purple haze

Tell your wife I’m a doctor, a lawyer and an airplane pilot and I’m soon to have a small college named after me. But thanks for her concern.

Dre Reed definitely brought the swag to the stage.

None. I think the dead money is 10 million, but it only counts in 2014. 2015 the Bills are free of it. So it shouldn’t affect re-signing and signing free agents.

This will probably wind up being a 3rd rounder. And that’s a pretty good haul for Stevie. First and Second round picks are hard to come by unless it’s a QB or LT or CB. The premium positions. And the Bills did Stevie a solid sending him home to the Bay area. I don’t think that was by accident. This years first was swapped for the 4th pick. We didn’t lose a first round pick this year.

Not on the field he doesn’t. When healthy he produces pretty well. Not saying I wanted to see Stevie go, but it’s not like Mike Will is some bum. He might have more talent than Stevie. He definitely doesn’t have less talent. Bills WR core is still potentially dominant. And I can’t wait to see Watkins and Goodwin on the field at one time. And I’ve said that Woods is Reggie Wayne’s reincarnation sooner than later.

He’s a guy Marrone knows from back in the day. SJ13 isn’t his guy.

Talent is not downgraded. Mike Williams is SJ13’s real replacement. Not Watkins. If Williams is healthy he’s a very impactful player. Watkins, Woods, Williams and Goodwin is a potentially dominant group. The question is if Mike is ready to stop the little immature foolishness off the field.

I think Logan Thomas would be more of an option the Bills would look at. Great arm strength, size and mobility. Inconsistent mechanics and results. A guy who, based on physical talent, would be a better development prospect than Tuel. But not consistent enough for folks to think he would threaten EJ’s job when camp starts. But could be developed into a trade chip three years from now or be the option if EJ goes belly up.

If he finished the Cleveland game that they were rolling the Browns up in while he was QBing, if Stevie and Chandler didn’t fumble the rock vs. Atlanta, If the D could stop Brady during the last seconds of opening day vs. the Pats, If Justin Rogers didn't get toasted, baked, broiled and fried vs. the Jets in Jersey, EJ ’isn’t 4-6 as a starter. He is 7-3, maybe 8-2 as a starter. And each of those games I mentioned, EJ wasn’t perfect, but played well enough for the Bills to win. This narrative that he showed nothing is utter BS. He had some outright stinkers too: Pitt and Tampa Bay come to mind. Sounds like a rookie QB. But he was good enough to win with more than he wasn’t. And that’s even with his inaccuracies and flaws.

WHAT?? Mortgage the future how? How long are people willing for the Bills to half-ass it? 14 years, man. 14. I’m glad Whaley and Brandon felt the urgency. No one knows a year out what the NFL draft will be in 2015. It could be a “weak” draft. Then what? What if EJ is great? If he’s not do you know for sure there’s a QB available in round one that is a round one QB? I recall many saying last year that this year’s QB’s would be so great. And now it doesn’t look like it. The Bills have a 2015 2nd round pick. Drew Brees and Andy Dalton were 2nd round picks. You like Colin Kaepernick? 2nd round. I didn’t know round one was the only place to get a QB. I don’t know a damn thing about what might be available in 2015. I do know we have a proven, elite physical talent for the next five seasons at least, health permitting. And nobody can sit here and say the Bills didn’t need a player like that. Mortgage the future… Hell the future is now. Or did we forget about new ownership on its way? Or forget 14 years of nothing?

Dude will be 28 in July. His best years are behind him? I doubt that. He can play. He’s tough. He’ll be fine.

I love the boldness. After the length of this playoff drought, why not?

Sure things don’t exist. But I LOVED the move. I’m sick of the losers mentality that has descended on the organization and the fan base. People actually want to plan for failure. “If EJ isn’t…” This years QB class was said to be so much better than last years and it didn’t turn out to be the case. Bortles goes in top 10 inexplicably and the other QB’s went late or will be in the 2nd round. Who is to say what next year’s players will look like by the end of the pre-draft process? The Bills got a potential difference maker now. And I agree with Whaley: 14 years no playoffs… Operating in fear is a losing mentality. Maybe this will work out or maybe it won’t. But you have to swing for the fences. Whaley is putting the pressure on EJ to step up. I see no problem with that. And if he doesn’t get better QB’s can be drafted in rounds outside the first round. Just turn on the TV tonight and watch how many go in round 2.

