silvermike

This was in print? At least, with a website, if you make a mistake, you can change it when someone points it out. In print, that's embarassing.

Definitely the Jags - that running game is going to show what Stroud, McCargo, and Johnson are worth this season.

This may be an ignorant question, but what would happen to a 7 foot basketball player in the NFL if he had the hands and played TE? It seems like you should be able to get a red zone threat out of him.

I don't think more than two or three first rounders have signed yet. And if nobody's pounced on Bentley now, I have to believe he's really done. He was an all-pro center and can't get a whiff? Those knees must look pretty scary.

He can buy whatever jerseys he wants, and season tickets and necessarily watch the ads if he's watching Bills games on TV. But if we win the Super Bowl in the next few years, he can never say "I was with them all along." In fact, he can never say that. How much credit he gets is how much hardship he has to endure before a championship.

I don't really care what order we sign these guys in. Brandon doesn't spend all day in a room with Peters' agent until it's done, then move on to the next one. There really isn't a time issue - you try to make the deals and you make your offers and let them stew with it. You hear what they have back. It's only the exact details that require an actual time investment.

The rules are complicated in an uncapped year - it's not a total free-for-all. There would be a limit on how big a contract a player can receive: I think it's about a 25% increase over his last one. Also, playoff teams can't add that many additional players - the top teams can only replace players who leave through unrestricted free agency. Additionally, you would need at least six years of service to be an unrestricted free agent, meaning anyone drafted since 2004 would play by restricted free agency rules. Peters would be stuck. Ditto Edwards, Butler, Hardy, Parrish, Williams, Lynch, McCargo, Puz, DiGiorgio, Whitner, Simpson, McKelvin, Greer. It won't doom us, it would just be a huge, ugly mess for the league and the players. That's why it's there - to make sure there will be no uncapped year.

What was the last prolonged hold out by a second-round pick, anyway? Especially since Hardy isn't a QB, I think he'll sign the slotted contract and get to camp on time. I know he includes second rounders on there, but worrying about a holdout from anyone outside of the first round is pretty sketchy.

Also, I think you really have to award A+'s. Drew Brees and Phil Rivers are fine QBs, but they're not playing the same game as Peyton Manning.

The Bucs got an A-? Would anyone alive or dead trade Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn for Jeff Garcia and Chris Simms? WOuld you trade Eli Manning for them? David Garrard? Tony Romo?

Craphonso Thorpe. Jim Thorpe's last name, Number Two's first name.

Too bad...I thought he had a good shot of making the team: http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/383268.html

So that makes Fine, Corner, and Cox.

When he gets to four AFC championship games and a Super Bowl, he'll be Lindy Ruff. Hmm - typing that made me realize that Ruff's career is virtually the same, in terms of playoff performance and facial hair, as Bill Cowher.

I forget which year this was, but it was Bills-Patriots game that we won 14-0. I remember my dad lifting me up to watch Thurman Thomas run 80 yards down the sideline for the first score, and then later, as the Pats were driving, chanting INT! INT! INT! with my friend - and being rewarded with a pick moments later.

RIP

He has to clear waivers too, which is really funny. It's a bad sign when a top-ten pick doesn't last long enough to clear waivers.

Hey, he went to college with Jason Peters, therefore, he's probably exactly like him. I say put some weight on him, convert him to TE, add some more, have him play occasionally DT on special teams, and then top him off and send him over to right tackle.

The Levy/Polian character was always about on-the-field character - playing every down to the whistle, blocking when you've gotta, participating in special teams, showing up. Bruce, Jimbo, and the rest had plenty of off the field problems, they just showed up Sunday to play the game.

Is there any reason to think Lynch knew the girl was okay when he left?

So basically, would you rather be Rob Johnson or Derek Anderson?

There are fewer great QBs now then there used to be because the definition of "All time great QB" is "Was really dominant when I was in middle school" for most people, especially sportswriters. Now that those guys have all retired, you're left with less.

They extended Schobel very early, and they'll extend Peters. But I bet we won't hear much about the negotiations until suddenly they announce their 8 year deal.

Is it possible that the agents would demand a higher cut if they didn't have the automatic 1st round windfall, and are using that to keep Upshaw advocating for the current system?

You can argue about the morality all day, but asking for a new deal isn't stupid. Provided your goal, as a pro athlete, is to make the most money, and not to be popular. Holdouts rarely backfire for the player, and until they do, the players are going to keep holding out.