Dan

So more Super Bowl rings = better QB?

I thought that happened all the time in America... having to relocate because your employer is relocating the plant or opening a new office and you're being transferred, etc.? How can anyone seriously say this would be a distraction and hurt the team's concentration/preparation? We haven't had a winning season in 9 years! Maybe this is what we need to break the curse? Cause whatever the team has been doing sure ain't workin.

Agreed. Its the endless, ad nauseum coverage that ruins it more than anything. (although that does help to determine who the league is favoring; therefore, who will win) This season, I've stopped watching all NFL gameday and espn coverage throughout the week. On game day, I typically turn the game on about 10minutes prior to kickoff. I don't feel any less informed.

For years, I've been in a weekly pick 'em contest with my sister and brother-in-law. Each year, prior to the season starting, we also predict the Superbowl teams and winner. Last year, my brother in law guessed right. This year, 2 of us still have a shot at picking both teams correctly back in August. In fact, we all 3 can still get at least one of the Super Bowl teams correct. ...that's how predictable the NFL is becoming. I'm not necessarily implying that the games are boring, but the story lines are becoming more and more predictable each year.

I'm not sure anyone here is idolizing him. But if that's the big skeleton in Peyton's closet, then he's a choir boy. Seriously. And for those that might suggest Brady is better, I offer that Manning has just broken all Brady's significant passing records this season. And, he's doing it on his second team at an age when most all QBs start falling off a bit. How many QBs have every switched teams and had the success Manning is currently having?

I totally agree with you. But, they need to hit on that pick (or on EJ). Picking a late round, hopeful, QB won't do it. Bottom line is simple, without a QB, you're a bottom feeder in this league. The Bills need a QB far more than a guard, WR, LB or anything.

I have to agree BillsVet, Nix had a plan and he followed that plan. He actually built a decent team. Then went and got a QB. Problem is... he laid out and implemented this plan without any fore sight. In today's NFL, with the prominence of the QB position, you're taking a huge gamble getting the QB last. So here we sit with a decent team and a huge question mark at QB. If we wait and he doesn't pan out, the decent team will be blown up and rebuilt again. Hence, I say...draft a QB. Get someone on this team that is not a question mark. If this draft is the one for a QB, take one or all.. just get one.

Good points, but then it seems the Divisions and scheduling are the problem. Not the playoff seeding.

I get this line of reasoning, but... the Cards finished 2-4 in their division. If they had a winning divisional record, they'd be in the playoffs. If you don't want weak divisional leaders in the palyoffs, then get rid of the 4 divisions. But, this notion that its not fair some team with a good record didn't make the playoffs is crap. Win your division and you're in, that's the way the system was set up and it has served the NFL very well for over 50yrs.

The Bills are in the spot they're in because the FO never had a plan. The couple of drafts prior to 2013 were pretty good QB classes, yet the Bills chose to build a team first and get the QB later. They then decided to draft a QB in a very weak QB draft because they had to. Just as good coaches should change their schemes to match the players they have; FOs that are building a team through the draft should lay out a multi-year dafting strategy to match the players in the upcoming drafts. Whether they draft a QB this year should come down to one question. What do the potential QBs look like in 2015? By all accounts, 2014 should have a couple of decent QBs. We need a QB desperately. Is EJ that guy? I don't know. But, I do know that if you don't draft someone high this year... and next year's class looks like 2012's, you're putting all your chips on EJ's knees. The worst that you can do by drafting a good QB AND having EJ develop into a top 10 guy, is have a good player to trade in the future. The worst you can do by not drafting someone is have EJ bust out and be right back where we are... rebuilding. So, if 2015 doesn't look good for QBs, take one ..or two.. now!

The NFL is working night and day to fix something that ain't broke.

How about for the last half of the season... (not including QB rushes/scrambles) Week 17 - Pats 263 yds rushing They averaged 119.9 yds prior to the game. Week 16 - Dolphins 14 yds rushing They averaged 95.3 yds prior to the game. Week 15 - Jaguars 137 yds rushing They averaged 76.6 yds prior to the game. Week 14 - Buccaneers 153 yds rushing They averaged 106.2 yds prior to the game. Week 13 - Falcons 124 yds rushing They averaged 74.7 yds prior to the game. Week 12 - Bye Week Week 11 - Jets 125 yds rushing They averaged 129 yds prior to the game. Week 10 - Steelers 95 yds rushing They averaged 73.6 yds prior to the game. Week 9 - Chiefs 97 yds rushing They averaged 122 yds prior to the game.

Or the QB.

thanks for the info, all!

For those of us not able to listen... can someone please give the highlights when its over?

I genuinely hope you're right. I want you to be right. But, my feeling is this is more of the same mediocrity, failure, and mis-placed blame that we've seen in ever regime since Marv's.

