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Hey John always love reading your observations. I'll just disagree on the Fisher call. I just think they were having fun. Not trying to rub our noses in it or anything. But one thing about Fish, he always plays to win. That's why their team went 13-0 last season. And then we have our coaches, who can't even get our guys game fit. C

Can someone explain to me how we have injuries up the wazoo every year when we run a "drill" based camp.

I think most of us on this board are way past "panicking." We're at the stage of casually interested observers watching a train wreck we're powerless to stop. I'm sure there'll be folks here who'll post the obligatory "alright, where are the naysayers now" post sometime during the season. The moment we win 2 games in a row. But fundamentally watching last night's game didn't give me the sense anything has changed in the coaching or playing staff. You'd think there'd be some kind of fire lit under someone's butt...

what he said...The thing is preseason or no, you would think the team would be jacked up having their owner *and* Bruce Smith in the HOF. But I saw very little emotion out of them. Wonder how they'll do when they're down 21 pts in a regular season game.

I have been taking "deep breaths" Problem is I end up asphyxiating anyway...

Though I don't think the team played "badly" as a whole. My main gripe with this team is that there is an utter lack of intensity and passion on both sides of the ball. When your rookies turn up the juice (ie. Nic Harris) in comparison to say your veteran D-line, it just speaks volumes as to how this team is coached. True, we didn't scheme and game plan. At least it looked like we didn't. What was disturbing is that, at least to me, their man beat up our man one on one almost every time. Be it our rookies or veterans. To me that says this team is just a "we'll try hard" group of guys and not a "we'll kick your a**" team. That ain't never gonna cut it in the NFL and definitely not in the rugged AFC East. After 4 years I think we deserve so much more. Don't you? C

I don't know the details of this tragic event. At best, it looks like McNair exercised bad judgment and at worse, it looks like he exploited a girl barely out of her teens. She probably was just as happy to be with him regardless of his status. Though reports today indicate he told her he was divorcing his wife. I don't know if that was true. No divorce proceedings were filed in Nashville court where they live at least part time. Either way McNair was well loved in this community and did his share of giving back. But even recently it has been shown that he has been DUI. Proof that his judgment isn't the best. The first time they let him off on a technicality and the second time during the trial the cop's history was drug through the mud. This last time his presence in the Escalade wasn't even recorded in the affidavit. He was allowed to leave in a taxi. IMHO, if this was a non celebrity - the accommodation of his guilt and behavior would never have happened regardless of how much of a "good guy" the person was. Again, proof that society treats celebrities in ways that precludes them taking responsibility for their actions. There is no greater evidence of this than the Michael Jackson episode. Steve was a good guy and didn't deserve to be shot by anyone. I'm not sure if anyone he looked up to stepped in to say how his behavior may have been jeopardizing his health, safety and legacy. But young (or old) millionaires tend to not listen to advice even when it's good. Cause no one sets any boundaries for them when they have power, money, celebrity and influence. All this is very sad IMHO and could have been avoided. C

What we know thus far is this per The Tennessean and Newschannel 5 in Nashville: 1) No struggle in apt. 2)Woman found was not his wife, Mechelle. 3) The woman's name is Sahel Kazemi, a 20 year old who co-owned a Black Escalade with Mr. McNair. 4) Said Escalade was involved in a DUI last week. 5) McNair died of multiple gun shot wounds. At least one to the head. Woman died of one gunshot. 6) There seems to be speculation the woman was his girlfriend. 7) AFAIK McNair is not divorced. More news here: http://tinyurl.com/lgmx9q

You know what - I liked Hargrove a lot. He seemed to give a damn on the field. But keeping him around would have been a bad idea. He seemed to know he screwed up and wanted to change and yet in spite of that he still found trouble. That's just a bad sign. He needs therapy and help before he signs with *anybody*. I concur with the observations of another post here that the Big Easy is just the worst place for him. C

And we won... Since then we have had plays that were designed and our team has not been able to pull it's collective head out of it's arse and we've been in the doldrums...

Let's for a moment assume all you say is true - including the F him in the ass bit - to each his own... But the truth remains that we were a better team *on the field* with him as opposed to the other guy. I Don't hate RJ - but at that time and place - in terms of production Flutie was the much better option.

Was there too...One of my best days as a Bills fan...

