#34fan

That's what he gets for Marrying that gold-digger. I must say though, I expected more discipline from a veteran like Chad. -Most likley why he'll be CUT on monday morning. Cant' have a guy like him setting bad examples for the Rookies. Gonna be a loooooong weekend for Ocho-cinco.

Better than nothing, I suppose. -Not far enough away from the home-town haters, IMO.

No, it was all my fault. -She's only responsible for dashing my hopes of being an A-list actor. I could have been one you know....

No. But I will be covering my eyes. Fitz's chain-moving skills aren't feared by anyone Figs. -Just the opposite. Opposing D's know they just have to wait for an imminent mistake from our signal-caller and then make the most of it. No huddle? -Please. If there was a way to have MORE huddles in between downs, I'd recomend it for Ftzpatrick.

Aw -Crap!!!! I was talking to my wife about Brady's Superbowl rings and I mis-typed. -In other news, I tripped and fell while chewing gum this morning.

Sure. just like the steering wheel is just a "piece" of an automobile. Dilfer gets a ring on the heels of of one of the most vaunted defenses in the history of the NFL, and now folks think that ANYONE can do it. -That's simply not the case. I love F-Jax, but if he starts fumbling frequently then his usefulness to this team is in question. -Same thing for Stevie if he drops too many balls. Why does Fitz get an eternity to get his crap together, and an indefinite amount of strikes before he's called out?! Chan's sentimentality, and unwavering allegiance to Fitz is getting tiresome. If Fitz can't get the offense going by game 3, he should be put on notice.

Must've fell and bumped your head, figs because you DID NOT Just compare Ryan Pickspatrick to four-time AFC Champion Jim Kelly. -Clearly you're concussed. When you feel better, try practicing this equation: Ryan Fitzpatrick + No huddle = Pick 6 going the other way. You don't need to be Einstein to figure that one out.

I don't see him making it a year on the street without getting locked up. -Not being bigoted or anything, but the odds are against him running into high-character people while he's on his sofa getting high. I truly hope he tries to get into a good FCS program like App state, or Richmond. Poor kid. -Hang tough Tyrann.

Only if she comes with a stripper pole.

Man oh man, do I feel good about Chandler. If Fitz has just ONE great game this year, it will be because of Scott. KEEP HIM INVOLVED CHAN!!!!!

Nice! Best comeback I've read around here in a while. I'd diss you back, but I was laughing too hard. Seriously though, this theam is just three pieces away from being deep playoff contenders. One of those pieces is a QB that other teams actually have to prepare for, another is a dedicated head coach, the last piece is a dedicated, forward-thinking offensive coordinator. We have NONE of these things right now, and are therefore likely to come up short of a playoff run. As far as VY and Fitzpatrick are concerned, I feel VY is the biggest threat to Fitzpatrick, and is therefore in a better position to push him. I feel Young is the key to better performance from Fitz. With VY gone, an unmotivated Fitzpatrick will settle back into his old ways. -Guaranteed.

TERRIBLE Idea. -IF it's true. Chan Gailey is full of bad Ideas, but he usually saves those for his playcalling. If it does go down, was Fitzy behind it??? Him and Thigs have been thick as thieves lately. It'd be in Fitz's best interest if he was. The LAST thing Fitz wants is P.O'd fans screaming for VY after a string of his trademark interceptions. Should something happen to Fitz, Thigpen doesn't give us the best chance to win. If he did, Chan would have put him in last year when Fitz was hurt. Makes sense. -Thigpen is the best chance of maintaining the status quo in Orchard Park (losing) He is also the best chance Fitz has of holding onto his job.

Idle chatter like this is exactly why we need to lay down the LAW in week 1. I don't want Rex bragging about his home opener to the media. I want him explaining to the ruthless NYC media why his fat, foot-worshippin' a$$ shouldn't be in the hot seat.

LOVE Fred. -Love the guy. IMO, He's the best RB we've had since Thurman, and my whole family thinks he's 100% awesome. However.... Freddy DID put the ball on the ground a couple times last season. I couldn't believe it when it happened, but it did. I hope he's had time to adddress that problem in training camp. As far as him being top five, that's a tough one. -He definitely has top 5 potential, but at the age of 31, top five may be a whole lot to ask.

I'd trust a few of the posters on this board before I trusted Dave Lee with my Quarterback. With a tutoring resume that includes Chad Henne, Chad Pennington, Tony Romo, and Tim Tebow (Good guy. Lousy passer.), It's a wonder anyone still hires the guy. Actually, that reads less like a resume, and more like a Rap Sheet! -Dave Lee breeds inferior QB's. And it seems he's hard at work on yet another one.

