KingRex

While I found most of this coverage Bills irrelevant (not negatively so just more about Steeler roster stuff and injury rather Bills performance), the part which points to greater concern on our part is analysis of how their passing game success bodes as a challenge for the Bills. In particular, I actually have been impressed with a chunk of the performance by our first draft pick Darby. I am impressed that he has responded well in some tangible situations as evidenced so far by his two INts last week. However, though I feel good about this rookie performing when being thrown into the deep end of the pool there can be little doubt that with the noted goods there also has ben some bad play as when he got picked on by a tall receiver by Newton/Benjamin and the pass interference call setting up Pitts first TD. The big challenge I saw Sat was the injury to Gilmore putting Darby into he #1 CB position he cannot be expected as a rookie to man. Depending upon the injury status Thursdays game may see us need to switch Graham back to CB and find the best reserve CB we can on the wire.

Simply because it sends a message to the players that in a contest which the HC says will be decided by play on the field that I does not matte if you produce the highest QB rating possible on the field sucking up to the brass is the key to getting the start. In fact also providing the dynamism Tyler did in his appearances is outweighed by sucking up to the brass. Picking Cassel simply sends a horrible message.

You know, there's no I in MMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!

The buck stops with Rex so it is his call. He can make the call by demonstrating trust in his OC, DC, and STC such that they earn the right from Rex to be the absolute lead in making big time calls. However, it seems to me almost all HCs (and probably particularly a huge personality like Rex that trust will need to be earned by successful performance. Roman has certainly performed as OC elsewhere as in his recent stint in SF, but SF ain't here and this is his first go round with Rex here so my strong guess is that this is gonna ultimately b Rex's call.

I am watching pre-season but thinking about the regular season. The NFL clearly has an issue with the size and speed of the players simply leading to dramatic hits which though entertaining are causing a lot of concussions and injuries that put players cat risk. Add to that, for some reason which can range from inadequate stretching to just bad luck. My sense is that the key for the Bills is more likely not whether any of these three men will become a franchise QB. They won't. Instead its going to be whether the D is strong enough to lead the O to Ws by generally holding opponents under 20 ppg and also will we have enuf skill players to allow a Roman led run first D with some dynamic receivers to win a playoff berth. In my mind the skinny likely is: 1. Cassel is the least dynamic of the three but likely most stable in his play. However, given his lack of eescapability and pass record of injury its more likely a question of when rather than if he goes on IR 2. I like TT's dynamic athletic play, but fact is he is a little guy at 6-1 compared to the 6-4 alternatives. 3. EJ has the best chance of surviving. He is not there yet in terms of quality of play but does throw the best long pass of the bunch.

how about 3 starting QBs? My guess is after 2 pre-season games and a lot of practices, all three QBs have shown that they can probably lead this team to a .500 record. However, none of them have demonstrated on the field a reasonable probability or much more than a reasonable possibility they are capable of leading the team to a playoff berth. I doubt that Ryan can reasonably have confidence in any of these three QB candidates. My guess is that though he not yet have confidence in any of the 3, he does have confidence in himself. Unless we see a Q step up in game 3, I think Ryan will take his team into the regular season refusing to name a starter. Under a framework of having more confidence in himself and Roman, you may see him force Indy's D to prepare for the quite different games of all three QBs. Some loud voices from alleged fans and the usual whiners in the media will likely be unable with the uncertainty (which I think is very un Bills fan like since I as a Bills fan happily would see them lie to me if n exchange it fools opponents and gives us a victory). Ryan would likely name a starter for the game by Thursday night or Friday but by then tis would deny the opponent a valuable day or two of planning and implementing a gameplan tailored to the Bills scheme. This fan likes the uncertainty as long as 1) though none of the three QBs command the #1 QB job with on-field performance they do show some positives. 2) They all need to show some positives. Like it or not, this the case for all three QBs. None deserve to be #1 (if you disagree then make the case for your #1 - not the case for why you think EJ sux but why you think any of them are #1 material) so I'd go for secrecy until someone wins the job.

What does your opinion say about him going 9 for 14 as a total. His clearly having to run for his life behind our 2nd and 3rd string OL, and these 2nd and 3rd stringers being the folks behind the folks behind the top5 RBs and top 3 WRs. Based on the facts and your humble opinion your judging this typical you must find him typically pretty good..

