Bob in STL

Well you certainly gave me proof that it happens. I am a surprised and ashamed of that St. Louis Blues video. At least in Buffalo, where we are used to Canadians, I did not ever hear booing. I practically lived in the Aud as a kid growing up in Buffalo in the 70's. Never heard in, even against the Leafs and Canadians. I do not think the anthem is used to rile up the fans. Riling up fans is the last thing that anyone wants. The booing says more about how people are today. Sad.

Tell me why everybody but the coaches think anybody but Kelsey should be starting? I like Batten, and he has shown some flashes, but really? Another point ... Drayton Florence will be the first CB off of the bench if he is not starting within a few weeks.

Cannot disagree more. I have been to many, many sports events. Never booed the Canadian anthem, never heard it done at a Sabres game either. I say get ride of the drunk fans and keep the anthem.

Disagree, Troup is a key part of the DL rotation. Easley is a guy we have high hopes for.

Each teams roster is different based on the relative talent at each position but in general todays teams dress more DL because defenses play their DL in waves. Many teams rotate the DL very other or every 3rd series. This is especially true in Spetember and October when it is still warm. A 3-4 team will easily play 6 lineman if they can. If you have the depth to do it your best lineman are fresh for the 4th quarter. OL is much different. So much of the success depends on timing, split second reads, and simply knowing what the guy next to you is going to do. Talent aside, one key to a good OL is keeping the unit together for a long time.

Great post. You nailed it. I agree with you in that I hope the tradition continues throughout my days and beyond. I hope the younger generations embrace it. I also hope that strong pride in our country comes back some day. One of the things I marvel at when I visit Europe is the peoples pride in their culture. Even after centuries of war and change. I hope we can get to that point as a nation.

Stop it ... Bell, Lynch, McGahee, Henry. No way. They are all several rungs below our top four of Gilcrest, Simpson, Thurman and Cribbs. Gilcrest was the best Football Player in the CFL ever, he should have been in the NFL in his prime. He was the best football player in the AFL from 1962 to 1965, making the All Star team every year. He was the best runner, blocker, tackler, kicker, hitter, talker, fighter, mauler, and complainer of all time. Simpson was a Heisman winner who almost won it twice!. He was voted the best football player of the 70's decade. Period. Thurman was the best all around running back to play in the modern era. Cribbs has the least stats of this group, and is a rung or two below the other three. He still is far better than the rest. Bell, Lynch, McGahee, Henry, Miller, ... they do not get honorable mention. Wayne Carlton, Jim Braxton, Roland Hooks, Kenny Davis, and Freddy Jackson have all contributed more to the Buffalo Bills than the group you are naming, even if they had less talent.

Not even close. Greg Bell was an average RB for a team with a history of great RBs ( such as: Gilcrest, Simpson, Cribbs, and Thurman). No one should go on the Wall until Lou Saban and Cookie Gilcrest get their due.

Your right. Given your comments this summer I am surprised by your prediction. We are on the road. The Chiefs look to be a team on the rise and we still have to prove we can block and tackle. We can win this game but it is going to take some big plays and last year we simply lacked players that could step us to make the bigs plays in close games. I think the Bills are slightly better than last year based on these things: 1 - Dareus. 2 - Merriman - if he stays healthy. Without him or pass rush drops off significantly. 3. - Better LBs for the 3-4 (Barnett, Morrison, Batten) 4. - The likely improvement of last years draft class (Spiller, Troup, Carrington, Batten). 5. - A full season of Fitz We still have problems in these areas: 1. - The OL, until proven othwerwise, is a worry. unproven starters (Pears, Urbik), inconsistent players (Bell) and no depth. 2. - very little experience at WR. Can Roscoe step up? Can the #2/#3 (Jones, Nelson, Easley) really take coverage off of Stevie Johnson? 3. - TE, if we even use one, will they contribute in a real game? 4. - A full season of Fitz with nothing behind him.

If Merriman plays up to his old level, or even close, then everyone on this team gets better. He was a special player. I hope he can return to form.

Cool stuff. It took a few years for this line to jell but they were a strong group playing along with Joe O'Donnell, Dave Berman, Dick Hutson and Paul Costa.

What will help this line is good health and good luck. As we all know, there is no experienced depth. If they can avoid injuries the starting 5 could jell into something decent. Not expectuing dominant play so Chan will have to be clever.

As I mentioned in another OL related thread, these are the types of players we will pick up. Similar to Urbik and Pears and the TE the just acquired. They are looking for the diamond in the rough. A young player with some potential that they can hopefully develop. No quick fixes here. This rebuild is not on a 3 year plan. It will take at least 4 years and that is only if they hit big on the their drafts.

Jason Peters was rated below both of them. He turned ok. While the odds are stacked against him, how about we give him a chance?

Calm down guuys. He is a Scout Team offensive lineman. They have three backups and one other OL on the PS. Jasper makes 5. No big deal.

Wow. This is living on the edge. ... and no way can Hairston play effectively against starters at this point in his short career.

Victor Allotey - made the Bills for 3 years and never played a single play. Went to KC after that. no games for this guy

Stop the run. KC is a running team. Stop the Run and then rush the passer. now, enough said.

Actually Mr. Wallbash, Milloy did hlep us with the game planning in the season opener. That was the last timne we beat the Pats BTW.

He going to give us all the Belichek secrets!

Obvious NFL talent? Let's not forget that Bell got cut four times last year. Once by the Bills, twice by the Eagles, and once by the Colts. Andy Reid and Bill Polian also missed the "obvious NFL talent" as well. He lights it up in preseason but in games against NFL starters he lacks NFL speed and quickness. I wish him well in the Big Easy though.

St. Louis Bills Backers meet at: Lester Sports Bar. 14810 Clayton Road Chesterfield, Missouri 63017 636.230.0055 Lesters

Coleman over Moats seems more reasonable to me. Coleman made more plays. Moats must be better on ST. Cutting Hangman was a slight surprise just do to the lack of experienced backups. Looks like a cost cutting move on the surface. Ruvell Martin over Roosvelt was surprising to me. Again, could be a ST move.

The Bills will most likely pick up an unknown project, similar to Urbik, Pears, Rinehart. They will shy away from the rent-a-veteran approach and try to find a diamond in the rough. Cheaper approach and it lets them develop the players they have. Did Buddy mention "they are building through thre draft" lately?

We picked up Lofton off of waivers before full agency was in effect. Lots of teams had a shot at him.