Dr. Who

As an UGA fan (I live just outside Athens) I was enthused when Cook was selected. He is a weapon and really a receiving threat that can track the ball so I hope Dorsey remembers to call that number up, because it wasn't evident last year. I got into an argument, I think it was @BullBuchanan over Cook's value. So far as I know, Bull still thinks he's not all that.

I haven't watched the film. I won't be seeing it at the theater. The last movie I saw in a cinema was The Artist, I think. Before that it was the remake of 3:10 to Yuma. Nonetheless, I did see an interview with Jim Caviezel and it appeared to me there is a real person whose story is the basis for the film. So perhaps it's been given the Hollywood treatment, I don't know, but it isn't simply a story about a topic that is concerning.

This year we took a massive G who doesn't at first blush appear to fit the blocking scheme, though I'm not sure they have a coherent scheme, and an undersized LB (both obvious need picks.) I wasn't thrilled with either in terms of immediate reaction, but later became more hopeful. Let's hope Beane got it right.

I agree, cheeseburgers too often become a source of sectarian violence and animosity. Now I'm hungry.

It's really about Cheeseburgers. People who don't like them are untrustworthy, unless you're Hindu and don't eat meat. Then you're just deprived.

Aren't there reports out there that Hellebuyck also refuses to suit up for the Jets again? Two disgruntled goalies and not many landing spots. How many teams have both need and cap space? Somehow KA needs to turn that to his advantage.

Any plan that starts with trading Levi is a non-starter. I understand what you mean, though.

I think Clifton is a 4-5 tweener, though unless there are more moves coming, it seems evident they've penciled him in as Power's partner. Johnson will probably have some situational minutes with Power, but overall they can't be counting on huge minutes from him.

I'm not terribly sanguine about the situation. I guess you could take that coin flip and hope UPL works out (he might.) Hellebuyck is the play if you could stomach the price for a one-year rental. I don't see how we fit an extension in given what Hellebuyck would want and the cap going forward with core players needing to be accomodated. And I wouldn't want to give the kind of term a goalie on the wrong side of thirty is probably seeking.

Good analysis. I am not really interested in Hart and I agree with your assessment. I was just trying to think who might be available. Hellebuyck is too expensive a ticket. My only thought there was that perhaps he'd be willing to go the one-year rental route if he really is adamant about getting out of Winnipeg immediately and that then the Jets might be forced to give a discount. Not very likely, of course, and I'm fairly certain KA is not going to overpay. I've also heard rumblings about GIbson. Moreover, he did not want to be in Buffalo last year when apparently we made a run at trading for him. I've no idea if the Wild could be induced to trade MAF or if he would be amenable to it, but all in all that seems the best of perhaps non-existent options. I just hate the idea of not having a solid veteran presence to share starts with Levi. I do think Levi is special and UPL could turn out to be a competent backup, at least.

Going with Levi and UPL/Comrie (it will be UPL) just leaves a sense of unnecessary risk, even though improved depth on the blueline and hopefully a more cohesive defensive plan should help. You could make an offer for Hart in Philly. I think MAF at 38 still has a few good years in him and would make an excellent mentor to Levi. That's where I would look and the price should be something KA might be comfortable paying. One other thought: I don't know this, but some fellas on another board have posted that Hellebuyck has told Winnipeg he doesn't want to play in Canada anymore. There might be more urgency to move him if that's the case. It would seem to make it somewhat harder to hold onto him for a TDL deal in any event. The number of teams that might be competing for him right now looks like the Sabres and maybe NJD. I still think there's an outside chance you might get a deal done for a one year rental, but the Jets will have to lower their ask.

Yeah, well, your qb sounds like Kermit the frog.

Yes, I agree about Josh. I do believe the coaching staff is cognizant on that matter. The problem is that mode of play is built into Josh's DNA. He knows it is not conducive to longevity, but when he gets on the field all that prudential counsel goes bye-bye. My hope is the offense will continue to evolve and enough playmakers emerge that Josh will have confidence in a number of individuals. It can't just be DIggs. That should minimize his feeling that he has to carry the team in every crucial moment. I'm going to remain agnostic on the Defensive staff. It's McDermott's baby. I'm willing to see what happens in the coming year. I'd like to see more aggression. Injuries to the secondary hampered us considerably last year. If it's not a wise strategy, we'll know soon enough.

