DC Greg

Lot of coaches don't like that uncertainty lingering as the season approaches. It's early for us watching only two games, but the coaches have been watching these guys for weeks on the field plus hours and hours of film. Could be closer to knowing which way he wants to go than we think.

Catch his theory that the reason the Bills sold so many seasons this year was the McCoy trade? Think there were a few more factors there Grud.

I will not surprised if TT is named the starter for week 1 tomorrow.

Gruden: one of my favorite guys out there, Nickel Robey. How do ya like that? A nickel back named nickel. Yeah, would be great gruden except that's not his name.

I'd be nervous running with just those two the way TT runs if he is the starter. But you could be right.

Liking TT to start the year. Gotta carry all 3 QBs though. Too much risk injury.

Nice play Gilmore. Damn Jerry is good. Hungry even in preseason. Can't wait to watch him get after it this year. Pretty easy picks for Darby, but hope that gets his confidence up.

Ray Rice was running poorly before he slugged his wife. Not sure he's even the best option that could be had talent wise at this point. He's a name that comes to mind because he used to be good, but it's possible that coupled with all the time off he's washed up anyways. Doesn't seem worth it with the baggage. But if there are no other options and our entire roster of RBs is hurt...

I think Rex goes cassel. I think you start with the vet and see how far that can take you. If you're 2-5, maybe you consider making the change to tyrod (or could be ej, but I have a hard time seeing that). I think bottom line for Rex is this: he's coaching his first year in buffalo. He is as hungry as anyone to win, and I think he recognizes what getting back to the playoffs will mean to the city and to Pegs. He knows how good this D is, ancient think he's willing to see if cassel can game manage them to the playoffs. If cassel/the team completely bombs and starts losing quite a bit, he makes the change. Or if there's an injury, he can make that change no harm no foul (and by that i mean he avoidsthe media controversy) and get a look at tyrod or ej if that's what he ultimately wants. I dont think Rex is scared to rock the boat, but I also think he's smart enough to realize that cassel is the safe bet to start the year. If things change, he can probably make the change pretty easily and be heralded for it instead of questioned. All that being said, I think Rex cares for his guys and wants to win more than anyone. Whatever move he makes, I feel confident that he is seeing the field, the team chemistry, and the quality of play right now. Based on that, I'm excited that whoever he picks to start the season is a good choice. It's weird how I automatically have more faith in Rex than any coach since wade, and he hasn't even coached a game yet. But I do. And honestly, it's a pretty damn good feeling. Very hopeful right now. Not just that the Bills will get back to the playoffs, but that they are on the cusp of becoming a perennial AFC powerhouse. It's time to take our rightful place back as THE teaming the AFC. I am more hopeful than ever that Rex Ryan is the man to lead us there. Cheers! Go Bills.

Rodney Dangerfield made me laugh hysterically. Ej makes me want to punch myself in the face. I don't see the comparison

Right right. Do overs, of course. That's just standard. He starts for 2 more years, no more questions asked. Then we can revisit this conversation.

Yes. Indeed. He's proved it and earned it. If you can't see that he's clearly taken command of this team through two weeks of camp and one preseason game that he ran with the 3's in, well you are just a big old hater mister! EJ Manuel is clearly franchise. Death to all nonloyalists, I say.

It was him

Ugh please god no. No more trying to be the trickiest trickster and get the ball to a lee smith or some other milktoast TE. Don't out think yourselves coaches! Get the ball to real playmakers. There are quite a few of them in the WR corps.

Correct. As many as it takes forever. I recklessly bought a #3 jersey when he was drafted and I will not abandon ship. Also, I saw a vision in my dreams that he would take us to the promised land. And my visions are very strong. I'm quite clairvoyant, you see.

That's fair enough. Unfortunately, in today's NFL you really need a quarterback who can actually make plays to win games, not just manage to not singlehandedly lose them. Crazy concept, I know, but game managers rarely do much for a team. Gotta make plays in the clutch at that position, sort of the exact opposite of Ryan Fitzpatrick. At Chicago, to his defense, he did hit Mike Williams on a huge strike across the middle to help set up the winning drive in overtime. He threw it about 4 feet above his head, and caveman mike had to make an insane catch to go up and get it so it wasn't an overthrown interception, but hey, he caught it so... franchise. Ok well I'll take that bet any day if/when he craps out in Buffalo. I'd never bet against a Bills QB, but after he's gone I'd give you... 10-1 odds he never gets a team to the playoffs as a starter. Oh yeah I forgot about those bowl wins. Which ones were they again?

