JasoninMT

Let's take the Pulse of TBD...

JP ended his own debate... He'll be elsewhere, maybe bagging groceries somewhere. He's a good guy. I feel really bad for how he was handled, I do think he got a raw deal w/ the benchings etc... but, I don't think he's got a future in the league as a starting QB - and sadly, he does which gives him a huge chip on his shoulder and instead of just being as good as he can, he's trying to be a superstar. Shut up and play the game. Peyton Manning doesn't care if he's a superstar and that's why he is one.

Ultimately, and sadly, you are correct. But, I don't fault the guy for it. He's trying to eke out his living as an owner in a small market. Yeah, he's undoubtedly making millions... But, compared to most of his peers, he's not nearly as successful with an asset that due to it's scarcity is worth almost as much. It is not his fault the city of Buffalo has gone into stagnation and decline. What was once a pearl in the East has become a rusted out shell of its former self. I don't think he is as meddlesome as the bad owners you mentioned... But, he does want to continue to make money. What is his other source of Income? He gives a lot back to Buffalo charities, he isn't a complete prick. He's an old school owner of an old school team. Heck, is there any franchise owner around who has own their franchise as long as he has? I don't know the answer to that, but there are only a few (Al Davis comes to mind as another). So, what's my point? I don't fault Ralph for wanting to make a living. The trouble isn't a lack of spending, it's who they are spending it on. How many of the highest paid Bills would be considered highest paid on good teams? We have drafted some great talent, and when they become superstars we don't even try to retain them, because they want too much. But for some reason, we reward mediocre talent. Dockery, Schobel, Denney... I'm talking about you.

Losman might as well be gone now. I wouldn't be shocked if he's made inactive the last 2 weeks as Emergency QB. Actually, I'd be surprised if it were otherwise. He stunk it up, but he really didn't have much to play for. I got to see the Debacle in NY... he did a decent job of managing the game other than the picks and the fumble... (what an oxymoronic statement that is!) But, where were the downfield strikes? Did they even try one outside of the Hail Mary? I think the coaching staff had to feel awkward w/ having him in there... I don't think the set him up to fail necessarily, but they didn't play to his game (weak as it is). I was one of those few who thought he'd do well as a backup this season, as he played for a contract elsewhere with any opportunities. Sadly I was very wrong.

Sadly us old timers were spoiled by Bruce Smith who didn't care about double teams... I don't think we need an absolute freak to bookend w/ Schobel... but it wouldn't hurt! Have they ever switched sides w/ Schobel to mix it up and create confusion on O-Lines? I remember the one game where we did the "standing" d-line a lot and it worked out real well. I'd like to see them mix things up once in a while and keep o-lines guessing. And not necessarilly on 1st Down...

I think we have some good "average" talent on this team. We have a couple stud players on this team... But what we don't seem to have is a leader on this team. You can't be made a leader, it comes from experience - and collective experience. When a team loses as badly as we have over the past few years, I think it's hard for players to just flat out trust that you will find a way to win. That trust and confidence is what leads to success as much as anything. I think we need to build stability. I'm tired of the rotisserie in the coaching staff, and the QB position. Goodbye JP, you may have been jobbed, but it's time for the bills to move on and not screw up the next kid. Let Edwards sink or swim, but no benching him vis-a-vis the coaching of the past. If, after 2010 he still hasn't done anything, well, then I'd pull the plug. But, he's a 2nd year QB who needs experience and one more year at least. I fully expect Hamdan to be the backup at this point. No more wasting picks on day 1 QBs please. Marshawn Lynch is a stud. Lee Evans is a stud - who would do so much better if we had someone to draw attention away from him. The one position which has been a consistent disappointment for me has been TE. I'd like to see them go after a top tier TE to give another option to Edwards. I suppose Fine & Shouman could develop into something, but they don't seem to be at this juncture. Hardy needs work. Just like every WR prospect. It takes a year or two to develop. Reed isn't a threat. Hardy could be, the injury to him at this time just sucks. Now is when he could really get quality starts. We may not be a playoff contender, but the teams we're playing against are, and to top that off they need wins to remain in contention. As far as the Defense goes, we need DL help. I think particularly at DE. Without a great pass rush, it just puts so much pressure on everyone else. our LB corps is solid. Our DBs are pretty solid. The DL needs to put pressure on... Oh, for a Bruce Smith 20 years younger...

To (mis)quote John Madden, Mike Ditka, and others... "Trent Edwards is Trent Edwards."

Just because I have an "A" in my name doesn't make me Canadian.... That'd be the only way you'd get 65% of Bill's fans to be Canadian.... 'eh.

I was actually thinking the same thing, that this downward turn of the economy is going to impact things Sports in a big way... And that might impact the price of the Bills when Ralph dies...

That article on Cook is a gem. How bout the fact that Walsh designed the "West Coast" around a Bill's QB! I never woulda guessed that, I'd heard he designed it in Cincy and detested it's moniker as West Coast... but not the rest of that story.

This is so damn funny.... I was about to make a post with that EXACT subject line... I was hoping there was a "reply-all" to put it in all these threads. I didn't quite believe in the 4-0... and I don't really think the season is over because of one (really bad) loss... 41-7 doesn't fall on any 1 players shoulders, that is a complete failure as a team, not a single play... not even a single unit. Deep breaths, it's a bye week... They'll regroup and be good to go in 2 weeks. 5-6 more wins gets a decent shot at the playoffs, and there's 11 to play.

Since they are on their home turf... is it a Rookery? or is that only if Rookies are out?

