thurst44

But then, wouldn't we have to go out-of-bounds on every play?

I think it's ordinary sound byte chest thumping too, but I would say that the likely improvement of CJ Spiller, Fitz with the offense from the beginning, Brad Smith, a healthy O-Line with Wood at center, and as you said, that one more year's experience (particularly for a young team), there are reasons to believe this offense (which wasn't terrible last year), could indeed be more "explosive"

And you don't accept that if the players are improving, that probably means that the team will soon start winning (or that young teams tend to lose before they learn to win) and that losing close games against good teams forebodes better than getting demolished week after week by mediocre teams?

Yes, nobody has ever had a terrible game and ever come back. Oh, wait, practically every good player has at least one terrible game and comes back. But you're right: now we get to see how he handles this. Although he's clearly a uniquely sensitive individual, he had the same dropsies problem in the pre-season and look how he came back...I think he'll be fine. I'm looking forward to a big game next week.

Yes, and that is what a young team does against one of the best, tightest (even if they weren't playing like that this week) teams in the league. They lose. I'm just amazed that they've been in these games (and coming back in these games) week after week.

Well said. And people should stop assuming that absolutely no one wants to play/live in Buffalo. How many players have stayed in the city after their playing days? It seems like the whole 90s bunch found a home in the Queen City. (hell, i've been out of buffalo for over a decade, it's not my birthplace, and i have no plans on coming back to live, but i still initially wrote "here") Maybe, Merriman likes it here...or perhaps he'll want to help the team return to its former glory. Or he doesn't and will follow the money. However, ultimately, we don't really know.

Running Backs are interchangeable, huh? So you could swap out Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson for Felix Jones or Justin Forsett with no effect on the team? You could have dropped Thurman Thomas from the 90s Bills and had the same team? I'm sorry to express this like an ass, it's just that I'm tired of all the absolutes. The Bills drafted Spiller because they see someone who is more than an average RB or even a good RB, but s game-changer who brings a unique set of qualities, a guy who can break for a touchdown at any point, can catch a long bomb, etc. The sort of player who forces you to account for him on every play or else pay the price. So far (after half a season active), he has shown very little of these qualities (as it is with most rookies). There's a chance (as with every draftee) that he never will. However, I give the FO credit for taking the BPA rather than taking an offensive lineman with much more downside.

On the other hand, I was just scouring the internet to see if there was a Stevie Johnson "Why So Serious?" T-Shirt available.

Pittsburgh - Ok, that's a hard one. Minnesota - In total chaos, easily beatable Cleveland - Why do they get credit for close games with some people and we just don't know how to win; it'll probably be some awful football, but this is a coin-toss at worst (and i say we're due in this yearly debacle). Miami - In a tailspin, wracked with injuries and have the look of a team that could lose out. New England - Has anyone noticed their defense is near dead last this year. We have to beat them eventually. They may pick up a few losses in the second half, including this one, which may mean... NY Jets - ...may have nothing to play for. That familiar ol' 7-9 is a distinct possibility, but it would be the best 7-9 yet. And take a look at that Peyton Manning draft that lose-bots like to point out. There's guys who would help us all throughout the first round. If our front office hasn't learned to draft, we have bigger problems.

He's 4 tds behind the league lead (having not started the first games), is 2:1 td:interception and just led a huge comeback with 4 tds. At what point do you start giving him credit that maybe he's better than you have him pegged? He's looked pretty damned accurate all year to me and he's not even 28 yet.

I'm sure San Diego is happy they lost enough games to snag Ryan Leaf instead of getting stuck with some loser like Charles Woodson or Kyle Turley or Tra Thomas or Fred Taylor or Keith Brooking...imagine if they had a winning season, they might have even had to settle for Randy Moss.

Hasn't Fitz engineered two last-minute fourth-quarter comebacks to tie games on the road against opponents with winning records. Or is that weird twist logic?

Yes, you're right. Lindell should be faulted for hitting the crossbar on a 53-yard field goal after making one; a "good" kicker would. Holy cow, we're ridiculous.

Worst thing about that story was (if i recall right and/or am not exaggerating to make a rough story all the worse), the 40-something Junkin had already retired, but the Giants convinced him to join them for that playoff run.

To paraphrase a great movie (and book): "are we negative because we're Bills fans or are we Bills fans because we are negative?"

That's actually one of the classiest things I've read about him on this board

I couldn't agree more. From 90-95 they were emotionally draining for a day, but the rest of the season they were monsters and so much fun to root for. I'm still thankful those were my UB years (grew up in NYC, family from Buffalo). First game at the stadium was the 51-3 game against the Raiders. My uncle surprised the family with tickets. What a rush. So, yeah, if op is referring to those years as tough, he's probably right to tamp down his fandom. Not meaning to be mean (seems a nice human being), but if you can't appreciate those years, being a fan will never make you happy.

My ex has a pit bull and he's the sweetest creature you'll ever meet. He does tricks, brings pillows, and curls up with us at night. I assure you I will weep like a little baby when it's finally his time to go and would summon a strength I never knew should anyone ever do anything to hurt him. Humans will attack innocent people...including children...as always, it's almost all about how they are raised. As for your point about Vick. It's not about giving him a break. He already got a pretty huge break. He's among non-sociopaths (maybe other non-sociopaths, but i have my doubts there), got to return to his old job where he's making millions of dollars and getting fawning national stories written about him to feel his ego. For most people, this is not about whether he deserves to be back in the NFL or deserves a second chance (i have zero qualms about that). I agree. He does. But we don't have to like him, or root for him, or not become pissed when we're reminded what he did when an otherwise pretty darn good columnist decides to make a feel-good story as if he overcame alcohol or drug abuse or something.

The HBB used to meet at the Shannon on 1st St, but just e-mailed the person who runs it and he says they have moved down the block to a place called the Northern Soul. While it's a rather small bunch (i actually live in Manhattan, but went out there because McFaddens, et al, are just too crowded...which is a beautiful thing, but can be irritating if you don't like a packed pub), they're good people and hearty Bills fans. I'm going to watch most games there. (btw, i've always gone to respond to things in a flush, then said, do i really want this to be my first ever post...figure this is a good reason to write something...GO BILLS!)