San Jose Bills Fan

Schaub is an interesting case. He's always until recently had a bad defense but he's also had a good offensive line, a good strategist in Gary Kubiak, good running backs and an elite receiver in Andre Johnson. I'm not really sure how good Schaub is. A player you cite fairly often, Sam Bradford might look just as good on that team as does Schaub… very similar skill set.

Week 4? Week 4 of season #3.

Welcome to the board… you should try to make the initiation hazing ritiu… I mean the tailgate party tomorrow. Go Bills!

Nope

How am I supposed to complain about the coaching staff in a topic like this?

Pix?

(Mutters to himself, "Where's a moderator when you need one?")

(San Jose Bills Fan kicks the table… beside himself with anger… )

Why do people always have to throw that back in my face!!!

See post #4.

I've never seen a talent like this. It's not enough that he's an incredible pure passer with velocity, touch, accuracy and a feel for the game. He's also an incredible athlete, very thick and powerful, and has all the intangibles. It looks to me like there's nothing Geno doesn't already have.

How many times do I have to scream that this team needs a big power back?

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: There has been some concern expressed about exactly when the parking gates open. I just called Candlestick and according to the recorded message at Stadium Operations (415-656-4949), the parking gates open 4 hours before kickoff. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:15 pm PST so the parking lots should be opened at 9:15 am at the latest.

I sold the last 4 tickets I had on Craig's list to Bills fans. Good to go. These people drove up here from Vegas to see the Bills without any tickets. Sound like true Bills fans to me.

Ironic indeed. Hadn't thought of that. That was Montana's rookie year wasn't it? That Chuck Knox team was quite good and if I recall correctly this was the game before the other infamous loss where Fergy valiantly hobbled around on a bad ankle and the Bills ultimately lost on a late 4th quarter pass from Fouts to Ron Smith. Many Bills fans think that edition of the Bills was a Super Bowl team with a healthy Fergy. The Bills-Chargers game was in the divisional round… the Bills had a first round bye because they won the AFC East that year.

Great stuff, Jim! We need to rank the all-time greatest Bills games. Obviously both AFL Championship Games… and the first Super Bowl has to be included… The Comeback Game… and this one which I call the "No Punt Game" because as you pointed out, it was the first game in NFL history in which neither team punted. The AFC Championship Game win against the Raiders (51-3) is right up there too. I guess besides the first Super Bowl there were some great losses too… obviously The Music City Miracle comes to mind as does the 1999 AFC Wildcard loss to the Dolphins which was a great game ending on the Trace Armstrong sack/strip of Flutie.

It's not a valid comparison though. That game was a low-scoring defensive battle where the defenses where beating the offenses almost from the very beginning… and featured two quarterbacks who are unproven. The defenses had the upper hand throughout that entire game. It's a far cry from the dynamic which existed in the Bills game. I think that is open to debate. My more detailed observation/criticism of Wanny's personnel packages (I know, I'm still stuck on this) is that Sheppard has shown a knack for blitzing yet he barely played… that Moats has actually been one of our better pass rushers (sacked Brady last year to boot) and barely played, and that D'Norris Searcy had been seeing increased snaps in each game, seems to be improving each week… is an excellent tackler and hitter, and barely played… in a game where we insisted on playing 5 DBs (NOT including Bryan Scott). If you insist on playing 5-6 DBs, shouldn't you at least play your best tackling safety? Also you mentioned that "they keep moving the goalposts as to what they want from their linebackers" and this is true for the entire defense. I think it would be a good idea to run the base defense and figure out what you're identity is first before you start going into these bipolar schemes every week.

Not only that but both the Jets and Cheatriots*** were supposed to be weakened on their offensive lines to start this year… a combination of injuries, unproven players, and marginal vets. We viewed these games as ones where our D-line was gonna win the battles decisively.

With the first pick, the Los Angeles Bills select…

Oh the humanity…

Amongst accusations that the Bills players quit in their loss to the Cheatriots***, the Bills coaches refused to let the players off the hook. Basically all public comment from Gailey/Wanny was that they don't know why the players were less effective in the second half. However there was no defense of the accusations that the players quit and only comments about "having to be mentally tougher." In contrast the Jets were accused of "quitting by Niners DB Carlos Rogers in their beatdown at the hands of the Niners. The Jets gave up 245 yards rushing. Interestingly Rex Ryan and DC Mike Pettine defended their players. I'm not suggesting which approach is right but it sure is interesting: "Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine posted 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers’ quotes about the Jets quitting last Sunday on the projector screen in his players’ meeting room Wednesday morning. He allowed the players to read the words in silence. “There’s nothing worse,” Pettine said. Pettine maintained that he did not agree that the defense gave up in the 34-0 loss, but he allowed that the players were worn out physically and emotionally during the drubbing." Read more: http://www.nydailyne...7#ixzz28XDvag7s

I agree that Brees was a bit too selfish in this last negotiation but I think you discount his skills too much. He is possibly not as good as Brady, Manning or Rodgers but in 2005 I watched Brees dismantle a pretty good Bills defense (Schobel, Crowell and McGee in their primes, Fletcher, Spikes, Clements, Milloy, Greer, Sam Adams, etc) with perfect pass after perfect pass defeating tight coverage down the field. The final score was 48-10 and Brees was flawless. From 2004-2006, Brees was outstanding as a Charger. I think you can make the argument that Brees has done more for Sean Payton than visa-versa.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not standing on a ledge. I have a good life and I'm happy. Like you, Bills losses do not bother me like they used to. BUT, from an objective, non-emotional standpoint, I sense bad things happening… more than ever before.

You and Fear the Beard are right on. Chuck Knox might be the best coach not in the Hall of Fame. History has not been quite fair about his place in history. Though he never went to a Super Bowl, he is arguably a better coach than some of those in the Hall.

These are both valid points and this is a good topic. I would say about Brees and his compensation that there's certainly a grey area as to what is fair compensation for him. Certainly Brady was known to take a "below market" deal two contracts ago so as not to handcuff the Cheatriots*** from the salary cap/team building standpoint. In Brees' mind maybe he did the right thing because the ultimate justification for many people is simple: get the most that you can possibly get. In our country, this is pretty accepted and permissible behavior. We're a capitalistic system. I think the criticisms of Brees come from when you view his actions from something less than pure capitalism. It's kind of like saying "just because something is legal doesn't make it right" except in this case, it becomes "just because he got this deal for himself doesn't make it a good deal for the team." QBs are very important as we all know and I don't think this issue is clear cut but it is very interesting. Like the replacement officials issue, I think a lot of opinions are based partly on our socioeconomic perspectives. Also I don't want to pile on Brees but there are some features to his personal life that have always bothered me. Brees has written an inspirational/self-help book and speaks publicly. He is known for his charitable work and his civic-mindedness. I believe NoSaint, who is closer to the Saints than most anyone here vouches for his character. So it's very odd to me that he and his Mom had a falling out after he refused to hire her as his agent and that later on, he had to sue her to stop her from using his likeness in her law firm advertisements. Later on she committed suicide. This is not to blame Brees for these things but it is incongruent to me that a person who is so charitable and has so many vouchers for his character could have such an unfortunate relationship with his Mom. Anyways for the record, like Joe, I was not a fan of how Brees conducted himself through his contract impasse.