JoshBarnett

For the record, that article is free to anyone at this point ... More from Vic's interviews in Dallas with Allen and Rosen to follow. Those also will be free ... Josh

FWIW, we talked to five draft analysts within the last week or so and asked about Rosen. Here is what we got -- some of his health, some of his ability to handle pressure, some on his personality. It really is an interesting issue. Some of it is probably nit-picking. But there is risk-reward in all these guys ... Here's Mike Mayock onr Rosen: "The problem I have with him is there is a durability issue. The shoulder issue in '16, two concussions in '17, and when you combine that with an inability to escape from the pocket, I'm concerned. I'm concerned whether or not he can play enough games to make a significant dent in the NFL. So I love his talent, but I'm very worried about his ability to survive." (BTW, this is a free link): http://buffalonews.com/2018/04/22/5-nfl-draft-analysts-weigh-in-on-the-josh-rosen-dilemma/

And here is our position on ad blockers as set by the editor and tech team ... This is not a sports department decision ... http://buffalonews.com/2018/04/03/why-buffalonews-com-wants-to-block-your-ad-blocker/

And then there is this from the assistant GM ... “We were bracing ourselves for the storm that is the Bills Mafia,” Blaha said. “Bills fans showed up and showed out. It was a really impressive thing to see in full force. The parking lot we share with the Jaguars is adjacent to the ballpark. I drove by and saw the remnants of what looked like a good pregame party because we know there wasn’t much celebrating going on postgame.” This is a free link, for the record ... http://buffalonews.com/2018/04/03/in-dig-at-billsmafia-jacksonville-minor-league-team-to-host-folding-table-appreciation-night/

Thanks for posting this. We are happy with how it turned out and the work put in. Beyond the scenario that Nick outlined above, you can work out trades for any team with any other team for any picks. During the testing process, we have been putting in all different kinds of combinations. It's interesting to see the variations in the value charts. McDermott said yesterday that he has been in some discussions at the meetings and teams take out their variations of the charts to see how things might measure up. That the Johnson chart is still most commonly used -- Beane said he generally still used it -- is interesting when you consider that it was developed before a high level of analytics and a lot of computer models. Anyway, hope you enjoy using the simulator. We will see what happens as draft day gets closer. http://buffalonews.com/2018/03/27/play-nfl-draft-pick-trade-simulator-calculator-darnold-rosen-allen-value-jimmy-johnson-chart/

Agreed. We think it's a good idea, too. We average roughly 3-4 free pieces virtually every day and have since we started back in September. That number is usually around 6-8 on game days. A number of the pieces on the front list of headlines on this site actually are free, but are displayed with the lock because they come from us and that must be the default.

That is actually not what happened here in my view. We did a staggered story off one interview at intervals. We wrote six paragraphs as soon as the interview was over about the pay cut issue. That was the top of the story and we published. There was nothing wrong with the teaser and that fueled the one discussion that seems to be ongoing here. No issue at all. It was going fine. We then came back and wrote a more in-depth version that talked about the Jax play, the playoffs, Dennison and Daboll about an hour later. We also wrote a separate story just about the Jax play about three hours later. My goal was to let the people here know there was more significant news in the interview than just the original item. I thought what he said was interesting and wanted to share it so I linked to the full story. At the time, we published the extended version, the first item already had a lot of discussion. I thought the other news would get lost if I threw it in there. Having been on this board, I often find interesting things buried when the topic veers from the original point. After messaging with Hap, I realize the proper etiquette is to include a brief summary and a quote so people can discuss the article without reading it, which often happens from other sources. I also would quibble with your definition of click bait. To me, click bait suggests that the headline or teaser doesn't reflect what is in the story. That is not the case here or in the Tyrod story or the Eric Wood piece, in my opinion. In the previous instances, we were dealing with more nuanced subjects that have context that can't be fully captured in a teaser and conclusions were being drawn that might not have been drawn had the full article been available so I addressed that for the benefit of the subjects and my staff. Despite your assertion, for the record, I don't view anything wrong with the tweets that were sent in either instance. My response in those instances has nothing to do with the tweets. We always can be better at everything we do but that was not my issue in those cases. In the previous Tyrod story, he talked extensively about many subjects. We tweeted several pieces of the interview but some took it as a massive story all about race. That is why I came on here to explain. As Hap can attest after he read the full Wood story, there is more there than the one tweet that he seized upon. We also sent multiple tweets on that piece that focused on different facets. That again is why I came on here. In this case, there is a full story that was written after the discussion already started about new items so this has nothing to do with any tweets at all. I have had wonderful interactions with many Bills fans since I've been in town, including lots of emails and messages from people on this board. I've also had a few people tell me that I am not welcome in your community that exists here. I have acknowledged more than once that I understand that many people don't like my staff, don't like the subscription model and other topics. I have tried to be available to address concerns people have. I have worked in other NFL markets and for a national outlet, and taken that same approach. The customer isn't always right but you are always the customer and I respect that and will continue to do so. Thanks, Josh

No worries. Appreciate the edit ...

