May Day 10

To me, the longer this hangs there, the worse it might be for the patriots. My reflex said the nfl would certainly tamper this down quickly with a fine. It would almost be forgotten already. A long delay tells me one or maybe 2 things. many owners may not be willing to accept rolling over again for their cheating. They have hoarded a lot of money, glory, international brand awareness, etc away from other owners. Also, it may mean there are other threads being investigated by the nfl.

it is shocking to not consider them towards the bottom... But they never/rarely have bottomed out, even through the depths of the drought. While they were possibly the 2nd most irrelevant team (ahem, Browns), they were somewhat middle of the pack and always better than a handful of teams bottoming out at the time.

Collinsworth usually grates my nerves with his annoying 'tough guy football' shtick and over-the-top worship and fake excitement of certain things. I can normally tune him out. Last night was tough. Apparently there are about 5 'worst things' about Josh Allen. The Steelers and the fake Heinz Field worship was awful It all started here (at 8:20)

even if they dont get help from Miami, the Bills could totally undermine New England's season and Superbowl hopes by beating them Sunday.

I suspect it might be a catch 22. I have to think that certain owners are probably furious behind the scenes. Think of all the revenue that fat little toad Bob Kraft hoards, and all the revenue lost by Irsay/Indy have lost a ton to the 'dynasty', KC could have won a Superbowl last season, LA lost the Superbowl, Baltimore could have had more glory over the years, Pittsburgh too, Buffalo could/should have home playoff games, etc. Even Khan has to wonder if the AFC Championship Game a few years ago was tainted and a Superbowl could have done wonders for the Jaguars. The owners probably do acknowledge the damage that could be done with huge penalties, but also aren't rolling over. I am almost certain that there was a pretty strong 'gentlemen's agreement' in 2007 that collectively, the owners would make this go away, BUT, the Patriots needed to cease and desist with the B.S. I think this is why "Deflategate" was so overblown, and I dont think Kraft and Belichick helped themselves with the lack of cooperation and general disregard for the NFL. I think this is why the resolution has been delayed. There

McDermott came in with a plan to build a football program and he has seen that through along with beane. They have restored credibility and relevance to the franchise. In my mind, the drought really ended last night.

I just wonder if the delay is the fact that many owners are really really mad. They skated before and everyone agreed to let it pass for the good of the league. They were probably told to knock it off. You have to think other owners, especially in the afc are more livid than us.

I kind of got bucked off video games a bit during this last gen. Owned a PS4 and played it early, but couldnt get through even my favorite series' releases such as Fallout 4 and Red Dead. Games seem way too focused on multiplayer crap, and micropurchases. I cant put in the time to play multiplayer as literally everyone has more experience and has either unlocked perks or bought them. I spent the last few years building some killer retro gaming devices. I have a NES Mini replica case that has several thousands of games for every system through the first playstation (including arcade games). I have replica controllers for most systems as well. Retro games are great. (and hard). I also put some together for friends. In the next couple years, I want to make a bartop arcade with all the arcade games in it.

I dont believe there is any serious consideration being given to and sort of realignment.

I am in the boat where I am kind of sick and tired of the Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets taking up 37.5% of the schedule every season. Its boring. Also, as mentioned. A team like the Patriots are in your Division, it could literally ruin the league for you for decades. Add in cheating and you feel even more helpless. With the Division Title taken almost out of reach, it is extremely difficult to make the playoffs, and impossible to ever host a playoff game.

I have said it a hundred times. Ideally, baseball should take a sledgehammer to the entire thing. Do a promotion/relegation system from the top, all the way to Class A. We would have meaningful and competitive baseball in every corner of the USA. There would have to be a whole system of loaning/leasing players to lower levels and such, and a whole lot to figure out. But it would be amazing.

