Dan

You said: "You think BB walks through his play book in the dome before a SB? Of course not." That is tacit admission that BB wouldn't do it because he knows you can gain an advantage from watching another team's walk through. "If you think that Pete Carroll or Tom Coughlin or even Kyle Shanahan were showing the choreographed play plan out in the open of the SB turf, especially after the accusations by the Rams year ago..." Another admission that it is general knowledge that after the Rams Super Bowl, you know or expect NE to record or watch your walk through, which they're not supposed to be doing. "if your were a HC facing NE in a SB, would you be showing your real plays in a walk through?" Again a tacit admission that if you are facing NE, you shouldn't show plays in a walk through, because you're allowing them to watch them and gain an advantage. In each instance, you specifically refenced NE. Not other teams in general, why? Because the idea of watching another teams practice sessions has never been an issue, until the Patriots made it one. They do this, not every team in the league. And it clearly gives them some advantage, because other teams have to resort to faking their practices, in an effort to throw them off.

So you admit that BB and New Engand would tape these practices to get an advatage. Thank you.

So..why exactly do you think teams do walk throughs? Do you think this was just a silly practice ritual of allowing your players to wander around the field for a day to look for loose change? The fact is... Teams have been doing walk throughs as a form of game preparation for years and yes, they are the real plays they intend to run during the game. That's why this guy was quoted as saying it was a fake walk through. And its a headline. Because normally, they wouldn't have to do a walk through with fake plays. But you want to dismiss yet another form of your team cheating, because... No one really walks through their plays, so what information does your team get from it. I guess BB just wants to watch their walk throughs because there's nothing good on TV. The Patriots have cheated their way to 8 Super Bowl appearances and 5 wins, the league is aware of that, and teams have to adjust their routines and practices because of it. And then people like you want to try and argue it hasn't happend, that other teams don't change their practices.... When we have a direct quote from a player saying they did just that. Yet, I'm sure you'll conclude I'm the dillusional one here.

Exactly how it looks to me. What's the rule exactly? He's at most a half yard behind the RT. The entire line is a full yard or so off the ball, so does he have to be within a yard of the ball, or a the tackle at the end of the line? I honestly don't know, but this alignment doesn't seem any more egregious than you see every Sunday in the league. It's the very definition of much ado about nothing.

It's only a conspiracy theory...if its not true. ?

Exactly... And what does it say when we're all surprised that the game was called fairly? That's kind of my point. And its a shame. I'm not saying the game was rigged, but half the games leading up to it... Allowing the Pats to get into the Super Bowl... Clearly favored them. How many games did they win in the regular season in which an opponents TD was taken off the board, or they got extremely favorable PI calls that went their way?? It was quite apparent in their 2 playoff games in comparison to the other games, if you watched them. The teams were allowed to play and decide the outcome... In the Pats game, the flags were evident. But that's OK, you don't have to believe me. You can continue to watch and cheer for them. It's all good, to each his own. I'm not trying to change your mind; I'm just saying I didn't watch the game..and why.

That's just it... I love football. Have always watched as much as I can. Hell, I'm on a football team's message board right now. But.. I don't want to support a product I see as rigged. About the only way I can show my dislike with the way the league is going is not watching. So, that was my choice. It sucks. I'd rather watch the Super Bowl like I always have. Maybe be next year.. .we'll see.

I didn't watch. I might later on a replay. But, if the league is going to allow the refs to continually give that one team every break possible, just so they can be the greatest dynasty of ever... Then I have zero interest in watching them play. ...other than when they play the Bills.

Have you considered that McD is playing 4D chess with the coaching positions while we're all thinking checkers?

For me... amd my small circle of die hard NFL friends. It's a lot of this. The appearance of rigged games through poor officiating that always seems to favor specific teams (i.e. larger markets) with non calls and bogus calls against the underdog. Why watch a game when over and over you turn the TV off thinking, so and so team just got robbed? It used to be every once in a while, now... It feels like every week. I watch fewer and fewer nonBills games every year because of this. So, yeah, I think a lot of the true NFL fans are tuning out because the league seems to be less about the play on the field and more about who the refs and the league want to favor. Then you have the newer, casual fans that are being turned off due several factors, likely. The player protests piss people off not just because people believe the cause or not, but because no one wants to watch football and talk politics, period. Today you can stream games and watch however you want, not just on Sunday afternoon. There's definitely an oversaturation effect with games every Thursday, all day sunday (with London games happening at whatever time in the morning), monday night double headers, saturday games. So individual game ratings mught be down, but overall market coverage might actually be up. And casual fans are just that... Casual. They're viewing interests will change depending on who knows what. The NFL has targetted them in recent years and rode that wave to the top, but its not a sustainable wave.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Bills need a true franchise QB to consistently compete in today's NFL. Do whatever it takes to find that guy... Trade away all your picks and move up, pick a QB with every pick, give some FA all the money he asks for plus 10%. I don't care, just find him. In the past, I had no faith in the FO. So I was a proponent of the shotgun approach. Draft one with every pick and hope one of those 6 or 7 turned out ok. This year, I'm willing to give these guys a fresh start and would hope... They've done whatever it takes to properly scout and select a QB that can be succesful. Either way, I still say... Sign a good FA QB. Very few QBs light it up in year one, and I think the bust rate is considerably higher if they have the pressure of winning now as a rookie. So, sign a FA to carry the team for 2–3yrs and continue winning while you're properly grooming, teaching, and preparing your guy to lead the team for the next 15+ years. So... I wouldn't waste picks and trade up unless I was sure that the guy I was going after would be the guy. If he is... Like I said, trade the entire draft. Every other position be damned... Get a QB. If your guy is off the board, then pick as many as you can to hope you find one. And hopefully everyone here remembers, you can't just say sign Cousins and its done. There's a lot of other teams bidding and the player has say so in the matter. So, the FA answer may or may not be viable. By all accounts, this offseason there is likely to be a solid few FA QBs, so getting you veteran "bridge" guy seems doable. And the draft seems to have a few solid options. So, getting your franchise guy seems doable. But to get both, will require the scouts to have done their jobs properly, Beane to work the agents and draft board properly, and yes, some luck. It's going to be interesting this off season for sure. P.S. I hope they don't just sign a FA and consider the job done, nor do I hope they put all their eggs in a rookie draft pick. IMO, they need to go after both to ensure they get a true NFL QB that can run whatever offense they want to run for the next decade.

