BigBuff423

A healthy approach to a game we all love and team we have in our hearts...some of it is the "shame" in being a fan these days with all the social media and constant attention the NFL garners, it's hard to wear a BILLS hat...even in CNY where there are more Giants fans and a healthy bunch of JETS fans...but, I applaud your even minded nature toward the game and hope I can do the same...because if we let it, it can ruin our Sundays with our wives / girlfriends, and kids when at the end of the day, their lives are so much more important and relevant to our daily living....thank you for a reminder to be interested but not rabid...

True....although, you could argue the social and political climate is very different, but your overall point is well stated and taken.

well played...

Fair enough, I'm perfectly comfortable living in a world where we can "agree to disagree" and think the world is actually a better place for it...no harm, no foul...and thank you for taking the time to respond. In other news, Incognito is an a-hole (as you so aptly stated), Miami organization is a mess, "hazing" is too lose a term for what occurred, and the other men in the locker-room should have done more as well...not to mention that Martin is probably not cut-out for handling this type of stress, although it could also be fair to say he shouldn't have to...and the normal ball-breaking is good stuff amongnst men, there is a line in it all and i think we all agree R.I crossed it...but thanks again...

I agree overall, the FA players and of course the Drafted Rookies have been quite an important part of this year's turn around despite their current record...time will tell how they all pan out or if this year was more an aberration of the expected standard of good drafting and solid FA pick-ups, but if not, then this Front Office is beginning to demonstrate true signs of life...that, to me, is more the long-term ailment this team has faced: a lack of true leadership and excellent decision-making by the Front Office over the duration of this playoff drought...

Why not 10-6? Primarily, I believe it's because it's been a very long time since it's happened in Buffalo and that alone makes it feel impossible...your argument for its possibility is valid IMO and I understand your reasonsing, but I also think in today's day and age of parity in the NFL, it is virtually impossible to win 7 games in a row to end a season unless you have a dominant team, i.e. Denver or KC even Patsies over the last decade plus...."can" it be done, sure it can...and do I hope it will happend?? You betcha (in the voice of Sarah Palin)...but I also would just like to focus on this week...win in Pitt, that would be sweet...then I will look at the JETS game...then focus on the bye week...then preparing for the Falcons...you get the point...I think talking about 10-6, while wonderful to day-dream about - is truly getting ahead of ourselves...I just want the win IN Pitt this weekend, to me, that's a very important game for this team and the BILLS will most likely be missing one key player in Robert Woods, also big getting the win with an important part of their Offense, especially with EJ returning, missing....but hey, for this dream, I don't even need a dollar so .... let's play

assuming that's not sarcasm, which is impossible to tell without emoticons or any other unique punctuation, thank you....and all I try to do is contribute to the conversation / debate without it regressing to juvenile tactics and hollow statements....i appreciate every post that is done with good intentions and communicated with even a modicum of intelligence, but sometimes I think despite requiring the act of typing, not all of us think before we post...but again, olive branch accepted

the fact that you made it personal by saying "you're what tom says"....explain please.

The Dallas game you mentioned...that one....left a mark....

I appreciate your response and in-put...thank you. Sincerely...but I think I'd like to hear what jboyst62 has to offer...

I guess I'll have to ask...who's tom? and what would that make me?....as we're on the bullying topic....and considering I haven't thrown any pejorative statements regarding your personhood...I think my questions are fair

Really?? Again??? This whole "quick to judge" thing?? Again??? Good God Batman, stop shining the signal...we get it...you think Incognito is being made out to be worse than he is and that he's merely taking the lion's share of the blame...but beating this same drum for a racist, hateful thug is just despicable at this point... Do the Fins take more responsibility as the story unfolds? Absolutely...but condemning one party, does not absolve the other...the Miami organization will need to answer many questions on how it has handled this entire debacle from the beginning of what appears to be more than a year ago...but Incognito is a lame-ass, nasty individual with virtually no respect for the basic mores our nation has taken to uphold: racial degredation is unacceptable in any manner, in any form, for any reason, in any forum...don't give me this stupid bull **** about how it's "WWE meets Hip-Hop"...it may be a diffirent sub-culture based upon expectations, but that in no way excuses or explains such bevaior, it only highlights that more attention is paid to racial lines in a nationally recognized sport and industry.... Let....it.....go. Incognito is guilty...boom, gavel swung....sentencing is still yet to be decided. Bigger question needing to be answered is who "else" is guilty, not guilty *in place of* Incognito...