If EJ reads the writing on the wall it says: 1. No one has won the job as #1 QB on the depth chart (Does anyone disagree, if so make the case for MC, TT, or MS) 2. All three seem to have clear upsides and downsides (MC- steady but not great, a winner sometimes, TT- natural and diverse talents but easily smallest of the 3 {4 since MS still has PS time} a winner sometimes, EJ- talented player classy guy but inconsistent and winner sometime. 3. Team is built to run first and a lot. 4. Team has gotten a lot of O talent which means it does not depend on outstanding QB play. 5. Ryan has a history with Jets of winning with not great QB Sanchez 6. Old school thinking says when you have two starting QBs you have no starting QB. The Ryan school says when you have three starting QBs and a variety of ways you can play well, a good HC can make this team great. I think the handwriting on the wall says you keep 3 unless one asserts himself. My guess is we keep 3 and Ryan counts on himself to coach well and use the hot hand.

I think some of the opinions expressed on the EJ situation actually do speak to the quality of the poster as a good Bills fan or not. It is MHO that either extreme position (cut EJ yesterday) or (give EJ the starting position now) speaks to the poster expressing either extreme as not being a very good (or football smart Bills fan. On the face of it, has EJ won the job with his performance so far in less than a year's worth of starts? No! I actually no of few folks outside of EJ's mom who would take this stance. However, should the Bills cut EJ now? No, such a view is clearly anti-Rex as the Bills position is that the job will be won/loss on the field and not in a near arbitrary assessment to cut him now and simply give the job to Cassel or TT. Such a move would also be anti-Bills right now as: 1. Does anyone feel that the play demonstrated by either Cassel or TT so far merits simply awarding them the job or simply eliminating all competition even though they have done little or nothing on the field yet? 2. As we see from Wynn and Powell having their season end w/o warning it would simply be dumb to cut a QB particularly when neither TT or Cassel have earned the starter job. 3. Perhaps a poster feels it is in EJ's interest to start his new life sooner rather than later, but this again is EJ's and not Bill's interest. 4. Perhaps they want to cut EJ to get more reps but again if the coaches are clear they think Cassel or TT need to get more reps, they simply have to suck it up and play who they judge is best for the Bills. 5. It is more important to a true Bills fan to keep our opponents in the dark rather than tip our hand to them by satisfying the whining of some vocal fans. I support my team enuf to require Rex to keep the public in the dark on the Bills depth cart rather than prioritize keeping us fans aware of every single decision.

In terms of ideology, what this appears to mean is that since the NLRB refuses to rule on this "novel" case that individual rights of students will not be protected by recognizing the rights of individuals to freely associate and form unions. What can happen instead is some rich individual student can sue and assert their individual right as an American not to have their rights as an individual to sell their services in a supposed to be free market. My guess is that some judge somewhere will have the cajones to uphold individual Americans rights. When this is the case every individual college would be forced to actually participate in a free market. When the NFL team owners were confronted with this choice by the NFLPA threatening to decertify itself as a bargaining agent for the players, the team owners fell over themselves working to forge a deal with the NFLPA to deliver a deal with the NFLPA to deliver a majority of the assets to the players. The collegiate players can eventually win the right to unionize if they can force the NCAA to make a choice between supporting a free market finding a different method for supporting individual rights.

Its good business sense for players to know they will be treated well when the team decides to in another direction. Not only would it be kind to Cassel to let him go when we decide EJ is the man (with TT as the other option) or kind to EJ to let him walk as soon as decide to go Cassel/TT. However, the two pieces of QB news from the Panthers game are: Cassel demonstrated great efficiency in his stint, Taylor correctly turned some heads by leading the team to two TDs EJ threw by far the best pass of the night dropping in a singular bomb for a TD while overall connecting on over 50% of his passes. However, as smart as it is to let these three players continue to try to build upon the good things they actually did on the field, it would be dumb to simply give the #1 job to any of these three when they have not earned it on the field. Cassel did not produce any points. Taylor was flat out great but must do it again before one counts on him EJ threw best pass of the night and finished + 50 but also a couple of glaring errors accompanied plus night for him. Generally good news for all but no one grabbed the job and cutting any one of them would be stupid as no one won the job.

