Minotaur

A Sabres message board I visit has held a fantasy league over the past several years (over a decade, I believe). No charge; just for fun. I currently have it set up as a 20-team league, but we have never had more than 12, IIRC. I will cut it off at 14 if we get that high. I simply want any who want to join to be able to do so without fear of there not being a spot. Currently we sit at 5 registered. Any who are interested at welcome to join at the following URL: https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/136311/invitation?key=8154ace5ba55ab0e&soc_trk=lnk&ikey=d80f4705353b3f9c. If that doesn't work, let me know, and we can work out a way to invite you directly. Details: Hosted on the Yahoo platform, HALF point per reception, Mostly standard scoring otherwise, Bonuses for big QB (400+ yards), WR (150+ yards), and RB (150+ yards) performances. Draft likely to be held the night before the first game (draft 9/7 before the Thursday 9/8 season opener), but that's not set in stone. GO BILLS!

Not the same skillset as Taysom Hill, but can he block or catch? At his height, bring him in at RB, WR, or TE on the goal line and set up a couple of of other special plays where he has a RPO after the ball is either handed off or thrown backward to him. Why did that not post properly? See if this is easier to read: Not the same skillset as Taysom Hill, but can he block or catch? At his height, bring him in at RB, WR, or TE on the goal line and set up a couple of other special plays where he has a RPO after the ball is either handed off or thrown backward to him.

I have a slightly different take, but different options that I have no preference on: 1) Take a top tackle in the 1st, put him at RT, and check out Mills at G, or 2) Take a G in the 2nd, or 3) Take a C in the 2nd. Of course, this depends on the Board...

How did you become a Bills fan? Kids on the school bus LOVED football. I checked it out, but couldn't find a reason NOT to root for the local red, white, & blue team (1980). What do you love most about The Bills? Fans' die-hard allegiance to the area. Most transplants to other areas (myself included) remain Bills (and Sabres) fans, from what I have seen. What's your favorite memory as a fan? Asking a woman out with "the Comeback" game on the radio (TV blackout) in the other room. She has now been my wife for 23 years...and counting.

I didn't care for the article at all. It read as a "fans everywhere but Buffalo will hate me for saying the Bills will make the playoffs, but we are writing that for every team and I got stuck with Buffalo" (my words, not his) piece. Really? Sports' unpredictability is one of your reasons?

Davis was not a rookie last year. It was his 2nd year.

Does it matter if they consider the Bils a rival? The question was "who is the Bills' biggest division rival?" not "which team do the Bills have the best rivalry with?"

There's a difference between most hated team and biggest rival, in my mind. I voted Cheatriots in the poll because it asked for the biggest rival (i.e., the one w/the target on their back). I hate the Dolphins the most, though. The Dolphins had the target in the 70s... were they the "big brother we couldn't beat?" No. They were our biggest rival... the one keeping us out of the playoffs. A friend of mine likes Miami. When he said "Go Dolphins!", I once replied something to the effect of "yes, go dolphins... out to sea... and never come back." He didn't like that very much.

April cannot get here soon enough. For that matter, neither can September...

Going back a while... The whammy! and We're Talkin' Proud!

If it's bugging you, do something to make yourself more comfortable. Since it wasn't the Bills' first loss, I think it's safe to say your beard didn't CAUSE the loss... Then again, I'm biased. I've had a beard for 16 years save for the summer of 07. My wife wouldn't let them shave it when I was in a coma (10 years ago this week). She was afraid that IF the kids had to come say goodbye (I received annointing of the sick - "last rites" - 3x), they wouldn't recognize me. 'Nuff about that. Personal grooming is just that... PERSONAL. If you're not thrilled with it, change it. The Bills will be fine with whatever you decide.

I remember the summer after SB XXV. USA Today showed a graphic of preseason records over the previous 5 seasons. The Giants were in the Top 2 in preseason record, and the Bills were in the Bottom 2, if I recall correctly. THEY HAD JUST PLAYED IN THE SUPER BOWL! That's how much emphasis I put on preseason.

Before the 2009 season, the NFL Network ranked the 32 teams in order from worst to first. At the end of the season, the 15th ranked team defeated the 4th ranked team from that list. Going into 2010, that translates to the Houston Texans defeating the NY Jets. Well, that can't happen since they are both in the AFC. I understand it's a stab in the dark to expect the same thing to happen, but I find it fun to play with. Assuming the Jets go, the NFC teams just above the Texans in the rankings are the Falcons and Eagles. If it were the Texans to make it, the NFC teams just above the Jets in the rankings are the Vikings and Saints. I said in the SB 2011 predictions thread (http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/index.php?showtopic=114439) that it would be Chargers over Bears with the 49ers & Texans losing the conf champ games. That’s nowhere near what this pseudo-prediction has, but both sets of predictions are interesting to me. Of course, Mathews will have to fill LT’s shoes, and the MMcNeill & VJackson contracts could affect my prediction.

