ChasBB

Yes, THAT is the key thing about Fitz. When I visited the Cincy boards, while he did get shredded by some, I think there was a general consensus that he continued to improve throughout the season. That can be nothing but a good thing! Also agree about Losman not playing a supporting role. It's just not good team chemistry to have Losman brooding about. Yes, he never displayed that publicly, but you just know he was. Fitz improves the overall psychology tremendously.

I don't think they really respected Kollar, either, and that *is* important. I agree, liking your coach is not the main thing (though it doesn't hurt). Why not both? Lou Saban was both respected and liked. I remember an interview with Spencer Johnson last season. I looked for it, but couldn't find it. Anyhow, you could kind of read between the lines that he just though Kollar was an !@#$.

I visited the Cincy board to see what people were saying and it seemed like a 50/50 thing. It reminded me of the JP arguments a couple of years ago -- "if we only had an o-line, he'd be great", etc. However, I'm not sure how you can say he had a chance in St. Louis -- 3 starts in 3 seasons and only 6 appearances in total! It's a real stretch to consider that much of an opportunity. His only significant playing time came last season in Cincy. However, based on the Cincy board posts, there seem to be many people who share your opinion about his arm. Many also said he was too quick to take off running. However, it was his first year in a new system on top of not really having any significant prior experience as a regular starter. And, their O-line DID suck, so that's a factor. I say it's too early to totally write the guy off, but at the same time, I agree, there are some concerns. I don't like the fact that he is 6'2". I think today's NFL QB ideally should be at least 6'4". But, JP's run here was over and everyone knew it. I don't think Fitz was a bad pickup. Given the right situation, he may even turn out to be better than people think. Edit: I'll tell you what I don't like is Fitz being 2nd on the depth chart. Hamden knows the system. I think he deserves to be listed as the #2 guy. In any event, hopefully preseason will sort that out.

I agree about Hamden. I think the guy has a huge upside. He's just not had an opportunity. At 6'4", he's got ideal size and seems to have a strong and accurate arm. He's also got a great team-first attitude. I'm not sure there's much more one can ask for. The guy just needs some playing time.

I say we win that game, we don't go to 4-straight Super Bowls. I think the losses, hard as they were to take, spurred the team on to keep trying. They maybe would have been back for a second Super Bowl, but I don't think 3 or 4 like they did. I would have traded one victory for 3 additional appearances, however.

Totally agree. No team can live off the bomb. It should be part of the package, but you need a run game and a short passing game to set up the long ball every now & then. It is a ridiculous statement.

Yes, that was great. I also like this ... "I always tried to play it fair," he says. Conrad Dobler, once dubbed the NFL's dirtiest player, is approaching his 57th birthday in a body broken down from years of abuse on the field. He knows perfectly well how any mention of fairness or honor might sound, coming from someone who made his reputation as the maestro of a nasty little karate kick technique called the leg whip, coming from a man best known for using his helmet, his feet, his knees, his fingers, a plaster cast, and — perhaps most famously — his teeth as lethal weapons. This is, after all, the same Conrad Dobler whom Sports Illustrated anointed on its cover in 1977 as "Pro Football's Dirtiest Player," the same Conrad Dobler who titled his own autobiography "They Call Me Dirty." This is the Conrad Dobler who gouged eyes and twisted facemasks and worked hard to irritate everyone from Pete Rozelle to John Madden to a mild-mannered Mormon defensive lineman named Merlin Olsen. And this is the Conrad Dobler who, with a few well-placed fists to the solar plexus, once made an opponent actually break down, right there on the football field, and start to cry. "Only time I've seen that," says his former linemate Tom Banks.

Well, if 5 stinikin' yards if this crucial to the outcome of a game, then why the hell do the Bills continue to carry Lindell on the roster? The guy does not have a strong leg. I REALLY want to see the Bills bring in several kickers to challenge for Lindell's roster spot. He's a weak link on this team.

It's an ongoing problem with this team -- failure to spot a problem and DO something about it. Hell, we'd still have Fairchild if he hadn't been given that college job.

I got the sense that none of the players really cared for Kollar. I was glad to see Kollar leave.

Totally agree. I'd maintain a database that tracks every individual that ever saw the team's playbook at one time or another -- players, coaches, whoever -- and keep track of WHEN they saw the playbook, WHAT VERSION of the playbook did they see, WHERE are they now, etc. Throw the information into a database that can be easily queried and constantly be on the lookout for potential issues.

I'd like to see the wired helmets done away with.

Thanks for the link! I feel somewhat vindicated in not being totally paranoid.

Conrad Dobler Quotes: http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-l...ESQ1100-NOV_WIL Another great article, also: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/sto...ge=conraddobler

That's the sad thing. Doesn't matter what the guy has done in his life before now or after now. When his name comes up, this incident will come to mind. I'd sue the b!tch for all she is worth (which, unfortunately, is probably not much). Don't misunderstand me, if this really happened, then I'd want to see justice served, but it's just amazing what one person can do to another just by merely saying that something happened -- no proof, no evidence, no witnesses -- a simple case of he said/she said, but yet a guy's career (and life) are potentially ruined -- amazing.

