Cotton Fitzsimmons

FACT! Stainless steel straws or die... or BUST.

YE OLE was definitely against the Allen pick when it happened. Everything we heard about this guy was that he needed at least a year, if not 2 years, just to sit and learn. And even then, we were told he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. All of that said, for his first start in only the second game of his rookie year, he looked extremely competent. Based on what we were told about Allen before the draft, yesterday should’ve been a recipe for a real debacle from Allen. Despite all of his detractors, nobody really questioned his supreme physical talent. If he can look competent this early into his career with all of the nonsense going on with this offense, he has a chance to be very good.

Throwing it off his back foot from his own 20... FACT!

Blowouts under McDermott is a weird stat and definitely something that should be cause for concern. McDermott is 9-8 in his 17 regular season games, but 5 of those have been 20+ point losses and as previously stated 3 have been 30+ point blowouts. YE OLE did a little digging and the Browns during that same period have obviously gone winless (0-16-1) but have only been beaten by 20+ once (a 24 point loss to the Bengals). When we went on that 3 game skid last season YE OLE thought we wouldn’t see another win the remainder of the year and yet they came back and looked more than competent. There’s a difference between being bad and completely unprepared to function. Why such wild swings with McDermott?

The only thing Doug Marrone wants to be +15 in is punts... FACT!

Rib, my good friend, you are spot on per usual! YE OLE believes what we will see in Peterman is a guy who will run hot and cold at times. He definitely has the ability to be accurate and throw guys open even in perfect coverage. He also has significant limitations. All of this to say there will be games in Nate’s career not unlike the Chargers game, but also games where he will disect the secondary and neutralize the pass rush because the ball is out so quickly. No idea what we’ll see Sunday, but YE OLE bets it will be spectacular in one fashion or another.

If Kirby Jackson says it is so, then that is good enough for YE OLE... FACT!

What's good, gents? What's good? Allow YE OLE to shed some light on this pizza box caper. Clearly what went on here is this project came across the desk of some corporate ne'er-do-well (not unlike yours truly), and said ne'er-do-well was like "Let's rubber stamp this shiznit, gents! We gotta get to the local watering hole whilst the gettin is good!" Once the proclamation was made, this monstrosity of a pizza box naturally followed.

YE OLE fondly remembers Buddy’s rant on scouting philosophy. It went something like... He wanted to get down on the field and stand nose to nose with these guys. He wanted to smell his breath and know what a guy ate for lunch. That’s how you get quality OLineman... FACT!

We need to get this thing blocked up out there, gents!

YE OLE would whole heartedly say no... that would not be worth it. However, because we did get our QB and still have draft capital to swing a trade we now are in a position where it would be beneficial to get a premier pass rusher.

Khalil Mack is THE WHIP... FACT!

YE OLE can also see this deal happening and McDermott stepping to podium very matter of fact like and telling the media “Brandon and his team do a great job. They’re always looking for good players that can come in and improve our team. Just like bringing in John Ryan the other day... he’s a good player. Khalil’s also a good player. We’re excited to have both these guys here to compete...”

Rumor has it... Zay has been working hard on his hand stuff with the JUGS machine. If this comes to fruition he just may catch some crucial game winning TDs of the Josh Allen “roaring rocket” variety. Then, and only then, YE OLE will proclaim young Zay to be THE WHIP... FACT!

Excellent points per usual, my good man! YE OLE is channeling that Mark Morrison vibe that we may indeed have a “Return of the Mack” situation going down here in Buffalo. At some point you have to take your shot... and certain positions are worth a premium. If McBeane’s Mean Machine can land a franchise QB and a superstar pass rusher the AFC landscape will be significantly tilted in our favor. If it works out there won’t be another season for many years where the Bills won’t be a SB Contender. If it doesn’t work out... who cares? We’ll be in the same boat we’re in now. Like a Josh Allen 40 yard laser through the tightest of windows, McBeane should let it rip and go all in on this.

If this comes to be... YE OLE will be the first one here to declare Josh Allen THE WHIP... FACT!