I'll say: Chargers over Bears, with the 49ers & Texans losing the Conference Championship games.

I can't grade this pick 'til I see at least the next 2 rounds. If they take another RB & a K in the next 2 rounds, my reply will be WTF? If it's O- or D-line help or a QB, then maybe it's okay. I prefer to address the lines, based on need, but I do understand the 'best player available' approach.

What about Joe Dufek? I believe the team won his first game as a rookie vs. Indy (circa 1985), and I don't remember what happened after that. He wasn't around long, though.

As GM, I see bringing in the best possible personnel as the primary objective. Granted, Modrak, Mularkey, et al. will have a huge role there, but I like Marv's example from the PC about disagreeing on who to draft regarding character vs. talent. I don't have the exact quote, but he said that they ended up drafting Shane Conlan, and the other guy they considered ended up in jail. That part of the game has NOT passed Marv by, and I think he's perfect for that role. I have recently switched allegiances to my 2nd-favorite team (which was always FAR distant to my #1 - the Bills) because they picked up Eli "Daddy doesn't want me to play for San Diego" Manning and Jeremy Shockey, so I do believe character is important. Go Marv, but more importantly, GO BILLS!

I love the quote from Marv at the end of the press conference. Therefore, I've made it my signature.

I played rec softball up until 4 years ago, when I had a major brain hemorrhage. Last winter I was an asst basketball coach for my youngest son (club league - 7 years old). Soccer coach (not that I know anything about soccer) this past fall for my 9-year old daughter, and asst basketball coach for that same daughter right now.

Oops. I just realized I do have a signature line. It's been so long since I posted regularly, that I forgot I'd set that up. I'll fix that.

I used to do it on another forum b/c when I read another's post, I'd get to the end & say to myself "who wrote that?" Then I'd have to figure it out. On this forum, though, I just look to the left, and there it is. Therefore, I don't do it here.

Speaking of Tasker, how did 'Skins LB Marcus Washington NOT draw a penalty for striking a ref? After sacking Bledsoe, Washington smiled, deliberately went to the ref, and slapped him on his rear end. Tasker just tried to get around an official to talk to the ref, bumped the official, and was EJECTED. I don't care that it was not malicious. Tasker's didn't appear malicious, either. A similar move to a woman in the workplace CAN get one in big trouble. Plus, I think we need to promote respect for the zebras among the players. Maybe it promotes camaraderie between NFL employees, but not respect. Thoughts? Am I over-reacting?

From Peter King's Monday Morning QB: "Kansas City WR Chris Horn, who made a textbook save of a Chiefs' punt deep in Giants territory in the first quarter of their 27-17 loss. With the ball bouncing toward the end zone, Horn flew past Giants punt returner Chad Morton, propelled himself into the end zone, batted the floating ball from two yards deep in the end zone back to the Giants' 3, where it was downed out of bounds. Keep doing that, Chris, and someone's going to call you Steve Tasker. (emphasis added)" MMQB

What time would you be traveling? I left Fairfax, VA at 5:25 and parked before 6 AM near the Smithsonian metro stop. At 4:30 PM, by myself (so I can't use HOV roads like I-66), it takes about an hour to do those 19 miles. Of course, my parking spot is reserved, so I don't have to worry about where to park. The only times I've gone into MD during PM rush is on the way to WNY, and that generally sucks.

Here's the best info I've found on scheduling. Although it's from a message board, the poster has a great rep on the board. It doesn't specifically get to your question, but gives hints to time frames, at least. July 23: Buyout period begins; also begins the period to negotiate with 2003 draft picks and teams' own free agents. - July 28: 5 p.m. EDT deadline for signing 2003 draft picks (otherwise they re-enter 2005 draft); deadline for exercising club/player options for 2005-06 season. - July 29: 5 p.m. EDT deadline for player buyouts. - July 30: NHL entry draft in Ottawa. Modified version with only top prospects invited and cut down from nine to seven rounds. - July 31: 5 p.m. EDT deadline to extend qualifying offers to clubs' own free agents. Qualifying offers are needed to retain rights of restricted free agents. - Aug. 1: Official free-agent signing season begins. - Aug. 10: Players notify teams whether they've elected salary arbitration. - Aug. 11: Clubs notify players whether they've elected to bring them to salary arbitration. - Aug. 12: NHL and NHLPA schedule arbitration cases. - Aug. 15: Qualifying offers expire automatically. - Aug. 22-Sept. 1: Salary arbitration hearings. If this is accurate, that gives about a month for training camp & preseason before your 10/11 date. The 03-04 season started W 10/8. Of course, no one knows how it will play out post-lockout.