I'm very impressed that it's only 4 years... While he becomes the highest paid Bill's player in history by annual salary (including bonus), it isn't forever. Sure, at 32 he'll be "young" when this contract expires... but not a spring chicken any longer and probably around his peak. It's a win for both sides. If Greer makes more plays like last week... he'll put himself in an unreachable position for the Bills imho this offseason. But, you never know. And, McKelvin will have a year of experience.

Those passing stats are skewed imho by the Jets game... If you have to pass, you will, and that's why their passing offense looks so good right now. E James isn't close to the player he used to be. Their rushing attack doesn't scare me. Sans Boldin, and with Warner's Picks/fumbles... it'll probably not be as easy for them... Of course we're going to be down McGee, so that'll also impact things... I think it'll be a close game - and I also think the Bills will find a way... because they've been able to for 3 straight games, that gives them confidence which is key to a comeback win. I'll say 20-17 Bills

And... that non-flying strategy really worked out well for the Cardinals... I agree this will be a good road test... The Cards are an anomaly... also, if they are missing Boldin... that helps our chances for the most part (they know he's likely out, so they could gameplan differently and make it pay off, how many times have we seen that before, a star goes down, they make adjustments, and it throws off the defense the next week...) I agree w/ the analysis here. I wish we had a later bye week, but maybe 5-0 w/ a week 6 bye week isn't so bad, two weeks to prepare for an improving and hungry San Diego, reelling from early season defeats... Damn that Hochuli! if they'd have won that game the way they shoulda, maybe they wouldn't be as focused... They too struggled for a while against the improved (but soon to diminish w/ the coaching changes and stress) Raiders.

Yahoo's Charles Robinson had some interesting things to say about Carter this week... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ao3O...o&type=lgns Called him out on his trash talk regarding Millen (first "Losers") Then again as 2nd to last "Loathed"...

To me... this is 4-0*... but, 4-0 = 4-0* on paper. Which is all that counts. It's like a good news bad news thing... Seattle - 1-1 outside of our game (The team played very well & Seattle was supposed to be better) Jax - 2-1 outside of our game (A quality W) Oak - 1-2 outside of our game (though they played good against SD in defeat...) StL - 0-3 outside of our game (a decent road Win...) So, that's 4-0 vs teams that are a combined 4-7 not counting our wins... Next week, it'll be interesting to see how they do against the Cardinals on the road. It's a long way to Arizona... I'm beginning to wonder about the gameplanning... why do we always start out slow this season? At least their adjustments are working - and Trent is really pulling things together in the 4th.

Possible, Yes.... Probably, No... If they are 14-0 you can start thinking along these lines... Don't build in unreal expectations and you won't be disappointed. A team that ekes out a W at home vs. the hapless Raiders is not contending for 16-0... We have much tougher opponents... Let's just hope this is a wake up call to the players and bring the rams into perspective rather than looking past them... I'm not sure the Bills were looking past the Raiders, but they definately came to play yesterday... And the Bills were fortunate to get a W they didn't deserve... They earned the W, but I'm not sure they deserved it for their lackluster play most of the day.

I Billieve... I Billieve... And, he's the QB of the Present... Not just the Future... The Future is now.

That reminds me of a former player who liked young girls... When we had a player who got nothing, nothing, nothing, BAM, nothing.... We said he was wearing down the defense... 166 yards is 166 yards... but, I don't think he'll put those numbers up at the Ralph...

I don't care about power polls... I remember the last 2-0 start which ended up w/ the bills topping at least one power poll... and where did they finish? 6-10 and nowhere near #1... Against the Raiders & St Louis... well, these are *should* win games... Hopefully they don't get ahead of themselves. Show me wins vs contenders and I'll start billieving more. I'm very pleasantly surprised so far, before the season I was not expecting much, but the win vs Jax was high quality, and a blowout of Seattle was very good too. Grounding this whole discussion is their cumulative 0-4 record thus far, but Seattle should have beat the 9er's...

I realize this is on the road... but, having seen what the D-Line did to a well stocked Seattle O-Line gives me no reason to think the Jags will score 30 points... They will scheme differently vs Jax, and Fred Taylor will rip off one or two big runs, because that almost always happens... but in general it will be a long day for Jax. Jax defense on the other hand is better than Seattle and gets the aid of playing at home, so it won't be a cake walk for us either. I expect to see more Lynch this week, and he won't get a quarter off like he did last week - but Jackson will still get some plays to keep things fresh. The difference then comes down to Special Teams... Who has the better special teams? Nuff said. Buffalo wins 13-9 PS: I bet Peters is activated, but won't start this week unless he's really proven something in practice... with the heat we could need a reserve Tackle and he's played both sides... I'd leave the line intact this week, and make the switch to Peters next week, get a full week+ of practice.

The beef w/ preseason injuries is mostly the fact they happen in meaningless games. It would be interesting to see an analysis of how many injuries happen in the preseason games vs regular season... And not just season ending ones...

They've been talking about this a ton on ESPN-Radio... It's sad really. I think what he needs is a mentor, someone who he can confide in. People just assume athletes are somehow impervious to criticism, but they aren't... I think for a person who is successful in their life, it has to be more difficult dealing with adversity... they don't have the experience to draw upon to face it. Good luck to Vince, I hope he finds his happiness somewhere. That is way more important than a career in the NFL.

Gellin'... like the shoe inserts? I think Peters return will help w/ the running... but, they did very well last week. It is a positive sign that the passing game has improved... perhaps we'll see a little less stacking against the run which will also help. that #11 passing is a bit high though, with the ST pass to Denny.