BigBuff423

I love football, the NFL in particular, so I would be a fan of a team. I have lived in Florida, Georgia, and Virginia growing up but home has always been Central New York. That being said, I have loved the Bills since I was in my early teens, moved around too much before that so I couldn't really build any allegiance to any team until then. So, I'm a New Yorker at heart. And it would just be taboo for me to root for the Jets....for obvious reasons. That means I would become a Giants fan. As they are shown every week on the local Fox channel, and ironically I wouldn't have to worry about a blackout either. Seriously, I've contemplated this jump for several years, and honestly NOT because they've been losing. It's been a matter of upper management that I have serious problems with. When Nix was hired and I read his resume I was swollen with hope once again, so as long as they're in Buffalo and I can't see myself being as die hard a fan for any other team. But I have also grown up watching the Giants, and despite the heartbreak of the Super Bowl, I didn't hate the Giants, I was just so pissed at Norwood, and not so much for missing the field goal, but for missing the extra point at halftime, which would have forced overtime and who knows what would have happened. Anyways, if the Bills move anywhere, I'd be a Giants fan. I've already decided....

I could be wrong but I think the true distinction that should be made is that you're right in that the Bills need far more than just a Franchise QB, but many of us are tired of watching an inept offense that continues to struggle so mightily, because honestly, with a competent Offense, we'd be 1-1, and maybe 2-0, probably not, but the second half is when the Packers piled on the points, going into the second half it was 13-7. With an Offense that could keep the Defense off the field and NOT turn the freakin ball over, it makes a difference Defensively as well....so, I think a Franchise QB makes this Offense, BETTER, but not perfect, the O-line needs help but can be serviceable with a QB who can make good decisions it will make all the difference in how the Offense performs and thereby improving how well the Defense can play as they will be better late in the game, getting more rest...

Well, therein lies the problem. You're using the Bills as your benchmark for measuring this statement. The Bills have had trouble drafting 1st rounders and 2nd rounders, let alone 3rd rounders, but it would be better to look at how other teams have done with 3rd round draft picks. The Bills seem to have a penchant for getting UDFA, but otherwise, not doing so well. Last year's draft seems to be a pretty good one so far, and this year's draft will take a couple years to determine it's effectiveness and long-term value. But I understand your point...

I'm certainly skeptical of the rumor, so the key word here is "IF" this rumor is true, then I would be disappointed given that maybe second only to our DBs and Safeties, it's our strongest position. And while many people on this board would poo-poo a 3rd round draft choice, the fact is that many 3rd rounders can be very good players in the NFL, not mention that it is a good and fair compensation for Lynch, not to mention a "player" to be added to that deal. Now if Freddy hadn't had the year he did last year or if he was not a good RB with a solid contribution to the locker room, I could understand it, but considering that you just spent a #9 draft choice on a RB with a good RB in Freddy with him, I just don't understand the logic..."IF" it's true...that remains to be seen...

OOOHH, so that's what balls look like! Well, I'm looking for mine....feel free to keep playing without me

agreed...Green is worthless!! I would rather see Meredith at RT, well, obviously I would rather have Wang at RT, but due to injury that's not an option.

While I agree that running the ball is a priority and we should be utilizing the talent at RB, it was obvious that for whatever reason, running the ball today was not successful. So, if Chan had continued to try and run the ball with no success, maybe you or someone else would have crucified him for not throwing the ball more and trying to get the ball down the field through the air. Chan said they called for a deep pass four or five times during the game and couldn't get it down the field, I don't think that's entirely Trent's fault, it's an offensive line issue....as was with the running game. Now, I'll be patient and give Chan and the staff the entire year to see how this offense can improve and grow and it's also obvious to me that Bell is not 100%, but EVERYONE on this board and Bills fans everywhere knew the offensive line was going to be woeful this year, so what can we expect? Maybe improvement and an honest reckoning of the state of the offensive line when the year is over, much like Trent, if Bell and Green aren't the answer (which I suspect Green is NOT the answer - hence the drafting of Wang), then we need to make QB and LT a priority. JMO...

