Yoho

For some Bills fans rooting for the Bills and being optimistic is not an optional alternative. I am a Bills Fan. I have been so since 1960 when my World War II vet dad let me know how the original All America Football Conference screwed the Bills (the 2nd most successful franchise in the league) and accepted the Browns, the 49'ers and the Colts into the NFL and dropped the Bills. I have been a die hard ever since. I will be an optimist every year. I will find the silver lining in every cloud. I will hope that this year is the year that it all comes together. I am convinced that this year that Merriman, Williams and Dareus will turn this season around. I was convinced that Monte Ledbetter would turn the season around in the late 60's. For those of you that want to lament that we have not made the playoff for ten years and that the franchise will not turn around until the owner dies, the management changes or karma blesses us, you are missing out on the wonderful feeling of optimism that begins every season. Am I fooling myself? Maybe. But the great thing is I wont know until we see how it plays out and until then I am an optimist. I am one of the crazies that spends a large portion of my disposable income on Bills tickets. Guess what, it is people like me that have kept the Bills in Buffalo. So, forgive me for hoping for the best. Sorry for not doing the woe is me routine. If us optimists leave, the Bills are the Los Angeles Clippers.

Among all the rants and angst, let me discuss one simple truth, without Ralph there are no Buffalo Bills. There might be the Miami Bills in the 1960's, the Arizona Bills in the 1970's, the Houston Bills in the 1990's and the Los Angeles Bills in the 2000's. Every one of them would have made more money than Ralph Wilson has made by staying in Buffalo. If you want to call him names, I would suggest starting with what kind of idiot would have kept a team in Buffalo the last 50 years? You think things will be better when he passes on? I sure hope you are right, but my logic says remember the Buffalo Braves.

Actually I think the better analogy is Joe Frasier and his rope a dope. The bend but don't break defense is equivalent to lying against the ropes and letting yourself get pummeled hoping that the opponent will tire himself out and do something stupid and let you beat him. I do not believe that Brian Moorman is the appropriate analogy. Remember Rusty Jones the punter, not the anti-rust thing. Or maybe Greg Cater. One or the other. Otherwise, excellent point and as the most insightful posts say +1.

Since I looked up the Lions, I checked out their drafts since 1983. They have picked a QB first 4 different times. They were Chuck Long, Andre Ware, Joey Harrington and Matthew Stafford. It finally hit.

Tony Hunter was picked with the 12th pick in the 83 draft. Jim Kelly was the 14th pick. Detroit picked in between and choose a fullback, James Jones. They didn't pick a QB because they were so happy with Gary Danielson and Eric Hipple.

You see this is there board. They pay for it, they run it, they own it. If they want to limit posts to just discussions about Rex Ryan's feet, they have every right to do so. When you want to pay for and run a board, you can do whatever you want. Until then, go to a different message board and post your drivel.

Why precisely do "the people of WNY deserve better"? It is only a big dose of luck and the loyality of Ralph Wilson that WNY even HAS a NFL team. I wish we could do an "It's a Wonderful Life" redo and show WNY without Ralph Wilson. It is called Gary, Indiana or Toledo, Ohio. Just another has been old industrial city with nothing to have pride in. Thanks Mr. Wilson for your loyality. Unlike the St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Brown or Oakland Raiders when this team leaves nothing is coming back.

This team is set to go anywhere from 3-13 to 11-5. I beleive Gailey is taking us right back to Buffalo roots. We have to be able to run and we have to be able to stop the run. The good news is that I do not think any team in football goes 3 deep at running back better than the Bills. If we can finish in the top 10 in the league in rushing, we will compete. We have the talent. Do we have the line? On defense, we HAVE to stop the run. If we can do that, we have the defensive backfield to make plays. We don't have many strengths; that is one of them. I am far less worried about quarterback than I am about these two keys. I know our rushing game is somewhat dependent on the opponents respect for our passing game. But there are at least two games a year where the winds are howling so badly, no one figures you can pass anyway. That is when you need to win the rushing contest. If we focus on these two keys, the Bills can win this year. It gives me hope.

I feel the same way about the Irish Catholics. And the Poles hate Lee Evans

I understand he did not receive any votes for the all conference team. That says a lot I have a theory that most of the "draft experts" really have no working knowledge of what they are looking for in film so they are left with the measurable and comparable results from the Combine. If someones numbers there are off the charts it gives them something to make distinctions between players. That is why some of the gurus had Campbell going in the top ten picks. For the guys who know football and how to study the film, he looked like a 4th rounder to them but they are not going to tip their hands to the draft gurus. In fact, there is more misinformation spread around than real information.

