Ronin

What about not in anyone's opinion, but pretty much known fact, that Ragland has well below average skills in pass defense? Couple that with the fact that the same was true of Brown. How about giving us your expert opinion on how drafting Ragland in a passing league showed astuteness, other than the age-old excuse that he "coulda been a first rounder."

LOL Or, roughly 8, possibly less if anything doesn't go according to what apparently is this best-case scenario.

We need bionic brains for our front office. Heck, I'd be willing to let computers conduct our drafts given the way we've done it.

This team is fresh out of good spin. "Good spin" was that Shaq would be fine when we drafted him and that he could have surgery in the offseason. "Good spin" is no confirmation that Watkins has a Jones Fracture with two-steps forward-one-step-backwards developments with terminal uncertainty. "Good spin" was that we didn't need a WR in the draft. "Good spin" is that we have great depth so that when all of these injuries actually occur as they are now, that we'll be fine. At some point the web of lies spun comes home to roost. This team has to be among the least forthcoming with truthful info in the league if not the least. But hey, when ticket sales rely entirely on perceived hopes without anything concrete to build on, again, this is what they're reduced to. I'm sure it'll get much better as the season goes on. We haven't been nearly humiliated enough as Bills fans this season yet.

As a veteran of many knee surgeries, double-digits, braces really don't do as much as people think for stability. They help, but they're not the end-all-to-be-all in prevention. Athletes don't like to wear them because they're restrictive, mentally even if not practically for some players. As to the technology, they've come a long way and you are correct, they're very lightweight these days. What you suggest probably wouldn't hurt though, but again, who thinks that they're going to get an injury. It's one of those hindsight things. There are other protective devices for other purposes that players could wear but don't for the same reasons.

LOL Actually, he said we won July, didn't he? That's what we've been reduced to here in Buffalo. The circus continues. A month ago I was on the fence as to what to expect this season. Now, I'm fully expecting Onion-esque type of developments. It's pretty clear, 99.9% that is, that Watkins has a Jones Fracture, which means that that soap opera ain't even close to over. Maybe the best thing that can happen to us is to tank, have Whaley & Ryan fired with Pegula pretending for once that he actually knows what he's doing, then draft Chad Kelly next season depending upon how this season goes for him at Miss. Who knows whether he has the emotional and mental wherewithal to play in the NFL without serious off-field issues, probably and hopefully so with maturity and guidance from his uncle. But Pegula's going to have to step outside of his "One Buffalo" regimen and draft an actual football person to run this team. If he can't see his way to doing that the his era will officially have become comparable to if not worse than the Wilson era.

LOL

Whaley should get blamed for picking Shaq and Ryan to an equal extent. It seems that the team's biggest influence there was Ryan's unpaid/unprofessional son acting as a scout. If the team is stupid and foolish enough to ignore the very things that every other team yielded to, then it's on Whaley. When you take stupid risks, and there are plenty of them (Shaq, Watkins, Manuel to start), if the fruits of those risks play out you cannot expect a pass. I suspect that Whaley yielded to Ryan's preferences in this past Draft since there appears to have been little if any vision, again, in conducting it. Our WR situation was all but completely ignored as was our right side of the OL situation. So was our S spot and the big hurrah ILB that we did draft has no coverage skills leaving us with two Ss and both starting ILBs without even average cover skills. Idiocy. Then as an encore they draft a DT with no history of playing DE and put him at DE in the NFL. I mean at some point, literally, all you can do is sit back and laugh at the idiocy. It's like a Will Ferrell movie here in Buffalo. Whaley's lucky to still be employed at OBD. Outside of the Polian era this team literally has had zero practical success in over 30 NFL seasons. The Whaley era is not merely no exception, it's in the running for defining the problems. As to Ragland and Lawson, they are still subject to the odds of success in the NFL for drafted players regardless, missing most or all of this season does not increase their chances for success, particularly given their specific injuries, especially in Lawson's case whom I have doubts about to begin with. He wasn't even prolific at Clemson, he was very good, hardly top-notch as draftees go. Your stated view on camp ignores the conditioning part, which is what camp is all about, largely. The injuries would be much greater if the top-40 wouldn't participate. That's why many people say that the injury rates for players that miss camp are higher. I've not researched that myself, so I'll take their words for it, but it makes sense. Going cold into the rigors of an NFL season only screams trouble in that way.

