MDH

I guess the people in California don't know what an umbrella looks like given the lack of rain.

Errr. Umm. Hmm. Okay.

I came to this thread wondering if the game this weekend was a sellout. Anyone know where I can find that info?

Of course he needs camp. The guy isn't going to be in any kind of shape to play in a regular season game by sitting out the entirety of camp. He's missed pretty much all of camp already, you think you can just walk into a game after not having played for 8 months and do it at a high level? The good news is that the Bills have plenty of depth at CB.

Thanks Astro, love reading your reports.

You read the entire article for these things? I click on the link, look at the pic, and close it.

You start by not posting in them.

Everything has to be taken in whole though. If EJ did it given his past it would be an anomaly. When Manziel does something like this it's par for the course and just another example of him immaturity and inability to handle the big stage. This incident by itself is no big deal but taken in whole his tendencies are troubling. The kid needs to grow up, and fast, if he's going to find success.

Yep, it's why YPA is a much better stat. EJ needs to get his up by at least a yard but once he's comfortable with the offense I'm hoping that will come.

Fair enough. I'm not sure how I feel about what they gave up to acquire Watkins either though I do love the player. As for Gilmore I think the new enforcement of the rules are going to handicap him. He's a physical corner and if they take that away from him I'm not sure he has the hips to stay with the better receivers on a consistent basis. Granted, I think the same goes for a guy like Sherman, so we'll see. What I do know is that after a few weeks of pre-season ball is that the NFL is going to be painful to watch if they keep throwing these flags as often as they are right now. It's mind boggling to think that the offenses are putting up record numbers but the NFL still isn't happy with it and they want more offense.

You're not seriously going to say that you think Tuel is a better backup than Sanchez, are you? I don't want Sanchez as my starter but a vet presence on the sideline and in the meeting room in addition to a guy who can step in and make a few starts if need be - I'll take that any day. One of the major failings of Whaley is his handling of the backup QB spots. Unless Tuel shocks the world, the season is over if EJ goes down.

Aren't you drunk anyway?

Backpedaling already? You started a thread about Watkins before the draft ever occurred or the Bills made the trade. You didn't want anything to do with him saying he was a "gadget player" who would not help win football games.

After 10 regular season games you're sick of the talk that EJ needs more experience?

If that's how you feel then we'll just have to agree to disagree. I think Wilson will end up being a great QB but his coaches realize he's not there now so they've protected him the past 2 seasons - and rightly so. Without a dominant D that team struggles to make the playoffs, much less win the super bowl. EJ Manual has started 10 friggin' football games. Cut the kid some slack. It's not about making excuses, it's about being realistic. He will not light the league on fire this year. All we can hope for is a dominant D with a good running game and a game manager QB until he learns the ropes. If you're expecting more than that you're expecting him to be Luck or Marino which isn't going to happen. It's actually funny how two of the best teams in the NFL aren't passing teams at all but rather throw back teams who play great D and rely on a good running game to protect young QBs. It's not to say those QBs aren't important to their teams but the teams don't rely on them to win games for them. They're simply a cog in the machine.

Like the Seahawks? They did exactly what I outlined and were good enough on D and with the running game to protect Wilson. It's what you do with young QBs. There are a few guys per decade who are good enough coming into the league to be the cog that makes everything go on a winning team. It takes time, but hey, you don't want to hear that. You want what you want and you want it now!

You've got the wrong guy. I'm all for holding the team accountable and I'll lay into them when they deserve it. But melting down over a pre-season practice game isn't worth the energy that much emotion requires. People also need to get over their hopes that Manuel is a finished product. He's started 10 real games and played in a handful of pre-season games yet people think he's going to look like a polished pro. The guy is going to struggle - and struggle a lot. It's up to the coaching staff to put him into positions where he can succeed. In pre-season games they're not looking to do that, they're looking to get work in. As I said upstream, they will not have him chucking the ball around 27 times a half in the regular season. They won't be lining up in shotgun formations on 4th and 1. They'll protect him. But go ahead and get all depressed over some practice. If people want something to be demoralized about it's not the QB - it's the D. That unit needs to carry the Bills this year along with a strong running game. It's what the entire organization is counting on. Nobody is counting on the QB to be the center piece of this team.

I should care that a young QB is struggling in practice games? Newsflash: he's going to struggle in some real games too. It's what young QBs do. I also know that the Bills won't have him putting the ball up 27 times in the first half of regular season games. What's happening in this practice game doesn't concern me at all except for the Sammy injury.

I'm not sure why I expected to come here and find anything other than the board melting down as if this game mattered one bit. I'm not confident that this team will do anything this year but I could care less about these practice games. The only thing that matters are the injuries. Hopefully Sammy is okay. Once the real games start I'll start caring.

Is there any other kind of Bills' playoff game?

Simply not true, he's obviously a bust. I've read so here. Batted passes at the LoS equal bust city.

So they're doing this yet they still use two guys with poles and a chain to mark/measure first downs?

There should have been. I purchased a big green egg two weeks ago and have cooked on it every night since. Best BBQ I've had in...well, in forever. I'm in love.

Particularly if you're only going to nab $1,200. Bust into somebody's house and you're likely to get items worth more than that and you won't get prosecuted in federal court.