CaliforniaCheez

Can't wait for Nall to rip it up now that he is over the injury.

Nall lead to 2 TD's on three drives during the last game. His injury may have kept him from being the starter.

As a comparison last year a team with a bad cap situation had a Pro Bowl Safety whose contract was due to balloon to 7 million for the season. They went to the 8 year veteran and said we want to renegotiate as we can only afford 2 million. The player Darren Sharper of the Packers said "No" and was cut signing with the Vikings for 3 million last season. He singlehandedly won 3 games for the Vikings and led the NFC with 9 interceptions. He has missed only 7 games in the last 8 seasons. If Whitner has a good rookie season and gets 3-6 INT's and a good number of tackles he will still be "overpaid" by 50%. Will some call him a bust because of it? Other teams veterans will point to his contract and say they are underpaid. Then a cycle of salary increases take place. The NFLPA loves it. The NFL then looks to screw thier customers out of more money to pay these salaries. A rookie salary structure should be implemented. For the good of the league and ultimately the fans, a rookie salary limit should be structured or worded that no rookie should be in the top 10 league salaries for their position. Some of these rookies are labled busts because their performance while good is not the superstar level of their contracts. The pressure can be excessive. A J Hawk is the 6th highest paid LB in the league (about 100 starters) without making an NFL tackle. Davis is the highest paid TE. It is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Fezmid is on the right track here. Fumblepepper has always had a lot of turnovers especially in cold and wet weather. 86 INT's in 81 games(more INT's than games and fumbles). His hands are notoriously small by NFL standards. His worst games are in the cold, wet and especially both. Look at the season stats for games outdoors in Green Bay and Chicago or just last half of season vs. first half of the season. He has 1 October win against Chicago(5-11 in 2000) and 1 September win in Green Bay(2003) or 1-5 at Chicago and 1-4 in Green Bay. His record is 22-17 before November as a starter and after November 1 he is 17-25 as a starter. Note he missed the last 4 games after November 1 in 01 and all the games after November 1 last year. 39-42 overall as a starter. He may look good til October but then does not do well(if he is even there). December 17th game in Buffalo will be a bad one for him. Unfortunately the schedule really helps him out this year with only November games in Chicago and Kansas City. Fumblepepper is not a QB to worry about.

I don't know why some posting would not want the best QB to win the job. What is wrong with success? Some say Nall was just a back up to Favre. Well Mark Brunnell was a Packer 5th round pick in 1993 and "just a backup" behind Favre and had success elsewhere. (Helped Jaguars to AFC title game) Matt Hasselbeck was a Packer 6th round pick in 1998 who was "just a backup" sat a few years behind Favre. (Helped Seattle to Super Bowl) Aaron Brooks was a 4th round pick of the Packers in 1999, was "just a backup" behind Favre and became a starter after being traded. (He started awhile for the Saints) Craig Nall was a 5th round pick of the Packers in 2002 and just a backup to Favre. That is not a bad track record of drafting QB's who are "just a backup" to Favre. What will you say when you see this guy play and proves to be pretty good? You ought to at least get in your mind it is a possibility.

Now edited - "The Bills got off to good starts in their games" is what was intended. I like "Quirky stats" too. I'll throw out a few like: 1) The Packers making the playoffs the most (10) in the salary cap era(Since 1993). 2) Since 1996 the Packers have appeared the most on Monday Night Football, 24 times with 2 more scheduled this season + a Thursday game. Miami is #2 with 20 plus 2 this year and a Thursday game. 3) The Packers have the longest consecutive season streak on MNF in the NFC with 14. Denver leads the AFC with 15 consecutive seasons on MNF. And to be fair, they are 3-6 against the Bills all time. At least until November 5th.