This organization doesn't come clean about anything which is a reflection of Whaley since he's the one that sets the corporate culture there. Expecting them to do so now is futile and silly.

I agree LeGOATski. We've seen a number of "top 10" lists posted here, but none of them matter unless he puts up on the field. He is a game-changer, a good leader and clearly a dual threat. The question is can he improve in the passing game which he'll have to do, and that's more than accuracy. As well, given his diminutive stature, it seems that it's only a matter of time before he takes a bad hit that puts him out. Might not be this season, could be next or whenever, but the best QBs are reliable and capable of playing most of the time, not out for extended periods throughout their careers. QBs like Favre, Manning, Brady come to mind who are rarely injured. The question then becomes how will his game change if he doesn't have 100+ carries every season and learns to run selectively. No matter how it's sliced, the best QBs in this game throw the ball well. After Watkins', whose status I wouldn't bet a cancelled stamp on, his receiving options are not good. It's going to be an interesting season for him. Like everyone else, I hope he plays to the standard that justifies the contract that he wants.

The second part of that statement makes a whole lot more sense than the nebulous first part. Why don't you explain those "tangible ways" instead of merely broadly throwing that out there as if you get paid to fill time on TV. Explain what you mean and perhaps the post will mean something. Think about it, anyone can say "if ...", "they could ...", "maybe ..." The question is what's likely to happen. To start I have no idea how you define "tangible [ways]" in this particular context. What do you mean by that? The way players contact one another, or what? What's a "tangible way" a defense can improve with less talent and a coach with absolutely no recent track record of any particular success? There was a dichotomy of thought when Ragland got injured with a whole lot of people claiming that come this morning it would be F5 and all is well, sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops. Those same people made fun of those suggesting that given the actual facts, that that was unlikely to be the case, which of course was the case. It's highly unlikely that this defense improves. There is nothing factual suggesting that it will. The talent is worse, for whatever reason, poor drafting, injuries, a bad medical/conditioning staff, ... doesn't really matter, the talent is less than last year to open the season anyway and for a while beyond that. Ryan doesn't deserve any benefit of the doubt, none whatsoever. Anyone giving him one is a fool. I fully agree with you that one's optimism determines how likely one is to believe that they will happen. But this isn't Oprah, this isn't you can believe anything you want and do/be whatever you want. It's football in the National Football League and there is history, patterns, data, medical info, and other facts, etc. for people to develop informed opinions on, not blue skies and sunshine hopes predicated that are primarily contrary to those things and the actual facts outlining them. I'm sure that somewhere, probably a bunch here, that actually believe that this team is currently in a position to win the division and challenge in the playoffs, but the reality, meaning that what the history, patterns, data, medical info, and other facts suggest is that we'll be lucky to be 8-8 again this season. Lucky, meaning it's going to take some luck. Moreover, I don't see too many teams on our schedule that we overmatch right now.

LMAO Again, it's posts just like that that make this place so amusing. Your wait is over.

You do realize how non-specific and absurdly broad that response is, don't you? "If", with absolutely nothing concrete that this the case yet and with an extraordinarily thin line likely being the barrier between a lack of buy-in and buy-in, then a statement about a system that isn't even in place this season as Ryan has stated quite clearly that it will be different (again) this year rendering the boomerang effect on your response, and then "Could" while admitting that the talent is no better and likely worse than it was last season. You essentially just validated OldTimer1960's OP. Why not just say that if flying monkeys come shooting out of Ryan's ass on our season opener than we can expect good things.

I also couldn't help but notice my downplaying and completely leap-frogging the significance of his injury due to the fact that he's not a traditional 3-down LB in the NFL because his pass coverage skills are highly questionable.

