[Josh Allen's Incredible Accuracy Makes the Bills Unstoppable (article)]

7 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

 I watch most games on TV, but was at the game and high up on the 50 yard line. 

Where were your seats? I was also on the 50, section 514 row 11, 

[Dawson Knox brother Luke passes away]

45 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

For all those with the expendable income to do so, I encourage you to set-up an automatic monthly donation to a charity that you believe in. It is much better than donating a random jersey number amount every once in a while when someone you do not know passes away. It allows the charity to better budget for the year when they have auto-donations coming in. For example, I auto-donate to Feeding America every month, as I believe no child should ever be hungry, regardless of their situation.

 

 

No reason not to do both. Hopefully most people do make some regular donations of whatever amount they can afford to either charities they care about or an umbrella group like United Way (many companies have United Way campaigns to encourage their employees to give through payroll deductions). In addition, when tragedies happen, be it an earthquake somewhere or a family member of a stranger that we care about as fans of what they do, it's great to do that one time donation for a specific cause related to that event or that person.

[Bills Cutdowns (update - down to 80)]

10 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

As he is walking out he sings to himself...

 

"I'm gettin' jacked, I'm breakin' myself

I can't believe they takin' Olijah's wealth

They took my rings, they took my spot too

I looked at McDermott, said "Damn, that's doo doo!"

 

Ok, as I know no rap at all, is this a take on one of his father's or uncle's songs?

 

I admit, I was hoping Griffin would stay on the practice squad but I assume if he's the first cut, that's unlikely. Not because he did anything, he hasn't done anything at all except get a bad penalty in a preseason game last year. But because he went to high school with my son. He didn't know him, but still was cool that someone at his school was on the Bills. 

[This Aqib Talib story...]

28 minutes ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

As a Coach, sometimes you need to give the Ref the business. 

I 100% disagree with this, or maybe that just depends on context (i.e. pro vs. youth).

 

I spend a large amount of time volunteer reffing youth rec soccer and also paid reffing Club soccer. Have also reffed some lacrosse. Now I pretty much stick with volunteer rec. Parents and coaches can be unbelievable axxhxles. Really nice, normally calm people get completely worked up over a kids rec game. Coaches put in a heck of a lot of time, all volunteer in this rec league, but their emotions get the better of them. I've coached for years as well and admit I've crossed the line a couple of times as well.

 

I also am in charge of referee instruction for my local area. I used to put up with the crap that parents or coaches give but then I noticed that this is why we lose referees. They just don't want to give their time when parents can be such jerks. Yes, we make mistakes. Some of the refs are not very good at all. Even the best of us have some bad games and none has ever reffed a perfect game. Now I don't put up with any bull whatsoever. As soon as I hear criticism, I shut it down, partially so the next referee doesn't have to deal with that. 

 

Virtually any call I make (or don't make), half the people will think it's wrong. If I call a foul, it's either ticky tack, not as bad as the other team has been doing, or should have had at least a yellow card. If I give a yellow card, one side thinks it wasn't deserving while the other says it should have been an automatic red card.

 

And yet, I go back and will spend another 6 to 8 hours the next Saturday and Sunday doing it all again!

[Audacy App For WGR550 Problems]

I'm having no issues withe the app. Used it yesterday and it on right now listening to Josh's interview.

[Available: 4 Tickets for Training Camp (Sunday, 8/7)]

Very sorry for your loss. If you're willing to break them up, I'm looking for one ticket. I'm going with my brother but was hoping to take my 98 year old father with us. Please PM me or text me at 949-923-7242.

[Need 1 ticket to practice August 7]

I have a ticket but want to bring my father who turns 98 in two weeks. If you have one extra ticket, please text me at 949-923-7242. 

[Training Camp practice 8/1]

26 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Up until a few days ago, I could click on links and read the story without having a Twitter account. It seems now I'm always asked to log in or sign up. Are others seeing the same thing?

[Thad Brown throws Cover 1 under the bus for practice videos]

16 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

If anything this tweet from Thad comes off as  jealously.  
 

Since he is credentialed media he has to follow rules and protocols for everything from what details he can reveal about practice to putting in formal requests with the team for interviews.  He likely has to mind his P’s and Q’s so as not to have any Sullivan-like hot takes that would piss off the team.  He has to follow these rules, because if he loses his credentials for his station he likely loses his job.  
 

On top of this, there’s limitations of his coverage to the 10 minutes or so he gets for the sports segment on the news.
 

