HankBulloughMellencamp

Watching Poyer's athleticism reminds me of having #20 Henry Jones back there

I refuse to read Sully or Bucky. Waste of time; no meaningful insight is ever gained as a result. They should stick to their local-interest puff pieces only. I am sure McDermott & Beane would have 0.0% reservation in signing Maclin if he could help us today at a palatable rate, and to possibly hedge against another injury-filled campaign from Watkins going forward.

cool, why the hell not... 9-7 for me Sunday, Sept 10 - Bills vs. Jets - Win Sunday, Sept 17 - Bills @ Panthers - Win Sunday, Sept. 24 - Bills vs. Broncos - Loss Sunday, Oct 1 - Bills @ Falcons - Loss Sunday, Oct 8 - Bills @ Bengals - Win Sunday, Oct 22 - Bills vs. Buccaneers - Win Sunday, Oct 29 - Bills vs. Raiders - Loss Thursday, Nov 2 - Bills @ Jets - Win Sunday, Nov 12 - Bills vs. Saints - Loss Sunday, Nov 19 - Bills @ Chargers - Win Sunday, Nov 26 - Bills @ Chiefs - Loss Sunday, Dec 3 - Bills vs. Patriots* - Loss Sunday, Dec 10 - Bills vs. Colts - Win Sunday, Dec 17 - Bills vs Fish - Win Sunday, Dec 24 - Bills @ Patriots* - Loss Sunday, Dec 31 - Bills @ Fish - Win

I thought the same thing, so I asked former Jets TE Anthony Becht via twitter (he is now a college football analyst/color guy)... I asked his guess as to how big the NFL impact gap between OJ and Njoku is... inches? miles? his reply was "Njoku skill set is very raw, can't deny his potential.... but there is a gap - its OJ and everyone else" Evan Silva called Howard the best run-blocking TE he has ever seen coming out

You can not like Sal for whatever reason you like, but this isn't a legit criticism... Sal has actually coached football at the HS level. It hardly makes him an expert, and it may not sound like much to you, but unless you can check that box off yourself, he is miles & miles ahead of whatever you think you know about football. Sal is a hardworking reporter with logical arguments on whatever he presents. From his days blogging in florida and breaking the Terrell Owens story, he has been a breath of fresh air and has worked for and is deserving of everything he's got. And to translate for you, Mike is a very common term for Middle LB, Sam refers to Strongside LB, and a Will is your Weakside LB. Each requires a slightly different skillset.

as a former decade-plus STH & away game attendee, not nearly as much as I used to and you?

Another happy paying customer! I’ll also bring up how our former, and now HOF GM took a serious look, and determined it was, in his exact words, “too heavy a lift.” But apparently, we just had to hire Richie Cunningham… and Happy Days are here again!

Joseph Mama Haywood Jablome Unlike Gregg Williams, I don’t have a rolodex of current available OC candidates at the ready. Like you, I now have 18 years invested in this drought. And I am certainly entitled to my opinion on the credentials of the guy they did select. If you absolutely need a name, an AVP-type would have been more appealing. Sean, Doug & Russ are very happy to have a 25k –post TBD vet like you, hook line and sinker. We had one recent coach who began the culture change heavy lifting, Marrone, and he decided after 2 years in the organization, to punt and pocket 4M. I’d say it has worked out OK for him. We just hired a guy who sold us a Ford F-350 worth of snake oil, and (unbeknownst to the GM), was on thin enough ice to provide the interim replacement & make off with another 15M for not coaching here. And in just enough time to wing on out to AZ to catch his son’s playoff game on NYE rather than have to coach his finale in shame in Jets stadium the next day. We have serious organizational issues a fresh new HC is unlikely to fix. So I am sitting on my hands until they show me the baby at this point.

Oh, I don't know... say... someone with maybe some demonstrated play-calling experience for our defensive coordinator-turned-HC? This guy may really turn out to be awesome. I am just not treating this hire like some sort of coup. Nor am I super excited about the "he knows/likes/has worked with Tyrod" angle. The goal should really be to win an NFL championship, not to just squeak into the playoffs.

I wouldn't say I pretend to know any more about Dennison than you. I looked him up on wikipedia, like you did. I am just choosing to see the hire as what it is… uninspiring (IMO). He's a guy whose mentor just retired, and who needs a new HC/offensive opportunity to latch onto. Dennison might have taken few enough hits to the head as a Bronco LB that he can come in here and develop a scheme & call plays like a Sam Wyche (who had done that quite well before we got him). I think the Modkins analogy is perfect. I am just not buying this company line that McDermott is so sound and calculating and thorough that he has already all but changed the culture at OBD because he knows what winning smells like and we gave him a nice warm welcome. There is nothing but heavy lifting ahead to get our pass offense up to modern times. And this is the key guy to do it? I hope so, but forgive my skepticism. In terms of the passing game, we are miles and miles from the four teams that will play this weekend.

Totally agree. So we hired a guy with nearly zero NFL play-calling experience... Let's not pretend Dennison is Sam Wyche. He is Curtis Modkins with Gailey retiring, in essence. And our meticulous HC is a defensive guy. Got it. And there is NO dysfunction in the organization, they are all just working their asses off. Oooookay. John Murphy, Chris Brown et al will try to spin this hire masterfully, but I am going to ease off of the One Bills Drive Kool-aid until further notice.

Regarding the OP's question ... no. Everyone now knows Rex sold the Pegulas a 5-year timeshare made of cards, and I am quite happy that Terry at least had the stones to make sure to include Rob in the voiding of that transaction. But I think Rex played the Tyrod/what's -my-status? card perfectly for his own obvious reasons. Rex was seen hitting up Target in OP the very next day, presumably getting his travel-sized toiletries for the trip down to Arizona on NYE to see his son's Clemson team play against Ohio State. I am sure he figured that if he pressed the issues enough with Pegs, he'd have a chance of heading down there scot-free last weekend instead of going into his former team's building on New Years Day as a dead man walking.

