richNjoisy

In my field (meteorology) one tool used in a forecast is "persistence" - if it's 2 degrees above normal today it will be 2 degrees above normal tomorrow (for example) But, quite obviously, it is only one bit of information used otherwise this would be an easy business. These so-called football "experts" seem unable to look beyond last year's records and/or their personal biases (Miami and Dallas always seem to get extra weighting) I can guarantee you , the Bills will not END UP having faced the second hardest schedule. Going in, based on last year's records, it is the 2nd hardest. That is not the end all. One reason is...SURPRISE!.... teams improve or degrade from year to year. Every time the Bills beat a team from last year's "elite", then the number swing both ways (our strength of schedule decreases while our opponent's increases). Simply put, use the schedule from last year as one means of predicting a team's final record but one must also consider where each team is heading. Not to mention how injuries will come into play as they always do. The Bills, regardless of what the experts say, have improved the offensive line which was already showing improvement the latter half of last year. The loss of Willis is not a big deal - he was very unimpresssive. Our run game did not degrade when A-train came in. Our defensive line is improved. JP improved markedly last year and there is every reason to expect him to continue to improve ESPECIALLY if he has more time to throw. The draft is important though - we need a new RB and a new LB. I am hoping for Willis or poluzny (sp) and Pittman -RnJ

When can season ticket owners purchase extra tickets (individual) for select games?

What he said. Yep, this is the stupidest mock I have seen so far. He may have only 1-2 picks right in the top 10

Schobel was signed to a five-year contract extension on Sept. 8, 2004 The contract was worth about $23 million, including a $6.75 million signing bonus, which locked him up through the 2009 season.

If you are posting this in reponse to the very negative comments coming from the out of town media (particularly ESPN), then I am with you. But, the jury is truly still out on a few of your points. Yes, Marv didn't overpay for Fletcher or Clements as the Redskins and 49ers did respectively. The coaching staff is clearly the best the Bils have had since Marv's days. I agree that he drafted well last year but we should assess this by watching them play for at least one more year (but, it is my expectation, that the 2006 draft will eventually be rated one fo the best in Bils history round-for-round). As to the offensive line, this is one place where the pundits are (mostly) blasting the Bills decision to pay so much to Dockery and Walker. Again, we need to see them play to see if they give JP more time to throw and open up holes for whomever is carrying the rock. I certainly am content with what Marv has done this offseason and if I have to choose whose opinion to trust (Mortenson/Kiper or Marv's), I think I will trust Marv. RichNJoisy

We all have to be careful assuming we undertsand the Levy-led draft strategy based on only one year. Yes, last year's #1 pick was considered a reach by the "experts". But proof in the pudding has shown that the selection of Whitner was a good one (at least so far). Let's see how this draft plays out - we can continue to speculate but the Bills are only showing us that they are INTERESTED in filling the RB role and that they like fast, to-the-line-of-scrimmage LB's. One can assume they are interested in CB's too but they may simply play with the cards they already have (youboty, simpson, whitner and McGee) BTW - I have finally lost all respect for mort and kiper etc. Did they watch McGahee play? Without the jets games, he positively reaked. -RnJ

Our and your bad! At a;most every tailgate, Lisa and I would take a stroll over to the pinto - hopefully in time for the "ketchup toss" I love the balling bowl "ploy": drink (what is it? whiskey?) out of the ball and then drop it keeping the holes UP. If you fail you drink again (who supplies the booze?) Goal is to get opposing fans to "play" and then get too drunk to attend the game. gotta love it.

This is reasonable - however, how high would YOU offer as the conditional? If as high as #1 - forget it - unless the condition is we win the super bowl. I'd make it a 3 and maybe 3/4 with as high as 2 on something ridiculous like 1600 + yards. But We have other posters going with John's offer of a 1st swap (McBride and apuszczalowski) I'd be willing to bet you all this will not happen. I never bet unless I am really really certain. So, I gues you know how I feel, huh?

No way The value of a RB is not a 1st rounder. Swapping with the chargers (pick 30) is more costly than trading them our 2nd round pick PLUS we will have to pay turner a ton more $$ than drafting, say, Lynch No way. The game of "chicken will be won by levy. or like they say inthe movie Wargames, "the best way to win is to not play the game" trading picks is a dubious practice at best and for a fiscally conscious team (like the Bills) it is even more unlikely. I still predict IF a trade takes place, it will be a third at the highest.

Our plan is to get the hell out of dodge for like February and March (post football season of course!)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17662270/site/newsweek/ I never have to worry about the word getting out about how great a place Buffalo is. The only people who believe me are former Buffalonians and the very very very few people who "get it" Hopefully, the recent NFL deal will mean it is more likely than not, I will have a local NFL football team in red-white and blue with Buffaloes on the helmet to cheer for when I settle in my new digs enjoy the article. -RnJ

That IS a risk but looking at the Niners needs - my guess is that they need a DE more than they need a LB. Jamaal Anderson or Gaines Adams seem to be their likely pick...depending on who is still there. Trading up is very costly this high up. Trading up out of the 2nd into the lower part of the 1st is nowhere near as costly and can be highly beneficial.

