hondo in seattle

I'd be okay with this if... * Gilmore was healthy and stayed healthy all season long. * McKelvin also stayed healthy and, on top of that, learned how to play the ball.

I had hopes for Sanders too coming out of college too. But reports from camp say he's been struggling mightily. So his release isn't really a surprise.

I don't know Byrd personally and don't know if he's actually hurt. For all I know, he's fractured a metatarsal. I don't attend training camp nor do I talk to team doctors. All I know is what I see on the field and the results there tell me we don't have enough talent. They don't scream that the Bills don't work hard enough. Yep

I think we have too many injuries and too little talent to beat the Pats. But I'm excited anyway. New GM, HC, OC, DC and QB. It reminds me of the excitement at the very beginning of the Levy/Kelly era. We knew we didn't have all the pieces yet but it felt like we were on our way.

Wow. This is such a negative and unfounded rant I'm reluctant to wade in. But I will, only briefly. How do you know the Bills don't work hard? Have you attended camp at SJF and then compared that with the other 31 camps you've visited. To say that the Bills haven't had the best coaches or best players over the past decade plus is self-evident. But to say they don't work hard? It's just kind of silly.

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.