hondo in seattle

No. Seattle just passed legislation to raise it's minimum wage to $15/hour. Moves like that don't make your city attractive to new businesses. New York's problem has been it's high taxes. NYC overcomes the high taxes because it's the financial capitol of the country, if not the world, and it's advantages offset its costs.

I don't think the problem was Marrone. I think EJ was the one who had trouble establishing chemistry with Stevie. EJ is a young QB who struggles with progressions. The NFL game still moves too fast for him. Stevie is an unconventional WR without a lot of high end speed who gets open through creativity. Fitz, though lacking a cannon for an arm, figured Stevie out and could get him the ball sometimes. EJ, on the other hand, needs WRs to be where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there. EJ and Stevie were not a match made in heaven. EJ does better with good route runners like Robert Woods, for example - guys who execute the route the way it was drawn up. Sammy is said to be a good route runner. He's also a guy who can take a short, easy and take it for a long gain. Woods and Watkins are both better targets for EJ than SJ.

There does seem to be a lot of potential in the WR Corps (though not a lot of proven talent). So who will lead the BIlls in receptions this year? Given that Sammy is a rookie, I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Williams ended up leading the team. EJ seems to trust him.

Ryan Leaf's attitude problems were enough to sabotage his NFL dreams. Manziel has attitude problems AND poor mechanics. My choice is EJ

Generally speaking, you need a good QB to win in the NFL. Fitz isn't good. We've seen too much of him to know his limitations. EJ might be good. I'd rather go with the guy with unproven potential than the guy with proven mediocrity.

As a partner in a Taco Bell franchise, I can tell you that your first statement isn't even remotely true. Your second statement is interesting. The annual revenues generated by a NFL franchise don't justify the high price to purchase a club. You only really make money when you sell the team. It's an odd way of doing business and it requires you to gamble on the NFL remaining a hot commodity. As noted, however, there is other value (beyond annual returns) in being a NFL owner. If I had Pegula's assets (what a dream!), I'd bid too!

Thanks for the link. As mentioned in the article, many business people use factors of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to determine the value of a business. For example, smaller restaurants may sell for 2x EBITDA while higher volume restaurants belonging to thriving chains might sell for 6x EBITDA. The Bills EBITDA last years was $38 million. Even if we value it at 10x EBITDA, the value of the Bills would still only be $380 million. Strictly business wise, that ought to be (roughly speaking) the sale price. Obviously, the true value of any commercial venture is the price the market will bear. But it's kind of amazing that business people will pay so much for an enterprise that nets so little. It would take Pegula a 34 years or so to make a $1.3 billion investment back. Buying a Taco Bell franchise has an immensely better ROI.

+1

You are right. My first reaction to the deal was "ridiculous." But then I thought how rare even good QBs are. The deal actually makes sense.

Wow. I'm surprised by the negativity from some of the posters. I'm not sold on EJ as the franchise QB of the future. But, then again, I'm not going to condemn the guy because of seven passes in two series of work. Hackett and some players say EJ has taken a big step forward this year. Maybe it's just happy talk. I don't know. But two series doesn't prove the optimists wrong.

This was a very good article for a national media guy. But, in fact, I don't expect to learn much about the Bills from the national media. Trying to follow 32 teams, they just won't know as much about the Bills as we do here on TBD. The analytics websites sometimes have interesting stuff. But when I read or watch SI, ESPN or most other national media outlets, it's usually because I'm curious how the Bills are being presented. I'm not expecting to learn anything new.

There "should be" but there won't be. However, if you start a petition, I'll sign.

Great reporting, Astro. Living 2600 miles away makes it hard for me to keep up with the Bills this time of year. Your camp notes are objective and informative.

EJ is still unproven. We need to move the ball somehow. The more good backs, the better.

Good post. We won't declare war on Canada after all.

Quite possibly true. Maybe wrongly so - but I was surprised to read there were only 3 bids submitted.

There were reports that other candidates - besides the ones we all knew about - were quietly putting together bids. Apparently this turned out to be way wrong. Incidentally, on June 19 I predicted Pegula at $1.27B. Got my fingers crossed that I'll win the Final Sale Price Contest. Far more importantly, though, I'm hoping Pegula wins his contest! http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/168509-bills-final-sale-price-contest/page__hl__bids

ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

For the past 14 years, I've been hanging my hopes on those 'someones.'

I remember this game well... at least that final drive. Roland Hooks, what a hero that day! The catch before the Hail Mary was indeed "spectacular."

I guess I'm one of the few here old enough to remember that game. Awesome memory.

I agree. The OL struggled to open holes, or to get any push in short yardage situations. The production we did get was mostly due to the fact we ran more than most teams and had two good backs lugging the ball. Offensive scheming and play-calling could have been better too. I know CJ had a high ankle sprain last year but it also seemed like Hackett just didn't know how to create space for EJ. Gailey was much better at it.

Thanks b2henning. That's a great find and, as you say, a fair and informed evaluation of EJ. But I've also heard this general comment from a lot of NFL personnel guys: no college QBs are NFL ready. They all have stuff to improve. And that's why NFL scouts are so often wrong - because it's a guessing game who's going to continue developing and who won't. I'm personally going to guess the observers in this article are no better at prognosticating future NFL success than NFL scouts, and probably worse. EJ at 20 or 22 isn't necessarily EJ at 25 or 30. I'm going to assume that - like a lot of other QBs - he didn't reach his peak in college. Nor in his rookie NFL year. How much improvement he'll show this year, I don't know, but my fingers are crossed and I'm hoping for the best.

LaCanfora is just guessing, as he often does. I think he's guessing wrong, as he often does. (I may be wrong myself, but isn't LaCanfora the guy who earlier this year reported the Browns were about to hire Schwartz as their DC?)

I get what you are saying about keeping complimentary a skill set. But the opposite POV has validity. If Sammy, Goodwin, or another speedy WR goes down, TJ is a good backup because he has similar speed. We wouldn't have to change the play-calling much or, worse, throw out the game plan.