What if the Bills refuse to play the Patriots?

[WotAGuy]

1 minute ago, IronMaidenBills said:

It’s not about the companies. It’s about American’s living paycheck to paycheck that have no other options but to work for these companies that rely on a NFL to such an extent. You guys don’t get it, it’s why our country is the way it is. People don’t care about the poor mans situation. Just keep watching more tents pop up, and then wonder why. The world can’t just shutdown. It didn’t shutdown for 9/11 and it isn’t going to shutdown now. Maybe if the economic security was different in this country, I’d be more inclined to say let’s all grieve for a week or 2, but that’s not the reality for most Americans, or most people living on this planet. 

You sound like a gambler.  Are you on FanDuel or MGM?

[Milanos Milano]

3 minutes ago, LOVEMESOMEBILLS said:

 

 Every single person responds differently to a traumatic event. Some will he fine, some will not. But to sit here and say this is the correct way and that way it's not, that's not for us to say. And this is just my personal view.....It's nobody's business what the players mental health is, except the team and the people they are close with, you need not worry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Then why are you watching the "elite" play a kids game? And spending time on a forum talking about the "elites"?

 

 

For entertainment. But watching for something for entertainment is purely different than being dependent on money from NFL events to feed a family and keep a roof over their heads. Which is precisely why the game must go on. If it means we play backups, so be it. 

[UKBillFan]

4 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

It’s not about the companies. It’s about American’s living paycheck to paycheck that have no other options but to work for these companies that rely on a NFL to such an extent. You guys don’t get it, it’s why our country is the way it is. People don’t care about the poor mans situation. Just keep watching more tents pop up, and then wonder why. The world can’t just shutdown. It didn’t shutdown for 9/11 and it isn’t going to shutdown now. Maybe if the economic security was different in this country, I’d be more inclined to say let’s all grieve for a week or 2, but that’s not the reality for most Americans, or most people living on this planet. 

Maybe I should have said companies and individuals, but my point still stands. It does go deeper into the issues of the world, but being reliant on footfall of one franchise does open up people and businesses to risk. Go back and read my original comment - what happened in Oakland and San Diego? They didn’t (possibly but probably not) lose one game; they lost at least eight or nine a year and, unlike this scenario, there’s no way of it being made up.

Edited January 5, 2023 by UKBillFan

[SinceThe70s]

8 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

It’s not about the companies. It’s about American’s living paycheck to paycheck that have no other options but to work for these companies that rely on a NFL to such an extent. You guys don’t get it, it’s why our country is the way it is. People don’t care about the poor mans situation. Just keep watching more tents pop up, and then wonder why. The world can’t just shutdown. It didn’t shutdown for 9/11 and it isn’t going to shutdown now. Maybe if the economic security was different in this country, I’d be more inclined to say let’s all grieve for a week or 2, but that’s not the reality for most Americans, or most people living on this planet. 

 

The bolded is false wrt to the NFL:

 

On Thursday, two days after the attacks, the NFL postponed the Week 2 games. The league still had to decide whether to play those games, and how to adjust the playoff schedule, but in the meantime, the league went dark

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/sidelines/remembering-9-11-this-wasn-t-the-time-to-play-football

 

Stock market closed until the following Monday as well

 

Anticipating market chaos, panic selling and a disastrous loss of value in the wake of the attacks, the NYSE and the Nasdaq remained closed until Sept. 17

 

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0911/how-september-11-affected-the-u.s.-stock-market.aspx#:~:text=Anticipating market chaos%2C panic selling,shutdown since the Great Depression.

Edited January 5, 2023 by SinceThe70s

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

Just now, IronMaidenBills said:

For entertainment. But watching for something for entertainment is purely different than being dependent on money from NFL events to feed a family and keep a roof over their heads. Which is precisely why the game must go on. If it means we play backups, so be it. 

 

 The backups are people too. It's still not for you to decide, your acting as your opinion(And it is an opinion) is better than anyone else's.

 

 Pegulas would pay all staff working the event, I think we both can agree on that. And after the generosity we've seen this week, if the game was canceled you don't believe people would come out and support local establishments so they would still get their money? Stop the people of Buffalo surely would.

