The Dean

I am agreement somewhat with your "bottom line" evaluation. They stunk, and couldn't get it done, irrespective of the reasons, which you note do not matter to you. But the devil is in the details, so the reasons for failure (or success) very much matter to me, especially in preseason. Preseason is the time for evaluation without consequence--well at least with the consequence of wins and losses. An incomplete pass (for example) can be incomplete for a number of different reasons. From a coach's perspective, if you note the same reason over and over, you might be able to correct the problem. Ignoring the reasons is ignoring the situations entirely, IMO. Some fans like to evaluate more like a coach (looking to see if the issues can be corrected), Others (like you, apparently) only care about results and they're all bums if the don't get it done,

The quick eyeball test looked to be somewhere around $10, maybe. Only two teams are close to the Bills number. Dallas is actually higher (before Branch) and Carolina. Suggests poor money management, but as was already noted, most of this is in 2-3 players. But as I posted in another thread, at least the management doesn't hang onto player simply because they are owned money. That would be disastrous,. The Bills are in the middle of the pack in salary cap available, with about $9. So all in all, I don't see this as a major issue for us fans.

That's one way to look at it. There are few teams with a number as high as the Bills. Dallas is a bit higher (before Branch) and a couple are close. But another way to look at it is, at least the Bills aren't hanging on to players simply because they have invested $$ on them. They are willing to make changes despite the $$ spent. And, they don't look too bad in cap space: middle of the league with over $9 million in available cap space.

Here's a reasonable explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_alcohol_content

Not sure I understand, but if Chef pinched me out, I hope he wiped---and flushed!

I don't disagree, But if he is really on the bubble, and in danger of being cut to keep Legursky on the roster (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little) then give the guy a shot at G.

Well, just in case it hasn't already been posted, body weight does indeed play a part in this. A 100 pound woman will register a higher alcohol % than a 300 pound man, when consuming the same amount of alcohol. 5 beers (at 5% alcohol) in one hour probably would register about a .06 on a 300 lb man, according to the converters online. On a 100 lb person you would be completely trashed, .21. http://www.onlinecon...ion.com/bac.htm It's just one of the reasons I like to keep a on few extra pounds.

Outstanding! Both counties make some wonderful wine. I prefer going to Sonoma wineries (or at least I did 10+ years ago) and many of the Napa wineries have become too commercial and expensive. Wineries I went to in the 90's, and had very good affordable wine, were "discovered". By 2005 they had a more "upscale" visitor experience and their wine (same wine) had moved out of my price range.

I hate to keep beating the same drum, but before his bizarre medial condition, I thought Hairston played pretty well. While i admit to not paying all that much attention when he played a number of 2nd-3rd team snaps a couple weeks ago, I do know he didn't draw my attention. Typically a good sign. He's versatile (or so it is said) he has played both G and T. I'm just surprised he looks to be on the bubble and hasn't' had a chance to crack the starting lineup now that he is (I'm guessing here) healthy.

The problems here are: First there just aren't decent veterans around at this point. Second bringing in a QB this late hasn't worked for the Bills in the past. (I'm not suggesting that it can't work, but I don't think this coaching staff is crazy about the idea) Orton is one idea, but does he even want to play football---and potentially as a backup? I thought I read he was leaning toward retiring. I think the brain trust thought, based on his performance last year, Thad was a serviceable backup with Tuel just behind him, learning the position and the system. An improved OL and with more RB depth it wasn't a terrible conclusion. I agree, based on what we have seen so far, that looks like it might have been a mistake. I think having Dixon play with the 2's suggests they may be coming to the same conclusion. I have little doubt Whaley is keeping his eyes open. But he isn't going to bring in someone just to bring him in, if he suspects they have nothing to offer. You can do that in some situations, where the starters are settled (ie NE and their ever rotating tight end signing). But I'm not sure they want to do that, and take the needed reps away from these young QBs, for a guy they don't really believe in. When the cuts are made, I wouldn't be surprised to see them pull the trigger on a surprise veteran cut.

i saw things pretty much the same way, The OL was mostly a disaster, with the penalties in particular. But I'm hoping that is due to the shuffling of players to find the right group. Still Pears in the starting lineup makes me nervous. EJ was better than what he is getting credit for here, I think that goes without saying,. But until we see some results, that's the way it's going to be,.

i concur. You aren't worth it.

I was thinking the same thing. And watching the Carolina/Chiefs game last Sunday night, Newton and Smith each threw more bad passes in the 1st half (and maybe the 1st qtr) than EJ did the entire game yesterday. That's not to say I think EJ is as good of a QB as Smith or Newton. But it does demonstrate that even decent QBs throw bad passes. I hope EJ develops much the way Smith developed. Had he been playing here, many on the board would have had him hung by now.

