JOE IN HAMPTON ROADS

Now THAT's "Hopeful"!

It's all good Graybeard, and all part of Stadium Wall Billiever therapy! This is pretty much where I'm at too, but I don't trust ownership to follow up with key FA signings and contract extensions. Overall I'm cautiously optimistic, but as you point out, it's hard to Billive after being burned so many times.

Not living in the past as much as trying to predict the future. The central question is: have we bottomed out? If so, we could be in the SB hunt in a surprisingly short time. Or are we going to limp on at 7-9 or so into the forseeable future? Consensus seems to be the latter.

Too true. Cheers!

All these rankings are highly suspect, but agree with your point. We have much greater positional needs right now to be chasing a QB when our is average at worst. Fix the O-line and Fitz will do better. Fix the D to take pressure off the passing game and Fitz will do better. Bring in a WR with sure hands and able to get separation on long routes and Fitz will do better. So many needs. Not defending Fitz, just pointing out where our priorities should be IMO.

We just went through all that with Lynch. Not worth it.

My wife, kids and dog have all learned to find someplace else to be Sunday afternoons . . . not sure why I take it so seriously, it's grown men playing a game that I have no direct or indirect control over whatsoever. I think we all need therapy.

Nice. I'll put you down as "not an optimist".

Different systems, different schemes, better players around them . . . of course they can do better. Player success depends on many things, only elite players make their own destiny. If any of the three you mention were elite players, they would have shown with the Bills regardless of other factors.

A photo of RW flipping Bud Adams the bird after a Bills victory would have been really great. Ah well.

Nah, I would have been happy with 8-8 this year, and an improving outlook. That's more the point. I'll feel better if we can win at least ONE of our home games to finish 6-10. But not much.

Not sure if I put cutting Hangartner and Evans on Nix. Those may have been money decisions. Agree with everything else 100%. BTW, add chandler and Byrd to the list of quality players out of the lineup . . . we are so screwed against SD . . .

This is just garbage. 'Nuff said.

As an optimist myself, this is what I WANT to think. BUT . . . I think the defense is further away than an OLB or two, and the O needs more than one tackle and a long threat WR. I had thought we had an adequate QB but now not so sure. Bottom line is we have too many positional needs to address in the draft alone, EVEN IF WE HAVE A GOOD DRAFT. We need FA help, and the FO is not likely to want to pay for quality FAs. Without a committment to win from the FO - meaning RW and his money men - we will continue to tread water. That said, I think both Chan and Nix are real football men. With RW fading, if Chix can take over operations from the money men, we will have a chance. This year's draft APPEARS to be an indication of that, although the lack of FA signings in the off season point the other way.

Moorman's agent feels GREAT!

Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

+1 It took Bruce Smith a couple years (and Talley and Bennett on the line) to get really good. Eventually, he dominated . . . but it took awhile.

Right, I confused myself. Going into 86 they were 2-14 the PREVIOUS year. I was really hoping this year would be the break-even year (like 87), with next year be the break out year (like 88).

+1 At least he's trying, and learning. He'll get better. Stevie is as good as he will ever get. Hey that's my line!

Actually I think we can beat both Miami and Denver at home. "Can" not "will".

Buck up, they could still go 7-9. Just like old times.

Well I guess I'll shut up and sit down now. I'm with you on Chan and even Nix. Not with you on Ralph and the money guys. Agreed, we will be better next year, but at this point that could mean 7-9.

+1 Blowing it up is counterproductive until we have a new owner(s). I'm actually impressed with how well Chanix are doing with the scrubs Ralph and the money men give them to work with. Ralph giggles every time he thinks about paying $50,000 fifty years ago for a team worth hundreds of million today. THAT's his Superbowl.

He's doing what Wade Philips was forced to do after the Music City Miracle: take the bullet for ownership. Wash, rinse, repeat.

I just had to fix the above for myself. Looks like no one is feeling like future champs after Sunday. Where are the optimists?