Bagel

Bill Walsh stopped serving as a special consultant to the 49ers in 2004. Trent was drafted in 2007. In 2004 Walsh became a special assistant to the athletic director at Stanford where he served (including a term as interim AD) until his death in July 2007. He and Trent overlapped at Stanford for several years and spent a good amount of time together. As I understand it, Walsh thought extremely highly of Trent. To imply otherwise is not accurate.

As I recall, this summer Bell said that since the combine his reps at 225 have gone from 9 to 25. It's amazing what a year of professional nutrition and strength training can do (especially when you come from a small collegiate program). To put that number is perspective, at the combine this year Wood did 30 reps and Levitre did 23.

I don't recall if he was his high school valedictorian, but in high school Trent had a 3.9 GPA and scored 1130 on his SAT. He also earned a Poly Sci degree at Stanford. That said, my uncle Wally is a really bright guy and I don't want him quarterbacking the Bills either.* _______________ * As a Bills fan I reserve the right to change my mind on this topic daily.

To be fair, although it is a small sample size Edwards completed 5 of 5 passes in the same wind, with 3 of those 5 completions to wideouts (two to Evans and one to Owens). He also helped draw a penalty on Revis while throwing a bomb to Owens.

It appears that Edwards has severely regressed. In my mind, there are 5 possible reasons why an NFL player regresses: 1. Age/Natural Diminution of Physical Ability 2. Injury 3. Player Laziness 4. Bad Situation that Stifles Ability (See Raiders, Oakland) 5. Mirage Factor, ie -- he was not that good to begin with It's not clear to me whether Edwards is a 4 or a 5. But I'd love to have a [Gruden/Insert Name of Objective, Qualified NFL Observer] make that determination. Moreover, I am not trying to add to the Edwards excuse bucket. Even so, it can't help that he doesn't have a full time QB coach.

Do any of the websites that stream the games allow later viewing? For example, if I am chasing my little hooligans at the park on Sunday afternoon, can I watch the Bills game via the Internet anywhere Sunday night? As an aside, yes I hope to watch the game on Sunday and every Bills game for the balance of the season. As painful as this year -- and this entire decade -- may be, it will only make things that much sweeter when we eventually win the Super Bowl.

The article states that "According to a NFL source" we remain interested in Waters. KC just signed the Bengals' Center and could move their current Center to Guard. Waters didn't show up at KC's voluntary minicamp and has not hit it off with Haley. He wants to be dealt. The article notes last year's soft OL interior and states that an experienced body would help.

Also add Nick Hennessey, OT from Colgate. http://www.gocolgateraiders.com/news/2009/...0427095037.aspx

Before that we're talking Andre Reed, Thurman, Bruce and Steve Tasker (admittedly, a free agent signing). Which player spent the most years with the Bills? Jim Ritcher comes to mind, but Bruce was with us even longer.

Alex overlapped with Trent Edwards for a few years at Stanford (where Alex set the career tight end receptions record). He has excellent skills -- good size, speed and hands. He's a decent blocker, albeit no Mark Bavaro. I'm not sure why Alex has not flourished in the NFL. For the right price I'd take him in a heartbeat.

With regard to the Heavyweight division, it's a bit boring because no one can challenge the Klitschko brothers and they won't fight each other. Watching Vitali outclass a "top" fighter after a 4 year layoff is indicative of the dearth of viable contenders. Moreover, neither fighter is particularly fluid. The last Heavyweight fight that I really enjoyed was Lewis/Klitschko. In terms of personality, Wladimir has a great personality and his English is quite good. In time he might enter the public consciousness. Vitali is more introverted -- although I had dinner with him a few years ago and he tells some hilarious stories. Tim, which two fighters, in any weight class, would you like to see box? Any thoughts on Vasyl Lomachenko?

I don't think that he's been released yet, but the Hawks have $20 million tied up in their linebackers and Peterson is the oldest of the group. Peterson reportedly refused to take a paycut from his $6.5 million annual salary. There is also talk that the Hawks could draft Curry to replace Peterson (if he lasts to pick number 4).

Good call D2D. To be fair, I've got to give the Donohoe regime credit for picking this guy up as a free agent.

I admit that I'm a sucker for these types of articles, but I thought this was a great read: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3930609

From Mel Kiper's chat Wednesday (11/19) afternoon: Jeff (St. Catharines, Ontario): Are any of the MAC QBs legit pro prospects (specifically Davis, Willy, and LeFeveour)? Mel Kiper: (1:26 PM ET ) Yes. There are a number of them. The guy that's the top guy, by far, is Nate Davis at Ball State, a junior. He's my sixth highest rated QB right now. Also, Dan LeFevour. Also, Tim Hiller at Western Michigan, a junior. A very underrated kid, Drew Willy, a senior at Buffalo. He'll probably be a 6-7 round pick, but I think he has a chance to make a team and develop down the road. Also interesting... Phil, (The Woodlands, Texas): Mel, Will injuries and not practicing on a regular basis hurt Beanie Wells in the draft? Mel Kiper: (1:49 PM ET ) First of all, we have to see what his decision is going to be. I don't think it will effect him dramatically. Go back to the LSU game, no one caught him from the back in that game. You can see what he's meant to this OSU offense, when he's in there. Completely different offense. I don't think the injury will hurt him that much. If he comes out, he's either the top RB or the second highest rated RB. His competition are all underclassmen. Moreno, McCoy are there. And I'm going to give you a very underrated junior RB. Very underrated. James Starks at Buffalo. Mel Kiper: (1:50 PM ET ) Naaman Roosevelt, junior WR, is also another underrated standout at Buffalo. Two guys to keep an eye on.