This is funny, you lay out your response as if to come across as seeming intelligent, but your response above doesn't address a single point that I made. I didn't mention 3-4, but it's implicit, either way, DUH! My argument had nothing to do with that. It had to do with Ragland, about whom all the people have been insisting that it's a reset with skeptics having overreacted once again having proven a glaring lack of ability to consider factual info presented. Don't worry tho, I wouldn't have anticipated that you would have been among those weighing the facts more than completely unsubstantiated opinions, which was really the crux of my post that you replied to. So no worries for you there. The facts on Ragland have played out exactly as common sense suggested. Again, contrary to a wealth of nonsense otherwise here.

LOL Around here "tea leaves" are anything people want them to be. Great case in point following this comment. But around here tea leaves may as well be 'shrooms. Yes, one is true, but reading the real tea leaves, not taking the 'shrooms, the circumstances point more towards this being a disaster although that's a bit strong than they do of an F5. Here are the facts, which many posters here seem to have difficulty coming to grips with before they become blatant to a blind monkey: Rex is "very concerned." He wouldn't openly state that unless he felt it was serious. He's not mamma who cringes every time one of her babies let's out a cry of pain or anguish, he's a professional coach that's seen just about everything. The team is already looking for an ILB to sign. They say for camp but with a roster of damn near 100 that's laughable. RR is seeking a second opinion. If the first one were implying F5 then he wouldn't be seeking a second one. It's like Watkins and his foot injury, the team hasn't come clean (surprise surprise) on exactly what kind of injury it is despite the notion that everything about it suggests, strongly it can be added, that it is in fact a Jones Fracture. We'll find out that it is later on once the season begins and he can't play either at all or to 100% and the excuses start flying in his defense again the way that they did with Spiller. But people here, using as fact what wasn't said, insist that it's not a Jones Fracture. That's the 'shrooms. Is that intelligent? Good analysis? You can decide that for yourself. Just sayin'. I don't think it's a disaster because we still don't know how good Ragland is. If he's only as good as the pedigree ILBS that have come out sans one out of about the last six or seven from 'Bama, then it's not a disaster. He's really a 2-down ILB anyway, can't cover, so how big of a disaster is it? To me the disaster happened back in the draft when we should have taken Treadwell given Watkins' nancy-boy injury status and Whitehair to solve the problems of our OL. If we had done that, apart from likely not having our first two draft picks out indefinitely, we'd have gotten a premier WR and solved our OL issues and we would have been discussing whether or not we could possibly have the best offense in the AFCE this year and quite possibly the AFC entirely. Instead, under Whaley & Ringling Ryan Bros. we get this nonsense.

LOL And because I think Hogan can easily have 1,000 yards means that you'll take the upper limit on that wager. And what, you're willing to concede my entire point now, namely that Hogan will do better with a coordinator and team that utiizes him to his strengths? Is that it? Come again on intelligence. LMAO Are you really that dense to think that this would be a good deal for anyone? Your comment on intelligence, here, is laughable. BTW, I've got one clown arguing with me on my comments about how Roman doesn't adapt by telling me that he's a run-oriented coordinator in a league that creates the rules to make passing easy and the way to both gain yards and score. You seriously can't make this nonsense up. Talk about a lack of intelligence. On top of that posters just throwing out data and numbers that don't exist as if because the said so that they're true. Seriously, this place is a never-ending source of amusement. And I said PM me. We're finished here. BTW, are you willing to put up $1,000 on any "upper limit" comments that you make? If not, you willing to relate that to "intelligence," or common sense there genius?

This is why I can only read so much here. Did you read either of the two links that I posted? No, I didn't think so. Thanks for commenting intelligently. NOT! Poster here seem to have a really difficult time distinguishing between facts and opinions. Granted, our society which tells us that whatever you believe can be the truth doesn't help, still, this stuff is blatant for those that spend even moments researching. Good bye for now.

No, actually, and to my other primary points on this team, they go with Watkins, who may not even see the field much this season and even if he does it likely won't be at 100%, and Woods because we have a moron for a GM. Remember, I'm the one that said I would have drafted Treadwell and Whitehair which would have pretty much fixed our offensive problems all but completely. Frankly, if Ragland is hurt, our D wouldn't be in any different situation whatsoever either.

