CosmicBills

... football hipsterism? I totally used that term before you even knew about it. Lame.

Your mamma! Okay, that two words not three.

No one drinks Canadian blood. Too much risk of being infected by cooties, maple syrup and and communism.

You're probably right, but dammit, I'm gonna keep looking. Sure it's terrifying at times -- but it's also kinda fun. At least until I get the clap.

That's hilarious! I do have some thoughts about the Ancient Alien hypothesis (still can't believe I get paid to watch that stuff) -- but before I expound and bore everyone here, let me preface it with this: after watching hours of this, I might have been brainwashed. That said, the one tenet of the theory that I find compelling is the multitude of early civilizations that share common origin myths despite having little to no contact with one another. There's something to be said about early man's nearly consistent belief that the Gods lived in the sky and directly interacted with man. Whether it's the Sumerians, Hindus, Incas or Greeks and Romans -- they all have similar myths and mythologies about where we come from. Some even went as far as to pinpoint our origin to certain stars in certain constellations. The similarities are enough to make you wonder how all these diverse cultures, some separated by oceans and centuries, all arrived at very similar conclusions. From a storytelling perspective (since that's the field I'm most qualified to talk about), there are three possible explanations for this: 1. Those early interactions recorded by dozens of civilizations were actually divine in nature. 2. Those early interactions were actually extraterrestrial in nature and misinterpreted as being divine. 3. Human brains are wired to attempt to explain the unexplainable and will reach to fiction in order to do so.

Based on this front office's track record of acquiring talent -- this is NOT something to hang your hat on if you're a fan who wants to see this team improve. They have yet to bring in an impact player (outside of the draft). Pears is great for depth, but if you're counting on him to be your every day RT then this team is in for another long year. This offensive line was a mirage last season. Fitz's quick release and short passing scheme masked a lot of ills. Even when the line was healthy at the start of the year Fitz had very little time to throw (though, to be fair, he didn't need it because he was playing absolutely out of his mind). This team needs a LT (keep Bell as depth, make Hairston a RT where he belongs), RG and RT. And those are just starters. They also need depth. Hairston could be the RT of the future -- but he won't get on the field if Pears is inked into the starting spot.

Except for the fact they drink the blood of christian babies!

Where were you when I first moved to LA?

I can't speak for others on this board but I will say those guys were asking for it. Not that I was there.

Mom?

But! But! But! There's so much proof!

That just makes it funnier.

Random segue: Have you ever watched ANCIENT ALIENS on the History channel? I've had to watch the entire show for "research" and wondered if you ever caught it (or anyone on here). They're pretty hilarious and simultaneously terrifying.

