corta765

I love Jim and everything he has done for the franchise and after. But he really needs to go back from the light a bit and in general the 90s Bills need to be pushed back a bit in terms of attention. I get its a pretty bad sign that we have to keep going back to them because we've been awful for so long, but its starting to feel forced to always keep doing things for them/giving them the spotlight.

I guess I will input a few thoughts. The NFL is a business first and sport second. That has been proven with how they have monetizied anything they can and managed to make football a 365 news cycle despite only having a season from late August to the end of Jan. The NFL can pat itself on the back for figuring out that fans care about stuff as simple as the NFL combine. The demarcation point to me is the lack of understanding the fans vibe/leagues best interest and that fall on the commissioner. Paul Tagliabue managed the NFL during its greatest growth and expansion where it went from being a popular sport to the dominant America past time. Tagliabue however was very good at what was in the leagues best intentions. Remember even when Cleveland & Houston moved he managed the storm by keeping teams there and knew LA was not the market it seemed. Tagliabue was also excellent at managing the news headlines and keep stuff like the Elliot suspension out of the lime light. To a lesser extent the passing of owners like Ralph & Al Davis who were football fans hurt in keeping an eye on managing markets. Once Goodell took over that has changed and he has become a pawn for solely the owners interest at the time with no vision to the future. I do believe the Rams will gain a market and be OK given how they were received last year and overall it just seems like LA is fine with them. But Goodell failed to fine a better solution for San Diego/Oakland. He missed that at some point you can lose your fans and despite how strong a TV contract is, having stadiums half empty is a mess for any sports league. Goodell missed that while the owners maximized their revenue you still had to appease your fan base along the way. The league would've been stronger with a team still in San Diego & Oakland where fans truely carred. Moving teams only crystallizes that money is all that matters and fans have seen this. It's impossible not to be jaded because of it. At this point the probable best case scenario for the Chargers is the team flounders in LA, is sold by Spanos, and a new commissioner helps to bring them back with a new owner to San Diego. I just cannot see it working in LA even with a new stadium. Oakland will succeed in Vegas just because as a Bills fan I would go there to see them and want to.

The Steelers D is decent but I wish people used perspective. They beat a young growing Browns team and Vikings team missing their QB. Beat some true competition and sure I will say they are that good, but the Steelers are one of those teams people want to anoint as great the moment they have any success.

Agreed. One thing I always liked with Stevie Johnson was the fact he was entertaining. Regardless of my opinion on trading Sammy (I was in favor) his leaving was one more less exciting player to watch. This offense feels basically like the 2010 year all over where we are waiting for Tyrod to get replaced, except Shady is a legit HR dominate back unlike CJ who was a rookie. Watching that offense that year was painful a lot and I keep harking back to that season when I see our guys out there. Most of this offense will be different next year so we have a very stale placeholder.

Them or the even Brees with the Saints would be a lot of fun. But very unlikely, Bills haven't hosted MNF since 2008 and apparently the stadiums age/infrastructure makes it very difficult to do night games with all the wiring etc.. from what reporters have said. Maybe since renovations things are better, but I think that the only home night games we will see are on Thursday for the time being unless the team starts winning.

