Stormin Norman

I am in Taxachusetts for business and you can't believe the hand-wringing about the Patriots on their sports radio programs. The whining includes: - Tom Brady is no longer Tom Brady. He's hitting the wall. - Brady looks only to one or two receivers and that's it. He either hates all the other guys or has no confidence in them. Amendola has like 16 yards receiving because Brady refuses to go to him. - The offensive line stinks. Can't generate a running game so it all falls on the QB. Protection is horrible. Calls to bring in Richie Incognito! - Play calling is a joke. - The total surrounding cast for Tommy Boy is substandard. - Gronk is not healthy. Love it! Next time I hear Buffalo radio announcers ready to go over the Falls because EJ had a tough day, I'm going to listen to WEEI to feel better.

Here's the problem with Schopp for me, and it's been repeated time and again in other posts: he's friggin' arrogant and condescending. I am not going to criticize him for his negative critique of the Bills after 14 losing season in a row as much as I will criticize his shameful dissing of callers, his condescending tone, his total refusal to greet callers, and his "manufactured confrontations" with callers who are reasonably offering a differing point of view. The approach between Schopp, Bulldog, and Sal is all about this arrogance and condescension factor. I enjoy listening to Bulldog's "every man" approach, particularly when he is without Schopp, and Sal's high-energy perspective...but mostly because they are decent with callers and do not talk like their thoughts and opinions are superior to the rest of the world (like Schopp). Schopp also tries to be funny and it's just unbearable because, for the most part, he can't pull it off. When you turn off listeners by your self-proclaimed intellectual superiority, you can't pull off attempts at humor. I am forced to listen to Schopp. I enjoy listening to the others. Big difference.

The 1981 AFC Wild Card game cemented my existence as a die-hard Bills fan. Buffalo goes up 24-0 at Shea Stadium against the Jets behind magic by Joe Ferguson and WR Frank Lewis. But the Jets fight back in the second half and are driving the field to win the game in the waning seconds. On second and ten from the Bills 11 yard line...and only 10 seconds left in the game...Richard Todd gets picked by Bills safety Bill Simpson at the one yard line! I screamed like a girl and could not have been more emotionally invested in the game. Here's a detailed game recap: http://sportsthenandnow.com/2011/11/03/nfl-classic-rewind-jets-furious-rally-is-stopped-by-last-second-interception/

Cursed? I don't think so. Not with: Wide right The "Home Run Throw(up)-back" ...including having the best defense in the league that year Skate in the crease Having OJ as a boyhood idol William McKinley Greatest punt return ever for no score (Terrence McGee) Tim Russert - huge public figure and Buffalo advocate 14 years of Darcy Regier Vinny T's "five-yard touchdown from the six" Fergy hobbled vs. San Diego on the cusp of a possible trip to the Super Bowl Ray Mancini losing his title here Scotty Bowman winning Cups in every city but where? No stigma to see here. Move along.

Would it not be catastrophic / tragic if the Bills drafted another Roscoe Parrish-type dude with a number one pick? You know. the type of player with the durability of a Buffalo School Board President?

I hate seeing all the comments about the head-hanging. While I am not denying Fergy did that, I do want to also call out that he had a similar look when he threw huge touchown passes and great throws downfield for big gains. (His five touchdown performance against Miami in the Orange Bowl in Dan Marino's first start ever in the NFL is a great example). He rarely if ever did a fist pump or ran down to the end zone to celebrate a touchdown, as I recall. More of an, "Awe shucks, that's what I'm supposed to do" kind of disposition even on his best plays. You'd see linemen hugging him and jumping up and down, but not Joe. Several have noted his toughness. He was a very tough, humble competitor. And his recovery from lymphoma and leukemia are truly indicative of his quiet, tough spirit. Joe Ferguson is one of my favorite athletes of all time because of that spirit and because he was a real gentleman.

Could one of the guys be Butch Rolle?

Would "took the sail out of our winds" qualify? (Hank Bullough).

Could not agree more! Love the Gamecocks!

Perhaps, but if memory serves me, Brandon used those terms while discussing his playing and past managerial careers or perhaps talking about others who have won the big prize. With respect to the Bills, He said he's going to build a "world class operation," and "win more games." I don't think he even used the word "playoffs." So for me, most of it rang hollow.

