oregonbbfan

Old timers will remember (spelled phonetically) Wordinski's and Skelenguski

Even Terico said what a generous spot. I went back to my video and at 2.34, in slow mo it shows Welkers knee down and the ball at the 26 and a half, a 1/2 yard at least from a first down. I'm sure the judges would have said the same. Would the game have changed? Who knows. As I stated earlier, how much time would have been consumed if: A)DJ threw the flag, B) Ref announces it to the crowd, C) walks over to the review booth, D) reviews the play taking time to get yardage and time correct, E) walks out to midfield and announces to audience the new down, F) has to reset the sticks and maybe correct the clock. This breaks the Pats* rhythm, gives the D 1-2 minutes rest and time to regroup and set the D. Attention to detail and little things like this can mean a win or a loss. BB seldom makes those type errors. Much as I llike DJ as a person, he costs us W's.

I too saw it as it happened and was furious. This again speaks volumes about our coaches. If it was the other way around, I guarantee you BB would have thrown the red flag and requested a review of the spot. Whether it was a mistake on the part of the judges or not it should have been reviewed in the booth. Everyone also misses the fact that (and I'm pretty sure BB would have ) by asking for a review, it slows the 2 min fury and gives our defense a much needed blow and a few seconds to get their bearings for the next play. Again, that is the difference between winning coaches and losers. Attention to detail, foreseeing/anticipating ahead of your opponent and changing tactics when they are eating your lunch. We will see tomorrow whether talent can overcome poor coaching. I hope so, because DJ is not going to win many games for us with his coaching prowess.

Anyone heard if Jim Kelly has had any input or been consulted on his thoughts on it? As stated, he was the best at running it. Or has the complexity of the defenses pasted him by? Or too much pride to ask Jim for his take? I think a little first hand talking with Trent couldn't hurt. Your thoughts

Agree when weather is a factor. But every time? DJ needs to quit being predictable especially when a high percentage of the time ( if I recall from the article I saw) it was a rediculus number like over 50 or 60% of the time the opponent went down the field and scored on the first drive. As for additional possessions, you could get an extra if you take first possession but you could also have less, dependent on turnovers on kick-offs/ onside kicks where opposition never takes possession. I know most teams do it (defer) but I feel it is best to put your strength on the field first and DJ may have had a little more confidence in the D last year. Hopefully with a more dangerous Offense this year he will elect to rest the D. And as another stated, if we don't score, with a good return, a 1st or two and a punt will have them buried deep in their own zone.

Good reasoning all. I just think we miss out on our best opportunity to score because most teams script the first 9-10 plays and your team is fresh and the opposing defense will not know what wrinkles you put in that week. It's your best chance to get a lead. Maybe this year with all their offense tools they will try to get a lead and never look back, wind or no wind.

What side of the debate do you agree with. I've watched and searched to see if someone has/ would bring it up. Nothing drove me more crazy than to see the Bills win the coin toss and defer to the second half. We kick off and quickly are behind in a high percentage (read it in an article) of the time. Sure there is plenty of time to catch up but I believe it creates a mental hurdle to get over. We are not mature enough to always be behind. I feel get the ball and let them fight from behind.

Nix?

Just saw that BillsFanForever was thinking the same thing but said it a little differently. On the SouthGeorgia response, true you must be a better athlete but you don't always want the jack of all trades but the master of one.

With all due respect, they already have the difference makers and can afford the versatility type guys.

Every pick has a fall back or option. Maybin DE/LB, Wood C/G, Byrd CD/S, Levetre G/T, Nelson TE/WR, Harris S/LB. I like to think it's versatility and they will do very well in each of the projected positions but we could have a lot of tweeners that may just be ok at either. Are we covering our butts and playing it safe in the event they miss at what we project them at so it's not a miss? Playing for versatility may allow you to miss on differencemakers and sets you up for more mediocrity. Are we playing safe, reaching or setting up a solid/versatile base?

SJ, as I said, we think alike. I thought the very same thing about Wilson too.

