Punch

The Patriots had a nearly unstoppable offense--- it can be argued that an injury which severely limited Rob Gronkowski's effectiveness was the difference in the Super Bowl. It doesn't make the Giants victory "flukey" but it certainly contributed to the game's outcome.

8-8 is literally the definition of average. You're implying the Patriots single victory against those teams caused their 8 total losses. I guess you're right, that proves the Pats are great. You're making just as little sense with each post as you did with your first, so that's something. THIS is the case for the Pats--- not the bull **** ramblings of a (*^*&%^$^#troll.

Pretty cool move.

Other notable points to consider: the sky is blue, grass is green, and water is wet.

No one's pretending. He played reasonably well last season in the brief time he was healthy and anyone could see that, but the amount of time he's missed since signing here negates that relatively meager on-field contribution. He's made a much larger contribution off the field, which is all anyone is really contending in this thread.

I was impressed with his run stopping, as well. It's an area of his game he's worked hard to improve over the past few seasons and it shows.

If he never produces on the field (beyond the few solid, if unspectacular, games he played in 2011) he is largely responsible for recruiting Nick Barnett and playing an important role as Buffalo Bills ambassador in the media. Those contributions can't be understated and make his signing worthwhile.

Erik Pears was also an excellent signing--- incredible that so much of our line has been rebuilt so quickly in large part due to under the radar signings. I've wanted to take a deeper look at the Bills scouting staff continuity over the years but haven't made the commitment. Despite the front office blunders of the previous regimes, the UDFA scouting has been exceptional pre-Nix/Whaley as well and I wonder how much credit should go to those unsung guys--- Fred Jackson, Jabari Greer, Jason Peters, George Wilson, etc. I really lament the inability to retain Greer--- he should have been locked up prior to becoming a FA, which of course forced the Bills to draft another 1st rd DB in McKelvin. Jabari was a character guy that would absolutely fit in with this current group.

Part of the problem so far is that there's really nothing to talk about: leaguewide there are no moves of significance and the CBA can only be discussed for so long when no real headway has been made. Duff gets exceptional guests via his considerable contacts throughout the league and media from his time at NHL Network and he's a terrific interviewer--- he knows how to direct a conversation without injecting himself into it and smothering the guest. I highly endorse listening to his work, thought perhaps there needs to be something more to discuss. Then again, I could listen to Duff talk about other topics and still find him listenable. The Sabres made a great decision in luring him away from the NHL Network--- then again, he's a lifelong Sabres fan from Southern Ontario so it's very possibly a dream job for him. Peters is terrific on WGR. The only exceptions occur occasionally with Sylvester--- the show is generally less focused and Peters is able to go off on tangents which derail the show. They were arguing about Starbucks for nearly 5 minutes at the top of a show last week, which makes for less than compelling radio. Jim Lorentz used to add anecdotes of his road travels with Rick during games, like crazy cab drivers in Montreal or whatever, and made it interesting. Oh well, that's enough Kev-bashing from me! Back on-topic: Murph's show is fantastic, BTW--- it's a !@#$ing dream come true!

It occurs to me, what if the Bills were to clinch the Division the previous Sunday: Week 15 against Seattle--- in Toronto.

The few times Brian Duff has hosted the show in Kev's absence were evidence enough that the problem is Sylvester himself. There's a reason he's being phased out in favor of Duffer in the 1st place: he's not a hockey guy. Even after several years as intermission host of the television broadcasts he still comes across as an amateurish local yokel stumbling over basic hockey terminology and tactics. That may work for something like AM Buffalo, but Hockey is in Brian Duff's DNA, as it is/was for Ted Darling, Rick Jeanneret and Jim Lorentz. Professional broadcasting presence and high hockey IQ are prerequisites and necessary for game presenters... and Kev ain't got either of them--- although I'm sure he's a nice guy and all.

Another way of looking at it is No. 1 playoff drought.

Season ticket holder here in Northern VA, champing on the bit to see some game action, so the updates are desperately needed and wholly appreciated. Thanks, man! By all accounts, Easley and Hagan are looking good. I hope they continue to impress.

It's hard not to appreciate a dude with a good sense of humor. I think if Chan has plans for him to contribute even in some relatively small way via WildCat or whatever he'll be pretty popular as a Bill.

