disco

nevermind, not worth it. Like I said on the first post, it's really not as much about EJ as running the best possible football team. There's no rule that says a rookie QB needs to start. It wasn't even that common until that recently. What could the reason possibly be to not have a QB with experience on the roster? I think in the end it could be real disservice to him not to have a vet QB around. That might be from pushing him, from getting game tips, from learning behind them on the bench.

Ok clever. Let me just make sure I understand your logic. The 49ers haven't scored points, therefore we shouldn't be worried that we haven't scored points? Can you confirm before I continue?

You know he's not in football shape from where? That's a serious question. I don't want EJ off the team at all. I just don't understand why suddenly having him be a backup for a bit is a bad thing. Who has he had to compete with for a starting QB job since getting drafted? Nobody. Literally nobody. How is that a healthy situation?

I think ...we just went 4 pre-season games with the starters not scoring a touchdown against other starters. It might be a train wreck. But point taken, he's not starting week 1. If our offense doesn't show up for 3 weeks, he could start week 4 though. It really is odd to me that they saw what happened with the lack of a quality backup QB last year (in starting both Tuel and Lewis) and didn't address it this year. Signing Dixon is not addressing the situation. I understand last year the plan was to have Kolb and he got hurt. Fine, things happen. But what's the excuse for this year? It seems totally irresponsible.

Why, because you can't believe that we're in a situation that would make Kyle Orton the best QB on our team if added? It's where we are at sadly.

This isn't a hate on EJ posting. I look at this team and think it's got the right mix to make the playoffs. The exception is simply Quarterback. I don't know if EJ will be a good QB or not, but it seems he's probably not ready to lead a team to the playoffs in 2 weeks. There's really nothing wrong with this, plenty of QBs benefit from a few years as a 2nd string. If we brought in Kyle Orton (he's my best case decent vetern QB that's available) do you think we make the playoffs? I'm talking about if we brought him in tomorrow. I feel like having Spiller in a contract year, FredEx at still a productive point in his career, Woods, Johnson, and Watkins at WR, and the strong defense...you just need an average QB to get there. I understand it's going to be EJ. Ironically I feel like it might be best for Marrone, Whaley, Brandon, and EJ if went to a backup role for the year learning while completely healthy. If he does poorly this year, some or all of those individuals are probably looking for a job. Thoughts? Would Kyle Orton, lack of prep time withstanding, still end up providing a better season record than EJ? (I'm assuming he's in football shape ready to play; I don't really know)

Not officially perhaps but ebay has quite a few: http://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%28super+bowl%2Cchampionship%2Csuperbowl%2Cchampions%29+ring+-ta+-mug+-hoody+-flacco+-glasses+-magazine+-magnets+-sticker+-fantasy+-shirt+-key+-keychain+-jacket+-bobbleheads+-photo+-plastic+-bobble+-pendant+-fr&_pgn=1&cmd=SKW

Yup I found last year's: http://www.buffalobills.com/video/videos/Exclusive-Go-Inside-Buffalos-Draft-Room/9105f12c-fdaf-42d0-8236-961d3fe90b68

Somehow this makes me think Hard Knocks is a possibility. I don't recall the team doing this type of thing in the past.

Last year there was a team without a first round pick because they'd previously traded it for a WR. Also like us, they were starting a young 2nd year QB. Oh yeah, and Seattle also won the Super Bowl. The idea that one pick makes or breaks you is silly. The Bills drafting well through the rest of this draft, as they did last year, is a hell of a lot more important than the first rounder next year.

I don't understand anyone who says this was a bad trade. What, because having a first round pick every year for the past 10 years has translated into a winning team?

Interesting fact: The last time the Bills took a WR in the top 5 was Jerry Butler, also of Clemson, in 1979. Butler now works in the Brown's FO.

sadly not at all shocking. He got kicked off his high school team twice before moving to Buffalo. http://www.yorkdispatch.com/localsports/ci_25565612/ex-red-lion-qb-kelly-kicked-off-clemson

Not knowing anything about his finances, he certainly has the assets to buy the Bills if he wanted to raise the cash to do so. It's just unknown how much he'd have to raise. More over, it's not known what level of ownership he'd be interested in and/or needed for.

I think you take any owner that keeps the Bills in Buffalo. The actual question/answer from Trump for those that haven't heard it: John Zach: Mr. Trump, a number one priority issue here in the city of Buffalo right now is keeping the Buffalo Bills from eventually moving to another city. It might not happen right away but it could happen down the line. What should any candidate who is thinking about runnign for governor do about this? And also, have you ever thought about owning an NFL franchise? Donald Trump: Well, people have actually talked to me about the Bills. And, you know, Jim Kelly is a very good friend of mine and I spoke to him two days ago. He called me and actually his family is staying at one of my apartments in New York as he’s going through a very tough time. He’s a great guy and he sounded actually really good two days ago. He called me from the hospital. I know so many people in Buffalo and they have asked me about looking at that and I certainly would look at it but I would… if it were ME I’d keep the team in Buffalo. Buffalo, you know, it’s a storied franchise. You look at Jim, I mean, he coulda won four Super Bowls. He was something. A field goal here and there and he would’ve won a couple of Super Bowls at least, right? I think it’s something that is really vital to the area. If the state loses the Buffalo team and if Buffalo loses it with all of the trouble Buffalo’s gone through… Don’t forget every election for governor, Buffalo becomes a big topic and they all say they’re gonna do everything and then as soon as the election’s over, you don’t hear from the governor again for another three-and-a-half years. It would be catastrophic, in my opinion, if Buffalo lost the Buffalo Bills. Susan Rose: Mr. Trump, how serious is your interest in possibly owning the Bills? Donald Trump: Well, I heard about it, like, last week. I mean, the group of people called me– would I be interested in investing and I’ll take a look at it. I mean, I look at a lot of things. I’ll take a look at it. It’s certainly a wonderful franchise. The people are amazing. The fans are amazing in Buffalo. And, you know, my relationship to Jim Kelly and the Kelly family and we hope he’s going to be OK. He’s going through a very, very tough period of time, I mean like about as tough as it gets so we’ll see what happens but I would certainly take a look at it. Source: http://www.trendingbuffalo.com/sports/buffalo-bills/donald-trump-jim-kellys-secret-money-man/

