JESSEFEFFER

Here's a suggestion. Park at ECC South off route 20. It's cheaper and it has plenty of green space around it should you wish to toss a football or whatever. It's a longer walk but it means less traffic to fight through to get out of the parking lot. Most folks there head south after the game so traffic is fairly light heading north. Not sure what you would hit after crossing Abbot but I suspect it's the same area near where others were talking. Pack a cooler with some drinks, buy some subs at Wegman's and have an easy tailgate (nothing to cook,) listen to the pregame and throw the football with your boys. My son and daughter are 31 and 19 months and I am already picturing us there someday. To go really cheap, park across the street @ Bert's Bikes. They charged $10 last year. My wife complained about the walk but this is a woman that can walk up and down the mall concourse all day long.

Yes, Edinboro has hosted more than one. Usually they were controlled "rookie" scrimmages which were populated by rookies, younger players, free agents, fringe roster players, etc. and at least one of these was with the Steelers. They alternated 10 play possessions and reset if they failed on a 3rd down conversion and they were not live on the QB. Also, they had one with the Packers at Fredonia St. in the mid 80's. Jan Stenerud played for Green Bay then. He was not a handsome "dude."

If this were some comparison of any other position, I'd take the more accomplished player. But for the QB of my team, I'd keep the guy we have. He is the spokesperson for the team, the franchise and this region on a national stage because he has the microphones and cameras on him constantly. He is a humble family man that appreciates his opportunity and I would not feel good about my team being lead by a QB short on the humanity rating. Fitz won't fail due to being dumb, lazy, a druggie, coward, thug, criminal, punk, or an egomaniac. If he fails it will be because he just doesn't have the athletic tools needed. Remember Vick whining about the hits he was taking last year? I think back to when Ryan was recorded during a game and got drilled by a defender just after he released the ball who then landed on top of him. He says to the defender "Nice hit." Ryan is the type of man I want to lead may team. I want him to succeed to justify Chan's faith in him and allow us all the opportunity to see him develop with the rest of the team. If he can't lead the team to success this year, I think it's time to look elsewhere.

I think that the plan involving Potter is twofold. 1) Improving the touchback rate along with the related average drive start of the opposition has merit on its own and 2) making sure that Lindell never has to make another tackle or even take on another blocker during a kick coverage. They want him making field gaols all season and not on the IR again. It was somewhat of a disaster last year to lose him and it would be a shame for an aspiring playoff contender to lose games because due to the misses of an unreliable kicker. The net effect is that the Bills have a definite plan and as long as Potter can perform his role, he will make the team. He is apparently a good tackler as well, which makes it look to me like this was DeHaven's pick all the way. Contrary to some of the post draft analysis, if the plan works this was an outstanding value for a 7th round pick.

Also, in a completely nerdy response, since all voters are likely picking 5 of the 11 to be cuts, the vote % should be multiplied by a ~5.

Naaman has been cut each season of his two year NFL career. He was brought back to the practice squad each time and activated in each season. I thin Chan likes him due to his outstanding catching ability but he suffers from the reality where his body type isn't an ideal match to the type of routes he runs. Barring IR camp injuries to the top 6, I think he will get cut again but claimed this time by some other team and will make their roster. His hands are that good.

I found it to be a rather balanced assessment. Excitement level is building but fans have no reason to be giddy. Fitzpatrick may be technically improved in certain situations but it might not amount to more than a "handful" fewer picks. Depth is much improved from the days when Moorman was their best player which is most notable on the defensive line. Thinks that realistically, Steelers or Ravens will be a wildcard which leaves them fighting with the Bengals, Jets, and/or an NFC west contender for the last spot. Thinks they are an 8 or 9 win team but 9 wins doesn't guarantee playoff spot. I'd say if they are a 9 win team, the schedule gives them a legit shot at 10 or 11 wins. Couldn't ask for two better divisions to play than the NFC west and AFC South (Central?) as they are both likely to provide only one team to the playoffs. The Texans and 49ers could run away with their divisions.

This is a simple concept. The Eli Manning of 2007 is not the same quality of QB as the Eli Manning of 2012. If the Bills get anywhere as a team, I think it'll be based on the Giant's template. The Fitz of 20010/11 is very much like the E. Manning of 2007-2010.

Mediocre for the game, season or career? I would suggest Eli Manning of the Superbowl XLII winning New York Giants. Mediocre career up until 2008, mediocre that year although he finished well and so so that particular game although he was clutch.

