Shaw66

Guy knows what he is doing. Im pp ressive.

Yes, thanks to all. If its.about the Bill's, its here. Thanks to all.

You're a pro! Thanks.

It's actually a great option if there is a team that wants to move up.

I've ignored pretty much all the news, but I'm on TBD daily. Yolo and we are amazing. Others as well. If there's Bills news, it's on TBD.

On a tour. Hanoi, Halong Bay, HoI An in Viet Nam. Siem Reap in Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. Luang Prabang in Laos and two days on a Mekong River boat to Thailand. Chiang Rai in Thailand, Bangkok tomorrow, then Singapore and home. As others have said, it seems a lot of Americans retire to Thailand. Cost of living is low, and most people who live in the cities eat most meals on the street. Good, low cost food. Haven't been to the beaches. Temples ARE amazing, but after a while they are just another temple. People are really friendly. Free speech doesn't exist here, and not much democracy either, but the people don't seem to mind much. They have homes, food and family, and they generally have more money then their parents had. Capitalism in Viet Nam and Thailand is changing those countries almost before your eyes. Cambodia will need several more decades to overcome the devestation of US bombing, civil war and and the Khmer Rouge. What happened there was horrifying. They're all scared of the Chinese, but they like Chinese investors. Fascinating to see life and civilization so different from our own. And yes, there seems to be almost total lack of awareness of American football. McDermott once said, as he was describing the process, that everyone gets evalauted regularly and has objective set regularly, including himself. Terry is pretty hands off; that leaves Beane as the only one to evaluate McD.

I will be there in about three days. I will be the guy in the Bills cap. Look for me.

He couldn't do it on his own, I agree. And I agree that the Pegulas also might fire the package. But I am certain it's Beane's responsibility to evaluate McD, do performance reviews. I can imagine a scenario where he'd go to the Pegulas and recommend a new coach. It's no different from players. It's part of the process. If Beane can getter a better player, he gets him and they let someone go. That happens when a player has maxed out on his potential and just won't get any better. Of McD maxed out and Beane thought he could get a better coach, I think it's his job to do it. I agree with the others. I think McD is doing fine. But if the Bills go 6-10 this season, Beane has to begin to wonder about his coach.

Tourism. We were there for a half day, some people stay for a couple days and help take care of the elephants. American, European, Asian tourists like not because they're saving wildlife and protecting the environment. You can invest in the company. He says they are currently earning 7% for the investors. they can do it because the cost of living is low here, so their employees are getting paid maybe $1000, $1500 a month and they think they're getting paid a lot. It was an interesting place.

Thanks. I guess I knew about those guys being free agents but forgot. That's not uncommon. And yes you're right. All the free agent o linemen than should make the team. I really want a good rookie OT.

Thanks for the proof read. Not many Germans, but you're right about prices and food. Apparently some Americans retire here.

The best part is that here, here is you DON'T hear, hear.

I've said since the season ended that the Bills need one or two new vet starters on the oline, and one rookie starter. The Bills are on track. Morse looks like a perfect addition. I think McBeane really buy the old adage that the most important players play closest to the ball. In less than a year they got their MLB, their QB and now their center. The other acquisitions will fight for their jobs. And Mills, Miller, Groy, Bodine and Teller all are on notice. Like I said to start, I love what Beane is doing.

I absolutely love the Gore signing. Yes they need some youth at running back, but does anyone really think he doesn't know that? I said someplace else that Gore is a better Ivory. Tough, tough guy, football saavy. I didn't know he and Shady are buddies. I think it's a good thing when your team has guys who want to play together. It says a lot that Shady encouraged Gore to come. Gore almost certainly is another locker room leader. Probably means Ivory is gone, which is disappointing, but that's the nature of the game. Best part of being in Asia is that it's easy to avoid all the US political news.

Like a lot of people, I thought John Brown was great when he hit the league. Then he seemed to fade. But I think he is a great addition. Obviously still a serious deep threat, and Allen need another to go with Foster. He also should be a mentor for Foster. I've always admired Beasley. Tough as nails and reliable. He's the kind of player McD loves. And I think the thread about Daboll building what he learned from Belichick is a good thought. We've been hearing the McD wants Allen completing more short passes (for higher percentage). That's why Duke Williams was signed, and Beasley for sure. And Andre Roberts. They liked the quick throw to McKenzie, and the jet sweep, and I'm sure they will be using Roberts in that role. The draft hasn't happened yet and the offense already has enough skill position players to be explosive.

We visited an elephant refuge today. They take elephants that have been trained to do work, or be in the circus, or run in elephant races (really) and spend two or three years teaching the how to live naturally in sort of controlled wilderness. Our top was conducted by the CEO. It's a for-profit business. He described that everyone in the organization has jobs that are focused on the ultimate objective. There actually is a human being, 24 hours a day, who follows each elephant around. They work in shifts, stay out of the elephants way but step in life they need help. Then there are support people who get whatever the elephant followers need. The CEO's job is to hire good people, train them, fire the ones who aren't getting the job done. The CEO was describing all of this and I was thinking I've heard this before. Then I realized he was talking about the process. He was describing building a team in the same way McBeane talk about building a team. Elephants, linebackers, all the same. That's got to be weird. I think Thurman is over here somewhere. I wear a Bills shirt some days, a Bills cap some others. No comments yet.

I become a bigger Beane fan every time there's a new move. I think he knows exactly what he's doing. He knows what kind of guys he wants and he knows what he's willing to pay. He understands that not every guy he gets is going to be a standout player. He knows, in fact, that not every guy he signs this week will be on the team in the fall. He knows how much guaranteed money he is willing to risk. It's really impressive. The biggest question in the back of my head is whether he will have the courage to fire McD if he decides that he needs a better coach. I hope he doesn't have to face that question. I hope McD has all that it takes. But I'm getting ahead of myself. For now, I think the guy is great. I'm looking forward to the draft. I'm guessing he will I be dealing, moving up a bit for the tackle he wants or moving down to pick up an extra second rounder. Something.

I'm in Thailand. You're pretty much all asleep. Back in the US in a week. It's weird trying to follow all the news with no one to talk to. All of a sudden last night in the hotel, the only place I get internet, all the free agency news appeared on my tablet. I was astounded. I'll give a few reactions from afar. I'll post this post and then a few more,n replying to my own thread.

Beasley and Roberts on all the cute little screens and rubs. They will try to spring Roberts like they used McKenzie last year. Duke and Zay over middle. Brown and Foster on the deeper routes. It's a nice wide out room. Yes, the Dolphins mailed it in, but it still was a game for Josh to get the feel for how to use the short passing g a me. It was a good game to build on.

Better analysis than I've done but I've had similar thoughts about OBJ.

I have a new found appreciation for day 3 picks. Watchuing Beane I see how useful they are, often just to trade to move up. I think of a sixth this way: every year some undrafted free agent makes the team. Finding those guys isn't easy, but it isn't just luck, either. Often, you have an undrafted rookie you want but he signs someplace else. If you have an extra late-round pick you don't lose that guy - you draft him. So if you don't need Zay, and you're going to cut him, getting a 6th for him is fine. He was taken in the second or third, produced for a couple of years. Then if you get a 6th for him, you got some value out of your pick.

It's certainly an open question. He should win with this roster plus the draft picks. If he doesn't we may have a problem.

McD will have the full court press on for him. They're going to pitch the rotation to him and tell him he doesn't have to be the savior, just one of about four good edge rushers.

I think McD loves Hughes. I'd be surprised to see him go.

I see problems in Cleveland. OBJ might very well start a war with Mayfield.