How in the world do you think you know this? Because Mel Kiper said so? How do you know how many draft boards he was on? How can you possibly think you know that? Because you read a lot of mock drafts. Sheesh

Troup and Clausen are perfect examples of the "reach" syndrome If the Bills had drafted Clausen 9th, some would have not liked the pick but nobody would have called it a reach becasue all the mocks had him going in the 1st round. As it turns out, it would have been an incredible reach because we could have had him in the 2nd round. And because the mocks did not have Troup in the second round, it must be a reach because we could have had him in the third. But, there is no way of KNOWING this. If the last three days have taught us anything, it is how wrong the mock drafts really are and how they parrot each other. Then the followers of the mock draft see a name over and over and over again as a high pick and when he lasts longer than the mocks had him declare him an incredible value. Guess what there is probably a reason he lasted so long. Often, instead of incredible value, he is a wasted draft pick. But for those of you who feel miserable about the Bills, it is a nice chance to whine.

Evidentally, Jaws disagrees

I think this says we are trading for Jason Campbell tomorrow. Just a feeling.

14 Ken Charles G 6-3 180 July 10, 1951 R Fordham University 15 Ernie DiGregorio G 6-0 180 January 15, 1951 R Providence College 30 Jim Garvin F 6-7 200 February 5, 1950 R Boston University 4 Matt Guokas G-F 6-5 175 February 25, 1944 7 Saint Joseph's University 24 Gar Heard F 6-6 219 May 3, 1948 3 University of Oklahoma 44 Bob Kauffman F-C 6-8 240 July 13, 1946 5 Guilford College 43 Kevin Kunnert C-F 7-0 230 November 11, 1951 R University of Iowa 21 Mike Macaluso F 6-5 210 July 20, 1951 R Canisius College 42 Jack Marin F-G 6-7 200 October 12, 1944 7 Duke University 11 Bob McAdoo C-F 6-9 210 September 25, 1951 1 University of North Carolina 5 Jim McMillian F 6-5 215 March 11, 1948 3 Columbia University 22 Paul Ruffner C-F 6-10 225 October 15, 1948 2 Brigham Young University 9 Randy Smith G-F 6-3 180 December 12, 1948 2 Buffalo State College 3 Lee Winfield G 6-2 174 February 4, 1947 4 North Texas State University 13 Dave Wohl G 6-2 185 November 2, 1949 2 University of Pennsylvania

I hope all the older Buffalo fans realize the irony of his name. John Gianelli lives on.

When I was 7 years old, one Sunday afternoon my Dad did something he had never done before. Instead of watching what my Mom wanted to watch on the television, he took me to my parents bedroom where the old TV was and turned on the Bills game. It was 1960. My Dad had been an usher at War Memorial Stadium and when the NFL absorbed the Browns, 49ers and Colts from the old All American Football Conference and left the Buffalo Bills behind, my Dad never forgave the NFL. Now, there was a new Buffalo Bills franchise and he was thrilled and was going to share it with his 7 year old sports fanatic. Just 4 years later, we were watching the Bills win the AFL championship (two years in a row). Those Sundays became a religious experience. Until my Dad passed away in 81, there is at least one thing we had in common and could talk about. Now I have a 30 year old son, and he is a Bills fan. So, for all you Ralph Wilson bashers, you have no clue what this team meant to Buffalo and those growing up in the area. So , that is why I am a Sports Fan. It is a connection to my growing up, my family and my friends. It is an underdog City that was never in the news except for too much snow or economic downturns. It unified Williamsville and Lackawanna not to mention Pittsford and Hamilton. Go Bills

Go compare to the Detroit Lions. It could be worse.

This is America and we have Freedom of Speech. Therefore, we should be able to post on a bulletin board and post whatever we want, whenver we want. Just because, Bills fans have been spending money on bandwidth and have been moderating this board since the mid-90's (Prodigy), the paying moderators should roll over and allow any and all drivel on the Board. Thanks to all who keep this valuable message board alive. No matter who the Bills hire, after 50 years as a Bills fan, I will continue to follow. I have no choice, it is religion. Go Bills

No. Actually it doesn't sound familiar. If someone misses a kick that has about a 50% probability, like a 47 yarder on a grass field, I don't even begin to consider that choking. Cheap accusations are so easy.

Ralph Wilson had an opportunity to move the Bills to Houston between the Oilers and the Texans. He turned down guaranteed higher profits to keep the team in Buffalo. This comes from someone who has been at One Bills Drive for many years. Without Ralph Wilson, the only Buffalo Bills would be the ones that played in the All-America Football Conference in the 40's..

Based on what? I am curious about those of you that have these incredibly firm opinions about the value or uselessness of various candidates. Please explain why Garrett would be so much better than Frazier? I don't understand it. While I am wondering. What is up with the +1's that have suddenly started appearing? It is just a useless click of the button.

Christian Laettner is arguably the best college basketball player of all time. National championships, final fours, MVP's, greatest shot in college history. He was a servicable pro. The leap from college to pro may be bigger than from high school to college. Every year, there are a couple of "winner" QB's that everyone is convinced will be able to transition to the pros. Do you remember how good Eric Couch was in college? I hope Tebow is successful but history says no about weaker armed, running style great college QB's. Especially those surrounded with All America talent.

Watch him wind up before he throws. Major talent all around him. He has bust written all over him. Quit being so impressed by quarterbacks surrounded by great talent. It will almost always fool you