eball

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.

@NewEra we'll see. I have higher hopes for these guys than you do. I also don't think Josh needs anything more than he got last year from the OL...his weapons are that much better and he's a year older.

KC (could be a blowout) SEA (close one) BUF (by 10+) DET (can't trust CHI) MIN (toss up, but something seems "off" in GB) NE*** (not yet, Fish) PHI (too many ? with WAS) VEGAS (CAR has McCaffrey and who else?) IND (beginning of the tank for JAX) BAL (start the "Baker's a bust" talk) LAC (that D should eat up Burrow) NOLA (Saints can't afford to lose this one) SF (no SB hangover) DAL (more complete team) PIT (NYG D is dog poop) DEN (I think this is the toughest game of the week to pick; no gut feeling either way so went with home team)

He also learned that our assistant DB coach can't cover a lick.

Perhaps, but I don't recall hearing it until McD starting preaching it, probably last season at some point.

And...that's that. Fitz is back at practice.

I’ll posit that every team’s OL is something of a “house of cards.” The Bills are in better shape than most and have arguably eight O-linemen who are starting caliber right now: Dawkins, Spain, Morse, Winters, Ford, Nsekhe, Feliciano (when he comes back), and Williams. They then have a few more who appear to be on the upswing: Boehm, Boettger, Bates. That’s unbelievable depth. I’ll get slammed for being a “homer” again but I am not “worried” about Josh’s health behind this line.

Yes, but they can’t protect anyone from Sunday until Tuesday afternoon — otherwise known as the “poaching period.” The four protected players are chosen on Tuesday afternoon and that protection lasts through Sunday.

At least get us to November 3rd as quickly as possible...

I still can’t see a path for Wade to the 53 this season. I think they’ll keep him on the PS again. Love the story and hate that we can’t see him in preseason, but let’s face it, he’s obviously not doing anything in practice to suggest he could take snaps from Motor or Moss, and Taiwan Jones isn’t going anywhere.

We have heard McD say this over and over again when talking about what their goal is when players come to Buffalo. He seems to say it now almost as much as “respect the process.” But what I have noticed over the past several weeks is that in multiple interviews with players they have also brought this up. I just read an article about Quinton Jefferson and yep, he said it. The examples are numerous. What’s my point? This culture McD has developed is something else. You could almost remove those last three letters, it seems so ingrained in all of the players. It’s not lip service, they believe it. It’s fun to watch.

Don’t fall into that trap. There are good players and good depth on that OL. Our DL is a friggin’ beast.

Just keeping fingers and toes crossed. Only takes one bad apple once the season starts to spoil the whole bunch.

Nonsense. We had a 75 degree day in North Carolina last week. In August! Climate change is a hoax!

Phrase of the day

Wrong answer. This is about a couple of golfers having phenomenal rounds, not a course that is too easy.

The line is already a beast...totally one of the strengths of the team. Harry playing like he was starting to last season will make it that much better.