No reason to doubt those figures. From the USA Today article: Eric Berry - 6yrs/$50m (2010) Polamalu - 3yrs/$29.6m (2011) Weddle - 5yr/$40m (2011) We already know he wants to be paid as the top safety, so the $30 m / 3 years is the range they'd need to be in. Looking at recent Fitz, Stevie, Mario contract numbers - it's not like that's a number the Bills wouldn't be willing to offer. So let's assume it is the case. Byrd may know that very well could be the best offer he'll receive. Even if he doesn't get that elsewhere, we know he'll get pretty close to it. Maybe the guy just wants to be on a team with a higher chance of winning for the next few years and is willing to risk getting say $27m guaranteed instead of $30. Who knows? Again, assuming this is an accurate offer, I think that's probably as high as the Bills can go.

I'd say it's a decent possibility. Teams eligible, ranked in order of how outspoken they've been about the show: 1. Chicago Bears. GM Angelo has spoken out against the show before: http://www.lockerpulse.com/News/Bears-on-Hard-Knocks-No-way-says-Angelo-S401118/ 2. New York Giants - Co-owner Mara has in the past said they'll get to do the NYG once he's dead http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/12/giants-will-do-hard-knocks-over-john-maras-dead-body/ 3. Arizona Cardinals - Coach Bruce Arians has said he'd fight any effort to be forced on the show: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/08/arians-would-fight-effort-to-force-hard-knocks-onto-cardinals/ 4. Oakland Raiders - GM Reggie McKenzie on record he does not want HBO there: http://www.silverandblackpride.com/2012/4/11/2941843/oakland-raiders-gm-reggie-mckenzie-tells-hbos-hard-knocks-to-stay-away 5. Pittsburgh Steelers - Tomlin has gone on record multiple times saying he's not interested in the show: http://maximumgrilledsteelers.com/mgsblog/2011/05/why-the-steelers-will-not-be-on-hbos-hard-knocks/ 6. Jacksonville Jaguars - Have actually wanted to do the show before, but current coach Gus Bradley wants no part: http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2013/5/23/4359304/jaguars-hard-knock-2013-hbo-team-interest 7. St. Louis Rams - Fisher has expressed no interest in the show: http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/1747/morning-ram-blings-hard-knock-life The first four teams seem the least interested, with Pittsburgh a close fifth. While I understand the new rules allow them to force the cameras on a team, I assume they're still going to want the team that is most accepting. The Jags seem like a good possibility given their prior interest, but I think it's perhaps the last team on the NFL's list. The Rams don't have much on the record against the show, so that also seems like a decent option. The Bills have not been interested in the past, but I can't find much in the way of public statements against the show from Russ, Marone, or Whaley. So, in comparison to the other 8 in consideration, I'd say it's about as receptive a response to the show as you're going to get.

I don't think this is correct. Pretty much a guarantee we'd have cut him after the preseason if he was drafted by the Bills.

I actually thought when he broke the record by a yard he was cutting it close given how they do change official yardage post game. It's a little lame if they take the record back, but given the 5,000+ yard passers now it doesn't seem like a record that would stay around for very long anyways. I mean, assuming healthy he'll probably have a good chance to break it himself next year.

haha...thanks for clarifying, I wouldn't want to be sending you a Bengals jersey either.

Insane. He signs anything more than a franchise tender and I'll send you a brand new Byrd jersey.

Earlier this year when the Bills put out word that they were willing to trade Byrd, it became pretty obvious he wouldn't be back. I mean, if it wasn't obvious before that. It's unfortunate, but the nice thing is he should provide a great draft pick. I'd love a player, but player for player deals are exceedingly rare. As much as I like Byrd, if we're going to break the bank on another defensive player (which would be required to keep him) it's gotta be on someone who can help stop the run. Our defense remains worthless if teams can gain 5+ ypc on us.

Here's their standard pricing: http://www.directv.com/sports/nfl You can also get a range of rates if you call customer service.

Just posted a clip of Polian talking about the value of the Bills in Buffalo. I thought you guys would be interested in listening: http://blog.siriusxm.com/2013/12/11/bill-polian-explains-why-bills-need-to-stay-in-buffalo/

Who exactly is it that decided to give Atlanta another game in a dome instead of having to play in Buffalo? I mean, of all teams...get dome team Atlanta outdoors in Buffalo in December is a huge home field advantage. Instead they got a bonus quiet warm and cozy dome game? Given that they were among the Super Bowl favorites when the schedules were created, it just seems like the NFL was giving them a gift here. Looking at our 2014 non-div home opponents: KC, SD, GB, MIN, AFC North TBD opponent. Let me guess...it'll be a mid december game against the Chargers.