Amen. EJ was much improved yesterday, even if the results were less than ideal. And, of course the results in the end are all that matter. But the pick wasn't on him. He had a few poor throws. But when given some time I thought he threw the ball pretty well. I'm not sold on EJ, but I'm not convinced he sucks and won't get better, either. And, the fact is, we have no real choice in the matter. Nobody better is available (despite what some of you think). He's big, strong, smart and fortunately doesn't hang his head when he makes a mistake. Don't think for a minute when he puts it behind him that he isn't trying to learn from it. Of course with the play of the OL in the TB game, I'm not sure he will survive long enough to get better.

Have you seen the way EJ brushes his teeth? I don't think he pays enough attention to the details. He uses too much paste---you really don't need that much. And too much circular motion. But the worst part is, he uses a power brush. C'mon man! How can you respect a QB who doesn't use an old fashioned Oral B? Do you think OL respects this power brush using pansy?

With the way the OL played (lots of penalties, inopportune penalties) there are very few QBs in the NFL who could QB this team to the playoffs. EJ threw the ball reasonably well (he still has a lot of work to do) for the most part, when he had time. I'm not suggesting he can be the guy or will be the guy. But with horrible OL play like that, it's really hard to know.

Lock geek.

I did. Several times. I think the TV issue was a Comcast error. I'm guessing Orlando is a secondary market for the Bucs and the game was carried on a local channel. But I still can't figure out why it was blacked out on the app, but apparently wasn't on NFL.com, Funny, because I always have a laptop in the car, but took it out on Friday night to update it. Thought about it when I was about 10 minutes from the house but thought "No need. I have double coverage." Strange stuff.

Get this. Since I don't subscribe to the NFL network at the moment, I headed to my favorite local bar. It's not a sports bar, but they get the NFL Network. My best friend locally bartends and I meet up with a few interesting people on Saturday afternoon for our "weekly meeting". These aren't Bill fans, but nice people nonetheless. I brought my tablet, just in case their chattering distracted me, and even brought headphones with an extra long cord to plug into the TV in case somebody was playing the jukebox. I figured I had my bases covered. The Comcast guide had the Bills/Tampa game scheduled for 4:30 pm. So, 4:30 rolls around, and they start showing a replay of the Steeler/Eagles game. WTF? This has to be some sort of mistake. Thankfully I brought my tablet! I load the app and, there it is, the Bills/Tampa game is blacked out on the tablet? Are you freaking kidding me? This can't be home blackout issue (the game was in Buffalo, so even if Jacksonville were a secondary market it wouldn't matter). No local station carried the game (and even if they did, it is typically carried by both the local station and NFL Network---correct me if I'm wrong here, that's the way it works for MNF on ESPN). Why in the world did Comcast air this feed (and for what market was that feed intended?) There was no option seemingly, over the air, on cable, or online, to watch the game. So, I just put the game out of my mind, watched horse racing from Saratoga and avoided the scored until I got home around 7PM. Just to check, I went to the NFL preseason site on my PC, and the game did not seemed to be blacked out on the PC. It would have been late in the 4th quarter and it loaded and started playing. I quickly surfed away to avoid the score. So unless the game was over by that time, the NFL Preseason on a PC was available. This makes no sense whatsoever. I watched the game on replay later in the evening. (Maybe it was a sign from the heavens to skip this one.) Anyway, I'm the guy who typically answers TV-related questions, but I'm at a loss for an explanation here. Unless it was simply a monumental screw-up, why was the game blacked out on the NFL Network? Anyone? Mods double posted. Tried to delete the second thread, but could not. Locked it. Please delete when you can. Thanks

Just looked at the site and now I'm REALLY craving some crepes. Damn you!

I know and it stinks! I'm going to have to figure something out.

PCP's a hell of a drug.

Agreed. But I don't think the Bills could sell RWS as they do not own it. First of all, they can operate as they like as the team is not yet sold, It is for sale, but can be pulled from the market at any time. Once it is sold, I believe they can still make transactions considered in the normal course of business. Trades and such would qualify, i believe, as business as usual, unless some case could be made for them acting in bad faith. If John Y Brown had ravaged the Buffalo Braves while the sale was pending, and without the approval of the buyer, I could see where that would be questioned. It would be different if they were to acquire, or sell, property. For instance if the Bills owned the practice facility (do they?) they couldn't sell it or conduct any major cosmetic repairs. But I imagine they could replace a broken window, for example. The good thing here is, the team is likely to be sold to a "friendly" party and I imagine major decisions would be run by him/her and be easily conducted. Just my opinion, of course.

Exactly. The protest itself is an afterthought as long as they get the announcement publicized. Now I can see protesting the Goo Goo Dolls, but only because they play crappy music.

The music isn't too bad. The video, on the other hand, is horrendous.