"Thrilled" might be a bit of an exaggeration for me...but "pleased" or "optimistic" would be fairer words for me to describe this same scenario. Like many, or all, of us - I would love to see the BILLS in the playoffs if for no other reason than to feel like we're not the Cubs of the NFL, always on the outside looking in with virtually no hope of changing that design. However, if they were to win the rest of their games, which to me is highly doubtful just based on the parity in the NFL, I would be very happy with the progress we've seen and all the more about the indication of what EJ means to this team and Offense. I do agree that if EJ played Sunday against the Chiefs, the BILLS most likely secure that victory...but who knows what could of, would of happened had he played. For now, I hope EJ plays on Sunday, I hope he can stay healthy the rest of the year, and I hope the BILLS can win in any way for any reason no matter what it takes....just to see them win. Progress is this year's mantra...progress is this year's measuring stick...and progress will be the Off-season's focus.... Next year, no matter how this year ends...will be the tipping point for this organization and fan base.

Trent Edwards was really looking like the answer to QB during that fateful season that started 5-1, but an earlier poster stated as much. When he took the conucssive hit in Arizona, he was never the same. I don't know if it was physical or mental or both...but after that day, all of his promise and all of his previously solid performances were gone under the haze of that hit...wish it weren't so, but them are the breaks....and you know, one good talent evaluator saw serious promise in Edwards, a man who knew a thing or two about QBs...Mr. Bill Walsh. Edwards career was in the upward motion when he took that hit...and then, the rest is history.

And what bearing does someone's faith have on their ability to play football in the NFL? I don't give a rat's ass if Manuel is Christian, Buddhist, Toaist, or atheist if the man can play...the man can play. Now if you're insinuating that Manuel frequently gets a pass (excuse the pun) due to his great on the field character and his "good boy" persona, then say it...don't make confusing and vague references to a person's spirituality and how it influences public perception of his ability to play in the NFL...

Cart.....horse??

And assuming the Fins organization knew about it and delayed action or intended to do nothing, they certainly have a great deal to answer for in both public forum and with the NFL...no debate from me on that one. But, that does not absolve Incognito for his hateful use of language, no matter what Martin did or didn't do...there is no cause for it in today's society, especially in a state that saw such controversy over the summer and with the issue being an especially "Southern" one....should Incognito be hanged and burned in effigy? NO...should be reprimanded and mandated to some form of counseling and Community Service / Volunteer work with those under-privileged in a predominately minority neighborhood if these statements are proven to be true? YES....YES!! There is an opportunity for Incognito to be a better man, not just a humble player, and it is to that end the NFL should seek...a better man, because God knows, there are men who are horrible examples of manhood playing this game and there are countless opportunities for them to influence the next set of generation of boys to BE good, strong men who do right, not just *know* right from wrong...

I don't know you at all, or anything about you except what I've read here from time to time....maybe you're a decent guy, maybe you're a douchebag, maybe you're a dead-beat Dad or a wife-beater, maybe you're Joe Citizen - normal in every way....but you Sir, have chosen a very poor issue to sound off on how too many athletes are scrutinized for otherwise normal behavior.... If I understand you correctly, it seems you think Martin is being the poster-child for an overreactive media who wants to run to the aid of a victim and vilify Martin's teammates for what most men would consider ball-breaking...however, being aware of the current political and social climate is very important in a job and industry which requires so much support from the larger public. Assuming any of these accusations are true, regardless of Martin's demeanor and if he instigated Incognito's rebuttal, means Incognito made hateful and horrific statements...there's nothing to defend there. Now, if those texts are a blatant lie, and that's possible, then Incognito should be redeemed from public opinion openly by such lies being made public and Martin properly scrutinized and prosecuted in one respect or another - either literally, figuratively, or both... But, while I agree there are times athletes are seen to be made worse than the average man based upon average man behavior, due to the incendiary remarks from Incognito (if true), there is no defending those statements in the social climate we live in...bullying is a hot-button issue and race has always been an immediate amplifier of attitude and behavior, so much so that in New York we have crimes specifically designated as "hate crimes".... You may want to reconsider your stance or at least choice of timing when it comes to making your point....there are better examples, and by the sounds of it better men, to make your point.

