Dan

Here's one for you... My link

It's not a question of sexual activity. Its a question of using birth control while being sexually active. So, why can't they ask someone's opinion on birth control, or any other issues dear to their heart? Or only hire devote catholics in their community? But, as I see it, they want to have their cake and eat it too. That is, hire anyone they want and deny them coverage because its against their beliefs. Is that not forcing their beliefs on someone? Can the church determine that each employee must donate a large portion of their pay back to the church, effectively dropping your rate of pay below minimum wage? My point being that there are certain standards that employers - employers being the operative word - must adhere to (whether we like them or not). At what point do we allow religious oganizations to pick and choose the laws they wish to follow all in the name of religious freedom. And, yes, individuals don't have to work for a chuch and be subjected to any of this. But, imo, churches that feel so strongly on certain issue have the same ability to not hire those indivuals. Effectively, making this all nonsense.

If a church is so much against birth control that it cannot support a health care plan that provides birth control for it's employees, why is that church hiring employees that would use birth control in the first place?

If your opinion of Fitz is predicated on this opinion, then I think you're evaluations are completely flawed. Although, I wouldn't say our Oline is the worst in the league, I find it hard to see how anyone could say we have one of the best 3-5 lines in the league. Fitz has issues with his accuracy, certainly. And, he needs to work on that quite a bit this off season; however, at least a portion of that is due to the Oline allowing too much pressure. I might also add that throwing to UFA and the like makes his job considerably more difficult than Eli's (for one).

Gotta love the off season around here!!

I sincerely hope they do, because that will be the first step. I completely agree!

I, most assuredly, am not.

As sad as it is to admit... I agree with this attitude more and more each day. I have almost no optimism for this team at this point. With that said, I might get a titch of it back if: They re-sign Stevie. If they let him walk, for any reason, this franchise is going no where. Period. They re-sign a few of the other key players currently on the bubble. They extend Freddie. Do that, and they show they're able to recognize talent currently on the team and they want to keep it and build around it finally. Go after a quality WR and pass rushing DE or LB in free agency. Do that, and they show they recognize what our biggest offensive and defensive needs are. Have a solid draft. That's all I can hope for here. Until we see who they re-sign and pick up as FAs, I can't see hoping for any particular player(s). Do that, and they're continuing to build a solid foundation. Get Fitz into a core strength and training program and working with someone on his foot work. His greatest problem is down field accuracy. At least attempt to correct that and we just may notice an improvement in his game. Do all that prior to or concurrent with the OTAs and I'll consider it a good offseason, and entertain the possibility that this team is heading in the right direction. Don't do each of those things, and its the final proof that they truly are just spinning their wheels. So until I see what happens with Stevie, imo, the first domino that will fall, I have little to no feeling one way or the other about the future direction of this team.

That's what I've been saying for a while. The Republicans need to stop worrying about their base. Their base is already fired up and will vote for anyone that isn't Obama. They need a nominee and VP running mate that will fire up the independents. That, in my opinion, is exactly why Newt (or Santorum) would lose a general election. They can get the conservative base fired up, sure, but not enough independents.

My link Yes. Its gotta be rough being the poor guy.

So take the Bills of 2011 and change the HC and we're a game away from the Super Bowl?

No. I didn't. JH inherited pretty much all of that team. How much rebuilding did they do last off season? The 49rs of last off season and the Bills of 2yrs ago are not analogous at all.

How do you figure a one year turnaround? Smith, Davis, Gore, etc. etc. have been on that team quite a bit more than one year. The core of that team has been there, they just needed a coach to pull it all together. But to say that team was built in a year is disingenuous at best.

From the other thread, he was being courted by the Jets, as well. So apparently, he chose the lowly Bills over the high flying Jets? Interesting; could the worm be turning? Personally, I don't know if this is a good hire or not. But I really hope he can help Fitz work on his mechanics and thereby help improve his down field accurcy issues.

I would disagree. I think it's more an indication of poor coaching coupled with excessive injuries. Is Maybin the complete waste that can't even get on the field that he was in Buffalo or is he a 5 sack a year guy that he was in NY? I agree with several posters here, we have fewer holes than I think many realize. The problem is they are important holes. How do you run a 3-4 defense with only 1 decent LBer on your defense? We desperately need to get good LBs, a DE, a WR. In that order, IMO. Yes, we have needs at many other positions, but that's to build depth or just to upgrade. OL, for ex, yes, it would be nice to upgrade our LT; however, Bell is not complete crap like our LBers are. So, I don't see how that can be considered a hole. Same with QB. Fitz is ok (especially if we get a starting WR to go with Stevie). But, yes, it would be nice to draft a guy to replace him in a couple of years. But QB is by no means a huge hole on this team. Get some adequate coaching which maybe we've done with Wanny, fill some of these glaring holes, continue upgrading and finding good depth, and watch several of our existing guys improve dramatically. Obviously, we can't address every hole and every upgrade this year. So do you draft a young QB this year or do you continue filling other areas of greater need? That's an answer that I would expet depends upon the player available this year vs next year. But, IMO, you have to address the major holes, first. Then you worry about the upgrades/depth.

