be replaced by younger, cheaper talent. But an NFL quarterback or left tackle or cover corner will never be out of work if he can do the job well. And the best will always make more than what blue-chip rookies establish in previous years. Jake Long will be the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history for only a brief period. As soon as a veteran Pro Bowler's contract is up, he will make at least as much as Long.

I wrote a story on this at last year's owner's meetings. There's a split, but most owners don't like giving such exorbitant sums to unproven talent. One might think the NFLPA doesn't like it either because so often the No. 1 pick becomes the richest player at his position. But the union believes that system works because the next time Peyton Manning's contract is up, he'll have the ability to compare himself to Johnny Flamethrower and get even more money than that. So in that respect, uncapped rookie salaries raise the bar for the superstars.

It's more of an art than it is a science. Trades always are a tricky proposition in any sport. Teams evaluate players in different ways, and there often are strong-willed personalities in various front offices. Some might put an emphasis on pure talent, others on value, others on character or intangibles. Scouts have a bigger voice in some organizations than others. Ownership can insist on running football operations or be totally hands off. There are probably 25 different front-office personalities.

As for the premise of this thread, my hasty wording is a classic example of the rapid-fire nature of chatting. So I should state for the record: I do not know for a fact the Bills are shopping Parrish, but it would be appropriate. I was speculating on that question.

Yeah, you're probably right. My sources don't know football. They just work for NFL teams and stuff. What I tried to express in my chat was that I don't personally think Peters is worth a first-round pick when a team can use that pick to draft a franchise tackle because a few exist in this year's draft just like they did in last year's. I don't see why a team would take on a tackle who's coming off a shaky season when they can grab a younger player they can mold. Peters wants the type of money No. 1 overall pick Jake Long got, so why not just draft one yourself and pay him less? And, believe it or not, teams will look at where a player was drafted when considering trades. Even though Peters is a two-time Pro Bowler, he was an undrafted, converted tight end. Trade partners aren't going to bend over backwards to reward the Bills and take a headache off their hands at the same time. But it takes only one team to really, really want a player. Maybe the Bills will get a first-round pick for Peters, but he isn't worth it. And that's an opinion based on talking to people who happen to make trades and hammer out contracts for a living.

I have an affinity for those transcendent moments -- both sublime and bizarre. I would love to have been ringside for the epic Hagler-Hearns fight, which ended within three unbelievable rounds. I also wish I could say I was at Holyfield-Bowe fight in 1993, when the Fan Man crashed into the ring. But I can say I was there when Mike Tyson bit Holyfield ... and when Oliver McCall broke down in tears and refused to fight Lennox Lewis.

They all have their charms ... I'll eliminate the World Series and BCS title game. I covered the Orange Bowl for the national championship once (Oklahoma over Florida State in 2000) and it did nothing for me. NCAA hoops would be thrilling, but I don't get into the sport as much as I do the NFL, NHL or boxing. Covering the Stanley Cup, you would miss one of the best parts because you'd be scrambling to file and get to the locker rooms when the players are shaking hands at the end and then lifting the Cup. But a Game 7 would be intense. The Super Bowl kind of drones on with all the commercials and the late finish, but it is the No. 1 event in the U.S. That said, nothing I've ever covered captures the tension of a world-class title fight. Anything can happen, and it might end at any time with a single punch. I've never covered anything else where I write with so much adrenaline pumping than after a sensational fight.

I think that's possible. But he will be 36 before the season is over. Receivers don't have a long shelf life.

A lot of people would be right. But he was good enough to start nine games for one of the worst teams in the NFL.

That made me laugh. Which was a cruel thing to do.

I haven't heard anything, but that wouldn't mean much. I've been sick and out of the loop for a few days. The only updates I can give you would pertain to all those people from high school who kept appearing in my fever-induced dreams.

I wish I had something on this for you, but the best I can do is speculate Cook has been given permission to see if he can strike a deal for Scheffler. Keep in mind, both Cutler and Scheffler are under contract. Cook can't just come to Orchard Park and make a deal like Drew Rosenhaus did for Terrell Owens. The only power Cook has to move his players is whatever power the Broncos give him. Even then, the Broncos can veto whatever proposition Cook comes up with. The Cutler story is so fresh, I'd find it hard to believe in the past 48 hours the Broncos have given Cook permission to seek trade partners and he's already touring the 31 teams. I'm guessing Cook's trip to Orchard Park had been planned for a while.

I wish I had something on this for you, but the best I can do is speculate Cook has been given permission to see if he can strike a deal for Scheffler. Keep in mind, both Cutler and Scheffler are under contract. Cook can't just come to Orchard Park and make a deal like Drew Rosenhaus did for Terrell Owens. The only power Cook has to move his players is whatever power the Broncos give him. Even then, the Broncos can veto whatever proposition Cook comes up with. The Cutler story is so fresh, I'd find it hard to believe in the past 48 hours the Broncos have given Cook permission to seek trade partners and he's already touring the 31 teams. I'm guessing Cook's trip to Orchard Park had been planned for a while.

Thanks for the far too kind words, everybody. I've been away from the computer for a few days and just now getting caught up. Sorry for the delay, but I had to send my appreciation even if it was a few days late. A Graham jersey? Back when I played they were that nylon mesh and we turned them into midriffs. Remember when THAT was cool? Me neither.

The last place I felt fine was Caputi's. I'm not blaming. Just saying ...

Sorry I haven't been around, folks. I've been battling some sort of nastiness doctors can't seem to classify. I came down with it my last night in Buffalo and it sent me to the ER as soon as I returned home. I'm at my computer for the first time in four days and when I was working it was solely on the T.O. story. I can't remember the last time I visited my usual sites, including TBD. Maybe a week ago. So I'm getting caught up on everything I've missed. It'll be a bit slow for a few more days, but I hope to be around a little here and there.

He was demoted from offensive coordinator to tight ends coach because Cam Cameron, the new head coach, insisted on being the offensive coordinator, too. But when Cameron realized he was in over his head, he handed the job back to Mularkey.

Everybody was a bum on that staff, including certified geniuses like Cam Cameron, Dom Capers, Terry Robiskie and Hudson Houck.