This is also correct. But whether it can be classified as they wanted to get someone for EJ to sit behind and learn from or more of they wanted someone who could actually play the position and give a top 5 defense and what they hoped would be a good running game a chance for a playoff run is up for debate.

This is correct. If you think Manuel played good or even decent vs. Chicago and Miami, you just don't know what you're watching. Defense was lights out both games, and the offense sputtered horribly vs. Miami until CJ took a kick return to the house to finally break it open. Chicago also had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, which we really failed to exploit. Yes we won, but that does not mean our QB had great games.

Sounds right. In almost every EJ defense argument, there is a comparison to a hall of fame quarterback. "Well you know, Farve threw some interceptions." "Well you know, Aaron Rodgers got to sit on the bench and learn." "Well you know, [insert HOF QB who has actually won in the NFL] blah blah blah." The comparisons are laughable. The only similarities are that they were drafted in the first round. And because of that, folks want to equate that they are equally talented first round type players. They are not. The Bills had to reach for a QB because they had stood in the box and watched strikes go by year after year. They swung this time, but current evidence suggests they swung and missed badly. EJ Manuel is not Brett Farve. He's not Aaron Rodgers. And only the homiest of homers would suggest something like that. Outside of the 716 you would get laughed out of town for that nonsense. Sorry. I want an amazing first round block buster superbowl caliber quarterback too. He's not it, unfortunately.

I agree with most of that. And didn't really mean to quote your post as if my reply was an exact rebuttal to the points you were making. I agree with situation and all, but at the end of the day, you either get it done or you don't. It's not like he only had one game. He's had a lot of time on the field. Now he's in his third season, and the coaches who sucked are gone. If he is in fact behind Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor, I trust Rex Ryan and Greg Roman's assessment. That should just about settle it IMO. Bad player. End of story. Would expect him to get picked up by some other team with a bad backup QB situation and eventually fizzle out in that role in another year or two as more real NFL players enter the league. But I'll wait till the end of camp and see if he's still on the roster or even in the mix to be the backup before I say he's completely crapped out. I'm like 85% of that opinion as things stand.

At the end of the day, winners find a way to win. If he doesn't break through as an NFL quarterback, that is because he did not have the talent or composition to do so. There are no excuses. When you get your shot, you better be ready. If he fails, it's because he is not an NFL caliber quarterback. I'm sure if this happens, all those who thought he "just needs more time" will surely say that was the reason he failed. I think that will be more of a product of them not wanting to be wrong about their incorrect assessment that EJ Manuel could be a good NFL football player. I'll gladly be proved wrong if that ever happens, but you won't see my trying to change the conditions of the debate in order to avoid being wrong. I think he's not a good NFL player from what I've seen of him. I know a bunch of you went out and bought #3 jerseys and all, but that can't change the fact he's bad if that's the way it is.

Selective memory. In the pats season opener you refer to, the offense went 3 and out on the 3 drives in the 4th quarter before the scoring drive you refer to. Defense gave them the ball again and again but the offense did nothing with it. Amazing the D managed to hold the pats as long as they did.

Disagree strongly. Fitz threw a real nice screen pass to Spiller and Jackson. That was about it. After that Redskins game where Fletcher popped him, he went in the tank. Orton has a much better arm, and can actually throw the ball downfield. I'd rather take my chances with Cassel. Fitz is trash. Sorry.

So he's thinking that he's not thinking so much anymore and just playing. But, he hedges, he still needs to think about being consistent while not losing the thought of just flashing. At least he got over that out thinking himself part of his first two seasons. I was worried that still might be happening.

Player for player? Of course. So far in his career, EJ is trash. I would love to see him prove everyone wrong, myself included, but I am highly doubtful. But I really hope we find someone better than Tannehill in FA next year or in the draft.