Prickly Pete

True. I left that out, but it's not the same as accountability, or outworking.

"Accountable"...what does it mean? How about the old catch phrase "I guarantee this team won't be outworked"? I don't listen to any of that managerial talk. I don't care about accountability, or outworking the other team. I care about winning, and I believe there have been many winning teams without either of those. Benching the offensive unit, or trading away guys because they don't want to admit their own mistakes sounds nice, but won't equal winning. Admitting your mistakes is not generally something an egomaniac will do, and plenty of egomaniacs have been VERY successful coaches and players. The Bills have problems, but most of them are a combination lack of experience, lack of talent, and sheer bad luck.

I don't think it is a conspiracy. I think the Pats get "better" officiating. I think their reputation precedes them, just like a boxer would get different treatment from the judges.

It's really not about the Bills for me. It's mostly the rules, and the arbitrary enforcement. I am honestly beginning to NOT want the Bills to get a sack because I worry any contact with a QB is a possible penalty. Any incidental contact with his helmet (ANY, a brush from the back of the pinky, the bottom of a facemask resting on top of his helmet at the end of a tackle, ANYTHING) can be called and turn a game around. Some will say that potential has always been there, but now it seems to be happening with regularity. I would actually prefer that you only had to TOUCH the QB for a sack. Again, I don't believe it's a coordinated conspiracy, it's just a sum of the circumstances.

The NFL is a sham. I don't believe it is a conspiracy, it's just a product of the policies, the rules, the salaries, the gambling, the owners, the players, and the fans (and probably some things I missed). Somehow, it's become crap. I had that feeling yesterday as well, and I never had it before (it's nothing to do with the Bills.There have been 14 consecutive seasons that ended just as poorly, but I never had this feeling then). It was the Pats-Browns game, and the sham of the way it ended, and the ridiculous way penalties were doled out in every game I watched.

Okay, BUT IT DID work! No penalty, no touchdown, right? Why did he do it without logically thinking it out like you have 4 days later? I don't know, maybe he wasn't thinking clearly after being up for 3 days, hopped up on goofballs, to prepare for the game. Why did Woody Hayes punch a player, surely he knew it would turn out bad. Why do football players make stupid decisions, and retaliate in critical moments of games? I get it, people like to show what independent thinkers they are, play devil's advocate, and all that jazz. It will be great if he confesses too. That would be just awesome if Goodell offers him a "plea bargain".

Another thing about this team is that the offense doesn't seem to have an identity. I don't know if continuity is what it needs, or a new OC. They just don't seem to have plays that are their strength. It feels like a different offense every game. Obviously, EJM was out (and is a rookie), so I think the offense will have progressed by next season. The WR's haven't distinguished themselves much. Occasional plays that show some promise, but no consistency. Too many rookies/2nd-year guys at WR this season. It's gotta be a MACHINE, with all the parts working like gears, and a QB that knows where/when the right option will be. That takes lots of repetition (like, years worth), and a QB that has full authority. EJM hasn't played enough to earn that yet. I guess the running game is consistent (but FJ could hit the wall any day now). I hope they draft another RB, this draft.

Ha. Not even close.

Even the way he is standing with his legs tight together, allowing his whole body to get right up to the line, is awkward.

TE, WR, OLB, OG.

This team isn't ready to jump up into the playoffs. They are getting better, but need a few things to happen. EJM needs more experience, and the coaches need more experience. They need a truly clutch, go-to receiver (SJ isn't that guy, though he is a good receiver). It could be a TE, or another WR, but someone that is gonna make the clutch play more often than not. A lot of the problems are mental, emotional mistakes. Gotta get more guys that thrive under pressure into the lineup.

So you are dug in, no? So there is no room for reasoning with you at this point, no chance to point out something you may have missed, no room for reconsidering, huh? Or is it just nothing that comes from me will change your opinion?

Really, go through it and explain the critical points of the play, and Tomlin's actions, as you interpreted them.

What do you think happened?

Hopefully, Beerball will dig in on his stance even more. Have fun...

How very contrarian of you Beerball, yet somehow expected.

Awesome. He will be remembered for this for the rest of his life. People will always ask him about it too "Did you do it on purpose? C'mon you can tell me.."

Are you kidding?

Okay, but the way you posted the rule, it undercut the point I was trying to make. Those are two different situations.

I don't think he anticipated that the players would intersect at that point. I do believe he knew he was where he shouldn't be, and stayed there intentionally when he saw that the play was headed towards him. If you search my posts, you will see that I criticize the media for over blowing all kinds of incidents. My opinion was formed as I watched the game, before any media (aside from the TV commentary, which didn't influence my interpretation of what I saw) had a chance to shape my opinion. flourine, uranium, carbon, potassium yttrium, oxygen, uranium, Johnny Au.

Obviously, I was referring to it happening during a play. It's possible for it to happen without there being 2 warnings given, so why mention the warnings?

I don't know how to respond to this.

The worst thing about this is that there will be a crackdown on coaches in the white zone, and there will be some team penalized because of a completely innocuous transgression of this rule. Probably the Bills, while playing the Patriots.

I don't think he would have scored, but if they had awarded the Ravens a TD it would have been justifiable. Jones mentioned his was distracted (I have no reason to doubt him) and no one on the sideline (especially a HC) should be interacting with the play in any physical way. I think Goodell will nip this in the bud. One game suspension.

I would like to see where Tomlin moved throughout the play, and where he has stood for other kickoffs. If he had been penalized it might have been better for him, but now the incident is blown up. An official is going to get some "demerits" for not penalizing him. I think it's worthy of a game suspension if he is contacted by Goodell and denies his obvious intention (not that we will know if he does). Laughing about it on the sidelines wasn't very smart. Makes the officials look like clowns... Yeah, it's great bickering with irrational people.