May Day 10

really? Outside of the first round, what great players have they drafted outside the first round? Linus Omark? This is something Tim Murray is going to have to prove. He has made the obvious picks... but is going to need the pulls in the 2nd - 7th rounds to back that up.

I was at a rest area on the 90 a few weeks ago. Eastbound between Rochester and Syracuse... They had lighters on the counter next to key chains. The choice was either Jets or Giants...

It is multi-faceted for sure. In Hockey, 'tanking' is more important. The top of the draft more often produces a top tier star. Due to how the league is structured... these types of players tend to stick with their team all or most of their careers. If they do change, Small Market teams are normally not the preferred destination. That is why Regier and Pegula felt that the Sabres needed to purge the roster and acquire a few top picks. But... where the Oilers failed, is they missed on every single other pick they took. FAs wont consider Edmonton (it is an outpost... and their owner is a snake).... repeatedly failed to find a competent goaltender and they failed miserably in building a team. There is a balance. Need to stratify the roster a bit age-wise. Try not to lose anything for nothing, accumulate assets, wise FA decisions. Quantity of draft picks to increase the odds of hitting on some. It isnt too much different than what the Bills need to do... but in the NFL, acute tanking does not necessarily provide a franchise cornerstone for 15-20 years. With increasing frequency, good QBs are to be had later than the top 3 picks.

Detroit looks solid and may be on their way to a playoff berth and possibly even a first round bye. Cleveland is awful. They have been worse than the Bills through the drought, and their only saving grace was a one and out playoff game almost 2 decades ago. However, I envy the position the Browns have put themselves in. They have torn it down to the studs and have a glut of draft choices and cap space. If managed correctly, the sky is the limit.

I don't feel like discussing this. I have been on this train for about a decade now, and these discussions go in eternal circles (just like the Bills) Just want to point out that Russ Brandon is not a "marketing guy". He is President and Managing Partner of the team. All facets. He has not been the Director of Marketing for over 10 years

I will never be done with the Bills, Sabres, or Indians. Extremely frustrating at times... but it is in my blood.

Tanking in the NFL is silly. It is not like the NHL where 1/3 of the time, the 1st overall pick or 2 are guaranteed franchise players What they can do is get new upper management, rip the thing down to the studs and be rid of aging, long term commitments. Trade what you can for picks. Stock up on picks. trade down every opportunity unless you love a QB. Get a GM who shares the vision of upper management, and find a coach/staff who continues the forward thinking vision and attention to detail. As a result, there will likely be a couple really ugly years for transition. It is necessary and I would have no problem with it. High picks for quality trade-down pieces and multiple chances to find a QB. They would likely emerge right as Brady is about done.

I think I am fine with Pegula giving it another year (but not giving any sort of edict or ultimatum). If next season sputters, I hope Pegula once and for all installs someone at the top as Team President. IMO, nothing is salvageable (if this year and next year fail to bring results). The whole program philosophy, direction, and structure will need to be changed. IMO it has needed changing forever. The Bills have never been a good program, other than the blip at about 1988-1993 with a few more seasons sprinkled in to 1999. The organization has 1 playoff win total in the 50 year Superbowl era other than the Kelly era of 1988-1995. The franchise since regressed to its normal state and the new owner failed to make any major changes. I do not want any half-measures. It should be a change at the top level and flow-down. Not the typical Bills musical chairs of kicking 1 middle manager out, say Rex Ryan, laying all the blame on him on his way out, then proclaiming "Year 1" with the same cast of managers. If they made a change this year, that is what we would get. Wait another year so Pegula can be sure, then change the whole thing if necessary

He certainly does... But he doesn't know how to get there, with either franchise. He thinks with supporting your people, being positive, providing monetary resources, accepting excuses, and being intimately involved will breed success. For both organizations he needs a lynch-pin at the top to build the program from the top down. He does not have the knowledge or ability to make (good) important decisions.

Dont walk away. Just detach a little bit. I did years ago and its great. I laugh at the losses and still enjoy wins. The owner desires a winning program. Someday someone will get in his ear and show him the way. Every game is one game closer to that

At least one more season with the status quo

to make myself feel good, I made one that Buffalo gets home field throughout at 11-5 and New England misses

He has his brand and his ring. He could go on to a lot more fun things after football. Even if he walks away now, he will be considered the best TE ever. Especially with injury uncertainty and the element of "what could have been".

Without gronk the pats are vulnerable

I guess Im in the minority of people. My life isnt degraded by the existence of Thursday night football. For me, I actually like it. It is nice to get a little appetizer before the weekend's games. The Thursday game is another game available to the public without finding an illegal feed or getting directv. I would like the NFL to scrap at least a week of the preseason and add another bye week. Then, schedule the Thursday night games in-step with bye weeks so nobody needs to walk in on 3 days' rest. Also, maybe try a little harder with the match-ups... in fact, all the primetime match-ups have gotten pretty stale. Almost like they just bank on the viewership and stopped trying. (although the next few TNF look real good).

Big win. Huge game next week. Could set up their biggest home game in a decade

Im just saying that while the schedule and format year to year is constant... the format does not provide the best playoff teams or races. IMO, less Divisions is better. Would like to see 4 "Conferences" personally

10-6 would be a pretty strong season and a strong finish that would give optimism to 2017. I would not hang the Bills for finishing 6-1 and missing the playoffs. I have said it before though, every year, I become more disdainful of and bored with the current NFL alignment. People 'think' it is a perfect balance, but it certainly is not balanced.

Ideally, I think we want the Raiders to drop behind KC and/or Denver.... and also Baltimore to win the North. Then, that leaves Pittsburgh and Oakland there for the head-to heads. need to beat the Dolphins of course, the 12/4 Ravens/Dolphins game would be nice for the Ravens to take. They also have the "Marrone Special" New England game the last game of the season

They have to run the table IMO. I think it is actually possible.... but most likely headed for 8-8

A win is a win. I tear the organization apart enough for their losses. I cant fault them on winning games

Is it me, or did he get a lot fatter?

This is correct. Team building is 1 part talent evaluation, 1 part psychiatric evaluation. You cannot make that kind of commitment to a player unless you KNOW he has the drive. Will he continue to strive for glory and for the team when guaranteed unimaginable riches? It is very easy for a guy to go into the tank once paid. Especially present day with how much information on the severity of long term physical damage is, and the perception that owners are taking advantage of the players.

If they let him walk, people would be upset.... but later, people would snicker in present time at the dolphins or the bears for killing their cap on a player who is too undisciplined to even get on the field.