I happened upon a Pro football magazine while grocery shopping(one of those macho activities). They are getting published earlier every year it seems. You may be aware of these facts but I was not. The Bills got off to good starts to a game. The first eight games they won every coin toss and set a team record by scoring on 11 opening drives. Kelly Holcomb had the highest NFL passer rating in the red zone(117.4). The Bills have had the best overall special teams unit the last two years. Lee Evans was only the second WR to have 3 TD receptions before a game is 13 minutes old(week 13). ********************************* The Dolphins last made the AFC Conference Championship game in 92. All other AFC teams have been there since except for Bengals, Browns, and Texans. Chris Chambers had the most fumbles amongst league WR's(5). ********************************* The Patriots had 45 different starters in 2005, 40 different starters in 2004 and 42 different starters in 2003. The three highest totals of starters used by a division winner. I found nothing interesting about the Jets. Just thought I'd pass it along.

At this point only a guy with legal, cap, or injury trouble is likely to be traded. Plus you have to give up some quality in return. Now with the condition that you are the GM and not the coach, you wait for the final cuts and pick up a player with "pontential" on the waiver wire. Bills waiver claims are relatively high priority. Remember this year the cut to 65 then 53 are 5 days apart. It will be a frantic week.

1. Nall's contract expired. He was not let go. 2. The guy is a competitor and wants to start. He won't beat out Favre. 3. I have watched him develop and think he is a good QB. 4. When he has played he has done well. Yes, being #1 passer in NFL-E a few years ago isn't much but he succeeded at what he was doing. He got little regular season work but when he was in did well. I have posted nothing against Losman except that he is inexperienced. All QB's need 3 to 4 years of apprenticeship to learn to play in the NFL. As Marv said going through the "expense" invested in Losman why should he throw away the investment. Remember the Packers were contempating drafting Losman but he was off the board and they never got the chance. This is probably the best QB competiton in the NFL this year(Will Harrington really do much against Fumblepepper?) I think Nall can win it legitimately. If he doesn't he was given a fair shot. This could be a competiton again next year. Yes, I am biased by what my eyes have seen. Marv noticed too. PS Some of you may wonder why a Packer fan is here. 1. To do research for the Nov 5th game. If you know who is playing it is a better game. 2. You have a nice board here and I learn a lot even though you do not see me post much. You know what Jets "fans" are like. 3. See what is happening with Nall. 4. The Bills are a "small market" team as are the Packers dealing with some of the same issues. 5. There are a lot of University of Wisconsin players on the Bills roster. I am a serious NFL fan. I don't mean to offend with my advocacy of Nall. But I know he is better than Pennington and Fumblepepper.

The Packers had a top 5 draft pick fall to the 24th pick. A starting QB over age 30. It was a value draft decision that is all. Like many Packer fans I thought it was a waste of a first round pick. Nall is a far better QB. Nall has the better arm. Did you know that Nall went to the NCAA finals as a javelin thrower? He has arm as demostrated recently in his 60 yard completion in practice. Why hate a guy who may really help the team? I think Marv got great value in Nall for the size of his contract.

Stats

Reggie White never suffered that fate.

Nall is a gamer. He always looks far better in games than in practice. Doubters will see Nall in game action in August and hopefully remember what I have been telling you all along. Nall is a good QB and could be great. Nall career numbers are he completes 69.7 % of his passes, 9.52 yards per attempt, and has a passer rating of 139.4. He completes 7 out of 10 passes, 1 of every 7 is for over 20 yards, and 1 of every 8 is a TD. He has not thrown an INT in the NFL. Has been sacked twice. His disadvantage is learning something other than the West Coast Offense. Some ESPN listening idiot always asks can he run? (Michael herpes Vick is not a good QB). Nall averages 1 yard/carry. Includes kneel downs. Rather than lament about the Bills QB position you should be somewhat happy. IMHO the Bills have 3 #2 QB's Losman may have physical tools but is raw + inexperienced. (The young guy) Holcomb has the experience but not the physical tools. (The old vet) Nall has the physical tools and the rght amount of experience. (The right guy) It so far looks like a fair battle. Whoever wins will deserve it. That's the way it should be.

