Fan in Chicago

Cool ! I look forward to a big day for Lynch running up the middle.

I am assuming your first sentence was sarcasm. In any case, it will be interesting to see GAAP modified to calculate a 'windfall profit' line item. It is an incredibly moronic idea, who ever floated this term 'windfall profit' anyway ? But back to the original point, I don't know how high the price of oil needs to be before technologies to extract shale oil become feasible. I remember reading something like $140/bbl. It may be worth our while to start developing technologies now and work through the permitting process. Commericialization of technology, getting environmental permits, getting past the environmentalists & NIMBY people will take several years. I venture to guess oil will indeed be $140 by the time all these hurdles are crossed. Shell is doing the right thing by investing now. If however, there is a negative incentive to high profits, their desire will go down in a hurry.

Ofcourse it is. It is less painful to see oil-producing countries make the profits and build grand cities in the middle of deserts. We cannot have enterprising American companies do the same 'cos that would be robbing the American citizens. But not to worry, we will put in place a windfall profit tax and stifle such entrepreneurial aspirations. That will teach them greedy evil oil companies who make money from gouging the public and discouraging irresponsible consumption. This is neo-capitalism.

Given how technology in general has developed over the decades, the optimistic engineer side of me will say 'it is only a matter of time'. The heavy crudes which are mined in Canada were also at one point assumed to be difficult to extract or perhaps 'too expensive' for oil production. That day seems now like a distant memory. With oil well above $100/bbl, there is significant driving force to develop technologies for extracting oil from oil shale. We have a long way to go but it is exciting to even think that the potential exists within our shores. Wonder if we will call our future presidents 'sheiks' Sheik Obama ? King McCain ?

This link still has it up. Better than the earlier trailer.

Are you going along with the humorous nature of this thread or are you really serious ?

You are kidding me, right ? With all the inattention to the safety position, I will hate it if the Bills draft a CB yet again. Plus, we are back picking in the top 10 where eons back we picked our last safety.

I agree with you on this point. I don't know how good the 3rd round + TEs are but it appears that we waited around and when our turn came, picked who we thought would be adequate. As opposed to trading up and grabbing someone we needed. Granted, this is pure speculation but this incessant desire to add depth to the D is at the expense of similar attention to the O. A more balanced focus would have been nice. I am by no means trashing the entire draft but simply observing that the relative inattention to the O throughout this off-season has been frustrating.

Same talent as last year plus one rookie receiver. Same poor depth on OL

Whatever the answers are, he certainly wasn't picked by the Bills

Finally, a Tight End ! Now draft some OL depth in the remaining rounds

Thats too expensive now. We need a value choice.

Yes, we are woefully short of third level depth on D.

I am frustrated as well. After the end of last season, we kept saying 'wait for FA' which came and went by without any additions to offense. Then we said 'wait for the draft'. Felt good after adding Hardy but then 'wait for 3rd round for a TE' ...... and so on and so forth. We have added one player to the offense and expect it to be better due to a rookie OC, more experienced existing players etc. Give me a break. We absolutely loaded up on D, continue to do so and expect people to rationalize the shortage of talent on O. The only way this offseason can be salvaged if we trade future picks for an established TE

The Bills must have expressed interest in him.

Probably best available safety that represents value at that pick.

We would all be better off if we were getting some pu$$y instead of sitting on a Bills board and talking about the draft and internet etiquette at 2 am in the morning. Then again, I am drunk, the wife is asleep and I have nothing better to do.

Sorry, I must have missed your 60th.

Cause I think you are wasting that steely dan that you hide away, you 40-yr old virgin.

Look, I too am in a minority here when I am skeptical about our 1st round pick. I think we could have done better by trading down and picking up an extra early-round pick. However, I do think the more important thing is respecting my fellow poster. I do agree Ramius also indulged in a personal attack but you went a bit too far with references to his family (perhaps out of anger). Let us just chill out, repect each others differences in opinion and move on. I do hope the Leodis pick pans out then my opinion will be meaningless. I was hoping we get more bang for our position in the draft. I know we have several picks but many are in the latter rounds where the hit rate decreases. I was happier with last year's draft than this year's because I think the first was a waste of a high pick and the second is too risky considering the options available at that time. I do hope time proves me to be an idiot.

Dude, I was just going to post against Ramius while defending your point of view when you go and post this. Lay off the personal attacks and your opinion will be more respected.

If Hardy can sky out over their little secondary, I can use the same logic and say Moss can sky out over ours. N'est pas ? It comes down to ability and execution.

FWIW - Marv on ESPN Chicago said he would have preferred DRC at that pick but thinks Leodis is also a very good pick.

Maybe an inch. http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/james-hardy?id=1024

Marv Levy on Chicago ESPN radio (and I totally am going from memory): "I know the Bills organization were really looking for a big WR opposite the excellent Evans and they got him. Now I know there are some concerns regarding Hardy around his dedication but Jauron is a good coach and will get him ready to play......... And I really like Jauron. I know there are mixed feelings about him in the Chicago area, but I think he is a GOOD COACH". Other announcer about Hardy "Hardy has this knock that he is a laid back player, most expect a WR in the NFL to be fiery and he does not come across as one. But he may be that way off the field and once he is in, he knows how to produce. "