Offside Number 76

I think you're right on sheer market size. Now, on whether our market is well-off, well, it isn't. We don't have as many large corporate HQs as other markets do, so luxury boxes don't generate nearly the revenue that they do in other markets. It doesn't help that the luxury boxes are crappy, with crappy food. As usual, the Bills could take a page out of the Sabres' book on this.

Idiots like Cowherd always seem to forget how big Green Bay and New Orleans are. Just huge, booming metropolises.

You definitely have to commit to not smoking for a while after you remove the patch. You can't just rip it off and light up. And it's very dangerous to smoke with one on. That's why I've found patches to be the best way for me to avoid cigarettes; unlike gum, smokeless tobacco, etc., I am forced to plan ahead if I want to cheat. And that discourages the cheating. As to your other point: of course it's just the smell. Walking past a few smokers in open air is no more dangerous than walking by an idling car or truck, which I'm sure most people do every day without giving it a second thought.

It's not naive. I think there are a lot of people who don't understand how this particular addiction works. For me, it's a 95, unless I'm having drinks, in which case it drops to about a 50. That, combined with the losses of inhibition and willpower that result from having even two drinks, makes it really difficult to "stay good." But I made it through an entire Sabres season without making one single trip out to "the corral," so I know it's possible. The problem, as I said early in the thread, is going to be the people who have many drinks (and there are a LOT of them at Bills games and a LOT of them smoke), who need their cigarette to calm down, and who get surly. I do see a short-term rise in idiocy and violence as a result of this policy, and I don't see why the designated smoking areas weren't a good compromise. But ultimately, I don't care that much.

The headline would have been just as funny were any of those other teams inserted. It's just our turn this time. Relax. Huh?

It is funny.

Oh, FFS. Again, Art Schichter; Troy Smith; this jackass is right in between.

As a "recovering smoker": This is a really bad idea. Look, it's a horrible vice, we all know that. Active smokers even know that. RWS provided completely segregated areas--that one didn't have to walk through--for smoking. Couple that with this: There are a lot of people who drink too much at games (which is the main reason I don't go anymore), and I'll bet a fair portion of those also smoke. So now, we've got a bunch of folks who (1) have been drinking before and at the game, (2) can't smoke, and (3) are in a rowdy atmosphere. Bad, bad idea.

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

It creates a more uneven playing field, though. Take a blue-chip basketball prospect: Should he go to Duke, which has an excellent program both academically and on the court? Or to Georgetown (I tried to keep the academics relatively equal) where he can make thousands signing autographs at political fundraisers in DC? (I left out UB for some reason.)

Don't you two have wives or girlfriends you can bicker with instead?

He's right between Art Schlichter and Troy Smith on Ohio State's all time TD list, and I figure he'll be right between those two in terms of NFL success as well.

And since nothing has happened relating to football in those six weeks, that's not a surprise. This is Kiper just trying to stay relevant. Every one of his analyses should be the same as six weeks ago.

Is cool; we just have different favorite sports. (And your name is "Rico?")

Sabres. And if it were the Super Bowl instead of the last week of the season, the answer still would be the same.

Read the article, Jack. He has not sued the band or even issued a cease-and-desist letter. He asked that they change their name.

Thanks for the play-by-play of the interview. Interesting stuff.

You could remind your friends that since the merger, the Bills have exactly as many Super Bowl wins and twice as many conference championships as Filly does. And agreed on your main point re: Fitz.

Couldn't have said it better.

If this is true, there should be a spike in crime in these cities from January through September, and I don't think there is.

Some of these guys just don't get it: Just because Fitzpatrick isn't a franchise QB doesn't mean that one was available for the Bills to select.

Bills scout Tom Roth on GR: "Very good player." Played wide receiver in August during the UNC scandal. Versatile; runs hard in between the tackles and hits the hole hard. Very good ST gunner. Also played some defense at UNC (didn't specify the position). Expects him either to be a complementary back or a complimentary back (he didn't spell it out, but I think it's the former because the kid ain't gonna play for free). Good running and catching ability. Decent in pass protection. Not the biggest kid, but very willing and very aware. Was hurt for two or three games this year but still had about 800 yards rushing. Plays bigger than his size. "When you meet him, you'll fall in love with him."

Are you listening to GR's draft coverage? It's excellent.

We'll just call him "Hairy."

Bills scout Tom Roth on GR projecting that he will play on the right side, not left (where he played at Clemson). Tall; tends to get tip at the waist a little bit. Good "anchor versus the bull rush." Looked good in one-on-one battles against UNC, Auburn, SC (Cliff Matthews at end), VT (Stephen Friday at end). Good run blocker; 60% of running plays went his way and did well. Noted that Spiller ran behind him.