The key Taylor # is 6 ft 1 in. One should not get totally focused on height because that is not a simple analogy for who wins (even those who hat Doug Flutie must acknowledge this). However, when one read's Cian's article comparing him favorably to Cassel, EJ. and even Kaepernick, it should be noted that it is more than mere coincidence that all three of these players are listed as 6. 4"". Far more important than the simple height advantage of a taller player trying to pass the ball, I am actually far more concerned with the corresponding size, muscularity, and ability to get-up after taking repeated hits from NFL LBs that worries about building our O around in essence a running QB. I too am impressed withTaylor showing not only great running ability and elusiveness, but he does this while keeping his eyes looking downfield and among his throws are successful passes while on the run. However, I still need to see him get smacked and get up a few times before I turn the reins over to him. He's a nice thought but may be a season of serious use with him in a change-up Wildcat before he is reasonably dedicated a #1 QB depth chart spot.

The thing I favor is to let this be decided by the quality of play on the field. I have zero need to decide to cut anyone for the next couple of weeks because my first priority is to assess the performance of various Bills player candidates, second to make rolling decisions in my own mind with my fellow coaches and alter the reps to move beyond assessment to building chemistry, and third to reveal these decisions in order, to the players, to the Bills fans and third to my opponents so they have as little time as possible to gameplan in the heads of opposing coaches or implement a gameplan on the field. I also want to wait to cut folks because events like those which ended Jariu Wynn's season can happen in the blink of an eye. If I love Cassel and I am interested in Tyrod, but both go down then I'm an EJ fan. Alternately, if I am an EJ booster but he and Tyrod go down I am suddenly a Cassel booster because overall I am a Bills fan. Do not cut anyone today or quite frankly til September. If we need to give someone some more reps we should not do this through cuts that help our opponents. Instead, step up and dole out reps as fits our interests.

I saw several things which I think would quite reasonably lead to Darby being the answer to the question of who occupies McKelvin's spot on the depth charge. 1. I was pleased Ryan had enough confidence in what Darby has shown him so far in practice he was willing to let Darby test himself in solo coverage of a tall vet like Benjamin. Quite frankly there are few (if any) rookie CBs whom I would even consider risking them playing like Darelle Revis in their first appearance. The fact that Ryan even considered doing this is quite the tribute to a second round pick. BADOL, do you really feel like a rookie CB having clear failures being given island coverage of a bigger vet is some horrible indictment of this rookie and the first or even only answer is to find someone else to pull off this island coverage? The two things which I think come from Darby being successfully beaten several times are: A. Don't use Darby for consistent (or if you are that frightened any) island coverage. Instead use a hi/low double team which calls on Darby or Graham to do press coverage and slow/disrupt him off the line and use the other DB to read how successful the initial check/hit on Benjamin is and also whether the QB is going in that direction. Rather than disrupt my depth chart by switching Graham to CB, I keep Graham at S and use him in a hi/lo double. B. Keep working on Darby. He was clearly outplayed on several throws in the game. However, I think its hard to call any player who was central to the defensive tattooing the Bills starters put on the Panthers with our #1 DL and other players in awful. Darby had definite shortcomings but also definite positives to his play the other night. The Bills DB position coaches should analyze each play and give Darby specifics on covering taller players. I might call Darby if he was so badly fooled or beaten on plays he was barely in the camera or leaning toward the WR whizzing by. However, the fact is he lost hand battles and was covering routes correctly. I don't se how the correct answer to the question in this thread is that for now it would be a panic to alter depth chart instead of the coverage scheme right now.

I think there are several things which should drive our timing as to making decisions on our QB depth chart: 1. Pick the best performing QB: Sorry those of you who have already chosen the QB who should start(and even those who have already decided who should be cut) but none of the three candidates has shown enough performance and consistency to be worhy of endorsement as the starter. I is even doubtful that without regard to performance tonight this will change tonight. Even a great performance tonight by Cassel against their # 1 D or Tyler or EJ against their subs will need to see some more before the player deserves a judgment of being consistent enuf. 2. Be prepared for pre-season injury: It would simply be stupid to cut any QB until the last minute just in case one or both of the other QB candidates get injured. 3. Develop chemistry between the designated starters: I agree this important and in fact essential. However, do this by one of the candidates winning the job with their practice and performance. Rather than making premature cuts, simply chose a winner when one deserves to win. 4. Keep our opponents guessing: The longer we wait to announce our decision the less time initial opponents Indy and NE have to think about or implement approaches to our choice. We can start practicing indoors as sonn as w know, but local fans need to realize that keeping us fans in the dark is good for our team. Do not cut anyone until September!

