Neo

Forgive me, I wrote cortisone instead of cortisol. I’ve been telling that story wrong for months! Oooops. Further, after suffering undiagnosed for years, and getting a CPAP in October, I underwent a double bypass in December. Everything’s related. I’m grateful for an oral surgeon’s power of perception and his willingness to speak up.

Ha, I’m inspired and will post again. I was diagnosed in the most unusual fashion. I had a jaw issue and my dentist sent me to an oral surgeon for analysis. I’d never met him. We talked about my jaw (nothing needed) and as I was leaving, he asked, “have you been gaining weight?” I said “yes, it’s crazy, one pound a month for two years no matter what I do.” Total stranger, looked at me, and said “you have sleep apnea.” He saw it in my teeth (grinding) and my jaw (displaced) and my response to weight gain (all night fight means your body is pumping steroids into your blood). Thirty minutes with an oral surgeon and he figured it out. Of course, it had to be diagnosed by my regular physician and a pulmonary doctor … but I am so grateful to the one in a million interaction with someone who noticed and cared. My regular doctor was just telling me “stop eating, fatso!” And my WIFE - suffered in silence with snoring and gasping. She didn’t want to complain!

Walking zombie for two years. Gained a pound a month no matter the diet or exercise. Fell asleep at stop lights. Two nights testing. 52 events per hour. CPAP machine. First night hated it. Second night slept like a baby. Five months, now. I love it. Losing weight. Active. Edit to add: I cried the morning after the first successful night. Sleep deprivation is the worst. I’m teary, now, writing this.

Well, he’s the highest paid running back in history and just got paid like the 20th highest wide receiver. I think this sustains the current value view of the two positions rather than alters it. Everything goes up.

They’re not even close to this. Like every person, family and firm on the planet, they’re maximizing the benefit or revenue they can from their service and circumstance. The “pigs get fed” scenario is so far over the horizon it can’t be seen or imagined. Ninety two percent of the crowd saying “I’m out” ain’t close to “out.” It’s almost a tradition to complain about price increases while lining up to pay them. The NFL has what we want. Like any rational human being, me and you included, it’ll suck all the revenue/benefit/gratification/satisfaction it can out of the arrangement. Markets find equilibrium. I’ll pay, and so will all of us. Network football is an endangered species. Hogs are a hundred miles over the horizon. PS …. contributing factors: Less expensive 85 inch TVs, gambling, fantasy, more expensive stadiums. We won’t recognize the NFL ten years out from now. Since the beginning of time. “Money” is a place holder and scorecard for “what do I have that you want.?

I’m not sure I read anyone say “dime a dozen” except when using a well known phrase in a well understood context. What I have heard many say is that $15 million can be allocated better on a team with Buffalo’s current cap situation and positional needs. I’m no genius, but I wouldn’t pay Cook $15 million even knowing it will cost me more than .833333 cents to replace him.

For the old timers …. The Bills traded Mervin “The Magician” Briscoe to Miami. He won two Super Bowls there, catching more passes than Paul Warfield in one of them. Einstein’s dad is still furious.

Says every arm chair GM on his sofa. I know this particular trade has you vexed, but there’s no logic or reason behind your view. One, we swapped picks. Two, what we do with the picks is what matters. Three, had we “won” the trade, wouldn’t it be awesome to beat your arch enemies? If that’s the case, can you argue you always trade with archenemies? Of course you can’t. You trade with whomever offers you value. Your scouting department determines value. Best be right …

Unpopular, but Miami. Food, nightlife and weather.

Bone-in pork shoulder (Boston Butt) Dutch oven pulled pork. Slaw and baked beans.

No, but few things would make me happier.

You use the word “elite” more generously than I do despite our similar assessments of the talent. Allen is elite. Dawkins, if not elite, can see it from where he’s standing. The others? Good, very good and excellent. I know, this is quibbling with language. But “elite” has been so diluted.

I understand. However, he can talk about it. There may be a fine, of course. That’s the big baller beane I’d love to see. Someone, for heaven’s sake, get outraged. For the record, I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I don’t think anyone had the fix in for the Chiefs. That said, we all saw the same replay the officials saw. I want to know how you can watch that and not make the right call. I’ve been watching for decades. I would simply love to see someone say “enough, I’m going to talk on behalf of the fans, supporters and ticket buyers.” Consequences? Bring it. We’ve all seen fines. Pegula should throw a parade and pay the fine. That’s MY Big Baller Beane. It was so Milquetoast. Carry on …

I know. That does nothing to change my mind. I’m an employ, too. Good man, I’ll close here.

I have no doubt that unsatisfying arrangement is true. I prefer my errors be kept private, too. I’m musing. I would love to see a “Go ahead, fine me. Here’s what the league said” moment. You can be accountable, or you can go with the flow knowing the league prefers you do just that. I’m not fooling myself. I’m saying “Big Baller Beane” leaves me a little unsatisfied. In the words of the great philosopher Shania Twain, “that don’t impress me much.”

Yes, but that’s not what I’m asking for. Forgive my lack of clarity. We all disagree with the calls. I’d love to hear the argument he makes and the league’s response while both are looking at the film. An explanation of you will. I am a seeker of clarity, acknowledging nothing changes the outcome. Others want less. To each his own. He disagrees? Why, and what did the league say? He stopped at “oh, well …”.

I don’t think anyone wants to fire anyone for what they’ve done. I believe the instinct arises from a loss in confidence in what they can do. I’m sensitive to this. Occasionally the skill to get to the finish line and the skill to cross it are found in different people. McDermott appears not to have lost the room. Watch Allen this off season and next.

I think you can be fan and have views, thoughts and critiques. We’re consumers with emotional attachment. Tens of thousands called the Pinto a terrible car. Most didn’t run Ford or GM. I also don’t think having a critical view means you don’t support the franchise. Imagine a world where fans of anything couldn’t be critical. What you describe is unimaginably weird. I think some more effective drafting and situational decision making, not to mention execution, would mean a championship or two. Go Bills.

If there was ever a time to make a clear, strong, definitive statement about the calls, today was it. You can be respectful to refereeing in general and the league and still say “they blew two calls.” Beane is representing the league to the team and the fans. I’d like him to represent the team and the fans to the league. I’d also like to hear whether or not the league agree they blew a couple, of if they defended the calls. If they defended, I’d love to hear the analysis. So much of this is “you, the paying customer, aren’t going to hear what we talk about it.” I’d love to be a reporter.

At the same time! An option I’ve not considered, but certainly efficient. My advice to you. Do not grow old!

Only if a root canal and a colonoscopy couldn’t be scheduled.

This offseason? No. I don’t know Pegula’s “hot seat” thermometer. He’s suffered fools at his other sports organization. With the deepest respect for the “process” and those who implement it, I’m afraid we’re organizationally at a ceiling. Next year, Super Bowl or move on from McBeane. There are times when those who build an organization are not the same as those who bring it to its highest heights. Theya re different skill sets, mindsets. I want our John Gruden. If I know who that was, I’d be making a lot more money than I am. Perhaps the actual John Gruden?

The logic still fails. It’s the trade value that matters, not the team. And I’d check your conclusion with the Chiefs. If they don’t think we’re their top rival, I’d ask them who is.

KC traded with its arch nemesis. Whether that trade is good or bad is up for debate. The partner team is irrelevant. You won’t find a lot of criticism, on the Chiefs’ blog for trading with Buffalo for Mahomes.