starrymessenger

Thought about this guy quite a bit last year what with our QB problems and his strong showings in pre season. Like his upside a lot more than Clemens. Hes got to lay off the controlled substance stuff though. Looks like the jets mean to keep him.

Agree. For sure the kid has a future in football at the next level......if he can stay healthy.

I really like Ritchie. He has the physical skills to be a probowler at his position. Unfortunately the kids a lunatic. Not what Chan and Buddy are looking to build on I suppose.

Agree that there are (at least) two types of football fast that are relevant for evaluation of a player like Spiller. Can he flat outrun people? I don't expect him to be caught from behind once he is in the open field. But secondly, the question is how long does it take him to reach full speed. My understanding is that he is one of these guys, like Gale Sayers, who needs only 1 - 1 1/2 strides to top out. He's gonna be great!

Speed he has. He does not need to be U. Bolt. What is more important, once you've determined that he is very football fast, is that he also has moves and above all quickness - which again he has in great quantity. Can't wait to see this guy in action.

One tough Raider. To me, the hardest hit of his career was the one Earl Campbell laid on him on his way into the endzone. RIP Jack.

829 and 5 TDs with the Bills. Should at least be better with Carson & Co., even if there are other (big) mouths to feed in Cinci.

or Trent or Fitz or Brohm, with the emphasis on "far better"!

Whats in a number? Fact is TO in the right circumstances is still good for 1000+ yards and 8-10 TDs.

Since most us seem to understand that he can still play at a very high level, especially on a team with a QB and an O-Line, it should come as no surprise that the player personnel folks around the league know it too. I like TO in Cinci with Carson, Ocho and Bryant. That is a high octane receiving corps.

Forget about Roy. I hope they cut Kevin Ogletree and the Bills sign him. He's #5 WR buried in the depth chart much like Austin was. UDFA like Romo. I think the kids gonna be great. Unfortunately the Cowboys probably also think so.

I don't reject it. I acknowledge it. IMO you can take it to the bank nevertheless. CJ is no "ordinary superstar". Possibly the best football player drafted this year on either side of the ball. Certainly close to it. There is a reason the Bills almost fell over themselves in their haste to reach the podium. You will see soon enough.

CJ will not fail. Take it to the bank.

Bills do have a chance to make some noise this year. They have three very good (in the case of ML, when he feels like it) running backs and although the O-line is not great in pass protection due principally to our LT problem, it should definitely run block quite adequately (Levitre, Hangartner, Green), especially if Wood makes it back at close to 100% this year. Chan will use the running and short passing game to try and control the ball and the clock (a bit like the Dolphins last year). This way he keeps the ball away from the opposition's offence and gives his own D a break in a transition year. The O-line should also be able to suck it up enough to give the QB enough time for long balls or late developing patterns a limited number of times a game. With an expected level of OC sophistication and professionalism not seen here in many years and assuming one of our QBs can execute Chan's gameplan we could raise a few eyebrows.

Disagree about Brees in SD. Have seen a couple of his games back then and again on NFL Network. Maybe not enough to go on but I viewed the replays with Trent comparisons in mind and the thing that stood out to me was the fluidity of DBs throwing motion and release and how well his athleticism was channelled into throwing the football. Much less natural in Trent. Hope I'm wrong but for now agree with Fluffhead.

This article is a cut above the usual drivel we get from the national media (especially at this time of year) and reflects a legit, reasoned view - dont agree with his season record prediction however. I expect a better team than last year, especially in the later stages of the season. That is what we should be looking for and what we should see - noticeable improvement by years end, and an idea of what this team will actually look like when it is truly competitive again.

The case can certainly be made for Peyton being #1 offensive player. Don't see the relevance though if the question is whether grossly underpaid players should get extentions or new contracts since, as you say, Peyton's deal is up and he was never grossly underpaid to begin with.

Sorry. Thought that he was in the third year of a five year deal that paid him 12MM with 7MM guaranteed. And that after upfront payments he was looking at playing for about 500 thousand in "new" money this year. Know that they have been renegotiating while he has missed all team activities so far this year. When you say his contract is "up" I guess you mean up for renegotiation? Certainly it has not come to term. Regardless, the theme of this thread was whether a player is bound by his contract or is it appropriate in certain cases to tear up the document and start over. He wants 30MM. Titans won't pay that. He may hold out yet, Mr Weo, (unless I missed his signing something).

You have made your point and its a good one. In this way Reevis is a lot like Andre Johnson. They both opted for rich contracts that guaranteed security. But do you also think that the best player in the world on the offensive side of the ball should shut up and play for $500,000 this year?

Percocet is a synthetic derivative of morphine I believe. Was on it for a couple of months after hip surgery. Really enjoyed being sick. Problem is the withdrawal symptoms. Not worth the ride. Wonder how ballplayers deal with it. Just take more Percocet I guess. Not a great decision IMO. JR is pathetic.

The CFL has been around for a long time. There was a time, especially before the rise of the AFL and while the NFL itself was smaller, less lucrative, less organized/competitive when a fair number of top player talent made it to Canada. Cookie Gilchrist and others are CFL legends that were good enough to play anywhere. Even more recently, for one reason or another, the occasional great player shows up here, e.g. Warren Moon because back when he graduated the NFL was still in the dark ages re drafting a black QB (even if the guy was great) or Jeff Garcia and a few others, including Flutie who after all was a real QB and not an imposter at the position even in the NFL. Most recently there is Wake, who will only get better in Miami (though of course will not dominate as he did in Canada). Rickie Williams is an interesting case for comparison. When he played for Toronto he was not as effective as he is in Miami. To me he was just playing out his suspension and keping in shape - maybe at 80% of capacity. Even then, when he made his mind up he could put it in a different gear. I remember him with a defensive tackle draped all over him at the opposition five yard line. He literally walked in with the guy on his back. He's a tough runner but he doesn't do that in the NFL. The CFL is fun for us Canadians to have, but it is definitely the minor leagues. Even more so than in baseball since its sends fewer players to the "majors". Talentwise, if the Bills played here they would/should go undefeated and win the Grey Cup (although with them you never know- its hard to win in the CFL). With its three down set the game is more simplified and together with the wider field is more open and pass oriented. It is less sophisticated and technical from the perspective of execution though and there are some things about it that are downright stupid. The difference between victory and defeat can be a punt through the end-zone - the infamous "rouge"- hilarious.

Maybe Buddy did try to do something (though I doubt it). According to Jason LaConfora, a 3-4 team (unnamed) showed strong interest in Albert, who apparently vetoed any discussions even though they agreed to line him up as a DE, not NT. In Albert's mind I'm sure that the issue of his 20M bonus is quite independent from any assurances he may have received concerning the position he would be playing. As a purely contractual matter he is almost certainly right. He probably feels besides that he would have gotten the same money from somebody else who would not be messing with his game - so why would he pass up what he was legally entitled to because of something they decided to do? Not defending Albert, but imprudent owners wind up getting what they deserve.

If we give up anything of value for Gaither we have to sign him to a deal. Teams are loath to write big contracts/extensions this year because of the uncertainty surrounding the CBA next year, even if they are sure they like the player. So we cant really offer anything of real, tangible value and therefore Gaither plays out the season in Baltimore.

Ok fair enough. Not saying he is a good quarterback and indeed in reality he has not got a Lossman/Russell type arm, but I did think he could make all the throws which I have some doubt about in Trent's case. I thought the dinking and dunking was more a reflection of his lousy receiving corps and resulting Mangini game plan.

Wrong Bill. You get Trent with a beter arm, aka JP Lossman.