Gray Beard

you might be streeted by a torpedo for putting this in the wrong forum, which would be off-time jive IMHO. I kind of like Banana Oil! as an exclamation.

I agree that you have to break it up into time frames. We may be on the cusp of a new era with mobile guys like Newton, Wilson, Kaepernick, RG3, etc. Speaking of mobile guys, what about Fran Tarkenton?

I have always like Peyton. For some reason, I am starting to hear more and more people say that they don't like him and wish he would go away. These same people seem to think Brady is wonderful. I don't get it. I will root for the Broncos if they get in, or I will root for whoever the NFC team is if the Patriots get in.

When did Ralph say "we want a runner that won't get injured"? He may have phrased it a little weird, but the idea was spot on. And Lynch would have filled that requirement very well.

Brady has always had the benefit of possesion receivers to rely on. Edelman, Amendola this year. Welker, Gronk and Hernandez in the past. Rarely does he pass the ball more than 10 or 15 yards. In yesterday's game, Luck kept the game close for a while with the benefit of a few huge plays. That won't beat a team that can mix ground and pound with possesion receivers.

The trouble with guys like Polumalu and Ed Reed is that after their first few years they were often hurt. When you play with reckless abandon, you are often throwing your body through the air at full speed to make a play on a guy who is also going full speed. And many times, that other guy is bigger than you. Earl Thomas took a few hits yesterday, and if he continues to play that way he will also start being out of the game with injuries quite often. I don't know how to balance the fact that top safeties play in a way that often gets them hurt, but if they slow down and avoid some of the crazy diving and collision plays, they may not be in the "game changer" category as much, but they can have a longer career with a more reliable level of play. I think this is a big factor for why Byrd is so reluctant to play without a long term deal. Pay the man.

I'll make an argument against BPA: CJ Spiller.He was lauded as BPA and therefore a good pick. I believe that a road grading O Lineman, a run stopping LB, a versatile DE, a big mean WR, a TE with good hands and reasonable speed are all much, much, much more useful than a waterbug back. That is true now, and that was true then. I was depressed about that pick then, and I stand by my belief that it was the wrong pick at the time. Chan got reasonable productivity out of him, but he was rarely the electric, game changing, multifaceted threat that everyone said he would be. As far as backs are concerned, FJ is the prototype. Reasonable speed, good blocker, doesn't go down after the first hit, good hands. I hope that this year the Bills realize that they need to find his successor and it should be a priority in later rounds or as a UDFA. PS. I am not optimistic about EJ, but it is too early to really know.

CJ Spiller made his name at Clemson by outrunning the defense around the end. In the NFL he eventually realized he couldn't get away with that.

I think that is what got him cut last year. He kept going for touchbacks instead of coffin corner or high and downable inside the 10 yard line. I think there are many times when getting a touchback is smarter than relying on a lousy ST squad to make a play.

I've always suspected that the vast majority of athletes who make it into professional sports are actually somewhat intelligent. I'm not saying that they graduated from college, or could graduate from college, but they have to be smart enough to perform with a variety of coaches and systems, they have to understand instructions, they have to go places with little supervision, and in general they have to have a little common sense. Not all pros demonstrate these characteristics, but a majority of them do. What scares me is the kids who THINK they are good enough to go pro, and they really aren't good enough due to either mental or physical shortcomings that are not severe enough to prevent them from excelling in high school or college, but they just don't have what it takes to go pro. Those kids will soon become unemployed and bad things await. My son was a good football player in high school and he played a little in college. He realized that he could not get a worthwhile college degree in a reasonable number of years while also playing football. He also tore his ACL and had to have surgery. He ended up graduating with a nursing degree, passed his RN exam, and is now making a decent living at a local hospital. He has friends who stayed with football and basketball in small schools and graduated with pretty worthless degrees. One is working for the town as a laborer (he had family connections) and the other is working at a grocery store and hopes to someday become a butcher. These were not the lives that these boys envisioned when they went off to college, but with luck they will turn out ok and be able to be self sufficient in a few years.

My father in law likes the Giants. The Giants and Bills are televised in my area. I like Eli and Coughlin. I want to like the Giants, but it's hard.

Thanks for posting. He knows that as a little guy, he MUST tackle by wrapping up the legs. Reminds me of Antoine Winfield.

wait. we're talking about Manziel, not Manuel. Manziel is more like Ryan Leaf part II

I agree with this. I remember when Tim Graham and Lori used to post. For some reason, people like to attack the people with inside information. I'm surprised Wawrow still posts occasionally. He gets abused every time. It ain't right. These people have to walk a tightrope between asking tough questions and ticking people off, or keeping information private until it is the proper time to divulge it. Yet for some reason, they would get abused on this forum for not being more open, or asking tougher questions, or otherwise behaving in ways that would be professional suicide.

I'm already sick of the Olympics hype and it doesn't even start for another month.

I am as disappointed as anyone the Crossman wasn't canned, however could the problems be caused by a lack of emphasis during practice? Could the special teams be relegated to the last 15 minutes of practice with little concern from the entire coaching staff? How hard is it to tell these guys to stay in their lanes and wrap up when they tackle? I'm sure that I am over simplifying, and believe me I have no desire to look for excuses for anybody.

I saw a lot of running backs that refuse to be tackled and move the pile. I think the Bills need to seriously address that position. You don't necessarily have to draft a running back (and definitely not in the first three rounds) but nonetheless,that is a position of need for the Bills imho.

My son regifted a Bills calendar to me this Christmas (he got if from his secret santa at work). On the cover was TJ. The January picture is Mark Anderson. It's going to be a long year.

Thank you.

The other team's fans quickly realize that they are out numbered so they have to suck it up and move on. I would guess that very few of them actually think it is funny.

Can rehab include building up the muscle around the knee to provide strength? Can a knee brace help? What about an elastic or neoprene sleeve type of brace? My son tore his ACL playing football in college over five years ago. He had surgery from a place with a very good reputation. He is able to do most athletic activities just fine, but he says it is still numb and it makes him uneasy because he doesn't get any feedback if he twists or jars it.

Yes. Something I never understood.

Saves the Giants from firing him. A class move in my humble opinion.

marrone: 50% chance of being good. manuel: 50% chance of being good, 10% chance of being good enough to carry the team.