Dan

I guess we just have different ideas on what we'd like to see. You seem to prefer selling out and doing whatever is possible for one SB season next year. I'd prefer the Bills build a foundation so they can have multiple SB seasons over the next decade. By your definition almost half the SB winning teams had a great turnaround in one season to win it all (I'm not going back to look at everyone's record pre-SB year so I made a blanket statement). The Rams did not go from bad to good in one season. They hired a new HC and began to put the pieces in place; then 3 years later they got to the SB. And, mostly because they lucked out and had Kurt Warner on their roster. And all of those other teams you mentioned haven't gone from perennial losers to SB contender in one year during this decade... the Chiefs? the Jags? really? My initial point was about the Dolphins. They had a great turnaround year... going from 1-15 to 11-5. Yes, that's great. But, not even you are talking about improving in one season to just make the playoffs. And that's the example that most people bring to the table when they complain that the Bills aren't doing it fast enough. To be comparable to the Bills, give me an example of a team that's had a losing record for 5+ years, hired a new FO, HC, and then turned it around the next year. That's what I'm suggesting hasn't happened because that's what people continually suggest should happen. We all want to win the Super Bowl, some of us would like to win more than one. But, to completely revamp this team in one year is unprecedented. Even if the Bills make it next year, it would still have been a 2 year turn around. This is year 1 of a rebuild. They've, hopefully, laid a foundation from which to build. I expect/hope that next year we'll see significant progress. If so, then they're on the right track. But there's a lot more to winning a SB than just getting a few players on your team and then going out and winning it all. In fact, if you look at each of the SB winning teams, you'll find that most all of them had certain key pieces in place for many years before they finally changed the HC or got a RB or added whatever final piece to finally get to and/or win the big one. The Saints last year had a great year and finally won one. But how long was Brees on that team first - 3 years prior to '09. My question to you is do you have the patience to wait 3-4 years for the current regime to get to the SB? Because it's far more likely that the pieces they're putting in place now will take at least that long to produce consistently. That's just one of the reasons why drafting the wrong QB can set a franchise back for years (and how many of those bad drafts have we endured this past decade).

Exactly. There's no reason to even consider trading Lee (other than posters here have been trying to run him out of town since he signed a big contract). You don't improve your team by continually making holes that need to be filled. Now, with that said, we appear to be stacked at WR. So, if the remaining guys can show they're capable over the remaining 3 weeks, maybe we have some trade bait to improve some of the other areas on the team while keeping the WR position a strength. The Pats* have clearly shown the value of cutting a player while he still has some perceived value to get draft picks, while having competent guys to step up. It would be refreshing to think our FO has the capabilities to make such maneuvers. I'll refrain from judgment just yet though.

I'll wait and see how Stevie and Nelson do in Lee's absence before I'll even consider trading Lee. Lee is still the bests WR on the team and his presence has played a large role in allowing Stevie to get open, IMO. So, at this point, I'll say I hope and think he'll be back.

Thanks and I agree. I think this team has made some pretty decent strides this season - far more than I would have thought at the half way point. With the addition of a few more players (plus an easier schedule), I can easily see them in the run for a Wild Card spot next season. Then in year 3, with more additions, be a true contender for the play offs. And if things are done right; they'll remain contenders for many years to come. I can live with that and I'd much rather have that than a bunch of flashy moves in hopes to make the playoffs for a season. Even if you're lucky and make it, you're sacrificing long term success for short term gains. The Bills have been bad for a long time. It's going to take a but more to turn this around than a few one year flashy moves - that was my initial point. Of course, Nix and Gailey could be bums and the whole thing could blow up in our face for any number of reasons. I guess only time will tell.

Hmm... 1997 SL Rams: 5-11 1998 SL Rams: 4-12 1999 SL Rams: 13-3 The Rams have been bad for quite some time and continue to be bad. I'll further add that Vermeil was hired in 1997; it took him 3 years to get to the SB. But, you could perhaps argue they got lucky as heck in signing Kurt Warner (a complete nobody). Warner made that team more than anything else as witnessed by their lack of success before and after his tenure. 1999 Ravens: 6-10 1999 Ravens: 8-8 2000 Ravens: 12-4 I'd hardly call 8-8 a bad team. Furthermore, Billick took over in 1999. So, wouldn't that be a 2 year rebuild. 1999 NE Pats* - 9-7 1999 NE Pats* - 8-8 2000 NE Pats* - 5-11 2001 NE Pats* - 11-5 Seems like they were a pretty average team for the 3 years prior to their SB win. Also, BB was named the HC before the 2000 season. Again, at best, I think you can call that a 2 year turn around. Finally, the Pats* were in the SB after the '96 season. So, that's only 5 years between SB appearances. How bad of a team could that 2000 team have really been? 2005 NYG - 11-5 2006 NYG - 8-8 2007 NYG - 10-6 So, how bad of a team were the Giants before their SB run? They had won their division just 2 years earlier. Then, in their down year, they still went 8-8. At best you've gotten 2 - 2 year turn arounds; 1 - 3 year rebuild; and the Giants who were pretty good and arguably underachieving prior. But, even in those cases I think it's safe to say those teams had far more players in place than the 2009 Bills. The Bills haven't made the playoffs in a decade because they're a really bad team.. not a team with several great players and just missing the final few pieces. Face it, rebuilding the Bills is far closer to rebuilding the Lions or the Cardinals than it is a perennially good/decent team. We're in the middle of a decade of losing, not a few years removed from having a playoff team.

