MiddleOfPatriots*Nation

Bottom line: the coach needs coaching. I work with CEOs and senior managers coaching them on what to say to the media, typically in preparation for or response to a crisis. Guess what? Football is entertainment, but when you are facing the next opponent that is ready to humiliate you and beat you by 60 points, that's a crisis. Same rules apply. Jauron is a nice guy, but I wince everytime he's standing in front of that backdrop with the Bills and sponsor logos and open his mouth to speak. If I had two hours with the guy, and about two minutes before each media session, I could fix him. Not his coaching, but he'd be a lot smoother with the media. I'm no Belicheat fan, but someone in that organization had the insight to hire a media coach for him and his staff. First, that lockdown they have on players talking about anything isn't by chance, and it isn't BB. It's an organization-wide policy. Second, BB always sounds like the other team is going to destroy him because he's had training. However, in the midst of his, "Well, they are well-coached and present a challenge" riff, you get the feeling in the pit of your gut that he's really telling you he's going to rip your insides out and feed them to you. Jauron's hokey, aw-shucks, brutally-honest "It's going to be very difficult" material is NOT the image a team wants to convey. If he's being himself, then he needs to be coached to change that persona. Last Thursday, did you hear the response Mike Tomlin and any Steeler gave when asked having something to prove as returning champs? To a man, they said, "That was last year. This year, we need to win games." Same with the Terrible Towel incident. Last year. If the Bills were smart, their head coach would be saying, "The pre-season is the pre-season. We're ready for the Pats, the guys are fired up, and we're going to make sure we execute." None of this "we need to get better fast" tripe. Get me Brandon's e-mail and I'll take care of this mess. Mike Quinn mike@strategiQbrand.com 45-year Bills fan GO BILLS!

With that avatar photo, I believe everything you say.

Even if the passes go long or OOB, that will be more exciting than the short game.

I disagree. Reich's comeback is hard to beat. Look, teams beat teams that they have no business beating all the time. A few seasons ago, when the Bills dismantled NE in the first game of the season, we weren't supposed to win that one, either. I admit that it's going to be tough to beat a well-coached, well-QB'd team, but consider the X factors in play here: 1. What if AVP got into Trent's head and jammed a little swagger in there? 2. What if Jackson and Oman play out of their minds to take advantage of this once-in-a-career opportunity? 3. What if those checkdowns that everyone is griping about work against a weak Pats secondary (see item 2) ? 4. What if Maybin, Kelsay, and Schobel all feel--for different reasons--that they have something to prove on national TV vs. the Patriots* and Hoodie? 5. What about the T.O. factor? My god, what if he wreaks havoc in the secondary? He's so scary talented, YOU could throw a pass up to him and he'd make something out of it. Call it dreaming, call it too much adrenaline on opening day, but just don't discount all of these unknowns. If these guys ratchet up their game because it is (1) opening day, (2) national tv, (3) against the Pats*, who knows what could happen. Tell you what--if the Bills win tonight, I will put it in a tie for first with Reich's game.

My parents brought over a case of Genny Scream and Blue Lights. I'm already four in and it's not even noon! GO....um....BILLS!!! WOO!

Yep, I've got goose bumps.

I don't care about Coach 7-9, Cap'n Checkdown, Schonert, Pop Warner, Ralph, The Ralph, T.O in T.O., T.O. tweets, Peters, Walker, Bell, the rookies, or what brand of hot dog they're serving at the concession stands. This is my 44th season of Bills football. I've seen the good, the bad (Dan Darragh ring a bell?), and the ugly. I don't care: I am counting the hours until the kickoff tonight. Regardless of the outcome of tonight's game, it's the anticipation that makes Bills fandom a blast. GO BILLS!!!

Go long. Go long often. Their secondary is suspect--let's exploit it. We have these fast receivers; one of them can go for the jump ball. Trent can go 60 yards downfield. Time for some fireworks.

That's impossible. Lynch will be on suspension.

Way to break it down! I'm just reading your posts from now on.

I'm celebrating my 50th season this fall as well. Watch this space for limited-edition Mike 50th Anniversary Season jerseys, beer mugs, banners, seat cushions, autographed posters, special presentations at the 50-yard line at a Bills home game, and a whimsical Ralph -n- Mike MP3 recounting all of the major events in Buffalo history in alphabetical order (sung by Ralph -n- Mike, of course).

Don't worry. We just need to execute better and make fewer mistakes. LOL

It's one thing to lose all your preseason games but still have some positive plays. We're not even close to that.

Ditto on the uniforms. And the play-calling. And...well, you know, maybe I'll just watch this video tomorrow night over and over again. Better for the blood pressure. Can't wait to hear all the Pats* fans agonizing about Brady's shoulder. Random question: the other day, I was in Sam's Club in Concord, NH; found two huge tables of Patriots* t-shirts and misc. garb for sale. Do the Sam's Clubs back home in Buffalo do that with Bills gear? Haven't been back there for a while...just curious. GO BILLS!