I understand the perspective to take another QB the BILLS really like because of the unknown with EJ, not to mention the frustration of seeing the constant merry-go-round of QBs they've had since Kelly retired...I get it... But, there's also a thought process of saying, why take two QBs when you may have ONE that's the solution. And let's face it, taking a second QB, unless its in the 4th round or later is till a gamble and he may or may not pan out and then you've invested two high Draft choices in ONE position. As for other areas of need, and this is just my perspective, but there are a number of other issues for this team. One, is a big, physical WR...two, another monster LB...three, Um Offensive Line? and Lastly, the D Line is aging and we need to address that as well. I would prefer in next year's Draft to address, LB, Offensive Line and physical WR in that order from Rounds 1-3 first...now, if next year EJ has shown he just doesn't have it and has played the entire year and there's no progress or development, then I think you have a valid point of Drafting another QB high, i.e. Rounds 1 or 2..and as for injury risk, I think a knee is too problematic to risk your 1st Round QB going out there when this game will most likely NOT be decided by QB play, as the Chief's D is serious and their running game is outstanding....this game will be decided by the BILLS D and their ability to run the ball....essentially ball control and clock management with hopefully one turnover coupled with decent field position....EJ could throw for 350 yards, I don't think it would "decide" the win-loss....just in my mind.

Considering it's a knee and not a toe...um, NO! As much as we may not want to admit it at this point, but in the grand scheme of this season, KC game is probably moot in terms of making the playoffs or not....could it be? Yes...likely? Probably not....so, to put his entire career in jeopardy for what is most likely an inconsequential game in regards to playoff hopes, I'm going with: HELL NO!! Let him rest and gain his full strength...the best option is for the Offense to Run the Damn Ball anyways...so, what we need is a game manager who can avoid big mistakes....Tuel? Flynn? Eh...neither excite me, but I get more animated about the potential of losing EJ for the rest of the season and the beginning of next...

I like his energy and approach to football thus far....I'm a fan. He's not perfect, but no coach (or person for that matter) is, but he has a strong sense of knowing what he wants from all 3 phases of the game and is the kind of coach Buffalo needs...does he need to improve in some areas? Yes, he will tell you just as much...but I will take a younger, humble coach who loves the game and is focused on improving than an older, "proven" coach who can be condescending and rigid in his approach to his football team and their development. One common thread since he's arrived is he's continuing to look for ways to improve throughout the season....and not remain idle or complacent....I also like his balanced approach to the fact that he is optimistic in some ways and communicates the positive attributes of his players and the team while also acknowledging the negative aspects of how the BILLS have performed and directly on point about the issues the team needs to address....I like it so far....we'll see how the second half of the season goes and how this team plays for him next year, which will be a critical year for him, the coaching staff and this team...regardless of how they finish the year

Your opinion is as valid as any other, but as seen in the pictures, had either Hughes or Byrd or Gilmore, whomever it was "truly" assigned to Stills followed the play as called, Kyle Williams may have very well gotten a sack. Brees may have gone to another WR but he may not have had that opportunity. Saints made a good call and Brees made a nice throw with Stills open, but that's the key...Stills was open, I don't think Pettine called a bad play, I just think their players executed their play and the BILLS did not...

On the positive side, Stills had a great start on Hughes and Hughes nearly caught him just before the goal line...not for nothin', but that's great speed for a linebacker and considering Stills had the ball much of the way, it wasn't like he had to stop....

And keep in mind, Carrington is on the mend....that man was playing very well before his injury and his upward trajectory of production in this Defense was encouraging....so, that's food for thought also.

I like the improvement of the Defense, but I'm in the category of this team is a "long way off" from the term Elite...I really like the way the Defense has responded to Pettine's game planning and the scheme, but there are some more improvements that need to be made before we can call this Defense "elite"....and I do believe we'll continue to get better and become one of the league's better Defenses, but I think we're a couple of years and a few key players both through the Draft and one or two pieces, see Lawson and Branch, from being considered an NFL Elite Defense...good and getting better, I'm okay with...and truthfully, what I expected... As for Pettine's coaching trajectory, I would expect him to stay around for as long as it takes him to put his stamp on the Defense, which I think is at least one more year and to be able to showcase it in the playoffs, which may be more than one year away, but maybe not....then, there will NFL Head Coaching positions available to him...which only highlights the need to have your next D Coordinator in training, preferrably learning from the current guy so you can have continuity....