Already said but because for Den or Oak even the time difference is significant. Granted the last time OAK came here the game was at 1pm, but now that they are better I doubt they do that audience wise. Few other things: -Bills played at 4pm in 2015 when we went to Miami, NYJ in 2013, and it is not a 100% uncommon especially on the road early in the season for a late game. -The NFL does not care about your dinner, they will put the game on at 4pm if it can be a strong draw for TV and the 4pm slot is typically for hyped games. When Bills Jets played week 3 in 2013 at 4 it was partially due to EJ vs Geno and I even remember the broadcast saying this could be the first of many games between these two young stars lol -Typically the Bills request all home games minus MNF or TNF to be at 1pm for out of Buffalo fans in Southern tier, Rochester and Canada. They also usually prefer more games early in season for this reason and this has been stated numerous times by Russ Brandon. That said IF (when?) the Bills do get good again they will play at 4 pm a little more often because typically the top teams are put in that spot for TV draw reasons. It's why DAL, NE, GB, & PIT feel like they always play at 4, favored TV matchups by networks. -I am not sure if you are predicting AFCE 2 games to start and finish or saying it will happen, but especially to start the season BUF usually gets 1 AFCE game and then non division. First 2 to Start season 2016- BAL-NYJ, 2015 IND-NE, 2014 CHI-MIA, 2013 NE-CAR, 2012 NYJ-KC, 2011 KC-OAK, 2010 MIA-GB. Last 2 to finish season 2016: MIA-NYJ, 2015 DAL-NYJ, 2014 OAK-NE, 2013 MIA-NE, 2012 MIA-NYJ, 2011 DEN-NE, 2010 NE-NYJ. So I would be stunned if BUF opens with 2 straight division foes, but its a 50/50 chance they finish with two.You can also see why I have us hosting NE to finish and @MIA to start just given neither has happened in a bit. I should note some people are roster guru's, other's QB or cap space, mine just happens to be schedule. I know majority of rules, trends, and a little on the formula to an unhealthy level. But I love looking at the schedule once it comes out and basically plan my Fall off of it.

Yea I would be stunned if that isn't opener. Honestly though I think it is kinda BS though that the losing team opens on the road. It's tough enough with everything you just went through and just feel it should be a different game later in year. Plus in this years DEN CAR game it felt like the DEN D was intentionally trying to hit Newton out with head shots.

Colts game is home. It didnt copy right But don't be completely surprised if something like that happens. In 2015 Buffalo was on the road 5 of 6 weeks weeks 10-15.

This is always a sticky situation. OJ is one of the top players in NFL history, he was the face of the Bills and city until the Superbowl Bills, and his accomplishments have stood the test of time. He also probably (he was acquitted) killed two people and the stories before that of him as wife beater etc.. are beyond awful. I think the Bills have approached this correctly so far. You cannot erase his impact regardless of his fouls after. If the Bills put out a press release quietly on the day each year he hit over 2000 yds saying it happened I have zero problem. It happened and is an accomplishment. It doesn't need much fan fare either for it but it does recognize the accomplishment occuring. I read a piece on espn about RBs and their decreased value and how coaches are legitimately afraid to even say or compare a guy to OJ as the standard of what you'd want if you draft a RB #1 or pay him etc.. So it kinda hurts their ability to even compare RBs when one of the best is taboo to basically mention anyway.

The Buffalo Bills every year do a schedule challenge and in the past it was pretty cool where you literally picked every week who they played. Well this year thats not there which is no fun, it's just a question type thing. So for anyone who felt like doing it anyway here is a forum to do it for fun. Here is my prediction 1 Away @ Miami Dolphins Sunday 1pm 2 Home Denver Broncos Sunday 4pm (only because Denver is west coast team and early in season Bills do get a 4pm game sometimes with west coast teams) 3 Away @ New York Jets Sunday 1pm 4 Home New Orleans Saints Sunday 1pm 5 Home Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday 1pm 6 Away @ Cincinnati Bengals Thursday 8:30pm 7 BYE WEEK 8 Home Miami Dolphins Sunday 1pm 9 Away @ Atlanta Falcons Sunday 1pm 10 Home Indianapolis Colts Sunday 1pm 11 Away @ New England Patriots Sunday 1pm 12 Away @ Los Angeles Chargers Sunday 4pm 13 Home Oakland Raiders (Vegas? lol) Sunday 1pm 14 Away @ Carolina Panthers Sunday 1pm 15 Away @ Kansas City Chiefs Sunday 4pm 16 Home New York Jets Sunday 1pm 17 Home New England Patriots Sunday 1pm I think the Bills will only get one night game this year with it being TNF in Cincy. On a previous forum I listed my reasons and rankings for TNF and why I think Cincy but with Rex gone and another 7-9 season I just don't see another night game. The Bills haven't played the Dolphins week 1 since 2010 and during that time we have played the Jets and Patriots so I think we finally see Miami again and because we hosted in 2010 we go there this season. Same for the Patriots at home to end the season. We haven't hosted NE at home in years to end the season but have gone there and finished with other division rivals so I see that. The only prediction I would make on the season would be the first 6 games I could see the Bills start 4-2. From there pure hell and don't be surprised if we do get some hellacious middle part with away games, that tends to happen in previous season.