I agree, we need a big TE with speed to address the middle of the field. Sadly, I think we just described Kevin Everett.

Great post dollars 2 donuts. I suspect that your father is becoming fast friends with Mr. Russert.

Slightly different question -- are there any websites that store the game? That is, if I wanted to watch the Raiders game online later that night is that available anywhere?

I had the same thought -- Romo is 28 (29 next spring). To put that in perspective Tom Brady just turned 31.

If memory serves, on a pre-game show in Buffalo the recently retired Kelly criticized Harbaugh by saying he was a ''baby'' who ''overdramatized'' injuries. Later that week they ran into each other and Harbaugh broke his hand (pinky?) on Jimbo's head.

In addition, the Bills have home games against San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle, the same four Pacific Time Zone teams that New England has to travel to.

Circler, I understand your question. Let me add four thoughts: 1. When Trent was making this decision in the spring of 2002, Stanford was coming off a 9-3 season, was two years removed from the Rose Bowl and had been to bowl games in six of the previous ten seasons. He did not have a crystal ball to foresee what the Buddy Teevens/Walt Harris/Dean of Admissions Mamlet years would bring. 2. How well do you think Stanford prepared Trent for the NFL? In other words, how did his performance compare to a typical rookie QB? Let’s even compare his level of preparation to the first pick in the draft, JaMarcus Russell from LSU – a football powerhouse. I’d submit that Trent appeared at least equally well prepared in comparison. 3. Leading up to the draft, most folks thought Trent would be selected in the early second round. Had he not had the flu at the NFL combine perhaps he would have. 4. I have heard someone ask Trent – with my very own two and a half ears – if he ever regretted going to Stanford. He said clearly and unequivocally, no. If he had the opportunity to do it over, he would choose Stanford again.

It's true, Stanford is no USC (32 Rose Bowls) or Michigan (24 Rose Bowls). Stanford is surprisingly close to Ohio State in Rose Bowl appearances (by my count OSU has been to 13 Rose Bowls while Stanford has been to 12). It's also true that Stanford hasn't had an undisputed national championship since 1926 (they shared the title in 1935 and 1940). But with 3 national titles, 12 Rose Bowls and 20 Bowl appearances total, is it that disingenuous to say that Stanford has had their share of football greatness? Would you agree to goodness?

I can think of nine good reasons why Trent chose Stanford. 1. NFL. Stanford is a pipeline to the NFL. In the last 10 years Stanford has had 35 players drafted by the NFL -- second most in the Pac-10 behind USC. Since 2002, Trent's freshman red-shirt season, they have had 26 players drafted. 2. Academics. Stanford is the finest academic institution in the United States. This is not a four year decision. It is a forty year decision. 3. Quarterback U. Stanford has a storied football tradition, producing quarterbacks such as John Elway, Jim Plunkett and John Brodie. An article in 2005 addressing this topic declared that Stanford has produced more pro-quality quarterbacks since 1960 than any other school in the country (Notre Dame, USC, LSU and Florida State rounded out the top five). 4. Location. The Stanford campus is gorgeous and the weather in Palo Alto is sunny and warm nearly year round. It is also only 40 minutes from San Francisco and a few miles from the beach. 5. Coeds. The Stanford women’s volleyball team and swim team. Trust me on this one. 6. Athletics. Overall the Stanford athletic department is dominant, winning the Director’s Cup as the nation’s top Division I athletic program 13 years in a row (and leading again this year). 7. Conference. Stanford plays in the Pac-10, an excellent football conference that is quarterback friendly. 8. Recent History. When Trent was being recruited, Stanford had been to bowl games six of the previous ten seasons (including the Rose Bowl in 1999, Stanford’s twelfth Rose Bowl appearance). 9. Extra Guidance. In addition to the coaching staff, at Stanford Trent could and did seek guidance from Bill Walsh.

Along these same lines, the following exchange was in last week's chat: Mikey (Lackawanna,NY): KC, With the additions of Marcus Stroud, Kawika Mitchell, and a healthy Paul"POZ"Posluszny coming back this season! How good of a defense do you think the Buffalo Bills can turn out to be? KC Joyner: (4:30 PM ET ) Mikey, Bills fans should be positively ecstatic about the possibilities of their 2008 defense. Mitchell's metrics in 2007 were good and the Bills backups did a very solid job last year. Add the injured starters and Mitchell back into the mix and Buffalo has strong starters and maybe the best depth of any defense in the NFL.