hondo in seattle

Who makes your travel plans?

The "12th Man" is a registered trademark. Maybe after designating Ralph as the 12th man, we could register "The 13th Man."

Very cool find!

If I'm Hackett, I'd study a lot more game tape of Chan Gailey and see how he managed to get CJ to produce 6 yards per carry while I'm only getting 4 yards per carry out of him. And then I'd draw up some plays to hopefully get CJ to the second level. I want Miami's banged up or back up LBs trying to run down and tackle CJ. Good luck! And, yep, combine this with some quick slants and dump offs to the running backs. As Beef says, put stress on the LBs all game long.

As I recall, it smells like toasted Cheerios.

I think Pegula sits back and assesses the team's personnel and org structure as the season unfolds. I don't think he'll be in a hurry to replace anyone or insert anyone between Brandon and Whaley. It's really premature. If Brandon-Whaley-Marrone begins to work, leave it alone.

I suppose I'd rather see the Fins atop the AFCE rankings than the Pats. But I still hope we whip you by 30 this weekend.

HIs way of saying: Don't ask me anymore questions? Very funny video.

Miami might be the slightly better team but I don't think they're as good as their hype. Nor are the Bills as bad as the national media thinks. (NFL.com, for example, has the fins at #9 and the Bills at #21 despite identical records). Although the talent edge goes to Miami, the game is in RWS and the Bills are pumped. So I expect a close, tough game that could go either way. As a homer, I have to take the Bills - by 1.

I've been involved in the buying and selling of companies. Usually, in my experience, the buyer (in this case Pegula) doesn't usually maintain a close relationship with the seller (in this case, France). Do you become friendly with - and seek advice from - the people who sell you things? I guess the better question is... Do you have any information that Pegula and France have become friendly?

Exactly right. Pegs is getting the Bills. Some day an owner may need a fellow owner as an ally. Why poison your relationship with Pegula for no good reason? The vote will be unanimous.

This list is legit. All four were hugely exciting at the time. I recall the Bledsoe signing was another exciting time. Probably not top five but still pretty impressive (though I didn't personally get caught up in it). A lot of fans seemed to think Bledsoe was the missing piece and for about half a season, they were right. If the Bills go on to win a Super Bowl under the Pegulas, this sale moves to #1 with the advantage of hindsight.

Huh? Given the way Ralph set up the lease and the trust, he made it both difficult and unlikely for out-of-towners to buy and and move the team. I'm sure he did all this with Mary's willing cooperation. Bidding would have gone hundreds of millions higher if not for the restrictions Ralph and the Trust put in place. Mary, many thanks!

Thank you Ralph (may you rest in peace) and Mary for keeping the Bills in Buffalo all these years and making it possible to keep the Bills in Buffalo for many more.

I hope he spends the rest of the season evaluating Brandon & Whaley. If it seems their on the right track, leave them alone. Overall, I've been pretty happy with the talent Whaley has brought to Buffalo. Unfortunately, the two biggest questions are "Do we have the right coach?" and "Do we have the right QB?" But we've got to allow a new, young GM a whiff here and there - if either of these are actual whiffs.

So who's going to name their next son "Terry" and next daughter "Kim"?

There are two long established trends were facing: the Pats make the playoffs and we don't. It's way too early in the season for me to think either trend is broken yet. But I rub my lucky prayer beads and pray to the football gods daily.

I have a low tech I.Q. But I'm in if there's a collection.

Chris Conte Cannot Tackle. Bears fans know this, of course. But they did not need to see Conte getting pushed down the sideline by Fred Jackson in overtime like a shopping cart through the produce aisle. (bleacher report)

And Cutler completed something like 70% of his passes. The D played good enough to win yesterday. But only barely. (Is the Monday after a win too early for "nattering negative nabobs"?)

I can only echo Big C. 3 catches for 31 yards if I recall correctly. And another catch called back. Then there was the long pass which was inches from being a great connection. While he didn't produce any spectacular plays, Sammy did look like he belonged out there. He ran good routes and looked confident. And I didn't notice the ribs slowing him down though maybe they were. Decoy? I don't think he's established enough to be an effective decoy.

This surprises me. Some people thought Brown was good enough to make CJ and/or Freddy expendable. Wonder what the story is.

Chris Simms - the ex NFL QB turned football commentator - said this, "I guarantee the Bills lose to the Chicago Bears... EJ Manuel, do I have to say more?" Nope, Chris, you don't. Your foot is solidly in your mouth already.

There were times I thought Schwartz's defense was too passive - too little pressure, too few blitzes, too many open check-down options - but overall I have to agree. Giving up 20 points against a potent Chicago offense is a solid outing.

Today we live in an alternate universe... EJ Manuel: 7.9 yard per attempt. Tom Brady: 4.5 yard per attempt. (Or is the shape of things to come?)