I've thought of this topic many times, so finally decided to post about it. Corporate espionage is commonplace -- companies do nearly anything and everything that they can to learn what the competition is up to such as attending user group meetings of competing software companies, gathering information from the competition's unwitting employees, or perhaps stealing financial information -- just about anything that can be gotten away with. Corporate security is big business because of all of this spy activity. But, what about sports and football in particular? Football is also big business -- VERY big business. A LOT rides on victories. Witness Belicheat with his video camera guy stealing defensive signals against NFL rules. Teams (which are just companies, really, except not publicly-owned) will probably do just about anything that they can get away with to learn about what the opponent is up to. Now, consider how advanced technology is today. Imagine the edge a team could have on another team if they had video tape of the other team's practice the week leading up to the game? It would be a huge advantage. Hidden cameras are nearly pin-sized today. What's to keep some unscrupulous maintenance staff member from putting a camera up in the rafters of the practice bubble and then sitting in his car in the parking lot and downloading practice video in real time and feeding them (for a price) to the competition? Or, maybe a bug in the meeting rooms? I know this sounds far-fetched on the surface, but is it really? The technology is certainly there. There are certainly people who would be willing to do stuff like this for a payoff -- especially in hard economic times. And as long as there are Belicheats in the world, there is a market for this type of information, too. I don't know. I just hope the Bills scan for stuff like this every now & then in their practice facility and really fully check-out staff members -- background checks and so forth. Yes, I know -- this is ultimate paranoia, but with today's technology such as it is, I think this could be a legitimate concern.

Marv had it right -- he used to mix it up -- some time inside and then some time outside, as well.

Mainly, I think he needs to run better routes. I wouldn't call him a "bust" yet. I'd say his rookie year was a disappointment, but wouldn't call him a bust. However, you could see the frustration in Edward's face at times after an incomplete pass in Hardy's direction. He just doesn't move well, but that could have a lot to do with confidence, too. I say give him some time. He'll be learning from a couple of the best receivers in the game, so that's a big plus.

I don't think your comparison of Fitz to JP is a valid one. Here is Fitz's history: 2005 Starts=3, Appearances=4, QB Rating=58.2, TD=4, INT=8, SACK=9 2006 Starts=0, Appearances=1, QB Rating=0.0, TD=0, INT=0 SACK=0 (only 3 passes attempted) 2007 Starts=0, Appearances=1, QB Rating=0.0, TD=0, INT=0 SACK=0 (0 passes attempted) 2008 Starts=12, Appearances=13, QB Rating=70.0, TD=8, INT=9, SACK=38 Clearly, Fitz has barely even had an opportunity until last season. Considering that Carson Palmer had 11 sacks in his 4 games last year clearly shows how poor the Cincy O-line is. That's actually a slightly higher number of sacks per game than Fitz last year if you do the math, but only very slightly. On the other hand, let's consider JP Losman. Here are his stats over the years: 2004 Starts=2, Appearances=5, QB Rating=39.2, TD=0, INT=1, SACK=1 2005 Starts=8, Appearances=9, QB Rating=64.9, TD=8, INT=8, SACK=26 2006 Starts=16, Appearances=16, QB Rating= 84.9, TD=19, INT=14, SACK=47 2007 Starts=7, Appearances=8, QB Rating=76.9, TD=4, INT=6, SACK=14 2008 Starts=2, Appearances=5, QB Rating=62.3, TD=2, INT=5, SACK=15 JP has had much more opportunity to prove himself than Fitz has had, so that's why I don't think the comparison is all that valid. Am I saying Fitz is another Frank Reicht? Of course not, but he is still an unknown. He played behind a crappy O-line in Cincy and still somehow managed to win 4 games, so I say we really don't know what exactly he is capable of yet. Another year of experience and a good O-line (which I really do believe we have here in Buffalo), then who knows how well he may do. Also, the guy is extremely intelligent and that's a huge plus. I also like Hamden a lot. I think he has really impressed in his preseason opportunities. He's been a great teammate to Edwards, takes his role seriously and prepares well. He also is very familiar with the system having been in it for a couple of years now. Likewise, I think Fitz understands his role on the team and will be there in a positive way to support Edwards.

I disagree. True, we've only seen Hamden in preseason, but he has looked good. Fitz has some real NFL experience now and I have full confidence in him, too. I wouldn't rate the backup situation as ideal, but I wouldn't rate it as dire, either -- not by a long shot. In fact, I think there are many teams who would like to have our backups on their roster.

Depends who it is. I hear you, though. I have nothing against any player trying to make the Bills' squad.

Yes, one of those unheralded behind-the-scenes jobs, but one that is very, very important.

Absolutely. Also great they got Freddy's deal done now instead of October (like they did with Evans). This is the time of year to get contracts done. That way, the focus is 100% on football during the season. The team is loaded with talent and leadership is developing finally among a few of the players, so the pieces are really coming together nicely. I see great things for this team.

I say they both haul in 14 TD catches each.

Lester certainly has had some staying power. He's survived several coaching changes now. What is it with Lester? How is he able to stay like that? What exactly is his role these days? I can't believe he's been with the club since 1987 -- that's amazing. I get the sense that he must be extremely organized -- must be a go-to guy for information -- a guy who knows HOW to find information -- a researcher.