Rochesterfan

With Uber you do not need 4+ hours of parking spaces. People use it all the time in other cities - why would it not work here. You create a small Uber lot with a exit at a light for pick-up and drop off. I have used it for Baseball and Hockey In Philly. Football in Indy. It worked well as long as it is thought out. If you use mass transit to move a majority of the people - like they do for other downtown arenas- Uber will work. If you do not expand your mind and you look at things only as they are right now with 80,000 fans all with cars right there - then it won’t work as well. A downtown arena would require a different set-up than the OP set-up - that is obvious. The difference in getting in and out must be addressed and it has to be something that works for people during the week also. So a light rail line with parking outside the city - can be used for both daily commuters and weekend games. Services like Uber work to move people around without the need for long term parking helps and works great in cities with limited parking. Everything I suggested was legitimate things discussed and used in other cities- why is Buffalo different. Open your mind a bit and travel - see how other places do things with downtown stadiums and maybe you can have a real discussion about options.

I do not need to say anything. The NFL has defined it and the teams have their own additional rules. See the Dallas media guidelines as an example.

Nope - not in the NFLs eyes. Sorry

Yes and the athletic already received their allotted press credentials- they have Mathew Fairburn, Tim Graham, and Joe B already credential and on staff - so the fact that he is on the athletic has no bearing at all.

This is crazy. He is not a professional scout or writer - he is an internet blogger. He is one of millions of guys that does what he does. Is he good - sometimes, but that does not mean he should get press credentials. Giving him press would be the absolute wrong thing to do because it sets a precedent that any stupid blogger can force their way into credentials. That is how you get the idiots at the Super Bowl press day. If you don’t think the Bills care about their fans - with everything they do - that is on you. Not giving Cover 1 credentials has nothing to do with the fans or with Erik. It is keeping within the guidelines to ensure that legitimate people get in and keep out the random bloggers that are everywhere.

Really - you think it would be cheaper? They have studied it for years and have already stated they cannot widen the concourses because of the upper deck supports. The lower concourses are restricted by the upper deck supports and the upper concourses are limited by their design. It is the same issue with the bathrooms - the available piping and water infrastructure within the concourses was nearly maxed - to expand they had to move newer bathrooms out into open areas that could be dug and plumbed - the concourses we’re maxed out. They also talk yearly about the issues with electrical and video limitations due to size of the openings in the concrete structure. It is part of the reason they do not get many home Sunday or Monday night games. They lack the infrastructure to be able to expand to handle the increased cameras and views for those games. They addressed that as best they could with the last upgrades, but without basically ripping everything apart they were nearly maxed out. From a fans perspective at your seats the games are great. The food, concourses, bathrooms, etc. are all lacking and those are things that the team and the city have said are maxed out because of the original design. Even the issue with trying to cover the upper deck - even with smaller coverage is that to support it - you need support beams and that suddenly gives obstructive views. It will detract from the experience. I do not see any way they remodel the stadium. The stadium will be new and updated to handle these issues. The question becomes what is the goal for the city and the Pegulas - is it keeping traditional tail gating and fan experience? Then build near the current stadium. I believe if they are looking to create a different experience and enhance the city and their property downtown- then building a stadium downtown will be the way to go. Then it is just an issue of deciding how you want to move people and enhancing the rail line is an easy way to help both during the week and during the games. You could even allow tailgating at these rail lots either up by UB or down route 5 where the steel plants used to be and keep some of the experience. There is a ton of open spaces on rail lines to be used and the money generated could help offset some costs. I would not not expect them to look at infrastructure to get 60-80,000 fans out of downtown after a game. I would expect that they have parking for about 15-20,000 fans downtown- similar to a Sabre’s game. That means 30-40,000 by rail and some by bus routes/Uber. The big loss will be the RV lot - hoping to be replaced by hotel rooms right there and access to food, drinks, and the casino.

Basically exactly what I said earlier - this is such a non-issue and has nothing to do with the NFL front office or them trying to do anything. Clearly stated - the testing team automatically flags contracts where it has been >12 months. Not a league guy deciding this, but an independent organization. As I said - I believe they have a way to input these and not flag and something was missed. It it should be a non-issue or a positive that this oversight is in place.

Yeah - I just do not see the Big deal here. The NFL does not decide who gets drug tested - it is outside their control. When the info got entered - I am sure they have a way to flag things as 1 day fake contracts and this was probably missed - so it goes into the system - flags as >12 months and therefore becomes a nearly automatic testing needed. I look at this as a positive meaning these guys can’t fake retire miss a few weeks/4 months of testing and come back and not get immediately tested. Note: not sure what you are confused about sunshower - read the article and understand that it is an independent organization that runs the drug screens - not the NFL and there are CBA agreed criteria for testing and one is if it has been >12 months since the last test a flag automatically comes up.

Whether Crazy Carl says it or not - that is one of the major areas that was being discussed and makes a ton of sense with the other Pegula buildings in the area. If they extend the “subway” and the rail line - you could funnel the people in and out and maintain space for 20,000 people parking around the stadium. Plus with the hotels, food, bars, and casino - there are things to do after the game to enjoy the area. However they want to do it - there is already the beginning of growth in that area and using the stadium to help expand and solidify the growth makes sense. Using some of the harbor for Sept and October “parking” is another option and would make for some beautiful shots pre-game. With the Casino, the newer restaurants, and some of the newer hotels - a new stadium and probably some additional amenities would certainly add to the ambiance of the area. I get the appeal of a redo in Orchard Park, but I think that does the least for the long term viability and health of the team and the city. It makes so much more sense to continue the downtown push and then keep working on ways to bring additional companies into the fold. In the end - I don’t care - I will go to my 3 or 4 games a year - where they are and enjoy the game and the fans I love. I just hope as I get older - the facilities get better and more accommodating because the December games have gotten harder the last few years.

