Dr. Who

The odds of EJ Manuel becoming a franchise qb are probably low, but not that low. You can exaggerate in either direction.

Full Definition of DENIGRATEtransitive verb 1 : to attack the reputation of : defame <denigrate one's opponents> 2 : to deny the importance or validity of You are aware that words have more than one meaning. The second is not inherently unfair. There's a fellow on another board who is much like you. He may be you for all I know. Evidently you enjoy this kind of thing. I don't, so chatter on if you must . . .

Well, I think a snide dismissal of what others are taking as a hopeful sign is worthy of being denigrated. If this offends you to the point of making a big production with me over it, I am sorry to have ruffled your delicate sensibility.

What, my response is "silencing" the poster? Ridiculous. On several other boards I post on, a certain individual doesn't offer a counter-argument. He just shouts, "Idiot." He's actually shrieking his own name, but that is trying to silence someone.

It's something to be hopeful about, particularly if you are inclined to think that those who have already buried EJ's career are presumptive in doing so. Off-season, and a player and ex-player say encouraging things: is life so miserable for you that you have to dump on the tiny bit of joy someone might take from this?

Sorry. I deleted the post. I don't tweet. I just pick up info from other posters. Someone clarified that Kelly was responding to a querry, not actually asserting anything newsworthy. Essentially, someone asked what would happen if the Bills offer 8 million plus and that was his response.

We'll see. If not, Cassel, and draft someone in 2016, I think.

Right. You have to look at a team collectively. I still think EJ may turn out alright, btw.

I mostly post on other boards. Perhaps this one is different. I have not noticed a lot of Pollyanna posters, unless one is going to define those who like the direction Whaley and OBD is taking as inherently Pollyanna. I don't think that's fair. Irrational optimism and rational optimism are not equivalent. If one declares optimism in this case irrational, one is simply begging the question. I like our moves. Most posters I read did not want McCown. He isn't any good. My guess is OBD viewed McCown and Cassel as similar talents. (I personally think Cassel is slightly better. He at least has a few winning seasons in his track record.) Regardless, McCown could have been had for the price of a contract. Cassel required draft picks, so that could easily explain why they went after McCown first, no? What have we done this off-season? We retained Hughes. People seem to gloss over this, but if he had gone elsewhere they wouldn't. Bringing in Felton and Incognito improves the blocking. Bulaga did not want to leave GB. Iupati wanted to stay near the West Coast. I suspect we will bring in more o-line help via free agency, trade, or draft. The real weakness on the team was offense. We replaced Doug Marrone, Nate Hackett, and Pat Morris with Rex Ryan, Greg Roman, and Aaron Kromer. How is that not a significant upgrade? We brought in one of the premier running backs, and added a talented, but character issue playmaker on a one year contract. On paper, few teams have a McCoy, Watkins, and Harvin. That should be hard to game plan for. That should help even a game manager qb. Grade is still incomplete, but I don't see optimism as Pollyanna irrationalism by any stretch.

Okay, Incognito is a talented idiot, but even he should be bright enough to be on his best behavior (whatever that is.) I've read that Roman's blocking schemes are better fits for Cyrus K and Richardson. Don't know, really, but if the o-line "magically" improves, well, good luck Jacksonville.

Ah, but I don't click. I just read what gets posted on TBD.

I really can hardly remember a tweet from rodak that didn't have some kind of sneer or sting in it.

Correct on all this, I think, though I may be slightly more optimistic about EJ's chances. Those who are in a hurry to bury EJ annoy me. I'd really like to see EJ do well because it would be good for the team, the city, it would reward a young man of high character and cause chagrin to the many trolls who presumptively wrote him off. Then again, maybe he'll just bust

What? Are you implying that a trade for Cassel and a 6th for a 5th and 2016 7th means that OBD thinks EJ has no shot to lead the team to success? That is an assumption on your part and not a very good one, imo. Cassel is a veteran qb. We needed one. They may bring in another. EJ will still have a chance to compete and I think he may very well be a pleasant surprise (except for the haters who will be dismayed if he plays well.)

It's very strange. I've been watching football for over forty years. I don't remember a young player with good character who has been so polarizing. Whichever side one comes down on, the other appears irrational.

Really? He's awful, apart from a short, charmed time in Chicago. OBD should offer him a chance to compete and nothing more. Personally, I would not sign him.

I just don't see those players as qualifying for "big thing." Going by your criteria, I would include Grayson as a possibility.

I think it would be a nearly incomprehensible move. Something we don't know would have to come out to explain it. There doesn't seem any rational reason not to give EJ a chance to compete with the new regime. I personally don't see any available free agent who is clearly likely to be better. Even if there were, wouldn't he make a reasonably priced back-up? Of course, this would please the massive number of smug individuals who enjoy throwing contempt upon EJ and those who haven't already written him off.

Good Lord, Petty or Hundley qualifies as big things?

Probably more a sense that McCown was awful more recently.

I'd take Bryce Petty if he's there in the fifth. I think EJ is going to play well and really surprise, btw. Matt Moore seems better than McCown to me as well . . .

I am not crazy about this, but I think it speaks to the overall quality of free agent qbs out there. I expect EJ to beat him out -- pretty easily, actually. We need some vet as a backup. Roman and Kromer know him. They must think he's better than simply awful. I'm not capable of much more than a back-handed compliment. I think I would have preferred Hoyer. Guess we'll see.

Yes, most are. I'm not saying a qb that needs development shouldn't be taken, I was wondering if OBD will take one (other than a late round flier which would not be controversial) given the impatience that EJ has been shown.

Okay, I was going off of material I read on another board. Maybe someone is planting info hoping he will drop? Not sure OBD will take a project qb after EJ. If we take him, I will instantly become a fan. I'm not a hater.

He has concussion issues, so that is a bit of a red flag. I wouldn't spend a second or a third on him. Trade up and take him in the fourth? Maybe worth a shot.