Based on recent history it's hard to argue with your point about attendance not being directly linked to on-field success. It's fair to surmise that this is a huge selling point as to why the Pegulas became interested in owning each of these teams. The Sabres were supported quite well throughout the tank/rebuild, especially once GMTM took it right down to the studs. This was mainly because, I think, fans trusted that there would be a bright future. But let's remember, ticket elasticity was a bit more of an issue just as the Pegulas took over the Sabres' franchise. It only improved once Darcy was finally sent packing, and the Nolan-LaFontaine combination served to get the fans to forgive. What exactly do Bills fans now have to look forward to? I view Rex's hire as being almost that same type of Nolan-LaFontaine fan-appeasement figure... to sell tickets immediately (for sure) & to possibly take us to the playoffs if he could work some magic with our roster talent. I just think we are now at the point where he has not shown any ability to do the 2nd part. Many of us die-hard Bills fans are tired of Rex's salesmanship and things, and Whaley's fatal flaw of not wanting to admit a mistake and move on. I do not believe Bills fans will just blindly support a plan of continuity going into 2017, and I also think the Pegulas know this.

If the Bills coaches/brain trust actually play out the string with Tyrod at QB, they are at best going to go 7-9 or 8-8 (perhaps even 6-10!). In any case, Rex just has to go away, and Tyrod will not be extended... or the ticket window business will grind to a halt. We mostly agree that EJ will be advised to not let the door hit him in the ass on the way out of the facility Jan 2nd. Which will leave us with an unknown Cardale as our only QB option for 2017. So exactly why isn't he playing, again? (Please save any and all "he's just too raw" responses... Dak was also thought to be too raw going into this year). The ONLY way playing Tyrod through Jan 1 makes any sense at all is if he plays better than he ever has (or even just Seattle-like) & they win out. Russ and Doug may then actually be able to deflect some season-ticket cancellations in the name of continuity. But this scenario seems so very unlikely as we sit here. And if Tyrod is just the same limited-vision guy we have seen, and if we lose a few, plus he should get injured???... which would mean we then must pay his extension anyway per his contract? I'll... I'll... ... I don't know what I'll do, but it might resemble something Michael Douglas' character in Falling Down would do.

yes, you are probably right I was thinking of the possible (abeit small-ish) "wow the Bills are going for it" factor, and I also think EJ will be as likely to be working at Dicks as he would playing for the Bills next fall still hoping maybe Kaep's not so in demand his gun and legs would hold up in the Ralph winds if we needed them

draft a guy if you want, but assuming Roman is still here, I'd wager we'd make a play for Kaepernick and to me, he fits the Bill(s) ... veteran who can back up and come in if Tyrod gets dinged (which he is scramble away from) I know he's been bad lately, but Roman did navigate a Kaepernick-led team to the dance and NFC title games ...

this is everything, in a nutshell ... 98% of Bills fans probably agree injuries are no excuse, but we have had a lot the backup QB is not adequate to get a W, but neither is Cassel we gave decent effort, but don't confuse effort with results the circling of wagons goes on, but it doesn't thank you football gods, may we have another?

take it to the bank if Glazer says it .... great move, the right move, a home-run move that Rex had to make T-mobile will likely be a very valuable fantasy player, I wont be taking a QB early (I never do)

per WGR sources, discussions have begun at One Bills Drive... he deserves a 2nd shot, why not?

believe it or don't, the pun was intended sincerely, Clip Smith 7 Eyewitness Sports

perhaps this play was the straw that broke the camel's back for the management of a local sporting goods store or might just be because they are being dicks

Quite worthy of a repost. Assign blame for EJs shortcomings wherever you like, but Rex and company know a coach-killer when they see one.

He'll get a chance with someone else. I don't expect him to do much with it though. I say that because EJ had every opportunity to run with the job here. Some believe Marrone and Hackett tarnished him. I don't buy that ... if you are good, you usually show improvement from mistakes and weaknesses over time. EJ has been consistently inconsistent, dating back to FSU. This offseason was his golden opportunity to take command of a talented team. And by most accounts, he is failing to earn the trust of this staff.

Thanks for posting ... I first read this after EJs injury-riddled rookie year. I then curled up into the fetal position, and cried like Nancy Kerrigan. I get it, EJ apologists/hopefuls ... we desperately want a franchise QB for our team, and picked this guy in the 1st round. And he's such a hard-working nice guy. But, just as we came to realize with JP, Trent, and others, EJ just doesn't have what it takes to be an NFL starter and leader of men. We must move on from him. In fact, it does not even look like EJ is a lock to make Rex's team at this point. Wishing and hoping that he somehow magically develops into a consistent, winning force is pure fools gold at this point. And he just can't be entrusted with a team this talented. Rex is no dummy, and I am certain he will roll the dice with Tyrod or hedge his bets with Cassel ... either is a smarter choice than trying to salvage an underwhelming enigma like EJ.

This times a thousand. Rex and his staff brought Cassel, Tyrod, and even Simms in here for a reason. They know EJ is a bum. EJ will not be on the Bills roster by opening day. Of this, I am certain. Rex may not even elect to burn a bunch of the preseason reps on him until the 4th game, at which point everyone will realize he is done here. He's not remotely accurate by NFL standards, and makes poor decisions. Hasn't ever fired the ball with any authority, doesn't use his athleticism to any advantage, and doesn't inspire confidence in others. If the 10 other guys on offense do their jobs perfectly, his lazy footwork & poor ball location just can not be the reason that the play fails time and time again. We whiffed, get over it. You can't polish a turd into a diamond.