Matt in KC

I'm considering starting Fred Jackson in my WR/RB/TE flex position in my PPR league. My other options are: (favorite alternative) Austin Collie (in a walking boot, not practicing) Rian Torain (who knows if this will be 36 yards, or 136) Kevin Walter or Tony Moeaki (KC TE) Felix Jones (least favorite alternative) It's just such a crapshoot with these mid-level guys and injuries, but that's also the fun; FF forces you to make a decision. These players are plugging the hole caused by Brandon Marshall's bye (H. Nicks starting at WR). I lost Ryan Grant and Reggie Bush to injury, but I'm hanging in there are 3-1.

Wow. I'd think they'd want it done well.

I'd be so excited to see the Bills drive all the way down the field to the red zone.

Ditto. Nothing new to say, just the same old "THANK YOU!" as always, Lori.

Hold on now, are you judging the Bills positioning for this year, or the future? For this year, there's no reason to think McGee or Florence are about to hit a wall and slow down all of a sudden. If you're talking about positioning for the future, you should give the Bills more credit for their youth elsewhere (i.e. Byrd, McKelvin, O-line). It's a crap shoot to guess at the future, so I'd recommend sticking with the present, when McGeee and Florence are playing very well (minus a bad preseason game against the Colts for Florence).

Nice points. Thanks for taking the time to post. Don't mistake no one responding with no one reading your post. (If no one responds, it likely means no one significantly disagrees.)

It doesn't sound like it... http://twitter.com/BellShow:

Yes, I'd say it is strictly because we didn't want 4 rbs on our roster. They only think they'll need Bell this year if someone gets hurt, and they like Bell the 4th best of the available RBs, which is why they put him on the PS.

It looks like you should post this in the next thread down: http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/118611-ok-the-roster-has-been-set-official-prediction-time/ I think 3-5 wins seems like a decent prediction from someone who doesn't look closer than seeing a new coach, offense, defense on a team that lost it's best pass rusher and finished with 6 wins last year. That's all I make of most of those articles. If you read the article and don't see anything of substance about what happening now on the Bills, that's all it is, IMO, not hatred of Buffalo, the Bills or the fans.

No, the Bills cut him.

This is the time of year I always talk myself into thinking the Bills can win one more game than I've thought up to this point. I think it's my enthusiasm for the Bills and optimism that starts to overpower my more detached assessment as I get excited for the season. That said, I've risen up to 6 wins as my best guess, up from 5. The team looks much better than I've expected in pre-season, but I think the new schemes on offfense, defense, and special teams is a heavy burden. Also, we have so many young players and players in new positions, I think it'll be too hard to get up to 50%. I hope to see continued improvement this year, and respectable play and playcalling. I think with one more offseason we'll be in a good position to compete and make a playoff run next year.

This is very close to how I see it, though if he keeps playing this way, Nelson looks like stronger competition to S Johnson than Jackson is. I can't see them paying hardy's salary when he does not look close to being ready to be in a game against starters and the competition this pre-season has shown we can find other options that are as good (or better) where we can likely slip one onto the PS. I prefer Jones as ahead of Roosavelt after the Lion's game. I also favor going with 5 WR and one of these guys on the PS if we have to choose one or two from: A. Coleman A. Moats J. Hardy D. Jones J. McCargo Edit: I think Moats earned his roster spot against the Lions (and improving all preseason) and Coleman looks like he has enough promise to invest in, especially at a position where we're weak. I think McCargo then Hardy have the worst shots of making the team. Silly question, but is Hardy eligible for the PS? Has he actually been active for 8 games? Answered my own question: he was active in 16 games (2 in 2009, 14 in 2008), so he's not PS-eligible. He could find himself out of the NFL for good starting today. I've never seen him play with any urgency like that might happen.

I really like this kid. I'm going to be psyched or really disappointed depending on if he makes the final roster or not. It seems to me like we really need him on the team to run a lot of 2/3 RB formatations and not have to change our play selection if Marshawn or Fred Jackson get dinged up. It seems to me he could legitimately fill in as either FJ or ML (or as a fullback for McIntyre?). I won't even suggest he could fill in as CJS, who is a unique weapon. Also, he's appeared to be one of our top Special Teams players in preseason.

We'll miss your perspective, 1967. Thanks for taking the time to post a message to the board telling us what's going on. The door's always open to come back, anonymous again, to post under a new handle. I hope to see you again, even if I don't know it's you.

Stroud is one of our best linemen on either side of the ball. I have this strange feeling we'll look at 3rd and 4th string players to cut, not our starters. Darn, the "vote this post down" feature still isn't working....

I too have been very impressed with Bell. Given the FJ & ML injury situation, I think the Bills have to make room for him on the final 53, though I'm not sure what other position is going to have to cut one more to accommodate him. Can he long snap?

It doesn't work that way. Whichever team receives the ball first each half has a 50% chance of having an extra offensive possession that half. Deferring just means you'll decide at the start of the second half if choosing which direction you go each quarter is worth more than that.

Yes, two different things are being discussed, with some posters not making the distinction. Do you defer (choose to make your choice in the second half if you win the coin toss)? Do you take possession or the direction you want when it's your half to choose? For the second one, I'd say take possession unless there's a moment-in-time influence on the game like the wind picking up. I'd say deferring is fine, but I'd usually choose possession immediately unless there's a reason not to.

George.... That's a curious name.

You're the second person to bring this up, and I don't think you're thinking it through well. Each team who starts a half with the ball will either have the same number of offensive series as their opponent (if the opponent ends the half with the ball) or one more offensive series (if the team ends the half with the ball). There's nothing particularly helpful I can see about having this chance at an advantage for the second half instead of the first. Actually, I think it's better to score early as it shifts the crowd in your favor and puts the pressure on your opponent. Let them play catch up! Similarly, I don't think wind makes that much difference if it's constant. Would you rather the other team needs to catch up to you at the end or it's easier for you to catch up (and more likely you need to)? Now if the weather, including sunshine, is shifting and there's a period where it likely will be easier to advance, that's where it makes sense to take that advantage (kick away) rather than receive the ball and a chance at an extra possession in that half. Anyway, typing this out, I don't know if some people may be confusing deferring (postponing the right to choose possession/direction to the second half) with choosing direction initially instead of receiving the ball.

Insert image works for me.

Yes, the thumbnail and image link both work now. (They didn't a few mins ago.) The new board looks great! Thanks for all the hard work!

Hopefully your source is misinformed or comments were misunderstood. This is horrible news. At least we have a few safeties who could start, though I have no idea how effective each will be in our new defense.

Okay, I'm in. Charity to be named later. I bet Stevestojan several years ago. I think the bet offered by Steve was that the Bills would allow less than 40 sacks (the result was 41 or 42 I think). He was a gentleman and paid via Paypal shortly after the season. Edit: Not that anyone cares, but it was the 2004 season and I bet under 40. We ended up giving up 38 sacks. Bledsoe was sacked 49 times the year before (and the year after with Dallas), so I don't remembr what I saw, but it paid off.

I like your optimist! Unfortunately, RBs cannot gain the yards themselves. They rely on blocking, threat of a passing game coaching, etc.. While I really like our RBs, I expect our rushing stats to be middle-of-the-pack. If we're tops rushing or defense this year, I'll eat my hat.