An outlet like Cover 1 has complete freedom to say and do whatever they want.  Yes they don’t get credentialed, but they can cover the team with open practice access, all 22 game footage and now player interviews.  
 

So Thad seems to be upset that he has to jump through the hoops set up by Bills PR, and it’s really not that big of an advantage 
 

 

There are signs clearly showing all around the fences, "No Videotaping Allowed." I don't see how they enforce if you're taping for your own use, but once you post online, credentialed or not, it seems they could come after you and bar you from ever attending camp.

[Training Camp Practice 7/27]

5 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

I’d cut Kumerow over Crowder all day everyday.

On WGR this morning Sal was asked about the possibility of Crowder being cut. He said that Bean commented that the top 53 would put them over the cap. So, he was speculating that based on where they are now Crowder could be a casualty if he doesn't turn it around soon. Not sure that I buy it as they can do other things to free up cap space. That being said, I see many say cut Kumerow instead of Crowder. If Crowder is behind McKenzie, Austin, Shakir as the number four slot receiver whereas Kumerow is one of the key special teams players and the number 3 (?) outside receiver, I don't see them keeping Crowder over Kumerow. Especially if Cook gets may of the touches that the slot receiver has gotten the last couple of years.

[Training Camp Practice 7/26]

11 minutes ago, Udubalum07 said:

Are media still allowed to attend today or is it completely closed to public and media?

Pretty sure I heard on WGR that media will be there but no public.

[Training Camp practice 7/24]

Went to camp today, took my father who turns 98 in 3 weeks. Was a little scared if it would be too hard for him, he reluctantly brought his cane with him when I insisted. We had no problems at all. Leaving one of the staff offered us a ride to the front but he refused. Then we were in the back of a long line to get on a bus but he refused. That time I insisted, he said "No, that's ok, I can wait." I said, "Thank you, yes, please take us to the front of the line to get on the bus." Then, a nice person in the front row sitting across from her husband and young son said, "Take their seat, they can walk to the back of the bus." Although my father insists on independence and that he can do whatever, I very much appreciate not having to make sure he doesn't trip while walking through a bus.

 

I think it four years ago or so he tripped on one of the rubber things that cover the power cords going to WGR's tent. He was looking at the tent and didn't see the rubber thing, tripped, hit his head and hand on the ground and had a cut on his head. It was a bummer way to start the session.

 

And, I have four tickets to next Saturday's practice and can't make it. First one to PM me I'll give them to. Of course, I've never used PM here, so not convinced I'll even see the response.

[Tyrod's legacy?]

I'd put him way ahead of Bledsoe. Yes, Bledsoe had half a season of greatness before everyone realized, "Wait, he's the same statue that will hold the ball until he either has a huge play or gets sacked that used to play in New England." I'd also put him behind Fitz but I'm less sure of that. Tyrod made great plays with his legs and did make many excellent passes, it just seemed he didn't trust throwing if the receiver wasn't totally open.

[Best, Worst, & Favorite Opening Games]

21 hours ago, Stank_Nasty said:

we actually got "lucky" our baby girl came 2 weeks early so we were able to leave her with my mom to go attend. her actual due date was just 3 days before the opener.... and we had reason to be confident. it was an aging team with a crap line that totally imploded down the stretch of 2020. Also i would argue the steelers were a legit bad squad last year. They were basically the football team version of weekend at bernies. Somehow stumbling their way to mediocre.  neither their offense or defense finished higher than 24th last year overall. We should have boat raced them.

Mistake leaving birth of a child to luck. 

 

My son was due opening weekend in 2001, I think his due date was Friday 9/7, opening game for the Bills was 9/9 and of course two days later 9/11 happened. I wanted no chance of missing the opener being stuck in the hospital so we had a planned C-section on 8/31. Yes, my wife, even not being a football fan, is a great sport! 

[Most Dominant NFL Player Ever]

6 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Had Barry Sanders played when OJ and Brown players he would have led the league in rushing by a mile every year.  
 

Barry did all that he did behind an atrocious OL with weak QBs and a bad defense.  He was the Detroit Lions.  Emit Smith wouldn’t have been very good had he played on Lions instead of the Cowboys.  Barry on the Cowboys might have averaged 2000 yards a season for most his career.  
 

So while I get the OJ and Brown love, and they are top 5 all time too, Barry was just better, and really the GOAT.  

Interesting topic for the offseason.

