hondo in seattle

Good research. I don't care how "aggressive" Pettine is as measured by blitzes. I care whether he can run an effective defense. Based on his experience in New York, it seems he can though we won't know for sure until he has time out of Rex's shadow here with the Bills.

Football is too popular, and makes too much money, to be gone in 10-20 years. "Evolve or Die" goes the famous dictum. If faced with those choices, football will evolve.

Everyone is wrong once in a while. Not everyone apologizes for it. Thanks to you, CowgirlsFan, for setting a good example.

Given that the Bills don't have a single proven starter on the roster, I would have taken 4 QBs into preseason and kept 3 on the roster in the regular season. As it is now, I tend to think texasabres might be right. The Bills just might give Tuel a roster spot.

I take Marrone at his word and believe TJax was released because the QB competition is a two-horse race and both horses need their reps. But I agree that the Bills confidence in Tuel as our #3 emergency QB may have played a role. A Bills scout (Brad Forsyth) had some nice things to say about Tuel when we drafted him... "I think he’s a kid that really does have a legitimate shot. He needs some time, development and experience, but he has all the physical tools you’re looking for and he’s a smart kid as well.” “I’m real excited about him as a free agent. Really good size, really strong arm. You really notice that when you get on the practice field and at the two All-Star games that I went to watch him. He just stands out as a pure thrower. He really spins it well and can make all the throws.” "He is accurate. He’s got sneaky athletic ability.” “I just like this kid’s physical upside. He’s got a lot of the things you want. It’s just a matter of putting it all together and doing it on a consistent basis.” http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/A-respectable-Tuel-box-for-Bills-undrafted-QB/7a23aab1-00f3-43aa-a69d-3c459f66daf6

I don't know about the Marrone/Genius statement but otherwise Code Monkey is right. I don't think Rex is planning on making Geno into Tebow II (not that Rex did much with Tebow I). I think this is all about grooming Geno for an eventual starting job. Rex is apparently thinking Geno won't be ready to be the starter by Week 1, but maybe with more time and some game experience, he might beat out Sanchez later. Obviously, there's some risk for Rex here as I'm sure he knows. If players (or fans) see more good in Geno than in Sanchez, they might begin calling for him to start before Rex thinks the time is right. QB controversies are never a good thing. I'm not defending Rex, but other coaches have done similar things to develop a young QB. It's not entirely idiotic.

I like having insurance. You never want to use it, but when you need it you're glad you have it. I'm not convinced Whaley was running this past draft. The clue that Buddy wasn't just a figurehead at the end is this: When Whaley was promoted, he immediately made some changes to the personnel department. Obviously, Whaley wanted to make those changes before but didn't have the power to do so because Buddy was still running the show.

Every year someone DOES come out of nowhere to wow and amaze... unfortunately it's usually for another team. Let's hope Blatnick is the exception! OP, thanks for the highlight vid. Good stuff!

To answer the final question: When we cut Fitz before the draft. For a moment in time, we had zero QBs on the roster unless you count Brad Smith. That's frightening at any time of year. There weren't any great FA QBs available (FWIW, Kolb hadn't been released yet) and we didn't know who we would get out of the draft. Under the circumstances, I think Buddy was right to resign TJax. Regarding TJax's "incredible knowledge"... I have no idea what the guy knows or doesn't know. I just saw interviews with a couple Seahawk players that were complimentary of Jackson. But I always thought it odd Jackson didn't suit up for the Bills. If Chan had no intention to suit him up, then why did Buddy sign him? The idea that he couldn't grasp the offense after all those weeks was hard to believe. If he was that incapable of learning the offense, why not just cut him like we did Vince Young? That whole situation was weird and I'm not convinced the public knows the whole/true story.

Yeah, I know some people are faulting Buddy for signing - not just once but twice - a player who will never suit up for the Bills on game day. But I think Buddy was right. At one point this year, TJax was the only QB (not counting Brad Smith) on the roster. We had to have someone to handoff to CJ and Freddy. Apparently Marrone feels differently than I do, but going into 2013 with 1 unproven NFL starter and 2 rookies makes me nervous. I'd be happier going into preseason with 2 unproven starters and 2 rookies! I worry about Kolb's fragility.

