ChasBB

It makes more sense when you consider teams can dress 46 players this year on game day instead of 45.

Ah ha, I found some info: http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/nfl-players-association The players are surveyed every TWO years. Here is snippet from above link: "Players are surveyed every two years and asked to rank the stadiums that have natural grass and those that have artificial surfaces." I would have thought it would be an annual survey, too, but I guess this allows players to be exposed to more surfaces before being surveyed. Thanks all for your responses to this topic!

Yes, I know. If you look at my post again, you'll see I was asking if there was a 2012 survey available (for the 2011 season). However, as UConn James points out, he thinks maybe the survey is not conducted every year and that may be why there is not a 2012 survey showing an improved ranking for RWS field.

In Feb, 2011, the NFLPA released playing surface ratings which had the old turf at RWS rated dead-last for artificial surfaces in the NFL. I've been trying to locate a similar rating for 2012, but haven't been able to locate the survey. I'd be curious to know what the latest ranking is. I'm assuming it is much better, but not sure exactly where it ranks now compared with other artificial surfaces in the NFL. Does anyone know how the A-Turf at RWS has been rated by the players after a year of use? I just haven't seen anything about it. Thanks!

cue the deer:

I don't think any single player is worth $17 mil per season. What if he gets hurt, then what? You're out a ton of cash, don't have anything left for anyone else, and your big time free agent pick-up is on crutches all year. Won't be looking like such a great move then. Of course, on the other hand, the guy stays healthy and contributes to a deep playoff run and it's another story. Is it worth the risk. I don't know. That's just a bit too rich for me.

Bellichick is the best coach in the business. Call him a cheat or whatever you want to call him, but the guy is a competitor and knows how to win.

Whitner was always pretty decent, but just found it difficult to live up to being such a high draft pick. I'm happy for the guy. Agree with poster who says it's 100% about being one game away from the Super Bowl.

Totally agree with you how Belichick sets teams up like bowling pins Monday thru Saturday and knocks them down on Sunday. However, I'm less concerned about him running up the score. That's his prerogative. If our team (or any team) cannot prevent that from happening, then it is deserved.

For the record, I actually liked what I saw out of Spiller tonight. He hit holes decisively and did a lot more north-south style running -- good to see.

I'm watching in the Jacksonville TV market -- end of half interview with Del Rio when asked about the 1st qtr and-a-half ... paraphrasing ... "he looked like Joe Montanna out there"

Did you also notice how incredibly SLOW left tackle #76 was on that play?

I'm with you. I'm the eternal optimist when it comes to this team. Every year I think this is the year they turn it around. I was all in just a week ago. The Evans trade didn't bother me too much. I would have preferred they kept him for one more season. But to learn that possibly Overdorf pulled the trigger on that deal and not Nix -- well, that changes everything. I should know better than to think Ralph and his henchmen would actually let Nix run the football operation. After all these years, I'm the fool for believing. The way Freddy has been handled is just about the last straw for me. Oh, I'm sure I'll still watch -- when it's convenient, but I'm not expecting more than 5 or 6 wins. Maybe we need a billboard that says "Fire Littmann and Overdorf!" and draw some real attention to these !@#$s instead of merely picking on the Jaurons of the world (who did absolutely need to go).

There's never been game-planning in pre-season -- especially not game 2 when teams are still evaluating talent and carrying up to 90 players on their rosters. This is nothing new. Unconcerned.

Hey, replace King George with our modern-era leaders and the document is as applicable today as it was then. I think every citizen would do well to review their own rights periodically, lest we forget ... ~~~ The Bill of Rights: First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms. A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. [5] Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. ~~~ The Declaration of Independence uses the term "unalienable Rights", yet our above rights have been and are being constantly assaulted by our modern-era leaders. Like sheep, we accept pat-downs, random checkpoints, crackdowns on free speech that is not deemed politically-correct, taking guns from lawful citizens (Katrina), Feds illegally trumping state laws, and on-and-on. The Founding Fathers knew what tyranny was first hand, so let's give them some credit that perhaps they knew what they were doing when they created the U. S. Constitution.

I was just re-watching that fumble recovery by Kyle Williams at buffalobills.com. Anyone notice how quickly he moved off the snap?! Amazing. He was two or three steps into the Browns backfield while the rest of the defensive front was just starting to move. Nice to see his hustle rewarded.

I think he will probably be back next year, but he'll have to earn a starting spot. He'll have some competition. If you go to BuffaloBills.com and watch David Nelson's TD catch again, take a look at Evans and how he was completely unable to release himself from the defender on that play. I know that's been one of the knocks against Evans, but that play really demonstrates that well. I think he'll be back and still has the ability to excel, but I think he loses the "#1" label.

What a !@#$ing !@#$. The Jets staff is !@#$ing pathetic. This is far worse than the Cheatriots. This could have ended a guy's playing career. What a !@#$ing worthless piece of **** this guy is. I really want to see Buffalo put these !@#$ers in their place.

I so hope that the final game of the season is a must-win for the Jets to make the playoffs. How sweet it would be to knock them out of the post-season party!

http://www.neworleansprofootball.com/2010/12/saints-sign-veteran-lb-mitchell.html

Yeah, you nailed it right there. All the tangibles in the world amount to a hill of beans without the mental and physical toughness to go with those skills that would allow him to endure the inevitable hits in the NFL. That's what sets Fitzpatrick apart. Fitz knows he's going to get hit hard and yet he hangs in there. I think there was a time when Edwards could have become that type of QB, but that concussion effectively ended his productive capacity I think. He just was never the same after that (minus a game here or there where he stood out, e.g. SD).

I'm curious -- what did Rush have to say?

Agree, these TYPES of things is the reason the Bills are 2-9. This team could easily be 8-3 or at least 7-4 right now were if not for stupid things they do to themselves week-in and week-out. I'm just saying that Stevie is not the reason they are 2-9. He's had a great season.

For ESPN to say "This is why the Bills are 2-9" is not a fair thing to put in Steve Johnson's lap. If ESPN wanted to say "This is why the Bills are NOT 3-8" -- THAT would be a more fair statement (though still inaccurate because this is still a team sport). Steve Johnson has been a bright spot on this team. Also, one guy is never the reason a team loses. While it sure looks that way in this case, this is still a team sport and the Bills had plenty of other squandered opportunities. This one just has the misfortune of standing out. Johnson will recover from this and so will the Bills. At this point, wins and losses are not so critical. To see the Bills compete like they did is extremely encouraging. They are still learning to win. They will continue to improve and so will Johnson.

+1 And, sadly, it is exactly this sort of attention that garners pro-bowl votes and not always performance (consider all those years Bob Chandler should have been in the pro bowl, but never made it). Even Stevie himself realizes that he'll probably have to finish up as the #1 WR to make the pro bowl. So, I agree, $5K very well spent for a guy who ought to make the pro bowl on his performance alone -- the promotion only helps him. Go Stevie! Go Bills! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DE7BSZc2cs