Fadingpain

I agree. We don't need to make this decision in the next 3 weeks! Let's see how the entire season plays out in full, with injury (or lack thereof) included...and go from there. I think a pure stud OL is the team's #1 priority if Tyrod can stay healthy and continues to play at or better than his current level.

Red is my favorite color and these are growing on me by the second. I still want to see what it looks like on TV with 11 guys wearing this stuff. I think the white helmets won't quite fit the theme, but they should be cool. This is an ENORMOUS game coming up on Thursday! If we win, everyone is going to love those red uniforms!

What say ye regarding this set of QB definitions? http://www.wgr550.com/NFL-quarterback-designations-ranked/22160668 What's more fun in sports to discuss than NFL quarterbacks? So many versions of this parlor game: eye test vs. statistics, wins vs. yards, personality vs. performance. If it were an actual game you could play with friends surely it would be called Cam Newton, or at least he's the picture on the box. The Bills this season have merged onto the quarterback highway -- the Quarter-bahn, if you will -- with their new man, Tyrod Taylor, which is an improvement over the pulled-over-with-the-hood-up-and-flashers-on EJ Manuel existence. But where Taylor falls, and what happens to him down the long road is difficult to predict. Here are some terms commonly used to classify quarterbacks, and who goes with: "Elite" -- There's calling a quarterback elite, and then there's, these days, inevitably, watching the ceiling crumble onto your head just for trying. "Is Joe Flacco Elite?" sits next to "Would you kill Baby Hitler?" on a scrap-heap of questions asked presidential candidates in a subversive effort to make America look like the stupidest nation in history. No, Joe Flacco is not elite. So there. Of 32 starting quarterbacks in the league right now only two are elite: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. To qualify, you must be indisputably great, not past your prime, and, preferably, a former champion. If there's any argument against a player, he's not elite. "Franchise" -- Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Russell Wilson, Tony Romo, Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, Drew Brees, Eli Manning. Their teams don't stew over whether their quarterback is good enough, or at least they shouldn't. Before this season I wouldn't have put Dalton on this list, but he's been excellent and he has the commitment from the Bengals. It's not a great fit calling Palmer a "franchise quarterback" as with his being 36 it's unlikely the Cardinals employ him for years to come, and, unlike almost everyone else on this list, he hasn't always played for one franchise. Another way to look at this group is to use a phrase for some reason I hear Rich Gannon using: "long-term solution". It's used more often as a question -- "Is he their long-term solution?" -- than a descriptor. "Second-tier" -- Joe Flacco, Ryan Tannehill, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler. The so-called second tier actually might be the third; otherwise, it's pretty crowded. These quarterbacks have had big seasons, and, with the exception of Tannehill, playoff appearances. It's wrong to say you can't win with them, since teams have won with them. Strangely, all these quarterbacks could also be called the ever-popular "gunslingers", a term meant as a compliment but also implies recklessness. "Peyton Manning" -- Peyton Manning. "Hopeful" -- Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr, Blake Bortles, Sam Bradford, Tyrod Taylor. Mostly high draft picks thrown in by desperate teams hoping for "long-term solutions". I wanted the word "Project" for this category but most of these players were picked too high to be called projects. Bradford of course is older but he's missed so much time to injury and been traded, so I think the Eagles are hoping he turns out, much the way a team does with its high-pick rookies. This is where I put Taylor, because where else can you? Does it work? Please leave comments. "Stop-gap" -- Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown. No one outside of certain party loyalists would see any of these players as "long-term solutions" or "second-tier" or anything of the sort. They are playing for their teams until their teams get someone better. "Game manager" -- Alex Smith. I think the term "game manager" should be changed to "Alex Smith". You go a season without a passing touchdown to a wide receiver -- when your team is pretty good -- something should be named for you. I want Alex Smith in retirement to open a "Game Manager" camp where quarterbacks can learn how to look downfield and flip the ball to a running back over and over. Maybe there could be a sports bar called "Game Managers" where you order a good craft beer and they bring you a less-potent "safer" beer instead. Instead of truffle fries they bring you cottage cheese, etc. "Nowhere" -- Brian Hoyer, Blaine Gabbert/Colin Kaepernick. What's fun about Taylor now is that he's been good enough for you to reasonably consider his moving up in class. Elite? I don't know. But, franchise? It's possible. "Second-tier"? Yes. Taylor's adjusted yards gained per pass attempt through Week 9 is tied with Rodgers for fourth in the league, behind only Palmer, Dalton and Brady. That's a great stat. It's also only been six games. At least with Taylor I think if order fries, I'll get fries.

Meh.

It was either your four points, or the fact that all of this and a lot more was just hashed out in a 12 page thread on the same topic. Not sure which.

Whaley: "I like the cut of your jib young man. My place or yours?"

Just listening to Mike Tomlin's post-game PC. He said Ben is at or on way to hospital, will get MRI tonight. If something can be determined from MRI, will be announced tomorrow. Broken foot? Gone for season?

And there's the Steeler victory. Now to find out Big Ben's injury status

HOLY COW

Tie game.

OH my god! Carr!

Was thinking the same thing if Ben is going to miss games. And there is a well timed INT for Pitt! It'd be great if we could complete the 1-2 punch and take down the Jets in 4 days. Instant regained momentum/confidence.

Hey, moving right on to Oak and PIT. Who do we want to win ???????????????????

Well, the comeback drive didn't last long.

Jacksonville has like 96 yards to go with no TOs! Come on JAX! We need a TD too!

You mean gibberish? Maybe you could take that remedial writing course yourself!

Donner and Blitzen!

Not stupid. Look at the score. He's trying to win, not make the score a tiny bit closer with an easy--and meaningless--FG. I applauded the gutsy call at the time and do so now. That decision will have no impact on the outcome of this game in any event.

Jerry! The man has exploded!

Of course it doesn't; we are also beating a team that is about to go 3-5. We look good against the poorer half of the NFL.

Yes. Keep him on the bench. We don't need him anymore today in order to win.

Going by the London game, there is just enough time for EJ to give this game away. Keep him on the bench!

McCoy and Karlos reminds me of Thurman and Kenneth Davis. One hell of a 1-2 punch.

Now 168! Can't keep up with the guy.

Shady! Get up man! What a move he made on that run too