My hazard is that a settlement means everyone gives something. The current ruling is 4 games. A settlement seems to be meet in the middle at 2 games. I think 3 would be interpreted as a clear loss for Brady and 1 game as a clear loss for the NFL. 2 games and everyone goes home not fully satisfied but not broken. Some folks may want Berman to be an activist judge and insert himself into this business arrangement and overturn the current NFL ruling but I think many are calling for less judicial activism and demand the judge insert himself into this market agreement but my sense is that most appeals are not granted and thecourt will resist activism in this case.

The press omission that I find most egregious in this entire chain of police killings of unarmed citizens is simply noting that while most of us can accept government officials killing citizens when they REASONABLY fear for their lives, its that the media and other public officials (such as the elected prosecutor in Missouri whose job it is to prosecute those who kill fellow citizens accepted as REASONABLE the sworn testimony of a government official who testified he killed an unarmed citizen who when he looked in his eyes he saw a demon. The government official who killed a citizen then described how he kept firing multiple shots because he feared the dead guy could run right through them. My guess is he did believe these unreasonable things. However, do you think they were reasonable? government should not give the power to kill to anyone who panics and has such bizarre motivations when they fear for their life in unusual circumstances. It really strikes me as an omission by both the press and the MoAG to not even question whether these thoughts and motivations by a peace officer were reasonable.

Sure they might end unemployed, but given the lack of solid QBs in the NFL and given how many fans get their panties all up in a wad its pretty clear that there is a demand for QBs which exceeds "mere" judgments by fans about the QB on their tam. My sense is the likelihoods are Simms- likely gets a job when he is cut because he actually still qualifies to be placed on a team's practice squad. I think Rex likes him and we will not be satisfied by any of our other three. He either stays on our PS or if cut goes to someone else's PS. He has that rarity of some Pro time and his Dad is well-respected. Tyler- Exciting player but really a little guy. I do not see him being invested in as a starter unless he really lights it up in pre-season games AND gets hit hard but somehow escapes injury. I think he is most likely to be unemployed of our 4, but actually is a viable player for a team which wants to run The Wildcat. I don't think we will but we might. Cassel- If he gets injured this pre-season probably plays the largest role on his employment and an injury settlement likely end his career. If he survives this pre-season w/o an injury he likely stays as our back-up or gets signed if we cut him as a back-up QB who recently (past 5 years) ld his team to playoffs. EJ- If he is cut, it would be the 1st for a former 1st rounder. There is an explanation (less charitable folks will call these excuses) and anyone who resigns him can easily use his injury shortened first year and blame his being benched in his second year on the recently passed over as an HC after firing by Doug Moron. EJ has demonstrated that he is capable of winning NFL games, however he has not won them consistently. Just like the significant # of women who for whatever reason accept a wife beater back in the house or marry someone who cheated on his wife to be with them these folks always think they will be the one to change this idiot. Ej is easily a .500 QB with bad Bills teams and bad coaching. I have little doubt that he gets signed soon after we cut him. In fact like Brad Johnson he could be cut a couple of times before he would not be resigned.

Rex and the Jets drafted him in the 7th round a couple of years ago. This likely means several things: 1. Rex must be extremely familiar with him as virtually all teams require intensive interviews of kids they choose to invest a draft choice in. IK obviously passed this test for Rex or he would not have drafted him. 2. There is a ? as to whether he easily passed this character/quality test or instead he eeked through in a balance btw high talent and low character and theJets took a flyer on him. However, the ironic good news for his character is that I have seen no one claim he is such a physical talent that one should also accept he is mentally a challenged person. ince Rex is taking another bite of the IK apple, the likliehood is that the fight was NOT confirmation of an underlying character problem but instead is likely an aberration. 3. The thing about late rounders is that the Jets likely took him in the draft because they thought they would lose him if he went on the market as a UDFA. 4. This actually a pretty low risk and easy to motivate choice by Rex. IK Or ITKO as I like to think of him) is someone who if he gets cut by Rex he is simply done as a player. One is lucky to get even 1 chance in the NFL and quite frankly this is pretty do or get a real job for IK. If he doesn't stick it is easily justifiable for RR and also the chances he signs elsewhere and comes back to embarrass the Bills are small if we cut him. Given our lack of depth at LB and given the constant need for ST players in the NFL this pick-up is a no brainer for Rex. .