 

I in no way see Barry Sanders being anywhere near the top for the NFL. For most fun to watch, very possibly, but not as most dominant player of all time. He wasn't even the consensus most dominant RB of his era as discussions always included Emmitt Smith and Thurman Thomas. Thurman was always mentioned as the "best all around back" because of his receiving skills and blocking skills but was rarely called the best rusher. Barry had incredible moves but always led to either huge gains or being stopped for a loss (I still remember him getting the ball at the goal line against the Bills and being tackled for a safety). His moves where great but didn't have the power of Jim Brown (he was before my time but saw many clips of his) and OJ. OJ was incredible to watch. Once he made it past the first tackle he very frequently was gone. 

 

From the OP, the discussion is most dominant player. While impossible to compare eras, as he brought up, you can certainly compare to their peers of the same time. As others have said, football being such a team sport it's really hard to pick but I'd have to say it would be Jim Brown or OJ. For both of them there was no comparison to others at the time and while everyone knew what the play was (I'm assuming this to be true of Brown, it was absolutely true for OJ), they still were incredible.

 

For those saying the baseball was different when Babe was setting records, again when comparing to his contemporaries, he blew everyone else away. Comparing eras is next to impossible as are "what ifs". Here's a good article from Bleacher Report mentioning him as a dominant slugger, pure hitter, runner, fielder, and pitcher. It also mentions in passing that he was far more dominant in baseball than Wilt, Pele, or Gretzky were in their sports https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1508392-major-league-baseball-the-case-for-babe-ruth-as-the-best-ever 

[Deshaun Watson admits under oath that Ashley Solis cried at the end of the massage]

4 hours ago, julian said:

Yeah that seems to be the most likely outcome, given the choice of breaking the law or purchasing legally. I’m guessing most are willing to pay more just so as not to partake in any illegal avenues.

 

I see edibles really taking off here as well, I’m guessing just the convenience without the respiratory dangers of smoke or vape.

I read an article a few months ago that the dispensaries in CA are complaining that due to the high taxes they can't compete with the illegal pot sales.

[Fantastic DaQuan Jones interview]

4 hours ago, blacklabel said:

A buddy of mine married a girl from Johnson City. That whole area of NY out near Albany feels like it stopped in 1978 or something. Everything felt so outdated when I went out there for their engagement party. 

Johnson City is just West of Binghamton, much closer to Scranton PA than to Albany. Binghamton/Johnson City/Endicott are called the Triple Cities.

[Movin The Chains is in the process of evaluating the offensive lines these two weeks]

They just gave the top 5. Pat had the Bills at 3, Jim at 4.

 

Both had Detroit at 5. Jim had NO at 3 Pat had them at 4. Both had the Eagles at 2 and KC at 1.

2 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

Guys, my point is they don’t have skin in the game, have an objective formula to assess and they are incredibly detailed looking at a lot of parameters.   A lot of opinions are armchair QB’s who didn’t take the time to put them on a chalk board vs, 31 other teams. I’ve already detailed a bunch of the stats they use.  Listen to the shows for all 8 divisions and then comment.

 

Im listening right now on RBs for Memorial Day and they rated our RBs even with Cook as a little over avg., to just avg.  15 out of 20.  That’s not even close to the top 10.  These guys aren’t doing the Bills hype tour like some analysts as we have a fantastic team on paper.  Then again McD was right, games aren’t won on paper.  Some here are just not looking at the line objectively. Listen to all 8 shows and then make you’re own opinion.   With rewind, you can skip to each team only download so you don’t have to listen to the calls.

They haven't done the Jerks yet but they have the Fish at 17 and Cheatriots at 15, tied with the Bills.

[Baker Mayfield says goodbye to Cleveland (update - Traded to Panthers)]

On 5/7/2022 at 7:38 AM, WhoTom said:

 

 

I was under the impression that the team pressured him to play through it. Did he ever say it was his decision?

 

 

 

I had heard at the time it was his decision.

[Got my tickets for the SoFi opener…]

1 hour ago, Riverboat Ritchie said:

Any chance Bills Backers LA will have tailgate party like happened a few years ago in LA at Coliseum?  Just make sure enough beer vendors. Andre and Bill Fitchner were there 

Yes. We were already emailed as soon as the schedule was released that the various SoCal BB clubs will have a tailgate. Hope to go to the game but the prices are crazy and I'm a Bill seasons holder anyway.

 

Went to SoFi for a Stones concert in the 500 level. It's WAY up there. Parking was $80 at the stadium and I doubt there's offsite..

[Dwayne Haskins killed [Edit: struck by vehicle]]

10 minutes ago, JoPoy88 said:

We have no details about the woman, that I know of at least. Could’ve been his assistant which in that case would make perfect sense as to why she was in the car. 

don’t the additional reports that came out today qualify as some “knowledge of the situation?”

