Rochesterfan

This is also incorrect - Buffalo is the snowiest NFL city typically by a lotupwards of 20 inches more than other NFL cities - especially in Orchard Park compared to downtown.. It is also the windiest NFL city as you stated. Buffalo also sees even more snow starting in January than Nov and December - meaning as the season extends 17th and eventually 18th regular season game and additional playoff rounds - the chances of getting hit by a blizzard or super windy game goes up.

That is exactly what I am talking about - it is called the best blue collar city because of the hourly union healthcare and education jobs. They are not traditional blue collar jobs. It is the same reason Rochester is #3 on the list - with an extremely limited traditional blue collar workforce. Rochester has traditionally been considered much more white collar than Buffalo, but it is #3 because it is being driven by the same healthcare and education jobs as Buffalo. Why for any reason would you specifically talk only about men and just the city of Buffalo when talking about a stadium in OP - that makes literally no sense. Asking what guys named Bob that live on the south side of Hamburg and deciding what stadium design is best makes just as much sense. We we’re talking about stadiums and you said we are a blue collar city and therefore should be an open air stadium in OP, but we find out you are basing that on men only that live in the city? 🤦‍♂️ I am pretty sure that the people going to the game include people from the suburbs and even women and maybe a covered stadium is even more inviting for that group and brings in more people. We already know that late season and bad weather games tend to have difficulty selling out even when we were going to Super Bowls. We also know that when we were bad those late season and bad weather games end up with 20-30,000 fans - many complaining about Donahoe at the time. The final thing we know from the players is several of them prefer indoor venues and have talked about liking the consistency- including our franchise QB. I understand the Pegula’s making the choice because it saves money and the ask will be close to 1 billion in public funds and that money should cover the majority of the stadium, but it doesn’t make it the best choice - it made it the most convenient choice.

I think your pulse is way, way off and it completely impacts your opinions. The major employers in Buffalo right now are 4 Hospitals systems, 2 grocery chains, multiple banks, and insurance companies. There are also gaming companies, schools, and food service driving employment. The occupational employment and wage information collected and printed by the US bureau of labor points out the fact that education and healthcare alone outstrip Construction, industrial production, and installation and repair for the Buffalo region. Due to the number of union employees (including in healthcare) - Buffalo is considered an excellent “blue collar town” with high wages compared to housing costs, but the caveat from reading the studies - is the majority of jobs are not “Blue Collar Jobs” - they are hourly paid union jobs in healthcare and schools. There are also over twice the number of people working in banking than construction - so I guess my overall take would be that the people you know and interact with fit a more traditional blue collar job and perspective. There are an even larger group living throughout the surrounding area that have a different and just as valid set of feelings. The issue with you wanting to poll all of Buffalo and the surrounding area will lead you to the same issue that San Diego had. There are huge swaths of people that don’t care about sports and would rather see the money spent elsewhere and that ends up being exactly how San Diego lost the Chargers. They had support of fans, but the wider community rejected the call for money to build a stadium and therefore the team left.

I believe you are correct it is about a 50/50 mix of people wanting fixed roof and people wanting open air. It bounces a bit back and forth either way. As to the idea that we have sold out plenty of games even during the drought - that is just crazy talk. The running joke for most of the early 2000’s - was the cost of Bills tickets on the resale market starting in November. Most years you could get resale tickets on Stub Hub for under $5 a ticket. The Comeback game wasn’t the only late season game during the Super Bowl run that didn’t sell out - it was quite common with Ralph having to by up 2-3000 tickets and give them away. The other misconceptions is that the weather effects other teams more - that is a false narrative- the weather makes the 2 teams more closely matched because each team loses the ability to play the game to the best of their ability. The wind in the Ravens game basically kept the Ravens in the game as teams only moved the ball going in 1 direction. Bad weather/windy games help strong running teams and hurt passing teams and if we want to have an elite offense built on Josh Allen’s arm - we should be doing everything to maximize that. Yes he can throw the better and farther than most, but if the wind is causing issues with every throw going in one direction a team built like the Pats is going to have a huge advantage coming into OP late in the year. The same thing goes for a team like Cleveland or Tennessee in the playoffs - if we have home field and the weather is crap - we hamper our own ability - while enhancing others.

I agree, but the fans wanted open air and OP because cost and Tailgating were cited in multiple studies as the top things fans wanted. For the city of Buffalo, for the long term enjoyment, and the development of the area - it is by far the most short sighted decision as basically you are replacing one with another and there is little benefit.

