Búfalo Blanco

I understand your point... However, as much as I hate to say this as a Bills fan, Polian and Levy didn't win a Super Bowl... They should have... At least one of them anyway... But then Ralph decided not to retain Polian, which IMO was poor judgement, and Polian went on to Indy and eventually got his ring. Gailey has had success as an OC, sure... As an NFL HC..? Meh... 18-14 in 2 seasons with the Cowboys (10-6, 8-8), winning the division once, 0-2 in the playoffs, disagreements with Aikman and living off of Jimmy Johnson's talent... I'd call that mediocre at best based off the players he had there. Now, again, this doesn't mean he can't be successful here... We don't know yet... I've already stated in this thread and elsewhere that I have hope for Nix as a talent evaluator/draft guy etc. based off of his track record in SD, 70 years old and 1st time GM aside.. Time will tell with this year's draft... I believe Nix is looking at this as a 2-3 year rebuilding process starting with building a new defense and hoping Gailey's offensive experience can get the offense by till he can concentrate on it more, perhaps next offseason. Having said that, we have had to endure some piss poor HC hirings over the last decade... This offseason, hope started to stir again when we learned of big interviews with Shanahan, Cowher and an intriguing coordinator in Leslie Frazier... There were other names floating around as interested like Schottenheimer and Billick... Ralph Wilson even proclaimed to be willing to spend 10 million a year... Then came the typical Ralph-like answer with his customary $3 million a year for an un inspiring WTF hire of Gailey... Now perhaps you were jumping for joy, brimming with optimism and thinking this was 3 steps above Jauron... Me? I was thinking "Here we go again..." Based on the track record, I have every right to be skeptical... This franchise has burned me at every turn when I entertain any semblance of hope... But, of course, there I'll be again in Sept. hoping against hope that Gailey can outcoach Belichick and Ryan... Time will tell... But my gut tells me regardless of how much talent Buddy Nix can bring in (assuming he can), Gailey is not the guy to challenge in this division... I honestly hope I'm wrong and will freely admit it if I am...

Again, like I said, show it to me on the field... Sure, we've lost a lot of close, last second games... But the bottom line is, we lost... Great teams find a way to win the games they need to... The Bills never win when they need to... whether its by 1 pt. or 50 pts... Ultimately, they never pull it off when the chips are down... Buffalo Bills fans have been through the "what ifs" and "coulda, woulda, shouldas" like no other fans across any sport... I can appreciate your optimism Darth and enjoy reading your threads/posts along with several others here who wanna believe... I really wanna believe... Anyone who has been loyal to this team and spent their hard-earned income on them in one way or another is dying to see them finally lift up that Lombardi trophy... But, based on the number of times I've had my heart ripped out, I feel I have earned the right to be skeptical... That doesn't mean I'm a "gloom and doomer" or think the "sky is falling"... I'm just not gonna believe everything they feed me anymore until it really happens... We've had how many fresh starts with new regimes now? OK, Buddy... OK Chan... That schedule looks incredibly tough this season and we still have many issues to iron out... but you believe we can turn it around... Show me....

This.... I agree completely with the screen passes and mentioned that in a thread a couple of weeks ago... Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller could run some fantastic screens and counters.... but it all depends on the line... Just like you stated, the OTs and Wood's rehab are the biggest concerns... At the end of the day, the questions on the OL, the daunting schedule the Bills have along with a very competitive division and the defensive switch to the 3-4 could be too much for a rebuilding team... 2011 (if there isn't a strike) may be the year this team starts climbing its way out... I'm on board with Nix thus far, but am still unsure about Gailey... Time will tell...

If you're talking about any team... sure, ok... Bill Polian and Tony Dungy... or Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli... I'd have some hope with combos like that... and they actually worked... Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix? That's really just your hopeful opinion, because as of yet, they have done nothing on the field... Again, I go back to my original point: I'll wait till I actually see it happen... Again... we are talking hope here... Hope springs eternal with the Bills... A new regime... a fresh outlook... Everything is gonna turn around with a clean slate! How many times have we gone through this "fresh start" now? We as Bills fans have lowered our expectations to the point of "being happy to just see an improvement.." That's how bad its been... The ultimate goal in the NFL is to win the Super Bowl... Granted, if the Bills even have a winning season or, dare I say, miraculously win the division, that's something to build on... IF... I reiterate my original point: I'll wait till I see it actually happen... Ummm.... OK.... An NFL HC would not be an NFL HC if he didn't believe that... no matter who or where he coaches... What's your point? Everybody wants to win... they're all competitors... Like I said before, if Gailey believes the Bills can turn things around immediately, wonderful! More power to ya Chan! I'd love to actually see it happen! But will it when the chips are down? Hope is a dangerous thing... especially when it comes to this team...

Well sure... some here seem to believe in an immediate turnaround each and every year before the season even begins... No matter who's been drafted or signed... no matter who the coach or GM is... Its the right answer... Again, I'll temper my expectations until it actually happens and the slump ends... If Gailey "believes he can pull off a Dolphin like turnaround", wonderful! But lets actually see it happen on the field when the chips are down...

I'll never stop rooting for this team, but I'll believe in the turnaround when it actually happens....

Give up our #1 grinder RB for a 4th...? I don't care if he doesn't want to be here... This is not a charity... He's worth a lot more than that... As some have already said, if another team has an injury during the summer and want to negotiate, I'm sure Nix will listen... but, in my opinion, if they're not offering at least a 2nd or more, he should play the ol' Reagan hearing loss trick...