That is actually false. I addressed the Watson piece in the long thread about it a number of times. I addressed the criticism of the Eric Wood column this week both here and with the original poster via PM. I've said a number of times that my job is to address readers when they like us or when they don't and I haven't wavered from that.

One of the criticisms I have received on this board is that we are not offering exclusive content or material that you can't get elsewhere. Well, the point of this post was not desperation, but rather to rebut that notion and make people aware of information that we got because we sent reporters to the Super Bowl and other local outlets did not. We are investing in Bills coverage to a greater degree and still get criticized. Not pretending anything. I think I have shown over and over again that I am interested in interacting with fans to hear their opinion of our coverage and other issues. We have taken a number of suggestions and integrated it into what we do. This was an example of providing a link to information that we thought would be of interest to Bills fans. Since you asked, he talked a bunch about the game, but here is some of what he said specifically about the play ... "If you wanted to run, then call a run," Taylor said. "When you get the option and you're given the opportunity of doing either one, and if it doesn't happen, then people say to (do the opposite). I'm not going to go back and forth as to what you should do in that situation. That day, against Jacksonville, we really didn't get a lot going in the running game, but you would expect Shady (McCoy) to get a yard there, but like I said, the called play was an option to do either or and we did one. It was just unsuccessful. We had an opportunity to (run), I had both hands on the ball. It was just an unfortunate situation that a PI was called."

Didn't mean to start the debate here again about the subscription model. We sent two reporters to the Super Bowl. One of them was the first Buffalo reporter to talk to Tyrod, which seemingly should be of interest to Bills fans. Inevitably someone who subscribes will post the text. This was just to flag that an extensive interview exists beyond Vic's one tweet that has gotten so much attention in the other thread. Apologies to those who are offended.

I know there is another thread about the salary and whether he wants to stay in Buffalo but lots more good stuff in Vic's interview with Tyrod today. That include Tyrod's first public comments about the Jacksonville game, what he sees in Daboll, etc. Applogies if this is elsewhere http://buffalonews.com/2018/02/02/taylor-wants-to-stay-with-bills-but-wont-take-another-pay-cut/

Yes, you can consider me emailed. ... Since I have been accused by some that I only come here to promote stuff, I appreciate that other recognize that I am here to take criticism and feedback, too ... I have said this before, but it bears repeating: We have a staff of multiple people covering multiple areas of the Bills, including X's and O's, in-depth features, scouting on future opponents and myriad other topics. I am sure you can pull a particular piece from any of them that you don't like or agree with -- and there are pieces from other outlets that I think are really good that you might love too -- but I think we are the most thorough and complete of any outlet covering the Bills on and off the field ... Given that you don't subscribe, you also are judging one paragraph in a 1,000 word column and comparing it to a full column from elsewhere. Would reading the whole thing change your mind? Maybe, maybe not. But I will extend that offer. Send me your email and I will send you the full text, although someone has posted another portion of it ... Thanks, Josh

I am said chap. Email is jbarnett@buffnews.com. Josh

Here is more on the injury situation involving Zay Jones. http://buffalonews.com/2018/01/14/what-is-going-on-with-zay-jones-shoulder-injury/

Hey everybody ... It's Josh from the Buffalo News. We have an extensive plan of offseason coverage set and will be making stops at a number of college all-star events, the Super Bowl, the combine, etc. But I am always open to ideas that we might not have that the audience is interested in. You all know that you have a direct line to me if you want it via jbarnett@buffnews.com, but what is out there that you want to know more about beyond the obvious topics? Thanks, Josh

Sorry I did not see myself tagged earlier in this thread. ... Someone referenced earlier in the thread that the email would be read by a junior level assistant and discarded. Let me assure you that is not the case. I've read, our managing editor has read it, our editor has read it, among others in the newsroom. We all appreciate the tone and your points and the way you made them. Just for clarity, let me say that I am not speaking on behalf of the management of the Buffalo News or Rod or anyone else. I'm just a guy who has been doing this a while in other places and someone who has great respect for my colleagues in this newsroom over the last few months. While some of you think I am just a shill for the News based on some of my other posts, I have tried to be as available to the readership and the fan base as I possibly can. We might disagree but I always listen. So here I am on this issue. (I will await being pilloried.) Rod is the metro columnist in the same manner as Sean Kirst, who has been effusive in his praise for Bills fans and has another column coming later today sharing many great stories of excited Bills fans. I am sure Rod had conversations with his editor about this column and what he wanted to say and the way he wanted to say it in the same way that I have conversations with Bucky and Sully. It's part of the editor-writer dynamic. Perhaps we should have made the distinction clear that Rod is not a sports columnist -- don't know that would have mattered. Perhaps we should have not put it on the sports or Blitz pages online. It ran in the metro section in print. But one thing we have to believe in is the diversity of voices. One person is less enthused than everybody else seems to be, and that's OK. I don't agree with him, but what type of organization would be if we refused to publish a meager 18 inches -- representing less than one-half of one percent of what we have done on the Bills -- because it is contrarian. Regardless of your opinion on the subscription service around Bills content, you can't deny that massive amount of coverage we have done since Sunday's win, including today's eight-page special section, special packages coming Saturday and Sunday and nearly 3,000 column inches between Sunday and Thursday. That does not include a ton of additional pieces that were online only. Today's special section is more celebratory in nature. Among the contents are two full pages of quotes from Bills fans, celebrities on what the end of the drought means to them. Sully spoke with a ton of former players on what it means to them. Here is the cover.

