Mike F

Sports Illustrated tried a similar story back in the eighties, printing a story about a pitcher named Sidd Finch. He could throw the ball well over a hundred miles per hour and he wore a work boot on one foot, when in uniform.................he was supposed to be the new phenom for the Mets. That story got a ton of folks since it was actually in print, in the magazine, for the baseball preview that year. They even used a similar tactic about hiding April Fools in the body of the story.......................even still, nice job on this story. Mike

A-Train would seem to be the early leader for the starting position.........but, what if Marv and Co. really like the RB from NFL Europe (Fred Jackson, I believe) and think he can be the future at RB for us? (or at least be part of a platoon) The kid sounds like a "Marv" kind of player......unheralded, multidimensional (the leader in NFLE all purpose yards, which indicates rushing, receiving and ST play) and a hard worker (taking a different route to the NFL). I am not saying he is the answer, but he will be in the mix, IMO. Mike

I wanted to take some time to process the McGahee deal, before posting anything. My first reaction was mixed..........we now have a large hole in the backfield, but at the same time we rid ourselves of a potential malcontent who may have been more trouble then he would have been worth for 2007. Not to mention, he was going to walk after 2007 anyway, IMO, so getting some value for him is smart. Then, somewhere between my first and second cup of coffee, I began thinking about another team that doesn't mind making changes at RB............Denver. If you look at the Broncos, they have had quite a few different RB's over the years and each one has been successful. The key in Denver, obviously, is an excellent offensive line (the biggest key for any offense, finally realized by our administration) Which brings me to my point...............we now have the pieces in place for a much improved, dare I say good, offensive line. If the line comes together (fingers crossed), I don't think we will miss Willis..................Mike

IF the Bills stay close, then the A-Train should do well.................but chances are better that the Colts will start fast, causing the Bills to play catch up. That means more passing yards and fewer carries for the RB's. A better fantasy option on the Bills would be Lee Evans.........keep an eye on Joseph Addai for the Colts. With a lead, the Colts would work the clock..........Addai has slowly become the featured back for Indy. Mike

Keep in mind that Green Bay has one of the worst defenses against the pass in the entire NFL. Losman + Home Game + Bad Pass Defense = Big Day? Nah...............I have been on the "give JP time" side of the argument, but even I am starting to wonder if he will ever "get it". Shouldn't there be some improvement? A sign of progress? It's not like we are playing the Bears on the road, right? Yeesh.......Mike

I did not say that is definitely what is taking place, nor did I say it was the only reason why he is sitting out (still). My question was fair and it is possible that Spikes is pissed at the Bills management for the handling of Troy Vincent. God forbid anyone proposes a topic for conversation that runs counter to the popular belief on this board. You would have thought that I linked Takeo with Al Qaeda. Gotta love the Two Bills Drive "attack the poster, not the topic" M.O.

........has anyone, even privately, considered that Spikes may be staging his own "silent protest" over the way the Bills dealt with Troy Vincent? Takeo was outspoken about the transaction, and has since been quite both on (meaning he has not played) and off the field. I am not questioning his heart, nor am I saying he is completely healthy. Recovering from his Achilles surgery, and his tweaked hamstring is not easy. But...............it also would not surprise me if he was able to play, but instead, was choosing no to as a message. Mike

Interesting, but I have a question for you. If 8-8, or even 9-7 is "possible" or even "probable" as you stated, then wouldn't we already be in a position to challenge for a playoff slot? Look at the parity in the AFC...............9-7 would be on the edge of wild card contention, and may even be the last wild card team (if tie breakers go our way). Even if we fall short at 9-7, why would it take two more drafts to make up the extra game (10-6) that would get us in? Personally, I think we are more of a 7-9 squad, that will use 2006 as a building block for a playoff run in 2007. Mike

Exactly...............it is funny when you look at the schedule and our "chances" to win each game. There are several "pivotal" games as you go along (not that all of them are not important). The Houston game would be, if things unfolded as I think they will. The first Jet game would be the biggest, if we are coming home at 0-2. Mike

Nice work, man! I would love to see the Bills go 11-5 this year.............but, I think that is asking a bit much from such a young team. Maybe in 2007? Mike

