Gray Beard

"We sat down with legendary NFL quarterback Jim Kelly, winner of more than 100 games during his career. Kelly also did something that no other QB in history has ever achieved: He led his team to four consecutive Super Bowls -- but he lost every single one of them. So would Kelly trade his historic record for a single big-game-victory? We'll ask him."

Great interview. Makes me like the guy even more. Nice T-shirt, too.

In honor of your 4000th post, why don't you tell us how you really feel?

I am a fan of Alicia Keys, but I am not too sure I am going to like her singing the National Anthem. I get upset at performers when they try to personalize the song to fit their style. I find the straightforward renditions done by local cops or military folks often are the best. I think NASCAR does a good job getting somebody to treat the song with respect, and to sing it with minimal embellishments.

I've been thinking that as well. Donte Whitner has proven to be a decent player, but he never lived up to the hype. I won't be too upset if they draft Nassib at #8, but it is a long stretch to think that is where he should be drafted, and I will immediately be wondering who they could have/should have picked instead. The "home grown" aspect is the only reason why they would take him that early. If it was somebody other than his former coach, there is no way that he would get picked that high. I really don't think they will, but I won't be too surprised if they do.

Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, and Tyler Wilson may all be better than Nassib, but will they be there at the 8th pick? Nix said that if there is a QB you want in round 2, you should take him in round 1. I think he has a point. Don't get cute with this stuff. It is very rare that a pick is a sure thing, especially after the first one or two picks in the draft. The eighth pick is not likely to be somebody that all the fans, team management, and TV talking heads agree on. You may as well take a gamble and reach a little if there is a guy you want.

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I liked Marrone at Syracuse and I was a little upset that he left. Apparently if the Bills didn't hire him, there were other teams interested so he may have ended up leaving Syracuse anyway. If it is true that other teams were interested, then I think the Bills deserve a little more respect for the choice. I am optimistic about the fact that Marrone is a young guy with energy. I hope to see him getting into players' and refs' faces every so often on the sidelines. That would be a HUGE departure from the last few Bills coaches, and I think it would send a powerful message that things are changing. I like the idea of hiring guys off the Jets coaching staff for the defense, I expect that to make a difference right away. I agree that the Hackett choice for OC AND QB Coach is baffling. When they announced this decision, I was disappointed. I am nervous that the Bills will go from last year's complex offense and simple defense to next year's simple offense and complex defense. I also believe there will be a new QB to go with the new OC, so they will both be learning together. If they draft Nassib at #8 I think this board will explode with all the anger and disgust. I won't mind, it just means that the Bills are putting all their eggs in one basket, and it will be interesting to see how the season develops. They will all sink or swim together.

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Thank you for this. A pretty impressive analysis for something that you said was done quickly. I have casually watched a few Syracuse games over the past few years and I can tell that there was a huge difference with Marrone and Nassib compared to the earlier group. I never understood the point of having Paulus be a starting quarterback with only one year of eligibility. I don't know if you noticed or mentioned that the Syracuse receivers drop a lot of good passes. College receivers are definately a weakness in the game compared to the pros, and in Syracuse it was pretty obvious that they weren't very reliable.

Did Syracuse loss Become a Buffalo Gain Or did they both lose? I don't remember A young Bills coach before now The new era starts

Last season people on this forum were saying that a 13 year-old playing Madden could call plays better than Chan. It looks like next season we will get to see if that's true.

100% correct analysis!

My pet peeve is the blackout rule. Why is it extended all the way to Syracuse (and thus Utica because of a lack of CBS stations in central NY)? Whether I go to a game or not has NOTHING to do with the blackout rule. All the blackout does is make me think that the people running the franchise are out of touch and greedy.

I agree! I am flipping channels and waiting for the second half. I also refuse to sit through Lou Holtz during ESPN college halftime shows. Did I just say that Erin Andrews and Lou Holtz are equally annoying? I think I did, and I think I meant it.

Landry Jones > Ryan Fitzpatrick

I've got an observation and a question. Last year everyone agreed that Luck and RG3 were the best choices for QB, and so far that seems to be the case. However, there were also several QBs such as Tannehill, Cousins and Wilson who were taken later in the draft and so far they don't look too bad. People say that there are no QBs available this year as desireable as Luck or RG3. OK, but there must be some QBs that are as desireable as Tannehill, Cousins or Wilson. If so, who are they, and which ones should the Bills go for? Mobile, quick release and smart, but maybe not quite as big or without quite the arm strength that we would want.

I don't have an opinion regarding whether cutting Moorman was good or bad, but I want to mention that Moorman punted in a dome for home games, and the schedule had more home games for Dallas in the second half of the season when the weather is worse.

I keep dreaming that kyle williams would hit tom brady like that.

Trent Edwards played scared after getting hit in the head twice within a three game stretch. Fitz didn't seem to play scared after the London Fletcher hit, but his accuracy went from bad to worse and he never seemed the same, even a year later. Was he just always that bad, or did the hit by Fletcher cause some sort of musculoskeletal injury that has had a lasting effect?

I have a graduate degree from Syracuse and I work in the Syracuse area. I am a fan of Syracuse sports. I truly hope that Marrone stays in Syracuse. I also believe that if he ends up as an NFL coach, it will not be met with enthusiasm. Kind of like having a coach with some NFL experience and some college experience from Georgia Tech being named head coach. Underwhelming.

If Fitz isn't starting, then who is? A rookie or somebody else's cast-off? What type of offense is being run? Who are the receivers? I would keep Fitz for the QB competition in camp for less money. I also hope a better alternative is available soon.

Does this imply Wannstedt also? I feel his job on defense was the worst part of the team this past year. He also does not have the "good guy" image that Gailey has, so even though I feel that Gailey tried hard and deserves to be treated with respect, I have less of those feelings in regard to Wannstedt.

If I only had a brain - Wizard of Oz