Yes! He's not currently on the Bills roster, ergo he must be better than anyone on the Bills roster.

That's my thoguht as well. Why is Polian getting all the blame in Indy? Shouldn't the HC shoulder a large portion of the blame? Yeah, with Painter as your QB, you don't expect the playoffs maybe. But the complete and total collapse of the entire team, IMO, has to be on the HC as much or more than anyone. Irsay is nuts.

The biggest problem with his antics is it disracts everyone from the real problem on this team... a defense that gave up 40points to a divisional opponent. Stevie was stupid to do it. Chan made a point, in a meaningless game, that his behavior wouldn't be allowed. But the real problem is... we finished another pathetic season with another pathetic team-wide effort.

In an effort to get thisthread back on track... thank god is all I was thinking at end of this game. Another craptacular season is finally over. I don't have to watch that team any more ...till next august. This game re-inforced several things for me: 49points! If there's any further proof that we need a huge makeover on Defense, starting with the Coordinator, I don't know what it could be. 21 points and moving the ball with Stevie. Nothing without him. Re-sign the guy! Also, get some other WRs that can actually catch and not tip the ball around. 1-5 in the division. Chan is on thin ice. He's just gotta do better. Period. I think its time someone tell him being the HC, OC, and DC is not working... higher some damn assistants. Fitz needs to work seriously on his downfield accuracy. Otherwise, next year should be his last year starting. It's hard when your receivers are better at bouncing balls around than they are catching. But he has missed entirely too many wide open WRs downfield due to being wildly innacurate. This team needs a solid off season, because after this year.. its gonna be damn hard to get excited about this team otherwise. Two years in... they still have a long way to go.

You're forgetting a standard TSW truism... Lynch is not on the Bills; therefore, he's a good player and we should pay extra to get him. Jackson is on the Bills; therefore, he's not even starter quality and we shouldn't over pay to keep him.

See now, you're completely making stuff up. Stevie's agent is on record as saying he wants $7.5mill/yr; not $10. But, ok, I'll play along... read below. Exactly. We're no where near the cap AND we have to spend considerably more just to get to the new league minimum. Who are we going to spend that money on? Let Stevie walk and hope to find a FA of equal or better caliber to spend the money on? Why not just pay the player that's actually produced for the Bills, has chemistry with our QB, and likes the other players and the City? Even if you have to "overpay"; what's the big deal. Until they start overpaying every player, we don't have a problem. Honestly, if Ralph is cheap... it's only because he's giving many of the fans exactly what they're asking for. Pay the man. (freddie too)

Exactly. As far as I'm concerned, pay Stevie whatever it takes to keep him. This team is better with him than without - it's really that simple. No, you're not. I've been saying that for a while. No, Poz is/was not the best LB in the league and perhaps not worth his salary. But, who cares? He was the best LB on the team in 2010. Keep him, let one or two of the other scrubs walk, and sign Barnett. That would have given us a much stronger LBing core in 2011. It's the same with Evans, and now Stevie. Keep Stevie, Nelson, and then add a decent to good FA WR and we're a better team in 2012. Let Stevie walk because he wants a million or 2 more, only to replace him and the team is no better than they were. Unfortunately, this has been the Bills for a decade. Let a good player walk rather than give him a new, higher paying contract; only to draft/sign someone to replace him. As a result, we've had the same holes on this team since forever. It's been the very definition of spinning your wheels. Now the new FO says they want to change that; they have a plan. They've re-signed a couple of players, which is good. If they re-sign Stevie, I just may believe that our FO is turning a corner. If they let him walk, regardless of the reason, then this FO is no different than the last several. IMO, signing Stevie means far more than just signing a player; it will show that this team is serious about trying to win. If they let him walk, regardless of his new salary, it just demonstrates that winning is not the most important thing to this FO.

Stevie is perhaps the best and most consistent player on our offense (outside of Jackson). The Bills are well under what will be the league minimum for total player salaries in 2012. Nix and company have stated they want to build through the draft and develop their players in house. If they don't re-sign Stevie, regardless of the price tag, then there truly is no hope for this franchise. Period.Pay the man. He is far more valable to the Bills than any draft pick/FA.

lol ... so true! *lowers head in shame and quietly sits in corner*

I'll admit... at the beginning of the season, I really thought Evans would have a huge year and really help to tramsform the Raven offense. Whether due to his injury, attitude, or whatever, I was wrong.I also, FWIW, really thought OchoCinco would have a career year with Brady throwing him the ball. Again, I was wrong.It reminds me of the old adage that free agents are more valuable to their existing team than to a new team. There is definitely some truth to that, despite the few examples (Sproles, for ex) of FAs really helping their new team. It's also Preseason thoughts like this, that remind me... I'm just a fan and no GM. So, like it or not, we gotta give Nix a chance to do his job and just hope he's better than a fan.