BullBuchanan, my good fellow, if YE OLE may... Far be it for YE OLE to speak for the masses, but the overwhelming issue with Schopp doesn’t seem to be that he disagrees with callers, but moreso how he treats callers. Sometimes people call in with takes that are pretty out there, and other times callers will have something to say that’s quite reasonable. Without any rhyme or reason Schopp will decide to take the next several minutes on air to sarcastically poke fun at said caller. It’s not in a manner of genuine disagreement, but it’s more in the spirit of what an idiot that last guy was... in some cases this act will dominate the remainder of the show. If you listen to someone like Sal, he’ll often disagree, but tell you why he feels that way and shares insight into his actual thoughts. He still acts appreciative that you called his show and it generally makes people want to continue to listen and participate in the discussion. Aside from that, others have mentioned he has used his show as a vehicle to promote “social justice.” There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, and YE OLE, himself, is quite politically involved and follows news closely... but there’s a point where it’s exhausting if it bleeds too deeply into sports talk. Many people like to tune in to sports talk to get away from other aspects of the world for a while. It’s not to say there aren’t genuinely political issues that are relevant to discuss as it relates to the NFL and other sports leagues, but Schopp reaches for it at all times and that can be exhausting. An example that sticks out in my mind is his opinion of Carson Wentz. Prior to last season he stated on multiple occasions that he wasn’t a fan of a Wentz and how he didn’t get all the hype about him. He went a step further indicating that it was because he was this white QB who met this prototypical mould and if he was black he would be an afterthought. It’s fine that Schopp feels the way he does, but my opinion, and I believe the opinion of much of his audience, is that most people are growing fatigued of Schopp’s insistence to make race a part of that discussion all of the time. Again, people can choose to tune in or tune out, but it seems many are limiting the amount they listen to the guy and a lot of it surrounds some combination of these things. If there was an alternative, many people would probably tune in. Just YE OLE’s thoughts for what it’s worth.

K-Gun, my good fellow, you are spot on per usual! YE OLE has listened to Schopp since his WNSA days. There was a time when his “sports talk for smart people” (his tag line, not mine) wasn’t bad. But, over the years it’s gotten horrible. The endless droning on about the Bachelor, candy bar drafts, politics, or whatever topic of the day is mostly nonsense. It’s fine if it’s your cup of tea, but it’s not what I want to hear about when I tune in to a sports talk station. Aside from that, he’s definitely rude to callers and isn’t at all appreciative for the audience he has. He makes it seem as though you’ve greatly inconvenienced him by calling his show. I think it’s all part of his shtick, but it makes me want to tune out. Bulldog seems like a nice enough fellow, but mostly takes a backseat while Schopp works over the poor soul that called in and dared express an unacceptable opinion or simply delivered it in a manner that wasn’t sufficiently eloquent for Mike. For the most part I think people agree with these takes, but he has his supporters too who will say “then just don’t listen.” For the most part YE OLE has tuned out, but admittedly listen to some extent (usually at least Sal’s segments this time of year) because I’m unaware of other options to get bills/Sabres talk, especially for those of us out of town. If there were better options YE OLE would certainly tune him out.

KZooMike, my good friend, YE OLE concurs. I hated the pick on draft night. I had bought the narrative that he had generational talent in terms of arm strength but couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. Clearly, the woeful accuracy thing is not true. He’s fitting the ball into some tight windows. We’ve obviously all talked about it, but the way the ball travels to the receiver it literally looks like he’s playing a different game than everyone else. I would’ve been over the moon had we gotten Mayfield or Darnold, and would’ve preferred Rosen over Allen, but as of right now I think I would take Allen over all of them. It’s preseason and who’s to say how any of them turn out, but Allen does things on a level that the other QBs in this class physically can’t do. Maybe he’ll still devolve into a complete train wreck, but right now I certainly see what McBeane bought into.

YE OLE was as disappointed as anyone when we drafted Allen. Then YE, like most, went through the usual stages of that thing we do as fans and start justifying it. Eventually YE OLE came around to thinking he may turn out. All of that said, Josh Allen legitimately makes throws that a vast majority of other QBs cannot make in their wildest dreams. More so than even YE OLE believed at the start of this draft process. Of of course this was preseason... but his ability to make certain throws is what it is regardless. The TD pass was ridiculous and that’s just a throw that isn’t attempted. MCCLOUD III was not open. We’ve all watched it over and over... YE OLE still has no idea how Allen got that ball in there. He’s also much quicker on his feet than I realized. I know what the combine numbers were and he was certainly billed as a pretty mobile guy, but he exceeded my expectations there. The thing that has moved the bar for me the most is simply the fact of how good his good throws are. The bad throws will probably always be present in his game to some extent, but I’m now of the mind that it might not matter.

Irish, my good fellow, Truer words have not been spoken. YE OLE’s good friend, The Astro Bot is, and forever shall be THE WHIP. FACT!

Ace Allen it is, gents! Who is under center... What is at WR... Why is at LG

Mykidsdad, you are spot on per usual my good friend! YE OLE was fortunate enough to catch this segment of the Rich Eisen Spectacular and YE also came away impressed. It sounds as though “Hacksaw” Josh Allen could indeed be THE WHIP... and that’s the fact Jack!

Maryland, my good fellow... Just imagine the first time Allen slings one into the hospitality tent during 7 on 7 work!