Rubes

Good points. I think picking a good LB is harder than most people seem to think. Size and speed seem to be the most coveted qualities, but I agree that instincts, intelligence, and playmaking ability are probably more important. I think Kiko is a good example of this.

Well, franchise tag would be included in #2. Also, I wanted to know if we should keep Byrd, not necessarily trade him, which I guess would be included in #3.

What does everybody think? Time to put your opinion down. Just curious, but with the votes for #2, what would people say if Byrd would only stay if he is the highest paid safety in the league? Do it, or move on?

Man, too many to count. Besides Lori and The Dean, Mark VI always comes to mind right away.

I'm surprised the Pats* haven't figured out how to acquire favors from the gods, not just the refs.

Good defenses do what they're supposed to do against lesser competition. You could hardly ask for better pass defense against those QBs.

I can't believe you aren't getting more love for this comment. That has to be one of the better ones around here lately.

Coach, one of your goals this year was to come in and change the culture. With the Bills missing the playoffs yet again and still finishing in last place just like the last six years, what about the culture do you think has changed and what hope should this give the fans moving forward?

A bit of hyperbole, I would say, but then again -- getting soundly beaten on a 3rd and 18 with your opponent's back squarely against the ropes for a 50-yard catch is inexcusable. I will note that I am a Gilmore supporter, by the way. I think he's struggled this year, but I also think he's going to be outstanding next year.

We wait with patience for the team to develop under it's new players, coaches, and schemes, that's what. It takes time for rookie QBs to develop, and it takes time for teams to adjust and become comfortable with new schemes. Does anyone not think that our defense is going to be even better next year, with a full year of Pettine's scheme under their belts? They're just getting started.

Thanks, man. I've been perfecting that science for years. Note that it also means that I will root for any team from a lower opposition group when they are playing a team from a higher opposition group in the Super Bowl. Interestingly, the teams from #2 and #3 are basically all NFC teams, and the teams from #1 are all AFC East teams, so that means anytime those teams face each other in the SB, I'd always root for the NFC team. So for instance, even though I hate the Cowboys with a passion, if they were playing against New England* in the SB, I'd root like hell for the Cowboys, and I wouldn't be shy about it either. This illness runs deep.

It was started in this thread.

Per today's D&C: "The Bills have held six of their last seven opponents under 200 net yards passing and now rank fifth in the NFL in pass defense, and third in yards per pass attempt."

You might actually notice that most corners, even the top ones, do this on a regular basis. It's how the position needs to be played these days.

Kinda like those two dropped passes by Gilmore. Those wouldn't have made a huge difference.

Why would Lewis be gone? He's under contract through next year. His salary next year is around $645K.

This is a tough one, really. I think Lewis is a very capable backup, but he does have his limitations. But that's the thing about backup QBs -- they're backups for a reason. They usually have limitations that prevent them from being quality starters. The things I like about Thad are that (1) he seems to play with confidence, and is not afraid to sling it around, (2) he is mobile, and can get himself out of trouble with his legs, and (3) the guys on the team really seem like they respect him and rally around him. His accuracy is a problem, but that doesn't really surprise me given how little he has played in his career to this point. I do think that if he was pressed into action for an extended period, his accuracy would improve. I'm comfortable with Lewis as the primary backup next year, with the chance that Tuel improves gradually to the point of replacing him. But I also wouldn't be grief stricken if the Bills go out and nab a veteran backup. As an aside, I thought it was grand how Sully claimed Lewis was "turnover-prone", and then proceeded to suggest Schaub as a replacement. He of 12 INTs in 10 games, a handful of which were pick 6s.

I can't believe most of you are just listing one or a few teams. Don't you know there is an established science to this? It goes something like this, from strongest opposition to weakest opposition. 1. Division rivals are the worst. New England, Miami, and the NJ Jets are absolutely, positively NOT allowed to win. 2. Next comes teams that close friends, family, or coworkers are fans of. Why? Because I'm a miserable son of a B word, that's why. So for me, that means Chicago, Green Bay, and Miami (again) are ruled out. 3. Next comes teams that have beaten the Bills in the SB, so that rules out Dallas, Washington, and the NJ Giants. However, this is fading a bit with time. I still hate Dallas with a passion, but the Giants get a pass because of the fact that they bitchslapped New England twice. 4. And finally, the teams that have not yet won a SB because, as someone else pointed out, I don't want to see the Bills be the last team to have never won a SB. So that removes a whole slew of others. It includes Cincinnati, Cleveland, San Diego, Tennessee, Houston, Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta, Detroit, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Arizona. However, as mentioned, this is the group I oppose the least, and it wouldn't be that terrible if one of them won it. Of course, if the Bills ever do win a SB, this group is immediately absolved, and my life can return to normal. So who does that leave, really? Basically, it's any team that has already won a Super Bowl who isn't one of those teams mentioned above, which means: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Denver, Oakland, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa, San Francisco, or St. Louis. Not a big list, but again, I'm not categorically opposed to any of the teams in #4 above. So...yeah. There you go. This is the mental illness I deal with on an annual basis.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. On the other hand, every time the Bills have had a chance to "send a message" in the past decade, they've fallen flat on their collective faces.

You were saying?

Ain't that the truth.

Wow. Now that's a glass-half-empty view if I ever saw one.

Post of the day, easily.

I'm interested to hear Bill's take on Dareus, knowing that he was benched for the first quarter for repeated tardiness to meetings. What a shame, this guy can be fantastic if he can ever focus.

So we would get a RT in the early 1st round?