CodeMonkey

Exactly, camp. Hopefully we will have a little better idea of reality tomorrow evening ... one way or the other.

I agree with you here. Except that in the NFL I see no real consequence. And to me, a player who holds out simply not getting the rest of the money spelled in in the contract is not a consequence for breach of contract. I guess we aren't that far apart, just arguing semantics now.

Over/under of 5.5 at this point sounds right to me. Maybe after I see them actually play for real instead of against each other in camp I will change my mind. But right now I would not feel confident enough to place a bet either way.

You actually think that signing a contract is a almost meaningless exercise then. A person who signs a contract can "change their mind" and the contract becomes null and void? I hope you are not responsible for third party contracts for whatever company you work for.

Bolded above: Step out of football and into the real world for just a minute. If I signed a contract with you to perform some service for 5 years and after 2 years I said that I needed more money or I would not continue to provide the service. What would you do? A) Give me the additional money. B) Forget about the contract and find someone else to provide the service. C) Hold me to the contract and sue my ass off if I do not comply. I believe any rational businessperson picks C. That is the whole point of having a contract. As to the rest of your post, I do not think the entire situation is all the players fault. As you point out, the owners can cut a player without paying out the contract as well. This is equally as wrong as the players holding out while under contract. If neither side wants to live up to the terms of a proposed contract, then do not sign it. It really should be as simple as that and is how the rest of the business world operates. Why does the NFL feel that they are special?

The way it works now there really is very little point to even having a contract. Player and team have a 10 year "contract" (no guarantee money) for example: 1) Team can cut player at any time with no repercussions. 2) Player can hold out for more money with no repercussions. The only thing I see a contract doing is stopping other teams from making the player an outright offer at any time. At the end of the day, why have a contract if either side can opt out at any time? It is completely different. If I have a employment contract with my employer (which I do actually), if partway into the contract I say that I want more money or I will stop working. Do they negotiate with me? Hell no. They slap me with a breach of contract suit and take me to the cleaners. Just not get paid? Only in the NFL which also shows how the NFL system is a mess.

They should be almost free. But like any scalping, the closer to kickoff (or better still, just after kickoff) the lower the price.

I agree that it would be a huge move. It's just that I have a personal prejudice against Tom Terrific. I actually don't think he is so terrific. He has just had a great team to play behind in his career. Take Matt Cassel for example. His last year in NE when Brady was hurt his QB rating was 89.4. Take him away from NE and he dropped to 69.9. Any decent QB would have played well in NE. You put Brady in Buffalo and I'm not convinced he would be walking on water here.

I agree. But the case you site is just a symptom of a much larger disease. Take these salaries and divide by 16 (number of regular season games in a season) to get salary on a per game basis. The result is staggering.

Just read up on it, and they sell it here. I'm going to give it a try as well, thanks!

Oh dude that's not a nice thing to say ... I almost lost my lunch thinking about that!

None taken. I have been around long enough to know why the OP tends to inspire hostility. He just didn't in this thread so far was all. But then again, liking Rex Ryan ...

No. But thanks for playing.

Hmmmm. Who is the douche in this conversation so far?

I believe the reason for that was as far as the NFL was concerned, it was sold out (Rogers Communications purchased them all for resale).

I guess we know there will be some good rum at one tailgate anyway

I try and avoid making personal attacks, even when provoked. I would be very happy if your prediction somehow manages to come true.

We won't know squat until October after they have a played a few games for real.

Exactly.

When I am 59 my daughter will be 14. So you never know.

Very well put and I agree. Unfortunately for the Rochester people like me, that 90 minute drive turns into closer to 3 hours each way. But I suppose they figure the people from Rochester and beyond that do not go to the games get replaced by Torontonians and it evens out.

These prediction threads are getting very repetitive. Allow me to summarize: 1) Some people think the Bills will be very good this year, 11-5 or better. Mainly due to the coaching change and the acquisition of Spiller. Whoever does not agree with this prediction is a doom & gloomer, needs to sober up, or my personal favorite ... not a "real fan". 2) Some people think the Bills will have a very bad record this season. 4-12 or worse. Mainly due to minimal personal changes and a more difficult schedule than last year. Whoever does not agree with this prediction is drinking koolaid or a homer with his head in the sand. 3) The rest tend to believe the record will be not that different that last year. In the 8-8 ballpark. Most people can't find a reason to hate on these predictions too much. Thank God the season will be starting soon so these prediction threads can stop.

We suck - I agree, we probably will this season too. But I'm hoping to see potential for future non-sucking (see below). We have sucked - Everyone knows this. we will continue to suck - Can't say that is cast in stone as far as I am concerned. With the sweeping coaching change as well as a GM change (one can argue the quality of either, but I don't think many would argue that both are an upgrade) I hope to see signs that we are on the road to respectability. And with a few successful drafts and FA acquisitions start thinking of the playoffs as a possibility instead of a pipe dream. Of course only time will tell.

He is not a Bill so I do not care how he spells his name

I agree with AJ. My kids have gone twice this week so far for the day session and they love it (they want to go Saturday hoping to see Spiller now). The first half is pretty dull so they go jump in bounce houses and stuff they have there for kids. Then watch the X on X drills followed by getting players autographs. If you find football practice interesting then you should find it enjoyable. Worth a 7 hour round trip drive? Personally it would not be worth it for me.