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i think this thread does need a doctor. so let me submit by sending out a message, because: baby, i know what your problem is the first step of the cure is a kiss ... calling, doctor love. jw

yep, a whole new meaning to team drills and spread formations. also wondering how many uprights were split. and let's not forget the sessions involving the tight ends. jw

i'm not knocking McCauley for what he does well. i'm merely wondering if he has the musical nuggets to go beyond that. Westerberg and the Mats weren't one-trick ponies. they hit the entire range: from the anthemic (Bastard of Young) to poignant (Skyway) to fun-loving bizarre (Tommy Got his Tonsils Out), and sublime (Here Comes a Regular) to name but a few. heck, there are five or so different versions of "Can't Hardly Wait" out there, each distinct from the other, whether it's the polished release on "Pleased ..." or the dirtier "Tim" b-side version, which i consider to be the best. i hope McCauley keeps pushing his range, and am rooting for some of the Rugs' influences to rub off on him. jw

and yet, Kelsay never made excuses at the time or complained of being in the 3-4. he also never raised attention to an injury that bothered him for most of last season, after he was hurt midway through training camp. clearly, you're not a fan (or a Bills coach either). jw

i get it. my only fear is that as much as i liked Deer Tick's "Mainstreet," an homage to The Rolling Stones if there ever was one, i am beginning to fear that McCauley's voice lacks the range to sing anything more than road-house bar songs. he's good at what he does, but i'm looking for something a little more nuanced or different ... which is why i so much enjoyed "Hightail" on the Rugs' release. and don't get me wrong, the anthemic clang of Deer Tick's guitar-based sound is something you can happily wrap your arms around, which i very much appreciate. the Dexateens might be somewhat more polished (though i'll suggest that "Ballad of Souls Departed" is anything but polished, and wonderfully mournful song with a grating and underlying guitar buzzing sound), yet they seem to me to have more potential of producing a wider variety of music, from rock to roots and alternative country. though, just saw the Truckers backing up Lucinda Williams, and the DBTs were touring with Dexateens bassist Mike Patton. he did a nice job. no Shona Tucker, but ... and don't ask me why the Truckers were the ones backing up Lucinda. i wondered if it should've been the other way around before the show began, and was left wondering even more afterward. jw

funny, i just got the new Diamond Rugs album earlier this month and found it refreshing. particularly have enjoyed "Hightail," "Call Girl Blues," and "Hungover and Horny." don't know if i would call this a "super group," as opposed to more of a collaboration between a bunch of good musicians who happened to be jamming around down in Nashville. and despite Deer Tick's obvious and documented the Replacements influences (check out the hidden song on Divine Providence: Westerberg's "Mr. Cigarette"), i'm not complete sold on John McCauley's chops. Deer Tick's "Let's All Go to the Bar," and "The Bump," could well be Diamond Rugs' "Gimme a Beer." it's all suddenly sounding the same. though kudos to McCauley -- who these days seems to be as prolific as Ryan Adams -- for attempting to bring in new sounds to expand his musical breadth. that's never a bad thing. the more i listen to a few new bands, the more respect i have for another relative newcomer, The Dexateens. also, Justin Townes Earle's latest CD is a must have. jw

you are kidding, right. Chris Kelsay was never a backup to Ryan Denney, which is just as wrong as your earlier claim that there are those who have suggested Kelsay is the second coming of Bruce Smith. please, let's not overburden the flimsy facts youattempt to present, or to suggest that you find yourself "somewhere in the middle" of this. Kelsay's presence is "polarizing" only to those who seem to not like him. Kelsay is a good player, a respected leader, and best suited to play the defensive end position. it's clear he was out of his comfort zone in the 3-4. no, he's not anywhere near the second coming of Bruce, or Aaron Schobel for that matter. but for the sake of this thread, it would serve you better to present accurate background, rather than providing us what appears to be a very slanted version of your opinion. jw

people in Texas. people in Philly. people in Tennessee. ... if Fitz does get hurt, might it not matter then? seems to me there was a point where there was plenty of discussion regarding Kelly Holcomb, who didn't exactly have Vince Young's resume. or Brian Brohm for that matter, though it didn't lead to a 40-page thread. from what I've seen, the only people that have brought up Flutie-Johnson are those people on this board. at no point have i or anyone in the Buffalo News written that. and yet, some posters here think there should be a hands-off approach to Vince because why? he needs to be treated with kid gloves? they're Fitzpatrick fans? they don't agree with the move? well, tough nuts. he's here. he's signed. he was made available to the media. he said a bunch of stuff. we quoted him. no different than anybody else of a player of his caliber. he's not Dorin Dickerson, no offense to him, who didn't get a press conference, but he's also not Mario Williams or T.O. or Drew Bledsoe. so i didn't see a marching band outside, nor did i think it merited it. jw should I or you go first on that suggestion? jw

you just answered your own question. jw i'm not kidding. no, he's not Tebow, and this isn't NYC. but c'mon, to say his signing in Buffalo doesn't merit attention -- or at least an availability -- then i'm not entirely sure what you would expect. the fact that he took the podium was a result that there were six or seven cameras here. it's easier on everyone for him to take questions from the stage. moreso, is Vince Young not still a high-profile name in the NFL? let's face it, he won a national championship, was the NFL's 2006 offensive rookie of the year. his signing in Philadelphia made headlines. his signing in Buffalo has led to how many threads about him on this board, including this one. there's another one with 40 pages.

yeesh. i'd hate to wonder what people might be saying if the Buffalo Bills purposely kept Vince Young from the media. can't win for losing, eh? jw