It's all a matter of wins and losses. They were getting plenty of attention in the first 7-8 weeks. The NFL gets so much coverage that great play will not go unnoticed. Yes, the OP is correct. The offense lacks star power. Their biggest name will be fighting to be the #2 QB. But this is a tight group of guys that never really expected to have much of an NFL career so they all have something to prove. It makes for a great lockerroom and as a fan I will revel in the successes they have as individuals and as a unit. Go ahead and shock the NFL world. The meia loves stars but it loves a great story even more.

Yes!! Very true. I wonder if his vision has been totally tested because he seems to be the last to see it and the most likely to mistime his play. It's a crying shame to watch him be in tight coverage and still have no effect on the outcome of the play.

....the "Old Bull." I refer to the scene in the movie Colors where veteran police officer Robert Duval counsels rookie Sean Penn about the value of patience and wisdom. Warning: the clip contains language that describes a certain type of carnal knowledge. Colors Welcome Cordy Glenn.

We should all be so lucky as to make our livings based solely on our written opinions which can be based only on supposition and flawed reasoning because we would never have to actually be right about anything.

1 Kuechly (a 3 down, sideline to sideline linebacker because preventing 3rd down conversions and forcing punts is a big play) 2 Massie (Nix seemed to indicate that they have someone pegged as a LT that most others don't) 3 Quick (nice size/speed combo with Andre Reed's small school chip on his shoulder)

I will give PFW the benfefit of the doubt on their sources and it might make for an interesting discussion but it's tough to respect opinions offered by people unwilling to put their name to it. I remember a section that criticized the Bills' hiring of Buddy Nix. It was rather insulting to him really. It sounded like someone with an agenda taking a pot shot.

If he suffered a lingering injury on that London Fletcher hit, it would seem to me that it would have been to his sternum.

I suspect many of his runs this year were actually out of the "victory" formation. Running for a 1st down or two would have definitley helped against the Jets.

I have no problem with the premise that the pats on the back Bills' fans get are a little undeserved. Afterall, there is a reason that the comeback game against the Houston Oilers was blacked-out. The big seating capacity (used to be 80,020) and relativley small demand drive the season ticket count down in a classic supply and demand scenario. The buyers in this case can always get access to game tickets should they feel the desire to attend. There are many Bills fans that would be miserable at a game in sub freezing weather.

If you happen to live in this region and are also a fan of the Jets, Dolphins, Bears or Redskins, this game may have some appeal to you. It's a rare oooportunity to see your team and the cost would be similar to traveling to their home stadiums, i.e. expensive. You'd probably be willing to overlook the lack of a great gameday experience as well. If you happen to live in this region and are a Bills' fan, there is very little appeal to going to this game, regardless of which side of the border you live on. The marked up prices and diluted gameday experience make it easy to "just say no" to this game and yes to the other 7. What that leaves is a crowd that is either largely disinterested in the game or that is there to see the other team. What really stinks, IMO, is the loss of an October home game and getting stuck with 3 December home games including Christmas Eve. One sign of this was market situation was the price that Bills/Eagles tickets were getting. When tickets are going for 2 to 3 X face value for a game that is televised, it tells you that these people are not planning on going to a December game when the only other options were the Toronto game or the sold out Jets game. Given that a bad Dolphins team, the Titans and Broncos are not likely to be big draws, it would not surprise me if they failed to sell out all three of these games.

With this type of football, it should really require a different metric to rate defenses other than yards allowed. I'd look at yards per play, 3rd down conversion rate and QB passer rating allowed.

Thanks for posting this. Looking at frame 2 I can come up with a theory as to how this wrong call was made. It's the prominent pink glove that Clements is wearing which is also on the side of the ball. If you incorrectly assume that the pink glove belongs Stevie it would 1) not be under the ball and 2) the ball would appear to move separately from the pink gloved hand. Stevie's arm, glove and wristband are underneath and in shadow. Not nearly as prominent as neon pink. Also, I wonder how long after catching the ball, getting to their knees and going to the ground they will allow a defender to try to dislodge the ball. Action by a defender after possession, contact, knee down and body down, should not be rewarded as every condition has been met to end the play.

1987 was Kelly's 2nd as the Bills' starter. As one of the originators of the 1986/1987 to 2010/2011 comparisons, I think this more evidence that this is a fair one to make. I felt the need to remind some (the young or the pessimistically old) what it looks like when the light comes on and the party starts. Hold on to your seats-it's going to be a wild ride, I hope.

He was hit something like 80+ times in his 13 games last year. That's 6 to 7 times per game where he was releasing the ball with a defender one step away or WHILE BEING TACKLED. The o-line has been great so far as I haven't noticed many "throw aways" by Fitz to avoid a sack. Just two throw aways a game would mean about 6% to his completion %.

On a related note, maybe we'll see Gus Johnson here for the Eagles game.