Ethan in Cleveland

Why wouldn't the Bills get the close calls? Bills have as many if not more star players if you buy the star player gets the calls argument. Why would they favor the Jets? Because Rich Eisen is a Jets fan? Seriously please expound on why you think the refs will favor the Jets.

That's different than saying the refs will favor the Jets because it is a nationally televised game in NYC with Aaron Rodgers. One is basic football and the other is conspiracy nonsense.

Agree. Smith is better than Simpson in terms of Bills all time players. Simpson was an amazing combination of strength and speed just as Smith was. But Smith's longevity and the dominance for his position is unmatched. That said, Simpson 2003 yards in 14 games is still the best single season by a Bill.

Agree with above but some of the most mobile QBs are also some of the most frequently sacked ..Vick and Wilson come to mind.

Well as you probably know I would not have paid Oliver either but that is a different issue. And yes what you describe is exactly what you do with running backs. That's why they hate the current system. They are easy to replace and there is little upside to signing them to a big second contract. Perhaps the exception is McCaffrey but the jury is still out if he can stay healthy.

You lose all credibility when you bring officiating conspiracy into your arguments. Stick with rationale arguments. As for pressure, you don't think Saleh is under pressure too? The media and GM have set him up for a no win scenario. If they win its because the GM got Rodgers, if they don't its because the HC couldn't get it done. As for the trenches, you gloss over our pretty good DL even without Von going up against their suspect OL and an aging less mobile Rodgers. That's a good matchup for the Bills. Also the strength of the Jets DL is up the middle which is where the best of the Bills OL SHOULD be. I will grant you there are lots of questions still to be answered about the Bills OL, but on paper the middle of the OL should be stout. I would not be surprised one bit if Bills lost and in my other post, I said I'm nervous about this game. I have little faith in McDermott to match the emotional level you aptly describe above. But in the end we must place our trust in Allen to overcome McDermott more often than not.

To be fair to those of us that are open to change, how many coaches and GMs don't get fired at some point for not winning? Tomlin, Noll, Belichick, Madden, Landry, and Walsh all wrote their own ticket because they won a Championship. Vermeil, Belichick, Reid and Dungy were fired for not getting it done in their first stops, and the latter two had successors go on to win a Championship. We find joy but we want a Championship. Don't know how old you are but I was born after the AFL Championships and have lived through the failures of Ferguson's ankle in 1980, getting oucoached in SuperBowl XXV, and then losing three more SuperBowls where we were physically outmatched. We now have the best QB in franchise history and the clock is ticking on this GM and HC. The media has already put a target on our organization and if they fail again its just a fact their jobs may be on the line. This is not just a Bills fan issue either. Any HC and GM with a star QB that can't get it done is under constant pressure.

Neither would I when you consider the contracts. Skill wise obviously it would be a massive upgrade. But Taylor is a one or two year high price rental headache, while they have Cook at a much cheaper cost for the same time.

My knee jerk answer was going to be no for the reasons outlined by others. But I think TJ Watt has a chance. Watt has 77.5 sacks in 6 years and up until last season he only missed 3 games in 5 years. He would need several great seasons in the next 5 years and then hang around into late 30s to have a shot. Also they added a 17th game which helps pad the stats.

You don’t. You teach and preach fundamentals. These are grown men not 12 year olds. Does Josh get benched when he throws an interception ? The only true thing a coach can do is reduce playing time which is almost always the wrong move.

Excellent post. Agree 100%

Coach speak BS. Covid year proved the preseason is meaningless and has been for a decade or two. Players are in shape year round. OTA and training camp is all you need. Having an expanded PS helps too. If you make a mistake on a roster bottom feeder there are plenty more to choose from.

He's always been a homer. And he is correct. Bills starters should not have been in this game. Zero upside. Only injury risk. I'd like to blame McDermott but almost all the coaches make the same bad decision.

We will see. All he needs to do is break one decent long run. Bills OL may be better at run blocking than pass blocking especially the right side. Look for more heavy sets and wear out that Jets DL.

Thanks. I missed the immediate press conference I guess. If the original answer by Beane is accurate then the pick and thought process is more messed up than I thought. The only reason to draft a Milano backup is if you plan on moving on from him next off season as a cap casualty. Its really sad we are talking about two years worth of wasted 3rd round picks.

No they didn't. They said he could play both. And then a few days later it was he was only to backup Milano. Then a few days later they retracted that as well when the appropriate ridicule of using a 3rd round draft pick to back up a guy that never leaves the field started pouring in. Since then it has been he will start as an OLB.

You are misremembering. Williams was good at RT the year before. Then got paid and was terrible at RT again. They had a massive hole at guard because Ford sucked. I think that forced Feliciano to LG before he got hurt too. So they moved Williams to RG and inserted Brown at RT.

I have a very ominous feeling about this game. It’s the Jets SuperBowl. It feels like Bills Patriots week 1 with Bills blowin out Pats 31-0. I don’t think McD can get the Bills to match their emotion on the road. If Bills get down a couple scores early this could be a blood bath. All that said, I also am skeptical Rodgers has anything left. Trust in Allen to play a clean game with Cook rushing for 130. Bills 27- Jets 17

It is a good topic question. I will answer it this way. I am a fan of the Bills and will be for life win or lose. I do get enjoyment from winning seasons, just not as much as in years past. I want a SuperBowl win for our city so badly it does take some of the joy away when they fall short. If the Bills left I would probably stop watching NFL and just watch college. If the Bills signed a player like Deshaun Watson, I would seriously consider putting my fandom on pause. I think I would root for them to lose to rid myself of such a grotesque person. But I’m not sure I am strong enough of character if they won with a guy like Watson. I might still watch. Just being honest

Huh? How hard could it possibly be? Edmunds did it and he didn’t sound like a Rhodes scholar when he spoke. You really think Bernard was a good pick in the 3rd round? I don’t think there is a single person that thought that was a good pick. Virtually no except McD thinks he is a capable NFL linebacker. Which really begs the question who makes these draft day decisions?

Ask Matt Barkley how staying school worked out….

1. It's preseason and it doesn't matter 2. The starters should never have been in this game or any preseason game. Nothing anyone will say or post will change my mind. The coaches are wrong. They have to say these games mean something to justify the ticket price. There is no preseason in college. Yes many teams play lesser schools early in the year but it still counts. And many of the big time programs are playing high profile games week 1.

It's not the dollars its the players they've signed. Bills have invested plenty of money in the OL. Spain, Saffold, Dawkins extension, matching Bates offer sheet, and overpaying for Morse. The real screw up was not drafting young OL instead of Basham and the smurfs.

Bills have been an up and down team in terms of penalties under McDermott. As much as I dislike and don't beleive McD is the guy to win a championship, penalties are a player issue not a coaching issue. Usually they occur becuase the player is outmatched. Even presnap penalties are just carelessness by the player. Not sure what you can do. You going to bench Dawkins for a false start??

OMG this board is amazing. People are losing their minds over a game the starters should never have even played. Can we save the anxiety and negativity for real games??? I'm as big a McD and Beane skeptic as anyone but you need to judge them on real games not paper signings and fake preseason games.