OldTimer1960

I love that the team has fought to stay in this game, but they are just not good enough to compete with a very good NO team on the road.

So, with Thad Lewis playing QB,and the OL playing poorly, what exactly do you recommend?

Jared Cook has two catches and zero TDs more than Scott Chandler - while Cook signed a 5 year $35M contract. I am not seeing where 2 more catches and a couple of yards per catch are worth $7MM/year... Sean Smith signed a 3 year $18M contract this year. Maybe we should see what the Bills could do with their two starting CBs (who have both missed a lot of time with injuries), their top backup (Brooks) and their top S (Byrd) all missing most of the year so far... And if I am right, Grimes signed in Miami for $5.5M coming off a torn achilles and he was signed to replace Sean Smith, I think. It isn't like Miami kept Smith AND signed Grimes... That isn't chump change/bargain basement money - sure 3 different teams signed these guys - and maybe over-paid. I am not inclined to crucify the Bills for playing the first 6 games this year without 4 of their top 5 DBs (Gilmore, Byrd, McKelvin in-and-out, Brooks). What team could survive that?

Please stop, unless you can identify specific issues - including who they should have brought in as free agents at specific times. Before you tell us that they cheaped out and should have re-signed Levitre, please note that Titan's RB Chris Johnson is averaging 3.1 ypc with Levitre AND #1 pick OG Chance Warmick blocking for him.... If you are inclined to tell us that they should have a veteran NFL backup at QB, who was available after Kevin Kolb was injured that they should have signed? I am very sure that Byrd is working extremely hard so as not to disappoint you and incur your wrath. Your post is hilarious.

Regarding the offense: they have a rookie QB, 1 experienced WR and a bunch of rookies/very inexperienced guys beyond them. Do you think that could have something to do with the offense's performance? Special Teams: they have addressed the problem at punter. I feel bad for Crossman as the number of injuries - esp to DBS and losing Marquise Goodwin can't be helping him. New guys (brand new to the roster) have been playing STs each week due to injuries.

I think that they have handled things very well so far. I can't remember a team that has been decimated by injuries so badly so early in the season - and yet, the team has remained competitive and playing hard. The list of injuries includes: 1st and 2nd string QBs, 4 of top 5 DBs, top 2 RBs playing hobbled.... I haven't heard ANY excuses from either the coaching staff or the players. I think true bad luck has hit the team and they are persevering. For those that think the Bills "blew" the backup QB position, I argue - who should they have signed once Kevin Kolb was injured? I think the list of available "veteran backups" then was as bad or worse than it is now. Unfortunately, there are no good answers out there. If you are among those that wanted Matt Flynn instead of Kolb - you can see where he is now. So, what great backup CB, QB and LGs did you see that they should have signed? I sort of agree that Tebow (while not a good QB), might be able to allow the Bills to win a game or two with leadership and his unorthodox play. Yes, the Bills need a legit QB to play until EJ is healthy - who is available that the "bean counters" are preventing them from signing? Yes, Minnesota won the competition for Josh Freeman - but I don't think you can say it was because the Bills would not pay what the Vikings were willing to - nobody knows that at all.

No doubt that they should burn as much clock between plays as possible. The "shorter" the Bills can make the game, the better for the Bills' defense and the better chance they can stay in the game.

Yes fingers crossed!

While I hope that you are right, eball I am just not seeing it. There is a big difference (IMHO) between having the threat of a passing game that defenses must respect and having Tuel/white in. Unless one of them shows that they can complete passes, I don't expect room for the run game.

While I hope that you are right, eball I am just not seeing it. There is a big difference (IMHO) between having the threat of a passing game that defenses must respect and having Tuel/white in. Unless one of them shows that they can complete passes, I don't expect room for the run game.

The difference in our view is you are saying that Tuel/White/whomever is an "NFL" QB. I don't think they are. I am not "giving up on the season after 5 weeks". I will still watch and hope to see development in some areas of the team. I just don't expect any real shot at winning games until EJ is back. That doesn't make me some kind of turn-coat or fair weather fan. I think it just makes me realistic. Maybe you are right, but I think that the offense will be completely shut down by the Bengals. They will take the run game away and force Tuel to try to beat them.

As someone above said, does it matter who is starting at QB? With Tuel, White or any other option that is currently available, the Bills have less than a 10% chance to win any of their games - and I think that is being generous. I will be pleasantly surprised if the offense can put up 10 points in any of these games.

What is a "few" weeks. When they say 4-8 weeks, expect 8-10. They are not going to put Manuel back out there if he isn't 100%. If Freeman were to come in here and manage the miraculous and keep the Bills in playoff contention, then he will not be replaced by a healthy Manuel. If Freeman were to manage keeping the Bills close to .500 over the next 8 weeks, he'd be in great demand as a FA next year - possibly even here in Buffalo.

We are in general agreement. I agree that White is near the top of available FAs. It, however, is my view that NONE of the available FAs (besides Freeman and ****maybe***** Tebow's magic) give the Bills a realistic chance to win a game unless their defense is better than the 1985 Bears...

