ChevyVanMiller

Rick Azar

I think there was a second slinger on the grassy knoll.

Two different KC games. Nightmares in back to back seasons.

He looks more like Kid Rock, imo.

The "more than likely" references my previous statement that there is a slim chance he could be traded, otherwise he's on the team.

Maybe I should have called this one (Not So) Rapid Reaction, but I didn't get home from the game until after 9 pm and had some family commitments, so I got it done as soon as possible.

You're absolutely right, but it is a shame it doesn't happen in the NFL. Multi-player trades are one of the best things about the NBA.

Rapid Reaction - 10 Observations About Last Night's Game 10) It turns out I may have been a bit premature in predicting the demise of EJ Manuel in a Buffalo Bills jersey. The third year pro responded to his surprising start by having his best game ever in the NFL. He was 7/8 for 170 yds with 2 TDs and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. There's a small chance that the Bills will try to deal him to another club while his stock is the highest it's been since his dramatic comeback win over the Panthers during his rookie year, but it seems more than likely that EJ will be on the 53-man roster come September 13th. If you'll pass the salt, I have a fedora that I need to choke down. 9) Speaking of QBs, what do you make of a game where 7 QBs played and 6 of them finished with a passer rating over 100? The one that didn't? Two-time Super Bowl winner and probable future hall-of-famer Ben Roethlisberger. The Bills passers went a combined 30/33 for 386 yds and 3 TDs. I heard one guy next to me at the stadium tell his kid, "This is what it was like during the Super Bowl years." 8) Kid's Day was a rousing success. I had the great pleasure of being on the field before the game and it was great to see so many kids in Bills colors smiling from ear to ear. The future fandom of the team is in good hands. 11 year-old Baylee Morrison from Macedon, NY sang the National Anthem and man can that little girl belt it out. Some of you may have heard her sing before Sabres games. Don't be surprised if she goes on to have a big musical career. 7) Is Fred Jackson an ageless marvel or what? That first drive was a beautiful reminder of just how good number 22 was and still is. I don't know what the replay ref was looking at on the long run. From my viewpoint in the stadium in looked clear that FredEx got the pylon cleanly, but he dove it in 2 plays later, so no harm, no foul. By far the loudest cheers of the day were for Fred during the pregame Stampede. His Hulk TD celebration never gets old. Here's hoping number 22 is a big part of the offense this season. 6) It was quite a scare when Stephone Gilmore went down early in the game. Rex said in the presser that he didn't expect it to be a problem for the opener, which is great news indeed. I don't know if Gilmore is good enough to have an island named after him, but I'm pretty sure that Rex and Dennis Thurman at least expect "Gilmore Pennisula" to get some play nationally. 5) Hey anybody remember that Marcus Easley was once a pretty highly touted wide receiving prospect? In recent years number 81 has developed into a demon on special teams, but there was a time when the 6' 2" 4th rounder out of Connecticut was thought of as being the answer to Buffalo's perpetual red zone threat defincency. Yesterday, Easley caught 6 balls for 42 yards and helped move the sticks time and time again. He probably won't see the field much as a WR once the real bullets fly, but it is a comfort to know we have such a gamer at the 6th wide receiving spot on the roster. 4) Austin Willis we hardly knew ya. The rookie WR wasn't on the roster long enough to even be included in the official Gameday publication. The shot he took from Pittsburgh safety Jordan Dangerfield looked bad and I see an injury settlement/waived in young Mr. Willis' future. I tell ya, the kid go no respect. 3) There were two plays in the 1st quarter where Manny Lawson was lined up with Steelers slot receiver Markus Wheaton. I watched Manny closely on both plays and he chucked Wheaton at the line and hung with him in short coverage. Big Ben threw elsewhere in both instances. I don't know if it was a mistake in coverage by the Bills D or if Thurman is putting a lot of trust in a 10-year LB to hang with a speedy young receiver. It bears watching in the regular season. 2) If I have one concern after a beatdown like this one it is just that the QBs aren't getting any playing time with the top receivers. The reserves surely shined, but many of them will either be out of the league in two weeks or riding the pine. How much does it mean that Watkins, Woods and Harvin aren't getting quality minutes to build a rapport with whichever QB starts against the Colts? Hopefully, not much, but time will tell. 1) Okay, so who won the QB competition? Rex said after the game that he will make the decision on Sunday, but won't announce it to the media. If it was me wearing the HC hat I would go with Tyrod. I'd base the decision on the fact that all of the QBs threw the ball well - much better than was expected after the early dismal training camp reports. T-Mobile brings an element with his legs that the other two simply do not possess. It will be an interesting call by Rex. Whichever way he goes, just pray that he gets it right. With the right guy behind center this is a playoff team.

