Dan

I assure you, as I've had to had to deal with our grounded aircraft during times when the President and/or VP were flying nearby during disaster events, that when the President flies in and out of an airport pretty much everything within a wide area is shut down. Air Force 1 does not get in line with other commercial aircraft and follow standard approach procedures.

Actually I think FDR probably said something like... well its about time, they were supposed to attack 2 days ago. In all seriousness, I have no idea what FDR's initial reaction was. He lived in a time when continual news coverage was not in existence. However, I would like to think he or any other leader of the free world would respond in some fashion other than to continue reading a book. I agree there's little the President can actually do, save for 2 things. First, as you suggested, call someone and say "get me more information". And second, give the appearance of being in charge and following some sort of plan - in essence lead. I can only imagine Bush did #1. Something to the effect of "thanks for the info, let me know the second you get any additional information". However, on #2, he failed badly. It's akin to the analogy above. Is there anything you can actually do if your wife or husband is in emergency double bypass heart surgery? No. But, wouldn't you still be at the hospital during the procedure appearing to at least care? The idea that all aircraft were being grounded is fairly absurd. I'd bet my left nut that Airforce 1 doesn't file a flight plan like all other aircraft, nor does it follow the same set of guidelines and protocols that every other aircraft follows by the FAA. If Airforce 1 wants to take off to potentially keep the President out of harm's way, you can bet they're not on the ground waiting for FAA clearance to taxi out. I don't' expect any President to react immediately. But I do expect a President to appear to take the circumstance seriously, suspend his current "press photo op" and start getting briefed on the situation and possible response scenarios.

We'll have to disagree on this. That situation was handled badly. They had the plan and eventually enacted it - fly around the country on Air Force 1 and eventually land in some nondisclosed location, sequester away and make decisions. Meanwhile, the VP is ushered away to his underground bunker and sequestered away making decisions. But, the last thing you do is remain in a classroom while the country is potentially at war. I see absolutely no reason why he couldn't have politely left the room. Hopped in the motorcade limo to the airport. Then on Airforce 1. All the while on the phone with various members of the joint chiefs, trying to figure out what was happening and what our response may or may not be. Yes, I agree, it may not have accomplished a darn thing. But, it at the very least has the appearance that you're following some plan. Sitting in a classroom, reading a book while planes are crashing into buildings just looks like you're clueless. And, BTW, I don't put all the blame on Bush for this. But, he does shoulder the large amount. What you're suggesting is that the President shouldn't do anything in the moment of crisis until his "handlers" have figured out what's going on and what he should do. However, I would hope that the President could take a little more initiative in such a circumstance.

Completely disagree on this one. If you're President and you get word, any kind of word, that the country is under some kind of terrorist attack (even if the guy says maybe; we don't really know what the hell is happening)- you leave what you're doing and at the very least pretend to be doing something. Ideally, you'd be making some calls to people and finding out what the heck is going on and what can/is being done to respond. But, you absolutely, absolutely don't just keep on keepin on and pretend nothing is happening. So, some are suggesting security wasn't prepared for him to leave? Seriously? You're going to suggest that the Secret Service doesn't have an exit strategy for every building the President walks into complete with motorcade and aircraft waiting?

I've had similar problems with late fees for some bill that I canceled or never ordered. They never want to remove them. My standard response... tell them to bill me daily for all I care, they won't receive a dime from me until they win the lawsuit with my estate after my death. Then hang up. I may owe hundreds of late fees at this point. I really don't know, don't care. Did it once for a car insurance company. That one got interesting when I canceled my insurance and refused to pay some stupid fee or tell them who my new carrier was. The mail (I assume bill) stopped coming several years later when I moved. I don't think I've ever called a "help" line or "support" number and actually been helped with anything but the acquisition of a head ache.

Watching this... it is clear. The Bills are almost there! All we need is a little continuity and a few lucky breaks and clearly we'll be in a position to contend with the best of them. I'm not saying we'll definitely be in the playoffs next year. Obviously that's the goal; but, winning is tough in the NFL and everyone is trying to win. But our guys are good. They try really hard. So, we hope to see good things. Not that other teams aren't good, they are. But, hopefully our guys will be good next year too.

Yeah. So they spend more time concerned with players off the field than properly watching the play on the field. That's how I see it. And yes, I fully expect Fisher to bring it up. And it wouldn't completely surprise me if they come up with some convoluted way that coaches can throw a flag once a game, twice on Wednesdays, to ask someone how much time is left on the play clock. But if they get it wrong, they'll lose a timeout and 2 points off the board or some other stupidness. As opposed to just better placement of the play clock in all stadiums or a ref in the booth to watch for crap like that.

