RealityCheck

I think that Fitz made the entire team look worse than it really was. It's just my opinion of course but I think the team quit primarily because of Fitz. He is horrible against the blitz and had no touch or accuracy downfield. The 2 picks he threw against the Giants 2 seasons ago in an attempt to hit SJ down the side line exemplifies his limitations. The QBs that lead their teams to the playoffs complete those types of throws against a cover-2 all season.

The Hail Mary offense?

I disagree.

This is a sign from the football gods that EJ needs to get more reps.

I wouldn't get to used it if I were you. Go Bills!

Listen Mr. Enlightener, Stevie is the best this team has and that was with Fitz throwing him the ball. Larry Fitzgerald using the same tunnel vision is on the downside of his career. Football requires extensive context in order to evaluate players. You seem to miss the point in that the game gets played first, then we make up our opinions. With the new season looming large, why would you try to sell a definitive opinion on what SJ can and can't do when we are about to find out with a new supporting cast. Instead of being an extremist about it, sit back and enjoy the ride.

The premise of this thread is silly. He is the best this team has had in a long time, with an emphasis on the fact that he is currently on the team and that there is a season to play starting next month. People can come on here and say he is a number 3 receiver and it won't change the fact that he is very important to this roster. Until proven otherwise he is the best WO on this team and that makes him numero uno. Our perception of dubious rankings and classifications is irrelevant to the reality that he is the Bills' only known quantity at his position. If I am going to nitpick about what he doesn't do well I would have to include everybody else on the roster in that they all have well defined weaknesses. If healthy, I think that Stevie will have a great year with EJ throwing him the ball.

I would pay to see Marrone choke slam one of these so-called sports writers. I am pretty confident that the players are gonna respond to this guy.

Maybe I am missing something but Rex has already employed these tactics being discussed on numerous occasions against more than a few opponents over the last 4 seasons. This may be a new news article but has everyone already forgotten what the Jets have already done on defense over the years? A new article about old news perhaps?

Roby roby roooooo!!!!!!!

The Bills I am sure keep records on the in season maintenance required for all their players between shots and "treatments" to their various body parts. Levitre was an undersized technician that was below average in the brawn department. I saw him get man handled enough to not feel heart broken about his departure for the money he got. I really am happy for him as a player to get that big payday. I also can't knock the Bills for not over pursuing him either. Hypothetically speaking of course, if there is a certain % difference in offer/ counter offer, there really is no point in going any further with the conversation. The Titans will be very interesting to watch in the run game. Chris Johnson will probably have a big year if that O-line stays healthy. Chance Warmack will be good one to watch.

Good for Troup. If after all his adversity he can add something to the trenches, it would be huge for everybody. It blows my mind what the human body has to endure taking on the double teams inside.

Colonel Sanders?

Why would the players want to do this?

I didn't bother reading the rest of the thread. I like Stevie's shirt, it definitely made me laugh. When athletes come off with that stale, media wary persona when a microphone gets puts in their face, I tend to brush that off as a ruse. As much as I don't care what athletes do outside of their sports, in particular what they put in their own bodies, Stevie always provides a refreshing embracement of youthful vigor for the game and the social opportunities it can present. I am glad he is on this team.

I wish that they would just let these guys take what ever they want and let law enforcement handle the rest. When these guys are off the field, I cease to care what they do.

This is a tough board for tough people.

She is Soo fine.

These latest Marrone articles were a lot of fun to read. As a New Yorker, I love the story. I hope that coming to Buffalo can be something special for everybody to some day look back on.

I don't know. I think it's possible that you are reading way to much into this. The fact is that they didn't have a franchise QB last season at any point. They started more than a few QBs after Kolb if I remember correctly.

Judging by how bad the defense was with both of these guys, I really don't want to chose between the two regardless of who the DC is. Byrd is likely to play for the Bills one way or the other as it is. The contract situation is far more of a big deal to him than anyone else, but the longer he holds out from group football activities, the greater the probability of him getting injured when he returns. If he waits to long to come back and mesh with the system he is at risk of diminishing his value. Pettine's scheme requires safeties to play free and strong responsibilities, Byrd is doing what is right for himself, but it is not without a new set of risks. Mario and Byrd are both likely to be on the field in September, one way or the other. Go Bills!

In a way you illustrate my point. Anderson is not a guy that you can line up against an O-lineman straight up and expect anything but a pancake. As for him not being a complete player, in case you haven't noticed the Bills don't have anybody in the front seven that can be called a complete player. Last year in a very basic scheme, they all typically got handled. The very reason they brought Pettine into the fold was to be flexible in his attack and move everybody around. What you call gimmicky is the only way you will see positive results as the entire front 7 will have to be lined up in a variety of locations, angles and responsibilities to make the big plays. We all love Kyle but he has some glaring weaknesses to his game, they all do. Anderson has much more to bring to the table than Maybin in terms of physical tools, experience, and coverage ability when healthy, and my thought about using him the way the Jets used Maybin was not to suggest that he would be excluded from lining up in other ways. Not every suggestion of usage for a player means the exclusion of other roles. If you don't feel comfortable with the idea that gimmicks and trickery will be necessary on both sides of the ball to win games, then you might want to stock up on Pepto before September.

If Anderson is healthy and utilized the same way that the Jets tried to use Maybin, he could do a lot of damage.

The layers of bulls**t on this subject are slowly being peeled off like an onion. Football for many fans is an addiction (I know I am), and the NFL knows this. Clever marketing aside, they are trying to squeeze every penny they can out of the fans. They use these convoluted explanations that don't add up because the last thing that they want to say "listen, last year was great, but it's not enough money. It will never be enough money, and if you don't support the local team directly, we will use propaganda to create the illusion that we will move the team and try to create leverage to extract it from you in taxes. One way or the other, we would like to extract every penny we can from every orifice of your proverbial body. So what will it be? If we have to for the tax money of non-football fans, then we will". Wages haven't budged for a while, all budgets are collectively running deficits, and expenses are rising, the owners have recognized this trend for a while and understand that if they don't use every tactic possible, they stand to trend backwards in terms of revenue. Looking at how the salary cap is trending is indicative of some hard choices. A true believer in capitalism understands that you vote with your money, the rest of it is window dressing for the idealists.

Let's not forget that Goodwin is a willing run blocker.