 

 

 

[BigDingus]

8 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

You sound like a gambler.  Are you on FanDuel or MGM?

 

Ok, I laughed out loud at this response... but he wasn't wrong. Damn I feel bad for finding your comment so amusing 😅

[klos63]

5 hours ago, HOUSE said:

I would back the Bills decision if Hamlin does not drastically improve.

 

Make sure you open this link before replying...

https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2023/01/04/damar-hamlin-decision-bills-patriots-game-postponed/

 

.

I think they should play.  Not to be insensitive, but how much time do they need?  After my father died , i missed a few days of school, my mother, missed a few days of work, my brother... went in to work that day.  Hamlin is thankfully alive and appears to have shown some improvement.  I'm far from one of those 'man up' aholes, but I still think they need to move forward.

[ngbills]

1 hour ago, UKBillFan said:

I don’t think players go out there thinking “I could die here”. I doubt many even set much stall by the more likelier outcome of paralysis or concussion. Not only are they concerned for a friend, I think it is possible events on Monday woke some up about their own mortality, considering how innocuous the tackle was which led to Damar’s cardiac arrest.

 

It would never happen but I wonder what would be the next step if every single Bills player decoded to retire tomorrow? They have every right to do so but it’d be difficult to play the game which must go on.

We all watch videos of guys getting paralyzed which is basically death to a young person.  There is no confusion about the risk involved. 

Edited January 5, 2023 by ngbills

[WotAGuy]

10 minutes ago, BigDingus said:

 

Ok, I laughed out loud at this response... but he wasn't wrong. Damn I feel bad for finding your comment so amusing 😅

Edibles.  I hear ya. 

[klos63]

5 hours ago, JDubya76 said:

Then I will watch something else on Sunday. Football is just a kids game played by elite athletes. Life and well-being is way more important than a kids game.

 Why do people always say football , and other sports, are just kids games. They aren't.  Football was 'invented' for college play, not for 'kids'.

[Scott7975]

1 hour ago, Buffalo03 said:

I wasn't trying to decide for them. What I said is just fact. They eventually have to move forward. It's not about what I think. It's what needs to happen

 

Yes, they have to move forward but that does not mean they have to play.  I expect they will but they dont have to.

1 hour ago, Kiva said:

I guarantee you they want to play the game. They are not the types to curl up in the fetal position and cry until they hear good news.  They will play for their teammate and they will win the one seed.  Super Bowl goes through Buffalo this year. 

 

I expect they will.  Doesnt mean they have to and aint no fan gonna make em.

[Milanos Milano]

7 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Yes, they have to move forward but that does not mean they have to play.  I expect they will but they dont have to.

 

I expect they will.  Doesnt mean they have to and aint no fan gonna make em.

We can all quit our jobs tomorrow. The NFL could come out with a statement saying the season is canceled. Life is still going to keep going, and Hamlin’s condition will be the same dependent on medical intervention, just as it would if the season wasn’t canceled. I’m not understanding the purpose of this. What does it accomplish? 

Edited January 5, 2023 by IronMaidenBills

[PrimeTime101]

34 minutes ago, klos63 said:

 Why do people always say football , and other sports, are just kids games. They aren't.  Football was 'invented' for college play, not for 'kids'.

congrats, you googled how American football started. Just because it was two colleges that started, does not mean it didn't become a kids sport around the same time. A 33 year old created the idea, but it didn't take long after the concept for kids to start playing it. I think it was less than 2 years later.

 

At that time here was more Kids playing the game than "young adults"  

 

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by PrimeTime101

[Scott7975]

Just now, IronMaidenBills said:

We can all quit our jobs tomorrow. The NFL could come out with a statement saying the season is canceled. Life is still going to keep going, and Hamlin’s condition will be the same dependent on medical intervention, just as it would if the season wasn’t canceled. I’m not understand the purpose of this. What does it accomplish? 

 

Perhaps you didnt follow the conversation.  The dude is out here claiming "they have to play the game."  Also stating what the players want.  They dont have to play the game and none of us know what the players want because none of us, regardless of our feelings, are going through what they are.

[Milanos Milano]

4 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Perhaps you didnt follow the conversation.  The dude is out here claiming "they have to play the game."  Also stating what the players want.  They dont have to play the game and none of us know what the players want because none of us, regardless of our feelings, are going through what they are.