Watching the news in Seattle yesterday evening, Seahawk players were talking about the reports that TJax might be returning to Seattle. They said TJax is an awesome teammate who possesses great leadership skills. One observed that Jackson's incredible knowledge of the game would be helpful to a young guy like Russell Wilson. The enthusiasm Seahawk players have for TJax (not that any are lobbying for him to start ahead of Wilson) makes me wonder how he couldn't even crack the top three in Buffalo. I never envisioned TJax as the starter in Buffalo, but with two rookies on the roster to mentor and an injury-prone Kolb as the only other experienced starter, I thought Jackson might have a role here.

Trent was usually accurate with his check-downs. So my vote is for TE (pre- or post- Adrian). But the OP's question is like asking which you prefer: a colonoscopy or root canal. Maybe it's just me, but I vote for the root canal.

Like a lot of others, I thought TJ might end up being the odd man out. But I'm surprised it happened so early especially when Kolb is injury prone and the other two QBs are rookies.

Let's not. Some things are better when forgotten.

Appreciate the humility but your track record isn't dissimilar to guys who get paid for their opinion. Most sportswriters aren't right any more than we fans. They just - usually - write better.

I'm not sure OJ's 143 yard per game is overlooked. But how about these mind-blowing stats: In 1973, OJ won the rushing title by 859 yards! OJ had 75% more yards than the second-best back that year. No back in the modern era, not even Jim Brown, was so far out in front of his peers as OJ.

In Marv Levy's book "Game Changers," he talks about a game against Indy in December of 1990 when Bruce collected 4 sacks. But Levy highlights a sack by Clifford Hicks who "on a blitz, came flying unimpeded as the Colts assigned three (at least) of their pass protectors to blocking No. 78." Later, Levy writes: "During the Bills' Super Bowl era and even beyond, Smith was the most intimidating defensive player in the NFL. Even Lawrence Taylor, perhaps the greatest linebacker who ever lived and the man who personified intimidation prior to Smith's emergence, conceded as much prior to the Bills-Giants meeting in Super Bowl XXV. Anthony Munoz, the greatest offensive tackle of the era, summed up the prospect of playing Smith in one word: "Scary." I'm sure Bruce would agree with all the praise.

Sure sounds like it. If I was Phil Hansen, I'd be a little offended.

Offense: FJ is my favorite player, but at this point I have to say CJ is the best. Defense: It will be interesting to see how everyone performs under Pettine but I'll go with Mario.

Here's what Bruce said in a Chris Brown article... “Deacon is right up there. I think there are about three guys you put in a hat and you just pick a name out and those three guys would certainly be Deacon, Reggie White and myself at the defensive end position,” said Smith. “Certainly the rules were of a different nature when Deacon played. Deacon played with Merlin Olsen and a number of other defensive linemen that were extremely talented. Reggie also had an extremely talented defensive line." “I really believe that you take those three names and put them in a hat and just pick one and feel comfortable with it, and then you can go on with the debate as to who had more help, who had the better defensive line, how many times they were double-teamed and so forth and so on. But he’s an all-time great, he’s a better person and this is certainly a sad day.” http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Bruce-Smith-reflects-on-passing-of-Deacon-Jones/217ca14e-51db-44ab-b80e-1954daac12c2

I go into most seasons expecting anything from absolute misery to mediocrity. I'm not sure what to expect this season, and that in itself is exciting.

Good point. I think Bruce would have been able to deliver a brutal head slap.

RIP Deacon Jones. He was a fierce competitor. But was he better than Bruce Smith? Bruce holds the NFL record with 200 career sacks. Back in the Deacon's day, sacks weren't a separate statistics. Nor were tackles. Unofficially, though, Jones has been credited with 173.5 sacks over 14 seasons. Apparently, Bruce produced more career sacks but many old-timers still insist Jones was better. My own opinion is that Deacon was more important historically because he revolutionized the position. Bill Parcels says, "Deacon was the first prototypical outside speed-power rusher in the history of the league." http://sports.yahoo....-193540383.html Deacon even invented the term "sack" when he cheerfully compared tackling QBs in the backfield to hog-tying them in a sack. But as a Buffalo homer, I have to say Bruce was the better DE and sack-master. Bruce produced more sacks despite not playing without the Fearsome Foursome around him and despite being pushed, grabbed and held. Back in Deacon's days, NFL rules didn't allow offensive linemen to use their hands like they do today. Wonder what other opinions are out there?

I am a fan of any QB wearing a Bills jersey. But Kolb hasn't given me any reason (yet) to be a bigger fan of him than of EJ, TJ or Tuel.

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