Yes, I think with a year of pro conditioning under his belt, Nelson has potential to shine... Its really up to him, Hardy and/or Johnson... If 2 of the 3 can make strides, that will open up a lot of underneath options with Spiller, Jackson and Parrish and get the double-teams off Evans... Of course, for all of that to work or finally progress, there needs to be more than 1.5 seconds to throw... and whoever starts at QB better have enough pepper on the ball to throw 40-50 yard passes to Evans when defenses crowd the short-yardage passing options... Should be a cinch!

I've been getting it for 13 seasons... Not sure I will be able to afford it this year... We'll see.. The price keeps going up... However based off some of the bartering with the NFL Ticket and Directv that happened with a lot of people last season (due to the economy), they should be willing to give a discount/extra programing to keep their subscribers... Especially guys like me who have done it so long... Also, I believe you can just buy the RedZone channel now too for a cheaper price... Last season, I told them I no longer wanted the RedZone/Superfan extras for another $100 so they gave it to me for free with 3 months of free Showtime as well... So I'm sure I'll barter with them again this year... I hope I can work something out so I can watch the new regime in Buffalo...

Yup... NFL Network... no question... What was with the commercials every 5 seconds on ESPN..? Particularly on Friday...

I'm beginning to think Trent Edwards gets one more shot this season...

Let's see... -Fifty of his rushing attempts were gains of at least 10 yards, including 31 runs that amassed 20 yards or longer. -His total of eight kicks returned for touchdowns (seven kickoffs, one punt) tied the NCAA all-time record. -He is one of only seven players in conference annals to gain over 2,000 yards via kickoff returns, totaling 2,052 yards. -He is one of just two players in Clemson history to account for a touchdown five different ways (punt return, kickoff return, reception, rush, and touchdown pass). -He had 21 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more; more than Tim Brown, Rocket Ismail, or Bush, similar types of players, had in their careers. -The ACC's active scoring leader with 308 points, he is just the 16th player in conference history to score over 300 points in a career, ranking second on Clemson's all-time record chart. -By the time he ended his Clemson career, Spiller set 31 school records in various categories, including the record for all-purpose yards and returns for touchdowns. He joined Southern California's Reggie Bush as the only players in college football history with 3,000 rushing yards, 1,500 kickoff-return yards, 1,000 receiving yards, and 500 punt-return yards. -The senior tailback set the conference and school career-records with 7,558 all-purpose yards, the second-best total in NCAA annals. -When he averaged 191.43 all-purpose yards per game in 2009, he broke an ACC record that was first set in 1968. -Rated the best player in the state of Florida, the nation's top running back and the eighth-best overall prospect by Rivals.com during his senior year at Union County High School, Spiller had 541 carries for 5,511 yards (10.2 yards per carry) during his career, scoring 93 times (85 on the ground, three receiving one three more on kickoff returns). There's more if you'd like me to go on... Or you can check the link yourself... http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1127382 100 total yds a game..? Yeah, I think he can pull that off... and if we add a solid OT or two with our eight remaining picks, his game average should be even better...

As opposed to JP Losman and Rob Johnson who couldn't check down when a #2 or #3 option was wide open..? No, they'd rather force it in to their #1 option who's double-covered by the opposing #1 CB and a S 30 yds downfield... causing an incompletion or INT. Passing underneath for 4-5 yd gains to a slot receiver, TE or RB helps an offense control the clock and keeps the defense rested.. It also expands options and schemes... Ask the multitude of teams that have won championships using a West Coast Offense...

I have to agree with Dan... We'll see what they do the rest of the draft, but this guy can double as an occasional receiver, could be explosive with screens, receptions out of the backfield, etc. He will be the "star" draw for season ticket holders like T.O. was last year... I would have liked for the Bills to trade down and/or draft defense too, particularly after seeing teams like S.D./AJ Smith give up a lot to move up... We still have 8 picks to fill holes, and I think we all know you don't make or break a franchise based on your 1st round pick... Spiller was a game-changer in college... Picking up a couple of OTs in the later rounds could possibly do the trick on offense for the time being.. But I think expecting this new regime to turn around the past damage in one offseason is the product of a fast food nation... I wasn't happy about the Chan Gailey signing, but I'm gonna give Nix an offseason or two to see what he can cook up... and Spiller could be lightning in a bottle if given a little time...

God a Bills fan..? Well, we know he has a sense of humor...

If they could pull it off, a trade down would be good... Otherwise, some meat on OL or NT would be solid!

Don't speak too soon.... I agree with Darth... OL or NT would be wise, but this team has holes at several positions...

True... Of course, as we old Bills fans know, they have possibly the best drafter in the NFL in Bill Polian and a consensus MVP QB in Manning who can lift the offense onto his shoulders... Regardless of method or number of draft picks, there are plenty of teams who consistently draft outside the top 10-15 who have success year in and year out... There is no particular formula other than drafting good players more often than not... The Pats and Eagles do it by stockpiling picks... The Colts do it because they have Bill Polian... They don't have to be in the top ten to be successful.... That was my point...

There's the Buffalo-style resilience I've been waiting to see here again! Yeah guys, the first 8-10 games didn't go so well, so lets just lay down and allow the Fish, Jets and Pats to wipe their asses with us... I'm sure the League and our season ticket holders will appreciate it! Then we can get into position to draft Ryan Leaf or Mike Williams! Success! Teams like Philly and New England have been further back in the draft for how long? Wheeling and dealing, picking up multiple picks in the middle rounds, etc. and they seem to remain competitive...

Agreed

+1 They pick a CB or S at #9, I may become a Saints fan...

Each and every year, many on this board hope the team will trade down... I'm a fan of that strategy... multiple draft picks with solid scouting seems to work for teams like Philadelphia... However, the problem is trying to get a trading partner, and that's not easy... The good thing is that the #9 position this year could be a spot where teams want to move to have a chance at Spiller, Clausen, or others... We'll see... If they could pull off trading down, it could potentially help the weak depth at several positions...