Pretty much confirmed what I already knew (*sigh*) Lee is adressing Fitz's lower body where some of the problem exists (Not throwing off his back foot) , but neglecting Fitz's upper body where, IMO, MOST of the difficulties (interceptions) originate. Lee would be better served finding out why Fitz drops the the ball under his elbow, and whips the pass forward like a slingshot. Not only does this wind-up take valuable time out of the play, it opens the door to ALL SORTS of nightmare scenarios. I've assembled some points and observations from a laymen's point of view. Fitz CANNOT control the speed, or the trajectory of the pass. The ball comes out Low, (easy to bat-down) and takes an upward trajectory which relies on it "slowing down" and dropping into the recievers hands. If the ball slows down too early, (short passes) or too late, (skips off the intended recievers fingers) the possible outcomes are an interception, an injury, (overextended, vulnerable, reciever) -A tipped ball, or, best case scenario, an incompletion. There's also a stare-down factor that adds even more uncertainty to the pass. While Fitz's inefficient mechanics are taking place, his eyes remain LOCKED on the desired reiever. -Any corner or safety paying the slightest bit of attention can move to disrupt the play. Also, with a throwing motion like that, once you commit to a reciever, It's hard pull it back. Playing catch with recievers in warm-ups is one thing. Being able to adjust to multiple defenders on a changing field is quite another. I've noticed that the Bears Jay Cutler has a similar motion. The difference is that Cutler has a much stronger arm, and as a result, a far quicker release. Lastly, the danger of this whipping motion also seems inherent. Using tendons in the elbow joint as a "sling" IMO is just asking for problems. While baseball pitchers do it all the time, propelling a baseball through the air at high velocity places different stresses on the associated joints when we consider the weight and the shape of a football. I look for Fitz's velocity and accuracy to peak early in the season, and wane as it wears on. Ftzo's arm may be getting stronger, but his mechanics still stink. Seems like Lee gave up on teaching him the correct way to pass. -Way to go, Chan! (*sigh*) JUST ONCE, I'd like to be wrong about this team's direction.

I feel terrible for Andy. I'm sure he did all he could to get his boys straightened out. Awful thing for a dad to have to go through.

Difference of opinion. Nothing Fitz has done in the last two years makes him eligible for a free pass. Rewarding mediocrity breeds more mediocrity. Like you said, VY hasn't made any noise in a while, so what is there to worry about? Making things more competitive between Fitz and VY should do little else but provide impetus for Fitz to tighten up his game. VY is a disposable player as far as our roster is concerned. -I guess i just don't understand what people so afraid of?

Great post! Thanks for the run-down.

Wanting to throw a a guy to the wolves hardly counts as man-love. Ideally, I'd like Thigpen out of the picture, so Fitz and Young can go head to head in pre-season. It's simple for Vince Young... if he blows, he goes. If VY looks like he can't push Fitz, or come in and finish games for us, Then pay him and get him on the fastest thing OUT of Buffalo. -I'll buy the ticket. It sounds cheesy but no "Pressure, no Diamond" applies here. Broken ribs or not, Fitzo is not entititled to a free ride through TC.

Looks like I'm busted. Thank you for that (revealing) look into my questionable soul. -A thousand pardons for my lack of acumen. I tried sprinkling a little on my pork chops last night when the darn bottle popped open! -Spoiled my supper. But moving right along... There are some on this board who think football 101 is what this franchise NEEDS to be getting back to. You know... converting third downs with some regularity, and NOT throwing the football to the wrong guy. -Stuff us short-bus kids have struggled with mightily for the past, I dunno... twelve years or so. But your'e right asbout my misuse of the word "Starter" What I meant was: Had a chance to snag a starting job twice before and never got it done. OR, had a chance to become more than a career backup, and instead, shrunk back into obscurity. And off we go... Dangit, Your'e right again. -I've got it... Why don't we just discard every meaningful stat in the game of football until Ryan Fitzpatrick gets his training wheels off. ESPECIALLY those silly game-winning drives. It's not like the ability of a quarterback to impose his will on an opposing defense in the final moments of a tight game has anything to do with whether or not his team wins out. That junk is SO football 101! Agreed. Life is SO frickin' unfair. There should be a controlled, closely monitored grooming period for all rookie QB's. The duration of which, to be determined by their IQ's, wonderlic scores, and beard length. Players who shine when given a small opportunity, should be detained and quarantined for closer observation. Oh, -and let's finally put an end to all this "bad stuff" happening. Yah, I said it. -So What? I want the competiton to come from somewhere. -The question is, Why don't you? Why do you consider competition for Fitz such a heretical notion? Might Mr. "hopeful" be a little bit "fearful" To be honest, I have no choice but to respect your football acumen. I apologize for not having the statistical chops to deal with that big, fat, football encyclopedia between your ears. It's a fact that I hope to remedy very shortly. I'm obviously outmatched. However, I will say this: All those years you've spent in various NFL coaching and front office positions have not yet immunized you from the common denial bug when it comes to Ryan Fitzpatrick. That's fine. Take your ball and go home. Sooner or later you always have to return to the playground. I'm bushed. -Dragging my knuckles on the ground all day makes the joints tender. Clearly, you're light years ahead. Still, I'll take my football 101 ANY DAY over your four and twelve, six and ten, NO playoffs, honors course. Me go now.