Yes. You got me. I've been an active member on this board for 8+ years and a lurker for another 3. (Yikes, that's a long time). And in all that time, all I've done is rail about how bad the Bills are. I'm a negative nancy, never providing anything more than trolling. Yup. Everyone knows September is the most pressure packed time of year in the NFL. Who cares what happened in October through January, it's SEPTEMBER where champions are born. Okay, for the sake of argument, let's say that Fitz was hurt as badly as some are saying on here. Let's say it was four cracked ribs with a detached sternum or whatever is being reported. And, for the sake of argument, let's say that Fitz's injury is the only reason why his numbers plummeted back to his career average after a white-hot start to the year. If all of that is a given, let me ask you this ... why was he on the field? You mean to tell me that the team knew he was so banged up he couldn't throw the ball more than 12 yards, so hurt his interception numbers skyrocketed costing them at least 3 games during the losing streak, why did the coaching staff keep putting him out on the field? Wouldn't it have been more prudent to rest him -- if not for Fitz's own sake, than for the team's well being? So that leaves us with either two options: 1. The coaching staff has so little faith in Thigpen that they felt a lame Fitz, unable to throw the ball without pain, gave the team its best shot to win. or 2. Fitz wasn't hurt as bad as some on here are saying. Either answer leaves me feeling very uneasy about the capability of this front office. There is not one person who says that the injuries the Bills suffered didn't play a role in why the team once again finished in the basement of the AFC East (for those of you keeping score, that's the fourth year in a row that the Bills have finished dead last in their own division). Certainly I am not saying that. I was as surprised as anyone during the 5-2 streak to start the year. They looked great. They played well. But everyone, even the most blinded homer knew that continued success was dependent upon the starters remaining healthy because there was absolutely ZERO depth. That's not Fitz's fault -- he doesn't build the roster. But it's certainly Nix, Little-man's, Overdork and Ralph's fault. They have failed to address the severe lack of talent on this roster, there's no depth, and outside of Fred, Dareus, Williams, Levitre, Barnett, Wood, Johnson and maaaaaaaaaaybe Spiller -- not a single Bills starter would start on another NFL roster. That's a problem. Teams overcome injuries every year. Last year the Packers did it and won a super bowl. This year the Patriots made it to the super bowl with 14 street free agents on their roster. Yet the Bills can't even get out of the basement of their own division. So you can break the 2011 season in two if you want and only look at how this team functioned when it was healthy and say "that's the real Bills", but you're kidding yourself if you do that. To do that would be to ignore the other variables that might have played a role in the Bills fast start like: The lockout having a negative effect on defenses and offenses throughout the league (give the Bills credit for adapting faster at the start), the Bills offense catching teams by surprise early on (and then failing to adapt later on in the year), and the defense producing an insane amount of turnovers that simply did not come later in the year. But if it makes you feel better to fall back on injuries as an excuse rather than really look at the root of the problems with this team (that all stem from and end with Ralph), that's cool. I don't begrudge you for ignoring it. It's your right as a fan since we can do nothing to change the fact that Ralph is the big chief until he leaves this world. But if you want to come on here and celebrate keeping things the same because they've worked so well for us over the past 12 years, then you should expect me to throw cold water on it. Still, it's done out of love, not hate. That's not true. Plenty of people on this board are saying Fitz is not only a playoff QB but an elite, franchise QB with Super Bowl potential. You might not be saying it ... but plenty of folks on here are. I have never, not even once in my life, been accused of being smart. But I'm also not trying to call anyone (not even you) an idiot. I understand people have their own opinions -- and if anything, I'm the idiot because despite the fact I believe that Ralph has no chance to field a winning team with his philosophy and lack of a modern NFL plan, I still have season tickets despite the fact that I live in Los Angeles. It's actually hilarious. I still root and cheer for the team. I don't say much during the regular season because "any given Sunday" and all that. I never miss a game, I am like an abused spouse. But during the off season, the blinders come off. They have to. For me anyway. And isn't that the point of this board? To discuss differing opinions about the team we all love? So you can question my fandom all you want. That's fair game. I don't really care either way about that since it's a meaningless term. And you can certainly question my intelligence (I do every day). But let's not pretend I'm trying to disparage anyone personally (other than OBD). Again, you can ignore the second half of the year or write it off to injury and cling to the hope that the real Bills were the 5-2 version we saw in 2011. That's fine. Living your life in a bubble is always less stressful and easier. I get that. It's only football after all.

Would be curious about your review when you see it.

I saw it Friday night and was more than impressed by it. Even more so by the fact it was a 14 million dollar budget (which I know shouldn't factor into it -- but for movie nerds like me it's impossible not register that). Everyone has been clamoring for Hollywood to make original movies; this is for that crowd. It's a fun spin on the super hero genre -- dark and haunting yet fun. Anyone else check it out?