I would like to see some depth added to this team, obviously OL takes a priority and I would like to see David Martin, the TE from Miami given a look. That being said,I strongly disagree with you regarding the draft and UNDFAs. When you look at Nix's drafting history at San Diego, he's a guy who going mining for small school talent that be believes has the tools to play at the NFL level. All you have to do is look at the San Diego teams over the last ten years to see how his philosophy has carried over to the Bills this year. I like what he's doing and we won't really know his drafting prowess for years to come, much like the disaster that the Marv era has produced that we're just now seeing how truly bad it was (despite our beliefs back when the drafts were occuring), even Easley is out for this year. And Easley's performance is now one year behind, and for the record I agree with putting him on IR. He most likely would have needed this year to learn and develop anyways, so now you don't lose a roster spot, can make sure he takes his time in healing and can continue to focus on the mental aspect of the game. I'm not ready to call Nix a GM genius, but I do like what has happened so far, and I think his track record has proven enough for us to give him a few years to jump to any conclusions....positive or negative.

Having read the article, I'll say this: there's a reason why teenagers charged with a crime have their juvenile records sealed. I realize he was "of age" and that his crime was such that requires him to be a registered sex offender, but the details of this crime mitigate the initial gut response to such a conviction. I'm not saying that Tony shouldn't continue to be monitored, and maybe meet with a team psychologist, but in the end the law has made a serious distinction between a teenager and an adult for a reason. Science shows us that a human being's brain is still be developed into their late teens and even early twenties. A lonely young man, lost in the world of chaos around him with no source of support and guidance commits an obscene act that even his own sister says was not premeditated or with violence committed by such a confused young man, personally I would rather see him get help and have a strong support system around him, becoming a productive member of society than being ostracized by those who don't understand the nuances of such a situation. Give him a chance and monitor him closely along with requiring him to meet with a team psychologist twice a month or even once a week and allow him to demonstrate one of the great character qualities of humanity; the ability to demonstrate heart-felt change, evidenced by consistently socially acceptable behavior and having a positive impact on the community that embraces a man who has a desire to be a better human being. Buffalo, give him a chance and employ the aforementioned measures to ensure adherence to social expectations while providing inspiration. Just a thought....

I believe that given a couple years Chan Gailey will be a positive hire for the Bills, and I'm not one to believe that hiring one of the big names was a guaranteed improvement in this team, but I do want to wait for the year before I'm ready to say that it was a "great" hire. I like Chan Gailey's approach, and I've liked most if not all of what I've heard out of training camp, and I truly have faith in Nix's resume and NFL experience so if he liked Gailey, then so do I, but I still want to reserve judgment before I say too much. I like Gailey so far, and he seems to be the right guy given this situation for all the reasons the original poster said. Having said that, it will take Nix a couple drafts and Gailey a couple years of coaching and teaching and training before we really see the effect of this hire....for better or for worse. So, in 2012 we should see whether this hire was a bad, good, or great hire...and therein lies the trouble with the NFL, this isn't baseball, you can't just go "get" free agents and have your team instantly get better, as with the NHL also....the NFL is more dependent on your teammates than maybe any other sport, because it literally takes all 11 men on the field to contribute to winning on both sides of the ball, in the NHL a great center or winger can make up for some other weaknesses, in MLB, a power hitter can help make up for poor pitching, etc....but in the NFL you need all 22 starters and Special Teams to contribute in a positive way, or you're going to be mediocre to piss-poor...the very line the Bills have stradled for 10 years! So, this is a long way of saying.....let's just wait and see, while being encouraged by what's transpired thus far