The fact that there's even discussion about who's better.. the first round, "franchise" pick or the the undrafted, practice squad QB.. says all you need to know about this Bills' team. And it's why the season ended, for me, with no optimism for the future. Coming into the season, I didn't expect much. With an all roookie coaching staff, rookie QB, and young players everywhere a winning record was a pipe dream. But what I did hope for was improvement throughout the course of the season. What I saw... a team that ended the year with no improvement at all from the team that was fielded in September. In fact, you could argue we saw regression in several areas; hence, we're debating the abilities of Thad. In the end, this team, the players, the coaches, everthing looks like the same old Bills. Now, we get the off season. We'll bring in a few new, shiny players. There will be all sorts of feel good stories about EJ learning and getting better. But, come next September, will this Coaching staff be any better prepared to compete with the Patriots and the other playoff teams of the conference? Unfortunately, everything I've seen from Marrone and crew gives me reason to believe they'll just give us more mediocrity.

Week 17: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 4:25pm TV Network: CBS (TV Map) Announcers: Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts DirecTV: 718 Bills Radio: On the call: John Murphy (play by play), Mark Kelso (analyst), Joe Buscaglia (sideline) Flagship: Buffalo - WGR550 (550AM) (Pre-Game only), Game Coverage - WBEN 930AM; Toronto - Sportsnet 590 The Fan; Rochester - WCMF (96.5) and WROC (950AM); Syracuse - WTKW (99.5/WTKV 105.5) Sirius: 132 ================================================================= Game Preview: The Patriots can ensure themselves of at least the AFC's No. 2 seed Sunday with their 20th win in 21 tries against the visiting Buffalo Bills. New England (11-4) clinched its fifth straight AFC East title and 10th in 11 years early last Sunday when Miami suffered a 19-0 loss to Buffalo. Then for good measure, the Patriots went out later that afternoon and crushed Baltimore 41-7. Even as dominant as the Patriots have been in this series, winning 12 straight home matchups dating to Nov. 11, 2001, the team's veteran members appear to be guarding their teammates from taking the Bills for granted. Buffalo's lone win in the last 10 years came Sept. 25, 2011. Buffalo may need another dominant performance from its defense. The Bills surrendered 103 yards to the Dolphins, the fewest allowed by any team over the last three seasons. Read more at ESPN game preview... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scouting Report: Week 17 (from Buffalo Bills.com Chris Brown) NFL.com Video Preview Perillo's 3 Points for Sunday NFL.com Game Center Team Stats: Bills Patriots Total Yds/Game.... 334.5 384.7 Total Rush............. 142.5 119.9 Total Pass............. 191.9 264.8 Points/Game.......... 21.3 27.3 Time of Poss.......... 28.8 30.2 ---------------------------------------------- Yds/Gm Allowed... 330.1 371.7 Rush Yards........... 119.7 131.7 Pass Yards........... 210.4 240.0 Points Allowed........ 23.6 21.2 Source: NFL.com Injury Report: Buffalo Bills NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Easley, Marcus WR Knee - - LP Probable Goodwin, Marquise WR Knee LP FP FP Probable Jackson, Fred RB Ribs DNP LP FP Probable Johnson, Stevie WR Not injury related DNP DNP DNP Out Lewis, Thad QB Left Shoulder FP FP FP Probable Manuel, EJ QB Knee LP LP LP Doubtful Williams, Aaron S Ribs DNP DNP DNP Out Williams, Kyle DL Achilles DNP FP FP Probable Source: BuffaloBills.com New England Patriots NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Amendola, Danny WR Groin FP FP FP Probable Arrington, Kyle CB Groin LP LP LP Questionable Boyce, Josh WR Ankle DNP DNP DNP Out Brady, Tom QB Vagina FP FP FP Probable Cannon, Marcus OL Ankle LP LP LP Probable Dennard, Alfonzo CB Knee/Shoulder LP LP LP Questionable Dobson, Aaron WR Foot LP LP LP Questionable Fletcher, Dane LB Groin LP LP LP Questionable Gregory, Steve S Finger/Knee LP LP LP Questionable Hoomanawanui, Michael TE Knee FP FP FP Probable McCourty, Devin DB Concussion DNP DNP DNP Doubtful Ninkovich, Rob DL Ankle - LP LP Questionable Solder, Nate T Concussion LP LP LP Questionable Spikes, Brandon LB Knee LP LP LP Questionable Svitek, Will T Ankle LP LP LP Questionable Talib, Aqib CB Hip FP FP FP Probable Thompkins, Kenbrell WR Hip LP LP LP Questionable Vereen, Shane RB Groin LP LP LP Questionable Source: Patriots.com Practice Status Game Status DNP = Did Not Participate in Practice Out = Player will not play LP = Limited Participation - Less than 100% of normal reps Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play FP = Full Participation - 100% of a player's normal repetitions Questionable = 50% chance a player will play Out = Player will not play Probable = 75% chance a player will play (-) = Not Listed = No practice status available (-) = Not Listed - No game status available The Odds: Line: Patriots -9 Over/Under: 47.0 Source: The Linemakers Up to date lines... if you're in Vegas. My Take on the Matchup: Here we are, at the end of another exciting, frustrating, disappointing, good season of Bills' football. This should be an interesting game as it could be the best way to see exactly how far this team as come this season. Starting in week 1 against the Patriots, we played them close and nearly came away with the win. Can we still hang with the class of the division? Can we improve upon the outcome of that game? Regardless of who starts at QB, I think there are a lot of questions that can be answered. If the Bills play a tough team fighting for the #2, potentially the #1, seed in the conference close and even improve over their week 1 numbers, it could give the players and the fan base all we need to believe in this coaching staff. The key, with all Patriots games, will be the defense. We absolutely can not let Brady get comfortable. We can't let their run game get going. Pressure up the middle and tight man coverage is critical in beating Brady. Can the Bills bring it 2 weeks in a row? The offense has to bring its A game as well, and we've been remarkably consistent this season. For the most part, regardless of opponent and regardless of starting QB, the Bills have moved the ball between the 20s. It would be nice to see them score more TDs than FGs, you have to do that against a team like NE. Do that... and Thad will be making a strong case that he should be a starting QB. With all that said, I'll be watching: 1. The defensive line. Can they pressure Brady up the middle while containing the run game? With Branch's new contract, will he come out on fire or be complacent to ride out the last game? 2. Kiko. He's got one final game to make his case for DROY. And there is no better stage than against a playoff-bound Brady. Will he respond? How will he show up in his final game as a rookie? 3. Marrone and Hacket. They need to show the players and the league that they can compete with the class of the division. Billy boy has owned the Bills in the second game of the season for a decade. It would be nice to see the team come out pumped up, prepared, and with a winning game plan. 4. Thad the Impaler. If he thinks he can be a starter in the league, this is his game to prove it. Come out, lead the team, play solid and consistent football and he could easily secure a starting job either in Buffalo or on another team. 5. The Refs. How bad will they be? I'm sure the league wants a Brady/Manning Championship game more than anything. But, how blatant will the calls/non calls be? If the Bills light it up, there's no limit to the number of flags to be thrown against our team. Go Bills! and a Happy New Year to all Bills Fans!!

