Flip Johnson

I could see Ponder, McCoy, or McCarron getting a phone call.

Bortles has been shredding backups in preseason and has already been anointed the next future superstar QB. EJ Manuel has played like 9 1/2 NFL games and absolutely tore apart the Bucs backups last week - 10 for 10, 131 yards. But he is already a bust and the Bills are doomed for continued failure.

Do we think that the head coaches and GMs on winning teams only speak in even, measured tones, and that they always agree on everything? We don't know if there is real conflict, but let's say there is. Is that bad? Do we think Levy & Polian or Levy & Butler were always on the same page? They need to produce. The first game is 12 days away. All you have to do is look at Marrone to know he is under immense pressure. This shouldn't surprise anyone, but nor should we look at it as a bad sign.

I tend to think Tuel gets extended time on Thursday. If he does not impress, Whaley trades a pick for a more legitimate backup QB, Tuel gets released or PS'd, and Palmer is the mentor #3.

14-16 games 60% completion rate 3,500 yards 24 TDs 12 INTs

Let's say EJ completes 60% of his passes, goes for 3500 yards (225 per game) and has a TD/INT ratio of 24/12. And he plays no fewer than 14 games. This team WILL go 10-6 minimum with that QB play. It is the most talented team they have had in fifteen years. And frankly, last year might have been the 2nd most talented team. This team has more depth.

I'm not happy with Thad's play in preseason either. But -"Worst QB depth" - a lot of NFL teams don't have a backup QB on the roster who won two games last year. The Bills do.

I agree, although I would not be surprised to see Richardson and CK take over the right side as the year progresses. Legursky's mediocrity and Hairston's inability to play center could make the Bills likely to pick up a C/G on waivers for that 9th spot.

Spiller may move on after 2014 and Whaley has shored the position up. They want to see the year play out. That said, Spiller is not going anywhere now. The Watkins trade assumed they were giving up a draft pick in the 20s. They are not following that up with a trade of Spiller for a future pick. Nonsensical.

I'm just saying the potential to go 6-2, 7-1 at home is there. In these predictions, we generally forget that the Bills can play with anyone at home, and struggle to beat even Jacksonville away from home.

Here's why the Bills should make the playoffs: home field dominance. If you look at 2013, they did not play a bad game at home. vs. NE - loss 21-23, on last second FG. vs. CAR 24-23 win vs. BALT 23-20 win vs. CINC 24-27 (OT) Thad Lewis debut. vs. KC 13-23 Tuel debut. The Bills dominated most of that game. vs. JETS 37-14 - total domination vs. FINS 19-0 - tremendous defensive performance. The Bills went 4-3 at home last year without any experience whatsoever at the QB position. They did not play a single team with a losing record on their home schedule. They lost three very close games, starting three different QBs, all to playoff teams Marrone had them ready. This team could certainly go 7-1 at home. In fact I expect that. If the maturity of the QB has improved then they can also win 3-4 games on the road.

You have to take Buscaglia/Rodak with a grain of salt. You need the whole packet for anything Murph or Chris Browns says.

Joe asked FJ if he was "looking forward" to the joint practices. Why, in the name of all that is holy, should Fred Jackson be "looking forward" to August practices against the Steelers in Latrobe, Pennsylvania?

I see high impact without big numbers coming. If the Bills are going to be a run-first offense (which I firmly believe) then Watkins, Woods, and Williams, are not all going to have big numbers. I look at Seattle's top receivers last year: Tate - 64 catches (WR) Baldwin - 50 catches (WR) Marshawn Lynch - 36 catches Zach Miller - 33 catches Seattle only threw the ball 420 times, but I don't think the Bills will throw it more than 480-500. Watkins will get a lot of targets. Chandler and the RBs are still going to get a lot of check downs. One of the big tests for Mike Williams will be whether he can be happy and productive with only a few targets per game.

Easley fell down but that is not the point. If I was trying to lob an egg into a bucket without breaking it, I would throw it like Tuel did.

Let's be honest - if it wasn't preseason, EJ sneaks for that first down. I'm not worried.

That was my thought as well.

Mallett is a non-prospect. He has a big arm but a big windup, no mobility, terrible footwork, poor feel on short passes. I have no idea why Mayock was pumping his tires but there is no way there is a realistic trade market for this guy.

I don't think Duke is starting but from what I have been hearing (and seeing) he and Meeks can both hit. I love the idea of multiple, physical safeties that we can develop.

Tuel is a poor man's Trent Edwards. I am underwhelmed by Thad this year but terrified of any plan that involves him as the Bills #2.

Kouandjio should be assessed on his own. He's not playing the same position as Henderson and doesn't have the same skill set. It's great that Henderson shows promise. Let's let CK develop on his own timetable. No rush here - we have options.

This should be the headline, instead of trying to extrapolate some type of predictive meaning about EJ's "slow eyes."

Thad could look bad enough in camp and preseason that the Bills aren't comfortable with him at #2. Despite the "competition" talk, I don't think Tuel is anything but a #3. If Thad doesn't give the Bills confidence at #2, then I could see the Bills signing a vet in August.

I love this. And Fred is not that old in football years. Pay the man.

We will get through the Bears game. Presumably the weather is good - against that attack we'll be in nickel all day. Is there a suspension season - i.e. when will Dareus hear something?