Send me your info to jbarnett@buffnews.com and I will get it to the right department or have someone get back to you ...

Been a while since this issue was raised, but the offer I made to this community months ago still stands. You have questions about the subscription model and why it exists? You don't like the stories we write? You have objections to the people on my staff? You have something you want to read about that we aren't writing? You know where to find me -- jbarnett@buffnews.com. We are still offering the two-week free trial for new subscribers. Sign up today and that takes you to the week of the AFC Championship Game. https://subscribe.buffalonews.com/subscribe?package=BILLSDIG&promo=trial&utm_source=bills-2&returnUrl I also will say that I am really proud of the type and scope of coverage that we have been doing and am excited for people to see what we have planned for the rest of this week, including a special section Friday and some really cool stuff on game day. Thanks for your consideration, Josh

The comment was made on Wednesday this week when Tim was in the locker room before heading to New England. Gronkowski's comments were made Friday.

Tim Graham was in the Bills' locker room and then has been in the Patriots' locker room this week. A look at the potential for retribution for the Tre White hit by Rob Gronkowski, and what the principals are saying. http://buffalonews.com/2017/12/22/rob-gronkowski-tredavious-white-retribution/ Plus, some Stephon Gilmore: http://buffalonews.com/2017/12/22/stephon-gilmore-big-game-sunday-bills-and-patriots-different/

Even Mike Tolbert doesn't get why he was named a Pro Bowl alternate at a position he doesn't play.

We have heard a lot about the quarterback this week, of course, but we wanted to take a look at the issues on the defensive line after 492 yards rushing in two games and Vic Carucci spent some time with D-line coach Mike Waufle. Here is what he said about the last two weeks: "In the National Football League, there's a lot of moving parts," Waufle said. "Offensively, you have different personnel groups. They have a lot of motions and shifts, and they're trying to create gaps. They're trying to confuse your eyes and you miss a gap. "We have to have gap integrity at all times. When you pressure and you're bringing blitzes, you have to have gap integrity there, also. So in the Jets' game, the gap integrity wasn't there with our pressures. When it came bone-on-one, flesh-on-flesh, we were fine. We had eight tackles for loss in that game. "In the last game, it was different because everybody took a turn (not filling his gap). So the gap integrity was there for 10 guys, but somebody broke down. If it was one person, you can say, 'Boom, yank him!' We play eight guys up there and it was spread throughout. So you go back to the basic fundamentals, basic techniques and sharpen the saw." Plus, the Bills reorganized their practice time to help focus on this issue and other good stuff from Waufle contained in the full story on BNblitz.com. http://buffalonews.com/2017/11/17/waufle-does-more-teaching-than-chiding-in-trying-to-fix-bills-run-woes/

So I know someone mentioned Gruden's love for Peterman as a gag complete with the laughing emoji in another thread, but as we gathered national voices on Peterman and the move yesterday, we did talk to Gruden. And here you go ... I like Peterman for a lot of reasons. I compare him to Andy Dalton and I consider that a great compliment. He’s intelligent. He’s football savvy. He’s more athletic than people think. He’s an accurate passer and he has toughness. Those are qualities I always looked for – athletic, accurate arm talent, plus some natural leadership skills. He’s got a lot of good stuff. He came out of the huddle and played in two different systems. He graduated from college. I think he has multiple degrees. After working with him at QB Camp, I just felt I could give him the entire playbook, and I bet I could make 17 adjustments after the first three practices and it wouldn’t faze him a bit. I watched him in the preseason. I pay a lot of attention to the rookies. I saw him against the Eagles and the Vikings and he had a heck of a preseason. I think that stuck in the minds of coach and the offensive staff. They remember what he did. http://buffalonews.com/2017/11/15/jon-gruden-on-nathan-peterman-hes-got-a-lot-of-good-stuff-about-him/ Carry on ...

I believe this topic came up earlier in the season about the postgame comments he made that were really self critical and then again after the Jets game. With the Bills playing his hometown team and the Saints having Lattimore, who was picked higher than he was, we thought this could be an interesting week to delve further into the topic of why he is so hard on himself and what those around him say about it. We have made this a free article to give you a sense of the kinds of different things we are doing. http://buffalonews.com/2017/11/08/jerry-sullivan-rookie-white-takes-losing-to-heart/ Thanks for reading, Josh