IronyAbounds

I do think the loss of a real leader in the clubhouse could be the real problem. Fred's numbers can be matched or bettered by just about anyone, but you do need quality leader types on the team, and I'm not sure who it will be.

Game can go either way. Weakest part of the Bills' defense is the secondary, while the Colts are strong at QB and WR. Who knows how the Bills' QB will perform, whichever dreadful bit of mediocrity it might be. Colts win if it is a high scoring game, Bills win in a low scoring game. A Bills' win and its off to the races, a Bills' loss and it will be trench warfare to make the playoffs. Very important game.

I'm just getting some bad vibes right about now. Injuries are gutting our running backs and receiving corp, the OL is still shakey, particularly is there are any injuries at all, there is very very little depth on this team, and now Dareus is possibly becoming a malcontent, which would have a major negative impact on the team's strongest attribute. Maybe no matter how good a coach he may be (and I think the jury is definitely out on the question), Ryan may be snakebit and have bad luck follow him.

Anything said on this board is about as meaningful as a pimple on an elephant's rear end. The guys who are being paid big bucks to make decisions on the matter seem to be indicating that EJ is not NFL starter material (and maybe not even backup material). And, they would be the second group of coaches to make that decision. Arguing here about the subject is just silly.

I'll just let things sort out since I am unable to do the Vulcan Mind Meld with Ryan to know exactly what he is thinking. However, it would not make a whole lot of sense to have a QB you think might be the starter have reps primarily if not entirely with the third string, which is what is happening at the moment with EJ. So it seems to me that either EJ is relegated to third string or Ryan is an idiot. Since Ryan seemed to make a mess of the QB situation with the Jets, the later possibility isn't entirely remote.

If the Patriots did this Bills' fan would be crucifying them for it. Instead, all I see are rationalizations. If the guy loses control in the locker room, he is likely to lose control on the field at the worst possible time. I disliked Rex Ryan as the Jets coach and at this point I'm rooting for the Bills despite Ryan.

Have to disagree with you. While I agree he was speaking of draft position, the context was how the Bills would not be able to solve their QB situation through the draft because of that draft position. The whole issue would be irrelevant if he thought any of the three mediocrities in camp would amount to anything other than seat warmers for a real QB. And even so, it seems a bit early for the GM to fessing up in this way so early in the process.

I agree that the Bills' QB situation isn't a surprise, but what is surprising is that you have Whaley admitting, implicitly if not explicitly, that the Bills have little if any faith that the three guys competing for the job this year will amount to anything. That isn't surprising in the case of Cassell since no one expects him to be anything more than he has been all these years. An acknowledgment from the Bills' GM about Taylor and particularly Manuel, however, is surprising in the sense you don't expect that to be publicly acknowledged.

Keep in mind folks, it wasn't some Internet jerk like myself being quoted. It is the Bills' GM.

"Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley said Wednesday that the Bills are "almost in quarterback purgatory" because they do not have a franchise quarterback and are unlikely to pick near the top of the draft in coming years. "We're good enough that we're not going to have the first or second [overall] pick," Whaley told WGR 550 on Wednesday. "We hope we're not in that position. Hopefully now we're drafting in the teens and the 20s and the 30s. So you're not going to get those college guys that are coming out." Guess it's better than QB Hell

Since there is nothing that can be done at this point, there is no point in despairing. It is hard not to think of what this season would be like with a quality QB. Instead of the sky being the limit, making the playoffs may be the limit.

When Kemp is No. 3, you know quality QBs have been scarce in Buffalo. And I say that despite loving Kemp for bringing Buffalo its two titles. I still have an autographed picture of Jack from the mid-60s.

Anxiety about the QB situation is understandable since in all likelihood the only thing standing between the Bills and a long playoff run is a lousy QB. An average QB gets them to the playoffs. An above average QB gets them deep into the playoffs and quite likely the Super Bowl. A stellar QB gets them the title. A lousy QB and its a fight to be in the playoff picture and even if somehow the playoffs are made, it's a loss in the Wild Card game. I don't begrudge anyone being on pins and needles about the QB situation given the years and years since the Bills have made the playoffs.

True for the dark blue Charger unis, but the powder blue ones, which harken back to the AFL, are sweet.

Agree 100%. Perhaps monochromatic for the dark unis works for some teams, but not the Bills (and especially not the Browns with all orange). On the other hand, I love all white uniforms, particularly with the red and blue striping and numbers of the Bills.

And yet it's always the Raiders that are looked at as a renegade organization. Too bad Kraft can't be suspended like George Steinbrenner was.

That's a good point, however, Brady was a bit hamstrung in raising it. "I"m sorry Mr. Wells, but how can I trust the NFL to keep my personal information confidential when it couldn't even keep a couple of flunkies in the my organization from deflating balls after inspection?"

Explain then why McNally took a detour to a bathroom for 90 seconds, using a non-existent urinal (in other words he clearly lied about the purpose of his ducking into that room). Also, teams DO NOT typically make adjustments once the balls have been cleared by the referees. That is verboten. Explain why the change in pressure for the Pats' balls were materially greater than the change in pressure for the Colts' balls, and can not be accounted for by the weather. Anyone not interested in giving TB a handjob knows there was tampering with the Pats' balls.

Hmmmmmm, what does one infer from the fact that McNally was called "the deflator" months before deflategate became an issue. I think I infer that McNally was given that moniker because his efforts were to create a desired outcome: the deflation of the Pats' balls.

Sorry, didn't mean to jump on you. I am just worked up about the spin Brady jock-sniffers are putting on this.

Strained inferences? Brady gave McNally autographed gifts and then denied knowing who the guy was. Brady was also uncooperative in the investigation. As your legal eagle colleague would also tell you, Brady would never sue because he would be subjected to a deposition and other forms of discovery that would require him to provide far more information than the NFL was requesting during its investigation. He would be subject to perjury charges if he wasn't honest. The only thing strained is your continued defense of Brady. Edit: You mention A-Rod. Yes he "threatened" to go to court and guess what, he didn't because it was clear it would have been a foolish and self-destructive thing. Much like it would be for Brady to do so.

Has the NFL ever suspended an equipment manager before? Perhaps he will be given community service like handing out needles to addicts.

Robert Kraft is a despicable human being, the Patriots are habitual cheaters, and Tom Brady is POS. Those are the conclusions that should be drawn from this whole thing.

Yep, I screwed up, it's 18th. Eyes getting old...

As has been noted, the powers that be at ESPN didn't like the Bills' draft. Compare ESPN's opinion of the Bills vs. the multitude on this board who think the Bills are "loaded" with talent. As is often the case in life, the truth probably lies somewhere in between, but unless whomever emerges as the Bills's QB performs no worse than average, at best the Bills will likely be fighting for a wild card spot. EDIT: Correction, Bills fall to 18th, not 19th, still down one from pre-draft http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2015/week/0