UpstateSwagger

I can't say I agree with you there. It was a blown blocking scheme and there really wasn't a quick check down. For me, old JP makes a stupid ass pass in that situation, possibly an INT. I agree that in the past he's held the ball too long. However, in that instance I think taking the sack and protecting the ball was the smart play.

I just got done re-watching Saturday's game with the benefit of far too much time and DVR, rewind ability. A few things stand out the second time around: -We did not look nearly as bad as I originally thought. I am NOT a Trent guy (or JP guy for that matter) to this point, but Trent's stat line is very misleading. He had the one terrible ball over the middle, but beside that throw he looked OK -- certainly not catastrophic. He had a drop and had to deal with some confusion by some of his young teamates -- cough cough -- not going to name names. His ball to Roscoe on third and long was perfect. He by no means created ANY controversy at the QB position with his play this weekend. -JP looked damn good. He was smart, checked down when neccesary and seemed to have the touch he was missing in years past. If Roscoe hadn't dropped that very catchable ball, JP's performance would almost have been flawless. -Roscoe... Damn. That guy NEEDS to have the ball in his hands. Watching him run wild makes you wonder if Donte's comments, about him being unguardable in the slot one one one (by anyone in the league) are more truth than just complementing a teamate. -I think we are competitively two deep at QB and RB. Marshawn looked every bit the work horse we know he is, and Fred Jackson looked the pass-catching, slasher compliment to a T. JP (year five lol) may finally have had some of Hamdan's chroise rub off on him. I think JP will prove very valuable to this team with Trent's propensity for injury. At any rate, both quarterbacks should be serviceable when called upon. With Trent's inteligence and physical evolution, and JP's progression into year five, it would seem we have two QBs moving in the right direction. -The defense is what it is. Scrappy, over-achieving and swarming. We have young talent that, as said many times before, needs to come into it's own. If we can stay healthy we could be scary good on that side of the ball, if not, who the hells knows. -James Hardy, once he screws his large, boxy head on completely, is a game changer. His rare size and body control will put TDs on the board. His TD was a glimpse of how dangerous he can be. 6'5'', 215 is not coachable. He fits our last-season prayers perfectly. Once he gets the jitters out, he will be absolutely lethal. -Our special teams are the best in the league. Period. Leodis makes us that much more combustible. All in all, this was what I needed to see. As strange as that may sound, I was very impressed for a first preseason game, on the road, against a deep and talented team. I am as synical as they come, but for those of you ready to cash in the chips based on what you saw Saturday -- I just can't get on board with that. We are an improved team with TREMENDOUS upside. I'm telling you folks, we are going to be good for a while. And damn, it feels good to say (and believe) that.

I know. I know. This is silly and has been discussed at great length already. I just can't help myself. I was watching some footage from last year and I came to a startling realization: we have the most god-awful uniforms in professional sports. I mean honestly, what in the hell were we thinking making the move to this trash? They're low-rent, tacky and just plain amatuerish. They aren't fit for an arena league team. The worst part of it all is the fact that we get a glimpse of true uniform greatness every now and then; our throwbacks are nothing short of glorious. I know there is an extensive process to changing the uniform, but maybe Goodell could show us some mercy and allow us to just change on the spot -- some sort of emergency intervention perhaps. Until then, I guess I'll just have to deal with the dry heaving when I see those ridiculous shoulder panels on our white kits. Go Bills! The waiting is almost over!

I've been to several pro stadiums (Buffalo, Washington and Philly) and most SEC stadiums (Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Auburn) The Swamp in Gainesville is hands down the loudest stadium I've ever been in. We're talking 92,000 people, 25,000 incensed and drunken college kids. Absolutely deafening. It's really not comparable to a pro stadium; they're just in completely different ball parks. If anyone has a chance to make it down to Gainesville for A UF, SEC game, do yourself a favor and check it out.

I see what you're saying, but some players are clearly more suceptible to injury than others. Peyton Manning and Brett Favre are examples of players who, for whatever reason, don't get hurt. Even players who suck and play on lousy teams that get knocked around can be tough and seemingly uninjurable. Look at David Carr when he was in Houston.