It’s really only a 1 and 4. They just swapped 9 for 4. And for all those that wonder what happens if EJ doesn’t work out, they still have a 2nd round pick. They can grab a QB there.

Clowney, Mack or Watkins.

I think if one of their elite guys slides to 5 or 6 they will deal up. But I don't think the players everyone agrees is elite will slide. Because either they are drafted by the teams in those spots or other teams will give up more to trade into their spots. If that's the case I think Whaley trades down because some team will want Manziel. I don't think we see the Bills stay at 9 tomorrow night.

What don't you like about Matthews? Dude can play. Very good hands. Runs good routes. Tough. Good size. Played against elite competition and performed extremely well.

All of what you say is possible. HOWEVER, Pegula is a businessman before anything else. The other team in town is one that is profitable and in a league where the profits keep rising. And I believe a new stadium would also lead to other real estate development opportunities that might interest him. That means potentially more money for him. He's not scouting or drafting or coaching players. He hires a team to do that. IF he were to own the Bills he would do the same thing. He wouldn't be doing that himself. What he would do is make money and increase his business portfolio and national profile which could lead to more money streams. The Bills being in Buffalo hasn't decreased the Sabres attendance or general support. So there is no need for him to wish them away. Appreciate you sharing. It was good knowledge to get.

Whoever she picks still needs to be approved by the league. So the highest bidder might work for her, but not the league, in which case she has to sell to someone who will fulfill both needs. That all may be true. But said owner would still have to be approved by the league. And the league is under no obligation to approve of the ownership group the trust might sell to due to concern for their own business interests. So then what? The trust/family sells to the highest bidder who can gain approval from the league. I don't see any alternative to the family and the league working hand in hand on this. If the league wants the Bills in WNY, the Bills will be in WNY. Trust or no trust. I also wonder why there seems to be a sentiment that a WNY-centered bidder wouldn't be able to outbid other potential ownership groups wherever they may come from.

Are you close to Pegula or his family to say definitively that he has no interest? It's not out of the realm of possibility. Jason LaCanfora mentioned last month at the owners meetings that Pegula's name was a topic amongst attendees. Not that that means Pegula will buy the team, but his name wasn't mentioned for no reason. I would highly doubt he hasn't considered it. It would be good business. The NFL is more profitable than the NHL. Add a new stadium into what will probably include a broader real estate development plan for whatever area it is placed in. Why is that important? Pegula is building Harbor Center so real estate development looks to be something he's interested in. Real estate can = money. Ask Milstein. Don't be so quick to discount Pegula. Although he wouldn't be my first guess. I think it winds up being someone nobody has a heard a thing about in the media, but has the money, ties to WNY in some type of fashion and a desire to keep the team where it always has been.

Haven't heard anything out of Golisano either outside a rehashing of what he said years ago.

You are mis-categorizing a whole group of her fans. Many working women love Oprah as well. And she has political sway. Owns her own magazine and television network. I can't say I'm a fan, but then again I'm not her demographic. She has proven to be hard working and self-made in-spite of a hard-knock background and self-inflicted wounds earlier in her career. All the women I have worked with, across ethnic lines and backgrounds, follow her in some way. Lowest common denominator? You have no idea how far her influence spreads if you believe that. It's actually laughable.

You make good points. But Gundlach is from B-Lo. How much of a traitor would he be to buy the team and eventually move them? I just don't see anybody signing up for that type of venom. The hate for him would be doubled b/c he, of all potential owners, should know better. And the fact he is in L.A. wouldn't spare him. There are a lot of Bills fans in SoCal. And I think a Bills move would bring out the irrational worst in some. Honestly, I would be concerned for the safety of any owner who would move the team. I don't think some people get how deep the passion runs for the Bills. As we see on the news, a lot of people have a hard time coping these days and lash out in terrible ways.

I hear you. But... Well, if it happens at least we had warning first so it won't be a shock. But I hope Martin isn't the pick at 9.