Once again... A team is up on the Pats, late 2nd quarter. Moving the ball. Suddenly penalty, penalty, punt. Pats get the ball, pentalty, penalty, 1st and goal they score. How many of times have we all seen it. The league takes all momentum and drive from one team and gives it to the Pats. They then get on a roll and win. Sure they're good. Sure they got great coaches. Sure blah blah. How many games do they win when all the calls go against them? When was the last time even the majority of calls in a game went against them? Call it what you want, but the league has done more to help that team than any other team..ever. Period. I'll watch a This is Us marathon in 2 weeks before I watch them handed another win and glorified for cheating and bending every rule possible as the league glosses over the poor officiating. As you might imagine, I voted yes.

Wow.... Regardless of how the Refs steal this game, I will say that this is exactly why so many people here need to be patient and give our current coaches and FO some time to build and develop. We were all too happy to see DM & NH leave town, and somewhere along the way...they figured it out and and are doing a good job in the Championship game.

I'm sure it mattered to ..a lot.. of people considering the betting lines on the game. But I don't expect, nor want, coaches and players to check with Vegas to see if they should try to score one more time in a game.

Moral is... When the game is essentially over and the other team runs off the field.. But the refs say you have to kick the extra point. Show some class, don't add insult to injury...take a knee and be decent in victory.

I turned it off after the 4th and 5 ...give them a first down. And watched ..The Layover.. Horrific movie. But still better than watching a fixed football game.

So what you're saying.... No way someone gets that open against the Pats unless theres a penalty. Throw the flag... Figure out what to call later.

Text book PI and no call. Like we've all said here... You gotta play so well you beat the refs too. Miss that amazing one handed catch and they're kicking a FG and people are saying you gotta score TDs to win.

I completely agree. I think we've all seen what Tyrod has... And he has been found to be lacking. With that said... He's still better than Peterman or a raw rookie. So you keep him on until you have a viable replacement. Perhaps that's a rookie you just drafted and feel can start day 1. Most that do suck however. Perhaps its a good FA pickup, but some of them may cost more than any rational team would want to pay. So... Untill I see who the new QB is, I'll reserve my sentiment that I'm glad Tyrod is gone. How many times have we said...just get rid of this one player/coach/whoever and we're a better team only to have that blow up in our face?

In the history of histories has there ever been a coach hired that said... I have a system that I will install. I know it doesn't really fit the players, but they will have to figure it out because that's all I know how to do. They all say the right thing.. And then do what they've always done.

This game was there for the taking. But the Bills failed to make any plays when they needed to. It was a team effort..... Too many dropped passes, missed throws, poorly timed holding penalties, dropped interceptions, bad play call for the situation. At some point... Good teams just need to make those plays. Today, we didn't.

How many snow games have there been in Buffalo in the last several years? Tasker, who's played quite a bit of football in Buffalo, said it was the worst he's ever seen. Perhaps people are over reacting bit to the conditions? This is how football should be played. The elements should be part of the game. Yeah, speed andprecision may suffer, but strength, coaching, mental fortitude become part of the game. IMO, this was one of the most exciting games I've seen in years. The refs let the teams play for once and the players fought tough as hell for the full game. There was an element of the unknown to every kick, pass, or run. It was exciting and fun to watch. No way should any team have a dome.

After all the butt whoopins and ending of our seasons, wouldn't it be nice to see the Bills play the Pats with this kind of intensity?

I agree, the game was largely over. So it didn't help the Patriots at all. Nor would an extra 15yds have helped the Bills. It's more the principle of being a Bills fan and seeing this type of officiating every single time we play the Patriots. I was watching the game with my brother-in-law, a lifelong Broncos fan. He was in complete disbelief at the play and subsequent outcome. I just looked at him and said... Welcome to the Bills/Patriots rivalry. I've been seeing this going on 2 decades. The Patriot players treat our players with zero respect, the coaches show zero respect, the league show zero respect in how they officiate, our own players take the beat down in stride and congratulate the Patriots. They win, we lose. That's the way it is... And it's sickening to cheer for this team during this game twice every year, knowing that its going to happen.

I totally agree with you. They should have went after him yesterday, if they were going to. I honestly don't think the Bills will; they're too resigned to being the Patriots bitches. Kinda like yesterday, even with that hit, I sat there wondering how the Bills were going to get the bigger penalty out if it. The league and the teams know the Bills are supposed to lose those games. And they all make sure it happens, in their own ways.