yungmack

I didn't say he would be cut just that I didn't think he or any other vet was a lock to make the roster. I hope he's there & I think it's maybe 99% he's there. But stranger things have happened.

Just for the fun of it, I'd like to hear from those of you who think there's no possible way Stevie won't make the roster. And what I'd like to hear is which top vets are also 100% locks to make the roster.

How about this scenario: Right now the CB position is Gilmore and WTF, which is a very bad situation for the D. So pick a team with a great CB that's weak at WR. Now let's say that team approaches Marrone about a straight up trade for Stevie. If that CB is good enough, I think the Bills make that trade in a heartbeat. One thing I've picked up about this coaching staff is that they want the players to do it their way. Did you notice the remark Marrone made a while back about Stevie's free lancing tendencies? He didn't look too happy about it. Do I think Stevie will be starting in September? Absolutely. I would be surprised if he wasn't on the roster. But I wouldn't be shocked if he wasn't. It's a new day in Billistan.

Why thank you for your insightful, well-reasoned and affably stated "opinion." I expect nothing less from you as your always intelligent posts are among the very first ones I seek out everyday. You are the pride of the Wall.

With a new regime from top to bottom, I'm not sure any of the vets can relax & think they're a lock. I'm 99% sure Stevie will be starting for the Bills. But there's that 1% uncertainty. That's all I'm saying.

Did you get some bad milk on your porridge this morning?

You 100% sure Stevie's a lock?

I thought it was much improved over last year which isn't saying much. Depth concerns me. Surprisingly, I thought the D line was the most worrisome unit. But it's early; I'll wait a couple more games before venturing a strong opinion.

Excellent again. And Belichicky is now following all your reports.

Thanks for the report, it was a good one. And Astro, get better fast.

No. But I wouldn't be surprised to see a big name or two either cut or traded. I think Marrone & the front office view the entire roster as a level field. Just because you have a big name or big contract or a high draft number doesn't count this year.

That loss of population is common to all the old "rust belt" cities, particularly along the Great Lakes. A common characteristic is that they peaked in population with the 1950 census. However, the loss of population in the cities was offset by the explosion of the suburbs. The decline in metropolitan population began generally in the 70s with the decline in manufacturing (exiting to the south and to offshore sources) & the decline in unions combined with a vigorous political agenda by so called "conservatives" to gut programs & policies that largely protected the middle class in favor of those that largely benefit the fairly small "big money" investor class.

My take on Hackett's comment: EJ will be the starter so we need to shorten the game by burning the clock & keeping passes to a minimum. We're going to be a running team at first, with enough passes, including long ones, to keep defenses honest & keep the pressure off EJ.

It's filmed in Vancouver...but I get your point

Is the refurbished Lafayette open for business?

Why would he make negative statements about Marrone's ability if he believes the guy is the right man for the job? Your argument seems to come down to this: Brandon's job is to "sell tickets" (BTW, the job of any executive in any business), so anything he says is suspect. That's a defensible position. But then things go a couple of klicks further down the highway to where Brandon's remarks aren't just suspect, the guy is a lowdown liar if he says anything positive. Maybe I'm misreading the discussion, but that's my impression after reading all the criticisms.

With the O-line seemingly a bit unsettled, a bunch of rookie receivers sure to start, & the QBs being a fragile new-to-the Bills retread & 2 rookies, I would not be surprised if our RBs see a whole lot of blocking work plus loads of screens.

Excellent!

So your theory is that Brandon knows that Marrone will stink up the joint and is just shuckin' and jivin' to sell tickets? That he has no faith, no hope in Marrone whatsoever and is just tossing the bull to the ignorant fan base? I don't know, but I think Brandon probably believes Marrone is, in fact, going to be a winning coach and return the Bills to the plus side of the ledger. If he doesn't, if he thinks the guy is no good, then he's either terribly cynical or insane. Your opinion only makes sense if he doesn't believe in Marrone.

Buffalo people have one of the worst inferiority complexes I've ever run across. The fact of the matter is there are a certain number of people who don't want to come to Buffalo because its (too cold, too square, too dull, you name it) just as there are a certain number of people who don't want to go to NYC, Miami, Denver or anywhere else you can name for any variety of reasons. On the plus side, the overwhelming number of people who move to Buffalo seem to like it a whole lot and rave about it, and that includes a long list of Bills players who have moved from, for example, Los Angeles and never left, like Jack Kemp, and continuing on right to the present with Moulds, Thurman, Kelly and even Reuben Brown still living in the area. As far as free agents, just get the franchise winning again and the whole problem of not wanting to come to Buffalo will recede in the mists.

Thanks, Bangarang. Good info.

Heck, there are rabid, committed Bills fans on this site who still get player names wrong.

Way too funny in the morning: there's coffee all over my screen.

Has anyone in the media asked Coach Marrone about this?

Man, there is a long line building up around here to kiss JW's keester. I take the side of those who are frustrated with the low quality of sports reporting in WNY. But how does it differ from the crud that the NFL Network or ESPN put out? Or the sorry condition of broadcast news in this country? It is all shallow, repetitive & largely useless. At least there's Joe B & Gaughan & JW who do a good job most all the time.