TheLynchTrain

+1 At least it would be interesting in practice

The guy that was tripped by Sal Alosi! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Carroll

Except after years and years of flat cap, the cap is (supposedly) going to jump to 145 mil and then 160 the year after...

Agreed I didn't understand the point of mentioning the sellouts struggle during the glory years, particularly when the Bills lead the league in attendance a few of those years.

Not if they make like weekend at bernies...

I thought it was funny when Nix mentioned the snow remains "within a foot of the top of our mailbox. The snow stays on the ground there until May. It doesn't melt." I don't consider myself as thin skinned as some when it comes to this so-called Buffalo-bashing and I don't live there anymore, but really Buddy? We all know he's famous for his hyperbole, but the average hick from Chattanooga doesn't. For the sake of those living there, I wish these guys wouldn't continue to spread this nonsense.

I don't think the Bills are sweating this one at all. He only had 1 mil guaranteed through a signing bonus. I don't think any of his 3.6 mil salary this year is guaranteed, so I think they can cut him without any reservations - the only hit is his 1 mil signing bonus spread over last year and this year.

He's an interesting case. I seem to remember last year that it wasn't just the Bears that wanted to dump him - he was actively requesting a trade. He was so bad in Chicago that he was even replaced his last year by Bills whipping boy Jon Scott (that's rough). Last year in Tampa, he reunited with his line coach from college and still couldn't get it done. I'd definitely kick the tires for camp fodder, but third chances rarely work out. Sometimes, guys just suck at the next level, which is too bad because he had the best nickname in the NFL!

FWIW, PFF had him at 12 games at RG and the 20th ranked guard, one spot above Craig Urbik with an overall grade of 7.9 (5.4 PB, 1.0 RB with a positive of little penalties). Geoff Schwartz was ranked 8th with a grade of 15.2 (5.3 PB, 7.3 RB with a positive score in screens) and 4 games at LG and 9 at RG. Schwartz had 498 snaps compared to 673 by Asamoah -looks like all the studs averaged 1100 snaps. https://www.profootballfocus.com/data/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2013&pos=G&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1

Clearly, the Bills are Waste Management

I'm assuming you guys are discussing this because of the Gaughan article in the paper today. While discussing Nix's role is definately interesting ('mI ok with it), I think the discussion on Overdorf is wayyyy more interesting. Do you guys think this is a problem or is everyone ok with it? I'm inclined to believe Whaley that the three work as a team, but what's he supposed to say if he isn't ok with it? I'd imagine there's quite a few GMs out there that want all the control over football operations, and don't want a penny-pincher going over their head. Bills GM begins first full offseason as the man

Oh snap, Mary Cabot Lodge called out Graham and Gaughan, calling their reports "premature." Timmy usually doesn't take criticism well, do I sense a twitter war brewing?

JBoys I would have agreed with you less than 5 years ago, but I think DBF hit the nail on the head here - there are a ton of defenses that have their safeties interchangeable, where they give them responsibility for half the field. Obiously there are still teams that play the traditiional SS and FS, but I'd argue on a majority of teams in the league the past few years, both starting safety positions are probably more similar in responsibility than say a flanker WR and his split end partner. Take the Bills for instance - Pettine came in saying both safety positions would be for all intents and purposes interchangeable. After 16 games, I'd argue that was half true - there were plenty of times in games (usually on obvious passing situations) where Byrd was a true centerfielder and AW played up on the line. However, on DBF's point on the lack of "run stuffing" safeties, I would argue that they haven't been phased out as much as used differently, albiet less - take how the Bills used Searcy this year and even Bryan Scott a few years back in the hybrid S/LB position in nickel and dime packages. They're still on teams, its just their reps and importance has been reduced.

Thought I'd add this to the discussion - for what it's worth PFF ranks Levitre cumulatively as the 13th best guard - they said he was the 30th ranked pass blocker and 6th ranked rush blocker. My opinion, we should have never drafted a guard as high as the second round in the first place. Be that as it may, we did and he turned out to be a serviceable, consistent and un-injured player for the Bills, three things we've mostly lacked the last 15 years. The bills let him walk, which was probably a good idea at the time, but remember they had every opportunity to sign him up the year before he hit the open market. Also I cry foul with the Alex Marvez - Levitre didn't miss a game when he was here and never showed up on an injury report - we're hearing about "long term concerns" now? Sounds like a reporter saying something to get people talking about her, just like we're doing now.

Can't believe 9 people voted yes for this. I'm sorry but anyone that thinks we'd need to fix our LG position by moving our excellent left tackle needs their head examined. From PFF: "Cordy Glenn is quietly turning into one of the best left tackles in the NFL. With his top grade in this game he’s currently our 7th rated player at that position and the youngest of the group." https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/12/16/pff-reaction-blog-week-15/

Demoted from AFCE blogger to a Dolphins blogger. I think ESPN reshuffled their blogger coverage from one guy each division to one guy each team. Of course, the Bills were the only team to get an intern as their "professional" blogger.

At the time I thought Cleveland got the better of the trade at the time but that it could be beneficial for both teams in the long run. Right or wrong, NFL GMs value first rounders highly (some say too highly) and if you know he isn't your guy, admit your mistake ASAP and move on. I wasn't sold on TRich as an elite back from my biased opinion of Alabama backs and the fact he had a weak YPC last year. However I think its hilarious the media types are doing a complete 180 two months later. Considering how important the offseason and training camp are, I could see how it would be very difficult for a player to come in during the season and just "play" at an elite level. So what happens if TRich has a monster season next year? Will these same media types go back to bashing the browns?

