eball

The best reporting on Bills camp came from the woman who was on site. She sounded genuinely excited after watching them practice, talking about the fun of watching Tre vs. Diggs, etc. The studio guys sort of rehashed what we've heard before from national folks -- Diggs is a big weapon, Josh is a young QB, defense is the key to them being good. Only Steve Smith seemed to suggest he thought the offense should take a big step forward and make them a true contender.

The correct answer is New York. What do I win?

For somebody who claims to not take the Bills so seriously any more, Biscuit sure does get his panties in a wad in a heartbeat.

It's funny that you believe this is what most beat reporters are doing.

Great, thanks. I had managed to completely forget that prick ever existed.

Nah...I'm off the Duke train for good.

I don't think we can take for granted the security Roberts provides as a returner. How many times in the past have we had guys back there where you're holding your breath? Roberts is a true "specialist" and it appears he is serviceable at WR if needed as well. Plus, from the way he talked earlier in the summer he's certain they're going to be able to break some big returns this year. I think McD really wants to make ST a weapon. I'll be damn near shocked if Roberts doesn't make it. My preference is actually for them to keep 7 WRs and Hodgins would be #7.

McD was asked about it and said "it's ridiculous." He's not happy with the uneven playing field of some stadiums with fans and some not.

...so it will basically be their normal home crowd.

You must have forgotten to check 2017.

Gotta say I’m with BuffaloBillies on this one...his response was nothing close to what we typically see around here, and was even pretty positive.

Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram from the 2017-18 Saints say hi.

Positivity and optimism? Nah, I’ll pass.

My new “working from home” normal is that I’ve got five screens running in my study: my work laptop + two monitors, my personal iMac on TSW, and my iPad running GMFB and Training Camp Live. It’s glorious.

Dawkins/Spain/Morse/Ford/Williams? Sign me up. That’s a top 10 OL.

This is the relevant statistic. We can easily predict the number of deaths expected over a given time period within a pretty narrow range. When the only significant new factor is a novel coronavirus it's pretty easy to see that the death numbers from the virus are not being “made up” or accounting for other causes.

You know, you and @C.Biscuit97 are the ones always talking about “hurt feelings” — I don’t see anyone else harping on that and I certainly don’t talk about it. I wonder if the two of you are really the ones taking all of this way too seriously with how you “protect” yourselves from being excited or optimistic. Most of us are having a lot of fun enjoying a football team that looks really good and is headed in the right direction. Standards aren’t “low” at all — I don’t know a single Bills fan who doesn’t expect good to great things this season. I’m really sorry you can’t recognize what McD has done here without couching it around an “I need to see better results” qualifier. You’re the one stuck in the doldrums of Bills past, my friend.

If you're comparing 2017-18 results -- with a subpar roster -- to 2019 and beyond, I don't think that's an accurate and honest evaluation. By the way, they won 4 games against winning teams in 2017 and 2018 so I think your numbers are off. Again -- you and others seem to be looking for reasons to critique McD rather than recognizing his accomplishments and the direction the team is headed. We ALL know that the roster is now as complete as it has been since the late 90s and expectations are high. Do you really think we need to hear "well they better start winning more games?" How is that insightful?

Do you disagree with my premise that the goal is to beat the teams you're supposed to beat and give yourself a chance in the other games? How else should one look at it? You and others say "they need to beat good teams" and it sounds sort of silly to me, because as the team gets better that's exactly what one would expect. It's just odd that this is how you and others find a way to "criticize" McD.

Definitely sounds like a lab issue (fingers crossed)...

I don't think it's fair to cite "record against winning teams in general" as a concern because last year the Bills had three "upset" wins -- at Tennessee, Dallas, and Pittsburgh -- and they really only had one "stinker" vs. the Eagles. Every other loss was a one score game, which tells me McD did what he was supposed to do -- give his team a chance to win. I think in the NFL the goal is to beat the teams you're supposed to beat and give yourself a chance against the teams you're supposed to lose to. By that metric McD did an outstanding job last year. I'm just as disappointed as anyone he hasn't beaten BB and the Pats*** yet but I certainly don't think it's because he was intimidated or doesn't know what to do...in all three years NE*** was the better team.

I think he's trying to be funny. Failed, obviously, but he's trying.

I think Hauschka's on his way out. Coming up short on several 50 yard attempts inside the stadium in perfect weather does not bode well, particularly when Bass is booming them and every reporter has noted how the ball "explodes" off his foot.

You're an odd dude. It's as if you feel it's your obligation to tamp down any enthusiasm that doesn't fit your requirements. Of course the phrase itself doesn't "do" anything, but I've never heard a HC talk that way before McD started doing it -- I don't care how many bumper stickers and motivational posters it was on, and I don't care if some other coach did use it before. The culture of the Buffalo Bills organization was dogschitt at the end of 2016. Look at where it is now -- players talking about wanting to come to Buffalo because "they'll become the best version of themselves." You can poke fun and call it frilly words, but I think this sort of a dramatic shift that appears to be sustainable means something -- regardless of the phrases used.