Richard Noggin

First time for everything, they say.

No, go on...

Size queen.

I'll raise you one Eric Wood.

So...what did Adam Schein actually say? In what ways will Josh Allen resemble Carson Wentz? I can't listen right now, and reading this thread is painful, thanks to the textbook troll offensive.

Cam tried acting like it was a modern NBA game...being all smiles and backslaps and brotherhood and whatnot. KB was all NFL and short careers and limited payday opportunities (if you get drafted by a team with an inaccurate QB) and such. How I see it anyways. I like animosity in my professional athletes. Cuts through the whole millionaire thing real sharp like.

Yes. As I watched the 2nd quarter I thought: the Bills second unit is comprised of either mediocre/bad starters or young/unproven guys. Newhouse and Bodine are just poopy starters, but might be solid depth. Teller looked strong, but inexperienced. The right side is a little muddier, but a team only really needs both a solid interior and exterior backup... Another tackle with promise would be nice, in a better world.

No...that's a reasonable idea to at least explore. I've heard it mentioned once or twice in various outlets, but no one ever pursues the notion. Seems like college ball IS the minors for the NFL. Maybe most players are too physically used up by their mid twenties to make substantial leaps in production? Of course a few guys here and there just haven't had a real opportunity where health and playing time have coincided often enough for them to show their abilities...I mean Freddie Jackson needed NFL Europe to really get noticed. But staying healthy and continuing to fight for a chance is just such a crapshoot with the brutality of the game (even in its kindler, gentler current incantation). In short, I like the thought.

Yes. Taron Johnson looked a bit behind. Didn't get a solid read on Gaines's performance with the 1s, though.

Freudian slip? We're all a bit traumatized from past regimes, but it's important we don't live in the past.

Agreed. Likewise with several local reporters. But it's possible that a new regime, aggressive ownership, and a new influx of actual talent has football people thinking differently about the team...

Or, the Bills aren't the tire fire they were in past seasons he covered them?

If I may respectfully counter this argument that the Bills are "set" at the edge rusher position: When was Jerry Hughes fairly/consistently successful (measurably) in his career? Was it ever as a #1 pass rusher? I'd argue that Hughes is a luxurious #2 rusher (like, when that big guy with the mega deal was on the team), and a middling #1 guy (I like him, but he's not elite...and he's not young). I'd also argue that Murphy showed some promise in one season, then got hurt, and is currently dealing with the nagging limitations many guys face while working their ways back onto the field. There's a first-rounder behind them who might provide serviceable rotational depth, but will never be elite. If this paragraph sounds reasonable to you, and I sincerely hope it does, then one could argue that the Bills should look to upgrade the position.

Because I don't know if they should do it, without knowing contract parameters, how far away the offense is from being even watchable, and how likely it is that their most recent 1st rounder will develop into something. Pass rushers matter, but the Bills went down this road throughout the drought. The evidence tells us to think long and hard about such a move.

That depends. Can Botterill loan Beane some of the Sabres draft capital next year? Like a professional soccer thing: I'd bet the Pegulas would pay the Pegulas a handsome sum for another 1st rounder or two (Sabres have THREE picks in the first round in '19, ftr).

There are recent examples of first round QBs who didn't immediately start, who nonetheless ended up being quality players. Would it terribly upset you if the team trotted out a different QB to face the road gauntlet of their first half schedule, before giving way to Allen at some point midseason? I agree with the first half of your sentence. The second half needs more examination. Preseason games will certainly help fill in some of the blanks. I have a strong suspicion that McDermott is just too dang methodical to let it rip with the rook at the start of the season.

This is a smart observation. Although I'd argue the current roster has a blend of age, measurables, and draft statuses. But for the sake of argument, if the GM is indeed trying to amass a roster of big, tall, and fast athletes, first and foremost...does that mean it's now up to the coaching staff to put them in positions to succeed?

The untapped coaching and scouting talent on this board is, indeed...something. People seem awfully convinced of their own opinions, which is a troubling trend... (And...here's the scholarly origin of this phenomenon made VERY relevant in recent years.) http://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-15054-002 Abstract People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden: Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it. Across 4 studies, the authors found that participants scoring in the bottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grossly overestimated their test performance and ability. Although their test scores put them in the 12th percentile, they estimated themselves to be in the 62nd. Several analyses linked this miscalibration to deficits in metacognitive skill, or the capacity to distinguish accuracy from error. Paradoxically, improving the skills of the participants, and thus increasing their metacognitive competence, helped them recognize the limitations of their abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

A few on here are responding VERY negatively to a surprisingly candid, albeit unwise, admission from a young professional athlete. What's the deal with THEM?

That Brady example is tricky, of course. He wasn't TB12 for many years in the NFL. He had to work for years to improve as a passer, not unlike Rodgers in GB (who did most of his work as a backup). The DRAMATIC improvement that certain QBs have made over the years (w/r/t decision-making and mechanics), while other prospects have concurrently flamed out, is difficult to analyze and apply.

It seems unlikely the Rams intend to trade Donald. There is NO indication that's on the horizon. Signing Suh is a complimentary, not supplementary, move. Less Snead has compiled a win-now roster, and trading Donald works counter to that momentum, AND jettisons the MOST disruptive interior DL talent in the NFL. Doesn't add up.

Walter Sobchak: You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don't wanna know about it, believe me. The Dude: Yeah, but Walter... Walter Sobchak: Hell, I can get you a toe by ***looks at his watch*** 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish.

He meant "Before Madonna(s)," obviously. Like, circa Chuck Knox--and earlier--era players.

That's a scary analysis. Try PBS, then, for the sake of our democracy. And cheers!

I'm not sure that's how we should be evaluating news outlets. If it's highly entertaining to a very specific demographic, and laughable/scary to the rest of the populace, that isn't really a marker of high credibility.