stony

This is as objective as I can get. I'm thinking 1st round here.

Your joking, right?

IDK, were those bubble players that let Pac Man run back a 50yd return on the first play of the game? Your right in theory, it is preseason, but I'm worried about the lack of coverage they have shown thus far. Plus, I don't remember too many of those plays that didn't work, if any. Close to blocking a punt means nothing if it means that our returners are left to fend for themselves. With the talent we have back there, we havn't shown much in this area either.

I'll be the first person to say that Marshawn stunk last year. But w/ the suspension and emergence of Jackson, was Lynch ever in the position/mind-set to play well? I don't think so. But it's convienent for Lynch-haters to simply forget he put together back-to-back 1000yd seasons. Oh yeah, he scores TDs, something Freddy seems adverse to doing. What else can I show ya?

So true. Not the popular thing to say around here, but Jackson should be the one that's traded, not Lynch. The money is right for willing partners and he's more attractive because he's not one strike from a suspension. Plus, when people take off their rose colored sunglasses, it's evident Lynch is just a better player.

Wasn't the last game in Toronto...?

And your point is? All I'm saying is that during the regular season, the teams with the best passing attacks win the most games. Saints, Colts, Chargers, etc. Thats why there's such a premium on quarterbacks and running backs are a dime a dozen. The Vikings have arguably the best running back in football aside of C.Johnson, but what was their identity last year? Brett Favre's 33TD passes. One of the biggest myths in football is that running sets up the pass. In fact, it might be completely the other way around. Teams that can pass at will open up the box for running backs. The Patriots won't be able to run this year but something tells me their still good for 10 wins. Cincy was able to run last year but decided they needed to upgrade their passing drafting two possible impact players and signing two more veteran recievers. Stopping the run is much more vital than running the ball.

Well said. It's tough to argue with anything you've written. As for Schopp, Jerry comes off as the more likable of the two when they're both on the radio together.

Pretty solid. I think Nelson over Roosevelt and even Hardy over Jones. Gailey may not want to cut ties with him just yet. But who knows? OBS: agree RBS: agree WRS: those two changes TES: if these four guys don't worry opposing d-coord... OL: this is one of those areas where a team might only keep 8 DL: and keep 6 here because of new 3-4, guys like Kelsay bring added value if we choose to play the nickel package a lot LBS: agree, but Coleman has to make the team somewhere I think DBS: sounds good

I think you need to defend the run, no doubt. But in today's NFL, passing is the key to winning games more than running.

Sully is not on the beat anymore, though. He's a columnist and for the most part gets to decide what he wants to write about. I actually agree with a lot of what he says and like that he goes out of the way to talk about college sports and such. However, going insane because you have to cover the Bill's is a convienent excuse to be perpetually negative.

1) I take it you weren't a Josh Reed fan? 2) That's just nonsense. Wes Welker makes catches all over the field. It's a bit naive to assume he just catches balls in the flat. I defy you to prove your statement.

Good points, but Welker has proven to be able to take the punishment of being an everydown player. It's amazing to think that in the current NFL, where players are bigger and stronger than ever, he's been able to build such a prolific career thus far. I think the 15lbs helps, but he's one of the best players in recent memory I've seen actually avoid the hit and minimize injury risk by going down early.

Yeah me neither. I never heard him single out the lb's last year and he even goes out of the way to say there're much improved. I actually agree with most of what Sully says, however unpopular he is. Sometimes I think he lacks the tact to make a point without sounding like a total moron. Its the "Skip Bayless Effect." You might be right, but everyone thinks your an ass because of the way you tell it.

Yeah, because the 45 seconds it took for Chan to tell the fans to shut up will stunt Trent's growth this season. Secondly, Chan probably has the coldest "hot seat" position in the NFL aside from the perennial contenders. The whole regime is buliding this slow and won't hold it against him for one bad preseason game.

+1

According to PFT, it was Chad Gailey. Perhaps we're talking about the wrong coach...gotta love their editors over there sometimes.

"To just, I hate to say it, but to just keep your mouth shut and learn from other people and earn your role, because we've all been through it (training camp)," Kelsay said. "It's tough enough for a rookie, but it can be especially tough if you come in and you don't earn the respect of your peers. The best way to do that is to be seen and not heard and just work hard, spend as much time as you can in the playbook, learn the defense. The quickest thing that's going to be guys to turn on you is if you don't know your assignments and you can't hold yourself accountable to your teammates." It seems like if he's following this advice, he'll have some vets supporting him and helping him along. On the other hand, and I'm a huge Maybin supporter, I can't help but think that perhaps this was a veiled shot and him. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it seems like he's making a comparison of sorts.

1) Sure did. Although I know we need help in more pressing positions (actually maybe not after the injuries of this camp) I would love to see either Floyd or Rudolph in a Bills uni next year. 2)Very good point. Perhaps even more poignant by the fact he actually played decent against USC too. Basically Pete said Whitehurst > Clausen. 3)Yes. If you're gonna gamble and roll the dice, its nice to have some options.

Analysts said Trent was a bright spot on a bad team. They never said he carried that Stanford squad because as we all know, he was hurt quite a bit. Locker has beat top 10 teams with little help. Is he a surefire prospect? No. But what quarterback is.

1) Isn't it a bit quick to label him a career backup after two preseason games. 2) yes it was. 3) What else do you see in him that reminds you of JP? I;m just curious because I have mixed feeling about him as well, although I think he turn out to be a good NFL starter.

Isn't the total payroll stat skewed by the outlandish rookie contracts that have taken over the league in the past decade? I heard that Seattle has an enormous payroll but that is do in large part to top five picks(roughly) in the past two drafts as well as two more 1st rounders this year.

Yeah, that was my 1st impression as well. We'll see, but I suppose he can't be any worse than the guys we have...wait, we have no one.

Not at all. Contracts are in a sense, an investment on the future potential of a player. Especially rookie contracts. There is no fiscal reason to cut him so early especially after a protracted holdout last year that one can assume is beneficial in part to both sides. His contract is already in the future plans of the team, so its not like the FO is saying each offseason, "damn it, I wish we could make a move but Maybin's contract is screwing us." Comparing the returns of a rookie's deal (or second year player) to that of a free agent is wrong and misleading, something a think a lot of people do when looking at Maybin compared to other player's deals. For better or worse, its apples and oranges.

Ahhh, but you're assuming we would actually spend the money elsewhere.