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There is so much happening behind the scenes that we the fans will never be aware of - and, even different people who are behind the scenes are going to see and experience different things, and in the end view it from different angles. I just got a feeling, a few months ago, that one of the things the Bills would be playing for, week in and out this year, was to give Ralph a chance at seeing his team make it. He's definitely old, and certainly doesn't have long, and he did throw down whatever money they asked for to make it work. The thing is, you just cannot throw money at the situation in the NFL and have it work. Teams like the Redskins, Cowboys, and Jets have proven that. I need only compare last years Eagles to this years Bills. That Eagles training camp and locker room was probably a mess! All those egos trying to come together to play a team sport. Now look at Buffalo - you've got a ton of talent and they're all saying and doing just what you would hope they would; they're modest, humble guys who are willing to sacrifice and work hard to win. Nix was a fantastic hire - he will prove to be as good a GM as Polian was, I think, or at the very least as good as Butler. When he brought Whaley in from Pittsburgh, and restructured the scouting dept., to bringing in Wannstedt - and then the slow, methodical aquisition of players; he's put together a roster that has starting potential all over the place. Their plan worked - and it is kudos to Nix and Gailey for agreeing to make this their home and their chance at a Legacy. As for an owner's spending policy - if Ralph was too old to be involved day to day, and couldn't take control of the search for a GM/Head Coach, since Marv and Butler left, and if I had to choose between an owner who'd spend enough to have decent players but never push it all the way, or one who'd wait and go all in every 7-10 years, I think I'd rather have a chance at a Powerhouse Championship team once a decade than a middle of the pack team that never makes it. Not that it comes down to only those options - I'm just saying, it isn't too little too late if they make it while he's alive to see it. I'm just glad we finally have what we do - because there isn't another team in the NFL I'd rather be rooting for right now than the Bills!

I was thinking just the other day that a real key to the Bills success this year is going to be how we fare against 3-4 teams. Over the past 3 or 4 years (and more, I know) we've had a history of playing poorly against teams employing the 3-4 defense. Many of us thought we'd improve on that front by becoming a 3-4 team ourselves, but it didn't help too much, in my estimation. I think we play 9 teams this year that employ the 3-4 base defense. The thought came to me after reading about our Tackles, Glenn, Hairston, and the injured Pears. The news out of camp has been how these youngsters have shown flashes of game, but have often been schooled, as well, by all of our DE's. I realized they might have a much tougher time against 3-4 teams with good OLB's, as they might get caught up with the DE's and have a hard time getting separation and then dealing with the speedsters. We'll see, but that should be a real focus for Gailey - solving this 3-4 problem once and for all! Otherwise, I think the biggest keys to this season will be the O-line, QB, and WR play. Although the O-line has been addressed, it is still young in many areas and needs to prove itself (and, if healthy, I think will prove to be a top 5 line in the NFL). Gailey has made due, it seems, with inheriting an offense that had very little to be excited about, and making the most of the talent. Because he's so good at doing just that, we've seen the rest of the team evolve into really excellent NFL material. Well, by the end of this year we'll know how many gems were there to find, and next year's draft and offseason will be spent aquiring the QB of the future (if Fitz doesn't take us to the playoffs), and the right WR to complement what we have. All in all, though - I love the look of this team - it is still a work in progress, and it will be growing into a powerhouse, starting this year, and remaining relevant and strong for as long as Nix and Whaley are adding the pieces, I see us going 11-5 and making the playoffs. From there, it'll depend on the health of our team, and the QB play, just how far we go.

