BillnutinHouston

OK, I bought a Fitz jersey this year but after reading this, I'm having some buyer's remorse. Hoping Fitz's response is just due to camp fatigue.

Appears that Giff Smith and Bob Sanders (former DC from Green Bay) will be on the field relaying Wannstedt's calls. Dave has a plan and he's comfortable with it. Quote: “I will be in the coach’s box,” said Wannstedt. ”That’s where I was all of the years at the University of Miami, Oklahoma State, Dallas and some of the other places. There is not a call happening that you are not on top of or involved with. I am kind of excited about it; We have great assistant coaches and a nice formula set on how we will communicate and get the information back and forth, which will work smooth.” Wannstedt will presumably make use of both defensive line coach Giff Smith and linebackers coach Bob Sanders to deliver plays from the sideline. Sanders is a former defensive coordinator from his days in Green Bay." http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2012/08/08/wannstedt-to-be-upstairs-on-game-day/

I'm not a big fan of change but I am a huge fan of this site. Thanks to everyone who works hard to keep it great. How can I make a contribution?

Copied from beafriend.org: Donate Tickets Do you have tickets for upcoming events which could be distributed to our ‘Big & Little’ matches? Our kids love to go to hockey and football games, ice shows and the circus, age appropriate concerts and shows….and everything in between. These are the ‘Little Moments. Big Magic.” of Big Brothers & Big Sisters. Please contact Alicia Bartsch, our Director of Community Relations at abartsch@beafriend.org or call 716-873-5833. On behalf of the children we serve and someday hope to serve, thank you in advance for your generous support.

I think his adds, especially with Urbik, Rinehart and Chandler have been excellent. I vaguely recall reading that Buddy pulled some type of procedural "fast one", or maybe it was some kind of head fake (leading Cowboy staff to think he coveted a player on their team, so they protect him only to then have Buddy swoop in and take the player they really wanted) that landed Chandler. Anyone else recall this? I also think that while Buddy's an excellent talent evaluator, a complete perspective has to take into account that Buddy has benefitted from inheriting a very favorable waiver wire "order" - in his first few years he had nearly the first pick of the waiver wire availables.

Reddog, can you be more specific - what was it about Houston that you liked? Stadium, atmosphere, city, etc? I haven't been to Reliant for a football game yet but I bought tickets to the Bills game this year and can't wait.

Heavy sigh...

OP, this is a reassuring report. I was getting a little nervous about the LT spot.

Yea, much cheaper than the Ralph C. Wilson Preservation Center @ the Hall of Fame ($2.5 mil).

Don't think so. That was in 2009. Nelson's rookie year was 2010.

Yes, you're right, the other 31 owners are oozing with jealousy over Ralph's situation in Buffalo. And why not, when Ralph enjoys: 1) vast revenues from Buffalo's huge season ticket base (as compared to the other teams) 2) mega-revenues from Buffalo's vast, high-rate corporate and club suite base 3) the exorbitant ticket prices Buffalo commands vs. other NFL markets 4) the generous advertising revenue available from the media "hub" that is Buffalo 5) Buffalo's exceptional media exposure vs. other NFL markets 6) Buffalo's sparkling new stadium replete with all the bells and whistles It appears that you resent Ralph, but face it: the reason Buffalo has a disappointing team is the same reason Buffalo even HAS a team - Ralph Wilson. Ralph is certainly an enigma and like many of us, is a complicated fellow who's management record is mixed. Sure he knows how to turn a buck (welcome to capitalism!), but if he's all about money he'd be offering a team to LA, or asking for gold-plated stadium renovations, and/or we'd be tailgating on Sundays at "Weber's Mustard Stadium" instead of the Ralph. Bottom line, I think you oversimplify his motives and don't give credit where it's due to an old-school businessman who despite his self-interested ways, gets the concept of what this team means to Buffalo. If you think Ralph is heartless, just consider what the next owner might be like.

Good find. The move makes sense IMO.

A few points: 1) Every team has question marks. 2) Consensus among many NFL watchers is that other than Tampa Bay, no other team has improved more this offseason. The optimism here is not unfounded. 3) Wideouts - you want a "complimentary receiver for S Johnson" but I'd submit that Chan's spread offensive scheme makes this a nonissue. More than most teams, Gailey's offense puts 3-4 receivers on the field at any given time, forcing defenses to cover the whole field and giving Fitz multiple options. Our threat comes not so much from WHO the receivers are as HOW MANY there are to cover. The Bills were 14th in total offense last year (5th in the AFC) even with Fred Jackson out for most of the season. If the glass is half empty for you, that's cool. Many see it as half full.

^ This. I find it laughable that some people are even trying to answer this question before we're even finished with training camp, let alone the full 16 game season.

Thanks, great stuff!

I caught a short blurb the other day saying he was stout at guard. No link, however.

Outstanding.

I think I saw what it was at the time, because after all Kelsay's productions hadn't been stellar up until then. But, in the wake of these comments by Nelson, things are put in clearer focus and you can see that phase 1 for Buddy clearly involved weeding out those who weren't "team first" and conversely promoting those like Kelsay who towed the company line, obeyed orders and went about playing a different position (OLB) even it was contrary to what he personally wanted to do.

Dumping? Speaking for myself, while I've stated that I'm not a fan of the stuff Nelson offers up to the media, I don't see it as a huge issue. On a "concern" scale of 1-10, it would maybe register a 2. Clearly, both Nelson and Wilson are good, well-intentioned, classy kids - I just wish they'd offer up less to the media!

My view exactly. It's nice to want to be forthcoming and helpful to inquiring reporters, but be sure you're not undermining team unity or betraying confidences in the process. Admittedly it's a fine line but somtimes "no comment" is an acceptable response to a reporter.

Hopeful, I agree with you about Nelson needing to be more discreet. He's a reporter's dream.

What do you make of this passage from this morning's article in The News? "Wide receiver David Nelson was a rookie Gailey's first season, but Nelson noticed an unpleasant carryover from the previous regime. "The leader of each position group has to believe in what the head man is trying to do," Nelson said. "If the leader of that group is doing his own thing or if the head man is telling us one thing and the group leader is whispering things like 'Oh, don't listen to him,' then the team falls apart. "I think we've gotten rid of all that. Guys are giving up selfish ambitions and buying into that team atmosphere." So what I'm getting is that Lee Evans was somewhat divisive behind the scenes. Anyone else have a different take? Nelson's first season was Evans's last (2010), in which he (Evans)would have been the leader of the receivers' position group. If this was the "purge" it now appears to be, it might help explain Buddy's dancing around the issue of Evans' release back then.

Interesting article. I bookmarked it so I can read it again after I've had some caffiene. Helps me understand why rookie receivers rarely make an impact. I'm curious to know the author's credentials. I clicked on his name which is a link, but it's not revealing.

Shocking but no Moorman this year! Pictures on tix are: Wood Billy Buff Mario Fitz Polian Barnett Stevie Dareus Byrd

As I recall, David Nelson let that slip during an interview.