Here ya go...at the 5:30 mark http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4wjzPy0PuY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DY4wjzPy0PuY

I thought it was a little over the top when our County Executive commented in this, and even more rediculous he's now having the book thrown at him. He's already been fired from his job and had his name thrown around enough to fill multiple google search pages. He's virtually unemployable for the foreseeable future in Western New York (especially in his field) and he will very soon most likely be facing a lengthy and costly civil suit from the victim he fell on (deservedly so). Shouldn't that be enough? Now we're going to charge him with a crime that he'll forever have to disclose and explain every time he applies for a job? We all made stupid mistakes. I don't know this person at all and don't know if he's an nice guy or a jerk, but I think this is enough punishment already without getting the authorities involved. Let's show a little compassion for once for our fellow man.

This is funny. I just finished reading Klosterman's new book "I Wear the Black Hat Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined)" which I would recommend to everyone here (there's a section on OJ). The whole book is about the reasons why we perceive some people in the public sphere to be villains and not others. As I was reading it, I thought about how it compared with NFL players, specifically RGIII (I live in DC), and how perception has turned on him, some reasons his own fault and others media/fans, etc. There was a great section in there about Taylor Swift's perception from her first album to her second that I think sums it up perfectly (yeah I know, I'm comparing RGIII to Taylor Swift, but bear with me): “What really happened is this: People who liked Taylor Swift’s music reverse-engineered a scenario in which they could appreciate her for nonmusical reasons; two years later, different people who loathed that construction had to find a way to pre-explain why they weren’t going to enjoy her material (so they infused their prefab distaste of her persona back into her work).” That being said, I do think last year's instant success got to RGIII and he did get a big head, and hasn't been able to shut his trap enough with the media. Whether a full year removed from surgery and humbling, disappointing second season will change that is still to be seen.

I just voted. The thing Buffalo has going for it here is Bills players are at the top of the ballot for every position, which is awesome. Hopefully our guys will get more votes based on visually being at the top.

When we signed Hackett, I was disappointed, as were plenty of people on this board. I think we all expected Marrone to live up to that first presser promise of finding "experienced" coordinators. That being said, I understood he's young, in his first year of real experience in the NFL, and needed a long leash. I think he's been a mixed bag through 11 games, but the hope here is he's learning from his mistakes. What truly boggles my mind is why can't we get a freaking coordinator to put both our running backs on the field at the same time the last decade? Whether its Henry and McGahee, Marshawn or Jackson, Jackson or Spiller - we honestly can't find a few plays a game where these guys are on the field together? One could argue that our top two running backs on the depth chart (take your pick of any year the past decade) are the best players on our offense. It seems every time we get a new head coach/offensive coordinator, they always talk about this and it never materialises.

While it would be awesome get something in return for Hopkins (hey even a conditional 15 pick), I don't think any team would trade away a pick for a guy that hasn't played a down yet in the NFL, even if he had an awesome college resume. In a performance driven league, I think we have to go with Carpenter at this point. Since he's got a one year deal and knows we have a drafted kicker under contract for three more years, he'll definately demand (and deserve) a multi-year contract. This will ensure we keep him - unless Ralphy wants to throw a mil or two guranteed away for spring and summer practices. While Capenter has been an excellent kicker this year (and has proven to be an excellent kicker with a pro bowl), the knock on him throughout his career has been his lack of leg strength on kickoffs. Its not killing us this year, but it does still leave something to be desired. I could see us keeping both of them and having Hopkins serve as our kickoff specialist. Either way, while it sucks we drafted a kicker this year, the results are still what we wanted - a top flight kicker who's been a defintie upgrade to one of my least favorite players the last few years, Rian Lindell. I agree with you here on giving Hopkins a chance this offseason. Maybe I'm overestimating the leverage a kicker may have, but I think in order to keep Carpenter we have to give him a multi-year deal. If he keeps up his level the next 5 games, he'll have the numbers of being a top 5 kicker with the pedigree of having a pro bowl in 2009 under his belt and a few years of 110+ points. He's also been screwed over by the Dolphins for having one bad year; that taste most likely hasn't left his mouth and he'll want some security. No way he'll sign a one year deal to go back and "compete" with a guy under contract for 3 more years when he has a chance to be the "guy" somewhere else. Either way, I think this is a good problem to have.

Tim Graham (and I believe Mike Harrington -can't confirm) talked about this over the summer. Below are links to a Graham article in June about it and then a Buff News video below with a discussion this week. The bills have complained for years that they have too many home games in December, making it tougher to sell out. They got their wish this year. Its also been noted time and again Ralph hates night games (particularly Monday night) because it's harder for our longer distance fans to make it. The News reporters mentioned in the video that we have one of the easiest schedules in the league when it comes to travel distance- our farthest flight this year was to Miami. While I wouldn't doubt the NFL most likely favors schedules to the big city markets/teams (they do control the powerful committees and "contribute" more in revenue sharing BTW), and the Bills probably get left farther down the totem pole when requests, there really is only so much you can ask for, be it 1PM every Sunday, minimal Dec games, etc. Let's just hope this was a scheduling anomaly with rested teams and we actually freaking have a winning record for the first time in a decade in a half next year. http://blogs.buffalonews.com/press-coverage/2013/06/page/3/ http://video.buffalonews.com/?video=2839105649001 His website (linked by Graham) really slams the Bills as whiners here... http://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/blog/?p=1113

I got mine yesterday for $5.85. I honestly only had one game left I could still account for (2011 I think) and figured I didn't want to bother with verifying crap if they ended up calling me to confirm. Was there ever verification? Oh well, good for you guys that got $100 bucks!