With expectations low (and rightfully so), I think the Bills will surprise some folks this year. Am I talking playoffs? No........but if they develop a "Marv-like" attitude (never say die), with an emphasis on playing smart football (limit turnovers and play good defense), I don't see them picking first in the 2007 Draft, either. The two biggest questions marks are the OL (which we have solid players to stock) and QB (hopefully we find a serviceable starter in the group). Our defense should rebound with a vengeance using the "cover 2 scheme" (this unit was top five material the past few season) and we have solid skill position players on offense (including JP if he gets his head out of his......well, you know). Let me know what you think of my thoughts on the upcoming season. 2006 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE Sun 09/10 @ New England Patriots CBS 1:00 PM Rough opener on the road, against an aging, but talented team. They have a lot to prove, as well. I don't see us winning this match up in any scenario, actually. (0-1) Sun 09/17 @ Miami Dolphins CBS 1:00 PM Contrary to what the media thinks (at least here in Florida), the Dolphins are not going to the SB. They have as many OL questions as we do. Not to mention, Culpepper is coming off a major injury, with a new team to boot. If we play smart football, we may steal this one. To be fair, I see us losing a close ballgame late, in the Florida heat. (0-2) Sun 09/24 NEW YORK JETS CBS 1:00 PM With the pressures of an 0-2 start, plus a very disorganized Jets team (more questions then we have) this early in the season, I think we play well in our home opener and cruise to a comfortable win. (1-2) Sun 10/01 MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOX 1:00 PM This brings us to the key early game in our schedule. A win here and we are at .500............a loss and we are in an early 1-3 hole. I am not scared of the Vikings, especially their defense. Brad Johnson is a solid veteran, but he can be rattled (since he is as fast as Bledsoe) with even an average pass rush. Again, playing well at home is a must. I think we squeeze out a close win thanks to our Special Teams and Rian Lindell. (2-2) Sun 10/8 @ Chicago Bears CBS 1:00 PM OK, we head to Chicago with some confidence as a .500 team, not to mention the Dick Jauron story line (former Bears coach). But, the Bears are for real and we may get mashed pretty good by their sick defense. Our defense, much improved by the way, mostly holds the Bears in check, but they only need a few points to win this one. (2-3) Sun 10/15 @ Detroit Lions CBS 1:00 PM Road games are a b%$ch in the NFL! The Lions figure to be much better on the offensive side of the ball, with Mike Martz calling plays and better QB (Kitna). The defense leaves a bit to be desired, but I see us getting outscored on the road, unfortunately. Another late loss that we will look back at as a game we could have won. (2-4) Sun 10/22 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CBS 1:00 PM The good vibes of the 2-2 start are all but gone now. We limp home just in time to see the Patriots again. Just as the Minnesota game was key, early on. This game is huge for us. Win and we are close to .500, lose and we are in a major hole. The Bills fight their ass off, but I just don't see it. Brady and Co. are still a good team and will find a way to beat a young Bills squad late. Note.....even in a loss, we will start to see some real progress, especially for our young players, which bodes well for the future. (2-5) Sun 10/29 BYE WEEK The BYE comes at a good time.................the three game losing streak is left in the rear view mirror. Sun 11/05 GREEN BAY PACKERS FOX 1:00 PM Fueled by an angry defense, and a rowdy home crowd, the Bills come out for blood against an aging Packers team. The Bills look great and steam roll the cheese heads in a rout. (3-5) Sun 11/12 @ Indianapolis Colts CBS 1:00 PM Despite the momentum from the Packers game, this game is against the class of the AFC, on the road (domed stadium to boot). The Bills come out early and play well, but Manning and Co are just too much. They are what we should aspire to be in a season or two. The Colts run away from us in the second half. (3-6) Sun 11/19 @ Houston Texans CBS 1:00 PM Another road game, in a touch environment against a team much like ours (solid defense, young skill position players). Even though Houston should be better, this game is a toss up, IMO. By now, whomever we have at QB (hopefully a confident JP) should be comfortable and playing pretty well. We should also have a pretty good handle on the "cover 2 scheme". As bad as we drilled the Texans last year shows that we have some talent on our roster, when it is coached properly. For this reason, I see us winning a close, low scoring ball game, late (thanks again to the ST). (4-6) Sun 11/26 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS CBS 1:00 PM We come home just in time to face one of the more underrated teams in the AFC. Jacksonville should be in the running for a playoff spot by now and they can't afford to lose to Buffalo in their pursuit of the Colts. Despite being at home, I see us stumbling against the Jags late and losing a game that teams like the Bills (young, but developing) always manage to lose at this point in their development. (4-7) Sun 12/3 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS CBS 1:00 PM OK, hot damn! Not just the close loss to the Jags or even playing at home. The Bills should be livid at how bad the Chargers drilled them last year in SD. If they don't come out like "a swarm of angry hornets", they have no pride (and with TKO on the field this time, they willl have plenty of that). Philip Rivers is a first year starter and that will show. I expect the Bills to focus on LT and make Rivers beat them. I don't see that happening in Buffalo, in December. Revenge is sweet! (5-7) Sun 12/10 @ New York Jets CBS 1:00 PM This will be an unpopular pick, but I see this as a "classic trap game". Coming off a win over SD, and with Miami on the schedule the following week, I see the Bills overlooking a team they already beat once this year. As I said earlier, road games are tough and young teams are prone to mistakes. The Bills fall prey to this and the Jets (who should be improving under Belicheck "clone" Eric Mangini). The Jets steal a close ball game late on FG. (5-8) Sun 12/17 MIAMI DOLPHINS CBS 1:00 PM OK, Miami-week is here! Enraged by the earlier loss in Miami, not to mention a "wild card hopes crushing loss" to the Jets, the Bills come out ready to play. The December weather plays havoc with Daute's ability to throw the ball downfield. The Bills defense clamps down on the short and intermediate parts of the field and limits Miami mostly to FG chances. Willis has a huge game and the Bills put a dent in the Dolphins post-season plans. (6-8) Sun 12/24 TENNESSEE TITANS CBS 1:00 PM The last home game of 2006 comes against a Titans team that will be trying to decide when to play Vince Young and LenDale White. December 24th in Buffalo is not the best place for a young QB to learn on the job. Regardless who the QB is, the Titans offense is just not that good at this juncture. The Bills ever improving defense has a field day and shuts down the run and the pass. We manage to play well enough on offense to pull out a win and come closer to .500 (7-8) Sun 12/31 @ Baltimore Ravens CBS 1:00 PM Baltimore is not an easy place to play. Not to mention, I think they will be playing for a wild card slot with that defense, a healthy Jamal Lewis and a solid veteran QB in Steve McNair. We throw a scare into the Ravens, but fall short on the road in the second half. (7-9) Not a bad season for a team picked to clean the basement floor. I can really see the Bills winning this many games, as well as coming close in several others. It will also serve as a springboard for better things in 2007 and beyond. Mike

