Red

Yes, I feel the same way. I only, ONLY get Sunday Ticket (and ultimately follow the NFL) because of the Buffalo Bills. I personally could care less about the Vikings, Saints, Eagles, Panthers...and it is not physically possible to watch all of these games. What I have suggested to DirecTV is why is there not more Divisional packages? Something whereby I can get an AFC East package, albeit at a reduced rate than the normal price, and only get Bills, Pats, Jets, and Dolphins games. That would not only be more economically feasible for ME (i.e.: a fan) than paying the hundreds of dollars to pay for all of the games. Another joke is the DirecTV Superfan (I call it Stupid Fan) package. I pay for NFL Sunday Ticket. I pay for HD service every month. I also pay to lease the HD receiver. Yet DirecTV says that I have to pay an additional $100/year to now watch the games in HD. They filled it with all kinds of garbage (Red Zone, fantasy crap, etc) that unless you are 12 years old really has no value whatsoever. I personally don't see how charging additional fees on top of additional fees to view the games that are already broadcast by FOX and CBS in HD is legal, but I'm just a fan. Cha-ching!

Well, I tend to agree with the Bills on the Maybin thing. He is undersized for a DE, and was brought in as a luxury pass rush-type specialist. They don't see him as an every down player until he puts on some more size. Now, I see him as more of an pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 defense, but who am I? Ultimately, I think that it is the Bills defensive scheme and their insistence on using a 4-3 that is holding back Maybin.

At the base point, you are correct. But I would feel much more at ease if the Bills had a front office in place and capable, football men running the team. One thing also true about teams that are building, is that they gradually improve each and every year. It is a process, but clearly there is a plan. What exactly is the plan at OBD? The men in charge of such a plan, John Guy and Tom Modrak, have produced little to no improvement during their tenure. Looking at Buffalo's past drafts, in years 2000-2005 there are only 6 players from those drafts still on the roster. Out of 50 players selected during those years, only 6 within 6 years are still with the club 3 years later. That's a 12% rate of return. That is certainly not any way to build a team. Buffalo's success with its 1st round draft picks this decade is just as bad. The Pro Personnel department is just as horrendous. They allow players like Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield, and London Fletcher go. Then they sign Derrick Dockery, Langston Walker, Robert Royal, Larry Triplett, and tried to pursue Darwin Walker. All, are no longer with the team. Again, that is a horrible track record and certainly not one to feel well about. The Bills are once again facing a crossroads. Schobel- arguably our most consistent defensive end since Bruce left- is only getting older. Kelsay- overpaid though he may be- is now hitting the 30 plateau. Stroud is not getting younger. With the exception of Williams and Maybin, who do the Bills currently have on the roster set to take over? McCargo is a bust, and was a reach as a 1st round pick. The only reason that the Bills took him back after he failed his physical with the Colts was because of his 1st round draft status. The LB corp is just as bad. Poz may be the sole bright spot for the future. Ellison is too small, but I do have faith in Nic Harris. The secondary with McElvin, Whitner, and Bryd seems to be the only depth position on defense. The offense needs tackles that can play. a QB that can read, react, and move the chains. Simply put, I see the Bills as always chasing themselves to catch up and fill holes on the roster. They never are in control of their destiny and truly in a position to build. I think that is the fault of having no plan. And I believe that falls squarely on Brandon, Modrak, and Guy.

I don't understand why the NFL would limit itself to only providing DirecTV with access to its programming. Living in the DC area, I am forced to buy DirecTV if I want to see the Bills. If the NFL is so money hungry (which they are), then why limit yourself to one provider?

That's just crazy.

Freedom?!!? In CANADA? Mein gott, man...how could one consider such a socialist state free?

Seadog, I love the picture on your profile, man! I think the problems are so large, that to pin them on 1 aspect alone would be entirely reactionary. Blowing up the offensive line and replacing them with rookies and cast-off's was not brilliant. It may have needed to be done, but the Walker botch really hurt the line. I do believe that Levitre, Wood, Butler, and Hangartner are an improvement over what we had. But this year it is clear that they are overwhelmed. The receivers can be blamed. How many passes has Owens dropped? We also can't forget that Van Pelt was thrown the keys to the offense the week before the opener. I am hoping to see an overall improvement now that Van Pelt has had the bye week to clean things up. Fred Jackson has been the sole bright spot. Owens will be gone (thankfully), and I too hope that Reed is brought back. He is a poor man's Hines Ward. Parrish will likely be gone. I would say that it is time for Hardy to justify his his draft position and also time for Johnson to show us what he has.

