hondo in seattle

Agree. I love Fred. He kept us in a lot of games a couple years ago with his unlikely personal heroics. But last year he was hurt and hasn't shown much this preseason. I'm really hoping that once the regular season starts, we see the 2011 Jackson return!

Win or lose, I'm excited. New GM, HC, DC, OC and QB. What a makeover! It will take more than one game to assess all the changes.

Most of us got the comparision. KTD just doesn't like Leinart as a QB and will shoot down any optimistic talk about him. GIven the possibility that Tuel will start against the Pats, it would be great for him to get some reps with the 1st team. I do expect EJ to actually start the season; still the possibility of Tuel playing remains. The more time he gets with the ones - even at the risk of injury - the better.

They have a great HC, a great QB, and so-so success with FAs and draft picks. That's enough.

+1 I think a lot of celebrities do good work anonymously. This smells a little of self-promotion. As you say "still a good deed, but..."

For some reason, this made me laugh when the original post didn't.

I had a warning once and I don't know why since I don't swear here or call my fellow posters turds (though I can understand the temptation). Then the warning went away and I don't know why that happened either.

None of us know what the 'minor procedure' was but if he's ready to play, play him. EJ is probably going to be our starter for a few years. Let's get this thing started. He probably gives us the best chance of winning the Pats game and he also needs the experience of real game action.

Tim didn't seem to get a lot of inside information, but he read all the news reports, copped an occassional interview, and stayed generally abreast of the Bills. The national media guys try to cover 32 teams. They do a fair job with the perennial winners but often don't know a lot about the Bills.

I don't hate anyone... certainly not someone so remote from my private life as a sportswriter. As far as sportswriters are concerned, I like Tim. He's reasonably objective and much better informed about the Bills than just about anyone in the national media.

If our goal is to have the first UDFA to start an opening game in the modern era, then the OP has a great plan. If our goal is to win, there might be some better ideas out there. I doubt if Belicheck will be thrown off balance by any lineup choices Marrone makes.

If I was Belicheck, I'd prepare for the Bills like this.... * I would study Florida game tape of EJ to learn his strengths and weaknesses. * I'd study WSU game tape to learn the same about Tuel. * I'd study game tape of Syracuse to get an idea of what Hackett and Marrone will try to do on offense. * I'd come up with a flexible defensive game plan than can adapt to surprises. * And as l< j stated, my game-planning would include consideration that I'm facing a rookie QB. So I'd (1) expect the Bills to run a lot, and (2) blitz in passing situation and not let the rookie get comfortable. As far as preparing for our defense is concerned, I think Belicheck can already imagine what Pettine will try to do.

I get what you are saying but I don't know if I agree. Whaley could have said something like, "Jeff's done some good things and there are some things he needs to improve." Or, "EJ's hurt so Jeff's gonna need to step up." Or something else equally vague and noncommittal. Saying there's a 'little something to him' seems like a genuine sentiment. Though it's not an overwhelming compliment.

I recall Belichick once saying that the #1 thing he looks for in draft prospects and FAs is coachability. He said they give players hard coaching in NE and he doesn't want players who can't be coached or don't want to be coached.

Byrd's attitude is crappy right now but we have a year - maybe two - to change that. Byrd's only getting to know Donnie Henderson, Pettine and Marrone right now for the first time. Let's see if they can build a rapport with him and get him excited about being a Bill.

When we drafted EJ, I was hoping that Kolb would do well during camp & preseason and be our opening day starter. And then we could work EJ in when he was fully ready. Now I'm praying for EJ's knee and really hoping I see him under center against the Pats. It's curious that Tuel, an UDFA, may be the only rookie QB starting when the 2013 season commences. Football, like life, is so unpredictable.

I understand and respect your logic. And I agree it's better to gamble on a future superstar than to settle for certain (and replaceable) mediocrity. But how long should Marrone and his staff wait for the potential to manifest? How much loafing can they suffer before cutting bait? How long should they risk Rogers work-ethic and other issues becoming contagious? I think they gave Rogers enough time and made the right decision.

I don't get people still standing by Rogers. But I stand by what I wrote a couple days ago... Roger's problems go way beyond his drug history. Here's what one predraft scouting report had to say about his weaknesses: "Off-field maturity and on-field effort have been issues. Stops his route at times if not the primary target. Body language on the field can be defeating. Lacks great explosiveness to run by corners, no extra gear. Will struggle to track the football at times. Not a very instinctual receiver, doesn't always run the routes he should, doesn't fight to get open when the play breaks down." http://www.nfl.com/d...gers?id=2540179 We've already heard of similar things at St. John Fisher - like Rogers loafing back to the huddle instead of running like the other receivers. This doesn't sound like the kind of guy that Marrone wants on the team. Right now the NFL WR that Dar'rick Rogers most resembles is Charles Rogers who also had tremendous potential but never accomplished anything as a pro because of issues with maturity and consistency of effort. "Potential" just isn't worth much without some other important attributes. Ike Hilliard will have to do heroic work as receivers coach for Rogers to survive the Turk. http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/160674-bills-wrs-revisited/page__st__40 It takes more than an athletic receiver's body to be a good NFL WR. Rogers just doesn't currently possess the necessary mix of skills and attitude needed to succeed.

Evidentally, Marrone wasn't seeing the same thing. Or, probably more precisely, he was seeing too much of the bad stuff and not enough of the good stuff.

I think Whaley will be scouring the waiver wire for a CB over the next couple days. I wonder who might become available.

Color me unsurprised. The guy loafs, doesn't pay attention and rarely produces. What kind of message would Marrone be sending if he kept Rogers based on perceived potential? It just wasn't going to happen.

http://www.nfl.com/n...out-eight-weeks Our best young player on offense (EJ) is hurt. Now our best young player on defense is hurt. Not an auspicious beginning to the 2013 season. Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com writes: "It's a crushing blow for new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. The former New York Jets coordinator was going to count on Gilmore to cover the opposing team's best receiver, like Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis once did in New York. This injury will limit Pettine's creativity and force a rough-looking starting cornerback group to start the season."

Like some others, I think the Bills keep Tuel. I don't think Hackett relishes the idea of trying to teach 2 QBs his offense with 2 weeks remaining before the opener. Let's remember that Hackett is OC and QB coach both. He doesn't have a lot of time for make-up classes. That leaves Leinart, Lewis and Kolb battling for one spot. I'm guessing Kolb goes to IR and Lewis goes to PS if still eligible.

CJ had a cut? And for that some fans didn't want him back in? A cut? A boo-boo? If he had torn a ligament or sprained an ankle or something like that, Marrone would need to keep him out. Otherwise, I agree with San Jose.

I understand why OBD decided to sign Kolb and give him a look. But I couldn't agree with you more about TJax. Kolb had a record of fragility and to get rid of the only other veteran QB struck me as strange. Depending on EJ's recovery, we could end up starting Matt Leinart against the Pats with a mere two weeks of preparation. Bad news. For the Bills sake, but - more imporantly - for Kolb's sake, I hope he's okay and able to safely resume his career. And I hope to see a healthy EJ under center when NE comes to town.