I am not entirely sold on Trent as is, although I would say he deserves to be the starter at this point; it is unquestionably his job to lose. For starters, I am concerned with Trent's history as a "winner." He was 10-20 as a starter during his college career. He also threw nearly as many INTs as TDs, making me wonder why so many have branded him such a smart and savvy protector of the ball. I do however like his seemingly level-headedness and he clearly has good size and nice touch on most of his intermediate throws; I think he coulddevelop into a very nice player when surrounded by quality pieces. My most pressing concern however, is his durability and toughness. Trent sat out his first year at Stanford in 2002. In 2003, Trent beat out the incumbent starter and started for 4 games before being knocked out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. In 2004, Trent was the unquestioned starter but injuries kept him out of four more games. 2005 was Trent's finest collegiate year by far. He played the whole season, and Stanford ran off an impressive 5-6 record. In 2006, Trent was once again knocked out for the remainder of the season, in the seventh game of the year. Wel all know what happened last year -- only adding to Trent's impressive injury history. My point is that we will see JP as the starter, for one reason or another, at some point this season. It's going to happen and he needs, as well as we need, to be prepared for that. Trent's propensity for sitting out games seems to indicate to me that the Bills will always need to have a capable back-up during the Edwards' tenure. Whether that means spending the extra money to bring in a proven veteran, or investing in another 3rd rounder in the next few years in the draft, I think the Bill's FO will have to address this problem.

Your sinicism is gross. Is it being that much of a homer to pull for a kid who’s had a rough go at it and want him to succeed and associate with our team leader? Maybe you should hire a publicity firm to help you understand ghetto kids who do stupid sh-- -- or maybe you should just drop the myopic, backhanded hating attitude and pull your head out of you’re a$$.

I applaud Donte's guarantee. It's all a big, entertaining show anyway. If nothing else it got the Bills mentioned on various shows -- which is always nice for a change. I honestly think he believes it, and if he does, as a leader, I wouldn't expect him to bite his tongue. I would draw a parallel between this kind of thing and the statement that the Rays made when playing the Red Sox; it's like "here we are, and yes, we used to really suck, just letting you know however, we will no longer be the league's whipping boy, we're not the cubs, we don't want to be lovable losers, and if you don't believe us then we're going to kick you in the teeth to make sure you understand." I think a hard-nosed player like Whitner, making the guarantee, is the first step in shedding our image as a cursed, happy to lose, football team. A change in attitude and culture is neccessary, and this is movement in the right direction.

I just can't help but feeling like this guy can contribute on this team. He's a big, strong kid who seems to be a likable guy, who was a leader on a pretty good Kentucky team. As the article mentioned, he already has the body of a pro wideout and has a propensity for making big plays in clutch situations. In hindsight, I don't really know how the kid fell as far as he did. He excelled in the most athletic and competitive college football conference in all the land, he has good size and sure hands. If we don't put him on as our 5th receiver, I think we live to regret it.

Who cares!!!!!

I'm not being naive... I just don't care. And why the hell should you. Who knows what happened? Not me, not you, not anyone on these boards. The DA thought this was sufficient. So just stop the blabbering and moral grand-standing... Seriously, just stop. No one is asking you to let him date your daughter -- just run for touchdowns.

I often lurk and don't write on here, and I really hate when people use blanket, childish insults... But you sir, are an idiot! I can't imagine how bored someone must be to put that much thought into the analysis of a $100 traffic crime. Grow up. And if you're that perturbed, maybe you shouldn't be a fan of the organization or this league for that matter. Get over it. He's a football player, and a damn good one at that. The naivety is just staggering. Go coach a Christian, 8&9 year old flag team.