Thank you, good sir. I'm glad you brought up Pennington, because Parcels drafted his, supposed, QB of the future in Henne. And look how that's turning out. Now, granted, I think the book is far from being written on Henne. But, clearly he's struggling. Are the fins struggling because their QB is struggling? Is Henne really their long term answer at QB? I point this out as a cautionary tale because many, here, want the Bills to draft the next big QB despite Fitz's very competent play this season. I'm not suggesting that the Fins should have stuck with Pennington; I'm suggesting that 3 years into Henne's career and he's pretty much as good as Fitz.

Bills Fandom 101 - Anything the Bills do is bad/wrong. Anything any other team does is good/right.

This point has been noted a multitude of times in reference to Nix's rebuilding plan. It's a point that is routinely brought out to illustrate that there's no need to wait 3 years for a rebuild; hence, Nix is doing something wrong. However, let's think about this: The fins record: 2007 - 1-15 2008 - 11-5 (playoffs) 2009 - 7-9 2010 - 7-6 (currently, playoffs are a long shot to say they least) So, yes, perhaps you can turn around a team in 1 year and make the playoffs. But, since that good year, the Fins have been largely mediocre. Which begs the question; do people want a quick turn around that lasts a season (maybe 2), or would you prefer a turn around that makes the Bills legitimate playoff contenders for many years to come? It seems Parcels and the Fins took the quick route. Nix appears to be taking the slower approach. It remains to be seen if he can build a perennial playoff team; but I'd much rather he take his time, build through the draft and try to get us a team that competes with the top teams for the next decade. I contend that the idea that you can completely turn around a long-term, losing franchise in 1 year is a myth. Splashy FA signings and draft picks, in the end, are just that - flashes in the pan. And seeing has how I'm a Bills fan for life, I'd prefer more than just a few flashy moves for once.

Most positive thing from this season, so far: Trent Edwards was cut. Man, that was a good day. Runner up: Watching the team fight for a full 60 minutes, followed by press conferences where it's obvious the players hate losing.

Funny thing is... that's been the book on how to beat the Pats* for years. Yet, very few teams do it. Why? I'm seriously asking. Does the league office mandate that you can't blitz Brady and play bump and run, man coverage on their WRs? It boggles my mind how many teams I see playing a soft zone with 3-4 pass rushers while Brady just steadily picks them apart.

I think everyone that wants a new LT drafted, needs to just get comfortable with the notion of Bell playing for quite some time. I do agree with Bill, he needs some strength so that he's not pushed around quite so easily. But, as it's been noted many times, he had almost no strength training last off season. Despite that, he's still been a solid LT for most all of the season. LT is by far not the weakest part of the Oline... finally. I think we can almost certainly say they same thing about the QB position, as well. Let's face it; we're no longer losing games because of our QB. Fitz has solidified his hold on that position. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he fares against the division over these final 3 weeks. But, at this point, I really find it hard to spend a high draft pick on a position that's being handled quite well. I'm not great at analyzing OLine play, especially centers; but, Wood seemed to hold his own very well at center. We did seem to get good push and, most importantly, I don't recall many defenders getting penetration up the middle on passing downs. I'm really anxious to see how he does over the next couple of games at center. We really could be 1 RT away from a solid line in 2011. Hard to even fathom. I loved the Royal drop and thought the same thing... how is he even still in the league? The run defense is slowly but surely improving. They still have some serious lapses, but could it be they're slowly grasping whatever system Edwards is installing?? I still say run defense is by far the weakest link on the team and LBs and DEs need to be our focus in the off season (probably in that order). Go Bills!

I thought we lost that game 38-30, and were down by a point at half time. How is that being embarrassed?

Yeah, but Fitz's touchdowns don't count because he was picked in the 7th round and went to Harvard. A first round QB would look sooooo much better throwing those passes, don't you think?

I'd say you represented very well! Love the flag! Well worth a few broken sewing machines.

All of them.

Saw it. How was it not a penalty? Does he get a fine at least?

I say yes! Drafting Luck would turn this franchise around. Keeping sucking and draft the kid - period.

Maybe the Mods don't want the site shut down for some legal loophole about promoting illegal viewing of NFL games?

What if Luck doesn't declare for the draft? Do we have to hope for losses all next season too?

Trade Evans; draft a QB in the 1st round; follow it up with another RB; then CB. Bam! just fixed the team. or not

Jackson is the man. Love that guy. All the talk coming in was about Hillis... and Jackson just stole the show.

You're on to something. ...And Jackson with another great run just seals it!!

McKelvin coming up big on those 2 plays. But, how was that not a fumble? Insane reffing today. Jackson just about seals the win!

I can live with the FG. Now, the Browns have to do something they haven't done all day - score a TD. So, maybe not a bad idea. I guess we'll see in about 8 minutes.

It does seem that way. Earlier in the game, Freddie is stood up and everyone eventually gives up.... the whistle finally blows.