That why I said they have been divesting themselves of these things. I think years ago they were hoping to buy up and move things downtown, but over the last 3 years that has changed to the point they have been moving on from restaurants/bars around the arena downtown. I think they saw the OP site as the future stadium site and then coupled with the pandemic- have moved on from that area.

It could have been avoided - if and only if the staff believes there is a depth issue. I think they always like more veterans, but I don’t think they believe the issue is bad at all. Especially if they play more aggressively- I think they will be fine with the guys they have. I don’t think they believe even guys like Nelson were real improvements.

I think he plays because it is at home and gives fans a chance to have a true game environment for him. I think with the extra week - you give him time and let him have the moment before the season starts.

Robey-Coleman is on Detroit - we saw him last weekend. Sherman to me is exactly like what the Bills have done the last 2 years - he is a mediocre CB that was a name several years ago. He would be ok if injuries hit, but I don’t think he is better than our current and I would rather see the young kids play. Boston is a safety and was terrible last year - definitely not what they need. Conley is at least young, but he has baggage big time and was injured last year. Based upon his play - I am not sure he is better than Jackson or Wildgoose at this point. For me the only way this works is if a veteran on a bad team wants out - like Bell on the Jets last year - and you can get him on a super cheap deal or you trade some depth - DE, DT, OL and get a younger veteran CB in return, but even in those cases you are picking up someone else’s unwanted and hoping it is better than guys this staff likes.

I voted no, but if there was something available a cut or a trade - I would be fine. I just don’t think with what is available you are getting any upgrades. They have tried veteran CBs each of the last couple of years - guys that fit in and they do not work out. I don’t want another higher priced former mediocre CB just because he was a name 3-4 years ago. I would rather play through with these young kids and see where they can take me.

Look to be fair - I totally agree that Watson is a scumbag that should be suspended as soon as possible. If they kicked him right out of the league - that is still to good for the guy, but I really see how the NFL is in a tight situation here and I think they are really hoping something breaks to make the decision clear which way these various groups are leaning. I have always assumed either way he will go on the list the week prior to Week 1 and Houston knows that - which is why he is spending little time as QB because he will be unavailable.

This is especially confusing to me because the choice that was leaked: Open air and in OP both are choices that benefit the fans over the owner. People should be thanking the Pegula’s for listening to what they want - the fans wanted cheaper prices and tailgating as some of the more important features of a new stadium and for once you have owners that listened. The things that benefit individual fans in OP also benefit the Pegula’s financially - which is a win/win. A higher public financed amount - by any means - helps lower or eliminate PSLs and keeps ticket prices down as the Cost is spread across a wider group rather than just users. This should allow for the Pegula’s to maintain a profit and people to continue to get season tickets and tailgate. As I have said before - I believe the ideal situation for the Pegula’s would be a downtown Stadium - near the Arena where visitors/opposing teams use their hotels and visit their restaurants and bring them more money, but I think they saw that OP would be cheaper and make things better for fans - so they divested some of those things and went with the OP route. The people that should be mad are the non-fans that will have their money invested into this new stadium, but that was occurring either way. The Bills fans whether local or outside the area should not be angry with the Pegula’s - even if in the end it becomes 80-100% publicly financed because the choice in OP was done strictly for the fans as it is the least logical choice based upon what the Pegula’s own and where and what would be most helpful to get additional funds to improve much needed infrastructure in the city.

How many games has Watson played since being accused? AB was exempted after there was proof of him texting back and going after an accuser. He also had attacked a moving truck and driver. Things occurred with AB and it happened during the season - so they put him on the list. I will consider Watson and AB to be the same if once the games start and charges are filed - if they allow him to play through the charges. How the NFL should handle this is a no win situation - my guess is prior to actual games he should be put on the commissioners list, but for preseason the Texans should be dealing with the issue.

All that does is help the Texans - right now it should be the Texans deciding what he can do. The NFL should put him on the commissioner’s list before game 1, but not now. What are the consequences if they take a stand against injustice and we find out he is innocent - look no further than when they went the other way on Kapernick. Ideally they should stay out of it until Game #1 and then force a decision by the Texans. Don’t give the team an out - that is what Houston wants.

What should they do? Why are they embarrassing themselves? It sounds to me like they are waiting on the legal side to make a decision and will decide on whether he can play or not as they approach the first game. They are leaving the legal parts to the legal team and forcing Houston to deal with the situation rather than letting them off the hook. I have no issue with what they are doing right now.

Don’t know him, but too many people just belittle certain people and that is not who I am. I re-read my post and I didn’t like the way it came off like Zay has no talent and just an ol shlub could beat him out - when it is obvious he is a good player and I felt it needed to be clarified.