Xanax is a Central Nervous System Depressant.................it is prescribed to treat Depression, among other things. When taken in medicinal, controlled quantities, it allows a person to function in a controlled, "normal" fashion. When the dosage amounts are off, it either does not treat the situation, or it makes it worse. Excessive amounts of Xanax (abuse) will cause the user to exhibit similar symptoms to a person who is drunk on alcoholic beverages (alcohol is also considered a CNS Depressant, by the way). So, if Keith Traylor was abusing Xanax and operating a vehicle, he could be DUI (despite the common misconception that DUI's only involve alcohol). As a side note, lots of teens like Xanax to facilitate a cheap high........for those of you parents out there who may also have the medication on hand. Oh, and I also love to read news like this about the Dolfelons! Mike

Small clarification..................with the Whitner deal, we would have three third rounders. I used the same third rounder twice, when I meant to say the third rounder we got from Tennessee (for TH). Mike

The draft is history, but the discussion is only just starting. I am on the record as being a touch surprised with the method, but happy with the overall results. BUT.......consider this scenario for the first three rounds on Saturday. What if.......................we had traded down in the first round on Saturday (say around 11 or 15) and still drafted Whitner (debateable that he is still there, but for conversations sake, let's say he was), we probably get another 3rd round pick. Then, let's say we used that third (along with our existing second rounder) to trade back up to the 26th slot and draft Youboty (who was supposed to go in the 1st round). Then we package our other 3rd rounders (the existing one and the one we got for moving down for Whitner) to move up in the second and take McCargo (who carried a high second or low first round grade, depending on the source). We would have ended up with the same number of Day One picks and the same package of players, oddly enough. BUT........would the analysts and half of our fan base feel the same way? Unlikely.........instead, Marv and Co would be lauded for their ability to "work the system" to get the players they wanted ("value", my friends). It seems that HOW things get accomplished can overshadow the end result, which in this case ends up being the same thing! Mike

Nice to see an analyst who has his own opinion, as opposed to most of the others who assign draft day"grades", based on what ESPN has to say. For example, the "ignorant" Jeanne Korth of the St. Petersburg Times (unfortuately, my local paper) gave us an F! OK, so you can argue a bit of a reach with Whitner and McCargo, but an F? Both of them carried fairly high draft grades, not to mention we got Youboty in the 3rd and Simpson in the 4th.....two players that were ranked much higher. IF she could pull her head out of Jon Gruden's arse for two seconds, maybe she would have noticed. I agree with Gosselin's assessment.................a solid B. As stated before, we may have reached a little, but we addressed our NEEDS! We also may have been able to maneuver around with trades and accomplish a similar draft. Or, maybe not. The thing I like about Marv is his focus and determination to do what he thinks is best for the team (and last time I checked, we were pretty good with Marv around, albeit, as Head Coach the last time). Remember, Polian and Butler got a lot of kudos over the years, but Marv was in the same War Room and I am sure he had a voice. Mike