I truly hope you're right. But, I'm just not sure. EJ has a lot to prove, not only in regards to his ability to perform, but perhaps more importantly in his ability to lead this team.

I understamd this sentiment, and in many ways can agree with it. It's really not a good move to risk further injury to your potential franchise player in a "meaningless" game. However... It seems all season long, the coaches have been protecting EJ. They've dumbed down the offense; they're calling easy plays to execute; they're pulling him to avoid further injury. Have we ever had such a fragile franchise QB? Someone that has to be continually protected and babied throughout his rookie year? Is EJ weak or are the coaches being over protective? Fred plays with broken ribs, CJ plays with a high ankle sprain, yet the franchise QB can't play with a mild knee spain? Honestly, if Thad plays well in Foxboro, it could very well be time to consider EJ as the backup.

Its certainly an interesting debate... who goes up? what's deserving? Its certainly better off season discussion than most of what this board devolves into.

I agree, completely. However, Kyle has quite a few years left to play. So, I'd like to see how his career ends, ie does he stay in Buffalo or chase money elsewhere. With Fred, I firmly believe he wants to be a Bill till he retires, which is unfortunately only a couple years away. It is an interesting delimma though. Outside of a few players like Beebe, we're either about to go through 4 or 5 years with no one being put up on the wall... or several really marginal players going up, just to have a half time ceremony. I wonder which way Russ will go?

I think when you look at the last 15 years of Bills' football, there's very few players worthy of the recognition. Maybe some of the current, young players, but we'll have to let their careers play out. Freddie, however, is the only player in my mind that has consistently been the heart and soul of the team and the fanbase. He's been productive on the field; he's one of the few players that I think could have played on any of the great teams in Bills' history. We, as fans of a losing team, have had little to be proud of for 15 years. Freddie's play has been one of them. He plays every play like it could be his last and has earned more than he has received.

The team finished 6 and 10 (hopefully, this can be edited to 7and 9), what can you say to convince a battered fan base that this sub 500 team is any better than the last 9 sub 500 teams? The offseasons are typically based on hype and hope around here, so other than that, what do you see as your first step to not having a10th consecutive losing season?

True, but sitting at 11-4 and guaranteed a playoff birth, I'd say they're considerably better than what they were. And yes, teams can have bad years like the Giants this year. But, that's the Giants with 2 Super Bowl wins having a bad year. Or the Super Bowl winning Saints having a bad year after being rocked with scandals. But, is there any doubt that those teams, with their QBs, are a much better, playoff contending team than all the hapless teams like the Bills without a QB? PS. I'm not saying a QB is the only thing you need. But, a QB is required to be a consistently good team that contends for the playoffs each year. Furthermore, I contend the Bills currently have a good enough team for the playoffs... if they could get a good QB.