Red

Hartwig might be nice. But Jansen is done. He was getting serious injuries every year in Washington towards the end, and does not have anything left. I'd actually like to see us find somebody no one knew about. I'd like to see Whaley earn his money, and demonstrate why John Guy was an idiot. Now if only we could convince nix to get rid of Modrak...

That's the truth, man. My favorite piece of useless banter used by these bozos is the whole 'strength of schedule' claptrap. It starts about how this team or that team will have a tougher year or easier year because of the wins and losses from this years opponents. Only issue is that these stats come from LAST YEAR. Then, when the season starts, they cover their butt by explaining away that last years teams have fallen, risen, etc., and that this year such and such team is a 'surprise' etc. They revise their strength of schedule arguments without batting an eye that they were wrong at the outset. Wouldn't it be nice to hear that just once? "Hey guys, I'm a total moron. I should not be attempting to predict the future based on the past. I had predicted that Cincinnati would win it all because they had the easiest schedule from LAST YEARS records. Whoops!" It's all garbage designed to simply sell magazines, papers, etc. Its all based on sensational crap, trying to make names for themselves, with no actual facts, but everything based on opinion.

Agreed. They are moving the chains. They are scoring. Scoring more than field goals, too. They have an identity. For the first time in a decade, they have an identity.

I don't know what games you guys have been watching, but for it only being the preseason, the Bills offense has looked tremendously improved from even last years squad. Have you all forgotten the inability to sustain drives? Score? Our over reliance on field goals? Last preseason was a gimmick w/the no huddle, if you ask me. Then you scrap the offensive coordinator the week before, put in an unproven, inexperienced guy in Van Pelt, cut your starting LT, and then scrap the no huddle before the midway point of the season. It's only the preseason. This means that what we have seen thus far is basic stuff. Now, the opposing teams have been basic for the most part too, but the stupidity seems to have left the Bills. The offensive line is not false starting. No continuous holding calls. They look crisp coming off the line. Sure, Spiller helps. His speed will make the O-line's job easier. But they look better. Trent looks more authoritative. More in control. He is not staring down his primary receivers. They are moving the chains. Sustaining drives. And SCORING. Does anyone remember last season?

We all hope to find that 'Plan B, diamond-in-the-rough' Kenneth Davis, Leonard Smith, Mark Kelso kind of find. In reality, all of these players cut are cut for a reason. They ain't good enough to make that teams roster. Leinhart is out there, Dre Bly. Jon Jansen. Coffman at TE. Hartwig from Pittsburgh. Are any of these guys worth it? We've also tried shopping Lynch, and it was rumored only Seattle had a serious offer- and that was something like a 4th rounder. I'd love to see Nix and Whaley show us something good before the season starts, but now we are also dealing with a time crunch- would somebody brought in the next day or 2 really be much of an impact on game day? Incognito did it last year, but how quickly could a new TE or Tackle come in and start? There's a learning curve. I don't know, boys. We might be stuck with what we've got. We have the room to bring in a couple of players (as evidenced by the back log of DB's). But as Regier likes to say, you need a partner to swing a trade. Is there anybody on the Bills roster besides Lynch that has value? I think we desperately need QUALITY offensive line help too. I'm happy Chambers is finally gone. He sucked. I was growing tired of him constantly get beat by speed rushers and power players. Now if we could only find a way to lose Tom Modrak I would consider the Bills cleansed....

I could not agree more. I loved the running of Simpson, and Bell looked worth retaining. Lynch, IMO, has had his wheels fall off the cart. I'd trade his butt out of town, and keep 4 RB's- Jackson, Spiller, Bell and Simpson. I'd love to get a TE or a LT for Lynch.

To address your points: 1.) There is no guarantee they will be going into the season w/only 2 TE's. BuffaloRumblings.com is reporting (from the Bills site, no less) that the Bills are most likely not done wheeling and dealing yet. This may include picking up a waived TE. 2.) For someone who has not watched any preseason games this year, that's a pretty ignorant thing to say about the O-line. Granted, there are no marque names (if offensive lineman even can have such status), but this line is actually decent. All of the RB's (well, perhaps except Lynch) got some room to run, had little to no false starts, little holding calls, and appear much more disciplined than any line of the past decade. We'll see what the regular season brings, but these guys are better. And I am so glad Kirk Chambers is finally gone. Next: Modrak! 3.) I agree with all of your Kelsay points. He looks way to stiff in the hips to seriously be anything but a liability in pass coverage. He is stout at the point of attack, which should help in the run game, but he is making way too much to have been retained. He's probably an insurance-type of player that will be gone next year. 4.) I agree with your Ellison position too. Ellison is too undersized, and though scrappy should have been let go. 5.) The DB's are currently at 11. I assume this will change should any new players come aboard via trade or free agency/ waiver wire. I'm actually pretty impressed with our starting 5 DB's. McKelvin, McGee, Whitner, Byrd, and Florence. That's solid. I hear you, man. I'm actually surprised that both Bell and Simpson were waived. Simpson runs with speed and grit. Put in his kickoff ability, and I thought he deserved a spot.

NFL.com. I think it's the Leinhart page. At the bottom, you can click the link to see each teams cuts, and at the top of each team are notable names. If he's another Kirk Chambers- no thanks!

Nope. There's Cary Harris, and Dominique Harris. Current roster shows both.

I saw it. Guess that proves our drafts have not been so strong of late, eh? Remind me again how Tom Modrak still has a job? If the Bills released Levi Brown, why on God's green earth should they sign somebody else's cast-off QB? If they liked LeFevour, they could have drafted him.

