Luxy312

I would think that the team would make CB a priority, but I actually wouldn't mind bringing in a nother linebacker. I think that even with an injured Brooks, that linebacker is still the weakest point on the team. Maybe they go DB if they plan on running a lot of nickel and dime? Just a thought. The pass rush should be able to get to most QB's with just the front 4.

All of the "run the ball first" comments are nice and all, but they haven't proven that they can do that and win. In EACH of the last 3 seasons, the Bills have lost 5 games by less than a touchdown because all they were intent on doing is keeping it close and running the football. That's 15 games folks. In order to "run the ball first", the Bills need to be up on the scoreboard. They also need to prove that they can stop the run as well or it won't matter. Let's not forget that they've been one of the worst teams against the run during that same timeframe. OK, so before someone jumps down my throat, this defense looks a lot different this year than years past, particularly the front 4. However, the linebackers have to be a point of concern based on the play we've seen so far. As for the other comments about using 5 WR sets, I really don't think that's realistic. Particularly when your 5th WR is Brad Smith. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the no huddle with CJ and Jackson on the field at the same time, along with Johnson, Jones, and Graham. If the opposing D stacks the box, you beat them downfield. If they're honest, you run the ball and see what happens.

McKenzie isn't on the wall because he simply wasn't a great player. He was good, but certainly not a game changer or completely dominant at his position. To a degree, I would almost like to see the "wall of fame" concept changed. I would like to see an all-time roster, with backups at every position. McKenzie would probably be on that list because he's one of the best we had at his position. Certainly not the best in the NFL none the less.

Outside of the Patriots and a small number of other games, they may have one of the softest schedules in the NFL. If you coach and know football, then you would know that teams don't get better by losing players (i.e. the Jets). They're a couple of locker room comments away from a complete implosion. While limited in action, the Bills starters have done that. They haven't spent a bunch of time on the field, but have been able to score. I'm mostly concerned with the play of our linebackers. To me, that's where this team will "true up" against their opponents. I guess my ding on you was really for finding a reason to be pessimistic. If they come out flat against the Jets in the first week, I'll be on your page. However, if a traditionally (last 8 years) bad road team goes to New Jersey and takes a "W" from NY, I'll be the first one to say "I told you so". They have to start somewhere and some time, and when they do, I'll be there.

Have you watched anything of the preseason Debbie? The Jets have played 3 games and haven't scored an offensive touchdown yet. The Patriots have gone 1-3 and looked aweful. Ryan Tannehill said he has no clue what teams are in what divisions and thought the Chiefs were in the NFC North. Until actual games start being played, there's nothing to do but be optimistic about what might happen. There were so many of those great Bills teams of the 90's that looked like a turd during the preseason, that it's not even funny. The Bills have added quite a bit of talent from last year. There's plenty to be optimistic about yet.

That's a good start. What if Obama actually closed GTMO like he promised instead of spending $30 million to rennovate. What if we pulled troops out of Afghanistan as promised instead of increasing our presence. What if we withdrew from Iraq in lieu of paying contractors to stay there? What if we got rid of a $500b deficit in lieu of increasing it by $4.5 trillion? What if monkeys could actually fly like they did in the Wizard of Oz? OK, maybe that went a little too far, but not that much farther than you're suggesting. Fitzpatrick is clearly going to be the starter no matter what happens in the game tonight. No team in the NFL trades any draft pick for a 3rd string QB, which means that Tarvaris Jackson is clearly #2. Logic suggests that TT is likely gone before the season starts, or at a minimum relegated to #3 QB duties or a glorified clipboard holder. It doesn't matter if he magically throws a touchdown pass from his knees from the 1 yard line to the other end zone in the air. His role is pretty much known.

In reading through threads like these, I'm always amazed at the amount of emotional attachment that fans have to players. Without any evaluation of what the player has actually contributed to the team in recent years, we proclaim that other fans should "give them a chance" or "be patient", simply because a player once showed signs of talent. While I'm fine with doing that for guys just coming into the NFL, joining a new system or coming into very new terminology, it just doesn't hold water for veterans, particularly those that are "seasoned". McGee is starting his 10th season with the Bills and to date has not completed a single season. He has not put on pads for 20% of the regular season games that he could have played. Putting that in context, people are basically arguing that it's OK that a supposed starter can't even play 3.2 games per season. He's had even less games as a starter. It's unfortunately time for a bit of reality and time to move on.

I guess we'll know pretty quickly if opposing teams TE's continue to carve us up. That's almost always on the LB's.

Agree with this. He shows off his speed until he slows down so he can go back to the football? He wasn't blowing away anyone in that play. LOL. Regardless, I like the Graham pick and what he's done so far in camp and the preseason.

Williams and Dareus meet Sanchize and turn into sandwich. Season over.

I'm worried less about the secondary and more about the linebackers. They have been poor at tackling and very poor in coverage underneith. Our secondary won't matter if teams can dink and dunk all day within 10 yards.

Sure. They've been the odds on favorite to win EVERY Superbowl for the last 7 years. How many have they won? Zip, Zero, Nada. Blowing or sucking.....pick one.

Threads like these are a dime a dozen and a complete joke for having any meaningful discussion. The Bills didn't perceive a need for a quarterback with their 3rd round pick. They did perceive a need for a starting wide receiver and that's what they got. Getting your man juices flowing (unless you're a child of course), to make yourself believe that they should have picked this or that player over who they actually did, DESPITE obvious needs is borderline short bus thinking. They said it after the draft. Unless there was an OBVIOUS franchise QB available, they weren't going to pick him. That certainly doesn't apply to a guy projected to go in the 4th or 5th round.