Sorry - I just want to be clear - I am really not trying to belittle or put down Zay Jones with my comment. He was a waste for us, but I genuinely believe this Bills WR room is that deep with guys I would play over Jones. The first 6 are locks to me: Diggs Sanders Beasley Davis McKenzie Kumerow Then I would seriously consider as better or equal some younger guys like: Hodgins Stevenson Lenoir Then you have 2 veteran guys like: Gentry Williams They are in Zay’s ballpark, but probably just below. We have a very deep and talented WR room and Zay Jones to me is just a borderline NFL player that does just enough to stick around. Again no offense to him as the NFL needs those guys also, but I seriously don’t think he beats out the top 8 or 9 on this team.

I think we have 8 WRs better than Zay Jones.

Can you expound on this? I remember Milano pulling his hamstring in week 1 and the team saying it was minor, but much like Singletary the year before - saying they would evaluate as needed and holding him out of week #2 as a precaution to try and ensure it did not linger. I thought they even went so far as to say if it was a playoff game he would have played, but no sense in rushing him back early and risk injury again. I actually thought they gave a standard update and were very forthcoming-about both of Milano’s injuries last year and the timetable for recovery. I feel the same way about Diggs. McD said at this time he is not concerned with it impacting the season, but if something else happens they will adjust. It seems like they are being very cautious to give him the maximum amount of recovery time. I just do not see a reason to be worried right now - they have 25 days before game #1 and nothing they do now counts - so if they think and additional week or 2 sitting back and not taxing the knee is best - I would rather see them do it now. They are not going to give specifics and they have said they are not worried about regular season and everything tells me that the FO has been pretty straight about these things - so I will worry when they are worried.

What a great job by Dion and you could hear the emotions in his voice talking about mentally where he was and his son at home just born this off season. Powerful stuff.

He talked openly and candidly after practice today - a great job by Dion. He had both shots and it was 1.5 weeks after his second shot that he got ill. He spent several days in the hospital downtown Buffalo and lost nearly 20 lbs. Couldn’t eat, drink, and was physically weak. It took an emotional and psychological toll on him and you could hear in his voice how scary it was for him. We don’t need any comments for or against things - he said the same thing - to each their own, but he was physically unable to do anything for a good period of time and was so thankful to the trainers who are working to get him back up to speed and strength. It should be required listening- just to hear how much he cares. I am sure as soon as One Bills Live is posted - his snippet can be posted, but it was a great listen - especially as he talked about his newborn premie baby at home.

When he pulled up - how many guns did they find. I imagine with that team - he had at least 1 uzi stuffed up his backside. 😂

I think Bojo not being re-signed also played into your Bass comments - especially early last season. Bojo was terrible as a holder. - over his couple of years there were more than one handful of times we watched the kick and had to joke about laces out. You also saw the angle of the ball was inconsistent and even when he moved the laces - many times they were on the side not facing away. All of those things impact kicks and move them with spin - impacting accuracy. I think Haack will be better in the field goal and XP holds making Bass that much better and as an added bonus - he is significantly better with the pinning kicks. Our Special teams I think just got significantly better all around. The Refs are what they are. The helmet to helmet hits are a point of emphasis- so you will see more of those and taunting calls at least for a few weeks. I agree with a lot else, but I just watch Dobbins on a very run heavy team and he is fine. I just think we would all be complaining because when he gets 7 carries a game behind this line - do you think he is the same back? If they took a RB or picked up a FA - I don’t think it would matter - in a pass heavy offense with guys looking to pass block - You are never getting into a running flow and I don’t think Dobbins would be any different on this team - He is on a team that will use him as a run first team.

I thought I remember him from the pre-flight highlights and pictures from Thursday, but I did not notice him in the pre-game warm-up when everyone else not playing was out stretching together. I wonder if they got him on a flight and out of Detroit Thursday evening or Friday during the day. Then we heard he was not around Sunday with the cryptic - absent for personal reasons. I hope everyone is ok and wish him the best if needed - There is just so much going on at this time - hoping for the best.

That was true in the past, but the NFL put the dreaded “Point of Emphasis” on taunting this off-season to reduce the amount of actions - just like that - directed at other teams players. They wanted any action that appeared directed at an opposing player - things like flexing, spiking a ball, spinning the ball, yelling, pounding the chest, etc. if done in the direction of an opposing player that could be interpreted as potentially derogatory or inflammatory in nature to be called. Players can celebrate, but they wanted them to do it away from the defenders. It is one of those calls that they go overboard in preseason - make a few calls week 1-3 or 4 and then let it slide back as long as the players don’t get to over the top.