May Day 10

C for the Bills. Its "incomplete" at this point. It all pivots on Beane and McDermott. If they succeed (Im willing to give them a few more years and I am optimistic), then the Pegulas will score high. If the thing blows up.... Pegulas get an F for constantly rejecting experience in running the team. Their apparent desire to be directly involved frightens me. F for the Sabres. Im primarily a Sabres fan, and they have chronically made poor decisions since the moment they purchased the team. I can detail each step of the way, but I have done so many times. This season was rock-bottom once again. The 2nd worst season I have witnessed in 35 years of watching (and understanding) hockey.... only slightly better than the Reinhart-tank season. They were extremely fortunate to land the lottery because it about-faced everyone's attitudes about the team/franchise. Again, like the Bills above, they have rejected any experience in running the team in exchange for their own close involvement. Flying by the seat of their pants. The arena experience is as stale and boring as it ever has been. The bottom line is, from 2011-2018 the Sabres are in the darkest days of their franchise (on the ice) and it is not even close. The team was coming off a Division Championship season in 2010, followed by a mad rush to claim the last playoff spot in 2011.

Schmidt was really bad this preseason

Choking sounds stupid

Why is this guy talking so much? Is he trying to create some sort of brand for himself?

I'm a "process" guy. I believe that they have a plan, and the plan is to be a perennial contender. A team who is in the conversation for the Super Bowl for 5-10 years, and with some good management, sustain the engine. It is very likely the team will take a step back this year record-wise, although the mode of the coaching staff and management is positive and winning attitude (unlike a typical *tank team who muddies the waters a bit). This season is a blip, but it will help rebuild the roster, through new draft picks, building toward 1 system, and a lot of cap flexibility. I am fine with it. Especially since the clock will be striking midnight on the Patriots before long and the AFC, specifically the East will be in play. I do think it is still possible this team just competes. The defense does well, McCoy stays upright, and the team wins 7-9 games again. Im not feeling all too optimistic on that, mainly due to attrition on the O-Line and Tyrod... but I do not doubt McDermott's ability to motivate and gameplan. I expect 3-6 wins though. I will be fine with it. However, if this is the case, I will need to see a step forward for 2019 on some level. As far as the QB question. I want them to do whatever is best for the long-term. If they think shielding Allen from non mop-up gameplay, while developing him behind the curtain is the best route.... Im all for it. If they think throwing him in there for 16 starts will be best for his development.... and possible extreme failure and possible scrutiny will not faze him, then Im for that. I dont know which is better.

That was a tough read. Very juvenile nonsense, calling people "tools" and trying to make everyone look bad. "There are venereal diseases harder to get rid of than Dan snyder" had me rolling on the floor laughing and thirsting for more "insight". Not at all

It turned into more than just a pass. It was a rare thing in pro sports. A POSITIVE story, fueled by a grassroots fan initiated wave. That fan base is ours, and it gives me immense pride. It turns out, Dalton and his wife seem like good people, and have a wonderful foundation/cause. Boyd's youth football organization also raised a ton of loot. Dalton reciprocated and used some of the money raised in our city to help children Dalton and the bengals' offense could have easily threw in the towel or gone through the motions, but fought in a "meaningless" game. It culminated in a dramatic play that acutely put the bills in the playoffs and ended the drought. Like everything in football, the QB gets most of the attention, credit, or blame. Im going to give dalton a standing O. But its also a recognition of all things above, including our fans. Itll be a unique and special moment. Nobody is going to take my man card away. I can take time away from my grunts, boos, beer dispensing helmet, and pork rinds, demanding sacks to show some recognition to the human side.

I have said it before, but Madden, and all sports games should not come out with a new title every single year. It seems they always degrade some aspects in an attempt to improve. It would also give them some more development time. Instead (for a charge, $25-$30?), they should come out with a major roster update for the upcoming season, with maybe a few major tweaks to gameplay and the game mode(s). Maybe release some classic teams, stadiums, etc amongst these offerings.

Its coming in New York...