Nall had a beautiful 60 yard bomb that went for a would be touchdown. Losman threw an effective(not beautiful) deep ball(yardage not mentioned) that was defended/incomplete. Holcomb was not mentioned in association with the deep ball. Good to see the QB's are starting to sort themselves out.

Why blame the victim?? The other driver clobbered him. Higher standards are required to operate a car in this country. Motorcycles are not to blame. It is the drivers who fail to maintain a proper lookout for other traffic are to be blamed. This Maine driver should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in Pittsburgh.

While not all the facts are known there is enough to provide a picture of what happened. 1. The other driver was from out of town with Maine plates. Unfamiliar with the area. 2. It was a Chrysler New Yorker. Young alert drivers with good eyesight are usually not in the market for New Yorkers. 3. The big Chrysler was turning left. Those turning left are usually required to yield. Ben was not at fault. He was not wearing a hearing and vision restricting helmet. The loss of earnings and loss of earning potential for a career likely exceeds the the liability limits of the Chrysler's policy. The out of towner is likely very lonely in Pittsburgh right now.

The Titans got the better of the deal because old broken down McNair was going to be cut anyway. But had they cut him earlier rather than pay the million option to buy down his contract they would have been further ahead. A million dollars for a fourth round pick is not a good deal. Unless of course they pick a very good player.

Potential is what kills GM's and coaches. 1. The guy went to Clemson so yes his Wonderlic score is single digits. 2. The guy could pump more iron than anyone else on the team. The NFL requires some technique to go with strength. 3. Rookie season got injured first week of camp and out for year. Last year made the game day active squad once. This year shows up for mini-camp 20 pounds over where he was and out of shape. He might be an Arena football kind of guy. He is part of why the GM that drafted him got fired. Just another poor draft choice.

Craig Nall not only is a nice guy he is a good QB. Did you see that arm? He went to the NCAA finals as a Javelin thrower. By August those who doubt will appreciate him.

Having worked in the legal field the answer to your question can be either way depending on the state. NY law I do not know. Call the attoney for the other side and discuss wit him. It will not cost you for his opinion and if you will help his case see what he can do to help move the event. He should be your biggest help. Lawyers love postponing things because they make money on each postponement.

Marv is going to look like a genius getting a good QB so cheap.

What the 49'ers did with Alex Smith last year was terrible to both he and the team. They should have worked on his mechanics and playbook before presnap reads. Throwing a kid in the deep end of the pool and telling him to swim is not effective. That is why I keep going on about Craig Nall. He has had 4 years as a back up learning without starting too soon and developing bad habits. Losman is still a year or 2 away so don't give up on him. Craig Nall- The right man, at the right time, in the right situation.

Many teams don't handle a progressing QB well and they remember the length of their career instead of what they are becoming. If you look at psychological strength Losman is at a critical part of his career. He will either get tougher this year or he won't. Craig Nall has survived roster battles and can handle the pressure. I think he is mentally stronger and will peform better under pressure. Let's say each QB gets to start a perseason game. The guy going first, likely Losman, will look a bit worse because the team is not yet ready. It will be a disadvantage. I don't know how much time is left on Holcomb's contract and cap implications of each guy(Bills cap page is not up to date) but the third place QB will, in my opinion, be traded before the 2007 season. They are too valuable to stand around in a baseball cap. How Losman responds to the challenge is important. Nall is unknown to most of you but when you see him play you should be convinced he will be the starter. Not only in preseason but I hope Nall has 15 great regular season games.

One heck of a game one!! Regardless of what the outcome will be. Sharks fan.

Teams that drafted the best player available and did not "fill a need" were downgraded for it. Mel put equal weight on day one and day 2 (I would disagree with that). If everyone gets B's and C's then there is not much difference. The Jets had two first round picks and were drafting near the top of each round yet had a lower grade than the Seahawks drafting at the bottom with only 6 picks.