The Red King

Hmm, earlier I said... ...I stand corrected. Apparently at least one person does...

Come now, it's pretty obvious the top five spots your glasses could be are already set.

Thing is, we were desperate for a franchise QB. And while many people debated the coach's decision to start RJ for the Titans game, nobody blamed RJ for losing it. That was on the coach for taking the time out at three seconds instead of two, leaving one on the clock...and on the special teams who had one job (let him return it anywhere, even the one-yard line...anywhere but the end zone). As a result, people wanted to believe in RJ. People wanted him to succeed, to be the franchise QB we desperately needed. A lot of fans were willing to overlook his flaws and shortcomings at first because of that desperate desire. But in the end, RJ just didn't get it done. It was not Flutie's fault he didn't succeed in Buffalo, it was his. Young grew up in Montana's shadow and outgrew it. Rodgers grew up in Farve's shadow and outgrew it. Brady grew up in Bledsoe's shadow and outgrew it. RJ might have been in Flutie's shadow, but he had ample opportunity to outgrow it. Unlike the examples mentioned above, who outgrew better QBs then Flutie, RJ failed. That's on him.

Sooo...you have inside knowledge and every mock draft confirms that with absolute certainty that these will be the first five picks? You are saying there is no chance whatsoever that any of the top five picks will differ at all from this? Bold claim. And if you're wrong about even one of them will you then return to this thread, apologize, and explain how the knowledge you claim as infallible was wrong? ...I really hate thread title absolutes. The draft can't get here quick enough... >.<

You're likely right. Honestly, at the start of the season I figured NE would try and eek out one more SB win and Belli and Brady would ride off into the sunset. Then Jimmy G got traded and that theory went out the window.

I'll be curious to see what comes to light after the collapse. Right now all we have is speculation and circling vultures. In a decade or so we should have the full, true story of what's actually unfolding now.

I hate this statement. I shake my head every time I heard it. He didn't take us to the playoffs. Shady and the D did. TT was part of it, but just because he was on the first Bills team to make the playoffs in the 21st century does not automatically mean he took us there. By extension, you are literally saying that every single starter...offense, defense and special teams...are playoff caliber players because they were on the first Bills team to make it in eighteen years. Please, please don't tell me you're saying that. By that logic, Colton Schmidt took us to the playoffs. Jordan Matthews took us to the playoffs. Charles Clay took us to the playoffs. Argue for or against TT. Support him if you'd like. We're all entitled to our opinions. But please don't only use the fact the TT was on a playoff team as evidence that he is a playoff-caliber QB, or that he was the reason they made the playoffs. Logic doesn't work that way.

So you don't think Brady had a hand in getting Jimmy G traded? I'm asking honestly, not being sarcastic.

The Comeback was the loudest for me. It was just a Wild Card game, it was even blacked out and a ton of people left at halftime...but those who were left (and those who snuck back in) continued to find ways to get louder and louder after each pivotal play and maintain that escalating volume level. I had never heard the stadium that loud, and haven't since.

If reports are true, it says something about Brady. Upset that NE drafted a replacement? You're 40 and mortal. If I were in his shoes I'd be happy I was still playing and understand there will come a time, likely soon, that I will be either injured or so worn down I need to retire and when that time comes I'd hope the team I love has a plan. Brady didn't want to be replaced by Jimmy G? Play well enough and he won't. I don't remember seeing a big QB controversy in NE last year where people were screaming in large numbers to pull Brady. Why? Because Brady was too damn good, regardless of age. And if Brady's play slips? Well...there's a reason older players retire. It's the circle of life. Players, even the best of them, age...and their abilities decline. Bruce Smith was easily better then our current DEs. Why isn't he playing instead? Age, of course. Players get old, erode, and get replaced. Brady is set for life. He's got his rings, he's a lock for the HoF, has and will continue to make more money then he knows what to do with. If he really is doing this, forcing Jimmy G out so he can continue to be the one, true legend in NE. If he forced NE to compromise their future just so he can be comfortable in the spotlight a little longer...then that is truly pathetic.