Yeah. Just like they all have to wear their uniforms from a certain maker, with shoes, socks up to a certain level, etc. Image is everything. But I would have never associated the 2 if not for this article. Players do such stupid things after they score a TD, sack a QB, or catch an INT. I like the 'ol idea that Barry Sanders used to have: act like you've been there before.

I really agree with that assessment. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this past draft, finally, FINALLY seems like it will produce some fruit as I believe that Shawn Nelson will eventually be added to the list. And Maybin will conribute. People seem to forget that he did hold out all of training camp, and is more suited as a pass-rusher than all-around DE. I would love to see the Bills switch to a 3-4, and move Maybin in an OLB role. But we will perhaps have to wait for a coaching change for that to occur. But I think Wood is the real deal.

Yeah, the Bengals are intriguing. What happened to them from a few seasons ago, when they were truly coming back and threatening the playoffs? They seemed to fall apart at the seams. Now they appear to be back, and I love seeing a team get it together and rebuild. I feel the same way about the Cardinals. It was great to finally see them get something going. What I see as strikingly similar between the Bengals, Cardinals, and Bills is in ownership. The Bengals are victims of similar market forces, yet are putting together a strong team. The Cardinals have a bone-head for an owner who refuses to pay for talent. And then there is good 'ol Ralphie who gets scared when he thinks about putting a real GM in place of the football operation, thereby nickel-and-diming the front office and staffing it with incompetents. I think that we Bills fans may have to stage a Cleveland Brown Dawg Pound-style of boycott though, to get Ralph to wake up and realize the true changes needed at OBD.

Exactly. To sit quietly by and keep surrendering hard earned dollars on an inferior product when the solution appears so clear (Reorganization of front office and losing Modrak and Guy, and moving the circus salesman Brandon back to marketing), is not being a "die-hard" fan, its being stupid. I can't say that I have always been a football fan. When I started to get interested in football, it was in 1988/1989 when I was 14 years old. Up until that point, I could have cared less. And what got me into it, was the Norwood kick over the Jets where every one stormed the field and tore down the goalposts. I got into the Bills during the Super Bowl years, and never had suffered through their apparent misery of previous seasons. Sometimes I believe that I am horribly scarred from having been witness and a fan of such teams, as I came to expect it as the way things would be. But I did learn from those days, that what made them successful then could make them successful today. Why do we have the right to vote? If we are not happy with the President, or Congress, or the mayor, or whomever, we can gripe all that we want and then when it comes time for reelection vote based upon our conscience. Does that mean we are less American because we don't agree with the current regime? Or that we hate the country because we hate Nancy Pelosi? I think not. Rather, unlike government, the only way a fan can vote is with his pocketbook. The only way these billion dollar owners get it is when the bottom line is affected. It is when we, as fans, unite and demand a better product that real change occurs. And I really don't remember masochism being a part of fanhood.

I'm reverting back to high school mathematics and hoping that a double negative will make a positive.

...and the players. Let's not forget how much his players love him.

It's funny, but for every game that the Bills have won this year, I have sat down at the outset to watch it and expecting nothing but just to enjoy being able to watch my favorite team. For every game that they have lost, I confess to getting excited about the "possibilities" and how they "should" beat a certain opponent (Browns come to mind). This week, though I am now feeling better about their chances with most of the injured players coming back and an extra week to plot the offense, I will make a pact with myself to go in expecting nothing. I seem to be much happier with the Bills that way.

As much as Marv Levy has screwed up the Bills in his flash-in-the-pan return a couple of seasons ago, I still have to go with the standard "character guy" over a Michael Vick. Yes, he served his debt to society and blah blah blah. That's all well and good. But I have a hard time remembering when any true hero went to jail for killing animals, and I have a hard time thinking of him leading anything after that debacle. In the bigger picture, if the Bills were to sign Vick a year removed from having signed another NFL media magnet in TO, Russ "Barnum & Bailey" Brandon will look as though he is more interested in reaching for gate attractions that subscribing to a PLAN on how to BUILD the Bills into a winning team. How, with the current clowns in the front office, could any free agent signing be seriously considered an improvement over anything? What exactly is the plan at OBD? Modrak and Guy have had close to 10 years to prove themselves. What do we have to show for it? An undersized, but competitive defense. Arguably the best punter in the league. And an offense that can't get a first down. These aren't new problems. They have been ongoing for atleast 5 seasons now. And now, Vick is supposedly the cure to what ails the team? I'm sorry, but wasn't Owens looked at in the same light this past offseason? I know I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. No, this team first of all needs a real GM and a better pro personnel department and college scouting staff. I think Nix coming back to the Bills will be an improvement this year. But Modrak and Guy need to go. Then, the real, proven, football GM can sign a real coach. Then said coach can, with said GM, sit down and review the roster. Once the roster has been scoured and the needs have been determined, then, and only then, should any free agent be pursued or rookie drafted. I mean, you put the sweetest frosting on a turd, but a turd it still will be. Fire Modrak and Guy!