Someone else who is reminded of Moulds when they see Aiken! I've thought that, too. I scratch my head when it comes to figuring out why certain players end up on the roster and not others. WR group, if it is limited to 5 or 6, should all be able to step in and be relied upon to make plays from anywhere - not just a single type of player. When I watch Aiken I think, this kid can run, catch, and he's got really good size. We should be seeing the best players on this squad, which is always a matter of debate when a guy like Roosevelt is left for the practice squad while Donald Jones is on the field. Roosevelt may be slower, but he makes plays! Either our group of recievers after Stevie and Nelson is really mediocre, or they're all close in talent. I just find it hard to believe we'd have a bunch of mediocre WR's when the rest of the team has been so consciously stocked with talent - which makes me think we've got the talent there, we just need to give them a chance.

I recall hearing Pat Kirwan on 550 radio, yesterday, I believe, saying he thought Kyle Williams and Dareus were the best DT combo in the league, and that this line is absolutely perfect for Wannstedt. He even went so far as to say he thought the whole D-line compared to the very best in the NFL. That says a lot, considering Detroit, Minnesota, and the Giants have D-lines that have more or less dominated games. I have to say, reading this site for years now, most of the fans here are very cautiously optimistic - we're always hoping the Bills will play to their best potential, but we all know these guys could be as good as we've ever had, and if they stay healthy - all of them, Merriman, too - it could be something even historically special. We the fans know this. I think the big difference, barring injuries, of course, is whether the players want to be that way, as well. It's one thing to go out and have great series. We know they will. It's another matter altogether, a real challenge to discipline and determination, to go out and play at the highest level every series, all game, every game. If they do that, we're in for a special season. And I'm excited now, because it seems like these guys are internally motivated to do just that.

I think I see Fitzpatrick very accurately, and, I believe this is a critical year for him. I'd say if he didn't play very well this year, the Bills will look for a replacement next year - actually, they should get a young QB in here regardless, it's where they draft one that Fitz's play this year will decide. Fitz has a great football mind - maybe as good as Manning's. It's his body that betrays him. He just hasn't been physically able to make the completions his mind wants him to make. Many people have written him off because of that, believing that a QB cannot improve mechanics, accuracy, and the like, once they're fully developed. I don't know about that. Like I said, it has been his accuracy, his physical limitations that have limited him, and this team. If he can reduce his interceptions, show better long ball accuracy, then we should be good for a number of years going forward. It looks to me, though, that the success the Bills will, or will not have, this year, is depending most of all on Fitzpatrick's play. (People might argue that - but, you replace Fitz with Aaron Rodgers, or Peyton, or Matt Ryan, and the Bills would be a clear lock for the playoffs and a 11 or 12 win season.) The Bills have done enough everywhere else in these last few years to now have a team that can compare, talent wise, in a lot of areas, to the better teams in the NFL. It's Fitz's time to show that QB is also one of them.

As much as I despise the Patriots, I also respect them - they are just so good; and, they're good in ways you'd want your team to be (except the spygate, which many teams were into - the Pats just shouldered the blame). So, I've got to agree here. We know they'll go out and win 12 or more games this year, and, it does mostly come down to Brady and Bellicheck. The rest is more or less interchangeable.

I keep hearing or reading older, retired players saying that if they played in today's NFL they would have been able to play into their late 30's, early 40's. I would guess Brady sees another 4 or 5 years until he retires. I think, in the short term - the next few years - those older players will, as long as they remain fast enough, make their offense extremely difficult to defend, with all their combined experience, and with Brady throwing to them, in that offense. However - I'm hoping the Bills Defensive line makes playing through this season, let alone another 4 or 5, mighty difficult for Brady! Even though he may be in good shape, older players don't heal like they did in their youth, and they don't take hits as well, either - and Brady never handled getting hit even in his prime.