There is certainly the possibility they regress this year, but they are not going to be the worst team in the league. Not even close.

Remember, last season Rodak said the Bills' season was over before it started, and that they and the Jets would be fighting for the #1 pick.

To quote you directly... and I think through my replies very carefully, thank you. I just found it odd that you list the Bills starting a new, inexperienced QB was listed as a liability for the Bills, while the Jets drafting a QB (who, by definition of 'rookie' will be new and inexperienced) is listed as a strength for the Jets.

Let me be crystal clear. At no point did I say the JAX game was solely TT's fault. But pointing out others' mistakes does not absolve TT of his. My opinion of TT differs from most. I think he's a good QB. But he has his limits. I think he is better then most TT detractors do and I think he is worse then most TT supporters. The JAX game was a game that BUF needed TT to step up, and he didn't. That is TT encapsulated. It's rare to be able to point to a game and say "Yeah, TT lost that one for us." But, at the same time, it is equally rare to be able to point to a game and say "Yeah, TT won that one for us."

That's not hard to do when 99% of your passes are short check-down, dump-off passes...especially when many of them are on 3rd and long. Statistics can be misleading.

Not to state the obvious or talk down to you...then you do just that. First sign someone is losing a debate is when they start relying more on insults then points. Sorry, not going to drop to your level. Well, maybe a little... Okay, with that out of the way... Watch the JAX game again. He had receivers wide open and didn't throw to them. The throws he did make beyond dump-off distance were in the dirt or behind his receivers. That is not the fault of anyone else. That's all on TT. He is baseline, mediocre. He is good enough to stabilize a bad team, but when the team needed to lean on him to win a game for them (Panthers, Bengals, Jags...), he simply can't do it. Now, if you'd like to continue on with an intellegent, civil discussion of the matter, I'm game. If you'd prefer to just talk down to me and hurl insults, sorry...not my style. Stay frosty!

After doing so, click on "Posts" under "Forums" and it will go into full detail on all of them. (see my prior screencap)

Ironically, at the time my post count and Bills4Life's rep count were both 63. The screencap is from Bills4Life's profile, not mine.

And just like skee-ball tickets you need several hundred for a tic-tac, right?

It's showing 63 for me, atm. It's the number of reactions your posts have gotten, and the "+" number under your avatar! ^.^ ...when you click on it, there are menu options running down the left side. Click on "Posts" under "Forums" and it will go into full detail on all 63.

Also a great deal more completions in key situations and other clutch plays. Taylor was good at not doing that. There is such a thing as being too safe, and situations where you have to take risks...TT just wouldn't, or couldn't do so. As I've said before he won't lose you many games, but he won't win you many either. The ultimate baseline.

Bad receivers mean receivers that cannot get open as often. If Tyrod was regularly throwing accurate passes to our reeievers...hell, if he even threw to them when they were open...but they were not open much, then that's on the receivers. If passes were dropped or picked off because the receivers didn't get separation, then that would be the recievers' fault. Not even throwing to receivers that were indeed open is on TT. Underthrowing open receivers is on TT. Throwing erratically at anything beyond check-down range is on TT. Worse, his unwillingness and inability to even attempt throwing mid to deep range passes allowed opposing teams to put eleven players, a couple cheerleaders and an assistant coach in the box, creating a brick wall for Shady to run into. So yes, he brought the offensive unit down in 2017.

Last season. Last season was the turning point where he stopped elevating the Bills, and started dragging them down. The JAX game was a wonderful microcosm of TT. The D holds JAX to 10 points, a Jags team that goes on to score 45 on the road at Pitt and 20 at NE...and we lose, scoring just 3. That is a good team dragged down by medicore QB play that was quite simply not good enough.

Wait, us having an inexperienced QB is a negative, but the Jets having one makes them stronger?

Come on now, I remember that Jets' game and it was a slaughter until the Jets almost choked yet another game away giving us a good number of garbage points (and yards) well after the game was out of hand. That's far from "really good". Anyone can put up good stats on a Prevent defense if they try.