Honestly that game is just a blip on the radar to me. They decided to fire Rex and once that happened the last game especially became meaningless and the sideshow that developed happens for most teams once a coach is gone and week 17 is a lame duck situation. That said the TD kickoff was pretty dam pathetic and it felt like a waste watching. But grand scheme eh I could care less and happy we got a higher pick.

Agreed. The moment a player start looking to potentially get a pay raise for a decent year when he is FA the knives get thrown by fans even though all of us in our own jobs would take more money if we had the option. Honestly if the Bills and Z Brown can find a contract that works for both then great. It plugs a hole for a year or two with decent LB play. If he goes that's fine but I hope that his production and play can be replaced. Since the early 2000s I think the one year I'd say our LB core was good was probably 2014. I would prefer to see that someday not to always be a liability as its shaping up to be again and with Brown leaving the odds.

1. Steelers (most obnoxious self worshiping fanbase that I hope never sees a SB win again) 2. Jets (went to school at SUNY Oswego and Jet fans will tell you every year how great they are) 3. Chiefs (Heartbreaking losses recently, team that is boring to watch, and fanbase that won't admit their jealous of OAK or DEN) 4. Patriots (enough said, but their winning recently is at the point of impressive now so its hard to be mad)

Agreed which is why I put as of now given we still haven't had the draft. I was more referring to as a fan that I would see they overachieved if they win more then 7 given the holes they have on roster and the caliber of QBs they face this season.

Here is my thinking on the 2016 opponents: Game I expect to win: NYJ, @NYJ, TB, MIA Games I wouldn't be surprised to see a Win or a Loss: IND, MIA, @Cincy, @LA Chargers Games where I wouldn't think odds are for us much: NO, DEN, @KC, NE Games where I would be utterly stunned if they win: @NE, OAK, @CAR, @ATL I understand some would say the Pats home game should be probably in the stunned catagory, but I have two reasons it isn't 1.The Bills haven't beat NE at home since 2011, so just off the odds they actually due at some point here. 2. Pre-Rex the Bills were typically more competitive at home against NE compared to the sloshings we had the last 2 years. Anyhoo based off how I feel looking at the schedule I really think anymore then 7 wins would actually be a decent season by coach and team given the current roster and schedule as of today (Schedule could end up easier and roster will look different after draft).

Schedule is always hard to tell what it really is. We have had years we expected a tough schedule and it was easy and vise versa. I remember in 2015 thinking the Eagles and Skins would be cake walk games ..and both beat us with the Skins winning the division. The QBs on the schedule do concern me and the defense not rebounding last year makes it hard to believe that is a strength of the team. That said you really don't know much about the schedule until halfway through the year if at all..

I mean technically we all are 0-0 right now so dam right we are contending

Agreed. Loudest I've heard the Ralph (28 so not a ton of great memories) and that strip sack the place went insane. I remember fans were celebrating for a good hour in the parking lot after before even considering leaving it was pretty special. I remember thinking it was the launch pad for the Bills to get back into the playoffs and matter a little...whoops haha

BB & the Pats I really believed would've won at least a SB. Bledsoe was still decent enough as a QB and BB's defense hit its peak during the 01-07 period where they were typically a Top 5 unit that shut down a ton of teams. As for Brady yea who knows. I really believe there is virtually no QB who is not at least some product of his team and environment. Given how San Diego doesn't spend and isn't respected by players I wonder if Peyton would've won as much out there. Polian found him enough tools on offense and had a quality coach with Dungy.

Thanks I honestly just did it for fun because there literally is zilch right now on the football side, it was never meant to be taken with much seriousness that this is even remotely close to what happens. Probably the only takeaway from this is that the Bills still would've stunk a bunch just because organizationally they were (still are? haha) so disjointed in the mid to late 2000s. Brady and the Pats probably did stop a playoff apperaence or two, but the team drafted so awful and lost so many impact players on defense during the 2000s because they didn't pay up. It was interesting though looking back on some seasons to see what the rest of the AFC East was. I honestly forgot Miami went from 1-15 to 11-5 in 2008.

