GunnerBill
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Posts posted by GunnerBill
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I'm not. What I am doing is asking you form an opinion about the texts in relation to all else that is known. Simply saying "read the report" is not an opinion.
The investigators themselves "struggled with how to evaluate Martin's claims of harassment given his mental health issues, his possible heightened sensitivity to insults and his unusual, 'bipolar' friendship with Incognito".
I've answered that. The texts in themselves indicate to me a dysfunctional relationship, you characterise this as an "unusual bipolar friendship" which I don't think is a million miles away from the same thing. Once we look at the texts in relation to all else that is known I think they become altogether more sinister. What comes across very clearly to me from the texts, even the ones that are simply socialising small talk, is that Richie Incognito is the guy with the control. And when you see consider what else is known I don't think it's hard to recognise that control as part of a bullying relationship.
Incognito didn't know he was "bullying" Jonathan Martin.... but he knew he was the boss in that relationship, totally, and much of the behaviour outlined in the report is behaviour designed to reinforce that relationship structure and he knew he was doing that.
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I think it could be anywhere between 2 and 4 QBs in the top 8. Buddy was a master at playing the game in the run up to the draft, I'm sure Doug W has spoken to Buddy about the kinds of distraction messages he needs to be putting out there. I think one thing that has maybe been missed here is that there might be teams lower down the draft that want to get up for a tackle.
If for example there isn't a run on Quarterbacks through the first 8 picks and both Matthews and Robinson are off the board by the time the Bills pick (and with teams behind them knowing that the Titans at #11 and the Giants at #12 are both in the market for an offensive tackle) is there a chance that a tackle needy team (the Ravens? the Dolphins? the Benglas?) is willing to trade up with the Bills for Lewan? I know this is seen as a deep class on the O-Line but there are a few teams out there who need a left tackle and that usually induces a bit more panic than a Bills-esque situation where it's the right side that needs an upgrade.
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You really have to read the report. The report puts the texts into the proper context with the other evidence collected from the people involved that were interviewed as well as experts who understand the psychology of bullying.
Correct.
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I'm asking you and others to form an opinion after reading the texts. I can see you don't want to. This is a direct look into the documented social relationship these guys had. Why would you dismiss it--especially without reading it?
I've read the texts. What I'm wondering is why you are asking us to form an opinion based on the texts alone? Cherry picking pieces of evidence out of context is never a good idea whatever the issue. The texts to me suggest a dysfunctional relationship although not necessarily "bullying behaviour", once you put them in the context of the other evidence the pattern of bullying behaviour is quite clear.
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It's amusing when "nonprofessionals" claim other nonprofessionals simply can't know what they are talking about when it comes to making draft picks--yet the real pros (GMs) get fired al lthe time in the NFL........ for making crappy personnel decisions.
Why bring this up in a thread that is saying totally the opposite though? This thread is saying it's a 50/50 chance even when you put all the intel into it so essentially agreeing with your assessment. Buddy Nix might have been wrong on Wilson and you and some others on here might have been right but that doesn't say any more than you got the toss of the coin right on that player. Unless what you are saying is picking Wilson as a success makes you more qualified than anyone that didn't rate him high enough to draft him in the third?
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Well I'm slightly removed from the American media coverage obviously so I don't know how much it's been overblown... I suspect it has been that's the same as the way the media here in the UK blow stories about soccer players up to be way more than they are. As for making America more "soft and wimpy".... what a load of utter tosh. It makes a country soft and wimpy does it to show compassion, tolerance and understanding of individual driven to the edge by inappropriate treatment from a gang of idiots? If it does sign me up for some soft and wimpy every day of the week.
As for the last bit of TXBILLSFAN's response above. 100% on the money.
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Of course people reporting this care about the bullying. What do you think it's about then? What secret agenda is there? Because I don't see one.
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This case is 1% bullying. 99% bull ****.
It is fundamentally about bullying. The report is very clear. The fact that a soap opera has developed around the story is unfortunate, but there was a very clear pattern of bullying behaviour at the root of this issue, to try and claim that is no more than 1% is rather ridiculous to my mind.
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For me if Mack is on the board at 9 I'm picking him. If he isn't I'd happily trade back. I think after Clowney that Mack is the closest thing to a sure thing in this draft.