No Hopeful, they don't. But let's go back. You were the one who started your statistical analysis by dredging up Young's three game stint as starter last year. I simply pointed out that after a year of not playing, Vince WON one of those games against a tough divisional rival. I also drew attention to the fashion in which he won that game. Namely his ability to extend key drives with his feet. Which brings me to why those stats you pointed out DO NOT give me pause. A two-time pro bowler, Vince Young has produced 13 game winning drives since entering the league in 2006. Five of those coming in his rookie year. In those thirteen games Young averaged a 60.32 completion percentage, and a respectable 37ypg rushing. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been in the league a year longer, and been made starter of not one, but THREE different NFL franchises. In that time, he has produced exactly 6 (Six) game-winning drives, and ZERO pro bowl berths. So when I read things like: "Eric Wood is quoted saying they wouldn't trade him for anyone... Or as coach Chan Gailey says: "He can win championships." I have no choice but to ask what all this support is based on? Has Fitz ever won any Championships? -Vince has. Granted it was in college. Still, If memory serves, It was a game-winning drive against a vaunted USC team Ranked number one in the BCS! -In the biggest game of his life, Vince trotted in for a TD with 19 seconds left on the clock. Bottom line? Vince young's overall body of work yields more reasons for hope than Fitzpatrick's. -Which brings me to my second point. You said: You're making this WAY harder than it actually is. -Here's a hint. Whoever performs best under the hot lights wins out. Vince Young has demonstrated his big game potential in the past. However, as you point out, VY has also been wildly inconsistent througout his career. If Fitz is indeed the better option, he should have NO PROBLEM dispatching a guy who got canned from his last job, and rocked a single-digit score on his wonderlic. Moving right along, You also said: I've NEVER ONCE suggested that that Vince was the undisputed best product the Bills have at QB. I've simply mentioned a few reasons not to completely count him out. Not yet anyway. Ryan Fitzpatrick has 59.5 million reasons to win this job. Why not let the guy go out and earn his money?

Um, I thought I already did. I accept the numbers you provided as they are. I simply offered a little historical perspective to your statistical analysis. I've been very up front about my belief that more competition could be benficial for Fitzpatick's game. there's no doubt in my mind that our brand of offense would benefit tremendously from more competitive QB play. I thought you did a good Job in avoiding MY question altogether. I was trying to ascertain whether or not you would support this franchise putting it's best product on the field. Especially if that product turns out to be V. Young. Assuming #10 isn't cut, It's a possibility we could all be confronting in the near future. -Might be a good idea to know where you stand in advance.

Vince's first start after a year of not playing at all was a win vs. NYG. He was a BACKUP on a NEW team, coming off a rough emotional experience and thrust into game against a tough divisional rival. Vince delivered. With Vince at the helm, Philly converted SIX third downs on ONE drive. Two of those, VY rushed for HIMSELF. -Think about that. How cool would it be to have a guy who can wear down defenses by extending drives like that? Of course, the following week the Eagles lost to the Patsies. -But to be fair, so did we. -After a three touchdown lead, I might add. I'm not giving VY a pass at all, but Vince's physical abilities are not what concerns me. -What concerns me about Vince is whether of not he can manifest the mental, and intestinal fortitude to deal with the politics that exist in every franchise FO and Locker room in the NFL. That's the challenge. All I want is for our BEST PRODUCT to make it onto the field. I'll totally accept it if that turns out to be be Ryan Fitzpatrick. -Are you prepared to accept it if it doesn't?

Wait. You've liked him ever since he came in for TRENT??? -That's a pretty low bar, don't you think? Fitz got lucky. In fact, if Trent was a little less Awful, you and I aren't even having this conversation. I'll conceed that Fitz played OK in a couple games last year. -Pretty good in the first game at KC. But whether it was the INT's, short passes, or high passes, he simply did not show up to lead during that eight game slide. What became clear to me, was that that in order for Fitz to have any success, our o-line has to remain in tact, and Freddy has to stay healthy. Btw, I'm calling out Coach Gailey too. IMO, Last year's offense was geared more toward the QB Chan WISHES he had, instead of the guy we actually have. I'd like to see Scott Chandler (as well as our other TE'S) get more involved in the offense, and avoid dependency on the deep ball. Oh, and INT's are more that just a stat. They are a rich source of team demoralization, fan rage, and QB inconfidence. INT's change the entire course and momentum of games. They are to be avoided like plague animals. IMO, QB's who throw them in bunches either aren't in sync with their offense, or struggle with the mechanics of throwing a football. Whichever category Fitz falls into, he's been given a another shot to get it together. If he can't make it happen, then Chan has to have the courage to go another way.