I personally think he would regardless of where he went. His ability to read the field is virtually unmatched other then Peyton which is his greatest strength IMO. At the same point the first 3 Pats SB's were driven a lot by BB defense which is why even with Bledsoe who they signed to a 100 million extension I think you see some good seasons and still a really tough NE team. Eh I was bored at lunch seemed like fun.

Disclaimer: This is for fun and I did my best to consider a million different factors with this. I did my best researching the 2000 draft on who would've wanted to take a flyer on Brady, how a Bills win over NE may or may not have altered their season, what the AFC may have looked like, and how Brady himself may have done outside of the division. 2000 NFL Draft: As we all know Brady famously was a sixth round pick. The last QB taken before Brady was Spergeon Wynn by Cleveland (of course) 16 picks earlier. For the purpose of this exercise though we will only consider teams after the Patriots pick at 199 as places he could end up going. The remaining picks in the 6th round went as followed: 6* 200 New Orleans Saints Sherrod Gideon WR Southern Mississippi C-USA 6* 201 New England Patriots David Nugent DE Purdue Big Ten 6* 202 Washington Redskins Todd Husak QB Stanford Pac-10 6* 203 San Diego Chargers Damen Wheeler CB Colorado Big 12 6* 204 Pittsburgh Steelers Jason Gavadza TE Kent State MAC 6* 205 San Diego Chargers JaJuan Seider QB Florida A&M MEAC 6* 206 Cleveland Browns Brad Bedell OT Colorado Big 12 Two QB's are picked after him and both were QB needy teams with the Redskins starting that season Brad Johnson with Jeff George at backup and San Diego dealing with Ryan Leafs implosion. Cleveland had already picked a QB so they would be out and New Orleans had youngster Aaron Brooks at the time who would lead them to the division crown in 2000 leaving Pittsburgh as the only other location. Pittsburgh would've been interesting because they had Kordell Stewart who still had a lot of intrigue but not much after him. In my opinion he doesn't make it to Pittsburgh where with Bill Cowher Brady could've created a potential dynasty again for the Steelers. Instead he does end up going to the Redskins and into the NFC. 2000 NFL Season Nothing would really change here for the Buffalo Bills or Brady because Brady didn't play.The Bills continue their QB controversy and settle on Rob Johnson as their guy over Flutie. Brady may get in for part of the game in 2000 because the Redskins collapse from a 7-4 start to finish 8-8 and all three Redskin QBs including Husak saw action. AFC East Title: Miami Dolphins 2001 NFL Season The Bills have an abysmal first season just as they did in 2001 with Greg Williams missing the playoffs at 3-13. The Patriots flounder at 7-9 when rookie QB Sage Rosenfels is thrown into action (Rosenfels was selected by WSH in the 4th rnd by WSH in 2001, NE picks him in the 4th instead) after Drew Bledsoe goes down for a portion of the season. The Redskins meanwhile see 2nd year QB Tom Brady lead them to an unexpected 11-5 division title. They lose though in Chicago due to a controversial incompletion by Bears QB Jim Miller in a heavy snow storm which setups a GW kick for the Bears. The Rams win their second SB in 3 years over Pittsburgh AFC East Title: Miami Dolphins 2002 NFL Season The Bills in need of a QB badly and wanting to make a splash sign free agent QB Jake Plummer who had some success with the Arizona Cardinals. The Bills split their games with the Patriots beating the Pats at home and win their first division crown since 1995 with a 10-6 record (They beat the Plummer-less Broncos in the game they lost in 2002). The Bills win their first playoff game since 1995 at home against the Colts in a tight 21-13 affair before losing to the Raiders. The Patriots squeeze out a Wildcard birth with Bledsoe but lose in the Wildcard to Pittsburgh. Brady and the Skins lose to the 49ers out in San Fran. Bucs win the SB. AFC East Title: Buffalo Bills 2003 NFL Season Buffalo slips to 7-9 as they split their games with the Patriots, but fail to improve on the previous season as the offense lacks the same production with Peerless Price gone. The Patriots on the other hand dominate the division at 13-3 with a shutdown defense and solid offense to win their first Super Bowl over the St Louis Rams and Kurt Warner. AFC East Title: New England Patriots 2004 NFL Season The Buffalo Bills win the division title at 11-5 over the Patriots who see a decline in Bledsoe's production and just make it in the playoffs with each team splitting a game in the head to head. Buffalo loses at home to a Peyton Manning led offense that steamrolls its way to Mannings first Super Bowl. AFC East Title: Buffalo Bills 2005 NFL Season The Buffalo Bills fail to make the playoffs when they lose core defensive pieces finishing 6-10. They are swept by the New England Patriots who see a decent season by Drew Bledsoe who win a weak AFC at 10-6. The Steelers win the SB, head coach Greg Williams is fired after the season due to organizational differences and the defenses failure to integrate younger pieces. AFC East Title: New England Patriots 2006 NFL Season The Buffalo Bills sneak into the playoffs at 9-7 with new head coach