Why have a damn football team if winning the Super Bowl is not the ultimate objective? He could have said that's the goal of this franchise and I for one would have cheered mightily, not snickered. It has felt for almost two decades as if the goal was to gen up the marketing machine around (false) hope each year, not make a run at the Super Bowl.

I was driving from Buffalo to my home out of town today while listening to Brandon and Nix essentially repeat the same things we heard three years ago and probably six years ago, too. I swear I missed this: I don't recall either one of them referring to winning the Super Bowl as the goal!! Did anyone else catch them saying it? I heard, "take it to the next level," "forward-looking," "move the organization forward," and a couple general references to "champions/championships." But not once did I hear Russ or Buddy say they're going to win the Super Bowl. This smacks of a marketing move.

All right, all right! I get it, Pete! You want me to say it, I'll say it. GOOD COACHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE! There, you happy?!?!?!?

There is another dimension I have noticed in Chan, which to me explains his decisions and approach to the game: he is extremely STUBBORN. A sampling of examples, in my view: - The whole 52 vs. 50 yard thing. A close game with no margin for error and he turns his back on potential points over two yards. - Utilizing Fitz as if he's a passing surgeon like Brady, even while he's got arguably one of the best running backs in the league. - Insisting on giving equal or more touches to Fred Jackson when there's not equal production (no disrespect to Fred) to CJ - If the other team is loading up the box, we can't run the football. - Insistence on running a spread offense in practically every situation (again, if you have Brady, maybe you can get away with it. Gailey sounds senile because he's desperately trying to justify why his decisions make sense to an increasing vast audience which thinks otherwise. The guy trying to back up his argument that the sky is pink can't help but sound a bit off his rocker.

"Go tell CJ to come out." "Why?" "He's winded." "No he's not. He hasn't been on the field in over ten minutes." "Well.... it's Fred's turn." "Fred was just in for seven plays." "They're going to load up the box on us!" "So, then let's get CJ one on one with a linebacker and he'll take it to the house!" "He's got eight carries already. Boy's tired." "He's averaging over six and a half yards a carry, Coach!" "It's fourth down just inside their 30." "So?" "That means we need max protection. We need Fred." "It's fourth and two inches." "Good. Perfect time to go five wide!" "Are you insane? I can sneak it for two damn inches!" "Wait, what's that whistle for?" "For the love of god, Coach. They just called us for delay of game!" "Okay, then. Let's get the punt team out there." "But, Rian can nail this one. We need the points, Coach!" "Nope." It's a 51 yarder. If it was 50, I'd send him out there. HUGE difference that yard."

"No, CJ's not winded. He's out because we're under ten minutes left in the game."

Okay... On the Plus Side CJ Better offensive line (but not a great one) Negatives Head Coach Head Coach Head Coach Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback Linebackers Wide receivers Lack of depth everywhere... especially at Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback Wide receiver Linebackers Secondary Sounds like 7-9 to me... at best.

...the Bills are better, "but the record don't show it." Please tell me how we're better.... which means any good things you come up with (CJ) have to outweigh the negatives (head coaching) as a whole. So, really, HOW ARE WE BETTER?

I can only take Schopp in small doses. Usually, I stream the show for a short time while driving home from work (as I live out of town). Without fail, Schopp gives gives me road rage even if there's no traffic. Arrogant, condescending...even when he tries humor, it's tainted by cynicism or what feels like, "I am, therefore I am funny." The e-mail has his fingerprints all over it. His prior BS offering -- that the reason he doesn't respond when callers say, "Hi guys, how are you doing?" is because he's afraid the show will lose listeners -- is just another example of his dimwitted perspective on listeners. Here's an idea, Schopp: Stop being such an arrogant, condescending "sports elitist" to the few listeners you have left. Saying "hello" to them is the least of your worries.

"Hey Jethro. I'm heading to the men's room to beat the crowd at halftime."