That’s true though, nobody has to do anything. We can all go to the basement or go for a walk and just wallow around. If certain players need time to grieve, that’s fine, they can sit at home, if the whole team needs time to grieve, that’s fine, they can stay home, but life is going to keep going on, and it’s only fair to the rest of the league that if we are unwilling to field a team for the game, that we forfeit and deal with the repercussions that come with that choice. 

Edited January 5, 2023 by IronMaidenBills

[BigDingus]

4 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

congrats, you googled how American football started. Just because it was two colleges that started, does not mean it didn't become a kids sport around the same time. A 33 year old created the idea, but it didn't take long after the concept for kids to start playing it. I think it was less than 2 years later.

 

So as long as kids also play a game, it's automatically "a game for kids" or "a kid's game?"

 

Basically that makes any and all games "games for kids." Whether it's soccer or chess or video games, kids also play those, so guess they're all kid games!

[WotAGuy]

This Joe Burrow interview describes some of the dichotomy that exists in players’ minds about moving forward.  Excellent read:

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2023/01/04/bengals-players-talk-about-damar-hamlin-and-whats-next/69778761007/ 

[Scott7975]

8 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

That’s true though, nobody has to do anything. We can all go to the basement or go for a walk and just wallow around. If certain players need time to grieve, that’s fine, they can sit at home, if the whole team needs time to grieve, that’s fine, they can stay home, but life is going to keep going on, and it’s only fair to the rest of the league that if we are unwilling to field a team for the game, that we forfeit and deal with the repercussions that come with that choice. 

 

Yes, everyone knows the world goes on.  I dont know what your point is.  Its the same point I have made... everyone grieves in their own way.  The players are a million times closer to this situation than we are.  Nobody knows what they are going through.  If they dont play then they just forfeit and the season moves on.  All things I have said and the dude is still arguing with me.  So, and I mean this politely...  if you didnt follow the conversation then dont jump on me about it and start arguing too.

7 minutes ago, BigDingus said:

 

So as long as kids also play a game, it's automatically "a game for kids" or "a kid's game?"

 

Basically that makes any and all games "games for kids." Whether it's soccer or chess or video games, kids also play those, so guess they're all kid games!

 

Yes.  They play army soldiers with fake guns too so war is a kids game as well.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Scott7975

[WotAGuy]

1 minute ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Yes, everyone knows the world goes on.  I dont know what your point is.  Its the same point I have made... everyone grieves in their own way.  The players are a million times closer to this situation then we are.  Nobody knows what they are going through.  If they dont play then they just forfeit and the season moves on.  All things I have said and the dude is still arguing with me.  So, and I mean this politely...  if you didnt follow the conversation then dont jump on me about it and start arguing too.

He’s advocating for the little guy. Aren’t you for the little guy, or are you…..The Man?

[klos63]

12 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

congrats, you googled how American football started. Just because it was two colleges that started, does not mean it didn't become a kids sport around the same time. A 33 year old created the idea, but it didn't take long after the concept for kids to start playing it. I think it was less than 2 years later.

 

At that time here was more Kids playing the game than "young adults"  

 

 

Yeah, sometimes I try to research things to try to give accurate information.  Calling sports 'kids games' is a way to knock the league down, and it's a lazy thinking way of doing it.  It's a stupid comment.

[Milanos Milano]

1 minute ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Yes, everyone knows the world goes on.  I dont know what your point is.  Its the same point I have made... everyone grieves in their own way.  The players are a million times closer to this situation then we are.  Nobody knows what they are going through.  If they dont play then they just forfeit and the season moves on.  All things I have said and the dude is still arguing with me.  So, and I mean this politely...  if you didnt follow the conversation then dont jump on me about it and start arguing too.

I’m not really arguing against you. Just simply stating options. I personally don’t think it’s fair to Americans that depend on the games for a forfeit. The game should be played no matter what. If that means finding 22 people off the street to suit up for a match until the team feels mentally prepared, so be it. We can’t expect others to suffer in the process of their grievances. I personally would still go watch the game, even if it meant 22 untalented Joe’s scrambling around. The game must be played. That doesn’t mean, our current players have to play, if they don’t want to, they can sit out, but the game will be played no matter what. 