Now, I want to be as optimistic as most here, but be realistic. The Bills will be playing the next 4-8 games with a starting QB that no team wanted as even their 3rd stringer. I agree that Spiller and Jackson should be a good ground game, but with no passing threat at all, defenses will take that run game away almost completely. With the exception of Josh Freeman, insert any of the available QBs and think about whether defenses will have to remotely respect the passing game. Expect a steady dose of man-to-man on receivers with at least 1 safety in the box on nearly every down. FWIW, I KNOW that Tebow can't pass to save his life, but if they can't get Freeman - I'd just as soon take a wild chance with someone who has found a way to win some NFL games than cast my lot with Pat White, Dennis Dixon, etc. At least Tebow might be able to eek out a win or two and maintain team morale with his leadership... AGAIN, TO BE CLEAR, I know that Tim Tebow is NOT an NFL passer. For those as old as me, he is a modern-day Bobby Douglass... However, I think he might give the team a better chance to win a game or be competitive than any of the available FA QBs besides Josh Freeman.

But why do you feel that White would be more ready than Jeff Tuel? Tuel had 1 very good preseason game, maybe White did too. In terms of experience, I don't see where White has any more (or even as much) playing experience as Tuel. I agree that White has some athletic ability, but that doesn't make him a good option as a starting QB in the short term or a good long term backup option. I won't say that he has no ability, but he is not much better an option than Tuel other than White is faster than Tuel.

Boy, I don't understand the love for Pat White. It is like he is some legend or something. His NFL CAREER stat line is: 0 completions; 5 attempts; for a QB rating of 39. If he is the best that can be had, they may as well punt on first down and hope to score on turnovers. By comparison, Tim Tebow - who is a HORRIBLE passer is 173-361, 17 TDs, 9 INTs + 12 rushing TDs. I am not advocating for Tebow, but he seems a better option than Pat White...

Agreed. If the Bills were to believe that Nassib could develop into a good long term backup, then I'd not have a big quarrel with trading a 4th for him, but why would the Giants trade a guy they just used a 4 on for a 4 next year?

+1 I like to remain optimistic, but realistic. Wishing and hoping and praying that a guy who has almost no track record and was out of the league for 2 years and doesn't know the offense isn't going to make him a good option. Dennis Dixon has played in 4 NFL regular season games, thrown for 402 total yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Unless the Bills view any of these guys as likely long-term backups after this emergency starting stint - I wouldn't want to give up much in trade. Maybe a 6 or 7, but not more. Of that list, Ryan Nassib would be most interesting - mainly because he would be most likely to be able to grasp the offense the soonest.

I am not one who thought that EJ wasn't playing well - I think he has played quite well for a rookie. Also, I am not lamenting the likely record - I had no delusions that the Bills could make the playoffs this year anyway. My points were that whomever they bring in does not give them the hope that EJ did and I worry that after many weeks the team will lose the tough attitude that they have shown so far.

Up front, I don't really blame the Bills for the predicament they are in now. Their plan was to have Kolb be the veteran backup. When Kolb was hurt, there weren't any good veteran options left that would really give them a chance to win games or even be competitive, so they kept Tuel as the #2 QB so that he could get some practice reps - to see if he had talent to develop. However, I truly do not see any QB, other than Freeman who would give the Bills even an outside chance of winning. I am afraid that we are likely to be 2-10 or worse by the time Manuel is healthy. Worse though, I worry that a long stretch with no viable QB will kill the fight in this team - something that they have shown a lot of to date. Unfortunately, the defense may grow weary of having to try to hold opponents scoreless and finally throw in the towel. If defenses were overplayng the run with EJ in there, they will do more of that now. I also worry that they will completely wear Spiller and Jackson out over that time with effects of that over use that could linger into next year. I try to remain positive, but this is a really horrible situation.

+1 - way too many here are thrilled to call a guy a bust. This should be a lesson that it can take a few years and maybe a position switch for a young player to establish himself ... I am SURE that those saying the Bills' should have picked Geno instead of EJ will be silent aaa out the Jets' loss including a Geno fumble for a TD...

I will be encouraged with the following: 1. The team continues to play hard even when things aren't going well -as they have done the first 3 games 2. We see some signs of improvement in the passing game - Think TJ Graham has to make a few catches or Marcus Easley and/or Chris Hogan should get some time. I think a reliable possession receiver like Hogan could help get the passing game moving a bit. - They need to find a way to get CJ Spiller involved in the passing game - Don't know if Spiller can throw, but with all the attention defenses are giving him, a half-back option pass might be wide open off of a sweep Improvement in the passing game will come slowly with so many young/unproven WRs combined with a rookie QB. Overall, I am disappointed by all the injuries, but I expect improvement from the team as they gain experience and get some key players back from injury.

Defenses know that Spiller is the only weapon that can hurt them badly. They are focusing on stopping him and daring the Bills to beat them with their rookie QB and young WRs. Things won't get much better for Spiller and the run game until the Bills show defenses that they have to at least respect the passing game. Right now, the do not... You also said: -I think this defense is back to being very good once Gilmore and Byrd return. Waiting to see what is going on with Mario, Carrington, and McKelvin - fingers crossed. I agree if they can every get healthy.