Rochesterfan

Couldn’t disagree more. It was never about color. The NFLPA and the NFL were studying if players wearing just 1 shell and padding set to get the best fit possible to reduced concussions. The issue with having 2 different color helmets was that it nearly always required a 2nd shell and although helmets are very close in size they were worried about proper fit and mostly proper tightness was missing. The way you can tell it was not about color was teams could paint the shells for a throwback game and paint them back, but for most teams the cost and missed practice time as they waited for the outer coating to dry was not worth it. The NFL and NFLPA must have decided that the number of concussions was not significantly reduced by 1 single shell that having a second shell was prohibitive and therefore agreed to make the change. We will see - once they add this data - they could eventually return to a single shell or stay with 2 - we will see how the seasons go.

Pretty sure this was part of their issue - the protocol was going to be very hard to enforce at SJF for the Bills and they recognized the amount of work it was going to take and decided that with everything already having been worked out at home and the protocol already having been approved there - safest and easiest move.

Everything you said is fine. Let’s take a peek at some things though. Police officers saw a suicide rate of around 17 per 100,000 All youth suicide rate is running 18 per 100,000 LGBT+ youth is running between 4-5 times higher than their peers or ~60 - 100 per 100,000. LGBT+ suicide rates go up with harassment at school, being in a rejecting home, and being in a rejecting state. Each episode of harassment raises the suicide rate for that individual by 2-3% and makes them more likely to be bullied and harassed again. Gay marriage and other legalization efforts have actually cut the rate of suicide in LGBT+ youths significantly and in studies prior to and after legalization the numbers drop significantly as states adopted gay marriage. Globally in countries that accept LGBT+ people and offer protection and legal marriage - the suicide rate is as much as 20% lower and brings LGBT+ youths in line with the all youths suicide rate in those countries. For most kids - suicide seems to be caused by “not fitting in” - being bullied, being different and not being accepted and that is especially true of LGBT+ kids. You are absolutely correct - it does get better, but for these kids even having 1 or 2 role models in non-traditional places can open their eyes and can allow them to maybe seek that help that they need. The Trevor Project does that for LGBT+ youths - much as the police have a suicide program that you discussed.

Probably fairly accurate. If you look up weather averages of metropolitan areas - Buffalo is #2 of the top 51 US cities for snowfall behind only Rochester. It is also the #2 windiest metropolitan city during the winter months ahead of all the other northern cities and right in line with Boston. Therefore - although many other cities in the Northeast - NE, Chicago, GB, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and NY/NJ - none of them combine both the snow and the wind of Buffalo. It is especially bad because Orchard Park gets even more snow than Buffalo because of the Lake. Places like GB, Chicago and Pittsburgh get the freezing cold temps, but teams can play in cold temps with little impact. The large amounts of snow and the wind both have the ability to impact games and they also lessen significantly the crowd noise and size - thereby reducing our home field advantage. Therefore as we have seen in recent years - the number of games impacted by weather is Buffalo (especially wind) is already higher than most places and then we built the stadium in a spot that is even more impacted by weather as OP gets both more wind and more snow than downtown. We saw what happened when the team was good in the 90 and had deep playoff runs - we had many late season games - including playoff games - that did not sell out and had empty seats. Then through the drought it was worse. Now we are extending the season later into the more snowy months of January and playoff games into potentially February- it is likely to become even more of a factor. I get that people want weather to be a part of things, but for me - I prefer to see the game played at a higher level and really don’t want to see games negatively impacted because of wind gusts or snow that covers the field. Buffalo I one of the only NFL cites that gets the double whammy of Snow and wind. Even Cleveland with its location on the lake provides protection of the stadium from snow.

although I agree with the 🤦‍♂️ On some of this - at least it is being discussed. Much like race - sexual orientation cannot progress without honest discussion and trying to find a common ground. The fact that even with some total disagreement- we see many people being accepting, but having different perspectives see @Simonand @GunnerBill - at least they can have that discussion. Race has been much harder and much more ingrained, but as we as a country must have some frank, honest talks - it helps moves things along. The worst thing we can do (and it is a huge part of race culture) is provide lip service without action or discussion. It is uncomfortable to talk about - let’s basically ignore it and hope it goes away. There are many, many more supportive people out there than people realize, but because a subject is touchy or uncomfortable or quite frankly they do not have a stake in the pot - they just sit quietly on the side and let these subjects flow by. I don’t agree with some big parts that have been said, but I think it also provided some healthy conversations and I learned a bit more about my fellow TBDers and have even more respect for certain posters like @GunnerBillfor his part in the overall discussion. So for me the absolute best part of Nassib coming out - especially in his quiet and understated way - was the discussion that followed and if that kind of discussion can go on here - where else can it happen that has a true impact on people’s lives.

