BarleyNY

Full season. Without a doubt. It isn't like there is a young kid with even outside potential behind him. Orton is a known commodity and unless you want to give up on EJ and hand the reins to him for 2015 there is no reason to bench EJ. Now if EJ crashes and burns then we are having a different conversation, but if he has any hope at all you stick with him.

Strong words and totally expected from that douche, Hodge. I'm not even saying he's totally wrong about Manziel. He doesn't belong on an NFL field - at least not right now. Maybe even never. But there's this little gem I can never forget: It's Hodge talking about mentoring a fresh-from-suspension-due-to-multiple-sexual-assault-allegations Ben Roethilsberger. Lots of talk about not judging, how a person can change, etc. Strikingly different tone.

Deflecting blame so the fans aim it at Jones rather than him if JFF hits.

Fan does not equal Pollyanna. Okay, some are Pollyannas and some are pessimists, but some are realists. I try to stay (as firmly as possible) in that last group so I need to see actual reasons to get excited or bummed about something. The Bills haven't given me much. Also I'd note that there are many who bounce between Pollyanna and pessimist depending upon the last game or two. That would make my stomach sick so I try to stay off that ride.

Yes, there is a chance. Not a certainty, however. The league's policy is to collect two samples. Sample A is tested for THC. If a level of 15 ppm or above is found then Sample B is tested for the existence of THC. If positive, the player fails. The issue is that Sample A came in at 16 ppm and Sample B came in at 13.5 ppm. The legal challenge will likely be that there is an issue with the testing/collection procedure since those samples are collected at the same time and should have the same content. Notably the average of the two is below the threshold of a positive test. I think that since the marijuana policy is being renegotiated Gordan might be looking to just draw this out for a bit so the league winds up in the position of fighting to suspend a player for something that is no longer a violation. I could see them giving such a case up due to bad PR.

I'd say the following: - Schwartz is a limited RT and I certainly expect the Browns to look to upgrade him next offseason. He has real issues with speed rushers, but blocks the run well. He is not a Guard, however. - Losing Gordan made a huge difference. He is currently considering suing and filing for an injunction against the league so he can play. - Austin was a Pro Bowler in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, but has been injured a lot the last two. With him healthy and if Gordan comes back that WR corps looks pretty good. Without those two on the field (and there is a very good chance of that being the case) that is a very, very bad WR corps. - Hawkins is actually a very good slot WR. Look for him to rack up some serious yards if Gordon and Austin are on the field. If not, he is in trouble. He needs to be in the slot, not on the edge filling in for one of them. - Teams will force the Browns to beat them through the air. If they can't muster some semblance of a passing game to keep teams honest so the can run the ball (which they really want to do), then they are in deep trouble.

So when the Steelers have a string of bad seasons (and they seem very mediocre the last couple) what team will you switch to? Or will you just wait and see who wins the Super Bowl that year?

Really smart to get this done now. I fear that Romeo's 2 gap system might hinder him.

My general take is: By watching the preseason you can never tell if a team is going to be really good, but sometimes you can tell that they're going to be really bad. I wouldn't quite go that far with the Bills' preseason, but I didn't see a ton of encouraging things. I think they land somewhere between really bad and mediocre.

A backup QB that could turn into a long term starter.

I'd add that Pettine passed on him. Pettine: 1) was with the Jets during Hill's rookie year 2) had his defense gashed by Hill last season 3) is HC of a team in major need of WR help 4) claimed a cut UDFA WR instead of Hill Collectively that speaks volumes.

Hill is an athlete, but not a football player. These HWS guys are tempting, but usually don't pan out.

What exactly was your point in regards to this thread? It seemed to be that Vegas lines are not good indicators of a team's expected record. My point was that you are wrong about that and that they are, in fact, much better predictors than the average fan's predictions. Apologies if I misunderstood your post. Please clarify what you meant by it if I did.

I think that in cases of very big events - like Super Bowls, big fights, World Cup matches - there is a lot of uninformed money bet. But on things like predicted season records you won't find a lot of big bets made by uninformed people. If anything there will be a lot of hopeful fans betting over against larger under bets by the pros.

I hate seeing this posted - and it seems to get posted every time someone mentioned a Vegas line. It is something everyone knows. Everyone. And it is ridiculous. Because what doesn't get mentioned is that the expectations of people who are willing to bet money on games are, in general, at least as well informed as the general public. Also professional gamblers and professionals within the gambling institutions are more informed and unbiased when making large bets and setting the lines. Contrast that with the likelihood of bias and hope that a dedicated fan who isn't ponying up any cash except for a jersey and/or seats and you can see how stupid this argument is.

I'm confused. Which part of the offense makes EJ throw inaccurate passes and shy away from downfield throws? Also let's keep in mind that it might not be an either/or situation here with regards to the EJ versus Offense thing.

I agree. We can hear teammates and coaches talk up EJ all preseason long and into the regular season, but it means nothing. What else are they going to say? What matters is how he performs. I'll get hopeful as soon as I see consistient quality play, not because his center says "Gosh! He works so hard!"

Orton is definitely an upgrade to the backup QB spot - something I've ripped on the Bills' FO for not addressing prior to this move. He's not going to be starting anytime soon for two reasons: 1) The Bills need to find out what they've got in EJ. Regardless of opinions, estimated odds of success, whatever, they've got to play him and see if he shows something for the long term. 2). Orton just got here and wouldn't be ready anyway. He isn't the future here.

Lmao. Awesome.

I agree that the NFL is a tough - and often dirty - business. And I agree that Jordan Palmer knows that deal. But I'm not sure if he actually did get paid by the Bills. Players don't get paid for preseason games so he'd have only netted his signing bonus. Did anyone see where he got paid a signing bonus - and how much it was? I saw nada on that.

No. The problem is a lack of a franchise QB. Are you hearing anyone with one of those complaining about a lack of competition at the QB spot? Didn't think so.

Sadly, I agree with that assessment.

I don't think Watkins was worth what the Bills gave up for him - and I like Watkins. I think he is going to be the kind of WR that can help any QB and particularly EJ (due to his ability to adjust to off-target throws and EJ's accuracy issues). But I don't make that trade from the Bills' side. If I'm Cleveland I'm all over it and consider it a coup. I think it was that lopsided. Then there is the critical issue of burning a future first round pick when the current QB is so unsettled. Who does that? Desperate front office people do. People who won't be around to use that pick anyway. That's who takes that kind of risk. So all of the eggs are in the EJ basket because, hey what do they have to lose? It's too late for anything long term anyway. Might as well go for it. It sucks for the fans, but the Bills aren't the only team that has gone through this sort of thing. It happens and if you look around you will see it elsewhere.

I agree. Not bringing in competition was willful negligence. As was burning the best chance to replace him in next year's draft by trading away our first round pick. That is one hell of a gamble.

He was terrible in Cleveland. He put on so much muscle that he couldn't throw passes. Weird. Miami just brought him in for a cup of coffee and decided he still sucks. So there's that.....