It has been a long, exciting, sometimes depressing but mostly fun roller coaster from when there was very little coverage to now. There was no live TV, no network covering the NFL 24/7. You got your news in the Buffalo News, Courier Express , magazines or the TV news. No longer having to watch the Browns (whom I loved) in black and white TV to our very own team. It went from having to draft 33 and 18 rounds to now 7. Then you have to find your choice, sign him and then hide him so the other league couldn't find him and sign him. From the days when Buffalo was a powerhouse and we had the talent and the coach (Saban, Knox or Levy) to what others in the league think is an irrelevant, small market team with a questionable quality head coach. We went from a team that was rich by league standards and actually lent money to others to keep the league afloat. From a TV contract of $125k to the Billions now. From the converted stock car stadium to the Ralph to now the Billion dollar stainless and concrete edifices. From the owners who were committed to a community and winning, to owners who would give up their mother to win at all costs. From integrety to ........ well, maybe that stayed the same. We've come a long way. I no longer need Shout, all the magazines or news clippings sent from family. We get excited for the draft each year because we hope and pray that this is the year we hit gold and make our move to the top. Anyway, from a born and raised Buffalo guy who fate took to California, I feel it every year for you Buffalo. We have some quality picks this year. Use them wisely. Then DJ must think outside the box and needs to motivate like the coaches above. Here's hoping. Always hoping.

The answer to this whole ridiculous salary situation is to address the problem causing it. Short term, the small town owners must must either pay a bigger portion of their revenue to stay competitive or be the minor/training league for the big teams. Or be shrewd, aggressive FO and very good in the draft. Miss and you're dead ala Mike Williams. Long term the cause must be addressed. That cause is the CBA. As long as you keep paying first pound picks the crazy amounts Jake Long and Russell got, every guy who made a pro bowl is going to want more, and rightfully so. This then trickles down to to the pro bowl alternates, then the guys who almost made the pro bowl and so on and so on. Kinda what we have now and something that only promotes parity with the big market teams. While we are addressing a set value for first round picks, address the other reasons for the escalated salary structure, the contracts as stated by other posters, that aren't worth the paper they are written on. The ability to cancel remaining years on a contract just so a guy can say he has the biggest contract is so bogus. Make them all guaranteed like the other leagues. That will take them down when you can't just cut bait but are responsible for the full amount. There will need some other clause added that will not allow big teams to use any amount of money. They can only spend to the cap with no amortization of bonuses and bonuses go towards the cap. Now the big boys will have a lot of extra cash they can bank and the field will truly be level. Will they get anywhere near these suggestions? I know there will be a big stink from the players and the big owners but if something isn't done, anything, the gap will become larger and soon it will become 2 leagues within a league. Somehow, all parties must sit together and address these and other issues. I hope they get a new Players Assn President that will work with owners to make all things more equal between clubs and reasonable salaries that are more down to earth for the fans who pay for it all. Lastly, how many millions are enough? Give a little to the players who made the game what it is today and who need the NFLPA 's help. Sorry for the rant but this whole greed situation is a real turnoff and I hope the fans let those in control know their feelings with the checkbook.

I think they may be up to something too. Even though the Bills are not big in the trade business there may be a couple reasons why I think it may be possible. First, as can be seen so far in free agency, they will not go after 1st tier players because they won't consider us and we are not willing to spend the bucks. A ML trade could use his salary to offset some of the amount they will need to pay a big name WR, TE, DE or LB. I also think in the back of their minds is the off field issues, but more importantly, I think ML is a major injury waiting to happen. I love his effort but every time he runs I cringe because while he is fighting for yards he is taking all these shots from every direction. This effort, while commendable, is conducive to a short career. So, whether they are trying to pull something off or not I don't know, but if they do, they better get quality and have a signed contract in hand first.

Until the Bills can start winning games/playoffs you have one strike against you. If you consider the poor organization (coaches, owner and decision by management committee) or lack there of, that is strike two. If you want amenities and contracts pushing commercial products, you might consider that a strike. Look, I'm gonna hear it but it's the truth. I was born and raised there and a fan since 1960 so don't give me the "he lives elsewhere" or "he only has so many posts so he can't know much". I know the weather is nasty much of the year and the town is not the garden spot of the world. It is not the great city I grew up in (yes in city, not the burbs) but it is my home town, the people and food are great and it's still my team and I want it to win the SB. Back to topic. As all pretty much agree, we are not getting the tier 1 FA. Our only hope is we must be better than our competitors in talent evaluation. Hopefully bringing in Nix and maybe a future shake-up in the scouting area (pro and college) will allow us to get better results with the tier 2 and 3 FA and draft. Then, we all pretty much agree we need to do a better job with the draft. With better scouting and talent evaluators, we now need more choices. We get them by trading down, trading players rather than just releasing them even if for only 7th rounders, we can bundle to get higher or use them. We need to trade for choices for guys we are not utilizing or given up on, i.e. McCargo , Parrish, Kelsey, etc.. I know we tried but we must do a better job. Whatever to get more choices. Again, talent evaluators and the draft will lead to wins and playoffs. A winning attitude/record, keeping our good talent, and building a good team through draft choices will entice FA to truthfully consider us and not use us to jack up the contract price. I feel bad when FA don't come to town, or use our team to jack up the cost, and if any town deserves a championship, it's my home town. I have much family and many friends there and I have fond memories of the good years there. I hope we get it right this year.