You do help pay for the theater with ticket prices, concession prices, and typically they get a nice discounted tax rate to build because of the sales tax they bring in - so your taxes help fund that discount they receive. They get a better interest rate - making your interest rate worse to help fund. They get tons and tons of incentives to build and all of that comes from you. Pegula is working with everyone to fund the stadium - just as he should be. He should get some NFL funding, some state funding, some county funding, and some of his own money. It seems like he is making choices based on exactly what he thinks works in this area and you are bashing him - just crazy. I think they will use a bunch of means to get money - PSLs, a tax hike, a user fee on tickets and parking, taxes on gambling/betting, a hotel tax, etc to fund what they need. Just like the movie theater- you and all of us will be paying and I am fine with that. I would be better if they were building a better, bigger stadium downtown that could serve multiple functions and help bring a Super Bowl as they grow the area. Basically the current design locks that out as a future option, but is more fiscally responsible.

Hate that for any young player - even one with that name. Take the year - recover 100% and come back strong for next year.

Why it matters!

Why do they need to come out - who cares! Read a little bit about players that have come out after their playing career - how hard it was hiding who they were because they felt different and alone. Look up Ryan O’Callaghan and his story. He knew he was gay, but couldn’t share it with anyone - he was a football player - manly. His plan was to finish playing and then to kill himself rather than admit who he was. It took one coach taking an interest and talking to him - getting him to open up and basically tell him - he is fine and ok. Once voice changed his life and moved him from a path of darkness and suicide to finishing his career and becoming more vocal. Maybe guys like Sam, Nassib, O’Callaghan, Tuaolo, etc. become that voice for others that are struggling in the NFL or college with these thoughts. They also give voice and strength to help others outside of football get talking points to have open dialogue with others - just like we are having here. One day it will be accepted and will not need to be discussed, but it can’t get there until can engage in the dialogue without fear and we are not there yet.

I disagree - they should be celebrated because their courage may/should allow other that are in a lesser position feel they are not alone. LGBTQ+ suicide rates are terrible - they feel alone and ostracized many times. They hide who they are out of fear. Having someone come out in a field like football or the military shows people they are not alone and that it isn’t just theater majors or drama or quiet hidden people that might be like them, but people that have made it into all walks of life. These men and women in sports and CEOs and actors and everyday people that choose to come out should be celebrated to remind everyone that we are all unique, but there are others that think like you - feel like you - you are never alone.

Michael Sam - should be celebrated - especially as he was brave enough and supported enough to come out in college and be the first openly gay player drafted - quite an accomplishment on its own! Carl Nassib opening up while an active NFL player is on a different level than Sam I believe and I hope this allows others in the future to have a path to coming out. Both should be celebrated for giving a voice/place to others and I look forward to the day that this isn’t news - just something that is natural.

I don’t believe Michael Sam ever played and active down in the NFL. I believe he was drafted late (7th rd I think) by the Rams and failed to make their squad and was cut prior to the 1st game. I think Dallas put him on their practice squad for a bit, but he was never and active player. Sam does hold the distinction of being the first openly gay player drafted (and good for him), but not the first active NFL player to come out - nor the first openly gay player to play a live game - that falls to Carl for right now - unless someone else follows his lead.

Josh’s face or the puppy?

Don’t feed the troll - let him starve.

My guess is to look at the club seats. Buffalo already has PSLs on club seats - rolled right into the price. The team has been studying this and moving this way for years because the PSL money goes right to the team versus the ticket that is split revenue. I would imagine that even if they decide to stick with Highmark Stadium - if they upgrade things again and go that route - PSLs will be expanded there anyway. It is another untapped revenue stream that Buffalo will be tapping into as soon as they can.