[Scott7975]

3 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

I’m not really arguing against you. Just simply stating options. I personally don’t think it’s fair to Americans that depend on the games for a forfeit. The game should be played no matter what. If that means finding 22 people off the street to suit up for a match until the team feels mentally prepared, so be it. We can’t expect others to suffer in the process of their grievances. I personally would still go watch the game, even if it meant 22 untalented Joe’s scrambling around. The game must be played. That doesn’t mean, our current players have to play, if they don’t want to, they can sit out, but the game will be played no matter what. 

 

Ok so now I have to argue with you too.  Well done.  I am not going to re-type it all so just go a few pages back and read my comments.  The game does not have to be played no matter what and they arent going to go find 22 people off the street to play it.  Thats ridiculous.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Scott7975

[WotAGuy]

Just now, Scott7975 said:

 

Ok so now I have to argue with you too.  Well done.  I am not going to re-type it all so just go a few pages back and read my comments.  The does not have to be played no matter what and they arent going to go find 22 people off the street to play it.  Thats ridiculous.

Reading his posts are like car crashes - terrible, awful things…..but I just have to look. 

[Milanos Milano]

5 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Ok so now I have to argue with you too.  Well done.  I am not going to re-type it all so just go a few pages back and read my comments.  The game does not have to be played no matter what and they arent going to go find 22 people off the street to play it.  Thats ridiculous.

The city of Buffalo and surrounding areas depend on the Bills to play. The tax payers are too involved. The Bills need to do the right thing and play the game, even if that means losing 64-0. You are not looking at this through the lens of the community. Buffalo is already a struggling economic location, it doesn’t need more pain. 

Edited January 5, 2023 by IronMaidenBills

[PrimeTime101]

19 minutes ago, BigDingus said:

 

So as long as kids also play a game, it's automatically "a game for kids" or "a kid's game?"

 

Basically that makes any and all games "games for kids." Whether it's soccer or chess or video games, kids also play those, so guess they're all kid games!

No Im saying its more involved than just saying its a "kids game" or "Adult Game"

[Milanos Milano]

I guess the plight of the poor is funny, oh well. I guess nobody cares. 

[WotAGuy]

Just now, IronMaidenBills said:

I guess the plight of the poor is funny, oh well. I guess nobody cares. 

You can trust me with this; you have the Bills/Pats in a 10-game parlay that’s a sure thing, amirite?

[Milanos Milano]

Just now, WotAGuy said:

You can trust me with this; you have the Bills/Pats in a 10-game parlay that’s a sure thing, amirite?

No, I’m being genuine here. Nobody wants to talk about the big picture. Frankly not many people care about it. 

[Milanos Milano]

But we already know how a few players feel about us. We are just little people with little jobs. Not that they care that it literally takes some people a day or 2 of labor just to come support their career and a way for them to provide for their families. 

[WotAGuy]

11 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

No, I’m being genuine here. Nobody wants to talk about the big picture. Frankly not many people care about it. 

You will find many people more than willing to talk about it over in PPP. That’s where it belongs, and why no one wants to talk about it here.  Now go, my son. 

[HappyDays]

This thread got really hostile. That's disappointing.

 

I expect the Bills players to show up and play, there's really no other choice, but I have no expectations about how well they will play. I think it will take one game to ramp up and get themselves 100% focused on the sport again. Against a team fighting for their playoff lives I'm not expecting a victory in that scenario, nor do I care about the outcome. I'll tune in just to watch the team show up as a unit and get the ovation they deserve.

 

Interestingly the league's decision on the Bengals game may impact our approach to this game. If the reports are correct that the Bengals game will be declared no-contest I would be fine if the Bills rolled into the Pats game with very little game planning and starting a lot of backups. Use week 18 as a pseudo bye week and hopefully get some good news on Hamlin over the next week. Then roll into the playoffs likely as the #3 seed with the team fully focused, rested, and able to think about something other than how their teammate's recovery is going. That to me is the ideal scenario.