This is absolutely correct - the Tampa 2 defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_2) -- not a bad writeup -- is designed for speed and gang tackling. Fast D-linemen shoot the gaps and disrupt the play call. Meanwhile, the LB's are supposed to attack to the line of scrimmage going to the ball. So many people here are hung up on having to have a HUGE Sam Adams-type to clog the middle. I also agree with ganesh about Kyle Williams. I was AMAZED to see a rookie defensive lineman play so well. He has nothing but upside folks. What a great draft Marv had last year. Seems to me that Patrick Willis would fit in very nicely in this defense. He SHOULD be there at 12. should be.....

1st off: No way Marv's trades a 1st round pick for a RB - and a backup RB at that - on the last year of his contract. No way 2nd off: VERY low chance Marv's trades a 2nd round pick for a RB - and a backup RB at that - on the last year of his contract Maybe a third and something else. I betcha Marv is offering a 4th or a 5th.

Wait a second - I thought the patriots already won the division in 2007. At least that is what the "experts" have all but declared. Now I'm confused......

Thanks! I am cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. Can you remember the last time the Bills had an offensive line that other teams FEARED? Unless you were watching the game in utero - you had better be at least 30 years old! Maybe this will be a first for a lot of the "young" Bills fans. (young in quote since my definition of this term seems to be changing. I wonder why....) Aging in Joisy, RnJ

great post, Nanker I wish I could say that my cynicism could finally limit my amazement / shock at how worshiped belicek is and how reviled Levy is Your points about Polian are valid and once you pointed it out, the comparision between Marv's moves the past two years and Polians do come out. The recent Patriot moves have been, without question, declared as Godlike and the rest of the league might as well give the Lombardi Trophy to New England right now. And yet, this past offseason's move contradict the kind of moves New England made prior to the three SB wins. The Patsies have spent gobs of money on some good but some questionable players. They have borrowed from the future to pay for today. They have actually LIMITED their depth while increasingly their injury risks (older players). Is this the formula for success? It is unclear if the Bills overpaid for Dockery/Walker/Whittle. I highly doubt the McGahee trade was bad for Buffalo (regardless of how the "experts" have reamed the Bills for the trade - I wonder sometimes how many games the "experts" actually watch or are they just stupid?. In any event, last year the Bills played much better than the year before while facing the toughest schedule in the entire league. It is possible, JP will be determined to be the best QB drafted in 2004 (not Manning, not Rivers, and not Roethlesberger). Last year's Bills draft MAY be the best draft the Bills have had in 20 years. Again, it remains to be seen but so far it looks like it was beyond fantastic. All this makes me give Marv the benefit of the doubt - if he thinks the three OL signed are worth it, if his 2006 draft is indicative of the skills he has in evaluating rookie talent then he has my support. screw the experts. what skilll have they shown? -RnJ

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...art1/index.html purrrrrr

I don't know about you, but it is kind of hard to imagine a Bills line that opens up big holes. wow, a hole. Next, can you imagine a Bills QB going back to pass and having the time to throw that, say, Tom Brady always has? wow, time to throw. People here are SO concerned about the RB position. But all you need is someone who can hit the holes (see, "wow..." above) quickly -not to mention how a good passing game makes running easier. this all sounds good (but hard to imagine) to me

sorry for the delay Lisa and I are in! Walk my man Walk! -RichN and RevN JOISY

yes and they should have beat them but they fumbled twice within the 5 yard line and ended up losing by about 7

My source is kffl.com (oh yee of little faith )

Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Of these 8 possibilities, I will eliminate tennessee, houston, kansas city, and tampa. (a guess) I doubt it would be jacksonville. so, I predict dnver at colts, or new england at colts, or new orleans at colts. I'd love to see brady get crushed befoe the bills even suit up. (heh heh)

If you are correct, that means we have to move up from 12 to 7 to get ahead of Houston. The trade value tables say that to move up would (value 1200 to value 1500) would cost us our 1st (1200 + our own 3rd {value 220} + our 4th {value 78} = 1498) So to move up from 12th to 7th costs us a 1st, 3rd, and 4th round pick. We'd still have our 2nd , baltimore's 3rd, and our 6th and 7th round picks plus baltimore's 7th. as Hemet mentioned, is this worth it when Marshawn Lynch will be there at 12 anyway?

I hear ya - but the Bills wanted to draft Whitner - or so they said last year - and most everyone believes they could have traded down and still have gotten him but they did not. I have heard the comments that the Bills were afraid someone else would draft him if they traded down...yada yada. My point is - this means that Levy already has had the opportunity once to do what you are suggesting but instead used the pick to draft the guy he wanted. He doesn't like to take risks when his guy is there. So, although I like your suggetsion, my own prediction is Marv will draft his guy or move up to draft him. Man, though, won't it be exciting if Peterson is there at 12! -rgg