yungmack

Thanks, that really cheered me up.

Boy, do the gods look out for the Pats.

Tim Graham says he hears Kolb's injury might be career-ending. Seems a little classless to be cheering something like that.

I've checked through and haven't seen a thread on this topic. If there is one, I'm missing it. It is being reported that CJ Spiller's step-grandfather shot and killed several people on Saturday, then went home and committed suicide. This is going to sound very crass, but from the point of view of the Bills, this has to be a serious blow. No way CJ justs blows it off and goes on to have a great season. We saw how the murder of his brother knocked Dareus off the rails last year. This incident is on a whole other level.

Let's not forget "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid." Marrone did say they have plans for Brad Smith and...FJ!!!

I've only watched the 1st half so far but though they have done some blitzing, the defensive sets seem basic or "traditional," not like they looked in the previous weeks or even in practice. It's not blitzes that make Pettine's D dangerous, it's putting uncertainty into the O bymoving players around befor the snap. Maybe it's just me, but I haven't seen much of that so far today. Now I'll go watch the 2nd half.

Love it. And agree the play was beautiful. Kolb's very good at faking the handoff.

For the second game in a row, Tuel was inept running the hurry up. He & the team looked confused & unsure. He took too long getting the plays off & seemed jumpy running things. Reminded me of the horrible milling around the Bills did when they tried this with Edwards. I think they'll have to run a traditional huddle up offense if Tuel starts

Seriously?

For whatever reason, the Bills went with a very vanilla defense. I have no idea why. They aren't going to trick opponents into thinking Pettine has changed his approach. Maybe he was hoping to knock some swagger or complacency off of the players. It was odd though.

This is a really interesting post. Interesting to see what happens in today's game. If this stays pretty much the pattern, it doesn't bode well for Kaufman as these lower down guys will have to excel on ST to make the roster. I'll keep an eye on Rogers today for sure. Thanks for posting.

GoBills, are all those quotes at the end from John Wooden?

You could have a secondary filled with All Pro talent, but if your line stinks you are going to get burned. And vice versa. Football is unique among team sports in that it truly requires excellent team play in order for an individual to shine. That's the great paradox of this game. In baseball, basketball, even hockey and soccer, a talented player on a lousy team can still stand out & have a great career. But no receiver, for example, can put up great numbers w/o having a good QB. That's why switching teams can often be a tricky thing for FAs & why players who take a long view will sometimes take less money to stay in a situation where they have been thriving. My point here is that a good team tries to draft & sign the best talent available at every position knowing that even the lowly long snapper can have a disastrous impact on your season.

Homey, here's what you wrote: "Byrd has openly stated he wants to be traded..." But nowhere has anyone been able to find any such statement by Byrd. what we have are a couple of writers who have NOT identified their sources and are claiming that Byrd, though he hasn't said a freakin' thing about a trade, probably wouldn't mind one. So your statement is ipso facto false. Which is why you're being hammered around here. And why all your verbal shuckin' and jivin' ain't convincing anyone. It's game-set-match, brought about by your own statement. Time to head for the showers, clean up, get a good night's sleep and come back prepared tomorrow.

The NFL as an institution has been committed to the NFCE since forever. Eagles, Giants, Skins, Boys get abnormal amounts of promotion & coverage no matter how poor they are in any given year. The NFL still hasn't really accepted the merger with the AFL. They named the SB trophy after a man who openly despised the AFL until his death, its promotion of "classic" games from the 60s is virtually free of AFL games, & it has studiously overlooked players who played most or all of their career in the AFL when it comes to the HOF or to just giving them respectful mentions when discussing players from the 60s. Heck, the NFL never accepted the 1950 merger with the AAFC, moving 2 of those 3 teams (Cleveland, Baltimore) to the AFC after that merger & would have moved the 3rd one (49ers) if Oakland wasn't already in the Bay area. Instead, Philly manuvered the Steelers out to be the "real" NFL team in Pennsylvania. Remember the over the top joy of the NFL establishment when the NFCE Giants beat the Bills in the SB? From that moment on, Parcells was lionized & still is. The ignominy for one of the great AFL franchise, the Bills, was that they lost all 4 SBs to NFCE teams. That only solidified the smug belef that the NFCE is the real elite core of the league. The Jets misfortune is that they are an original AFL franchise playing in the same market as the old NFL's supposed flagship franchise. And the Jets were the first AFL team to beat the NFL in the SB, & did it in a legendary fashion that's still talked about, which must really rankle the "old boys." The Jets will always be mocked by the NFL toadies while the Giants will always be treated with respect. You see, the Jets did the unforgiveable: they humiliated "the real NFL."

This ia such a cool, cool idea. Wish I could be there. Somebody please get some video on this. JW, you have excellent taste in saloons.

Life is a degenerative condition.

I love it...Geeks Gone Wild. The NFL will do whatever makes it more and more money, and that will not endanger "the shield."

I see where Google is taking over the Starbucks wifi service. And they're expanding their ISP. And now they're experimenting with using "weather balloons" for nodes. A few years ago, they were laughed at over the digital library project. Then there was Google Maps with those cars driving around videoing street after street. Then the "car that drives itself." And Google Glass. On and on. The common thread is that these all seemed kinda crazy at the time, as well as that most of them seemed way outside its purview at the time they got into it. My takeaway: never ever write these guys off. And if they do the NFL, look for some really interesting changes in delivery.

Best post of the day!

Well, that's it exactly, isn't it? Offer him a very good contract so you don't insult him, but keep it below what you know he will accept knowing full well you can franchise him & get a "free" year out of him ($8 million isn't chump change but it's a lot less than $45). If he shines in Pettine's D, as I believe he will, then you give him the big contract and with full confidence. The Bills are no worse off by delaying this for. another year.

Nope, that's it right there.

A few weeks back, someone around here who's a lot smarter than I am, suggested that the Bills strategy might be to "audition" Byrd this year in Pettine's D before committing to a major contract. If he falters, they are only on the hook for this year; if he excels, then the team will feel comfortable giving him the big contract he wanted this year.

Your reports have been a highlight. I've really enjoyed th BAM! out of them. I hope you keep your observations coming all season.

What is it you're talking about?