Punch

Isn't Brad Smith hurt?

Kelvin Sheppard is playing DL???

You're trying really hard to be this obtuse--- it "doesn't register or resonate with many posters" as an insult. This is obfuscation. Your response doesn't relate at all to my comment. Did each of your examples take place within an average 3 week period? Clearly, the first 3 weeks of preseason isn't enough of a sample size to be a fitting comparable to the broad expanse of NFL seasons from which you are able to draw examples. You actually cited an example from a Super Bowl in comparison to this summer's preseason games. It's truly remarkable that you suggest others having "silly overreactions" and using "faulty logic"--- these are accurate descriptions of your recent flurry of posts. You can check all you want--- I call checkmate. Try and relax--- I feel bad for the new refs and hope there are no issues. We'll see.

I'd wager the OP didn't intend for it to be vitriolic in any way. I'd also bet the term doesn't register or resonate with many posters. It isn't exactly a racial epithet, and this isn't the 1930s, 1970s or even the 1990s--- but I'm not interested in arguing labor unrest on a football message board. That's my point, you have no idea. Poster A complains about the regular refs, then Poster B comes in and complains about the new refs--- don't throw the whole board under the bus to fit your agenda. It's perfectly reasonable to believe the replacement refs will be inferior to the regular refs. To suggest it's not is ingenuous at best--- this seems to be your MO, however. Yes, you are. I'll remind you of your direct quote: "I've yet to see anyone point out a worse, game-changing call from the new refs than the one the great Ed Hochuli made in the Denver-SD game a few years ago. Or the coin flip game. Or the just give it to em game. Or Super Bowl XL. Or a hundred other ref disasters I've witnessed over the years." There have been several calls and lengthy on-field conferences thus far that are embarrassing to say the least--- I think it's to be expected, though, and at some point during an actual meaningful game this season we're more likely to see ineptitude than not. I made it clear I think they're doing the best they can under the extremely difficult circumstances, but if Keystone Kops style officiating is what you're interested in then the 2012 NFL is the league for you. Suddenly, it all makes sense. He certainly comes across very angry.

In depth scouting reports from Scouts, Inc. which are not only interesting reads around draft time but throughout the year as well--- nothing more.

"Scab" can certainly be considered a pejorative, but it's a term that has entered the public consciousness as normative shorthand for "replacement laborer" during labor disputes without it necessarily being intended as derogatory. Referring to the replacement refs as scabs is logical even if it is technically incorrect. Can you unequivically prove that those concerned with the replacement refs are the same group of posters that have historically complained about the regular officials? Furthermore, even if the regular refs "suck" (I don't personally believe this) then a group of refs several degrees below them would theoretically suck several degrees more. You're comparing the first 3 weeks of preseason to the entire history of pro football up until this summer? Kind of a near miniscule small sample size and taken from games with the lowest possible stakes. So far, the only officiating gaffes have been embarrassing flubs perhaps because they haven't had enough time to fully learn the rulebook or adjust to the bigger stage. Considering the circumstances, they've done a pretty admirable job, all things considered, but it's only a matter of time before a major call alters the course of a regular season game.

I think there's no question that Joe Namath was a team player beloved by his teammates. Super Bowl III was won in part by the Jets' controlling the clock with the running game and short passes--- his signature deep ball was essentially reduced to a decoy element. He'd be out of place on Rex's Jets.

Thanks--- there's a lot of nuance to this situation but the longer it drags on the more it has devolved into white noise.

Every year there's a lobby for Cookie and Saban by the Wall of Fame selection committee and every year it's rejected. It's interesting that Lou Saban and Cookie Gilchrist were always at odds with one another--- to the point that Cookie was traded--- yet here they are, 2 of the greatest Bills of all-time seemingly forever united not due to their accomplishments on the field but because they pissed off Ralph.