A fair amount of this discussion is folks talking past one another. I find myself in a "middle position" with regards to the dominant perspectives apparently. I incurred the wrath of a chippy poster because I pointed out the relatively disappointing playoff performance of a team with a top 3 franchise qb. I credit McDermott and Beane with building a strong team that consistently achieves regular season success. But surely the point of the latter is to ultimately succeed in the former. If Josh Allen had a twenty year career in front of him, there would be no compelling urgency, but the effective window for a franchise qb is about the lifespan of a dog. So you have to take advantage of your opportunities. Despite the overall quality of the team, there are still some questions about roster construction. I think Gabe Davis at WR2 is deficient, for instance. Nonetheless, McDermott and Beane are a winning combination. However, I still believe there needs to be appreciable advancement in the playoffs. Conference finals or Super Bowl ought to be the expectation and if they continue to miss out from that level of accomplishment for say the next two or three years, all the other achievements become less flattering.

I know they have advanced beyond the Wild Card round, but they have not consistently done well in the playoffs. They need to do better or they will be a disappointment in terms of the potential of the talent on the team. That is my "global" sense of it and your petty jibes don't alter a thing. I don't mind dialogue with folks who disagree with me. I do mind interacting with individuals of your temperament. My feelings are not hurt. I am annoyed by your attitude.

Alright, done talking to you. They've been a disappointment in the playoffs in general. You think differently, that's your business.

Maybe don't play fast and loose with context. Directly after the "holding them accountable" that you quote is "and expecting playoff wins beyond the Wild Card round." That is not the same as requiring a Super Bowl victory to justify the Process and it is rather dishonest to portray my statements as implying that. I've written quite a bit about the formidable and unprecedented factors that hurt the team last year. One should take mitigating circumstances and sheer luck into consideration. All that said, the playoff performances remain uneven and a question mark. They will figure it out or they won't. I hope they accomplish great things. They changed the culture and have built a quality team. It still has to be better and I am pretty sure McDermott and Beane would agree with that.

Buffalo Bills Message Board. It was a scruffy, Wild West Show with eccentric moderation.

I've been a fan of this team for over five decades. I'd like to see a Super Bowl win in my lifetime. I'm not denigrating the current regime. I'd like to see them succeed and nothing I said implied otherwise. In fact, I stipulated that I liked them in order to anticipate and ward off your kind of vehemence. If you think holding them accountable and expecting playoff wins beyond the Wild Card round is too much to ask, that's too bad. And if Sean McDermott cannot win with this bunch, the alternative is not fated to be a bad coach, even if out of misplaced Schadenfreude you would like to see that happen.

Your counterexample is also loaded and ridiculous, even if rhetorical. Expectations are measured by many factors. One of them is the quality of your team. Do you have a franchise qb, etc.? No one can plausibly expect a team without one to have much of a chance at a Super Bowl. Given the nature of the Bills, I think there ought to be an expectation that the team will do well and advance beyond the division round of the playoffs. I'm not writing off McDermott and Beane. I like them, but they will be judged by post-season success or lack thereof.

It's absolutely perfect just the way it is. Add the throwback blues and it's the best uniform in sports.

Dorsey seemed unable to make use of Hines and Cook who are dangerous receivers out of the backfield. We've added Kincaid who is a red zone threat. Prior to last year, Allen was terrific in the RZ and avoided turnovers. Last year, it was a nightmare. I'm not Einstein, so I can't tell you if that should directly correlate to play calling, but I rather suspect it does.

They absolutely bet on him playing well above his current level of accomplishment. I hope they hit, because he could be a nice piece. If not, folks are going to be angry if the cost expenditure is the reason you can't acquire a Hopkins who presumably is more likely to be enough of his prior self to be an automatic upgrade to the unreliable Davis.

He hasn't been showing up to the OTAs, this is news to you? It will only mean something if he doesn't show up for the upcoming mandatory mini-camp sessions.

Sorry, you have to change your handle to Soggy Socks.