JoeF

That's a totally different argument than six holes and no hope....which is it? I can semi-subscribe to this line of thinking...particularly now when CASH TO THE CAP may be changing as we speak ...

They also protect leads by being able to run the ball -- which is a function of a good O-line and hard running backs who know the playbook and hit holes quickly....we had a RB like that last year and we re-signed him...we also will find another one before the season starts....and I think we are going to have a pretty damn good O-Line--particularly with those two nimble and nasty sides of beef on the left side....

Ellison is going to weigh 5 lbs less than Crowell by the start of the season and is bigger than a lot of WLB I'll give you that TKO looked good in the last two games--but even in those two games his drops were weak--they were still taking him off the field on most third downs...the NFL is littered with guys who were never the same after the injury--its not just the recovery -- its the burst and the push K. Thomas did a serviceable job as nickel last year. Fullback is not a huge part of Fairchild's offense You give us no points for improving the line and this makes the whole team function better and takes pressure off the Defense... I agree with some of what you say lips--but to get really depressed before the draft..when the draft last year--despite very limited contributions from a late first round pick and a third round pick...produced 5 starters...is a little too pessimistic...but then again, if you do this for a living, you get paid to stir things up... Have a nice chat with Marv...congratulate him for making some tough decisions--like investing in the O-Line ...Come back and tell us what he says to you when you confront him with your version of reality..

Not sure MDH--Here is the ESPN article from which I gleaned this information: Its a Lenny P special--pertinent paragraph is bolded... PHOENIX -- In a week in which the headline item will be the way in which the NFL plans to deal with player misconduct, the manner in which it conducts its business in terms of sharing revenues between franchises will be among the most contentious issues during the annual league meetings here. When owners approved an extension to the collective bargaining agreement last March, a key element of the plan was an enhanced revenue sharing plan that, over a six-year period, would redistribute about $900 million from big- to small-market franchises. A year later, however, there is still no agreement on how the additional dollars will be meted out, which teams get it, and under what circumstances. While it remains an issue that isn't of interest to most fans, revenue sharing clearly is the most fractious item on this week's agenda here. "From the public standpoint," acknowledged the owner of one AFC small-market team, "it's basically a silent issue. Most fans would say, 'Hey, it's just a bunch of rich guys trying to figure out who gets what part of the golden goose.' But I can tell you, it's not a quiet issue in the meeting rooms. There's still a ton of [discord] over it. There's a lot of hard feeling." Indeed, the disparity between the NFL's high- and low-revenue teams continues to grow. And the owners from the low-revenue franchises insist they are, more than ever, feeling the pinch of trying to compete against teams with bulging coffers. The low-revenue teams insist that, in terms of player costs, they pay a higher percentage than their high-revenue colleagues. The big-market teams have countered that smaller franchises haven't done enough to market themselves at the local level and, thus, produce more revenues. In an effort to bridge the gap, a league committee has been working for the past year on developing a set of "qualifiers" which essentially would be the criteria that determine which teams receive extra revenue-sharing benefits, and how much. The committee, though, has been slow to act. And even after a Sunday meeting here in which the committee appeared ready to propose a framework for the qualifiers, there was considerable uncertainty about whether they will be approved. Under one of the proposed qualifiers, ESPN.com confirmed, a team, even in a small market, would receive less money if it had been in its current stadium for less than 10 years. One AFC owner said that qualifier would reduce by more than 40 percent the amount of revenue sharing that his club would receive. Another qualifier would reduce revenue sharing for teams that did not play to 90 percent of capacity in their home stadiums. Notable, too, is that the revenue sharing plan is being proposed for only four years. That could signal that several owners who feel the league gave away too much to its players in the extension to the collective bargaining agreement will exercise an option to re-open what they consider a disadvantageous deal before it runs its full term. It will take a vote of three-quarters of the owners, or 24 of 32, to pass any revenue-sharing plan. Owners from both camps acknowledged Monday they don't know if the votes are there to ratify the plan, and that it might fall to commissioner Roger Goodell to make some sort of move that might ameliorate both factions. Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com

You make this time of year so much fun...

Absolutely shops it now--but local ownership is more of a possibility with some financial foundation. The other clause that I am hearing is about percent of capacity of the stadium...i.e. if you don't sell 90% of your tickets--you also get reduced revenue under the sharing agreement. This is an incentive to put a quality product on the field. I think I like that Roger Goddell grew up in Jamestown--another very smart move by the NFL--now if they can just take care of the retired players a bit better...

I think we wrote about our mutual admiration for Ann Curry before. She is beautiful. Natalie Morales who sits in for Anne when she is on assignment is very pretty as well... http://www.jeffersonfreestate.org/nat/imag...lie_head_99.jpg (Natalie) http://www.askmen.com/women/models_300/pic...n_curry_150.jpg (Ann)

Especially when the team paid about $45 Million of a $270 Million project......

This would not have happened without Ralph's badgering and lobbying. Say what you want about our owner...but if he didn't wage the public campaign he did (almost single handedly)--this would not have happened. The devil is in the details--but I hope a big step has been taken to insure the near term future of this franchise in WNY. Thanks Ralph...Thanks Senator Schumer...Thanks Tim Russert and everyone else who influenced..