How about Peterman - he is in Roethlisberger class right? Practically the same arm strength, but Peterman is more mobile. Sarcasm off.

You could be absolutely correct. It also could have a lot to do with Brown being even better than expected at route running. I know many people thought it would be Brown at 1 WR and Foster at the other both running a bunch of go routes. I think Brown has shown versatility and both horizontal and vertical speed and they are using that. These routes are not as good for Foster and he is struggling. Late last year he was good on go routes and deep crossing and out routes, but seemed to struggle with other route combos. I think they want to get his attention and get him to “evolve” into a more complete WR. He needs to learn and get better at other routes and now is the time. Knock him down a peg and rebuild his confidence throughout camp.

I think he was talking McCarron and leaving Peterman as the starter.

Only because it was a weekend. Flagship station by backside. What a joke.

I found it interesting - mostly the fact that listening to coaches and players talk about the unmeasurable value. The fact that a good and efficient run game puts a bigger defense on the field to help open up the passing game and changes defenses scheme. Similarly a good passing attack can do the same thing for a teams running game. This is one of the reasons I like McD’s defensive approach to long athletic LBs - they can play both the run and the pass without much change helping the defense hide their intentions even a limited amount and gives some flexibility.

Beasley is also really good at running option routes and it is imperative that he and the QB see things the same way. I think Beasley is probably truly open on every play, but at specific times like right out of a break and it takes a lot of communication to ensure they see each other and can get into the right throw.

It is really hard on Day 1 of TC to even get the slightest clue on what an OLine or a DLine guy actually does. With no pads and no serious contact - the linemen are just learning simple technique. I know Astro said a few nice things, but listening to guys like Sal - he basically said there was no real point in watching interior linemen until the pads go on. Several guys did mention Hughes because of his speed, but that was it. Sal and Chris Brown also mentioned that Ford got the start because he was healthy throughout the minicamps and was the only RT not to miss time. He did not read much into Ford starting Day 1 unless it repeatedly happens throughout camp. On the other hand - Phillips was healthy throughout the minicamps and therefore should be ahead of Oliver with a years experience in the system and not missing time. I am not reading anything into Day 1, but if it does not change by Game 3 of the preseason - then people have some cause to wonder.

Yep - they also had Brandon Beane on earlier. That’s it. These guys are not always great, but they are significantly better than Schopp.

Had to change my radio.com app to the Rochester station. Not much better, but Schopp is just being stupid.

To me the first question is by what measure? Yards/points/plays/3 rd down efficiency? I think the Bills will field an excellent defense by most of those measures - probably top 5 in many categories and that is how I voted. I don’t think they are quite physical enough to be #1 across most categories. I think they will field a top flight pass defense and a good run defense. If the special teams and offense help out - then they could be great.

Said he would be working from home in Texas - outside Houston. It did not sound like he would be spending a ton of time in Buffalo unless needed. Sounded to me like a he will be another trusted set of eyes and ears around the league and a second base for scouts in the south to talk with.

I would not not want them to see eye to eye all the time or they would continue to make the same mistakes over and over. You really want them to have different opinions and neither have the ego to just say this is how it has to be, but really discuss what is best. Most importantly you do not need the Rex/Marone and Whaley or Brandon dynamic where one guy talks bad about the other to the owner and you end up with a horrible dynamic where discussion is squelched.

I really like both of these guys. Leadership is one of the hardest things to get right because everyone has egos and everyone wants things done “their” way. The quote: “You do have to be honest. We don’t always see eye to eye. You never are. There’s too many things,” Beane said. “I don’t see eye to eye with every scout I have. But we encourage people to say what’s on their mind and I think that gets you to the right answer. Don’t take it personal. And if you don’t take it personal you can get over it even if you disagree.” That is what true leadership is about. A great leader understands that discussion and communication make a stronger unit overall and that your team needs to be able to speak freely and truthfully and you need to listen. Great find Yolo.

Agree 100% - would love the Minnesota stadium - right down near the canal and waterfront. Give boats access in the summer and a whole new life to the area.

Disagree totally. Disney did not kill ESPN - new ways to get highlights and up to the minute scores killed ESPN. High Speed internet with every score, every goal, highlights killed ESPN. No need to watch Sportscenter because they have nothing to add to what you can see on your phone or tablet hours ago. With no need for Sportscenter - they had to adjust and how to adjust - just like news channels like CNN/Fox News/MSNBC - you make crap up and take controversial positions to get discussion. ESPN is not dead - it has morphed just like news and broadcasting because the info is now available faster and more accurately than they could ever produce. The things that made ESPN great are no longer needed or watched - so in reality you killed ESPN and I killed ESPN and everyone killed ESPN because of our demands for access to scores/highlights/and immediate feedback. ESPN, News Channels, local News, weather, they are all going the way of the Newspaper - dying a slow painful death at the hands of the internet. The issue is anyone - even Cian Fahey - can have an opinion and make news on the internet - so unlike the older methods more false garbage gets out dividing the people even more.

I am hoping this is a joke (bringbackfergy) type thread and not legitimate because it has all the markings: got me thinking, your thoughts, etc. If not - it has no bearing what so ever. First Toronto is part of the Buffalo market - so the Bills can block or get compensation if a team tries to move into downtown Toronto. Second there is the CFL - which has rights to the market and prevents any NFL team from calling any major city in Canada home via Canadian legislative rules. So No - any success by another team anywhere has little impact on the Bills, but especially Toronto. Now lets close this down and move on - my God!