I think that the point Dablitzkrieg was making was that a bender doesn't mean addiction. Many people drink heavily occasionally and are not alcoholics. 

 

Regarding the woman, do we know she was a passenger and not the driver? Obviously if he was driving after drinking that much (not to mention the other items found in his system), that was a huge risk.

[THE ROCKPILE REVIEW - Moving On]

Hi Shaw,

 

Although I don't respond to your weekly columns, I always anxiously await both your write up as well as Virgil's (and Bill in NYC before Virgil), particularly after a win. Can't say I like reading much about losses. When you don't write them, they will be sorely missed! Thank you for all of your contributions to the site!

[95yo Former Vikes Coach- Rule Change Ideas]

I was thinking similarly to Mickey regarding the 1 yard rule. Do you really think that at the end of the game the rules should change just to let the team that couldn't win otherwise have a better chance to come back at the end? Or, if that's the rule for the entire game, what does that do to the length of the game? The NFL over time has made efforts to keeping the game moving, not make it longer. One rule they changed several years back (which is different at the end of each half by the way) is that they used to stop the clock whenever the ball carrier went out of bounds. They changed it to stopping the last 2 minutes of the 1st half and last 5 of the 2nd half, the rest of the game they stop it just until the ball is spotted (usually takes 5 seconds or less).

 

By the way, do you remember that in the past the clock is stopped while they spot the ball after a sack? It seemed like near the end of the game there were times it was better for a sack than a short gain. It game the team trying to make a comeback a few extra seconds to get to the LOS for the next play. I can't remember if it was just sacks or if any play losing yards had the same rule, possibly that's where Bud Grant is coming from. I do remember there were many times when I was a kid when a team that seemingly had the game won would lose a fumble and then lose the game with a chip shot FG.

[Allen still is fairly significantly better on the Road than at Home. Splits don't lie. Thoughts as to why.]

So, the OP said "splits don't lie". I have no idea what splits is but I get his point. An old saying goes, "figures don't lie but liers can figure." Or, put another way, just looking at the numbers can allow you to draw the wrong conclusion. As many have pointed out, last year was an especially bad weather year for home games. Yes, much worse than 2020 (or so it seemed but since I was all of last year's home games and sitting on a couch in 2020...). In addition, the skill of the opposing defense makes a difference, the score at the time. I've seen some stories that compared various team's aggressiveness by only looking at when the score was within ten points and excluding the last two minutes of each half since blowouts and two minute drills affect play calling. 

 

One way to at least partially (not completely true as teams have injuries, get better over the course of the season, etc.) is how has he done against the same opponent in home vs. away games. Each year, there are three teams he plays both at home and away. Not looking anything up or doing any analysis (just what I said you can't do to draw any conclusions), I kind of remember him playing much better at home against Miami than away, pretty awesome both times against the Jets, and fantastic in the two non-hurricane games against the Pattsies. So, on whole, mostly a push.

 

Before making any conclusion that "Allen is better on the road than at home", you would need to do a full analysis. Specifically, either include in your model or minimize all non-controlled variables (which is almost everything in a football game). We can easily assume that both weather and the defense are two factors that can affect QA performance. The other issue is when you say that he's "significantly better", that's implying a statistical difference, not just eyeballing two sets of averages and saying, "yup, he sucks at home." Not difficult to do, and extremely easy using software, but I'm way too lazy to type in all of the information you gave. All data has a confidence interval, meaning, "with 95% confidence JA has a QA rating between x and y when playing at home and between W and Z when playing on the road." If those two intervals don't overlap, there is a statistically significant difference between how he plays at home vs. away.

 

You're welcome for today's statistics lecture.

[PSL Feedback For New Stadium]

First of all, thank you OP for sharing. Mrags and anyone else who's unhappy about him accepting the interview, what exactly did he say that's wouldn't apply to anyone? He said:

- We expected PSLs to come with the new stadium

- Fans are concerned that we could be priced out of the market

- Fans will take a wait and see approach.

Yes, if you have unlimited funds you may know you're all in regardless of pricing he may be wrong, but I think most are concerned.

 

In my case, to keep my current 4 seats would require almost $20,000 in PSL plus almost $8K/year in ticket prices. Plus, I likely will be back in CA by then so it means travel cost. Much more likely that I'll cancel my season's and go to between 1 and 4 games per year on the secondary market. If I was confident I could sell tickets without losing money (including adding a bit extra to help pay the PSL), I'd keep my tickets, but I think that's unlikely.