metzelaars_lives

This is simply a ridiculous statement. Sure. I would disagree with respect to Watkins, Woods and Hogan but otherwise, OK. This does not change the fact that Hackett did not encourage Manuel to check down "all the time."

We could debate this all day. What exactly are you saying? That they gave up on Losman and Edwards too early? It's not irresponsible to recognize that a player does not have it a year or two into his career. So if Manuel comes out and sucks again all throughout camp, sucks again in the preseason and then sucks through four games, do you trot him out there all season while guys like Mario Williams are wasting years in their prime spinning their wheels? Sometimes you gotta see if a mediocre retread can at least get you to the playoffs. Meanwhile you draft another QB in the third round and see if he at least flashes in practice and/or the preseason. A guy like Russell Wilson looked special in camp and the preseason. Most of them show that they've got it in the offseason. Manuel has shown no glimpses that he has anything, ever.

The only one that isn't an insult to football is the Vikings. That could be cool.

Ehh. I think that was more of a coach sticking up for his QB than anything. One thing we could probably agree on- I had never heard Hackett talk before. He sounds like such a douche.

The Watt play wasn't even close to the worst play he made in that game. In fact, I would excuse that play altogether. And furthermore, I would venture to guess that even if they win that game Marrone switches to Orton the following week. He would've had to at least consider it. Robert Woods was targeted 12 times and ended up with 3 catches for 17 yards. I have never witnessed receivers so visibly frustrated with their quarterback's complete and utter inability to get them the football. Manuel looked serviceable the first two games in 2014 and a few games in 2013 I suppose. He was decent against Carolina. Everyone loves to point to his numbers in the Jets game but he wasn't incredibly sharp. And that's my issue with Manuel- that not once have I seen him flash franchise QB potential. I mean, yes after week 2 against Carolina in 2013, I thought he was going to be the guy. Everyone did. But has he progressed an inch since then?? He regressed wildly in training camp and the preseason last year. Maybe a new coaching staff can rescue him, I don't know. Do you wanna bet he is not the Bills starter by the end of 2015?

I would not disagree that Marrone/Hackett probably favored a more conservative approach overall but I would be shocked if Hackett said in an interview that he encouraged Manuel to check down "all the time." I mean, if that was the case, why would they bench him if he was doing exactly what they told him? EJ Manuel is exactly like an ex fling. As time goes by you forget about the bad and remember the good. When he gets his reps this offseason everyone will remember why we broke up with him. He was so incredibly bad against San Diego and Houston- I just hope everyone can remember that. They are going to bring in a middling free agent that will trigger a collective "NOOOOO!!!!" on here, like a Colt McCoy or someone, and that free agent is going to win the job from Manuel with ease. And then they probably won't be that good either and everyone will clamor for Manuel halfway through the season.

You must have some inside info that no one else does. Is there anything else you can tell us about how Manuel was coached? Did Marrone tell him to be wildly inaccurate when he actually did attempt passes to wide receivers as well?

Trent Edwards looked better against San Diego in the power outage game, which occurred after his concussion, than Manuel has ever looked in a single game in his 14 game career.

I don't know who she is but she is clearly a diehard Bills fan. Also this is why I love Buffalo and the Bills so much: go to 28:29. That is the type of guy who only roots for the Bills. And thankfully, you can still see guys who look exactly like that at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2015.

What? I give up. The Flyers logo is so amazingly 70's. It's awesome. And yes I realize they were founded in 1967. I really get the sense that doing the "IN" thing is a highlight of your day.

You tell 'em!

Has anyone else checked out the 40:20 mark in the video yet? If you ask me, that is a major reason why this team was so successful.

It's not happening for GOAT. Just say that you think he is the best ever. It doesn't take that long I promise. Also 40:20. You're welcome. Also you know who really was the greatest of all time at what he did? Harry Kalas.

This makes me think that they will go the traditional route for the third guy to compete (UFA, draft) rather than make a splash/trade for a surefire starter like Bradford, Cutler, RGIII et al. Unless one of those guys becomes available, in which case McCown and Manuel would compete for the backup job, which I'd have to imagine McCown would have the inside track on.

Son of the 80's Patriots CB?? Gotta be.

Find me a worse top ten NFL draft in the last 20 years. Granted it's still a bit early.

In fairness everyone knew it was a horrible draft then too. It's what makes me a little nervous about the 2014 NHL draft- yes we got the first forward off the board but will any of them be any good? No it doesn't. Perhaps you need to revisit the 2011 draft to see what a good top ten looks like. The top ten picks from the 2013 draft are fascinatingly bad.

I opened up this thread just to see all the clever "IN" responses. I was not disappointed. You guys are even more clever than I had hoped for.

That can't be true.

Sounds like you hate guys who played for the Bengals. Collinsworth is the best color man in sports right now. Has been since Harry Neale left HNIC.

At the game. Season tickets from 87-95. I'm always curious as to why people say stuff like "there were 70,000 people at the game but 500,000 people who claim they were there." Who would lie about going to a football game? What is Brian Williams a Bills fan? My Dad actually took some friends to the Raiders AFC Championship game so I did not attend that one. There. No shame. But I was at the Oilers game. I was at the Oilers playoff game after the 1988 season as well, which if I recall correctly, they won 21-10. Anyway I specifically remember (well I remember the whole thing) turning to my friend when it was 35-3 saying that it would be kinda cool to say we were at the biggest blowout in playoff history. And then when Kenneth Davis scored to make it 35-10 we gave each other sarcastic high fives.

Flutie was great and led the bills to two playoff appearances in two seasons as the primary starter. Bledsoe was pretty good too. He was insane in '02 and became a very serviceable game manager type qb by '04. Losman cannot be lumped into this mix as he was our own first round pick. Fitzpatrick was a solid tier better than the '14 version of Orton during his stint as the bills qb and if they would've just let him ride out his contract here and not reach for Manuel, they would've made the playoffs last season. Brad Smith was by no means brought in as a qb. Also his name was Billy Joe hobert. EXACTLY! And of course they're going to bring in a veteran and of course he's going to look better than Manuel throughout camp and the preseason and end up starting. That is, if they don't make a play for an outright starter, which I still think they will.

Enberg and trumpy were unbelievable. Not sure if trumpy had a bad game but they were the voice of the AFC on nbc for a long time. Enberg saying "oh my" is one of the best tag lines any announcer has ever had. I miss him doing NFL games dearly.

Was not his coach in 2013.

I'm not saying Josh McCown is the answer either but I just really hope all the people who have and will make condescending comments about a guy who is one season removed from a season in which he threw 13 TD's and 1 INT aren't the same people who tout EJ Manuel as a legitimate option.