All poppycock Nobody, Nobody Circles the Wagons like the Buffalo Bills When its too tough for them, its just right for us Where else would you rather be than right here right now and my favorite of all time.... Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Sounds like he actually takes responsibility for his children by living with his wife. Wow...doesn't even delegate this duty to his mother....I wonder if Dwayne Wright and his wife have ever taken the kids to Dave and Buster's or Applebees....

Exactly... on D-- Young and fast safeties who have both the ability to run with WR's deep and come up and support the run Speed and gap shooting ability over size at LB Aggressive bump corners (Still a little lacking here)--not necessarily a lock down.. Quick penetrating DT's with one NT run stopper (Still lacking here) On O-- 4 or 5 deep at WR with speed and precision route running the priority.. Versitale RB (need to draft a runner who can also catch) Not necessarily a FB Versitale TE (If Kevin Everett is ever going to be a serviceable pro -- this scheme is built for him) The absolute key on D this year is the continued development of Whitner and Simpson-with a marked improvement the loss of Clements is partially mitigated. The other key is a stout NT stepping up... Special Teams--keep being the strongest part of the team...Moorman is a game changing punter...he can change field position to our advantage from anywhere.. The key on O is JP's continued development --remember Fairchild had a hand in making a talented but unsung Marc Bulger an upper tier NFL starter...finding another RB who can contribute to a RB by committee..a talented offensive line to gel quickly allowing the TE's to get more into the offense as playmakers..

Way to give away the source with an obtuse name reference....

He can string together a sentence that is both articulate and cogent. Interview with Ashton is posted to bb.com Multimedia section...

More than just a rumor--we have graduated to "reliable sources confirm" Scribo/Chevy Van Miller--if either of you are on -- can you distinguish between reliable sources confirm and rumor :-) http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spmnf26,0,1066554.story

1) A rotational Nose or 3 Tackle 2) A rotational RB 3) A FB 4) A nickel corner 5) A Full-time SAM LB so 2 starters (depending how much we use the 2 back set) FB and SAM LB; and 3 key rotational players..I bet just about every team including the Colts is looking at the draft with the same amount or more needs....

No need to repeat what a potentially much better OL means for a team--but if we improve our 3rd down conversions by 10% from 30% to 40% (Slightly above average for the league from below average); raise our time of possession and raise our rushing totals (which it will not take a back as good as you think McGahee is to do) its a lot less pressure on the D. As a reminder, we purged Milloy, Moulds, Adams and Vincent (during the year I know) last year. This is a strategy. We also locked up Peters, Kelsay, Denney, Reed for the long term to add to TD's work on keeping Crowell and McGee. Do you see a trend developing? Clements and McGahee are the only two that didn't fit the plan of keeping your young stars. Clements was just too damn expensive and McGahee simply did not want to play in Buffalo... Lets see what they do with Evans and Losman before we toss Marv under the bus. As an aside, I don't think we will drop off this year--we may stay the same--but this year -- not as many rookies will start--in fact probably only 1 on D--at the SAM LB...Youboty, McGargo have to step up but neither one of them is a rookie..last year in the first game-we had 5 rookies on D (Ellison, Williams, McGargo, Simpson and Whitner) and stayed competitive with a team that went to the AFC championship game and had won 3 of the past 4 super bowls.. Bottom Line, We are not in worse shape--we have gotten rid of names--Clements will hurt--but remember in cover 2 a shut down corner is not a every play necessity--there is always safety help--Fletcher will hurt--because of leadership and knowledge of the system--Crowell has to prove he can do this..but we are not in worse shape than last year..we have an O-line; a solid QB who only has upside; one of the best Wideouts in the game; Cap money and probably nine picks..4 in the first 100....we are doing this the right way.

I am really looking forward to having a high third round pick next year from the Ravens..if Ogden retires--they will not be an upper tier team (their OL will suck)..and Willis and Drew Rosenhaus will be whining again about running behind an inept Offensive Line. Willis will probably end up with the crabs and I am not talking the crab cakes on the inner harbor....

Don't discount Haggan on the Strong Side..at the very least he is good depth. He ended up getting a lot of snaps. I also think they are counting on (Gasp, Gasp) Coy Wire to contribute on the weak side. We will probably see two draftees (one early and one late)-- but this gives us some flexibility..to draft any linebacker on the board and slot them in...

Takeo traded to Mars...for a space rock, some Tang and a dried apricot

No more than a fourth rounder for Willis.....how'd that work out for him....Reuben Droughns I personally love the National Enquirer Headlines on posts...I am expecting to see something like... MARV LEVY DECLARES....... 1) He has discovered the fountain of youth in Niagara Falls 2) He's tossing Frannie overboard for the Jill in the tryout video on bb.com 3) He's really Moses

Exactly

I think this thread has jumped the shark.... Wow...I am glad the Internet has provided a release for all of you to comment on rather than act out these deep, dark secret desires....I not only have to worry about my kids but now the puppy as well....

Only if we can get him on the cheap....

I think we are getting close to TBD law (as opposed to a Lite Beer Man Law)..the term "on the cheap" is in its proper context when used as Mad outlines. Someone should craft legislation on re-sign vs. resign