[davefan66]

7 hours ago, Buffalo03 said:

Let me say this in terms you can understand. They HAVE to move forward because we can't have 2 canceled games and only 15 games played when it comes to playoff seeding when the rest of the league, minus the Bills and Bengals has 17. It's going to cause major issues. If this happened with someone you worked with at your job that you were close with, eventually you have to continue going back to work, right? These guys know they have a job to do. We can't have 2 canceled games. They have to play. 

Terms I can understand? Thank you dearly for helping me throw out any shred of empathy I have for the situation and those involved.  You are correct! A game that does nothing to change my life is more important than the mental health and well being of those involved in the situation.

 

If the people involved closely with what happened decide they can’t move forward, only THEY have the right to make that decision. I wouldn’t question this teams desire to win or think any less of any one of them. 

[UKBillFan]

5 hours ago, IronMaidenBills said:

I’m not really arguing against you. Just simply stating options. I personally don’t think it’s fair to Americans that depend on the games for a forfeit. The game should be played no matter what. If that means finding 22 people off the street to suit up for a match until the team feels mentally prepared, so be it. We can’t expect others to suffer in the process of their grievances. I personally would still go watch the game, even if it meant 22 untalented Joe’s scrambling around. The game must be played. That doesn’t mean, our current players have to play, if they don’t want to, they can sit out, but the game will be played no matter what. 

 

If the Bills announce that a load of people from the street will be playing them then barely anyone will turn up and watch. It won't be entertaining, it won't be a spectacle and it wouldn't help the local community that much.

 

I agree with you that, if the Bills decide not to play, then they should forfeit though, and the same time, I don't think the Pats can just be given the win. 

 

I think the big sign will be if the Bills undertake a full practice today. If they do, then the game will definitely be going ahead.

 

[machine gun kelly]

As much as it stinks I think the Pats game will happen.  We can only hope there are some positive developments for Damar’s health.

[CheshireCT]

4 hours ago, HappyDays said:

This thread got really hostile. That's disappointing.

 

I expect the Bills players to show up and play, there's really no other choice, but I have no expectations about how well they will play. I think it will take one game to ramp up and get themselves 100% focused on the sport again. Against a team fighting for their playoff lives I'm not expecting a victory in that scenario, nor do I care about the outcome. I'll tune in just to watch the team show up as a unit and get the ovation they deserve.

 

Interestingly the league's decision on the Bengals game may impact our approach to this game. If the reports are correct that the Bengals game will be declared no-contest I would be fine if the Bills rolled into the Pats game with very little game planning and starting a lot of backups. Use week 18 as a pseudo bye week and hopefully get some good news on Hamlin over the next week. Then roll into the playoffs likely as the #3 seed with the team fully focused, rested, and able to think about something other than how their teammate's recovery is going. That to me is the ideal scenario.

 

I think they'll play, and ball out. The situation will likely make them hyper-focused rather than distracted.

 

If the league does cancel the Bengals game before this game, then you're probably right. Though I would be surprised if they rendered that decision right now. I think they'll wait for this week to play out first and see all the seeding implications, etc. I don't have the desire to calculate all the seeding scenarios, but lets say hypothetically after this week that the postponed game would have no seeding implications...then they could simply cancel it.

Edited January 5, 2023 by CheshireCT

[OutOfBubbleGum]

I'm going to let this one simmer just a bit longer.

[HOUSE]

54 minutes ago, OutOfBubbleGum said:

I'm going to let this one simmer just a bit longer.

Me too, an announcement is likely today. 

[NoSaint]

I do think at some point this morning you really have to commit to the game or pull the plug.

 

game planning and player safety become a concern soon, and as annoying as he is, the guys right that it’s still a massive production to pull the plug on last minute. From the highest level production expenses down to the security guard that is telling his second job he can’t work cause he has a game day- at some point it’s got to transition to all in barring a catastrophic change. 
 

14 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Me too, an announcement is likely today. 

Yea, I think this is the day they transition from everyone doing what they need in the wake of the event to an official plan of this is what we are doing as a team moving forward - whatever that looks like 

[GreggTX]

Sure. Let's shoot ourselves in the foot.

What would be the point of this self inflicted wound?

[Strethor]

I am sure there will be a player vote, but at the end of the day the world does not stop. Human's face tragedy and traumatic events have to gather strength and move forward because the world keeps spinning