It is awful... and I dont need Yankees or Red Sox fans give me reasons why its great because as proof, Tampa can qualify for a quick playoff exit once every few years or so. It must be fun to have all these winter acquisitions and hopes, but for like 80-% of the league its miserable. There are about 1/8 to 1/4 of the teams who can truly compete year to year, grab stars, and get better. All the other teams can only hope that everything lines up with the right young players for a 2 year window so they can steal a few good seasons. Teams like the Indians, who do very well drafting and developing, are nothing but feeder systems for their New York, Boston, LA, and Philadelphia overlords. We can never again have an all-time great player. They will finish up their non-UFA requirements with Cleveland until they are traded for miscellaneous prospects and picks. People like to point to 'home-grown' players on the Yankees, Red Sox, etc. The biggest difference is they get to KEEP those players, and also add cy young and mvp candidates to them. The system shows that Francisco Lindor is going to get a $400 Million payday from one of these teams. Even if the Indians signed him, they couldnt afford anything other than peanut vendors for the rest of the roster. He should be on the Mount Rushmore for the franchise someday, but will probably be known as a Yankee or something when it is all said and done. Same thing with Sabathia. It erodes people's interest in the league and their teams. I am almost done. Add that into the complete destruction of the minor leagues. Its awful. MLB's biggest fan demographic is aging/old. They need new/young fans and to get with the times. Relegating 2/3 of the league and chopping like half of the minor leagues (while already altering them into nothing more than a pitch-count developmental dish with no real competition) isnt the way to do it. The economic structure of the league needs to change. Not sure exactly how it should be done. Probably something closer to NHL and NFL with salaries tied to revenue, revenue sharing, and salary floors and caps.

My favorite john murphy moment was when a caller expressed frustration that russ brandon was too involved. John murphy was playing so dumb, he was practically leafing through a media guide to figure out who russ brandon is

Ralph Wilson Stadium has gotten exponentially better over the past 10 years. I see opposing fans welcomed much more than anything over the line. Ribbing is normally good-natured. You do have the occasional lunatic, but the increased Erie County Sheriff presence in the stadium often snuffs things out quick. It used to be really bad/embarrassing

He should be required to give the team to Jerry Crafts

no edelman

Not only that, but it is the fact that they really have never been that good personnel-wise. They cull their best players off all the time and don't lose a step. On-paper, they are/should be just another team, yet here they are, with unprecedented domination, 21 game home win streaks, other win streaks that were 20+. Brady and Edelman were 42-0 in over a decade against AFC opponents in Foxboro prior to the Chiefs game. It does not make sense and doesnt pass the eye test.

they have to play with 10 players on the field for the duration of Belichick's career

Belichick also plays extremely 'babe in the woods' with this 'do your job' series, but looking at previous installments, he was a/the major subject matter. How would he not know anything?

I could definitely see that being the case with the previous round of cheating. This time though, there has to be some real bad feelings and animosity internally amongst the owners... even if it doesn't leave closed doors. This is pervasive conduct and well after they were caught, everyone covered up for them, and they were told to knock it off. I do not believe there will or should be anything in the way of vacating wins and championships and such... but I could see some pretty severe sanctions coming there way, much more than a slap on the wrist

At what point is it not worth it? I would think a guy like Belichick would get a lot more value out of a young, athletic, and impressionable QB with a rookie wage scale salary.

If you are Terry Pegula though, are you willing to just sit there and take it (again)? The cheating likely cost the Bills the Division and home playoff game(s), revenue, a better shot at the Superbowl, etc.

I get what you are saying, but this isnt one isolated incident. This is pervasive conduct that has been going on long-term with warnings from the league.

I wonder if Goodell has hard feelings about the way Kraft and the Patriots were uncooperative during the deflated football thing. Presented with hard evidence, after they were previously let off the hook and told to knock it off, I am not so sure Goodell would let this slide. Not sure the other owners would be cool with that either.

You have on one hand, owners who are probably sick and tired of this, the patriots and their "winning streaks". The cheating brings into question things like Atlanta winning a Superbowl, Seattle dynasty, KC going to a Superbowl last year, the Rams winning, the whole AFC getting a back seat... and the Bills should be wondering if they should have the Division and home playoff game(s) (and revenue). Then you have the 'protect the shield' culture and the reflex to minimize any negative publicity. Lastly, this is (allegedly) a repeat and long term offense, going back 2 decades, and they were already let off the hook for it so to speak (probably with a verbal warning to knock it off). You also have Goodell who may have a little grudge against Kraft for making him into a villain and not cooperating in the deflated footballs violations (thus making it a much larger deal than anyone wanted).