What kind of crack are you smoking?!!?!? Chambers?!!? KIRK FREAKIN' CHAMBERS??!?!??!? Are you serious? Have you even watched a game the past couple of seasons? Chambers sucks, and should have left town with John Guy. Now all I need for my trifecta is for the Bills to fire Tom Modrak, and I will be 3 for 3. J. Bell and Chad Simpson are the 2 biggest surprises, IMO. Hardy is a shock because of his high draft position- but he has done nothing to earn a spot.

OK. Keep in mind, as mentioned in an article on Buffalo Rumblings, the Bills may not be done 'wheeling and dealing' just yet and are most likely scouring the waiver wire. They are short at TE, lack a dominant pass rusher, and IMO are short on the O-line. Any pick-ups not on the practice squad will most likely be seeing some DB heads rolling.

Not if he's not better than Donald Jones and the other new WR.

Oh man. Please put an end to this soap opera, Aaron. I respected you so much more before all of this 'I'm retired, no I'm not, yes I am' garbage. It doesn't endear the fans to Favre, and it certainly won't work for you. Just write a contract where you don't have to practice, and you can continue playing WITHOUT the drama!

Man, such interesting stuff. You can say the same things about Coffman that you can about James Hardy, Matt Leinhart, or even Chad Jackson. No one knows if these guys are just not good enough, or if they could use a second chance in a different arena. Only time will tell.

I sincerely doubt that he would get cut. Cutting a former 1st round, top 12 pick would be foolhardy, and embarrassing to the franchise. And he is a good player. Something is wrong with his head. He's lost the fire and direction that he had which had earned him his Pro Bowl bid, and started getting off track with all of the stupid behavior when Fred Jackson began to emerge. I don't know. I think his off the field behavior is a plea that he is screwed up with having to share the backfield with Fred, and now CJ. I say trade him. Bell and Simpson, IMO, proved enough this preseason to warrant being retained. Lynch is completely expendable. I'd love to get a starting LT for him, or a starting TE (Owen Daniels in Houston?). Or even a pass rusher from maybe AZ in a package deal with Fitzpatrick.

I hear what you are saying, but I think its a temporary thing and a gimmick at that. As the Bills have said, you have to be able to throw out of the formation or else it will die real quick. Evans getting the TD last season against Tennessee from the Wildcat is case in point. I don't like the formation, and hate the fact that the Dolphins were the ones to introduce it. Dolphins suck! Woah, there speedy! Let's not throw DeHaven out just yet. Try to remember that this is the PREseason, and Bruce is working with 3rd and 4th string bubble players to see if they have any value. I also seem to notice, that since DeHaven has returned, our special teams are getting really close to blocking punts and field goals/ PAT's much more frequently. I'll take the blocked DeHaven kicks over any April goofery any days (well, those Denney TD's were nice).

Well, let's remember how many games they have been close in the past 2-3 years. The complaint was they never knew how to finish. Here's to hoping that a revamped strength dept., an offensive identity, and some Thrilla' in #21, we may be on to something. As a teacher, its the same thing with kids. You are not supposed to be there to be their buddy. If you're worried about being liked, you will be ineffective as a teacher- though they might like you. Same thing w/Jauron. Being the nice guy will not translate to results.

+1

Yeah, we've had some pretty crappy drafts this entire decade. Either Orakpo or Oher would have been better picks than Maybin, just like Ngata would have been a better pick for the viability of the franchise than Whitner. Oh well. One thing of note: The Bills are the only team to keep its biggest baffoon on draft day: Tom Modrak. KC went out and hired Patriots GM Scott Pioli, and Washington now has Bruce Allen. True, we have Nix (whom I like), but why do the Bills insist on retaining Modrak? Yes. But we're talking about a DECADE of bad draft picks.... *Paid for by the Committee to Fire Tom Modrak

I am one who believes that the Bills will be better this year. Now, I must add, that I DON'T think that it will be necessarily by record that they will be better. If the preseason has had any shred of indication, this will be a tougher, more disciplined, more physical bunch than any in the past decade. They are forging an identity. They will be adjusting to situations in games, and will not be predictable any more. Providing that the intangibles such as injuries are managed/ don't occur, we could improve that win-loss record. But we could also be good enough to compete with anybody but not good enough to get it done all the time. Lack of a consistent pass rushing threat and the uncertainty at LT are 2 of my big concerns. So, I think that the Bills will be much more competitive, and in effect much more entertaining to watch this season. That alone will make me proud to be a Bills fan again and will have me excited about the future. I just don't think it will translate into more wins.

Exactly. Jerry Sullivan is a hack writer who likes to yell 'fire' in a crowded movie theatre and then stands to wait to see the commotion that he caused. He writes negative spin in a 1 newspaper town. He's the clown. The 'outcast'. The 'critic'. Has anyone seen a consecutive string of Sullivan articles or comments about either the Bills or Sabres that has been positive? And not that he should be writing about all sunshine and butterflies, either....but constantly begrudging teams while offering little in way of anything positive is just as bad.

Sure, winning adds confidence. However, last year one of the biggest complaints by the players was a lack of identity. In fact, I can remember this going back to the Mularkey years. A lack of offensive (and team) identity. Gelling and developing attitude, team play, and a united 'one for all, and all for one' mentality early in training camp will set the tone for the season and will create a mindset to build on. Earlier is better.

OK/ So you are not then as Mad as your moniker would lead one to believe. Why is Gailey sticking up for his team a bad thing?

pssst...hey buddy....do you know what time it is? Sunshine and lollipops is long gone.