Could be why they brought Nix in. Ralph needs another input to counter Guy, his daughter and Modrak. Track record is horrible!

Any chance we can get one this year? And if so, when are they awarded? There is a guy who visits this site each year who has manipulated that huge formula and is pretty much right on each year.

He forgot or don't know about a sweep, a pitch to get outside or a screen.

I agree it was an effort to be tough. But if that was the case, then why did they make a make shift shade with what looked like a collapsible canvas cot being held by a few assistants over the players on the bench? Didn't see Buffalo with that shade.

I have not been able to get all the videos on multimedia lately. I was able to veiw them up till a couple months ago. Did a change occur where new software download is needed? I've written to Cris Brown and the multimedia folks a couple times for help with no response. Anyone got a link or instructions that will allow me to veiw the videos. Thanks in advance.

Much as I am a TEAM and Buffalo Bills person, I hate to take Jasons's side. I have written that he needs to get in camp for the good of the team and he will get his money. Putting on my previous Procurement Negotiating hat you have to look at it from Jason's point of view and put yourself in his shoes. Yes, the Bills gave him a chance which he might never have gotten and he is appearing to be an ingrate. The Bills have plenty of things going for them, i.e. contract he can't void , fan support (who would be happy with his salary), even some players who won't admit it ( because he hurts their chance to attain playoff berth and money). Now for Jason, he may not be the smartest but he IS getting good advice. I hate agents ( Rosenhaus and a couple others) but they have a valuable commodity who has performed and attained the highest level for the position and at which all agree he is underpaid. The Bills will pay him but must understand his position even if he doesn't physically explain it. He hasn't been to camp for the simple fact that he risks his entire carreer with a career ending injury. Name of the game is garanteed money. If he got drastically hurt being a team player ( which I think he is ) in camp, the most he could expect is this year's salary ( which we could all live on ) and an injury settlement. So that would net him $3.5M and whatever a settlement is. Compare that to to a new contract of $10M / year. An injury settlement if he got incapacitated would be at least $10M + a settlement. Also, how much is garanteed in his current contract? Whatever garanteed money it has is not going to be anything like a new one with say $30M+ garanteed/bonus. So Jason has reason to stay away from contact camp. He should take a physical and participate in non contact camp ( get in shape and learn the new offense) while they work on either a new contract, some garantees or some major what if's in the event of injury. Both sides have concerns and options. The secret is getting a win -win for both sides without disenfranchising the other. jmo

While I know it's only the pre-season and not easy to make an extrapolation off it, but I really liked seeing some holes made at the LOS big enough to drive a truck through in the Pitts game. And, this was done with a make shift line. Again, it's only half way through the pre-season, but I think now that Kugs has total control of the line ( not to disparage Jim Macs ) I feel we will run a lot better. Maybe I'm putting too much into this but I think we started improving when he came on board. With another year under his belt, RBs knowing the plays better, I think we are going to run even better than last year. Trents passing definitely opened things up some and even with all kinds of line guys out of position, we moved it on the ground with 1st and 2nd teams in there. That will be so positive in close games during the season when we are running time off the clock. So, all you ex linemen, coaches and astute fans, did our line play ( even with mix and switch ) and run game look good because it's pre-season, Kugs coaching, scheme, defense we are up against or was this just a flash in the pan. Your thoughts?

HD or not, at least you got it from a Bills Network prospective. We on the west coast got the Redskins feed. I want to punk just thinking about it again. Nothing but stupid Thiesman comments or adoration, constant interviews when the Bills had the ball and you couldn't even tell who the Skins were playing with so little said about them. The game was bad and made worse by the feed. Ugh!!!!

If Peters is so team oriented ( and I think he is but is being duped by his agent) then by sitting out or even missing a good portion of camp he is doing the following to his team and the organization: 1) subjecting teammates to unnecessary risk of injury (Walker and esentially 2 positions on what was a good line, Trent and his backside, that doesn't need to happen) 2) Team missing the playoffs because we lose 1-3 games by him missing or messing up for lack of camp 3) Possibly getting his coach fired for missing the playoffs ( many think this should be the year and his last chance) 4) Player angst because of injury that shouldn't have happened or they all lose playoff monies Sure there are all kinds of things that could happen even with Peters there, but why throw a monkey wrench into what should be a good year. If Peters is a team guy, call the Bills FO without any fanfare and get a mutual understanding agreed to like: I get to camp, we negotiate this year. The longer this goes on the more the chance for animosity and something really bad happening. Both Peters and the front office should get off their duffs and get it done. Both have good reasons to do so.