Commish

I could easily believe the Patriots would try to flip the refs, or that the NFL was biased in favor of "established" teams, but I don't see how it gets carried out in a game. If there was intentional bias on the part of the refs per some covert NFL policy - and just one person talked, which would be inevitable - it would blow the league up. Too much risk...

I disagree. QBs are constantly milking the slide rule to make extra yardage on a scramble - if a QB is going to slide, he's got to do so before a defensive player is in the process of making a play, and he's got to complete the slide, i.e. no fake slides.

New England is last!

OK, I'm as stunned as anybody by the waivers. But no one has commented on the new players - anyone familiar with them?

Per Donald Jones, they'll keep him for special teams alone [unless he gets traded]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cardale Jones did not make the best first impression in his debut with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The Chargers lost to the Seahawks, 48-17, in their preseason opener. Jones completed just two of nine passes for 50 yards, rushed twice for 18 yards and was sacked for an 11-yard loss. Jones, who was dealt to the Chargers from Buffalo on July 26, was the quarterback for most of the second half. His unit was shut out in the second half after Philip Rivers and Kellen Clemens each threw touchdown passes. Jones will need stronger showings in the rest of the preseason to earn the job as Rivers’ backup.

Cameron Jefferson - whoever he is - is third on the depth chart now behind Glenn [injured] and Henderson [suspended 5 games]. Dawkins is practicing at RT. So what's up with Jefferson, and what's plan "D"?

I think Peterman has looked pretty good, but they'll get another QB in the draft and let them fight it out in '18, as they should

Exactly right!

Cut Yates and Woodrum now - we're playing for the future, let's see what we have in Peterman and Jones.

Drafting another QB may not be mutually exclusive, except for the fact that there's only so much room on the roster, so much coaching time, so many snaps ...

Aside from perhaps Trubisky [and he's no sure thing] these are all project QB's in the draft. We've already got one on the roster, Cardale Jones, who people say has a huge ceiling, and who looked like what you'd expect in his one quarter of play in late '16: a confident athlete with a monster arm but raw. I'm not saying he's going to be a great one, but why do many people [including the media] with no access his work on the practice field or classroom write him off already in favor of another raw QB? There's only so many snaps at practice and so much time the QB coach can give these players...why add another raw rookie?

Guess my question is whether a player this new to his rookie contract can be - or commonly are - traded.

Any reason the Bills couldn't trade Ragland who - many say - is not a great fit in McDermott's defense - for a more mobile LB, or a safety. Should be a good player in the right system, and cheap as well under the rookie contract.

Does anyone find it strange that there is so little public information on what the Bills organization really thinks of Jones. Could it be that they don't want to tip their hat vis-a-vis negotiations with Tyrod, with Romo or other free agents, how high they're likely to draft a QB?

People keep mentioning that CJ lost the starting job at OSU: the biggest reason for that was not lack of ability, it was that Urban Meyers wanted a spread quarterback, and that is not CJ. [nor has ability to run the spread proven very useful for QBs who move from college to the pros] From Cleveland.com in 2015: "Jones is a pro-style square peg in a spread-option round hole. Ohio State had some pieces to adapt its offense more to Jones' strengths last year, and it doesn't really have that now. What Ohio State has should work much better with Barrett running things."

Heard Steve Tasker the other day liken him to Roethlisberger because of his ability to make the big play, the kind that wins games in the 4th quarter - Tasker seemed very high on him. And did anyone see him jawing with Muhammed Wilkerson on his very first set as a pro player - both of them were smiling - love it! The guy's got tremendous self-confidence.

He's not dressing for games. Are we unlikely to get a sense of his development until OTA's in the spring when, presumably, he's our #2 QB?

Thanks, nice write-up

OK, got moved from tailgate to stadium wall. Any advice about ECC for this Sunday?

Parking at ECC for the first time next Sunday. Is the lot entrance off of Southwestern only? If more than one entrance, which would offer the fastest exit? Thanks.

Actually, I think Cardale's confidence is bullet-proof - def. a strong point and valuable commodity for an NFL QB.

No one has discussed this yet. Our "shut down" corners were a disaster. Do two good players simply have a bad game on the same day?

One of the best, most creative posts ever, and there's been some pretty high quality stuff on this board.

This thread has been hijacked - this is a Cardale Jones thread ... just sayin.