MDH

Because when you franchise a Guard you pay the average of the top 5 OL in the league, not top 5 Guards. Which means you're paying a guard the same as the top 5 Tackles - which isn't going to happen. You pretty much don't want to franchise any OL except LT based on how it's figured.

Well, this is the year we find out about a lot of those guys. We find out of Mario was worth the money, if Dareus is a bust, if Gilmore becomes one of the best CBs in the league, if Hughes can resurrect his career, if McKelvin can be a legit starter and if K. Williams can stay healthy. We also find out of Pettine is a legit DC or if Ryan was really the one running the show. If we get positive answers to these a lot of these questions the D will be one of the best in the league.

Hopkins has the leg but I hope he has the accuracy too. Lindell didn't have much of a range but he was almost automatic from inside 45. Hopefully we'll get more of the same but with a bigger leg and more touchbacks (without wasting a roster spot on a "kickoff specialist.)

I read that he gained 10 lbs of muscle and has worked his a$$ off this offseason. I'm guessing he wanted to put on the weight in order to protect himself from getting injured but we'll see if it backfires. I'm not worried about FJ at all. The guy puts in the work and leaves everything out on the field. He's older, sure, but I think he can still be relied upon to carry his share of the offense.

Like it or not hes who the bills signed to do the job. Unless there is some surprise cut on another team Kolb is the lone vet th Bills have at the QB position this year. And despite what some fans wan to believe Kolb is, right now, the best healthy QB on the roster. Unless Manuel comes back lickity split Kolb will be in the starting lineup opening day. Tuel simply isnt ready. Im not a fan of Kolb either and think Fitz is a much better QB but we have what we have and at this point its just cross your fingers and hope EJ comes back quickly or that Kolb has one of his no-so-bad games on opening day and the D plays light out.

Now, if they say they recovered a flying saucer and an alien from a crash site then I'll take notice. Otherwise they're just admitting that they have a base...

Most of his dates in the past wanted to be taken to dinner and a movie but this one just said, "give me the cash for dinner and the movie instead." It seemed like the same thing to coach so he said, "ok!"

I'm excited about this D but week 1 has me worried. Brady eats aggressive, blitzing defenses for breakfast and belches up TDs at the end of his meal. Disguising where the rush is coming from is good but I'm not sure sending 5-7 guys is against him 70% of the time is.

The knock on Manuel coming into the draft was that he was a raw prospect who would take years of grooming. It's because of this that a guy with his smarts, athleticism, arm strength and size wasn't viewed unanimously as the top QB in the draft and a top 5 pick. From what we've seen so far, this kid is far from raw. He looks comfortable and in command at all times. He doesn't panic, he runs the offense quickly and gets the ball out of his hands to his WRs on time and in placers where they can easily make the reception. Sure it's "only pre-season" but I wonder if scouts and GMs around the NFL are re-thinking their position on him. If he's developed to the point he's at by pre-season game #2 then the sky's the limit for this kid. I usually temper my enthusiasm for the coming season but Manuel has me excited as hell (as does the D.)

People love to speak in hyperbole without realizing they're speaking in hyperbole.

If there's a picture it's news!

ACLs vs. turf

It's always the irresponsible few who spoil it for the responsible many. Not just with this but with most things in life.

Thanks Astro, I love these.

For all of you who don't want Kolb to be given the start have you ever considered that this is what he was promised when he signed? The coach and front office promised him a fair shot at the starting job. If they don't give it to him what kind of message does that send to every player on the roster? Players want to play for a head coach who shoots straight and keeps his word (it's what everybody wants from a boss.) It might seem trivial to posters on a board but this kind of thing is extremely important in building trust and team unity. It also helps EJ out because if Kolb is given a fair shot and EJ wins the battle the team is his. You won't have players whispering that he was given the job on a silver platter. He will have earned it. Really, this decision is win/win. EJ misses the first quarter of pre-season game #2. What quarter EJ players matters little but the above things do matter.

Looking at espn.com and si.com now and I don't see either reporting it.

The frame rate on the vid from those glasses was horrendous. It was choppy with him standing still and looking around If you tried to get game day footage from them it would make you sea sick.

The only thing people will remember is how EJ and Smith perform in games. None of this stuff matters other than giving us something to speculate about.

Talk about someone "losing their cred." You stated McGee had "about two more years of pretty good returns." McGee was one of the best - if not THE best - return man in the NFL for about 4 years. During that 4 year stent he averaged 26.65ypr and scored 5 times. His best year he averaged over 30ypr. But yeah, instead of giving him credit for being a beast let's say he had a few years of "pretty good returns."

The worst part about this crap is that when, inevitably, EJ struggles (as all rookie QBs do) these types of posters will come out of the woodworks saying Tuel should start.

I'm surprised this thread still has legs. Kolb isn't going anywhere this year. It's not like the Bills have 4 QBs in camp and one has to go. Any QB they bring in will be starting from scratch and there's no way in hell they go into the season with only 2 rookie QBs and no safety net. I don't even know why there's speculation about Kolb being cut other than every time a poster doesn't like a player they start a thread about that player being axed. I'll tell you right now Brad Smith makes the roster as well.

I don't know how anybody has an inkling of what to expect. The Bills have so many young, inexperienced players and inexperienced coaches it's tough to predict anything. What are you basing your predictions on? Past performance? These players and coaches have little to do with that. Hope? I'm not one to predict things based on hope. One pre-season game? That's not enough. I have hope for the future as I think plenty of this young talent will eventually mature into fine NFL players but this year? I have no idea. They could totally struggle to win 5 games or they could win 10 and make the players - I just don't have a clue and I don't think I will until mid-season.

What's often the deciding factor when guys are fighting for the last few roster spots at WR is their contributions to ST. Brad Smith has more versatility than just about any other player on the roster and I'm fairly certain he makes the final roster because of it. It's not all just about who is better at WR. Smith is a good return man, is good on coverage units and does a pretty good job at WR. I don't think any of these other WRs people are mentioning can contribute to the team as much as Smith can as a 6th wideout.

Your negativity is pointed at other fans/posters instead of the team. It doesn't make it any less negative.

Bad bet. He wins you'll pay you win he won't. Guy has 100 posts, just let it go he's a troll.