Looking at box scores on pro-football-reference.com, it looks like there should be approximately 5 or so occurrences of 3rd & 3 or less in a full game--- which means it would take something like 20 games to get to 110, which is basically impossible. It's entirely likely the stat became inflated due to emotion and time, but I think it may also have been one of those watered down situational stats: 3rd & 3 or less, in the 2nd half at home or somesuch. Thinking about that season, and particularly Greggo and Gilbride, gets my blood boiling and I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that one of my favorite hate-stats for that year is misremembered. But thanks, Buftex--- I'm glad someone at the very least shares a recollection of it.

It's not quite like a preseason game--- I don't think there are typically kickoffs/punts or returns(?), for instance. The two teams recreate game conditions and situations, but if I'm not mistaken they also run goal line and redzone drills. Whether or not they run joint drills may have come from specific agreements with other teams, I guess. I think the Bills have scrimmaged against the Browns, Jets and Steelers at different times in the past 25 or so years.

There's no link, aside from poring through play by play transcriptions. It was an onscreen graphic during that Houston game following Henry's run, and the type of unbelievable stat that is not possible to forget. I'm not misremembering it--- it was discussed on WGR the following week. Whether or not he deserved to be released is one thing--- like I said, it was a stupid thing to do. But suggesting it was an expression of him quitting on the team is illogical. The coaches quit on the team much earlier and the season was long over by that point. If he had done something that stupid abd received a team mandated suspension while there was more at stake than limping though the final game of a miserable year, then it could be construed as selfish; but I bet there were a lot of players on that team that felt the same way. That is my least favorite season in all my time as a Bills fan, and it wasn't because of Ruben Brown.

What behavior and how did he quit on the team? He literally reached across the meeting room table and attempted to grab Gilbride out of frustration--- now, if that's the "unprofessional behavior" to which you're referring, I get it. But it wasn't because he quit on the team. On the contrary, he acted out due to a promising season being pissed away by inept coaching. Does anyone remember the stat where Gilbride called a passing play on 110 consecutive instances of 3rd down and 3 or less? By contrast, the Patriots ran the ball 60% of the time in those situations. The running play that actually broke the streak was against Houston, and Travis Henry busted throught the line for a 64 yard run. The crowd erupted in (to my mind) mock standing ovation. I don't blame Ruben for going after Gilbride, even if it was a stupid thing to do. Gregg Williams had no control over Gilbride and the offense tanked because of it. The man was literally in tears--- openly sobbing--- on WGR with Brad Riter when he said goodbye to Bills' fans. That wasn't a guy that quit on his team, it was a guy that had a meltdown out of his desire to win.

Watching that was like getting a swift kick in the nuts... but in the best possible way. It was fun, and it's nice to see the NFL put something together where it isn't taking itself too seriously.

That's utterly remarkable. It's so incredibly sad to think about what was going on behind the scenes for our Bills just a few short years ago--- but it makes the current upsurge in optimism and hope so much more satisfying.

Honestly, didn't Gailey infer multiple times prior to the trade that Evans wasn'y exactly buying in?

It may be somewhat unfair, but by no means is it a big leap. Which other WR would be the position leader in 2010? While it's definitely making an assumption at thinking it's Evans, it's also 100% logical. The fact that Evans was then traded that offseason certainly doesn't hurt the case. I agree Nelson doesn't seem like the kind of guy to throw a teammate under the bus, and by not specifically naming one he didn't. He spoke his mind as a young leader on this team without allowing it to devolve into mudslinging.

I wouldn't be surprised if Fred turns up on the ticket for the Toronto game. He's an established Buffalo Bill of several years and was an MVP candidate amongst the leaders in Pro Bowl voting before his injury--- by that I mean it makes sense to include such a marquee Bill for the Toronto series promotion.

It's wholly refreshing that the assumption in the media is now "GM Buddy Nix is too smart to give away cornerbacks who can still cover" rather than second guessing the Bills' front office incompetence--- whether or not this was truly the correct decision remains to be seen, but regardless, it's still refreshing.

Hopefully he doesn't choose #68--- seeing M. Williams, #68 out there will bring back too many bad memories.