dpberr

No. Preseason is pretty meaningless with the exception of evaluating reserve talent. My expectations for the first game that counts are high, however. I expect a demolition of the Jets similar to the demolition of the Chiefs last year. For those who are unsettled by this preseason, I'd say go back and watch the first game of last season. What you saw is the well oiled machine that was not evident in the 2011 preseason. You saw the Chiefs having no idea on what the Bills were going to do. Why? Gailey provided nothing to the Chiefs in preseason. No game film on schemes or tendancies. Zip. This year we have that same advantage along with improved defensive talent so we don't spot the oppossing teams 21 points.

+1. That's been his problem ever since he was benched by Fisher.

If you are innocent of doing something, you don't get tired defending yourself no matter how long it takes or how arduous the task becomes. You beat that drum until you physically can't. Not only have you put doubt into the minds of the general public, but also your kids minds. At best, dad looks like a quitter. At worst, he's a quitter *and* a cheater.

As a fan I think the Bills are rebuilding until the point they end a season with a winning record. That would show progression. The Patriots won't be on top forever. Reigns at the top are cyclical events. Rebuilding is an inevitable component for any team. It's at that point I want to see the Bills ready to start their own reign of supremacy of the division and I think they are on schedule.

I'm a Romney vote come November. I think he'll do a better job at repairing the economy. It's bigger than any social issue. That being said, I don't have the hatred for President Obama as some do. I just don't think he's been that great of a President. I think he had his opportunity to help the economy by holding off on the health care legislation, producing some decent budgets and producing a mortgage relief program that worked. As politicians go, he lacks the electoral pragmatism of Clinton. Clinton knew that he stood no chance of getting reelected if the economy wasn't in better shape come 1996. Clinton did quite a few things he probably was idealistically oppossed to but did nonetheless. Obama has been too much of an idealist in a country that's increasingly 50/50 in terms of ideology. His strong idealism will probably lead him to defeat come November.

He didn't have to have a reason. Human beings do a lot of things for no reason whatsoever. We're all here using our deduction, abduction and logic but when it comes to taking your own life, rarely are those three components involved. Rationality is most often post-hoc justification for our actions. The media must try to rationalize the suicide to justify this man taking his own life. Must give it meaning. And sometimes there just isn't any to find.

Merriman was a lottery ticket. Sometimes you win...most times you don't.

It makes me wonder if he's about to get a suspension from the NFL. Otherwise, I agree...why not ride out the year? He's a sunk cost at this point.

My realistic two reasons: 1. Injuries. Get us every year. 2. Around game 8, Gailey's refusal to mix up the plays. The reason the Bills start out white hot is because they show nothing in preseason and it takes teams about 3-4 games to get solid game tape. Once they do, you get the Bills/Bengals game of last year...and you have to mix things up. The NFL does not abide by the rule of the stonecutter.

I agree with OP. I think we sometimes take these preseason games way too seriously. I think the lack of preseason strategy is why the Bills started out strongly last year. No tape whatsoever to give to the oppossing team from the preseason games. On the other hand, Minnesota, I felt, actually ran defense and offense you'd see during the regular season. I think Gailey knows he has to play these games...but he dosn't have to give away what he plans on doing once they count and you don't want your guys getting injured.

You'll rarely find anyone in the national media willing to go out and make a risky prediction like the Bills winning the AFC East. I've seen this phenomena as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan this year. There are no better bandwagon jumpers than the national media. The Patriots can't be great forever. Fatigue, age and complacency always take their toll. The Patriots have benefited from a decade plus of being in a division of teams that haven't had their act together. I believe at this point, the Bills do.

Comeback game but I have to say....I'd want to see the Music City Miracle in person. I still feel the emotions I felt watching that game on televison. Can't imagine seeing it go down in person. That's the game where you run out on the field and run into Wycheck as the ball is just about to be snapped. I have always seen that game as the beginning of the fall of the empire.

I highly doubt Morrison goes anywhere. Man is a super reliable tackling maching in a 4-3 defense and isn't he a starter? I agree with Choice. I dont' see where veteran experience is needed at RB and he's shown nothing for quite some time. I don't think there will be any signficant surprise cuts this year. I fully expect guys like Thigpen and McGee to be cut outright and others like Carder and Asper to head to the PS.

That's a bummer.

I've gotten used to watching football via pirated signal. No DirecTV and the only football bars in this area are Eagles or Steelers bars because Pennsylvanians have really big imaginations. When the day comes where I'll have DirecTV and a big screen televsion and it's so clear and the signal continuous...I probably won't recognize what I'm watching.

That game was such a deliberate train accident from the replacement refs to the players to the "never run, just run downfield spread offense" scheme...I'm not sure how anybody came away with judgements of who did well or not unless you spend your weeks analyzing game tape frame by frame. I watched that whole game and by its end, was convinced that there really was no plan. Just go play and run around a bit. And that's fine. It's preseason. In fact, I'd hate to look stellar and all world in the preseason and come out flat in Week 1. While I know Chan Gailey isn't big on statements and probably cares nothing whatsoever about them, it would have been nice for the fans to see the front four plant Griffin into the turf at least one play.

They were aboslutely terrible last night with each team running generally predictable vanilla offensive and defensive packages. Every NFL team is doomed if it's replacements refs for the games that count.

Nobody is "close" to being waived prior to the first preseason game. That being said, should, in the world of possibiliities, the Bills waive Young, they need somebody better than Thigpen. Gailey was sending out Fitzpatrick with half an intact ribcage because he didn't have faith in Thigpen last year.

When he's healthy, absolutely. I think he's got the best field vision of any running back in the league.

I've grown to appreciate T.O. and I consider myself a fan of Owens. Sadly, this opportunity to play for the Seahawks probably keeps him from harming himself in some way. I hope he has a huge year for the Seahawks for his sake and for his kiddos.

A very interesting subject. Thanks for the post. I'd grade Nix at A for mining for talent at the free agent bin of NFL-Mart.

The desperation of the Philadelphia Eagles. This team has to win this year or the whole thing from Reid to Vick is getting blown up from near Earth orbit to be rebuilt. The stakes only got higher with the Phillies being lousy this year. All eyes on them earlier than usual in this sports market. And while it's very homerish to suggest, the continued darkening of the dusk of the Patriots regime.

I'll take the coming attraction defense. The NFL rules have changed. Defenses of yesteryear would have a hard time adjusting if we're talking about just one game with all the changes regarding pass interference, protecting the quarterback, etc. Different game today than it was even ten years ago.

I'm not as interested in Superman because he's a guy born on ANOTHER planet without any equal on Earth. He's got all these special powers but there's no real "danger" thus making the plot no matter who makes it, very formulaic. Absolute power doesn't make for a thrilling movie.

I have a feeling that Nolan left the door open for a Justice League movie should "Man of Steel" prove to have the success of "Batman Begins".