Hapless Bills Fan

They don't even need to have no symptoms. The symptoms must merely be "improving", a subjective criterion if ever I heard one. "Oh sure, Doc, my symptoms are improving, you shoulda heard the way I was coughing yesterday". If he hasn't had a fever for 24 hrs without fever reducing medicine and he self-certifies that he has no symptoms or that they are "improving", if the team's physician and infection control officer sign off, and if his return doesn't "break local regulations" whatever they may be in Erie County at present. But I would expect Erie County to do the "see no evil" bit on this point, whatever their isolation regulations may currently be. They don't need to test negative to return now, from what I understand I'm not sure it's great news for either the Bills or for Football over the longer term, but it Is what it Is. I thought it was silly for people to rail about the NFL rules they disagreed with On and On and On, so I'm not going to do likewise. Or not, on the sanity. Time will tell. The NFL is "betting the rest of the season" that most of these new infections are going to be asymptomatic, that players who are driven enough to play through broken legs will accurately report their symptoms, and that infection control will be maintained through masking and distancing. My opinion is that's going to be 0 for 3, but that's just my opinion. As for vax status, I believe unvaccinated players still need to test daily unless they've been recently infected and recovered. But if it's true the Bills are 91% vaccinated, they are down to only 1 or 2 uninfected unvaccinated players because that would be 6, and at least 4 have had Covid (Beasley, Davis, Brown, Lotulelei, possibly Boettger but he's now on IR)

NE sports media and the Patriots have been a "chicken little" bunch for years. The idea that "Belichick deserves to be put under a microscope, because his team is falling apart in December for the second straight year." when he's trying to adapt and adjust to the loss of a first-ballot HOF QB is preposterous. Last year he was dealing with a bunch of opt-outs and limited cap space. This year he's dealing with a rookie QB who is learning the game. Those guys are spoilt, spoilt rotten I tell ya. Microscope, phoooie

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. I don't think any throw where a R handed QB rolls to the L to escape pressure and extend the play can be called a "clear error". Could it have been placed more perfectly, sure, but I was always told when a professional WR can get both hands on a ball and not be hit immediately, he needs to catch it. They seem to have skipped a number of good throws by Allen

I think normally, the players without family would get together on a holiday at a veteran's or position coach's house But I think the "enhanced protocol" rules are that no more than 3 players can get together outside the facility (I'm not sure, and of course the protocols keep changing)

Two nights - Christmas was Sat, this was Christmas eve. But when he laid out to catch that ball and went face first into the turf, I agree with you. Mind you, they must be small solid steel stones or the lil' guy couldn't run like he does with them. Apparently the crabmeat cassarole McK requested seconds on

No, the pass that Jackson could have intercepted but dropped was apparently a worse error. 2:38 in that clip. It's possible Diggs wasn't where Allen expected him to be, possibly that could be what you meant by "obvious error"? Not sure what you mean by "even Allen". Allen always takes the blame and says he needs to make a better throw. Yes, it could have been a better throw, but Kumerow got both hands on the ball and he wasn't laid out straight or climbing the ladder for it or about to get sandwiched by two defenders. He needs to catch that.

You didn't watch that clip, did you? 1:25 in. We see other team's WR make similar adjustments several times a game. It was a difficult throw for Josh, on the run to his left, but it was an entirely catchable ball. Kumerow got both hands on it, but put his right arm out to break his fall instead of keeping both hands on it. It was not a "very poorly thrown ball" much less "the worst easy pass of Josh's career". Could it have been better, sure, but Pats WR have been catching worse balls from Jones all damned season. It was in no way analogous to a CF diving for it and laying out straight. There was a much harder pass later in the game that McKenzie hauled in at a dead run, fully extended, and slammed into the turf (but kept both hands on the ball and hauled it in). THAT was a catch analogous to a CF diving and laying out straight.

"almost to the point of Aaron Maybin" "I'd be just fine with it" That you?

Man, that dropped TD by Kumerow was bad. He had it, he just didn't tuck it away properly as he went to the ground. You can tell he knew it, too.

Ah! Well, if we're going to inactivate every receiver on the roster who drops a pass, I'm not sure who we'd have left. But he wasn't playing well overall and that's a fact.