Give me a break with that crap. He gave you a detailed, well thought out analysis of the situation based on how he views the FACTS. It's people like you on these boards, jumping to outrageous and hasty conclusions that need to pull their heads out of their a$$. There are people calling for the team to let Marshawn go because he "left a woman for dead" in the road. Have you lost your minds?!? He's a 22-year-old-kid who made a mistake and is probably trying to figure out, with his attorney, for better or worse, how to make the situation right. I don't think the point can be stressed enough about where Marshawn comes from and how much of an influence that can have on how he views and trusts the authorities. I think MattM's analysis was spot on as far as how minimal the injuries were and the nature of where and when this happened. It was a very minor collision at best -- no backboard, only bruising, very low number of stitches, etc... This sounds more and more like a witch-hunt on these boards. These are pro-athletes not our moral compasses. When you have most of your players coming from very low-income areas and then you throw these young kids a ton of money, bad things happen. All you moral grandstanders wouldn't be happy with any team in the league if you knew half of what these guys are probably doing. Take that holier-than-thou naevity, grow up and look around. If you think you could field a team of saints you're a looney and this league, or any other professional sports league, isn't for you. Marshawn has embraced this city -- and with a place like Buffalo, I'm sure that's not always the easiest thing for a young, black man to do. Everything before this indicated a pretty decent guy with a good heart. He at least deserves a chance for the FACTS to come out before his new community hangs him out to dry.

I've seen, in multiple threads on this board, people clamoring about Marshawn "leaving a woman for dead" and "Oh Shucks, it sure is gonna be tough to like this team now." Are you kidding me? Even if Marshawn was the driver, I'm sure it went down like this: Marshawn and player X and Y are out drinking at the bars; they go to leave; Marshawn is driving, and he probably shouldn't have been, but who knows. They come around the corner and another drunk person is in the middle of the street and the car GRAZES her. That is the key word; some of you are acting like he flat ran this woman over, maybe put it in reverse a few times back over her and then sped off laughing, with his head out the window like a Looney Tune. I'm sure he was like "Oh sh--. I've been drinking a little. What do I do? What do I do?" Now the smart thing to do would have been to stop and fess up right then and there but I'm sure he panicked and ended up making a stupid decision. For God's sakes he still a kid; what is he 22? I mean c'mon. I'm sure he knew she wasn't seriously injured by the nature of the collision. It was very minor -- most car to person accidents don't result in bruising and 7 stitches. I needed like 15 when I fell of my bike as a child. Was it handled poorly by Marshawn? Of course it was. Do I think it makes Marshawn a bad guy or a "coward" as some have suggested? Absolutely not. He's a kid who made a bad choice. I'm sure he'll learn from it and move on. He seems like a good guy with a good heart so maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt, and stop painting all these ridiculous pictures of the event, until the investigation unfolds. Players around the league are doing much worse. But for any of you who think fielding a team of saints and do-gooders is possible and don't believe that all kinds of terrible things are done by pro athletes all the time that you just don't hear about -- the NFL isn't for you. Maybe you should pick a team of 11-year-olds in some sort of "Play Then Pray" Flag League in your area to follow. Then and only then will you have your team of stand-up individuals.

Get over yourselves... I can't possibly understand how so many of you can jump... Oh wait, yes I can. There isn't much going on in the W New York sport world right now. James Hardy pulled a gun on his father, and probably clubbed some baby seals as well. But, this all based on a very shoddy piece of journalism about four inces long, in some bullsh!t paper. He had rights to the gun, although some of you refuse to recognize those rights, and he grew up without much guidance. Granted, he is a professional now, but he's still a 21-year-old kid, from a broken home. Damn right he should be pissed at his dad. He f!cking abandoned him. Now I understand that half of the guys playing in this league didn't have a father figure but who the hell are we to judge the angst he has about that void in his life. No charges were filed and no one was hurt. To go around with your nose in the air, acting like we have a team of saints is preposterous. Give the KID a break; it doesn't seem like many people in his life have. Buffalo is the best place for someone to be given a new beginning and lets not overeact about a kid who has been through more in 21 years than I think most of us would want to deal with in a lifetime. I'm all for bringing the hammer down on someone who is PROVEN guilty but Jesus Christ, this is America and he is a Bill now -- innocent until proven guilty. James could thrive in a town that embraces its athletes like we do, and I think he deserves that chance.

I can't stand this OL depth conversation. What is the deal with you people? I would write much, much more but I am drunk, and don't want to do it and I know you'll all do it yourselves -- so proceed. I think BillinNYC is wrong. Period. Him and the rest of the old guard seem outdated -- for the most part. So attack I want it.

