CodeMonkey

Hmmm. So if they go 10-6 after putrid 4-12 and 6-10 seasons, but get nudged out of a wildcard spot the season is a bust to you? Tough crowd. 10-6 would be a phenomenal success to me in 2012.

I wish Nix thought that way in 2010. I agree with you about the current QB situation.Love him or hate him, Fitz is the QB for the 2012 season. I cannot imagine a scenario that would have the Bills taking a QB in the first round.

This is no different than the S. Johnson threads a week or so ago. There are people who thought he was going to get 9-10 mil per year from someone other than Buffalo. Some that wanted Nix to use the franchise tag and pay 9.5 mil I think it was for one season. Others (me included) that thought he would test the FA market and end up somewhere for about 7 or 7.5 mil per year. Basically we were all wrong. Same with Bell, we will see when it happens.

4-12 to 6-10 to 12-4 and undefeated at home (including Toronto) huh I know it is too early to say for sure as you stated, but I love the offseason I don't expect any big name FA's landing in Buffalo. But if Nix has another successful draft, and combine that with what on paper anyway looks like a easier schedule and I can see 8-8 as very possible.

Never said it made sense to bring Tebow to Buffalo. But if for some reason he does end up there (the Smithers factor maybe) don't be surprised if he gets a chance to start. He can run well and forces defenses to account for that. He should be able to throw short about as well as Fitz (neither can throw deep). He can sell tickets. And most important, he has a knack for finding a way to win as shown in college and Denver. I think he would end up in Jacksonville, but I can see Smithers drooling over the potential ticket and merchandise sales. I have one son who absolutely would want a Tebow Bills jersey if that came to be. I think the Fitzcontract and the "Fitz is our guy" statements followed up by bringing in Tebow the next season would make Nix look like he doesn't know what he is doing. Which is one reason I don't see Nix doing it unless he gets overruled from above (Smithers above, not Jesus ).

For passes > 15 yards I'm not sure it is possible to be less accurate that Fitz. For the short passes I'm not sure. Tebow brings the ability to run very successfully. Think of it like a constant wildcat threat. And no matter if you love him or hate him, Tebow has shown the ability to win both in College and the Pros. Something the Bills have been sorely lacking in for a VERY long time. The Bills could cut/trade pigpen and Brad Smith, though I doubt Gailey would want to dump pigpen. Smithers would probably love the "buzz factor" for ticket sales. Lots of potential reasons to want him. But Nix just giving Fitz that shiny new contract would definitely stand in the way.

Interesting how most posts so far assume Tebow would be the backup to Fitz. I do not make that assumption. And at least publicly, I suspect Gailey would say it is a open competition (as it should be for all positions). Though that might be tough to do given the size of Fitz's new contract. Nix might fear how that makes him look.

Be careful Dr. D. or they will revoke your "Polly" membership! hehe

Signing his own guys so he can concentrate on the true FAs when the time comes is a sound move no matter how you look at it.

Further proof that you can make statistics look as good or bad as you want if you try hard enough Except for in kindergarten recreational soccer, like it or not records are how teams are measured. I agree with you that this team wasn't flushed down the toilet in one season, and it wasn't going to be restored to relevancy in one season either. I'm not expecting a SB win this season. In fact, I don't expect to make the playoffs this coming season (though I wouldn't cry if they did ). But ChaNix will have had 3 FA periods, 3 drafts, and 3 seasons of coaching by the end of the next season. I have not seen marked improvement yet, as witnessed by the records. In fact, I have seen quite the opposite. I sure expect to see some next season. 8-8 at least, which is not being unreasonable I don't think. Show me the baby Buddy, sans excuses.

12% if my math is correct. Fairly significant to me. I understand what you are saying. And I guess to some just believing the team is heading in the right direction can change their psyche enough to overlook the seasons records and make them feel better about the worse (at least as far as records are concerned) seasons.

Wires lawyer probably called him and said "WTF are you doing?????"

So after 2 seasons of the ChaNix era the Bills went 10-22 whereas the last 2 full seasons of the Jauron era the Bills went 14-18. While neither record is something to be proud of, there has been an obvious drop-off under ChaNix. Yet to some that is acceptable because somehow, even though the team is losing more, they are more fun to watch now. It is interesting to see how peoples minds work. If ChaNix goes 4-12 and get fired next season (not wanting that to happen by the way), 2 seasons after that we will see posts saying how much more fun the Bills are to watch under the new people than under those "losers" ChaNix.

A media outlet trying to manufacture interest, particularly during an offseason, noooooooooooo

Wow. "snitch" and "rat" ... really? The real dirtbags are the ones who participated in these actions over the years for all teams. But you don't care why, because this one is the Bills? You make me sick. I strongly suspect this is a non-story anyway. I would be willing to bet there isn't a team in the NFL where this didn't go on at one point. And probably, up until now anyway, was still going on for a lot of the teams. Not the entire team or even the entire defense, just a subset of players. It is a very violent game played by very violent people who for the most part are not the sharpest tools in the shed, and are paid well. If anyone who has followed the game at all is shocked that things like this have been going on then I am stunned.

His accuracy in my opinion is not due to lack of strength or bad footwork, but his throwing motion. Look at it closely. He does not throw over the top like the good passers do. He has what I would call a 3/4 delivery, approaching sidearm. This is what causes him to look like he has a weak arm, and causes the inaccuracy. This is not something he is going to change at this point in his career. It is what it is.

Whatever they do, they clearly need to get more WR help if Gailey plans on running his 5-wide thing again this season. And what they need are more receivers like Steve Johnson who are good running the short routes, within 15 yards, so that Fitz stands a good chance of getting the ball to them. The Bills need receivers that can get separation quickly so that defenses can't do what they did to the Bills the last half of last season, namely crowding the line and taking the short game away.

And, Manning would not come to Buffalo. Wherever Manning goes, it will not be Buffalo. I think that both Gailey and Nix believe they have their man in Fitz.

Sign em all now Buddy so you can focus on the FA's shortly.

My opinion, and that's all it is, is that Fitz could have been a top QB in the NFL. He clearly has the brains, the toughness, and from all accounts the leadership to be one. His throwing motion being so bad makes him far too inaccurate, particularly past 15 yards, to make him a top QB. If someone had corrected his throwing motion when he was young, we would not even be having this conversation now. That's how I see it anyway.

Probably there is no hope of Manning going to a perennial bottom feeder.

There is hate for Mother Teresa on this board.

Gotcha. Well my definition of a "#1" for a WR would include to catch the big ones and not take stupid "look at me" penalties. So no, to me he has not been one to date. No reason to believe he could not become one as soon as this season though.

Interesting thought process. If you think that after this draft the offense could be good enough to cover for the bad defense then your premise makes sense. I wonder if Buddy agrees with you.

Exactly. It is a different, considerably more passing game now. Plus Gailey has been pass happy particularly with his 5-wide thing last season. I think Johnson is a capable receiver that has been immature in the past (which hopefully is behind him now), and has had a bad tendency to drop the big ones (I REALLY hope this is behind him now). I'm glad he is going to remain a Bill, and at a fair price to everyone. But thinking he is one of the greatest ever based on this one stat does not make sense to me.