Bob in STL

Good list. Fitz goes into both categories though.

Come on. That counter argument is a bit extreme. I guess we can't win a game without the great Stevie Johnson then? We should have signed him up long ago if he is irreplaceable. How did this guy not make the Pro Bowl? What was Chan supposed to do? Sit him out for one series or one half? That is a little league punishment. Just as a player has to earn his time on the field he can also earn time on the bench. Chan did the right thing, he stuck to his word, and yes the consequences adversely affected the whole team. At that point is it up to the players to step up. If the right leadership existed among the players they would have talked to Stevie in the locker room and put an end to his antics. Instead, as Stevie said, its all good and he got a lot of love. Pull that crap on the Ravens with Ray Lewis around and see how much love you get. PS - I don't want to see him leave but I think the coach was 100% correct given Johnson's past issues.

Nope. Saban quit. Twice. That is why he is not on the wall. Yeah. 7 straight years of drafting between 28 and 32 will take its toll on a team.

What? Actually our O-line is better than the one he has at Indy. Our running backs are much better than Indy's. Add one solid veteran WR (Colston) to play with Stevie and we are legit. Heck, Chandler would catch 60 passes with Manning here. Assuming Manning can play like the Manning of old.

Archie would not allow it. We would have to be the last team interested.

Good. Urbik did a nice job for us this year at RG and at C.

The move is not a surprise, lots of speculation the past few weeks. It happened fast out of respect for Edwards as it provides him more time to evaluate opportunities for his next gig. He was a young guy with limited NFL experience for a DC. He took a shot and it did not work out. I wish him the best.

You are really in the know. George Edwards just got fired BTW.

You have got to be kidding?

He did not say he was disappointed in the rule, although he was asked if he was. He said which rule are they referring to? --- last year (no flag) and this year (flag). Chan clearly said "I cannot argue the grey area of it" referring to the rule. He told the team if you get a penalty as a result of illegal demonstration then you are out of the game. He had to do it and it was the right thing to do. Johnson stated many times in his interview that he hurt his team. Yet, he also said he is not embarassed by it. I think this speak volumes of his mindset. Johnson is a nice kid, Chan admits to that, but Johnson is childish in his approach to the game and he may never see the big picture. Sad and true.

Kids at 9 like to please their parents and authority figures, they respond positively to fair treatment. At some point most kids will challnge the status quo, which is normal and good. Enjoy! I remember when spiking the ball just became popular so yes, I saw all of that. Don't forget Elmo Wright with KC. He had a bizzare and crazy TD dance. I don't make the rules. Somewhere along the way the celebrations got longer and out of hand. Somewhere along they way it got crazy.

This is a very interesting thread. I actually sense a generation gap here on TSW. I suspect that many of the guys that think Stevie did nothing wrong are younger and many of the ones that are upset with him are older. I am sure there is some blending across the age demographic but probably not too much. I think the guys that are looking closely at the rules and arguing that he should have received a fine but not a penalty are missing the point. Even if you are correct in your interpretation of the rule you are still missing the point. I also doubt I can convince any of you that this is true. As a father three (ages 20, 22, and 24) I know that there is a big gap in how the generations look at things, as there was when I was younger. Stevie has already been under scrutiny with the league for his celebrations. Chan had already put a rule out there that he would bench the next player that received a fine. Stevie's twitter account verifies that he pre-planned this and knew that he would be fined. Unfortunately for him, and his team, the ref saw it another way and made the call. I am proud of Chan for sticking to his guns. I think some of the veterans need to back up Chan and have a talk with Stevie. I doubt this will happen though. I don’t see that kind of leadership on this team. Stevie Johnson will go on to get a big fat contract one way or another. I hope he stays a Bill because he is one of the better players on the team. I do not think he is a great player but he is much better than any receiver we have today. I fear that the Bills will let him walk and we will have another big whole to fill.

7-9, 7-9, 7-9, 4-12, 6-10, ... QB = Fitz, with no backup and no prospect - Third off-seaon for Nix to find us a QB Pro Bowlers = None. Very good players = K. Williams, Dareus, Barnett, Letvitre, and Wood Good players = George Willson, Byrd, Urbik, Pears, Stevie Johnson, Lindell, and Chandler Prospects = Spiller, Aaron Williams, Hairston, Sheppard, Nelson, Searcy, rookie CB (#26), back up lineman Colin what-his-name Past prime = Florence, D. Edwards, Kelsey, Spencer Johnson, A. Davis, Moorman Ok = Bell, Moats, Scott, Garrison, Heard, Not getting there = Carrington, Troup, Choice, Jones, R. Martin, Dotson, Hagen, Rossvelt, all the other TEs, Flush - the rest

Nothing against RG3 but the downside is this: 1. It will cost lots of draft pick, over a few seasons, and we have huge holes at OLB, DE, WR and LT to fill. 2. RG3 will not help our OL because, as a rookie, he will most likely not be able to read defenses or avoid sacks beter than Fitz. He has a much bigger top end than Fitz. No doubt.

Perfect Can you imagine what Ray Lewis would think of this?

1) Dareus - Will be a good one. We needed more hits on Brady. 2) Moorman - least of our problems. 3) NO credible starting OLBs - Shameful crew of OLBs on this team. 4) SJ? - SJ is a clown. More veteran leadership would have helped to put this clown in his place. Kudos to Chan for finally taking a stance. 5) Pears and Hairston - good RT's. We need an LT on this roster. 6) Spiller - with Freddy out Spiller is the best guy on the offense, we really need some legitimate WRs 7) more Dead. 8) Fitz - looks so horrible that I want to draft a QB. 9) If anyone cares, I think that Brady is on his way down. - Still light years ahead of Fitz. 10) Chan was pass happy today - normal. 11) I for one enjoy the off-season on TBD more than I do during the season. - nope, i love the games on Sunday. Just want to win more of them someday. 12) Happy New Year to you too.

Benching a player for a series is something you do to a little league kid whose parents pay to have junior on the team. Bench him for a half, that is a high school tactic. Stevie broke a team rule. He is a repeat offender. Chan had to do it because Stevie forced his hand. I would not want players on my team that did not understand this and and that do not side with the coach. Bellichek would have done the same thing as the "old man". All NFL coaches are above the players unless the coach allows otherwise. Kudos to Chan for holding Johnson accountable to the rules.

The rule should be changed? Do you really want the refs and the announcers to labor through your checklist? That will delay the game. 1. Does it delay the game? -- judgement call 2. DSid it deliberately provoke the other team? -- judgemnent call 3. Was it profane? -- judgement call. Are you really interested in reading what these clowns put on their shirts? I am not. How about acting like men and showing some sportmanship? I am tired of the showboating. I am missing how this makes the game better and more fun.

Really, in todays NFL the 1000 yard stat is overblown. Johnson is good, not great. I hope we find a way to keep him but he sure isn't helping his cause.

Johnson is our best receiver. He is also slow, has average hands, and questionable intelligence as a player. He deserved to be benched and there its no way of knowing what would have happened with him in. the game. Makes sense that he would have been better than Ruvell Martin but still, he is not a game changer.

Fitz had the fastest guy on the team on a linebacker and he under throws the play. Brady makes that throw every time.

Agree. Missing two key players.

These guys who compare Johnson to Reed make me laugh.

Another gift to the Pats*

What is the problem with benching so player that refuses to comply to rules?