Before the pre-season began I was all for giving Brohm the starting position and let him simply play and learn as he goes leaving Trent as the primary back-up and Brown as the 3rd stringer, cutting Fitz altogether. However, if a man such as Chan Gailey, who helped pick Tyler Thigpen as a starting QB at one point in time, says that Trent is our best option for THIS YEAR, then I say, In Chan I Trust....not that I'm not sick of seeing Trent do all the stupid and rookie type of mistakes he continues to make, but Chan HAS to know better than we do. Chan has nothing invested in Trent, not his draft pick or his prodigy, so if Trent gets the ball, then somewhere in Chan's mind, he's earned it. That's enough for me, for this season. Revamping the defendse to a 3-4 was a great first step in building this team to a playoff contender, if not for any other reason but that we face a 34 six times a year, and practicing against it, HAS to help! We hope....as for a QB, none of them coming out this year impressed me, so I'm fine with seeing what's here for another year, and while Defense got a make-over this year, offense can get it, next year with O-line and QB issues being addressed in the first two rounds, if the talent level warrants such picks. But, we do need playmaking linebackers and that is still an unknown commodity on this team too.....so, let's play this year and re-evaluate the talent at year's end......off topic, looking forward to the Nix and Whaley years while Whaley is getting ready to take the reigns of this team when Nix retires.

I love the fact that we find these Undrafted Rookies and hope that some of them turn into even sterling silver in the NFL, let alone NFL gold. Stupar is another example. I like Bell, his passion and desire while he runs and has obviously shown flashes of NFL level talent. My vote is to continue to give him the ball, along with Spiller and Jackson when he returns and let the name talent, Marshawn Lynch, grab a draft pick for next year. Not that I didn't like the Lynch pick when it happened, but now, due to his off field issues and the plethora of RB talent we seem to have on this team, not to mention a new #1 pick that is an exceptional talent at RB and we have so many other holes to fill, that it makes sense to get some value for Lynch and focus on what the draft pick compensation can bring while we're in "rebuilding" mode. But hey, GO BILLS!

When Tim stated the first time that he would no longer be coming back to the board I posted an immediate response and was slightly barbequed because I praised Tim's professional ethics and his contributions to this board....I stand by it. It is simply foolish for him to come to this board as a guest and get trite and juvenile responses to his answers and observations. The fact is that when you mistreat any guest, in any phase of life, they leave of their own free will and often will not return...Tim was treated poorly especailly since if he had posted under a pseudonym with no knowlege that he was "the" Tim Graham we could have grilled him and slapped him around with our words and we would have treated it as fun (although often juvenile) banter as we discuss the state and future of this franchise, but when he attaches his professional integrity to his posts on this board it is no longer treating him as just another rabid fan, but treating him as a professional, because he's coming to this board as a professional...no he doesn't get paid nor is this an obligation but the reason these threads attract so much attention is because he comes here with professional reputation and professional contacts and insight, so if he comes as a professional then we must treat him as such, if he comes as "one of the boys" then he gets treated as such....in the end, it is SAD that we, as an on-line community cannot respect a professional enough to allow him to freely post his thoughts and insights without driving him off due to our poor taste in discussion..... thank you Tim for your time and I look forward to reading your material from ESPN or wherever I can get it....I'm not going to blow sunshine up your skirt and tell you that you're my "favorite" sports journalist, but I DO enjoy your contributions and regard your articles, comments, quips, etc....as professional, insightful, truthful (even when it hurts), and objective perspective...sorry to see you go, but don't blame you. Best wishes!

I whole-heartedly agree with this debate and while I was initially on the official "WTF Bandwagon", I've since come back down to earth realizing that Nix is the antithesis to what we've had in the past....reach for total screw-ups like Whitner and Maybin and pass on guys like Ngata and Orakpo or even Cushing, which LB was a huge need last year too and they didn't take him, so now, I'm starting to come to peace with the fact that you need TALENT with a great work ethic to build on and that needs can get resolved in a process and to be honest we aren't going to fix everything this year anyways, so why not get a playmaker and believe that we continue to take the best available on the board give ourselves another draft to look forward to, yes I know, we all want to win NOW, but that isn't going to happen no matter what we do this year and we can still wait to see what happens with Lynch and other trades for the remainder of the draft.......long way of saying, I like the change in approach and hope that it will all work out

