Tortured Soul

Oh, it's real. http://www.caplakesting.com/ That was an AFP story.

Does anyone know for a fact MM will be calling plays? A 9-7 team that significantly upgrades their QB plus is entering the second year of Nick Saban's coaching? I don't think 11-5 is that big a deal at all.

Here is the argument against Willis to date: YPC. It sure doesn't look very impressive. Last year, he was 30th at 3.8 YPC. Ah, but he did it behind a piss-poor line, you'd say. Well, Henry ran behind a similarly piss-poor line and did considerably better. And, if you buy this KC Joyner stuff, the line wasn't actually that bad. That's the argument, take it or leave it. If you want a specific level of production, 4.0 YPC (26 RBs reached this level last year) should keep you in the NFL, 4.3 (15 RBs) would be considered good. 4.5 (7 RBs) makes you a star. As for Willis coming out and saying he wants to leave Buffalo, of course he didn't do that. Players rarely do. But he has Drew Rosenhaus as an agent, who likes the kind of big bonuses the Bills don't normally hand out, and Willis is a warm-weather player from a warm-weather school. I do think the best point you make is that the Bills need a successful season this year. Not to say we're all DOOMED, but ticket sales remained pretty strong this year, but another 5-win season coupled with the potential need for a new QB and the total inability to attract marquee free agents could send the team into a tailspin that won't end until they land in Los Angeles. So lets all pull for JP, Willis, and the rest.

In SI's projection, we finish a game behind Baltimore for the final playoff spot. Seeing as we play them the last week of the season, that would mean a playoff spot would be on the line.

How was Sully during the SB years? I think you can make a case for McGahee, Peters (top 12 ROTs), Schobel (definitely), Spikes, Fletcher, and McGee (top 12 #2 CBs).

You're kidding, but that's exactly what I was thinking.

If I had to guess why Whitner, who seems like a decent kid and was drafted much higher than expected is holding out despite the players before and after him have signed is because the Bills are low-balling him. Not that that makes much sense, but what else?

Strife between Burress and Manning, Strahan is another year older, and arguably everyone in the division got better. I don't think they'll do worse than 7-8 wins, but I could see their side.

If Wilson stood up and opposed the CBA, he wouldn't have been criticized the way he was. The reason he was criticzed is because he called it "too complex", not unfair.

And if the US army says there are WMD's in Iraq, that simple? How can you say ESPN doesn't have the right to report what happened? They're reporters. ESPN is not calling into question the heroism of Pat Tillman. The story of Pat Tillman ended on a barren ridge in Afghanistan more than two years ago. The story they are reporting on is did the government try to exploit his legacy. It's a question worth asking, and a question Pat's parents want answered.

I think you're being a bit harsh. Yes, ESPN is sports journalism, but the author of this piece is a two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee in public service and investigative reporting. I think he counts as a real journalist. And Pat Tillman's sacrifice is a compelling story, but not to the exclusion of the other events that took place. If the government - up to the president - knowingly lied to exploit his death, then that is a story, too. And it would be nice if "news" outlets as you call them would step up and cover the story, but just because they don't doesn't mean ESPN shouldn't either. I'm just starting as a news reporter at a major daily. I went through the same thing deciding whether sports journalism should be a full-time thing, and I came to the same conclusion. But when the writers at ESPN try to step beyond the narrow focus of sports, do they deserve to be criticized for it? Finally, if you wre reading this in the New York Times or Wall St. Journal, how would you critique the piece?

Is that from two years ago?

Mike F, The way you write it up, it looks like the season hinges on the Houston game. 3-6 and going on the road against, as you say, a similar team, if we drop that one, then I'd see players starting to give up and the season taking a nose dive. If we win, the Monday discussion on TSW will be who we need to lose to get the tie breakers. Big Difference.

Has he ever said anything publicly about owning the Bills? I think there have been exceptions made, and Tags (or his successor) might bend the rules if its clear that this is the best scenario to keep the team where it is. Plus, what Golisano has done with the Sabres might look good in the NFL's eyes.

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=2146135 I like the one by thehapadean

The fins were 9-7 last year, added Culpepper, and will probably improve just by virtue of Saban being there another year. Right now, to say we have an average QB is generous. I think the only way we win 10+ this year is if our QB turns out to be above average.

Seven winning seasons in 39 years, 1-5 all-time in the playoffs.

We have a number one who's never had a 1,000 yard season, two guys competing for number two, one of whom has been let go by two teams in two years, the other of whom has never had 600 yards in a season, and nothing proven beyond them. At tight end, we have a guy who's primarily a blocker who has never had 200 yards and another who is yet to catch a pass. How high should we be ranked?

Ganesh, here's the career numbers on Cowher and Homlgren. Cowher: 141 82 1 | 12 9 Holmgren: 138 86 0 | 11 9 That's regular season record followed by playoff record. Basically identical. Cowher is 1-1 in SBs vs. Holmgren's 1-2. Cowher has three losing seasons to Holmgren's two. I think the reason Holmgren is more impressive to me is that he's done it with two different teams as opposed to Cowher's one. Here's Shanahan's: 122 74 0 | 8 5 He's 2-0 in the big game with 2.5 losing seasons, and only one losing season in Denver. Bottom line, I don't know if any of these three deserve the Hall - I think they'll all make it, though - but if one gets in, they all get in.

1. Evans 2. Price 3. Parish 4. Reed 5. Nance 6. Aiken 7. Davis

The plan all along was to give it away at his death. he just moved up the timetable.

I thought you're only allowed 5 on your practice squad.

Add to that Donte Stallworth

No, longevity doesn't make a Hall of Famer. But, here's the argument for Bledsoe over Testaverde: He led his team to the Superbowl (in 1996) He made twice as many Pro Bowls (4-2) He had more seasons in the top 10 in yards (7-4) He had more seasons in the top 10 in TDs (7-3) He has potentially 3-4 more years as a starter, and has a legitimate chance at a big year this year, taking his team to the Superbowl. The book is not closed on Bledsoe yet.

The heat must've been top 5. You have no idea.