I'm really encouraged by the things I'm reading and hearing about Fitz, too. I've been a Bills fan for life, but I've never been overly optimistic about Fitz. I like his character and intelligence, but until now he's shown me nothing but inconsistency and an inability to lead a team, over the course of a season, to the playoffs. However - it should be noted that he's not had the best teams to work with. He's had inconsistent coaching, systems, and teammates. All in all, many QB's would not succeed having played in his shoes. All that aside - what he does possess is intelligence - and he's used that to master this offense. He can make quick decisions, which also helps in this system. He will give it his all - that is something to respect and the team will rally around him. If he can improve his accuracy, limit his interceptions - I think we could see a few years of play reminiscent of Brad Johnson in Tampa when they won the SuperBowl (what I'm saying is a QB who seemed average rising to string together a few years of maybe top 12 QB production). He just might be in the right place at the right time. Now we've got a good O-line, which looks to be strong for years, and an excellent run game - and, I'd bet, we'll improve the WR corps next year - not to mention a promising Defense, all of which points to him NOT having to win games, but rather manage them. Yes - I think it is Fitz's time here. What troubles me most, as I read the reviews of practices so far, is that it seems like if Fitz gets injured the Bills are in bad shape. I'm finding it hard to believe that Nix is willing to go into such an important season with as little insurance at the QB position as we have. Either Young has shown something more than he's been getting credit for, or they really are counting on Fitz staying healthy the whole year...

I like your thinking here - and it's a legitimate question. I'd say you are right. The Bills look to be in line for a wildcard, and to win that race they'll have some competition. I'm thinking there will be at least 4 teams fighting with similar records (10 or 11 wins) for the 2 wildcard spots. We've listed them before, but the top teams finishing with 10 or more wins look like they'll be Cincy, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New England, Buffalo, Jets, Broncos, Texans, San Diego, and maybe Oakland or Kansas City... Even if you take out the Jets, Oakland, and Kansas City, you're still looking at a few other teams that could finish with excellent records. And, as for our ability to stop the run - I think Buffalo has an excellent defense for BOTH the pass and run. Mario Williams, Kelsay, and Merriman are all good at both. Sheppard, and the slew of LB's we have would seemingly be BETTER against the run, as they were big for 4-3 linebackers, coming from the 3-4. And, I think our secondary will be excellent. To me, the question of whether or not we can handle the Jets comes down more to offensive line play. Can we protect Fitzpatrick? Can we run the ball to protect a lead? Can we move the ball through the air against them? If we can score 24 points against them, I think we can win almost every time, with our defense. And, let's remember - they might have Miami's former coach, but we have the guy he went to for advice on how to run the wildcat. So, I think Lee can give us plenty of advice on beating the Jets. But, I will say again, it'll be more a question of how well our O-line plays. It has to be very good this year for us to get to the playoffs. Because - let's not forget - after Fitz, we're in serious trouble at QB.

My guess is this: Wannstedt will use Merriman as a pass rush specialist until he proves he's not at risk for another injury - probably somewhere near half-way point of season (unless there's injury to other DE's). Kelsay will take most of the 1st and 2nd down work, and Anderson will take 3rd down work, and a percentage of 1st and 2nd down work for rush plays and to mess with the opposition. In all, I could see Anderson and Kelsay splitting reps, and Merriman coming in as an OLB/DE on some 30 percent of plays. The way I see it, if Merriman, Kelsay, Anderson are all healthy enough for the season, they aren't all going to be rotating on one end. Mario has to be spelled, and who do we have to spell him? That is why I think we'll go DE high next year, to find a young man to groom who fits the physical mold of that dominant DE, 6-4 to 6-6, 260lbs or more, to eventually fill his shoes. That is also why I was surprised, when we switched back, that they didn't switch Carrington back to DE - he was, when drafted, about Mario's size and weight.