I think Berman was also clear when he said NO ONE should assume from his line of questioning that he I going to rule 11 way or the other. Right now, the default is that the NFL has ruled for a 4 game suspension and upheld that suspension on appeal. Brady has now appealed that ruling to the courts and HE IS ASKING the court to step into the free market and reverse the ruling of a business. Its ironic to see some argue that the courts have become to activist and then hypocritically argue that the courts should be activist in this case and step inon Brady's side. Berman questioning the NFL on whether there was specific evidence of Brady breaking the rules himself may easily be a prelude to the NFL tipping him off to make his finding purely on the contractual issue that the NFLPA agreed in the CBA to make the Commish the sole arbiter and base his finding on Brady not co-operating with the investigation as any reasonable partner should have done in his NFL/NFLPA tift. Berman clearly said he thinks a settlement (both sides agree to 2 games) is the better outcome. His questioning the NFL is mostly a sign to me that he needs to make the NFL scared enough to settle because Brady already fears the 4 game default.

See what happens in 2015 and then make a decision for 2016. If you are asking what happens in 2015. The only real answer is who knows. Hope for the best, but do not be surprised by the worst.

One of this teams big problems in terms of producing Ws has been being caught up in the hype of finding the next Jim Kelly that we tend to focus too much attention on finding/creating this QB that does not exist. The entire decade and a half + of disappointments and non-playoff appearance seems to me driven by our flailing around looking for some QB savior that has led to poor drafting, (the TC reach), poor and too speedy training (TC, JP. EJ), disgusting contract mismanagement (DF, RJ, Fitzy) poor trading (Hobert), poor draft management (TC, JP, EJ) that this psychotic addiction to Manzel you suggest is too horrifying to this fan to even consider. One of the things I like about Ryan is his proven ability to get Ws from NYJ despite his team having inconsistent QB work from Sanchez. His TEAM building so far seems directed toward: 1. Build a D aimed at getting Ws without depending on the QB to consistently produce 24 pg. This D has the personnel to make it hard for the opponent to produce 20 ppg against us. 2. Build an O which mostly relies on the QB to hand the ball off, scramble on 3rd and long when needed, and pose a threat of lon balls or even better YAC to high performance WRs, 3. Build a solid ST unit which helps win the field position battle. This team seems built for the greater likelihood of finding the next failed 1st round choice to play the role of Trent Dilfer than a mindless run from one failed EJ to overreliance on a failed Manzel.

This topic reminds me of one of my favorite movie scenes which is from Monty Python's Life of Brian. After a night for understanding carnal knowledge, Brian leaps from bed in the nude and throws back the drapes to let in the sun but finds he also has exposed himself to the gaze of thousands acolytes who have waited all night for some Holy nugget of wisdom from him. The yells up to him unison for the Good Word. He yells down to them something like you're all individuals to which they recite back in unison We're all individuals. Clearly they do not get it so he yells down something like you are all different with different hopes, dreams and ways of expressing your selves. They yell back in perfect unison, "We are all different with different hopes, dreams and ways of expressing ourselves. One voice then adds, "I'm not different. This is relevant because this question strikes me as silly. Why do we insist on giving blanket indictments or blanket approval of the way various individuals choose to display their love, adoration, or whatever for a team that many plunking down season ticket money, braving Dec weather. or following this website. All of these folks are individuals and how they paint their faces, wear the same costume week after week, or other things that some may call them Super fans (and some don't) is actually not the measure of whether these folks are pleasant company or not. For me, I love Superfans that are nice people and hate Superfans who are jerks. For me w/o regard to their attire, I find I generally like these fans more in the first half when their holding their booze fairly well but as they get drunk they are more annoying. I also find them w/o regard to attire (or not) to be better accompaniment when we are winning a tight game and at their worse when we lose a blowout at home and many start looking to entertain themselves.

My guess is that even after the 1st pre-season game Ryan will judge it to be too soon to cut Cassel even if he stinks in that game. he action he likely would take before cutting Cassel is to give his reps with the 1st team to Tyler and Manual. Cutting him before Manuel and Tyler prove themselves would likely be a total panic move. In fact, if Cassel is cut the major driver in this move is not that Cassel is not a #1 talent (actually he ain't) it will be because Simms has played well enough to hold down the #3 disaster QB position AND Tyler is solid enough to be #2. Locker or any other available QB is likely a non-factor at this point with this only happening if some other teams makes a surprising cut (likely because they panic at QB as you seem to want the Bills to do)..