Success

I was surprised - I saw some interview recently from the playoffs last year, and Edelman was really rooting for the Bills. If I recall correctly, he was even hoping they'd win over Brady. He had a lot of praise for our fans and the atmosphere in Buffalo.

Football is BIG money. I don't know why people get negative emojis for suggesting that Beasley be cut or traded. I mean, I'd hate to lose him too - but I'd hate to lose a season we've been waiting for literally for decades because of him. I find it embarrassing that the Bills are on the low end of this. These guys go out there every week and risk their long-term health...and they're afraid to get a vaccine? I don't really find it acceptable. I'm not for mandating it, but they're putting other people's jobs in jeopardy, and could potentially ruin the hard work of many to get the Bills back in this position, after many years. We'll just have to see how the season plays out. Last year, I was pleasantly surprised. This year, some of the protocols are much more strict. It could really cost this team.

I haven't read through the whole thread - but the "rings" argument is a bad one. There is the obvious "Is Dilfer better than Marino?" But beyond that, this isn't tennis or golf, or even basketball. Put Brady on the Packers w/ McCarthy as his coach and a less sound team overall - does he have more rings than Rogers? Does BB only have 1 ring if Rogers is his QB instead of Brady? A lot of things went wrong for Kelly to not have any rings - and most of those were things out of his control. If Norwood makes that FG, what happens? Do they easily handle the Redskins the next year, and then split w/ the Cowboys because a 10,000 lb. monkey isn't on their back at that point?

I heard other fans comment on that after a few games last year where they interviewed both guys together. It's one of the things that has helped create a personality for this team. At least right now, the Bills are pretty easy to root for.

Looks like I'm going to the pub for the opener...

Maybe - and I'd love to think that. But I also remember when the Patriots were plucky underdogs. Even I rooted for them against the Rams, and I need therapy about that team now. But you never know. It is a likable team. BB was responsible for a lot of the disdain for NE.

This is the progression. 1) We're a bad team, and no one notices us. 2) We're a good team, and no one notices us 3) We're a good team, and people are talking about us 4) We're a good team, and people think we'll win the Super Bowl 5) We're a good team, and everyone hates us

Just a head's up: if we win the Super Bowl, I may drink a bit.

I'm actually more excited about seeing where & how he improves. The trajectory is clear. I think he's only going to get better.

I've gotta believe every single poster here would be disappointed w/ anything less than a trip to the show. Everything has kind of built up to this year. The build-up feels almost identical to '90 in some ways. We've filled all the holes, and have great players in just about every unit on the field. Allen is being talked about as a potential MVP, and when any media conversation turns to the SB, you can bet Buffalo will be mentioned. Let's take in every single minute of this season. It will be one for the ages.

No one does the QB hype machine better than New England. Catching lightning in a bottle 2 decades ago has made pundits abandon reason when it comes to up & coming QB's in NE. Remember when Jimmy G was there? He's turned out okay, but he was going to be as good as Brady. They kept leaking things out of camp about how unstoppable he'd be. Then Stidham. Again - then it was Stidham. The hype on that guy was overboard - BB had done it again w/ another non-1st rounder. Then they got Cam, and he was going to be back in MVP form w/ BB as coach. Now it's Jones. I actually got scared a bit & watched all of his highlights, and a replay of the Pats/Giants preseason game. I mean, he was certainly fine - but I've seen WAY too many QB's look amazing in preseason. I remember thinking Van Pelt could seamless replace Kelly because of how good he had looked. You can't gauge anything off of preseason. 2nd & 3rd team defenses, giving QB's no exotic looks or complicated packages. Let's see Jones once he has to face a real pass rush and a defense he's never seen.

I appreciate the response & agree - but have to take issue with your characterization of Wright as a "reporter." Sadly, Bayless is the guy that people now aspire to be. Make millions by trolling.

I mean, that immediately delegitimizes a poll like that. It's like they base it on traditionally "good" teams. If Pats fans had to go through the kind of drought the Bills did, about 75% of them would have been on to the Sox or Celtics by now. There is no comparison.

Man, I hope you're right. They have one of the best O-lines in the league, a very solid defense, and probably one of the better running games. I think the Pats are going to be a tough out.

I used to be a fan. He's tough to listen to now. It's ironic w/ him & other Boston fans. They became pretty much everything that they couldn't stand about Yankees fans 20 years ago.

I check their boards - and some of their national pundits like Bill Simmons are way over the top about him. They had Brady SO long. They forgot what it's like to look at QB's in the preseason, and don't seem to understand that even Nate Peterman looked like an all pro against basic defenses and 2nd teams.

Patriots fan narrative is already that they have the best QB in the division. Didn't we already go through this w/ Jimmy G and Stidham? Every fanbase has homers (and I am proudly one), but I think New England delusion goes up that extra notch. I hope Jones has the most middlin' career of all time. Does enough good so they don't move on, but is so average that they never win anything meaningful.

Makes sense. Thank you. I truly hope we are not at 68% or close to that.

I'm curious where we are %-wise. We were supposedly around 80%, and some were saying that would drop further w/ the cuts (not sure why).

That's true. I'm all hot-takey today. I'll settle in.

I think the protocols are much more strict this year - especially w/ basically 2 classes of NFL player now, based on vaccination. I hope I'm very wrong on this. Losing 5 days for "close contact" just isn't good for our team or any team. I'm not saying Beasley is the only one who runs that risk, but it doesn't look like the Bills took that into consideration at all.

I was kind of hoping they'd go w/ Hodgins. I love Beasley - but really hope they don't regret this. With the NFL protocols, he could miss all kinds of time, just for walking by people.

I'm not sure if a Bills board is a good spot for a Pats fan to get into "BB is the best EVAH" and "Mac Jones is the next Brady!" kinds of debates. Don't they talk about that stuff on Pats boards?

I guess I'm more concerned that most about that. BB is still BB. He is a great coach. He'll have a great running game, an excellent defense, and probably the best O-line in the league to protect the rookie. Granted, a lot will come down to just that - a rookie QB. Which doesn't usually pan out. But BB will put him in a position to succeed, and won't ask too much of him. They'll be competitive. I don't know about playoffs, but if a few bounces go there way....

BB had a team that went 18-1 the previous year. It was a huge dropoff from that year.