Thanks, you too. I remember getting sad reading this thread a month ago. Sorry to grab it, but didn't want to create a new thread for my guy. I hope I didnt expose old wounds. I am thankful that (and in your case too), we were not faced with difficult decisions in terms of surgeries, finances, hanging onto the dog for possibly selfish reasons, etc. It all came and went quickly and there was little option. He had a fairly long and happy life. Our lives were/are enriched from him. He had diabetes the last 2.5 years too which caused cataracts that made him blind. We were doing well managing it, but I knew there was a house of cards with that and an elderly dog. If it makes sense, I think I actually started the grieving process a bit while he was still alive, so I think I have come out relatively OK (a few crying fits a day, but relatively together). Hope things have gotten better for you

My dog had a sudden medical emergency which led to him being put down. My heart is shattered. I met him just minutes after he was born. He was a Jack Russell Terrier and always had a look of a puppy. Even when he was nearly 13 and diabetic/blind. He has been my shadow for his entire time here and its very hard to not be tripping over him. He went through a lot of changes in my and my family's lives, from me being single, to married, 2 kids, house, etc. He loved running around, walks, playing with other dogs, rump scratches, pooping, and his human family. We feel very lucky to have had such a faithful companion

I like the Ryans. I just wouldnt trust them to coach my football team

Just play fake players the next 2 games

I wonder if it has to do with players being larger/heavier and faster? Maybe footwear can be blamed? I know in the running world, there is a growing belief that foot/overuse injuries have grown a lot due to the amount of padding/cushion in running shoes.

I do trust the process. McDermott (and beane) seem like stand-up guys who respect the athletes and will command a reciprocal respect (without treating players like children/property). IMO, that is a powerful engine. You need some leaders, a QB, and wisely spend cap-money and the team will be on the up for years. This might be a down year though.... but I wouldnt count them out. I believe McDermott is great at motivating players and the defense might be good enough to carry them close to the .500 mark, plus a little luck and it wont be a bad season. If Allen pans out and with that cap money and a good draft. 2019 and beyond is the target as New England degrades.

Is it me, or has there been an increase in achilles injuries in the NFL?

This reeks of posturing of the plaintiff, threatening to drag mccoys name through the mud in a court.... true or false. Hitting dogs, hitting kids, roids, etc .. Unless he agrees to either pay her to go away with a tidy sum, or marry her Is he going to want someone giving testimony, detailing how he beat his dog? Or spanked his kid or whatever?

yeah, I dont know who is worse in this

yeah, she isnt looking very good at all.

I have no problem with better food options being served more efficiently as well as craft beer options. Also, efficient and comfortable bathrooms wouldnt be horrible. Wouldnt mind a concourse-deck either for standing room only tickets. Improved aesthetics, some kind of roof/protection from the wind and direct precipitation, etc. However, a lot of the "lounges" and extra-exclusive "clubs" inside the facility IMO would be lost here.... and have no value to me personally. If I am paying an extra premium per ticket for access to an interactive fantasy football lounge, and during the game, anywhere between 20-40% of people are constantly wandering around like its some sort of high end football-themed pub crawl... I'm probably going to stop going (and I believe many Bills fans would, while there is a shortage of corporate types to fill the void).

I would also say that the in-stadium "idiot" has been marginalized to great extents over the past 10 years. There is a huge security presence, and any trouble they swarm. Granted, its still not the most polished crowd, and you shouldnt bring a 5-year-old... but the in-stadium hi jinx is a shadow of what it used to be.

That's the catch 22 with a new stadium. Buffalo has the fans.... but not the high end clientele to pony up several thousands of dollars-plus just for the rights to buy a seat. People will punt on that and wait on the secondary market to go to games. Seat Licenses would have to be very careful and modest. If the team becomes a competitive and well-run one, there is plenty of room to increase ticket pricing/ We also don't have the fortune 500/100 presence and clientele in the area to fill fancy suites and clubs. We are a largely football-oriented fan base, so a lot of the bells and whistles will be lost on us. It will detract some % of people from the game, which will kill the atmosphere they have built. Fan inclusion/crowd noise effecting the play, etc. I think studies have uncovered some of these realities, which may have taken a bit of wind out of the sails to rush a grand facility approaching what MIN and ATL have put up. They may be back to the drawing board for something a bit more modest. I just want a place built for fans to watch a football game. Great sight lines, seats close to the field. Good noise harnessing. Wouldnt mind improved bathrooms, concourses, etc. I really have no desire or use for all sorts of lounges and such.

Stadium is smaller now Regionalization, nfl is more popular, and a larger pool of fans. Visiting teams travel better. Internet, online sales, secondary market, speculation, etc. Id say, even if they were on par with someone like baltimore... season tickets would be capped with a locked on waiting list. Right when home playoff games are a realistic possibility

Completely different now than 1992 for a number of reasons.