BuffaloWings

Being the out-of-towner that I am, I was clearly annoyed by the lack of tickets available to the public after the season ticket holders were able to gobble up a lot of them. I attend 1 game a year (the drive from Albany is a bit much 8 times a year), so when it appeared that I was shut out...directly through the Bills, at least...I was not exactly happy with the whole situation. However, I have some renewed faith. The gentleman to which I pleaded my case back in June took down my phone number and actually called me today saying there were some available. I was able to buy (through group sales) 15 tickets for the Chargers game on October 19th. It may not mean a lot to many of the posters here, but I'll be able to extend my streak of attending at least 1 game to 14 years.

So, you want a trick play run once a week? That's what a halfback option is designed to be and it doesn't become a trick play if you use it frequently.

Agreed...it was a good piece, but the "Buffalo/Toronto" thing wasn't necessary.

Exactly....it's not like Fairchild is running the offense anymore.

Perhaps you can make this argument in hindsight, but at the time, letting Wade go was the right thing to do. Wade did a terrible job of handling the entire QB controversy over the course of the 2000 regular season. He was never clear as to who would start from week to week (those who defend Wade will say it was gamesmanship, but the look he had and his tone of voice wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring) and his lack of leadership is one of the contributing factors to the divided locker room. He then actually hired a guy with ZERO experience to run special teams to replace one of the best of all time, then refused to fire him when it was blatantly obvious to even my dog that Ronnie Jones was in way over his head. While the defenses were good, he never did anything to improve the offense (also a weakness of Greggo). I know Wade's a defense guy, but as HC, he needed to step up and put pressure on Joe Pendry to develop a better game plan. When you have a predictable offensive plan and then you don't know what QB is going to run it from week to week, it's a recipe for disaster. Let's also not forget his famous prediction that the Bills & Colts were basically out of the playoff picture with 3 games left and both teams at 7-6. Indy beat the Bills that week and finished 10-6, making the playoffs. Wade's professional leadership led the Bills to be 8-8 and home for the holidays. Wade is an excellent defensive coordinator and has done remarkable jobs wherever he has been. Two of his first three head-coaching stints have turned out mediocre at best....the 3rd is on shaky ground already, though not by his doing. Jason Garrett will be handed the job, the question is when. If Dallas gets off to a rough start, I wouldn't be surprised to see Wade gone by Week 9. Either way, it's clear that Jones wants Garrett running the ship and that won't be too far away.

Well, doesn't this just make Lynch's whole "hit and run" thing look pretty good!

I thought Schlereth was pretty condescending in his analysis. I don't disagree with his points (young QB, AFC is a tough conference, etc.), but he didn't have to show up Whitner by talking down to him like he was a 6-year-old. That said, I like Whitner's confidence and I think the team needs to develop a little swagger. I don't know if that will translate into a playoff berth, but a little confidence goes a long way.

Well, with the depth they have going into camp, there should be some pretty good competition. The advantages seem to be Royal (experience with the offense), Anderson (size & experience), and Fine (rookie draft pick), but Massaquoi's size may help him. Schouman will probably only make the roster via special teams. Nevertheless, I like the looks of the TEs. Anderson could be a sleeper.

Just like predicting the end of any "dynasty" is tiring. I think it's safe to say that every other team is gunning to beat them and fans of every other team hate their guts (see: post-2000 New York Yankees). And I couldn't agree more with PTR....beat them on the field to shut them up and end their run.

Couldn't agree more. They need Hardy a lot more than McKelvin from day 1.

What....no Shane Conlan? Seriously, this isn't a bad list, but it just feels like they put together the best of the past 20 years and added a few "older" names. It seems like some names are missing, but I can't put my finger on who.

It's Mort, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's all there is to it. Al Harris said on NFL Live that Favre just said he had the itch, but this will happen to every retiree this time of year. As much as I enjoyed Farve, he should stay retired. SOMEONE has to stick to their word, after all.

They're doing this to get people to watch. They lost credibility a long time ago when they just started picking/covering the big-market teams.

And this is because we have 24-hour sports networks like ESPN. With all the time they have, you'd think they'd do what they did in the early-80s...find the most obscure sport and cover it. Instead, they find stuff about the most popular teams/players/people and discuss it ad nauseum. I joked with a friend of mine that now that the Bills have two players with negative headlines (Hardy & Lynch), they'll go 12-4 this year and/or win a playoff game or two.

Exactly. If I *knew* that I hit someone with my car, I would stop. If I didn't think I hit someone/something, I'd keep driving. When in doubt, stop.

I find that interesting....they announce that it's a sellout, yet they're still available to season ticket holders. I know the organization benefits more from the season ticket buyers, but geez.

Agreed that it's a feather in their cap and that it's shocking how this has happened. I'm officially shut out now. To me, it s**ks because I really don't know any season ticket holders who can get tickets for me and I have to rely on the internet to come to a game. I've bought group tickets every year since 1995. I feel gipped, but at least the games are selling out. I wonder how much this has to do with the fact that there's one less game to buy tickets for.

Would they hold back a handful of tickets for things like group sales and individual game tickets? I don't get season tickets, but a group of friends & I usually go out once a year from the Albany area. Now I'm afraid we're going to get shut out.

I think what he showed us last year as a rookie tells me that he's the right guy to be the #1 QB going into camp. I think he can only get better and learn from his mistakes and bad play. A good part of his bad play was probably due to Fairchild's ineptness as an OC, so at least a new coordinator who knows what Trent can do should help.

Fully agree on this one. I'd much rather play and have the controls.

In a twisted way, I'm starting to side with the NFL on this....just make it go away. Seriously, it *shouldn't* just go away. I can see 20 years from now where Belichick does a Pete Rose and actually admits to it all.

I doubt he really thinks they're saints... The media makes them out to be because they're on a team that wins.

Could've stopped right there....that's all you need to hear.

I think that's the first time I've ever seen the word "flagrantly" used. It is a penalty - holding is holding, no matter what the situation - but GG is right. It happens on almost every fumble play, but rarely gets called.