Yeah - I'd say Patriotinsider is looking to light a fire under New England when it comes to the Bills. The Patriots have always enjoyed beating the snot out of Buffalo, since Bellicheck and Brady have been there, but they seem to relish the games most when 1.) Buffalo has beat them the first game of the series or their last time playing each other, or 2.) when Buffalo has been hyped up a lot as a team that might win the division (granted, both infrequent, and altogether only equalling about 3 or 4 games.) Still - my guess is the website is just trying to make sure their team doesn't overlook their division rivals - which Bellicheck would never let happen. Part of his success is that he never lets his team forget, in their preparation for opponents, just what the opposition can do, and how easy it is to lose if you're unprepared. As I see it - and it's pretty well agreed on here, the Patriots are going to win 12 or more games this year unless something dramatic happens and they lose some key players. That is why we either have to have an exceptionally phenominal year, finishing with 13 or more wins, or, we end up facing them in the playoffs as a wildcard. Either will work, and I don't mind either as long as we're healthy when the time comes.

I also believe 11-5 is where we end up, barring injury. And, if that is the case, and we hit the playoffs pretty healthy, it'll have been because of a nasty defense and a pretty solid offense, with two good runningbacks. That is not a team anyone wants to play in the playoffs, especially a team like New England, who rely so much on the passing game. I can't wait. Everything I read and hear about the players and the team thus far since they showed up at training camp has only reenforced my confidence in this unit. They just seem like they are ready to really play an entire season, weather the challenges they'll face, and enforce their will on people. I love it!

Great Humor! However - I totally agree about Chan's failure in play calling last year, and, it seems it was due to exactly what you write - the early season success somehow blinded him to the potential of the running game, which was the only offensive thing working later in the season. Gailey ignored running the ball to such a degree, and at such obvious times, that there were times last year I thought Gailey was deliberately not trying to win. I know it sounds rubbish, but there were games when the passing was obviously not working, and the running game, although in limited action, was working fine, yet Gailey refused to go there. I wondered if he wasn't trying to secure a better draft position, knowing his team wasn't good enough to go far regardless. As I said, rubbish! But, it illustrates the point - Gailey had some really bad games, play calling, and I hope he can see that, in retrospect, and make better decisions for us this year.

I think the Bills would not be able to refuse a good QB prospect if one were available with their first pick, but if Fitz plays good this year, I suspect their first pick next year will be a DE, if a very good one is available. We just don't have young DE's being groomed. And, it is a position typically hard to find in the later rounds. We're set at youth on the O-line, Secondary, Linebackers (mostly, although a pro-bowl potential type would be hard to pass up), and WR corps. Our DT's are young and talented. Spiller is young, if they consider him an every down RB, or at least a number 1. I'd guess they go DE or QB with their first pick next year, then.

You know, this season could go any way - the Bills could come out, have some tough breaks, some bad injuries, some dumb luck, bad calls, etc., and go on a losing streak to start off the year, like the Eagles did last year, and implode. It's within the realm of possible futures, that and everything in between. However, when I look at this roster, at the players, their past experiences, their character, and especially the mid-season collapse of last season, and then Nix, Wannstedt (who, IMO, will end up being the most important off-season aquisition), and Gailey - these guys have it together. They are not untested. These men have all failed before when there were very high expectations on them - Gailey in the biggest NFL franchise, probably the highest football coaching position in the world, Wannstedt one of the best historical NFL franchises, and Nix has had some very good experience with great men and great organizations failing. All in all, they are, collectively, not looking to end up lame. They are all looking for redemption. This team wants to be great from players to coaches to GM, and by mid-season, if not sooner, I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't also playing to give Wilson a shot at seeing his team go all the way while he still can. There are so many motivators here, and for once, some excellent depth, that I see the 2012 Bills going out and playing very good, almost "who are these guys" kind of good football, and going into their week 9 (with 7 VERY winnable games to go) 5-3, and thinking they could end up, if they play good, winning out. So - IMO, it's a perfect situation: the world expects nothing, but the players and coaches are accountable to each other, and all believe and expect they can play with ANYONE - and all season, not just once in a while when everything falls their way. We will see a confidence this year that we haven't seen since the glory 90's.

The Bills have a a bunch that could merit that list - Merriman, McGee, K.Williams, Mario, too - those are no slouches. Then, what about Vince Young? If he were to have the chance, through injury, to come in and have a very good series of games - the Bills have players all over the place that look to be coming back! This roster has story lines all over it.