If the Giants-Jets pre-season rivalry is called the "Governer's Cup" given the state of those two franchises and their recent success, then the Lions-Bills pre-season matchup - given the state of these two franchises - should be titled: "The Bengay Jockstrap Title"

Don't get me wrong, I can sympathize, but I believe in your statement: "now you think it's just great to watch Buddy and Chan 'take their time and build slowly through the draft'. Sorry, but I don't have that kind of patience anymore" indicates that it's their philosophy and approach to the solution of making this team and winning organization again as the REAL issue for you not so much that Gailey doesn't seem any closer to a QB decision. It's just my perspective of trying to read between the lines of your frustration but that maybe more the case. Which, is a different discussion. I would prefer to build through the draft and recognize that rarely in football does a team go out in FA and sign big named, high priced, free agents and immediately get better when their ENTIRE organization and team is in disarray. If the Bills were just a player or two away from being a Super Bowl contender, ala the Vikes or Jets, I'd say break the bank and get er done....but we're not. So, instead of giving up multiple draft picks or spending a lot of money and comitting revenue to players that aren't going to make a significant difference when eventually there WILL be a salary cap again, I dont see the logic in that...but that's me. I would prefer the Bills to trade Lynch, Whitner and Schobel for draft picks, and trade down from the 9 spot and get as much value in the draft this year and next to rebuild the foundation of youth and talent for the future because barring a miracle, the Bills are two very good drafts away from being a contender.....no matter how many Free Agents we bring in.....just a thought

I don't want McNabb, personally I'd rather trade Trent for a draft choice, as high as we can get, name Brohm this year's starter and see how he does and draft a QB in the third - best our braintrust feels is there - and if that QB can't emerge beyond Brohm he would just be a career back-up and Fitz can hit the bricks, and if Brohm emerges this year then we haven't overspent on a weak QB class, have a young back-up that can learn the system and be developed by our coaching staff, get a draft choice out of Trent, and would have given Brohm a legitimate chance at being a starter and this team is in the rebuilding phase anyways....so, give Brohm a chance to play, get a draft choice for Trent, and draft a QB with potential but at the same time not spending a high draft choice on a potentially weak QB draft class......just a thought.

Regarding NT prospects, check out Linval Joseph on NFL.com, he's an intriguing prospect that could probably be had in the 2nd to 4th rounds with a slight concern regarding an injury, but had a productive senior season and performed well at the combine with the body type we're looking for in a NT...just a thought as an alternative to all of the other ideas as NT....happy hunting!!

I would also offer a Congrats to Will Smith, DE, as he graduated from Proctor High School in Utica!!! Way to get it done big man!!

I appreciate Marv's loyalty as most of us do and it's an admirable quality in today's ever-changing coaching landscape that demands immediate gratification. But at the same time, I believe giving Jauron the amount of time to produce winning teams was sufficient and no significant improvement was demonstrated, I think that should lead to termination in this league. And, with all the injuries over the last several years, I didn't hear him calling for the strength and conditioning coach's firing or other conditioning changes that should have been made. Jauron may be a great "teacher", but whatever the reason he wasn't winning. Now, if the Defensive Coordinator is good enough to hold the same status with the Giants and the Special Teams coach was good enough to go to a team (Eagles) that are perennial playoff contenders - and were in the NFC title game last year - I'm not sure you're able to make a cogent case for Jauron's capabilities, especially when a new little detail emerges that it was in part Jauron who pushed for Maybin (who may turn out to be a good player) when Modrak wanted Cushing and sorry but Ellison has no business being a LB, maybe a Strong Safety, but not a LB, Cushing's a beast and we all knew it....apparently Jauron was late in getting the memo....