Dick Jauron who improves the Bills defense enough to get back in the playoffs where they lose to the division champion New York Jets. The Bills sweep the Patriots who fall down 7-9 due to Bledsoe's dwindling QB skills despite a strong defense, putting in rookie Jay Cutler at the end of the year. The San Diego Chargers break the drought and end up winning the Super Bowl after defeating Peyton Manning's Colts in a thrilling AFC Title game. AFC East Title: NY Jets 2007 NFL Season The Buffalo Bills miss the playoffs at 9-7 with Jake Plummer showing his age and is replaced late in the season by Trent Edwards. The Bills can only split with the rising Patriots who take the division at 11-5. The Superbowl is an upset by Eli Mannings Giants over the defending champion Chargers. AFC East Title: New England Patriots 2008 NFL Season The Bills finish a disappointing 8-8 after a quick start out of the gate and split the season series against the Patriots. The Patriots finish at 9-7 out of the playoffs behind the Miami Dolphins wildcat attack at 11-5. The Super Bowl sees a Washington Redskin Brady led squad defeat the Steelers in an all time classic. AFC East Title Miami Dolphins 2009 NFL Season The Bills finish at 7-9 as recent drafts have limited talent to the roster and hoped QB of the future Trent Edwards doesn't develop any further. The Bills win the opening night game on Monday Night to split the series against the Patriots again. Head Coach Dick Jauron is shown the door at the end of the year after failing to get the team to playoff for 3 straight years. The New York Jets win the division crown with the Patriots sneaking in as a wild card team and going to the Super Bowl where they lose to New Orleans. AFC East Title: NY Jets 2010 NFL Season With new head coach Chan Gailey they Bills crater at 4-12 as they get swept also in the season series against the Patriots. The AFC East crown is taken again by the Jets who just beat out the Patriots late in the season. The Super Bowl still ends with GB beating Pitt. The Packers wild card run starts with an upset of the Brady led Redskins who lead the NFL in scoring. AFC East Title: NY Jets 2011 NFL Season With a draft that provides some needed talent back to the roster the Bills go 7-9 with a late season win in New England for the season sweep. The AFC East is won at 9-7 by the New York Jets despite mercurial play at QB. Tom Brady's Washington Redskins defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the title game for his second Super Bowl victory. AFC East Title: NY Jets 2012 NFL Season The Bills break a six year playoff drought by finishing 10-6 tied and winning the division crown over the Patriots who make it in as a wildcard team as both teams split the matchup against each other. The Bills win their first playoff game since 2004 at home in the wildcard against the Patriots. The Bills go on to lose in Denver 28-17 against the Manning led Broncos. The Ravens avenge their previous Super Bowl loss to the Redskins and Brady to win their second title. AFC East Title: Buffalo Bills 2013 NFL Season The Bills regress from the previous season at 7-9 splitting the season series with New England. Ryan Fitzpatricks flaws show against a harder schedule of teams despite an improved defense.The Bills enter the offseason knowing they need to draft a QB at some point and cut Fitzpatrick. The AFC East is taken by the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl sees Peyton's Broncos fall to the Seahawks. AFC East Title: New England Patriots 2014 NFL Season The Bills draft Teddy Bridgewater in the 1st round who leads the Bills to a 11-5 division title. The Bills split again with the Patriots who also make the post season but lose on a late Jay Cutler INT in the wildcard. The Bills make it the AFC title game against the Colts thanks to their #1 defense. Andrew Luck and Indy defeat Buffalo as they head to the Super Bowl. They lose to the Seahawks on a last second running TD from the 2 yard line by former Bills RB Marshawn Lynch. AFC East Title: Buffalo Bills 2015 NFL Season A highly competitive AFC see the Bills make the playoffs as a wildcard as the Jets take the AFC East Title. A favorable schedule and strong offense help the Bills to a 10-6 record. The Bills sweep the Patriots in their two matchups as Cutler gets injured and the Patriots have to play rookie Jimmy Garrapollo who is steady in his first season. The Bills lose their Wildcard matchup against Cincinnati thanks to a miss field goal at the end. Denver defeats Carolina in Peytons final game to win the Superbowl. AFC East Title: New York Jets 2016 NFL Season The Bills hamstrung by cap space see their defense regress and the team fall to a disappointing 7-9 record that gets Chan Gailey fired. Bridgewater lacks help at WR as he and Lesean McCoy have to carry too much of the load on offense resulting in injuries that cost each 2 games on the season. The Bills also are swept by a reloaded New England team with Garrapollo leading a dynamic passing attack and a very strong defense. The Patriots fall in the Superbowl against Tom Brady's Washington Redskins who win a third title with him as QB with TD drive late. AFC East Title: New England Patriots Final Numbers: 6 Playoff Appereances 4 Division Crowns