Way to go, Jesse. She is currently 257 in singles rankings. Hopefully, she can win a round or two and make a big jump.

http://www.tmz.com/2015/08/27/darryl-dawkins-dies-nba-dunk-legend-dead-at-58/ I got to meet him a few years back at a Buffalo Silverbacks game. He was coaching the opposing ABA team. I took a 76ers pennant with me and asked him for an autograph. He was very kind and seemed very appreciative of being remembered from his playing days. He was one of the all-time dunk kings of the NBA and will br greatly missed.

**Update** Got a call from my rep this morning. He told me that most of the other 49 selected were bringing kids and had to decline as well. He went back and talked to his supervisor and it was decided that all of the parents selected that were bringing kids would be offered special on-field passes before the game for them and the kids. I told him how much I appreciated the gesture and that I thought it was the perfect solution. My son and I will be on the field before the game and it is just another example of why we are blessed to be fans of this great franchise. Go Bills!

Man, what do you say, but what the hell is the world coming to?

Awesome stuff, Dean. Thanks! And classy move, Eric. Way to be!

I appreciate the sentiment, but my son has Tuberous Sclerosis and, as a result, autism. He is doing just fine and goes to Summit - another WNY gem, one of the finest schools for autism and other developmental delays in all of America. He has the full support of a loving family and a great support staff at school. I do believe in prayer, but please pray for a child whose outlook isn't so bright.

I took him last year and he did fine. The Bills are something that we bond over. His room is decorated in Bills paraphernalia and he watches the games with me. One of the few phrases that he says with clarity is, "Go Bills!"

So I get a call from my season ticket rep a couple of days ago. He asks me if I'm planning on attending the Kid's game against the Steelers. I tell him that I am and he informs me that I've been chosen as 1 of 49 people to be on the field as part of the player introductions from the tunnel. "That's awesome," I say. He then tells me that I'll get a player jersey and inquires into what size I'll want. Lastly, He confirms my email address and says that they will send me info on where to go and what time to be there. "This is really great," I tell him. "Thank you so much." Just then a little voice in my head says to confirm everything, so I say to him, "So, the email will tell me just where my son and I have to be, right?" "Oh," he says. "Your son won't be able to go on the field, just you." I tell him that my son is 12 and is autistic and that there is no way I can leave him alone. After a long pause he tells me that he's sorry, but they'll have to pick someone else. I hung up and was pretty down about the whole thing. I decided to call him back the next day. I told him that it didn't make a lot of sense to me to do this promotion on Kid's Day because anyone bringing a young child, which is the whole idea behind the evening, would have to decline. He told me that he felt the same way once we'd hung up and that he'd gone to his supervisor to see if anything could be done, but was told that they only wanted 49 on the field, no exceptions. I then asked if they did it for a regular season game could I be included and he told me that none were scheduled, but he would put a note on my file if any do come about. This is not a complaint. I'm appreciative of the fact that the Bills even do events like these for the fans. I also think my rep, Joe, was very professional and cordial. I guess I just needed to vent my frustration and wonder if others think that the Kid's Day game was a bad one to pick for this promotion? I mean, even if a family had 4 tickets and 2 parents going to a game what kind of a message is it to a child to say, "Dad's going down on the field, but you're not?" Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

Who gave them sole credit for anything? They are a huge player in Buffalo's Renaissance, that's all I'm pointing out.

A wonderful read, thanks for posting. The Pegulas really are a dream come true for WNY. Kim's vision for HarborCenter has transformed the waterfront and Buffalo is in better shape than it has been in nearly 70 years. Thank you God for sending Terry and Kim our way.

Just on FB. He seems like a really great guy very happy in his post-NFL life.

Haha, glad to hear it. He asked before he went on if the talk was real or politically correct. I told him Sal was a good dude and he should speak freely - looks like he took my advice.

I was unsure about tagging it with that, but figured someone might not want to explain to their boss why they are looking at a pic of a guy hard riding a piece of wax. LOL

Madame Tussauds unveils figure of sexy singer and all sorts of carnal exploits break out. http://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/sexual-photos-nicki-minaj-wax-figure-67550

I'm pretty sure it's beginning to read this thread...

No need to get snarky. I've been writing this column for a few years for the FB site. I don't post it here during the regular season because I respect it as Bill's domain on TSW. Just thought I would fill the preseason void.

Formidable post.