ChasBB

Wow, that sure is depressing when you look at it from a cost perspective. Not only is this an indictment of our scouting department, but also of our coaching staffs and their inability to develop QB talent (which may have been impossible in a couple of cases, but probably not 100% impossible)

Ahmad Rashad

Thurman Thomas was a LEADER. Who is the leader today? No one. Thurman Thomas had the audacity to write the words "Super Bowl" on his shoes during training camp 1990 as a reminder to himself and his teammates about what the goal is -- and they did it! Who is the guy today on this team with that vision -- AND the ability to contribute and back it up? No one.

Exactly! Your big guys in the middle of the line are mainly there to plug up the run and to force the play to the outside allowing your backers and ends to make plays. The guys in the middle are not going to rack up big sack numbers. It's really up to the DE's to pressure the QB. Pressure on the QB can result in MANY good things for the defense: 1. sack for loss of yards 2. forced fumble 3. interception 4. incomplete pass 5. and a VERY NERVOUS QB who starts worrying about his health instead of finding his receivers THAT's why a DE is critical. The fact is all 11 guys are critical as a team is only as strong as its weakest link. But pressure on the QB is essential to team success. Even an average QB can pick you apart when given the time and that's why we need a Bruce Smith-caliber DE and right away. We don't have any thing even close to a Smith on this team. The team that wins the turnover battle is statistically the team that ends up winning the game, and a DE is a key component in winning the turnover battle. That's the logic as I see it. The fact is you need a strong line all the way across. They feed on each other. A strong interior line occupies more blockers which frees up the DE's and vice-versa. Any major weakness will be exposed. I'll just say that if I could only be average in one area and super in another, I'd choose to be super at the DE position and average at the DT position, but, both are critical.

I like Steve Johnson. Yes, I realize he has very little experience, but he's just one of those guys you get a sense is something special. He made the most of his slim opportunities. Kinda of makes me wonder why the coaching staff didn't work him in sooner and more frequently, but whatever -- I think this guy is going to be a real contributor this year.

Reed has really developed into a strong player -- great blocker, doesn't drop passes like the old days, plays smart, leader on the field. I wouldn't take Coles for Reed, straight-up. Reed has been one of the few consistent performers on this offense.

100% agree. I don't want another short receiver. Receivers MUST have height. Sure, you can have maybe ONE short guy and we have that guy already (Lee Evans). That's enough. We can't have a passing attack with 2 short guys and I don't care about the talent level here -- size DOES matter at this position -- sorry, but it does.

People also forget that the Super Bowl years were uncapped years. The Bills did OK for themselves for a small market in an uncapped era. However, they also had a great GM and talent scouts then, too.

The Bills wouldn't, nor should they. What an ridiculous amount of money for any single player. He's still just one of eleven guys on the field. A difference maker -- yes, but $100 million?!

Great find!

Hey, that's Lynch's new defense -- "I was only totin' a gun to be more like Buffalo Bill!"

Yeah, that's occurred to me before, as well -- making it plural doesn't make a lot of sense. Oh well, it's neither here nor there -- neither the name nor the logo will be changing while the team is in Buffalo -- just an observation is all. Well, I hope your swag includes some Super Bowl Champion stuff!

Got no problem with the name. If we keep the name, then let's lose the bison logo and truly honor William Cody by including him in our logo somehow. Later in his life, he actually took on the role of PROTECTING the bison.

Funny! Add the Buffalo Stampede and we'll have a couple of BS teams.

Hey, I could go along with that! Makes a lot more sense than the current name (assuming the bison logo stays).

I'm OK with Hamden as the backup.

I think the answer is "it depends". If his 6'2" stature is combined with an absolute bull rush that makes him capable of tossing aside tackles, then maybe, but height is very important for a DE, so it would have to be a very strong player to overcome lack of height.

I maintain that we have the dumbest logo in all of team sports. Buffalo Bill (William Cody) was a Buffalo HUNTER. Our namesake (Buffalo Bill) is HUNTING our logo (the bison). Just f'in brilliant whoever came up with this logo. And people wonder why the team beats itself so often!! Just kidding about the last remark about team beating itself, but, seriously, how stupid is it for the nickname of the team to be hunting the team's logo? I would suggest a caricature of William Cody for the logo, but everyone is so damned attached to the stupid bison that it would never happen.

No more ex-Patriots.

Well, before everyone overreacts, Bruce Smith had drug issues early in his career and he was just inducted to the Hall of Fame. It should be legal anyhow or, at the very least, decriminalized and treated as alcohol is treated. Of course, the gun thing complicates this, but again, he wasn't shooting people. He may not be very bright, but he can run the ball and execute his plays for the most part. However, he may not be so fortunate with the league -- I suspect the league won't be so easy on him this time.

I hope Ralph does right by Freddy Jackson and pay him what he deserves to be paid. I know he's required to play for Buffalo one more season, but it would sure be nice to see the Bills get a long-term deal done with him. The situation with Lynch just makes this all the more important.

Bingo! That's what I'd like to see also. I don't know why Johnson wasn't utilized more last season.

Sure, a coach that doesn't make a lot of demands, admits that its hard to win in the NFL, and constantly praises his players whether they deserve it or not -- what's not to like from the player's perspective? Seriously, it would seem that there must be SOMETHING to the fact that the players love this guy. However, if they really want to show their devotion to him, then some players need to STEP UP and LEAD this team to a Super Bowl or at least make the playoffs.

Leadership. Leadership has been missing since Kelly left. There has not been a take-charge guy like Kelly since he left. Also, remember how Thurman wrote "Super Bowl" on his shoes during training camp in 1990?! Where is that guy today? Who's the guy that dreams big? Whitner? Ha. He promised the playoffs and the team couldn't even make it. Thurman Thomas writes two simple words on his shoes and what happens -- they make it to the Super Bowl. It has to start with a goal, with a vision. That team really wanted to go to the Super Bowl. Today's teams just flounder. They have no leadership or direction. There's no guys stepping up to lead this team.

Yes, but which one? We could start with Joey Porter. Maybe we could toss the big Tuna, himself, over the falls. I'd hate to harm a REAL dolphin.