BillnutinHouston

After a decent offensive 1st half, we get shut out and NE starts to roll. I think most will agree now that MM was not the answer. The problem is, TD will not hire any "answers", he wants lesser-known guys he can control. Ralph needs to kick TD upstairs and let him spend all his time on concessions & parking contracts. Let Modrak or someone from outside handle the football stuff (especially the scouting & drafting).

MM = Kay Stephenson ??

OK, here's my thinking: 1) We draft Willis with a #1 pick. The obvious thinking there is that the guy, when healthy, will be an all-world talent. The main criticism of the pick is, we already have a solid RB. Donahoe, smarter than us, tells us that good teams need 2 quality backs over the course of a season. OK, I can buy that. 2) In the preseason, we were told that there are enough carries available in a game to make both Travis & Willis happy. The presumptions behind that statement are a) that Willis is ready to play (he's dressed & active, right?) and B) that he's good enough to take some carries away from Travis. 3) 3 games into the season, the Bills are 0-3 and Willis has amassed about 5 carries. Shows good instincts, a "downhill" style and a nose for the goal line (in the preseason at least, not given an opportunity in a real game.) In 2 of the 3 losses, Travis makes a critical "slip" or missed block, yet Willis remains on the sidelines. 4) This team is systematically progressing toward "achieving" the first overall pick in the draft, or at least a top 5 pick. Makes you feel some hope for the future until you remember that we don't have our #1 next year. We are handing the Cowboys a great #1 pick. Time out, Tom. When you defended the Willis pick you said teams need 2 good runners. We aren't winning yet, but we only use 1 runner even after he slips and/or misses assignments. Shall we conclude from this that Willis is truly NOT as good as you thought? If he is, then why isn't YOUR coach using him? Are you afraid that his play will only support the critics' skepticism that he was picked way too high after his injury? Since we do not have a first rounder next year (yet are desperately in need of one), how can we make the most of the few chips we have? I think we need to play Willis, and play him now. Let's see what we TRULY have with this guy and if he is decent then one of them needs to be moved. TD kept saying that good teams need 2 quality backs but we have proven that WE ONLY USE ONE. How can we be any worse off by trading one of them away for some other talent that we desperately need? I say that we need to trade a guy who sits on the sidelines for a player that actually gets on the field. A radical concept, huh?

Classy

Still in love, but heartbroken.

Couldn't agree more Cable. Way too many good people turn into real jerks at the games. Apparently people think drunkenness is cool?

Yes you are right. I hope to GOD that Gray was not caving in to pressure from other people to come down to the sidelines. If he doesn't have enough confidence in himself to know how best to handle the defense, then we are really screwed.

Maybe Bills fans are just chronicy victims of too-lofty expectations. I for one would like to see us play at least .400 ball 3 years into the Tom Donahoe era. I guess I am guilty of having my expectations set too high?

After thinking about it a few minutes, I think this statement (question) might be more outrageous than anything Jerry Sullivan has ever written. Are you f'ing kidding me? Of course the game was in doubt - excuse me if I actually thought after 2 quarters that we could win this game. And excuse all the Bills fans paying good $$ week after week to support the team. To convey this attitude after a game that was tied at the half, at home, is outrageous. Of course the Bills franchise & fans have had a REALLY bad stretch of football to watch, but are they so conditioned to losing that the fans really come to the games KNOWING the Bills will lose? Do the players show up KNOWING they will lose? Am I the only one outraged by this?

BUMP the Sh$t out of this one! The guy can defense the run but is a flaming liability in coverage. I would MAYBE sign him to my strike team...

I guess the alternate title for this post could have been "I can't wait to tell you all how much of a drunken !@#$ I became at the Bills game yesterday." It's pretty sad that you are so clueless that you would post this. You don't even realize how stupid you looked to Mrs. Schobel yesterday.

When I was selling my house in Colden 3 years ago, my realtor came over and told me (bragged) he had just closed on Bledsoe's house in East Aurora. He lives about 5 miles away from where I did. I was going to say the name of the road just to show off, but given the current mental state of some of you Wallers, I don't think that's a good idea.

I disagree with the premise that the number of starters on the roster is the true test of a GM. Who cares if you're last 3 drafts yielded 20 starters, if those starters keep losing games? It's all about winning, baby. The GM puts together the scouting staff, head coach, and the talent on the field. The only true measure of a GM is wins & losses.

You're wrong - there is a big difference between the Chargers, Lions, Cardinals and us - they all have at least ONE WIN and we have NONE!

Tell me about it. This REALLY requires the love & support of the entire TSW family.

Don't make fun of the guy's big toe. I'm suffering through a gout attack right now and I have to walk with a cane it's so bad. Less mobile right now than Bledsoe.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha It is impossible to win a debate against a guy that will say anything that works in the moment! God bless President Bush and long live the truth!

Cool. I also recommend Tim Russert's book about his Dad. Although there is no mention of TBD or TSW, he devotes the entire final chapter to his beloved Bills and what they mean to his life. I have to admit I got a bit misty myself.

I like it. I like it a loooooooot.

OK, earlier this week I said Pats 20-17. Now in honor of Sue and her tough day today, I'm flipping that (a la John Kerry) and making it 20-17 Bills. Hang in there Sue, the board is with you. (P.S. - I was playing wiffle ball in my backyard - I was 8 years old and my Dad had just passed away.)

If I see the wave going when the Bills have the ball, I am going to be sick. I'll be 1200 miles away from the Ralph tomorrow, so I hope you guys have some ideas for how to stop it. I'd like to hear how you guys plan to put an end to this madness. It is an embarrassment to the whole franchise.

IMO, by the second year after you've picked your 1st rounder, the guy needs to be in the starting lineup, unless you are 2-time SB champions. When you have Wire, Shelton, Teague and Campbell on the field ALL the time, but your 1st rounder on the bench, it's no big mystery why you aren't winning.

Good post, thanks. "So I finally got off my ass today and watched the tape of the Oakland game" - funny, I liked that.

I agree, I think our TE's are sad. White TE's just don't do it for me. Also, it helps to have some hands.

That press conference was the most useful football reading I've ever done on this board. Period. Thanks for the post.