You just have to get used to it. They've been blowing Brady sideways for years even though that team hasn't won the Superbowl in years and has been knocked out twice in the first round of the playoffs. Besides the perpetual love for lady Brady and the Cheatriots, Green Bay also has to be a media favorite for almost going undefeated. While the national media is basically a bunch of whores, you can find good articles and much more insightful writing from smaller outlets. You just have to take the time to look for them.

I'm just going to pray to Jesus that the vote comes out in favor of Tarvaris Jackson. Tongue in cheak there obviously, but Jackson is the more accurate passer and still gives you someone that can scramble as well.

I do. None of us know exactly what the motivation is, but it's clear the team has continued to add other QB's after already having Thigpen as a "backup". It's clear that Fitzpatrick is getting paid as a starter and I would think that they would expect him to perform like one. Regardless of the injury excuse, last year was far too many mistakes. If I read between the lines (at least from my perspective), Thigpen has performed no better than Fitzpatrick. Why WOULDN'T they want to try to motivate a guy that hasn't played up to his contract?

I've stated this before and will state it again. Vince Young isn't smart enough to run this offense. His response to pressure is taking off running. When you can't make reads quick enough to actually get the ball out in a 3 step drop, we don't just want him trying to make plays with his feet. In addition to not being smart enough to get it, he's not accurate in his delivery. Picking up Tarvaris Jackson wasn't a bad move to motivate Fitzpatrick. I think that's it in a nutshell. Thigpen really just wasn't getting it done either, so getting Jackson wasn't bad.

He needs to go back and look at the tape. DeCastro simply got trucked by Dareus. None the less, this was a very disappointing game. Vince Young looked as lost as he usually does. Fitzpatrick looked pedestrian. So much for the first game with them following a "plan".

The Bills put Troup on IR today, effectively ending his season. I think this experiment is over and it's time to move on. I don't get this move either. I would just cut him at this point and move on.

I love the specter of doubt before the season even starts. This Jets team is a ticking time bomb. If the Jets lose in week 1 at the Meadowland, it will be absolute chaos in New Jersey.

If you look at what will likely be the roster at the start of this season and dial back 4 years, you will see about 50% turnover. Almost a third of the guys on the team were drafted last year or this year. While I would concur that every team should always be looking to improve, we've seen an unprecedented "rebuilding" of this team. Most teams that find themselves in the playoffs consistently have a nucleus of players that get the job done to which they might add a piece here or there. Regarding VY, I really don't get his addition. He adds nothing to the roster other than the fact that Thigpen is just bad. His completion percentage and QB rating is below Fitzpatrick. He has 58 touchdowns in his career to 72 turnovers for -14. Fitzpatrick is only slightly better with 73 touchdowns to 81 turnovers for -8. Sure, Vince could run, but he is borderline special ed. One other thing. Wins and losses are a function of TEAMS. Pulling out that metric is really stupid and doesn't address the players individual contribution to the game. Just take the two years that the Titans made the playoffs with Vince Young. Top-5 defense one year and top-10 the other year. They didn't win games BECAUSE of Young, but despite him.

Let's not forget folks that it happened to the Patriots in 2008 when they were lead by Matt "I've come to claim my" Cassel. Strong records from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Tennessee, and Indianapolis boxed the Patriots out of the playoffs by virtue of the tiebreaker, despite posting an 11-5 record. Let's just look at the divisions and who could be contenders: AFC East - New England is probably the only clear contender out of the gates. Buffalo and the Jets are TBD. Dolphins should not be in the race. AFC North - Pittsburgh, Baltimore and an upcoming Cincinnati team are all in the mix. Cleveland probably not. AFC South - Houston and Tennesee are probably the contenders. Jacksonville and Indy are rebuilding. AFC West - Denver and San Diego for sure. Oakland and Kansas City if their star RB's stay healthy. In my opinion, there's a lot of teams that are somewhat "on the level" with each other going into this season. As such, I don't see the AFC playing out like it did in 2008 where there were just a couple of really strong teams that boxed the Patriots out of a playoff spot despite going 11-5. In fact, I think 11-5 could win the AFC East outright. Depends on the record within the division and whether the Bills start playing a lot better on the road than they have. I guess we will see if that's true in Week 1 against the New Jersey Jets.

Here you go folks. This is the FACE of Michael Vick:

The Jets front office have already tweeted that they talked to Jacksonville about MJD but that the combination of what MJD would want in a new deal, along with what the Jaguars wanted in terms of players was far greater than they would consider.

Not my point at all. You're just not getting it. I don't have to pay attention that he changed or showed remorse. I view him as a piece of human garbage for what he did and I always will. I will not give him a pass because he did his time and appears to be showing remorse. I say appears, because I think it's all about P.R. and trying to resurrect what he had before. Same with any other crime. Child predators don't get a pass because they did time or went to counseling. Rapists that most often get sentences of 3 years or so can die and I won't care one iota. Classic arguments are always made by Vick nut huggers that "there's always something worse" or that "people eat meat", so it should somehow be OK that he participated in the electrocution of dogs because they wouldn't fight or lost a fight. At the end of the day, I stand by my points. Regardless of all this back and forth nonsense, this thread should be rated a 1 out of 10 if there were ratings. This is all Madden nonsense, where some Bills fan with a man crush on Vick really wants him to be on the team. It's not happening so we don't have to worry about the consequences if it did.