It's a bit more than that. Here's the actual memo: -The fever is supposed to be resolved for 24 hrs without the use of fever-reducing medications -"other symptoms" have resolved "or improved" -Club physician and Infection Control guy agree player can return (may involve blood test for heart damage etc) -Local regulations are satisfied That last one could be a sticking point in some places, though NYS just adopted the CDC recommendations for "critical workers". I had a look-see for what the Erie County Department of Health might require but couldn't find anything recent.

Yeah, I remember that back in 2018, but a lot of people were very skeptical it was legit

I've seen them and I didn't take that tone at all from it. I just thought they were happy to see he got his chance and made good. I also think he gets under his teammates skin sometimes with his "funny trash talk" but that he won admiration for how he handled getting benched - still being positive and energetic, and as McKenzie himself put it, looking at himself and what he could do differently:

Depends upon what Cole was fined for. Likely wasn't fined for "entering the facility after being placed on the Covid reserve list and before receiving medical clearance" So he likely still did whatever it was he did. So no You're entering a Falling Credibility Zone

Is this currently asymptomatic, or asymptomatic the whole time? And how long must they be asymptomatic?

Did something happen to Sweeney as well? What I want to hear about is the Bills working out IOL or sniping them off other teams PS Even if we get Feliciano back that still leaves us down a IOL.

Yeah, Jordan Palmer and Kyle Allen were telling an anecdote about Josh and the other QBs on an outrigger canoe in the harbor wherever it is Palmer holds his trainings. https://gmtm.com/watch/streams/L8o0z4zdxG8 55:16 Guide is wobbling the boat and says "Hahaha I'll flip this thing real quick" Palmer: Josh says "No you won't" Kyle Allen: "to our totally Cali guide, oh we're gonna have a great time" Palmer: "No you won't. Like, Do not flip this boat or we're going to have a Real Problem" KA: "Josh was really scared of sharks that day" Palmer: "He's a sweetheart, but I wouldn't mess with him" KA: "Or his brother. Or his Dad. I wouldn't mess with any of his family"

Oh, Wow. So different. I saw a little dog in a grocery cart basket at Sams a month or so ago and it was notable to me because we never see dogs. It's even hard to find a restaurant with a patio that allows dogs. Poyer said "vaccinated", very clearly What does that have to do with Josh?

Negative. Warring was a Texan. He was the Texans 2019 3rd round draft pick. Texans waived him Aug 23, touching off an 11 day, 4 team tour of the league that included the Pats (3 days ) and the Colts (3 days) before the Bills signed him to their PS after roster cutdowns.

Went on the Practice Squad Covid List on December 22 (Weds.)

Apparently the Bills are the Jaguars TE farm team: earlier, they signed Jake Hollister. What's notable is that with all the guys on the Covid list, I believe we have roster spots - and we chose to let Warring go rather than sign him. That might indicate that the Bills believe our count of actual TE is "same" whether he's here or elsewhere.

Unsure what you mean. He's still on the Covid list. He is vaccinated and could get off any time he is symptom-free AND tests negative/Ct >35 OR after 10 days (that would be tomorrow Dec 29) He had symptoms severe enough to send him to the ER on Sun or Mon of the Carolina game and to get him an antibody treatment Tues week (after which he said he felt good), so he may need more time to recover. Greg from Cover1 said a healing spell for him on Dec 23, so he should be Back Any Day Now.

Four at this point, given he missed three practices and didn't travel with the team Sat.

If I were a public figure and wanted my medical information kept private, it starts with me keeping it private. Josh hasn't exactly been forthcoming about any of his other injuries - the foot sprain against the Ravens, the shoulder injury against the Raiders, the knee injury against the 49ers, the toe injury in the Tampa game. There's no shame in any of those injuries, either, but if you don't want to be asked about them or have an issue made of them, keeping quiet is the best path. Keeping quiet about vaccination does also avoid having his vaccine status used to create media controversy with his teammates, as you note. Poyer said in a recent interview with Pat McAfee that he's "vaccinated now". He and his wife have also been photographed unmasked on the field, which is supposed to only be allowed if the family member is vaccinated. And Poyer/Hyde give unmasked interviews side by side after almost every game, up to the Pats game.

I don't think his dad is the type of person that would beat any of his 4 kids, but I don't know him - just going by his demeanor in glimpses, what's been said about their family, and how Josh leads. Josh definitely leads by example, and by giving respect and earning it. I expect that was learned behavior from his Dad.