Compared to whom? RJ, Todd Collins, Or better yet - Losman, and a sorry run of successors...? It's not like we had the second coming of Jim Kelly after that - come on now. I'm not sure what his locker room presence was - but on the field there was excitement and the team always felt like they had a shot...Plus by Wilson's own admission - he saved the franchise... C

Well, it feels like a rumor. But some pretty reliable news outlets are carrying it like cnn.com and some of their top writers are reporting that the Bills have interest. I'm trusting the franchise to use better judgment. But at the same time, I have to think there's a teeny fire somewhere for someone to think the Bills would even consider this. I can't imagine this would even be considered during the Levy/Polian/Butler years. And for the record, I don't get joy out of trashing the Bills. But you have to wonder about some of the more recent decisions.

How f-d up of a franchise do you have to be to pass on Cutler and pursue Vick. I mean really does our legacy mean nothing. I know all this is rumor now. But seriously this will just prove how far this franchise has fallen. Everyone should have a shot at redemption. But he can redeem himself outside the NFL. This is a privilege. The guy can make amends first and then we'll discuss it.

Looking at the report, it seems this is very definitely mistaken identity. After the dust clears, I'd sue and ask for a retraction.

in other news Chris Mortensen predicts the Bills will go 0-20 and be relegated to Div 3 college ball. Is heard saying, "Never would have happened under Donahoe..."

for the record, I'm with Moulds. But also for the record, I love Jauron - as a father figure, mentor, friend. I'd invite him to my kid's birthday. But he has no business head coaching the Bills. Or anyone else for that matter. He is constantly outwitted in the football IQ dept. And that to me is surprising considering how booksmart he is. He doesn't make the right decisions under pressure. He either overdelegates or can't hold people accountable. A coach IMHO needs to be a benevolent dictator when he is trying to build something. It's different when when you're coaching an established team of vets. You can take your foot off the gas pedal a bit. But when it's a young team - you have to hold them accountable. In my opinion he is a Gawd awful coach and a great human being. Sometimes those two things go together. C

Sounds like we have NFL Substance Abuse policy sanctions on the horizon...

man, remember Roosevelt Colvin...Wow...how far the mighty have fallen.

I think the greats know who they'll be working for in Buffalo.

I still can't believe we took him with the first pick under Donahoe.

I'm all for the No Huddle. I just hope Edwards is ready for it. Kelly was a master of reading defenses and knowing what to call. Albeit pass happy plays. But he was also aggressive. It's pointless to go No Huddle and then just check down. All you're doing then is using up clock - fast- for non productive series'. Edwards struggled with reading Ds last year - particularly the 3-4 s in our Div. Hopefully he'll get there. But I also think the ability to run the no-hudd is predicated by attitude. Thus far I haven't seen that attitude from Edwards. He likes to play it safe. Which is fine. But not the ideal mentality for this "wrinkle."

For the right price, I'd bring him to camp - after he has recuperated.

I think Leo makes some valid points. I don't understand why our Bills love to take a player, change his position and then wonder why he doesn't flash the same ability that made him their pick. That being said, I think Leo would agree he's no more an expert on the draft than any of us. I've not been a fan of the FO this off season primarily with the retention of Jauron. Also the reluctance to spend money to get top notch talent. But this draft makes me think that maybe Russ Brandon is on the right track. They picked real football players at least until rounds 5-7. I don't know about you guys but this draft seemed kinda bipolar to me. Until we picked Nic Harris, I thought this was an old school Polian/Butler/Smith/Adams style draft. Makes me wonder if that was the Brandon/Nix influence. And then beginning with Harris it seemed like it was back to the "why the hell did they pick that guy" draft of the last few years. Maybe they were then throwing a bone to the coaches, particularly "I haven't met a DB I didn't like" Jauron. Based on what happened right after we kept Jauron (per Ralph's quotes), it makes me think Brandon is not a great Jauron supporter and that this draft is the new foundation of a rebuilding process. I have a strong feeling, we are gonna suck pretty bad this year. Jauron will then be gone and Brandon is gonna get in Ralphie's ear to bring in the best available coach. I hope that's Cowher. But it will probably be someone along the lines of a Mariucci or something. Though Mooch and Jauron are good friends. I also hope he kicks Guy's ass to the curb. Anyways, I still think the ship is gonna sink. But at least the captain knows it is. There's something to be said for that. C