Corey McIntyre is coming back from his injury giving the Bills 3. Plus, I believe that they have a RB on the practice squad. Plus, if Omon clears waivers (which he most likely will), then if some tragedy did befall the club, they could always go back and bring him back ala OT Chambers this year. I think that they feel comfortable with that number. My issue is at WR. Granted, the offense is a shambles in large part because of the inexperience and injuries on the offensive line, but now how are we going to get the ball to Hardy when we can't even get it to Owens and Evans?

Actually, I will retract my original post. As long as the same 'ol personnel people are viewing this team, it won't make any difference who the Bills sign or draft. Fire Modrak and Guy, and we might start to see real change at OBD.

I don't see why you would bother talking about drafts and free agents as long as Tom Modrak and John Guy are still employed by the Bills. Question: Recently fired Browns GM Kokinis was with a successful Ravens team for some 13 years as a Pro Player guy. Was he successful at that post? If so, I would replace Guy with Kokinis. Buddy Nix can assume Tom Modrak's old post as Director of Scouting. then it would be time to move Russ 'Barnum & Bailey' Brandon back to what he seems to do so well- marketing at COO. Hire a real, proven, football GM (Allen, Wolf, Reese), and then allow the football people who know what they are doing (note: I did not mention any "hot" coordinator or unproven college coach) to implement a plan on getting this team back to the playoffs. If Allen were GM I could see Gruden coaching here. If Wolf or Reese were involved I could see a Shottenheimer. But until real football men are in the front office, it is no use talking about the draft or free agents as the outcome will be the same. Oh, and that includes Michael Vick.

Offensive line. It has been neglected for too long. Kelly was successful- in large part- BECAUSE of Hull, Ritcher, Wolford, Ballard, and Davis.

If the Bills draft anything other than a LT in the first round this year, I will be teetering. If they draft another player for the secondary in the first round, I will be done.

Isn't that the point, though? Isn't it the job of the local "top dog" sports radio "flagship" to help advertise the game? Give "props" to the UB football program for getting to the national TV level again? Help get people to the stadium to show the support that WNY gives its sports programs? Seems a bit irresponsible.

Man, all of this drafting a QB talk is way too premature. It will do no good to have Tom Brady or one of the Manning's under center if he is always on his arse. The Bills need an offensive line. I like Wood, Hangartner, Levitre, and Butler. McKinney is good depth. I hope that Meredith and Bell do mature into starting offensive tackles for the Bills, but neither should be starting right now. Chambers is horrible. I'm not too fond of Scott. Right now, with losing Chambers and Scott and having both MEredith and Bell on the #2 roles at the tackle positions, the depth would be ok. This would also give a project like Bell time to mature and grow into the position. But a real LT (I would draft #1 this year on a LT), and perhaps a later round RT and/or free agent would help round out the line. Any other focus other than the line would be a colossal mistake (that includes picks for the secondary).

Philip Rivers playing style does remind me of Kelly somewhat. So does Roethlesburger in terms of command and size/ toughness.

"Balderdash is a game of lying. The Buffalo Bills spend a good part of the offseason lying to themselves and giving their fans just enough hope to save lagging ticket sales." And this is the reason why a marketing guy should NOT be your GM. While a real football GM would be focused on building a TEAM that would be successful and would thereby, in effect sell out the stadium, our marketing 'genius' believes that you should focus your attention on selling seats AT THE EXPENSE of fielding a good team. Case in point: the Owens signing and now the Sunday Night revelation of Michael Vick. Brandon will be turning the Bills into a circus; a team with nothing more than a yearly gate attraction of controversy to get people packed in the stadium. "Come, see the ticking time-bomb, self-destructive player attempt to resurrect his career!"

Who cares? We need an offensive line. Couple of Tackles should do.