Prickly Pete

That really is ugly. The defender is pushing Woods back for about 5 yards, with the ball in the air, and Woods would have been right where the ball was if he hadn't been impeded. For all the complaints about EJM, I believe that he can be at least a notch better than Orton next season. They have no other option really.

I have seen lots of footage of Orton not seeing plenty of wide open receivers, with plenty of time to throw. EJM can, at the very least, be better than Orton.

Yes, the unforgettable "Curt Warner"... If Barkley was anywhere near good, I think he would have at least been given a shot before Mark Sanchez. I agree though, that bringing in a young guy that is currently a backup, that might still being developing, and has an "upside" might be the only course of action. Of course, that's pretty much what they have in EJM right now. EJM making progress is about the best hope we have.

Bill Belichick says "It's hard to win in this league" too. People get way too worked up about it. Or unless playing him was unlikely to accomplish anything, other than putting him in a situation where just about any QB was likely to fail. Change the offense for the last week of the season, for a road game in a place they have never won, against the best team in the league, a week after getting booted from the playoffs. On a short week of practice even. Great way to bring back EJM. Correct, but what do you want them to do? There are about 10 people in the world good enough to play QB at a high level in the NFL right now. These press conferences are useless, but I wonder what all the whiners on the board would do differently? Are people expecting frank answers? I mean, if they actually said something meaningful they would be torn up by fans and the press too. For them to say "this guy won't be resigned", or undercut coaches or players would be stupid.

It's so simplistic to think that the way to fill a hole is to throw buckets of money at the biggest name free agent at the position. Oh well, I think most people know Whaley is smarter than that. They need to find a couple lineman, but no need to break the bank for one guy.

A predictable post. Garroppolo might become alright. Why do so many Bills fans look for reasons to beat themselves up? It's constant, and even during the Kelly years, so many people had a pathetic defeatist attitude. I'm not losing sleep over Garroppolo

Me either. And another thing. A big part of EJM's problems, seem to do with having authority, and understanding what he can ask (and demand) from his teammates. Really, that is mostly what he is learning from Orton. To throw him in for a "run for the bus" would be ridiculous. So suddenly, after getting benched, fans want him to start making demands of the team? Really?? He has to go to training camp and EARN their respect, and confidence. That doesn't happen going into a game this way. It just doesn't. It's stupid. I believe the staff still has a smidge of hope that EJM will at least equal Orton during training camp. I think they will bring in someone else, but I pretty much expect EJM to be the starter next season. It won't take much to surpass Orton. But the transition has to take place AFTER this season. (the first thing he should do is patiently tell Watkins, Wood, and all the receivers "Do NOT show me up on the field with pissy behavior. I won't do it to you, so don't do it to me. Talk to me on the sidelines, or in the locker room") Thank you very much.

If the Bills win with Orton, will it change anyone's mind about Orton?

There is no benefit to playing Orton, it's just a lot more likely that more bad things than good will come of it for EJM. These are very unfavorable circumstances for EJM to be applying anything he may have learned. I already listed some of them.... YOU may not be looking to evaluate EJM, but believe me, if he has a poor game it will be thrown at him and the Bills Organization by the fans throughout the off-season. "He still sucks, and we were told he is a work in progress", "the players don't respect him or they would have played harder", on and on....blahblahblah. It turns into "EJ's Game"...his chance to show us where he is now. But the team is bottomed out, fresh off a deflating loss. Shutting off the Christmas tree lights, and heading out for the annual "Foxboro A88kicking" at the hands of the Patriots. I would consider sending EJM out for this game, a serious mishandling of your developing QB (and no, it's not treating him with kid gloves). It would be stupid. I would also say that it would negatively affect the players off-season attitude to see EJM have a poor game. At least now they might think EJM might come back next season improved. Again, if any progress has been made, he will have plenty of opportunity to display it NEXT year.

Again, someone give me a benefit of playing EJM, aside from satisfying fan's curiosity? If he has made any kind of significant improvement during his time on the bench, don't worry, he will have a chance to demonstrate it at the next training camp, pre-season, and the regular season. The circumstances are very unfavorable for bringing in a young guy that hasn't played in 12 weeks... "Here EJ, now's your chance. Lead the ragged offense of a team that is running for the bus, against the best team in the league, in a stadium where this team never wins, and their team beats everyone! A great opportunity to increase the animosity that will be directed at you in the off-season! The new owner, this coaching staff, and the whole of WNY, are all waiting to give you a fair, even-handed evaluation! Go get 'em kid!"