OK, I'm going to stop there, didn't even read the rest. HIs offenses in SF never cracked the top 10. 11th, 11th, 11th, 25th in scoring, 26th, 11th, 24th, 20th in yardage. Did you research this prior to commenting? And DUH, of course he's a run-oriented coordinator, hence a HUGE part of the problem in a league WHEREBY THE RULES ARE WRITTEN TO FAVOR THE PASSING GAME! Hence my comments.

Too many factors involved. Brady gets hurt, which wouldn't surprise me, Edelman's health, Hogan's health, etc. I will bet you $1,000 though, offline and not publicized here, that Hogan adds at least then again 50% to his numbers here under Roman assuming he plays at least 14 games and that Brady plays all of his as well. I'm hardly willing to take a gamble on a QB that I have zero faith in (Garoppolo) otherwise.

First of all they play four games with Garropolo. Second of all, if what's happening now over there holds, and Hogan becomes Brady's favorite, barring an injury to Hogan, you can comfortably bet that Hogan will have 1,000 yards. Your comment on their WRs fails to include the notion that many of them have been injured the last few seasons and they've had to dig deep into their depth chart at times. As well, LaFell nearly had 1,000 two seasons ago. They haven't had top notch WRs since Welker who routinely posted 1,000 yards. Remember Welker's numbers in Miami before he went to NE? If not, go look. I see Hogan following in the same manner. We spent all of our time forcing the ball to Sammy and that's what I mean about good v. not-good coordinators. Good ones, and good Head Coaches, get the most from their team, not necessarily only from certain players. Sammy's overrated anyway. Good yes, great, hardly. If he can't stay on the field this season, and at this point the signs are all pointing to the notion that it's going to be a monumental struggle, then his value to us plummets. Why though? I've been lectured ad nauseum by the masses here about how that didn't really matter. Every time I suggest that those numbers lost are nothing to sneeze at with a roster of talent behind Hogan that make him look like Welker I get mocked. Now all of a sudden I guess they matter. LOL

Appreciate the response, but I'll have to disagree with that tho. What I see in Roman is an OC that has underachieved with the talent he's had. In four seasons in SF with one of the best RBs in the league in his prime, also with one of the best WRs in Boldin, and as well one of the best TEs, as soon as he became the OC Davis' production dropped significantly and Roman's offenses were ranked an average of 14th in scoring and 20th in yardage, or slightly below average. His offensive talent was better than that. His style is outdated and I've seen little that makes him alter his game plan when things don't work, he seems to stick to doing the same thing despite the lack of success. I wouldn't say that he underachieved here last season due to the circumstances, at the same time I find it difficult to even remotely suggest that he overachieved either. We can cut him some slack for having a newbie QB last season too although that QB wasn't all that much different from the one he coached for four years prior to that, possibly even better. This season will tell more, but IMO when he leaves here he won't be an OC anywhere else, I think he'll be finished in the NFL coaching at this level, at least for a while or if he does get another OC job it won't be with a good team. A good OC would take the strengths of the players that he has and formulate a game plan & system to take advantage of them. He does not do that, here nor in SF. If not, then get rid of the players, but when you get rid of players that go elsewhere and succeed to levels much greater than they did formerly, then cleary the implication is that they could have done much better under different circumstances there too, just didn't because of one reason or another, including a stubborness to create a system in which their skills are maximize, not minimized as Roman seems to have a knack for. LOL OK

Why do we need a "new" 7-11 when the consensus here has been that losing Hogan was no big loss? Explain LOL Of course. And when he posts 1,000 yards over there it'll be luck. Yeah yeah, I get it.

Remember your audience. Maybe the team has simply been hush-hush about this. Florio's right, anytime a player gets a second opinion it's because he didn't like the first one. This is not a good sign. The team hasn't been forthcoming at all on Watkins' foot injury. The going notion here is simply because the team hasn't stated openly that it's a Jones Fracture that it isn't. All signs, all signs, point to the notion that it is. It'll come out at some point, probably after a lengthy enough period of futility and fans getting PO'd as to why softie isn't on the field at 100%, ... again.