This response is simply sad and yet not entirely untrue. The truth is the fact that the average fan is no longer outraged by the use of steroids or PEDs by an NFL athlete, or any athlete for that matter, is disturbing. We should be outraged, not only because it calls into question the integrity of the greatest sport on the planet and that we "trust" these players to operate within the confines of the accepted guidelines of personal and professional conduct, but also because it violates the sanctity of the greatest game on earth. It IS illegal whether we believe that it should or should not be, the fact is that steroids ARE illegal. These players continue to bring shame on themselves and their sport by wreaking havoc on their bodies and demonstrating super-human feats of strength and agility. Remember when the game of football was played with the honor and competition that was held with regard for their fellow human beings. I love this game....but it is still a game, and while the business end of things is a necessary in today's NFL, it should be continually scrutinized and examined for better competition and rooting out those who undermine the integrity of the sport....even if it is almost all of them, then all of them should be banned and we can have an ultra-expansion draft and from then on, a zero tolerance policy should be instituted. On a spearate note, these athletes, NFL players included, cannot collect millions of dollars from their sport and fans, receive mega-deals for endorsements, go on sports talk shows, be on the cover of countless magazines, and enjoy a lavish existence and not embrace their status as role models. Whether they want it to be or not, the fact is that these NFL athletes ARE role models, for better or for worse. In sports it should be the hallowed ground of championships and history record wielding athletes that find themselves in the center ring of attention for their athletic prowess and accomplishments, not due to their manipulation of the general public by using illegal substances for their own egocentric purposes. I am reviled by the widespread use of PEDs and steroids, but if possible, I believe I am even more disgusted by our complacency and apathy toward these atheletes and their felonious ways. As for Vick, I needed no more information to be repulsed by his behavior and never wanting to put another dollar in his pocket again, this only serves as a further indictment against his character and bolsters my support of his eviction from the NFL ranks and to find work somewhere else......maybe Iams or Eukaneuba???

I for one would love to see Kelsay and Denney shown the door.......along with the advent of the 3-4 Defense being introduced of course...and Maybin being transitioned to the OLB, but overall the D line needs a signficant upgrade......yeah, I know uh..duh

One poster said that the Patriots defense has not been stellar over the last few years and that it was their defense that has led to their demise. While I don't claim to be an expert I'll try to give my opinion based on what I've read/heard. As I remember the Patriots Defense didn't LOSE the Super Bowl against the Giants, but that the Giants Defense WON the Super Bowl for them and of course a magical catch by Tyree....let's not forget the Pats only gave up 17 points and this last year they were 8th (I think) in the league in fewest points allowed, and that was after Vrabel and Seymour were ousted from New England...as for previous Defenses, he was the D Coordinator beginning in 2006 and the linebackers coach for two years before that, all in all, given his expertise with the 3-4 Defense and being under the guidance and direction of Belllicheck, I believe this would be a solid hire....not the second coming of Dick LeBeau, but I believe would lead to eventually being a great hire and a very good chance of getting Buffalo's Defense into the top 10........so long as Nix and company are committed to drafting smart and spending Free Agency money in the right places....but hey, we'll see...

Regarding the topic: I'm not at all embarrassed by our new GM, because he's done nothing to either establish pride or bring shame. It's simply too early to have an opinion at all. I can say however, that I really like the firing of Guy and that now a detail is coming to light that Modrak wanted Cushing and it was others who wanted Maybin...i.e. Limp Dick Jauron....as for the Chan hiring, it's one of those things that I've reserved for later. If Chan is able to get this offense to be consistently productive and if the new DC is able to stop the run without giving up 300 yds a game in the pass defense, then I will say that this was a good hire. As for how he "sounds" when he speaks, there are a lot of very good football minds that during press conferences that don't sound like Rhode Scholars, and quite frankly I don't care.....just put a winning team on the field and all is forgiven!!!

No apologies needed, my mistake for clarifying the last part of the post, as I intended to communicate that Alex Smith was from, at that time, a disrespected conference for not producing good enough competition and the knock on him was that despite his good numbers, were they inflated due to poor defenses and opponents? Which is where the discussion began with LeFevour, but no sweat, my mistake for not being more clear.....