Did you happen to catch Giants-Pats Wednesday night? http://sports.yahoo.com/news/giants-beat-patriots-6-3-020659949--nfl.html "If there was anything interesting in the first half it was the work of referee Don King and his crew on a day the NFL announced that it would open the regular season next week with replacement officials. King took about 5 minutes and three announcements to the crowd at MetLife Stadium to explain that there were two penalties against the Giants on a punt by New York's Steve Weatherford. At first, King said it was a penalty on each team. He then corrected that to an illegal formation and a personal foul against the Giants, and then the officials had to meet for a couple of minutes to figure out how much yardage to access New York. They settled on five and Belichick came out to question the decision. The crowd got restless after third announcement. King also seemed to muff the Giants calling a running into the kicker penalty in the second quarter, roughly 7 seconds after Zoltan Mesko kicked the ball. Coughlin also questioned King early in the fourth quarter when the officials picked up a flag seemingly thrown for the Patriots having 12 men in the huddle before a 54-yard field goal by Tynes. King said New England called time out before the play. The Giants eventually decided to punt."

LOL

Because that's what they're called. It's not as though they were picked off the unemployment line, either--- though they did cross the picket line, FWIW.

I think before the setback either Gailey or Nix said they expect McGee to be ready by Week 4.

Joe D. isn't really the one with problems, though--- he's "whining" on behalf of former teammates like Conrad Dobler.

There are several tiers in rankings, although no official numbers--- even so, Gailey is the 21st named HC and the 2nd within the 4th tier: "Jury is still out" Chan Gailey -- Chan worked on my staff in Kansas City as the offensive coordinator. He's a great offensive mind. He'll take the players he has and put them in a position to have success. Offensively, this team will be fun to watch. And defensively, it should be much better. Chan understands there are raised expectations for this team, and the Bills have improved every year he's been there. Chan is an old-school football coach. He's good with the players but very demanding. He'll get after them. Remember, he took the Cowboys to the playoffs both years he coached them (1998 and 1999). He didn't win in the playoffs, but he got there. So, as a former coach for Jerry Jones, he knows a little something about big expectations.

Once Flynn was signed and Wilson drafted, the writing was on the wall that TJ was out--- that's why I thought you were referring to Flynn. Flynn, Jackson and Whitehurst were all stabs in the dark by Seattle at finding a longterm solution at QB. They've shown a willingness to discard the wrong guy regardless of the cost. Maybe it pans out for them.

Travaris Jackson has no releveance to your case that 3rd round rookie Russell Wilson beat out "veteran" Matt Flynn. Nice straw man.

Matt Flynn is a veteran in the sense that he has started only 2 more NFL games than Wilson. One thing we know about Flynn is that he's experienced with holding a clipboard.

If they cut McGee then the combined NFL experience of our CBs (excluding Leodis) is less than 2 years total. S. Gilmore, A. Williams, J. Rogers and R. Brooks. McKelvin has looked terrific so far throughout the summer, but if he's the veteran of the group... It's a scary proposition.

By "everyone" you mean talking heads and media draftnik blowhards--- these guys are routinely laughed at by NFL personnel men for how out of touch they are with team's actual draft boards. FWIW, Scouts, Inc. (a scouting organization made up of many former NFL front office scouts and execs as well as many other pro scouts that are eventually hired away by NFL teams) had Graham rated as the 80th overall prospect and the 10th highest rated WR. The Bills picked him 69th. Clearly, they were under the impression that another team might take him--- perhaps Jacksonville. The Eagles were high enough on him that they featured a pre-draft interview with him on their website--- not something you ordinarily do for guys that are expected to go in the 7th round or undrafted.

Because offensive genius equates to talent on defense.

If they're trying in vain to create a spot for a guy like Dickerson then Cooley certainly makes a lot of sense. I never go for those "I've heard of him" proclamations when players become available but this is a guy that may actually be a good fit. Then again, the role Gailey envisions for Dickerson may be too small for Cooley to consider.

The always entertaining Nick Bakay gives his take on the upcoming season at billsmafia.com--- http://billsmafia.com/2012/08/28/daring-to-hope-again-guest-post-by-nick-bakay/ This bit is probably sig worthy: BILL BELICHICK CAN EAT ME I just had to get that off my chest.

This was slightly more inspired and original than yelling "Four straight Super Bowls!"

If Fitz doesn't underthrow Stevie in that Giants' game then the Giants finish the season at 8-8 and the Bills are 7-9--- I only point this out to say that the margin for error between missing the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl is as razor thin as it had ever been. I'm not sure what you mean by the bolded--- if the Bills offense is capable of scoring then that's good in any regard, right? Scoring doesn't equate to wins alone obviously, which speaks all the more to the defense being the problem in 2011. They were able to score last year even after the injuries began piling up, but unfortunately they couldn't keep the other teams from rolling up points and yards.