FWIW, Mort said this weekend that Cinci will keep TJ and cut Ocho.

I saw a Yahoo! article (I'm too lazy to go look it up again, so just trust me on this) that had the snap clocked at 1.35 seconds after the play clock hit zero. What I find most interesting about this whole debate is that no one is debating the need for a flag; its pretty well agreed upon that the snap was after the clock it zero. So, there was a penalty. Everyone saw it. Yet, no flag and the league basically says our refs are too old to use their peripheral vision. The results of the play are inconsequential to the larger problem IMO. The league made a mistake and rather than acknowledge the mistake and take measures to improve, they're just saying well it's tough to get all the calls right sure we'd like to be right all the time but we're not but these refs are all great guys that work hard (sorry had a Jauron moment). It's a growing problem in the NFL. Its almost becoming the norm to expect to see at least 1 or 2 blatantly bad calls in a game - and very often at critical times. So what is the league doing about it? Are they instituting a replay system like the college game which seems so much better? Are they hiring full time refs that can concentrate on improving their performance? Are they doing anything other than worrying about the refs uniform or head gear? That's what gets me. We all see repeated mistakes being made and the league response is always the same... heh.. so what.

He's the starter after Trent gets injured in Training Camp.

I would settle for them just accurately describing the actual game that's playing in front of them. BTW, I used to love Madden. I just think, like many people, he's stayed on long after he should have called it quits. He used to provide insight and good analysis. Now he just kinda babbles about whatever, making sure to mention Favre 2 or 3 times a minute.

Agreed. I doubt it even delays it. We still have posts saying we should get this coach or that coach. We still have posts saying we should get this player or that player regardless of them not being FAs. No reason whatsoever to think people wouldn't say we should draft a player that's not in the draft.

I could not disagree any more vehemently.

Kawika Mitchell.

I thought it was.

God, I definitely won't watch that. But, on that, I hear people suggest Reed doesn't get in because stats alone don't tell the whole story - i.e. he wasn't a game changer. OK. But, when did Carter ever change any games? Sure he caught touchdowns in regular season games, but I don't recall him doing much at all in the Super Bowl. Maybe I'm just wrong in my recollection.

Sad because it's so, so true. I consider myself a patient person. And anyone that knows me would say I'm almost patient to a fault. As such, I continually gave Jauron et al. the benefit of the doubt. But, as the horrendous mistakes just continued to pile up in each and every game, it's just become impossible to ignore. The guy and his staff are clearly hurting more than they're helping. The final game against the Pats* drove that point home with a sledge hammer.

Honestly, I can't comment of the quality of Sharpe's comments. I've never understood a word that's come out of his mouth. Aikman is actually a good announcer, I'll add (IMO).

Pretty much what I did. Let the wife put on E! and I did a few things. I feel better. Definitely annoying. Obviously, I was watching with the pregame on but only partially paying attention as I read the posts here (so obviously I don't mind dumb comments ). But every time you look up there's this idiot just talking as though he knows something when it's so clearly obvious he doesn't.

But it's driving me nuts. Is he really this dumb or does he do it on purpose just to give the other guys something to say? He thinks Philly is a joke because they tied Cinci this year. So, no matter what they do since then, Philly is undeserving. Sproles is no good because he's too small. What was he doing last weekend? And on... Sorry. Just had to vent a little. But, he's just so dumb it's pissing me off and about to make me turn on the horrid Fox pregame.

Why can't people realize that just because a player isn't "Pro Bowl" caliber every week, he shouldn't necessarily be run out of town? Leonhard makes a few good plays on one of the greatest defenses in the league and suddenly he's better than Donte or KoMillions? Get rid of McGeheehee, Gandy as I reccall was the worst LT in the league.. run 'em out of town. What people need to realize is that the Bills are a bad team, primarily due to substandard coaching. A lot of players are going to look bad here. It appears to be several years before that even has the possibility of changing. But, go ahead, run a half dozen or so good players out of town along the way if it makes you feel good. However, just get used to seeing them contributing on playoff teams.

Run into the line. Then miss a 52 yard FG attempt. Titans get the short field and kick a last second FG to win.

not sure

I'm guessin the refs got somewhere to be and don't want overtime? That was clearly delay of game penalty.

Add me to the list that thought he was out. Replays would sure be nice.