vincec

My prediction hope: Faulk, Sanders, Sharpe, Sabol and Reed. I'm concerned that Haley might sneak in ahead of Reed.

Analysts are saying that Sanders and Faulk are locks. Faulk was better than Thomas, IMO.

Poor Maybin. He's always good for a few jokes at his expense.

Reed was great, but these highlights are more about Jim Kelly than Reed. I guess I'd forgotten that he could be that good.

This thread was definitely good for a laugh. I needed it today.

I think you're on to something.

I think the Bills need to take an OT somewhere in the top 3. Ideally, someone who can start at RT and possibly develop into an LT if Bell doesn't step up next season.

All excellent points

If only Ponder had an arm.

As usual, what people post about situations like Cutler's says a lot more about the people making the posts than it does about Cutler.

The passing game started to open up with the early rules changes in the late 70s. That's why the pass heavy "West Coast Offense" showed up right afterwards. The most recent changes that have had an impact have been protections on the WR and QB. I agree that they weren't specifically implemented to promote passing, but intimidation and physicality have always been defensive tools. If you can't lay a big hit on a QB or WR, it's much tougher to take them out of their offense. It starts to resemble flag football, which is pretty wide open.

Without quoting specific rule changes, most of which are in your link, the big ones are: prohibiting contact on eligible receivers outside of 5 yards of the LOS, ever increasing protections for the QB and WR against big hits and the loosening of what constitutes holding along the offensive lines. Basically, you have a hard time being physical with the receivers, threatening them with big hits or using them to dislodge the ball while top QBs are easier to protect, difficult to intimidate and stay on the field longer. This has helped the passing game, which has added to interest in the sport, IMO.

Since it appears that the Bills are going to play both a 4-3 and a 3-4, I don't see why they wouldn't consider bringing him in at the right price. He might help in the pass rush if nothing else. I wouldn't pay that much for him though.

It's a good staff, but I say the defensive people are in the wrong roles. Should be Wannstache as DC, Sanders as DL coach, Edwards as LB coach, with the Bills playing a 4-3. But they're all in there so if they keep their egos in check, hopefully they can come together to create something good.

Maybe I missed this, but what exactly qualifies Jauron as a cracker jack defensive coordinator? How many championships has he won as a DC? How many top 5 defenses has he coached? I get that he is a nice guy, has a lot of integrity, works hard and is connected but I'm still trying to find the reason he keeps getting these positions is what is usually a results oriented league.

This is the part I find the most interesting. His historical defensive philosophy doesn't seem to coordinate well with what the Bills have stated they're trying to achieve. I like Wannstedt philosophy and what it produced in Dallas and Miami, but I'm old. It was cutting edge back in the 90s. It doesn't seem to be the way of the new NFL. Today the trend is towards a 3-4 with multiple fronts and exotic blitzes. Wannstedt has a ton of experience though and his presence can only help the defense.

If the Bills let Florence and Whitner walk and then have to waste their #1 pick on a hopeful replacement, that would be a sign that the Bills are just going to dwell at the bottom of the league as usual. You don't build a winner by constantly trying to replace your few good players because they leave. You need to keep them so you can build up talent at other positions. Frankly, I'd rather see Green than Peterson, but really if the the Bills don't go DL or QB with the top pick, I'll be disappointed.

Maybe it was over when the league made them turn the cameras off.

No way do the Bills take Miller, IMO. I would prefer to see them take a DL, but I see a QB as the pick. Looks like a useful resource though.

A somewhat biased article, but yes, Wilson has been vindicated in this regard. He may not be a football genius, but he knows business and what is a bad business decision.

It's good marketing for the league. The same way that boxers pretend that they can't stand each other before every match. It attracts viewers and builds interest in the game. After all, the NFL is not some amateur or gentlemen sports league. It's a business.

Forget what his making. Thats RWs problem. He is not producing and hasn't for the last two seasons. Last season our "#1" receiver had half the yards and less than half the receptions as a guy starting for the first time. That's not good. It's either because he is limited in his capabilities or is being misused, but frankly after seeing the passing game this season, I'm gong to give Gailey the benefit of the doubt and put the problems mostly on Evans. There's no imminent reason to trade him... unless a good offer comes along. This seems to be what Gailey said at his press conference. When does his contract expire? Does he want a new one?

Me. I don't know why. It's probably the most football I've watched in one weekend in live 4 or 5 years.

First of all, those are obviously players from a different era of football and it's very difficult to make comparisons across eras. I do think he was a better receiver than Motley. I don't know a lot about Spec Sanders or Ace Parker's careers. But Faulk is definitely the best dual threat back of the current era (1980s and up). He's better than Thurman Thomas or Marcus Allen, IMO.

OK, I'm going to do something unheard of and take a shot at Saint Bill Polian. I don't think that he's done enough to develop a defense for Manning. It seems that the Colts D has been weak ever since Manning has been the QB.