Matt in KC

Drew may be happy about Farve, but I don't think he'll ever get into the HOF. http://www.nfl.com/players/drewbledsoe/car...ts?id=BLE195074 Only 5 of his 14 years did he have a QB rating over 80 (top year = 87.7 in 1997), and three years were in the 60's. He was a pocket passer with a big arm, but without enough charisma, skill (stats) or innovation to be enshrined. I always thought he received more respect as a leader in the media than he deserved.

So, send you say $500 via PayPal and show up at Micky Rat's on Sept 6th and ask for ...John? I'm in!

Don't worry, if not having a solid LT kills Trent this year, we can always use our top draft pick to grab a sure-fire QB to start over with.

I'm picking 12th in my pay league too. I assume it's a "snake" draft where you get the 12th and 13th picks? If so, it may not be all bad. Mine is the initial year of being a keeper league playing 1 RB, 2WR, 1 RB/WR. I think I'm likely to end up with Marshawn Lynch, and Romo or Terrell Owens or Brees (whoever is left). This is a solid start to a team, but it sure is a looong time after that 13th pick until we pick again (36th pick). When I ran through a mock draft, it was close whether TJ Houshmandwhatever or Marquez Colston or David Gerrard were left. All are solid picks in my view. By the way, there's a TBD Fantasy Football forum: http://www.stadiumwall.com/index.php?showforum=6. It doesn't get nearly the traffic of the main board, but it's more appropriate to post this there.

Bill, you mention the Salary Cap as one of the causes of hold-outs, but don't specifically mention the constant increases to the salary cap. I think this is a big driver of the sense of inequity belief that big contracts are there to be had. Every year we hear about deals that are jaw-dropping and were unthinkable just a couple years earlier. If Peters doesn't change his stance in the next few weeks, I think his holdout is more than just softening the ground for a big contract next year. The only way this makes sense to me is if Peters really plans to sit the year out (which of course is the usual bluff of a hold out). He might think the Bills will release or trade him before next year and the contract he'll get will be bigger than the Bills would ever give him this year. Personally, I think this is probably true.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3517219 So they can't confirm the reinstatement, but can say they'll be prepared to act by 1PM on Monday...

I don't think Crowell is worth top dollar, at least not how he played last year (often running right past the ball carrier to go fill his gap) . But he seems to still be getting a better, but is starting to plateau IMO. I'm interested to see if he stays healthy and how he's performing at the end of the year. If he's still improving at stops making "rookie mistakes" then I think we should re-sign him. After all, it may be hard for us to find a replacement with one of the last picks in the 2009 draft.

The preseason games are definitely the best time for the fans to gauge players' performance because they're structured in a format we're used to and recorded broadcast. I think the games themselves are a relatively small portion of what the coaches use to pass judgement, though they likely often confirm suspicions (e.g. a player's footwark isn't good enough to defeat an opponent going all-out). So, we're suprised at the cuts, but I think the coaches and players rarely are. The final cuts likely are heavy with politics among the position coaches. Still, all this said, every year there is a cut (or two) I don't understand.

Yup, I really enjoy watching the preseason games, though it's a different experience than the regular season. In preseason I tend to identify with the coaches and front office the most, developing my limited ability to understand and judge different positions, deciding for myself who i'd keep or cut; who has raw talent that might improve with a little time in the league and who i fear may never "get it". In the regular season I definitely identify more with the players, loving it when they stomp the competition, and really feeling it when we get manhandled. I too record and love to re-watch the preseason games to focus on different positions. But, much like my old habit of reading the entire NY Times, this is a luxury my schedule (w young child) seldom allows unless I'm battling insomnia.

Oh yeah, I remember that, but no Spidey "skin"...

I don't remember Bennett wearing those, just Talley. Are you sure he did?

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6312 That sure doesn't sound good. I really would have liked to have seen the word "precautionary" somewhere in that sentence....

I found this: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=149&f=1764&t=1186834

I personally think Kelsay has played better than his numbers suggest. In passing situations the last two years, the Bills would often line up Denny next to Kelsay for the pass rush. In many (half?) of these cases it looks like Kelsay has responsibility for containment to his side as Denny rushes the QB on the inside. Two of the Bills defensive highlights last season came from Kelsay, getting his hands up and deflecting Romo's pass for an INT / TD, then on a nearly identical play a few weeks later (Dolphins? Jets?) having the opposing QB decide not to throw the ball and take the sack/safety.

Yes, the core of our linebacking corps looks good. Hopefully during the year, we never have to refer to it as a linebacking corpse. Mitchell looks like a great addition, and of course I'm thrilled to have Poz back. It's hard to imagine we'll be nearly as weak up the middle this year, especially w Stroud helping clog the runs. Yeah, I'm psyched!

This is rough on the Colts. Can you imagine Kyle Williams, Ko Simpson or Trent Edwards (obviously different circumstances) retiring so soon? But, this is what I'd expect only if a player found out they or their spouse had a very serious medical condition. I certainly don't know enough to be critical of Pitcock.

I agree. Then other people chime in, even when they have nothing to add. Pretty soon a whole lotta nothin' is being said.

That's a pic of Mitchell, no?

And my annual praise continues.... Thank you so much!

Well, it says he bought "2,500 small bottles a month". I wonder just how small they were. Still, 80+ bottles per day? I guess if they were one ounce bottles....

McGee ripped off several nice returns to around mid-field. But, I agree, he seemed to do better before last year when he had Fletcher or Peters or Banaan (if I remember right) as a big body on the return wedge. He really tore up the opposition when one of his blockers blew a hole in the initial wave coming at him. Last year it looked more like they had trouble getting out of his way, and he had more short returns when he couldn't get that initial 5 yards untouched.

I can't really respect wanting someone on the Bills to get hurt. Why not will the Bills coaching staff to recognize the young players' potential if they're actually a better option than whoever you're ...rooting against. Doesn't something feel a bit, you know, un-fan-like about wishing ill toward members of your favorite team? I was excited about us gettting Wright, and want to be more excited about the prospect of him playing. I'm very eager to see Omon against 3rd stringers in pre-season, but doubt he'll be ready for any NFL snaps this year.

I understand you like our depth, but huh?! With regard to our depth, these guys are all so young, I'm very worried about an injury to Lynch or Jackson. Are you really comfortable with Wright or Omon coming in for a series as the backup in a game if the remaining starter gets dinged?

I think you should take twice as much next time to strengthen the trip. When you take enough, you can see that you always go back to where you started.

I agree, but also add severe penalties for holding out in the future... then add the period.