On Watkins I know he is a play maker and he does look electric... but I just can't reconcile myself with spending a top 10 pick on a guy who catches a bunch of screen passes and takes them to the house. In the NFL I don't see that part of his game being anywhere near as productive and that was at least half of his game in college. I doubt he actually gets to 9 and I suspect he will probably make me look a mug by lighting it up in the NFL. I'm not saying that he won't I just can't be sure enough that he will to spend a top 10 on him. I know I'm in the minority on that.
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They updated their board yesterday..... here is this weeks attempt...
9 OLB KHALIL MACK BUFFALO
41 TE AUSTIN SEFERIAN-JENKINS WASHINGTON
73 G CYRIL RICHARDSON BAYLOR
105 RB CARLOS HYDE OHIO STATE
137 CB KEITH MCGILL UTAH
169 QB TAJH BOYD CLEMSON
201 WR CODY LATIMER INDIANA
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I have asked this before but what specifically about EJ's game so far do people like? I think that he has been good late in games but that's about it. Please don't say "he's young" or tell me how many starts that he has. What specifically have you seen that give you hope?
I like then way he has played late in games, when we have had a chance late in games he has been in he has given us the chance to win. I also like the way he went from one of his worst performances the first time we played Jets to one of his best if not his best the second time. Thirdly I like his calmness. I know there are plenty on here who think leadership is about going around screaming in people's faces when things go wrong. I don't believe that. Leadership is about control. You are not in control when you are screaming in people's faces. Even in the games where he played poorly he remained calm, that will serve him well going forward.
Make no mistake, he has to get better. Take out the Tampa game and he generally avoided the big mistakes, but he has to show that he is willing to risk the mistake in order to scoop the big reward and then be able to execute under that pressure. His footwork has to improve, his intermediate range throws into tight spots has to improve (would be helped by better pass receivers as well) and he has to start games better. If I see positive signs in those areas next season and genuine steps forward I'll be pleased. But the Bills knew they were not drafting a finished product when they drafted EJ. Even if he had played a full 16 game season I don't believe that the Bills would have been saying "ok this is what he is he isn't going to get better...." I think they believe there will be improvement and development in year 2.
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I don't see the likeness to Gregg Williams either. But hey he seems determined to run with the idea. I suggest the rest of us just leave him to it.
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Not sure whom we should get, and didn’t mean to turn my post into something about the merits of Andy Dalton as a QB. I can’t defend his playoff performance thus far, but he HAS played well enough to lead the Bengals to three straight playoff appearances as a starter, which is not awful by any performance standard.
p.s. I see that Louis Riddick was a pro personnel director in Philly, lending even more weight to his words.
p.s.s. I’d love to see Schaub in here.
Haha I know you didn't. So I won't either. I could certainly get behind bringing Schaub in, I still think he can be a mid level game manager type of starting calibre Quarterback. Will he not ask for decent money though?
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Ok, but truthfully just saying "work it out" isn't a solution....look at the Saints and Lions last week, they both cut high priced players that while contributed to the general talent and productivity of the team, could NOT be kept at their current price tag....so, they had to let them go.
That was going to be my response too. I know the Bills have got a decent amount of cap space at the moment but they also have a lot of important players still playing on rookie contracts. They are going to have to renegotiate with these guys in the next couple of years so they have to forward manage the cap to some extent. Now I don't claim to be an expert on these things but that undoubtedly has an impact on how much they can overpay on Byrd. I'd be willing to overpay to keep him and I think the front office are too.... it's how much are you willing to overpay? Somewhere there has to be a line. I want Jarius to stay as much as the next guy by the way.
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(Schaub? Cassel? Cousins?)
Cousins did not look good in the few games he had at the end of last season. He has fewer starts in the NFL than EJ. I don't think he fits the bill in Buffalo at all to be honest.
We can win a lot of games in 2014 with our defense & some efficient Dalton-esque quarterback play.
Dalton and efficient in the same sentence? Give EJ AJ Green to throw to I think he would look "efficient". I'm sorry I'm not a fan. Not at all.
We don't need a game manager, we need a QB that is going to go out there, put the team on their back & win a game once in awhile.(I know crazy expectations of your QB position). That is what a franchise QB does. I have my doubts that EJ will ever be a franchise QB.