Yeah - that is what makes the AFC East so tough to take home; we could sweep the Patriots and they could still end up with 12, or even 13 wins. It's not like we haven't seen them play great for whole seasons before, especially since they'll be playing with something to prove. I think the Bills will really have to stay healthy, and all the other points mentioned above, PLUS I'd say we have to play, and remain so throughout the entire season, with a real attitude, a real prove the world wrong attitude. I believe our guys would be tempted to get complacent if we started out 7-2, or some such start, and although the Vets and coaches would all be saying, "look at last year", I just haven't seen this team play with the kind of ATTITUDE we've seen teams like the Ravens and Patriots play with before. I mean, I've seen the Patriots go into a game with a record of 12-2, or something close, and act as if the whole world doubted them, and take it to the team the entire game - relentlessly. That is what the Bills must be like this year - RELENTLESS. Otherwise, I just think they'll have to settle for a shot at a wildcard berth.

There is just so much that could and will happen that no one can predict - but, if all the teams stay mostly healthy, I think the Bills are looking at having to have 11 wins to guarantee a wildcard. New England will most likely be a 12 or 13 win team again. Can we win 13 games? And, as I've said before, there are a bunch of teams in the AFC that will probably be close to 11 wins this year (Pittsburgh, Ravens, Cincy, N.E., Buffalo, Houston, Denver, SanDiego). It is doable - this season is open wide, but it'll take a lot of consistency, good coaching, players playing to their highest potential, health, and luck.

From what I've seen in games - I totally agree about Jones. IMO, Aiken and Roosevelt offer more, Roosevelt in consistency - which he's been - and Aiken in potential. Unless Jones can turn his best performances into weekly performances, I just don't get it. We're not looking for more mediocre WR's. We've got more than a handful of that - WR's who are role player types. We need someone to be consistently better - near the 1000 yards a season, 5 or 6 touchdowns mark.

I think it falls like this: Johnson has the #1 reciever spot locked down. Funny thing, though, Johnson is really the kind of reciever that would look like an excellent #2 reciever opposite a more traditional, pro-bowl #1 type, in the mold of C. Johnson, or A.J. Green - those guys are tall, FAST, lengthy, route runners - and where Stevie would normally fall in is the possession type spot, because he's not the fastest WR. However, he is so good, and our other WR's are so bad, he merits the #1 spot for us. Now, when you look at a traditional #1 WR - Marcus Easley has the build for such a role. He is very fast, tall, and athletic. However, since Stevie has the #1 spot locked down, the Bills, I think, are looking for a more traditional #1 WR type to fit in opposite Stevie - which is why I believe they are holding out hope that Easley will be that player - but, he has this year to prove it. I think if he shines in camp he'll have the chance to play that role, simply because they want that kind of dynamic talent on the field. But, because they run 4 reciever sets a lot, and because Nelson has locked down the slot spot, they are looking for another speedy talent to play and stretch the field. T.J. Graham, who isn't as small as a lot of people think, would fill that role. Donald Jones could, as well. The problem the Bills have with those two - as well as Easley, Hagan, Roosevelt, Aiken, and Clowney, is that none of them have proven the ability CONSISTENTLY enough to just pencil in a spot on the roster. Stevie being the #1 WR automatically makes the lineup a rather untraditional one - as I said, if we find the dynamic, fast, tall WR to compliment him opposite side, it'll be the reverse of how a lot of teams would line up. Gailey has just decided - and I love the IDEA of it, but you've got to have the WR's - like Green Bay does - to have the WR's be more or less interchangeable, so that they can line up all over the field, and the defenses will really be hard pressed to know what is being run. Therefore, I say Easley has the first shot at the opposite role, and if he can't deliver it'll go to either Jones or Hagan, unless Aiken really blows people away, and T.J. Graham will definitely have a spot with Nelson for the slot type routes. I'd guess they keep Johnson, Nelson, Graham, Jones, Easley, and Hagan, with Aiken to the P.S.