We are all just talking about Bell, but it is obvious we are all talking about the wrong ex-Steeler. The OP was talking about Levon Kirkland the former LB and he made the wrong choice to retire years ago. If he was talking about Bell and mangled his name - he would of come back and corrected the title - a simple fix that would have moved the thread along, but leaving it as Levon - me must be talking about someone else. 🤦‍♂️

Does your good friend do any SKYDIVING by any chance? Maybe does you friend have NASA connection throughout Alabama? LOL

Then why keep playing with that attitude? Actually with that attitude it shows you lack the drive to most likely make it in the NFL long term as these guys for the most part are highly driven and do all sorts of crazy things to stay in the league - highly controversial and more potentially dangerous than vaccination- like hitting Europe or the Caribbean for Stem cell injections, weird supplements and HGH injections. If a vaccine that has been shown to be highly effective and have very little side effects through millions and millions of injections - especially when compared to the disease you are vaccinating against - would have you retire, but the risk of long term injury by playing keeps you in the league - your priorities are all wrong from the beginning.

Based upon available data the NFL is already pushing 60% for most teams. This latest release of protocols (approved by both the NFL and NFLPA) will push it easily toward the 85% goal that the NFL has floated to teams to begin fully operating as per 2020. Tasker said it on One Bills Live - Then you will see a few camp bodies (that have decided not to get a shot) will find themselves being cut to get to the required %. My guess is by mid-training camp you are pushing 85-95% for most teams - with a few stragglers. The fun part will be that first player that refused the shot that gets exposed and misses time and gets fined a game check - that will move a few more into the getting stuck group.

That could be, but he was never as bad as some chose to make him. He has had a winning record every year after his rookie season, he has been close to 65% completions and 2:1 TD:Int rate. He has posted close to a 90 QB rating for his career. He was just never going to live up to the expectations of a #2 pick over Mahomes and Watson. The team and the FO never really did him many favors to help the offense thrive. He has actually been equal to or better than Mayfield as a starting QB on the field, but Cleveland is not moving on from him. The biggest difference is Chicago was looking to move on after struggles early in year 3 and never committed to him and Cleveland went out and got a third coach to try and build an offense that Mayfield can be successful in.

I think they wanted to give Josh an extra day to work on his pitching. Got to be ready for the photo op. LOL

Which is the exact reason they are making the rules the way they are. Harsh rules “to protect you” if you are not vaccinated and lax rules if you are. We are not mandating that you must get vaccinated, but your life will return to normal sooner if you do. Everything will be fine until the first Tennessee style outbreak on a team with fewer vaccinated folks and a lack of available PS players to call up. Once it costs a team a game or two - then stuff gets real.

I don’t disagree with what you said - I just wouldn’t personally sign him. I totally agree that he will most likely have to take a minimum/low salary to rehabilitate himself. I am just not sure he cares enough about football to do that well.

I am saying - I wouldn’t even bring him in at vet minimum. He wasn’t motivated to perform in NY with a big salary or KC on a championship level team - I don’t see him being more motivated to come in and play for a minimum/low salary for a coach that wants you to earn your playing time. I see him taking the money from some team - complaining about being underutilized and thinking it is once again an issue with the 4th different team that is the problem.

My issue with this is wasn’t that what KC was supposed to be. He was paid by the NYJ - signed a deal in KC to get a shot at a ring and show he could still play. He couldn’t beat out an UDFA when CEH was injured and then threw the coach under the bus. KC teammates then came to Reid’s defense and basically said “He didn’t work hard enough and if there were issues to look in the mirror”. Not a ringing endorsement of Bell. Then assume you sign him for “pennies” - even 2.5 million or less - how motivated is he really going to be to come to another team and play on a cheap deal? He was not real motivated on a championship team last year. He blasted a pretty player friendly coach that most guys really seem to love to play for. If you got Bell of 4-5 years ago - a guy that seemed motivated and still wanted to be the best - that would be a guy I offer a cheap contract and hope to revive. The current Bell showed money was most important when he walked away from Pittsburgh and threw that team under the bus. Then in NY after signing a huge deal - he was never able to do anything and threw that team under a bus. KC was supposed to be the perfect fit - an offensive HC coming off a championship. A team that likes to use RBs both running and catching the ball. A near perfect fit and Bell couldn’t get into that team having nearly 1/2 a season to pick things up.