He did that a couple of times in his rookie year. Carolina being one and Atlanta being the other. He couldn't have thrown the pass to Stevie any better or the one to Chandler come to that (even though Chandler wasn't really in field goal range when he fumbled anyway). I think having the clutch gene is an area I'm not that concerned with EJ. It's more he seems to be a really slow starter. There was more than a couple of average or poor 1st quarters.
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I know that and I'm in favour of overpaying a little on Byrd.... the problem is I think he wants us to overpay more than a little. I'm in favour of keeping him though make no mistake about that.
Chandler's numbers will get him a better deal elsewhere than he is worth in my opinion. I don't think he will be back.
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Wilson didn't beat genuine competition. Wilson played well that pre-season but Matt Flynn stunk the joint out. That's part of the reason they were so content to roll with the rook.
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He voided his contract with the Vikes that would have paid him 3.7 mill this year. I think a team will pay him upwards of 4 mill because backup QBs are such a commodity, and I don't think the Bills will do that nor should they for that money. I am not at all against bringing in a vet, but I don't see them paying that much for one.
True but I think that's largely because they've siad Ponder is 100% coming back and they are committed to drafting a guy. I think Cassel wants an opportunity where he at least has a shot at playing. The Vikes have made things pretty clear - they still see him as a 3rd wheel despite him outplaying Ponder and Freeman last year. Whether he consider Buffalo somewhere he might get a shot I'm less sure.
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I agree with this even though I am not sure of Hughes. He is heading into a free agent year where he will be too expensive if he is as productive as last year. No, not because Ralph/Russ is cheap but because they will not pay the % of the salary cap on Mario & Hughes that it takes to keep him. If he doesn't have a year this year like last year you may have missed you chance to maximize his value. I do like Hughes and think that he can play though. It's about value.
IMO you need to have a team and a QB that emerge at the same time to win. The goal is not to be the Bengals where you have tons of talent but no QB. It is also not to be the Pats where you have an elite QB but lack talent elsewhere. Those teams don't win.
The point being if those guys are not going to be really good players when you are ready to win what good are they to you? If the Bills think that EJ is the guy and ready to take the next step than they should take their shot. The problem is that if you miss your shot its back to square one. You end up with cap problems, declining vets and a window that has closed.
Agreed. But I think the Bills want to win this year and that's why I don't see them trading Hughes unless the new DC really doesn't think he can use him.
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I think the situation on Byrd and Chandler is different. Their contracts are up and it's the question of their value in terms of what it would take to retain them. You don't build successful teams in this era of the NFL just saying "he's a quality player, pay him whatever" you just dig yourself a salary cap hole. You have to take a view on what value the guy has to your organisation and whether he is a priority player in a priority position.
The others I totally agree with you on. I'm not sure why when there is the possibility of losing good quality players through so many means in the modern NFL our fan base is keen to given away others that we have under contract.
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No way we sign Incognito and no way I'd want us to.
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I thought he had a good rookie year. He took a step back last year no doubt, how much of that was trying to adapt his game to playing with one hand I'm not sure, and then his confidence took a knock. I think some of that is on the staff I think they rushed him back when he really wasn't in a position to make plays.
I'm still confident he will turn out to be a good player.
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In terms of a veteran back up.... what would people feel about Matt Cassel? I thought he was by far the most impressive of the three guys Minnesota played at the position last season (not saying a great deal I know), he has played in cold weather in Kansas City (where he led them to the play-offs and earned a pro bowl nomination) and he knows the AFC East from his time in New England. I think he is a steady game manager and if EJ goes down or completely blows I think you could pretty safely put Cassel in and trust him to execute your offense without committing a boat load of turnovers.
I also think he will be looking not for the best paid back up gig available, but an opportunity somewhere where he has some chance to play. And I think he would look at the Bills say "ok EJ is going to get the first crack" but looking at his injury record last season and the fact that he hasn't nailed down the starters job yet and think he might get a chance.
For me he would be a good fit. Anyone else?
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Unfortunately, he underwent surgery again this week: hope 3 times is the charm, but he's damaged goods.
Ahhhh well. Thanks for the update.
A draft pick has .. a coin flip's chance of sticking in the league
in The Stadium Wall Archives
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Nobody is denying Buddy was wrong and people who rated Wilson were right. Equally nobody is saying that "non proffesionals" are not entitled to a view, in fact this thread is saying quite the opposite.