OvrOfficiousJerk

...Aaaand, we wonder why our country's credit rating got downgraded. Corporate dollars not going toward job creation, or an exportable good, or anything else that actually has more of a direct impact on a business. Ultimately, one luxury box probably might not represent much toward those ends, but looking at advertising or stadium naming rights it's easy to see how things are getting out of proportion.

The national media feels the same way, his INT just got the 6th best play of ESPN's Top 10: the first week of presason football!

If anything it's certainly quantitative proof that there pro franchises in more dire straits than Buffalo as it relates to their status in their current market. Granted, we're still overextended, but there are other markets that are a lot worse, so the "sky has fallen on Buffalo" argument isn't exactly true in a relative sense. This study validates the obvious - the whole darn country spends too much $$ on sports. PS - who else noticed that Forbes considered the MLS a pro league!?

I can't disagree, mindful of two occasions in the past two years. First, the Spiller pick: maybe you reach for an O-lineman or trade down so you get one at a better place, but CJ was not what we needed. Second, the Smith signing: even if Clabo was never thinking Buffalo too seriously, that couple extra million that we would've saved from signing a glorified KR/wildcat QB could've gone to a Vito Corleone-type contract that maybe would've made Clabo think otherwise. Granted, that assumes we would've spent that money to begin with (which we did in the past with Dockery and Walker so it's actually not out of the question). Even if the FO was imposing austerity measures, Smith's contract could've gone to a reserve OT with some NFL experience. You're right: there is a record of stocking up on these players, and not for cheap, either.

What the wildcat does bring you though is a stable of offensive plays that the other defense has to gameplan for. Even if that means one less blitz package that their base defense comes to the game with because they had to account for Brad Smith under center, that's one less look that our O-line has to handle, when it's already pretty stretched thin. Just like Patton chillin in Britain before D-Day with the jerries thinking he's going to town on Calais, I'm totally okay with Smith being a decoy.

Preaching to the choir, man. It's just that many posters believe that one QB needs to be under center the entire game, and that snapping the ball to someone else is a "trick"/gadget play. I'm totally cool with someone else getting a couple snaps to keep opposing defenses guessing and keeping our defense off the field.

I would hardly say that the couple trick-play snaps that went to Brad Smith and Nesbitt last night count as "building an offense around them." I do agree with your assessment that over-reliance on trick plays is a sign of a weak team. However, until our OLine develops, we will be a weak team, and so the best we can do in the interim is to play "small-ball" on offense with a couple gadget plays, and hope to steal a win or two.

He's been ripping off solid runs left and right. I hope they leave something special for the reg. season. Then again the secret's out on the wildcat anyway.

With all that money we saved on Evans maybe we can hire Bobby April back???

I was hoping to see flashes of his 2008 self upon being reunited with Chan. Guess not.... Also, the fact that we have a backup with a) some degree of starting QB experience in the NFL and b) wasn't a former starter for the Bills. No more going back and forth between Edwards/Losman

WE HAVE A TYLER THIGPEN SIGHTING

Make that #3

Annnd.... Lindell still can't get a touchback. Did anyone else see a hold on CHI?

Exactly....

Anyone else notice the Bears kicked off from the 30yd line? Guess it's preseason for the refs too...

In his defense, Leonard got injured last year with quite a bit of the season to go, that's probably why you didn't hear much of him. Before that though, and his first year with the Jets, he was pretty solid. But again, as I said before, even he wasn't a lock to be a big-time defensive back based on his performance in Buffalo.

I don't have too much experience with ORD, but I have been mildly impressed with Midway. They have a really good sandwich shop near the SWA terminal, where I have spent an inordinate time; I've been frequently delayed by SWA, but nine times out of ten it was weather or some such problem. Southwest is the way to go for me.

Heh, I thought this was an article about Bona's or something. +1 to UConn James though, there's a fine line between getting your voice heard and flat-out illegal activity, and essentially shutting down public transit would qualify for the latter option.

I saw a similar ranking from the Profootball Weekly [Fantasy football preview], who put us at 32. Granted, PFW was better before the Internet, but hey from the looks of the rotoworld geniuses, it's not like its competition is stiff. At any rate, I was modestly heartened by the number of playoff bound teams with below average OLs; PIT (28), SEA (29) and CHI (31) all have terrible lines. I especially remember CHI being terrible that SNF game when they allowed 7 or so sacks in the first half (or maybe quarter even?). Then again, unlike us, those three teams either play in craptacular divisions (SEA obvi, but even PIT and CHI had two easier teams in their respective divisions), have a solid defense and/or have a QB built like a tank. But here's hoping #2 comes true for the Bills this year!