You're jumping on me for the wrong thing ... I've been consistent in my stance that Fitz is NOT the problem. And, I'm fine with him being the starting QB for 2012. My problems with Fitz is that he constantly comes up small when the game is on the line. He's done that multiple times over the years. He's an average QB -- at best he's above average. But he's incapable of leading a team to a championship UNLESS the rest of the team around him is perfect. Since my goal is to see the Bills win the Super Bowl, I don't consider anything but winning the Lombardi a successful season. For that reason, Fitz needs to be replaced ... EVENTUALLY. This team needs talent, you're 1000% correct there. Fitz is capable of leading this team for a year or two as they build up the roster. That's fantastic. But let's be honest, this team is 2 off seasons away from having enough talent on its roster to match up with the best in the NFL. Outside of the RB position and DT position, there's little actual talent on this roster. Based on how this team has operated for the past 15 years ... there's little hope that they are going to be able to do much more than shuffle around what little talent they have. Fitz is the QB for 2012. That's fine and how it should be. But you HAVE to get a QB when you can. Even at the expense of draft picks. QB is the most important position in all of sports. And right now the Bills have a middle of the road guy who's not a young buck. It took Eli time. It took Brees time. The Bills need to find their QB of the future in the next 2 drafts. Someway somehow. That way, they can learn behind Fitz.

You're mixing up your argument. Free Agents don't hate Buffalo -- they just don't think they can win here. It's that simple. This team refuses to pay it's OWN players (look at the long list of players they let walk and players they have screwed over ... COUGH Fred) let alone paying Free Agents. Players talk, they know how dysfunctional the Buffalo front office is. Players don't come here because this team has shown zero commitment to winning. They have no plan (or at best they change plans every other year), they have a revolving door with their OWN players. They have no idea what it takes to field a competitive team in the modern NFL. That's why players don't come here.

The cusp of greatness? Do you watch other NFL games or only the Bills? There is only one unit on the whole roster that can be even considered "great" in comparison to the rest of the league. QB: Average to below average depending on how Fitz is feeling. RB: Fred is a beast. Spiller has shown promise. The best unit on the team by a mile. WR: There's a #2 WR (Stevie) and a bunch of #3's and #5s. No true #1. No depth. No talent outside of Stevie and Nelson. TE: Average to below average. OL: A trainwreck. No LT, no RG and absolutely no depth. The line's success was a complete mirage last year due to Fitz's quick release and the Bills inability to throw down the field. DL: Aside from Williams and Dareus there's nothing here. Troup is a waste. Kelsay is average to slightly above average (when playing in position). Carrington has no position now, nor does Johnson. LB: The worst unit in the NFL. And now they are switching schemes and outside of Barnett (who will still be used out of position) they have no one who would start on any other NFL roster. Not one. DB: Williams is going to be a good one. No idea why people love Rodgers so much, he's a scrub with speed. Maybe he'll develop, but he's nothing more than a nickle back. Terrence was great but he's done. The Senator had a great year and Byrd is solid. Leodis can't get out of his own way and Drayton is horrible. K/P: Moorman may be done. Lindell is nearing the end but has some kick left. This team is FAR from being on the cusp of greatness. How many Bills players could start on other NFL rosters? Seriously, ask yourself that. I bet you can't get to 10.

Technically he called for Montana to pass the reigns to Mallet ... which goes to show you how well thought out and researched this article was. Still, it's hilarious.

He's never played well against top flight pass rushers (even in college). He doesn't move well enough (thin legs, doesn't bend his hips to deliver a pop while shuffling) to be anything more than a backup caliber LT. But on the right side, his ability to get to the second level and block LBs gives him a chance to be a good to very good RT. Much higher ceiling when Hairston plays on the right side than on the left. The entire line last year was a mirage. If you think we're set at LT (or RT, RG) then you're in for a surprise. Even if that's true (and it's not), look at where the Bills are. What's "setting them back" mean? Not making the playoffs? They're doing that already. This team has been TERRIBLE for 12 years. There is no where else to go but up. They cannot go lower, even if they make a move for a QB and miss. Seriously, what's worse than how the Bills have looked for 12+ years? They either finish middle of the pack (and out of the playoffs) or at the bottom of the barrel. You want to change that? This team needs to get a real QB in here at some point. Again, not saying they should give up everything to get RG3 (I haven't watched him enough to know if he's any good) -- but at some point, in one of the next 3 drafts, the Bills HAVE to find a way to get an elite QB prospect in camp. They just do.

Hairston's a RT. If he's the LT of the future there is no future.