Typical TBD Guy

There seems to be 1 common denominator with these "best threads ever." NJSUE!!!

So, you want a new: 1. LT 2. LG 3. C 4. TE 5. slot WR What else am I missing? How many Pro Bowlers on offense does Drew need to become an effective NFL QB?

I already voted for you, Sue. #6. So don't bother.

I agree with you that it needs work! But how much work are you talking about? I say resigning JJ and getting a new LG is the bare minimum; replacing Teague would be ideal but not necessary. What do you say?

Get over the name recognition and realize that Drew Bledsoe of the past 6 years is not the Drew Bledsoe of the first 6 years. That's the problem with you Drew lovers/JP bashers. You're so caught up in Drew's past glory that you haven't realized that he's no longer the same. BB understood this by 2001. It took our Bills organization 3 more years to come to the same conclusion. And they have. Check out all the rumors about Drew taking a pay cut or leaving. If these rumors prove to be true, that would mean that TD and Co. have reached the same conclusion as BB from 2001. For the sake of your sanity, I suggest all you Drew lovers/JP bashers wish Drew well but get ready to support JP. He may not tear up the league in 2005, but giving a rookie QB a hard time in his first full season is somewhat unfair and ridiculous.

I blame myself.

No, actually I did watch the games. And I saw a lot of defenders in our backfield before McGahee was able to start running. His YPC would be a lot higher if we had a better LG and C, based on what I remember seeing during the season. The middle to middle-left area seemed to be most responsible for not opening holes for McGahee. I think Teague is at best an average starting C, and I do believe we could probably get by with him provided we get a better LG. But "pro-bowl caliber ball?" Come on. Do you believe everything the coaching staff throws to the media?

Are you a Bills fan or just a Drew fan?

I'm not too high on Tucker, either. He's another one of those marginal starter/excellent backup type of players that we seem to be full of at OL. It's time to grab starter-level quality. Also, I am very much against having Teague shift to LT. I don't think he'd be "average to good," as you say. He was pretty awful at LT in his last year with Denver. If we sign JJ, here's what I'd like the starting 5 look like: LT: JJ LG: Wahle from Green Bay would be nice C: Dominic Raiola is my current favorite RG: Villarial RT: MW If we don't sign JJ: LT: MW LG: Wahle C: Raiola RG: Villarial RT: Stockar McDougle?

What do you guys think of him at C? I'm not too high on him. We need more push up the middle for McGahee, and Teague just isn't getting it done against the big DT's of the league. While he's improved dramatically from 2003, I also think he reached his talent "ceiling" this past season. My opinion is that he should be a backup in 2005. Yes, he'd be an expensive backup, but also a very valuable one (can play C, LG, LT without much drop-off short-term). Now as for a new C, I'd prefer a veteran free agent (Raiola is available?) over a day one rookie draft pick. Your thoughts? (Please, no one mention Drew in this thread).

Great post! Love the analysis! Here's your next homework assignment, FFS: Analyze the free agent market for DT. Estimate PW's potential salary w/bonus, and then determine the teams outside Buffalo that would be willing to resign PW for this price. I expect your assignment to be finished and posted by noon tomorrow...

Wow. I'm sure it took you hours to come up with that creative joke. Losman. L-O-S. That's similar to L-O-S-E or L-O-S-S. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Oh man, a Bills MNF game against the Pats. Gee, who's going to win that one?

Wow, even the ARIZONA CARDINALS are too good for our starting QB. Excuse me while I cry.

The other part could be blamed on the secondary injuries and the growing pains that McGee experienced in his first starting stint.

Kind of early to call McFarland a waste, no?

I thought the same about Dom Stevenson last year. But, you could be right. We'll see.

1. Agree. 2. Disagree. The position will be determined by how fast of a learner JP is. 3. Disagree. I don't think JP will be the chronic injury type. 4. Agree. I bet it's Wahle from GB. 5. Disagree. I don't think JJ will attract more than $4.5 million a year elsewhere. 6. Disagree. The market for 32 yr old DT's is not that lucrative. 7. Disagree. Tucker is a career backup OL and nothing more. 8. Disagree. Teague would be an awful LT, and if JJ leaves, MW will be moved before Trey. 9. Disagree. See above comments. 10. Agree. He's good depth and won't likely make more elsewhere. 11. Disagree. If at all possible, TD will keep Henry out of the division - maybe to TB. 12. Disagree. I bet Stamer doesn't even make the 2005 roster once better LB depth arrives via the draft. 13. Agree. 14. Agree!

Chicago White Sox, 1919, Shoeless Joe and Co.

I'll try to help you out. Example of a big game = against Steelers, week 17...Drew choked. Example of not a big game = against 49ers, week 16...Drew didn't choke.

i.e., no more Ross Tuckers and Lawrence Smiths and Mike Pucillos and - maybe - Trey Teagues in starting roles. Being a "lunch pail player" is the bare minimum, but it's not enough. We need TALENT to go along with the work ethic. The weather in RWS often makes passing difficult, and so we need to be able to run at will if we expect to entertain postseason dreams in 2005. Great post, Bill. 100% accurate.

I hope the NHL folds and they start a new league, one that adopts the European hockey model (their rules and regulations, etc.). There'd be a salary cap and two conferences in this new league. 8 teams would be in each conference, 2 divisions per conference. The first conf. would be all Canadian teams, the second one all northern US teams. And of course, I hope Golisano takes the Sabres out of the NHL and into this new league. Hey, I can dream... in reality, it will never happen and hockey in North America will continue to go down the toilet.

I'd have no problem with BB and Rodney Harrison getting killed. But the whole Pats team? Nah, dude. That's wrong.

Correct you are! Boy is my face red! Right up there on the thread title for the world to see... Oh well, that's your public school education for ya!

What better setting for Ralph Wilson to earn his first Super Bowl title than in his home town???