Here's what The Associated Press is reporting. An extended version has just been filed for editing. Bills-In-Toronto series on NFL International Committee agenda jw

yes, Vince Young's commment solely ruined the Eagles season. there was nothing more to it. he, himself, on his own, with one statement made in July, doomed the season. there was nothing else to do with it, or any blame that deserved to be directed at the other 52 players who got off to a bad start, or any questionable coaching decisions or anything else. Vince Young, by simply referring to the Eagles as a Dream Team, cursed the entire season. and yes, you're absolutely right, there should be a media relations person standing immediately next to Vince Young with a muzzle -- or how about an electric prod -- at the ready should he even hint at saying anything of note. jw

the bills are making Vince Young available to the media, like they do any other acquisition. perhaps, not on the scale of Mario Williams but, they're making him available now that he's town. what's wrong with that? don't you want to hear what he might have to say about this new chapter of his career, and how he intends to approach it. geez, you'd swear some of the posters in this thread don't understand how this business works. they would prefer that Vince Young be kept under wraps because the media might stir up a controversy, and suggest it's a mistake to have him even speak to the media because well ... what a bunch of baloney. he's a grown man, accustomed to dealing with the media and i'm sure capable of handling himself. The Bills have signed him, they've said he's going to compete for the backup job. OK, fine. let's see what his thoughts are. jw

it is a sad and tragic story, in which i find no humor. in my dealings with him, Travis Henry was never arrogant or a blowhard as a person or player. it's no secret that he made numerous bad decisions that have led him to where he is. to me, some of the best times to mock those is when the focus is on a person who could be lowered a few notches. i don't see how piling on on someone who's as down as down can be is in any way amusing. hey, "just sayin." jw

sage: happy birthday, man. saw Justin Townes Earle tonight, and good god, he is a talent, perhaps with the potential of being equal to that of his father. of course i'm biased, since he played "can't hardly wait." but it goes beyond that. enough of that, hope you rocked left o the dial, eh? jw

awfully sad thread. easy pickings making fun of the misfortunes of one person and the troubles left behind. but what's it matter, eh? this is merely an innocuous message board, and everything is fair game, right? so to quote the OP in his awkward attempt to be a smart alec, "just sayin," which i guess makes it all right. but go at it, poke fun. it's an easy thing to do, because we all here are guilt free. jw

Folks: Here's a little piece that just moved on the wire on Alex Tanney. AP Story jw

nah, i didn't like the 70s, but you're right. there were bands and albums that mattered, The Faces, the Stones came into their own, Ramones, New York Dolls, et al. so i apologize for my earlier screed as being a little over the top. what bugs me is how the 80s always seem to be dismissed, Chef. jw

this debate has been conducted a few years ago on this board, and with all due respect, there was far more better music to mine, in my opinion, in the 80s than in the dreadful, over-bearing, 24-minute, navel-gazing songs of the 70s, which also produced, ugh!, disco. say what you will about the pop/techno/hair bands of the 80s, yet you overlook some of the bands that actually made a difference during that time. The Clash were borne out of the 70s, but their relevance carried over into the 80s. there was the Ska movement, Elvis Costello, the Pretenders (with James Honeywell Scott), and a host of ornery little bands that sprouted all across the U.S. -- from The Replacements, to The Minutemen, Husku Du, the Pixies and the entire southern california punk movement. and let's not forget the days when REM actually meant something. without the 80s, there would be no fawning over kurt cobain and nirvana, or pearl jam having the opportunity to produce the same song over and over and over and over and over and over and over again, and have some call it new. foo fighters owe their left nut to the 80s. yes, it had its cindy loopers and def leppards and foriegner hit it big, as did stevie winwood. but to dismiss the 80s as mere techno pop and hair bands, well ... i think that's skimming the surface. you gotta dig a little deeper, no? jw

whatchit, bub. i might have to take you up on that offer. ... as for three, well, that's a little light, isn't it? thanks. jw

thanks, Levi. there really is no other song to represent the 80s than this. it sums up the dischord and the disenchanted with a vibrant rock and roll sound that still resonates today. jw

i now take offense because you seem to underestimate my level of ignorance, sir! jw

it's waaaaaaay too early to start judging this draft. here's my initial take on it, though the final pick is not yet in. the bills addressed immediate needs in Gilmore and Glenn. and they've since addressed immediate needs in creating competition and depth, something that was a big issue with last year's team. the Bills, as they're built right now, should have a better defense. and they should be more capable of overcoming injuries than they were a year ago. ... i think the only real worry is who's going to play opposite Stevie Johnson throughout the season. don't know why the Bills would want to draft a Hall of Famer. those guys are old, and i'm pretty sure under NFL rules they're ineligible to be selected in the draft. jw

the way i see it, the Bills had targeted three players: S Barron, CB Gilmore and LB Kuechly, and possibly in that order. If Kalil or Blackmon fell to them, the Bills would go after them in what proved to be an unlikely scenario. once it got to 10, and Barron and Kuechly were off the board, the Bills weren't in a position to trade down in fear of losing one of the players they had rated as top 10 picks. now if two of the three guys were still available, i'd guess the Bills would entertain trading back. but with only one left, there was no way Buddy would risk that chance. CB is a need, and it's no surprise from my perspective that they took Gilmore to address both immediate and long-term needs. and i can understand Buddy's logic in regards to not giving up picks to move up in the draft because not only do you lose out on a player, the pressure is on to make sure the player you selected pans out. reading between the lines, i don't think there was enough separation between say Kalil/Blackmon and the other three targets to trade up. and trading down, i don't think, was an option because at what expense do you gather picks only to lose out on the guy you targeted? it's sound logic in my opinion. jw

nah, you're thinking of nadia kornikova, who was from a town in central New York, and noted for creating Rome-mania as a result of her qualifying for both tennis and gymnastics in the Empire State Games. jw