Against my better judgement I'm saying 7. I wanted to say 5 but I picked 7 for a few reasons: 1. Schedule always appears tougher then it is and even though this years looks pretty wretched I can still see them winning a few we dont expect. 2. Shady. McCoy single handily wins us 3-4 games a year because the dude is a horse and o line is very good run blocking. 3. Division record. They went 1-5 last year when they shoulda been 3-3. Honestly it really shouldnt be hard to sweep the jets and split Miami. So that is two more wins then last year which I'm sure we balance out with losses that were this year wins. 4. Coaching. This is the least talented Bills team since probably 2012 (as of now) yet I think McDerm probably will be at least an improvement in game mgmt on Rex. So that helps a little. So yea I guess 7, wouldn't be surprised with 5, and would be stunned with anymore then 8. So yea same old same old Iron Maiden that you from BBMB? And I'm impressed with the optimism usually I could depend on you for reality

Based off current needs probably Corey Davis and if he is gone then Reuben Foster. CB & SAF there is enough depth in draft to get in 2nd/3rd rnd

Lately I've been pretty pessimistic on the Bills, however the secondary I actually am more optimistic on this year for 2 reasons. 1. Consistency. Last year the moment Aaron Williams went down the whole secondary became a massive tire fire because they could be beat regularly deep. He really was instrumental in keeping things going well. Darby seemed to be kinda wrecked by the coaching staff's communication issues so I would be willing to give him a bit of a shot that his play was partially hurt just by coaching. Additionally while I thought Gilmore is a good player he was a tire fire himself the first half of last year and even when he improved he had zero safety help the back half of the year. Last year the secondary just wasn't dependable when you needed it and the lack of consistency killed the Bills. 2. Scheme. McDerms scheme puts the emphasis on the front 7 and less on the back end. It also is a scheme that plays to his players strengths and is far less confusing compared to Rex/Robs which players were ripping on its confusion regularly. I think the team still needs to draft another SAF/CB in rnd 1 or 2 and sign a guy like Alteneer Verner. But while this years secondary may not have the sexy names like A Williams or Gilmore, I think it will be a bit more dependable and better against big plays then last year. My prediction is the pass defense ends up still being in the top half of the league. What I am down big time on is our LBs with Zach Brown likely gone. Ragland is unknown so I won't assume him to be great and Preston Brown has stunk the last 2 years and I am not convinced he can get back to his play as a rookie even back in a 4-3 defense.