I know, right? The ST our 2004 (sole winning) season under Bobby April was insane, you couldn't go a game or two without McGee ripping off a long return. Oh well, our ST has gone down the drain since Bobby left, if the rule had to be changed, better now than a few years ago.

That's what I'm concerned about this year too, especially with the lack of offseason workouts. In the same vein though we have a better defense/pass rush this year, so hopefully they get used to playing at a higher tempo with the higher quality of practice...

I'm a fan of Nelson but correct me if I'm wrong but he seems more like a possession receiver/Josh Reed type of #3 WR (as opposed to a speedy Roscoe Parrish #3), and won't necessarily stretch the field with great speed, which we'll need opposite Stevie Johnson. Also, speaking of injuries to Buster Davis, how can we be so sure that Evans will be any more combat effective than Davis this year? Evans is coming off an ankle injury, let's not forget, so it's not like he'd be a great improvement over Davis from a medical standbpoint. Granted, I'm sure that the Ravens did their due diligence with Evans, but it seems like the guy playing opposite Stevie Johnson was always going to be a hospital case (either Davis, Easley or Evans), which is a point of concern for me.

Getting rid of vets can be divided into these categories Aging - Owens, Mitchell, Sam Adams, Vincent Who would've seen that coming? - Morris, Hargrove, Bannan, Leonhard (I would say he was more Rex's pet project), Ron Edwards Over-priced - Clements, McGahee, Poz Who cares? - Royal, Crowell, everyone else Probably should've kept him around - Peters, Williams, Greer, Winfield, Fletcher (borderline aging), Jennings, Spikes (both previous are borderline bc injury prone) With all the names that have been dropped, I would be surprised if there was more than these seven players (for that matter, only four unconditionally) that were worth keeping around after they left. Granted, many of these names were serviceable, and kept around if for no other reason so that draft picks could be used elsewhere, but you'd have a hard argument that you could "make a team" with all of our castoffs after they left. FWIW, here's my extended list - QB - Zero RB - Lynch (still too early to make a judgment call); [not worried about McGahee (other than 2007 Pro Bowl season, has been vulturing/leeching yrds. and TDs from Rice), Henry (one 1,000 season after he left, then child support and drug problems took over)] FB - Morris (only a factor bc Belicheck plugs him into a system that squeezes talent out of aging veterans) WR - Zero [Evans (still too early); Owens (old when he got her, older after he left; a couple solid games a good year does not make)] TE - Zero [royal (really? I'm in Cleveland now and people cringe everytime the ball is thrown his way; an okay TE but hardly the next coming of Pete Metzelaars)] T - Jennings (great talent, but wayyy too injury prone), Peters (yea, shoulda kept him around), J. Scott (serviceable, but hardly a starter. If Big Ben was 3" and 30lb. less, he'd be on IR after Week 2) [not worried about Chambers, Walker] G- Zero C - Zero De- Ron Edwards (still making his way around the league, surprisingly enough, but who would've seen that coming?)

Oooh, yea I forgot about Milloy. I was too lazy to walk up to my 2004 Bills' team poster (FYI, which I hang lovingly as the best Bills team since I graduated from junior high -- I'm in grad school now) to check out the other free agents from that era, and I will say Milloy was pretty solid, and perhaps splash-worthy. Spikes was also huge, but again it could have been huge-er if we didn't lose most of a season from him due to injury. Sam Adams was solid but not as much a splash as Spikes/Fletcher/Milloy in the long run -- good player (who can forget his lumbering TD agst. the Pats?!), but I felt his stock dropped noticeably once Pat Williams left.

Also bc he talks all the time and hogs the attention when the press comes into the locker room, lol. I like Wilson a lot, has his share of clutch INTs/pick sixes so I really like him for that. Speaking of being a leader, Whitner seemed to have gone out of his way to be somewhat of a leader for the defensive corps: I remember hearing about how he'd have his defense over for dinner, film sessions, etc. But the occasional jaw-shattering hit and camraderie a starting SS does not make, and he definitely didn't deserve the money he was asking for. Hopefully he can stay, but as many other posters have said, the Bills have plenty of safeties at the moment who are filling roster spots at a much more reasonable price.