st pete gogolak

It’s pretty clear teams really aren’t sure how to approach the new kickoff rules. I’m not sure it makes sense to kick it short of the goal line in order to avoid the touchback, which gives you the ball on the 35. At best, the kickoff short of the goal line ends up close to the 30 or worse. Also have the possibility of busting a big return. Why not just kick it deep and have the opposing team start on the 35? I thought the Ravens were clever hitting it very short and having it bounce to our returner. Of course, they botched a kick and gave us the ball at the 40. At some point, analytics will come into play and some team is going to figure out how to play this. Me? I’d give the receiving team the ball on the 20 and make them earn their points. Replace onside kick with a first and 15 on the 35. But for whatever reason the kick return MUST stay in the game.

In a vacuum, I don’t see any reason why Taron Johnson wouldn’t make an excellent free safety, allowing Bishop to play the box. He’s faster than Rapp, has obvious coverage skills and I believe would adapt very well to the position. Of course, this should have been an off-season, not mid-season move. Plus, it would be dependent on Hancock moving into a starting role. He looked pretty good in the pre-season but I have no idea whether he’s ready to be a starting slot CB. Maybe you could play more 4-3 and keep Johnson on the field.

I’m Honestly, didn’t you feel more comfortable with Prater kicking rather than Bass?

It would be in the running for greatest single play in NFL history if he had scored a TD. I’m guessing his percentage chances of scoring when he was around the NO 20 probably was in the range of 80 - 85%.

The freakin’ wedding will probably take place during the halftime show.

State and local governments are WAY too generous to billionaire sports team owners. Great example was local governments financing 80% of costs of building new stadium for the Florida Marlins to the tune of in excess of $500 million (cost ultimately could exceed $2 billion). A couple of years Jeffrey Loria sold the team for $1.2 billion. None of that money went back to the local governments that financed the bulk of stadium construction. Why not at least make the financing a zero percent loan that has to be repaid on the sale of the team?

If you recall preseason 2024, certainly the media and maybe a chunk of the fanbase were extremely pessimistic regarding the Bill’s outlook going into the season. More experts were picking the Dolphins and Jets to win the division than the Bills. Too many veteran losses, too many holes. The reality? Josh Allen MVP, 13 - 4 and as close to a Super Bowl as the Bills have been in the Allen Era. Going into 2025, I was optimistic as can be for two reasons. One, the schedule is as favorable to the Bills as humanly possible. No overseas trips, almost all of the hardest games are at home. Two, loading up on D in the draft hopefully would add some additional speed and talent so that we avoid a playoff collapse on the D side. i get that it is preseason and I get that preseason is essentially meaningless but I’m no where near as optimistic heading into the season, again for two reasons. One, last year’s turnover count and turnover differential were off the charts good. It would be miraculous to repeat those numbers. Two, like many on the board, just not seeing much of anything from Bishop, Hairston (injured), Sanders, Jackson or Walker. So what say you, do the two preseason games have you less optimistic or still bullish on the upcoming season?

Problem - big problem - is look at EVERY other Pegula pick for both Bills and Sabres other than McBeane. Rex, Ralph Krueger, every single Sabres GM. They have been universally horrible. If McDermott is fired, I doubt we end up with someone better, probably someone considerably worse.

Forgot about Rivers as well. Any other Charger QB’s who need to be included?

Don’t want to be a downer but I said the same thing after the SB loss to the Giants. This team is too good and too talented not to win a Super Bowl. Alas, it never happened.

Good get. It’s tough though. Superstar QB’s get to Super Bowls.

It’s difficult to come up with good to great QB’s in the Super Bowl era who never made it to a Super Bowl and are now retired (let’s keep active QB’s like Josh and Lamar out of the discussion). There’s Fouts and Moon of course. Bert Jones, John Brodie, heck Joe Ferguson? Does anyone have anyone else who could even be considered in the conversation?

Does anyone remember Dwight “Ike” Harrison from Lou Saban’s second go-round? I believe he started out as a WR and ended up a pretty solid CB on some good Bills’ teams in the mid-70’s.

Best third string D Line ever.

Another factor pointing towards a difficult season for the Chiefs. The Division should be very tough. On paper, both the Broncos and Chargers will be tough outs. Raiders should be better. At least they have a legitimate QB. Kudos to them if they come out of it with best record in the AFC.