Punch

DD, I'm in essentially in the same boat as you on this: but I'm your mirror opposite in that I'd be happy with either although I prefer Luck because I've seen him play more. I've really only seen Mallett in the Alabama game, but I want to ask you and others that have watched him extensively---- how do you feel about his ability to read and diagnose defenses on the fly?

That's definitely an interesting article, but the O-line rankings are not referenced in the article itself. Who ranked the teams on the chart and what were the criteria?

That's true--- but the Colts started sitting players early and were likely not playing their regular defense in a meaningless game. Plus, fewer than 9 yards per completion? A lot of short passes in the elements to be sure, but the TDs were all beauties.

Citing his statistics does not equate "watching the games". When watching the games he appears wildly inconsistent on intermediate throws. The most obvious examples being the New England game, where if he makes at least 2 of the 3 really bad throws (the 2 INTs and the overthrow to Roscoe in the red zone on the opening drive) the Bills might win the game. There's nothing that needs to be "switched on" with Fitz: he has both the temperament and toughness to be a starting NFL QB (which is rare). I don't think he can improve his accuracy, but the accuracy is really the only issue. It's the only reason no team has considered him to be starting material. Honestly, when a coaching staff can't trust his arm to hit every pass everything else goes out the window. Temperament, toughness, and arm (strength and accuracy) are all part of the equation. If any part is lacking, move on. For the record, JP was one of the least accurate QBs the Bills have had this decade, yet in 2006 he completed more than 60% of his passes. Does that mean he was accurate?

Honestly---- and as I said last night--- I hope nothing but the best for Trent Edwards. If he can turn things around in Jax, good for him. I just think he's no longer capable of being an effective NFL QB, and I don't understand what seems to be defending him irrationally when he didn't appear to have done particularly well. If your daughter is a Jags fan then I sincerely hope for her sake they can rehabilitate their organization. They're almost as dysfunctional as our Bills. (It always seems more innocent to use internet acronyms like "STFU", but when actually spelling it out it comes across much more harsh--- definitely more harsh than I intended and you didn't deserve that.)

I apologize for the "STFU" ... but you don't have much to say on the matter besides instructions on polishing your rose colored glasses. We discussed this ad infinitum in the shoutbox last night. There's really nothing more to say on the the subject and you're not going to convince anyone. You admitted you're only doing it because he was a Bill. Why not just move on? If he throws for 300 yards and wins a few games, we'll all buy you a big cookie.

You're clearly not one of them.

Dear god, just STFU already. You can still wear your Trent jersey on Sundays and start him in Madden, nobody cares.

He didn't, this was his first year in Miami. I was disappointed to see Incognito go as well, especially with Eric Wood recovering from a broken leg. I'm assuming there were either character concerns or contract issues--- only because it has been inferred from time to time that he didn't want to remain in Buffalo, which may be far from the truth but we have no way of knowing for certain.

I would view signing Carpenter in much the same way the Bills signed Richie Incognito midseason in 2009. They don't have enough capable warm bodies at the position and maybe he'll be a better fit in Buffalo than elsewhere. If not, let him walk at the end of the year. If they want to shore up some holes on the defense so they can better evaluate their young players then it doesn't really hurt. Sort of "win-win".

Isn't that what they're doing already? The Redskins just have much more talent than the Bills.

He's referring to how the OP mentioned Demarcus Ware was "shut out" by Washington's Trent Williams in the Sunday Night game--- but the Redskins actually played Indianapolis on Sunday Night, and Demarcus Ware is a Cowboy. Ironically, when the Redskins played Dallas earlier this season, Demarcus Ware did, in fact, beat Trent Williams for a sack. NaPolian's just pointing out this little bit of out to the OP, is all, because he was essentially incorrect in everything he posted.

I think the NFL should protect it's players, no question--- but it's safe to say Chuck Bednarik probably didn't hit Gifford cleanly. Gifford was almost definitely concussed, and the lasting image of that collision is Bednarik standing over the unconscious Gifford, taunting him. The story has been been retold countless times for no other reason than to glorify the idea of knocking your opponent the !@#$ out. We're not talking about clean legal hits here (legal at the time, yes). Harrison's comments sound uncannily like Chuck Bednarik's, to say otherwise is being dishonest or willfully misinformed. There are any number of hits that would be deemed illegal and unnecessarily violent in today's game that have been repeatedly celebrated by the NFL over the years. It's definitely disingenuous of the league to continue to profit off of that image. If they really want to curb the violent hits to the head they should probably stop glorifying the equally "dirty" (upon reflection) hits of the past. Which, of course, is nearly impossible. It's not an easy fix.

What are the most enduring images in pro football--- Chuck Bednarik standing over an unconscious (and probably concussed) Frank Gifford, Mike Stratton popping Keith Lincoln, etc. It's always been celebrated in highlight film after highlight film and it's really disingenuous of the league to blame the players. A lot of money has been made off of those images for the league.

My point was that ordinarily when a poster infuses some political reference into a statement regarding the Bills on this board it's for no other reason than to incite a riot of some kind. Obama and Bush and even Franklin Pierce have nothing to do with football (although Gerald Ford was an All-American at Michigan)

Hold on a sec--- only a select few posters are allowed to insult and dismiss other posters opinions out of hand with sarcasm and faux witicisms! I hope you're on the list!

I thought that was you?

Those comments were made when he first went in--- initially, he looked like 2008 Trent, but the Titans were playing bend but don't break. When there's no pressure he's adequate, but as soon as Tennessee started pressing he wilted and reverted to form. I don't think it's that difficult to recognize.

The way the Jags are essentially surrendering by repeatedly handing off rather than hurrying up tells me Trent has found the perfect team for his personality.

Wow, he looks decisive for the first time in awhile. Then again, the Titans aren't really pressuring him much.

Nothing changes, indeed.

I think The Senator is right--- the rumor appears to have originated as a speculative post on a blog at bleacherreport.com. The premise is flawed from the get go, but even the Browns' blogger's reasoning makes no sense for the Bills. Hopefully it's just gibberish.

Pretty simple: A) People in Buffalo are hungry for Bills and Sabres related sports talk, B) WGR is the only game in town. Nick Mendola and Brad Riter both do afternoon shows on WECK 1230 but it's not limited to sports, plus during baseball season Mendola is replaced by Yankees broadcasts. It's kind of like how in a small town even the ugly girls can get dates. Supply and demand.

Also, you're literally a moron. Stop posting garbage. If only the Bills had given up on their no. 1 draft pick in 1969 that started out primarily returning kicks...

You literally said the Bills "drafted a kick returner instead" of Trent Williams. "woulda shoulda coulda". Whatever BS trip you're laying out now is trying to save face. By bringing up Williams you were saying the Bills "woulda shoulda coulda" drafted him rather than Spiller. He obviously wasn't available. Also, CJ Spiller is more than a kick returner. Also, Trent Williams is good but didn't have a particularly good game yesterday. Also, the Bills preferred to draft him but he was long gone. Also, everyone in this thread disagrees with you about the value of the Bills drafting Spiller. Also, Demarcus Ware does not play for the Colts. Basically, your entire post is wrong and you need to step back, now.