I don't know how high his IQ is, or how high he scored on the wonderlic, but I do know Buddy Nix has spoken very highly of Gilmore's ability to pick up the defense, the assignments, and how he has shown himself to be a very quick study - that Gilmore is ahead of where they thought he'd be, and they thought he'd be good. So, whoever is spouting that garbage, as is so often the case with national analysis of Bills players, hasn't done their homework. Gilmore has more than enough intelligence to be a very good football player for Buffalo.

I agree - we should just hope that Buffalo's offense can be pretty good, before we start christening it with signature names. I don't have a problem with nicknames and such - but it seems like coming up with a nickname is something you do for an exceptional squad - to remember them by, or designate them with. Such an offense - like the Rams offense with Warner, or the Bills No-Huddle, it should be unique, and should be exceptionally good. Our offense, as it's been, has not been any of that. We're just so deprived here of good football we're going crazy over the prospects of merely being in the top third of the league. If the defense can become top 3 in the NFL and be consistent and remarkable, then it would be deserving of nicknames. And the offense - I'd say if we can get to the level of Green Bay, or New England, then we can start talking about such designations. I certainly hope we get there, but we've got a long way to go.

As am I - as a fan - the kid has looked very much the part of an NFL wideout. I agree with the majority here, it seems. My choices to stay on the active roster are Stevie, Dave Nelson, Donald Jones, T.J. Graham, Marcus Easley, and Hagan. Leaving Aiken and maybe Sessions to the Practice Squad. I think we need to see some really explosive, attention grabbing play from one or more recievers other than Stevie Johnson this year - someone's got to have close to a 1000 yards and a handful of touchdowns, or at least be a solid starter on the opposite side of Stevie. We've listed six active roster WR's, and one or two practice squad players, but all of them are "potential" players. If a few don't go from potential to actual, we'll have to see an influx of F.A.'s or higher draft picks to form a consensus, lock down group of dependable WR's. As it is now, everyone after Stevie Johnson should have to fight for their spot - the highest spot being a legit 2 WR (meaning, we have a group of active roster WR's, and none of them are clearly good enough to be a #2 WR - they may prove it, but haven't yet). In that sense, it might be the least tested group of WR's in the NFL. I like them, BTW - I just want to see better, more consistent play there.

I've lived in Westen New York all my life. I've travelled from as far north as P.E.I. in Canada to the Dominican Republic, and I've been in maybe 12 to 15 cities in my life, been through the southern and mid-eastern U.S., and there have been many times in my life when I've been places and thought, "people here seem much nicer than people are where I'm from". I think a big part of what makes people from Western New York - and NYC, as well - seem like jerks to people from other parts of the U.S. is we have a kind of mind-your-own-business attitude as far as social manners go. We don't often know what our neighbors are about, and we don't think the average stranger on the street is someone we can strike up a conversation with. We are a closed-off people, on the whole, I think. That is compared to the south, and western US, where people are really friendly, open to conversations with strangers, and their identity is kind of tied in with a southern hospitality, or a californian niceness - it's just people in New York are more business first, mind your own business, reserved kind of people. That is a stereotype, I know, and there are always cases that vary, and degrees - but, I would have to agree, having lived here my entire life, that there are a lot of other places where people seem a lot nicer. Now, some of those places I have felt a sort of hidden suspiciousness, too - where there is a distinct difference between appearances and what is under the surface. I wouldn't take it personally, it's just how things feel at a glance. There are just as many kind people here as anywhere, you just have to get to know them first.

I think it is interesting to consider having to go into next season with a playoff or bust mentality, while also having to rely on a rookie QB - so, the Bills coaches and GM are either taking a longer look at things, or they are putting a lot of faith in Fitz.