How much does winning mean to fans? My job relocated to Massachusetts in 2008. My daughter, eight years old at the time, was a true blue Bills fan. Now, she talks about how good the Patriots are. I know she is surrounded by New England fans throughout her school, so being like her peers in this way is understandable. But I also know she's aware the Bills are a laughing stock around here. Laughing stock is perhaps giving the Bills too much credit. I give her the "evil eye" every time she says something complimentary about the Patriots. We went to the Bills-Pats game here a few weeks ago, and her inner Buffalo came out as the Bills surged toward a (almost) win. All she knows is the Buffalo Bills as losers. For me, I watch YouTube videos of the glory years to remember what it was like to have a good team with competent leadership.

On the road... must... MUST win the turnover battle. Defense needs to snatch a couple and the offense (Freddy, Fitz) needs to maintain possession. Pressure up the middle. Luck likes to step up into the pocket, hopefully into the waiting arms of Kyle Williams. If we can do that, we're in it! It is time for these guys to show what they're made of. No excuses...it's all right there in front of them.

I find myself doing exactly the same thing. For those who say, "Why do you listen? Why don't you just turn it off?"... understand something. I live in Massachusetts as a die-hard Bills fan. If I had other options besides Schopp, I would most certainly entertain them. But they are the only option. I use the TuneIn app to listen while driving to and from work. On the way home, it takes 3-5 minutes for me to figure out whether I can tolerate Schopp that day. If not, I DO TURN IT OFF and listen to music instead.

My takes for what they're worth: Schopp: Sounds arrogant and condescending most of the time, as if his opinions are intellectually superior to everyone else's. Grates on you if you listen to him beyond 20 minutes. Has the audacity to bemoan callers saying, "Hi, how are you guys?" as a waste of precious time when 97% of his "schtick" is exactly that. (And he's blatant about it... MIke never responds to a caller's "Hello."). Apparently, his humor is can only be understood by Bulldog. Howard: An "every man's" style. He finds the middle ground between being a fan and being a sports personality. He has a good rapport with listeners even when he's chastising their points of view. Perhaps a bit bland, but that's not bad considering some of the other on-air talent. Jeremy: Strikes me as a second-stringer who somehow got a top slot. I can't even explain why. With that said, he typically has the most reasonable and thoughtful point of view on any given topic. He shows restraint and pragmatism whereas others have a hair-trigger tendency to bounce off the walls at the smallest new development. Joe B.: Very frustrating to listen to for only one reason: it always sounds as if he's over-thinking what he's trying to say. This causes him to stammer and pause repeatedly as if he's searching for the perfect word or phrase. (Think President Obama without the teleprompter). When he feels confident in what he's saying... it rolls out very naturally and effectively. So just a bit of constructive criticism for Joe: find a conversational style which isn't inhibited by thinking too much about what you want to say. You'll be excellent if you can do it. Sal: Has really grown on me. He's upbeat and brings consistent energy without being over the top or contrived about it. He's a good addition and I would easily accept him over Schopp or Jeremy. I would accept anyone over Schopp, in fact. Greg Bauch and Dan FIsher are simply... NOT funny. Nice guys. Not funny. When the on-air personalities engage with them, it feels like more of a distraction than anything. Bulldog: I am torn here. I agree with folks who believe he seems to be more subservient to Schopp. But I also prefer listening to him without Schopp present. He brings an inner-fan's passion to his commentary when he is "on." But when he and Schopp go off on a goofy tangent that only they find funny, it is truly maddening. Bulldog's voice has always been grating, to say the least. But he is able to deliver fair and accurate criticism when it is warranted. Which leads me to my next point.... Buffalo teams have sucked for long enough that any one of these guys would have a hard time being "positive" about them. Optimism at the beginning of a season gives way to "WTF," and it just permeates all the commentary... perhaps unavoidably. It would be nice to listen to them when one of these franchises is actually contending. Except for Schopp. Even if we won a Super Bowl and Cup in the same year, he'd still be arrogant and condescending.

Take a look at the whole season last year. Gailey calls games as if we have a top five quarterback. When the run is working, he abandons it in favor of a short, spread passing attack. Here's the problem: Fitz can't even lead a receiver on a quick slant and is no deep threat whatsoever. Against good teams, this formula fails and we get further behind....causing us to, you guessed it, throw it more.