I will not sir. The internet is a free cyber-space, not a free country. So, the rules are different. For one, I can't be voted out; that's a fact. Besides I wouldn't think it would be any fun without someone as passionate about their WR prospect merits as I. Really look at the stats though, its almost to the point where I can say, "Look it's just science, he's better," ala Will Ferrel talking about women's brains being smaller in AnchorMan/

You have got to be kidding. Look at the numbers McFadden put up in the best conference in the country and then talk to me. If you are insinuatong that he is neither shifty or powerful how the hell did he break so many tackles. He has all the tool AD Peterson has and then some. In three years at Arkansas, McFadden never had an average less than 5.6 yards a carry -- Peterson's high was 5.4 at Oklahoma. As far as toting the rock as an every-down back, McFadden's Sophomore and Junior year carry totals were, respectively, 284 and 325. Adrian Peterson's high was 220... Oh yeah, that's cause AD was hurt. Well guess what, that's part of being a RB; McFadden has no injury concerns -- and he took his beating in the SEC not the Little 12. Look at the numbers and video, not McShay's or Kiper's mocks. No leg-drive or elusiveness, give me a break. Watch the tape and then lhonestly come back.

This is so ridiculous...can't seperate now??? Hardy and Devin Thomas had the same number of catches last year -- 79. But Hardy had 16 TDs to Thomas' 8!!!! That is in Devin Thomas' "One Shining Moment," magical year!!! Doesn't that scream Answer to our problems, he had twice as many TDs -- redzone stud. Oh yeah he also had 20 TDs combined in the two years before this one... not six catches!!!! Get out of here!

6. --- are you kidding me? grow up... McFadden is a complete stud. As an SEC fan I've been able to appreciate this kid for the last few years. He is as physically gifted as any RB... ever. And that is a serious comment. He is like Adrien Peterson last year, minus the injury concerns, I can't believe all this talk about Mendenhall and Stewart being better -- based on what?? A few "analysts trying to be cute with bold predictions. Watch a tape of McFadden against LSU this past season and then talk to me. At least Mendenhall is a viable argument; he did produce in the clutch last year. But give me a break with Stewart... He is a work out player only. Much like Vernon Gholston -- they both look good in tights in a practice dome. I wouldn't waste a second on either one of them. This isn't the NBA, we don't need to draft purely on prospect potential; this is the show me the money league; we don't need any glorified body-builders eating up our high draft picks.

Now I am not completely sold on a WR with our first pick -- even if we trade down. However, if you look at raw physical talent and production numbers you would be an idiot if you didn't say James Hardy is the best WR in the draft. With his size, 6'7''... and his speed, 4.5... he should already be lighting eye sockets up. But when you look at his production and playmaking history... 10+ TDs each of his three seasons with a short stint PLAYING on th IU basketball team... it really is a slam dunk. If you can over-look his off field issues, and he never was convicted, than it really is a no-brainer. He is the best WR in the draft. He had a pretty shoddy team around him and put up those numbers in a decent conference. I dare ANYONE to make a legitimate argument that Devin Thomas is a better prospect than James Hardy. Can not be done; please find a way to draft this guy.

Obviously "terrible" is used as a very subjective term. Literally he is not a terrible football player. Literally he is probably a pretty good football player. But being someone who uses a message board, I afford myself the luxury of hyperbole from time to time. Forgive me. That being said, Devin Thomas would not be a good fit for our needs. He has terrible -- and I am being literal here -- hands and he is going to need a few years of babysitting before he is ready to contribute on any level. Watch some MSU games and get off McShay's mock draft before you question anyones football knowledge around here, alright?

Utica Bill, you have the best, and one of the most realistic mock drafts I've seen in a long time. I commend you for your good taste in collegiate talent.

Second. If we take this guy i'm gonna cry. I've said it 50 times before; he is terrible. Everytime someone mentions him in their "sweet mock draft" I question their intelligence and football knowledge.

What?!? You don't like seeing those 1500 word expose's on the nuiances of the the Cover 2 defense and why its retarded to have capable cornerbacks playing in it?