Yep. I get the feeling that, for Orton, it's a nice job to have, making millions, and he's "professional", and he wants to win, but he is comfortable regardless. No real drive. I doubt he loses sleep over not making the playoffs, he is just a mercenary, who doesn't have a real close relationship to his latest teammates. The best guys are really competitive. Guys whose self image is determined by how they do on the field. Losing tears them up, and it's a PERSONAL FAILING to them. I mentioned somewhere that when Tom Brady loses the lead in a game at any point, he goes "Red Alert". He is up and ready to go, chomping at the bit to get out there, and has a real URGENCY to his play. Gotta have that. Harbaugh is like that too (can't stand him, and don't see him coming here, or even want him necessarily).

It would also be undermining Orton's status on the team, and he would probably be pretty pissed off too. I don't want Orton, but there is a chance that he will still be the best QB on the roster next season. Let EJM beat Orton out in training camp, he needs to take it from Orton to gain authority with his teammates. A bad performance (which is way more likely than a good one, under the circumstances) will do more harm, than a good performance will benefit anyone. Changing quarterbacks for the last game implies instability, and the players are left with a lost sense of direction from the staff. Not what is needed when there have been some good things to build on for next season.

Why would they throw EJM to the wolves against the Pats? He hasn't even played in 12 weeks or so. That is putting him in a place where he isn't likely to succeed, and there is nothing to be gained. Tell me the positives, aside from satisfying some fan's curiosity?

Is he your idol or something?

I'm just pointing out that he no doubt worked his ass coming into this season, so it isn't a matter of "working harder". It's true, he may continue to play for 2 more seasons, but he is old and it's showing.

Yeah, but that is what he already did going into THIS season. He's old.

Your post repeatedly refers to the Bills not adjusting to the pass coverage. What other conclusion should I draw from that criticism except that the Bills WR's weren't getting open because they weren't making adjustments to the coverage? "the Bills offense went into that game thinking the Texans were going to be in a specific pass defense, and so the Bills game planned against that coverage. Then it wasn't until late in the 3rd quarter until the Bills OC realized the Texans were in a completely different pass coverage, and then made an adjustment. Mike Williams stated that when we get the calls for off coverage, and zone and the opponent in is press man then things tend to not work. Now, you would think that with the Bills OC watching his offense on the field he would recognize what coverage's his offense is playing against after one series and make the proper adjustments." (Saying things like this to the media, essentially throwing the coaches under the bus, might have something to do with Williams' sudden cut in playing time). Explain what you mean, if it isn't that the Bills WR's weren't getting open because of the coverage, cuz that's how it reads... What happened to the running game between last season, and this season? Not sure, but one thing that changed is that they dropped the Hurry Up, which simplified defenses, and limited defensive substitutions. They also lost the 2 starters for a bunch of games (and Fred Jackson got old). And though I see complaints about not getting the ball to Watkins enough, I also saw ill-advised, forced passes from Orton in Watkins' direction, when there were other receivers open in better circumstances. Orton had obviously decided ahead of time that he was going to throw to Watkins, and it didn't work out. The running game sucked. The passing game sucked. The offense isn't good, and I don't believe that changing the run/pass ration would have made a significant difference, because they are bad at both. I don't think the problem was strategic, I think it was lacking talent, and mostly at QB.

Maybe, but they have won only 3 games this year... I just think the Bills aren't that great, and lost a West Coast road game after a big home win. Sparano is nothing special, the Bills teams he has played have lost many games, to many different coaches.

Trust-Fund Quarterback I think it has more to do with being a spoiled brat than his Irish heritage

This ^^^^ I have no complaints about the defense. They are behind the 8-ball every game.

It must be said, Lynch plays with a ton of heart.

Your post implies that the Bills receivers were so well covered that it shut down the passing game. Poor Orton. But I didn't see it that way. I saw plenty of open receivers not getting the ball, or of course, not getting a well thrown pass. What I get from your posts is "Orton isn't very good, so let's figure out how to work around him". Unless the running game is good (it isn't), how do you work around having a crappy QB? Maybe the offense just isn't good enough, no matter who the OC is?

I don't know. They were moving the ball pretty well early, then Orton started throwing picks, and near picks. Am I wrong? I mean, Mack was a force, but they were making their way around him. They lost the momentum after that bomb TD, and lost their urgency. So another game slowly slips away, a field goal at a time... If I'm going to point at a coach, it's Marrone (not Hackett), because his "close to the vest, we're happy as long as it's close" philosophy seems to shape the player's game-time attitude. Maybe it's not fair to compare them to Tom Brady, but it seems like the competitive QB's go nuts when the other team takes the lead away, at ANY point in the game. It's like it triggers something in them. I never get that feeling from these Bills. It's that sense of urgency that is essential. I don't get it from Marrone, or the offense in general.

Ultimately, there is plenty of blame to go around, offensively. Pretty sure we agree on that

Nope. They are right on. When I saw you responded today, I was expecting an apology! I mean really, you wanted them to run the ball MORE this season? You really believe that running game was gonna carry the team?