Tipster19

It's time for a new era. The past is the past and now it's long overdue for some new history. It's been quite some time since I legitimately felt so good about the Bills and their future. In the MNF game one could see a feisty attitude, especially on the offense and it's line. Sure, there was mistakes, untimely penalties and lapses being made but the players were out there fighting and clawing and that was great to see. I truly believe that this team finally has a new mentality about who and what they are. I'd like to think that a good part of it comes from some of our new additions on the OL. I don't think that they are going to accept getting pushed around, regardless of the outcome. I've never forgotten when OL Jonas Jennings whined after the game that Vince Wilfork was taking cheapshots during the game. It was easy to badmouth Wilfork but it was more disgusting that Jennings didn't retaliate. I didn't see that with Demetrius Bell. I actually stood up in my livingroom and cheered him on when he was pushing that fat bastard all around after a couple of plays there in the 1st quarter. It was nice to see someone stand up to him and show some balls. Wilfork is nothing but a bully and Jennings was nothing but a sissy. Best way to handle a bully is to punch him in the mouth and I believe that's exactly what Bell did last monday night.

I think we did, we just didn't come out with a victory. I'm not disappointed or regret one thing. Tonight far exceeded my expectations. I'm so proud of our resolve and effort. It was so easy for us to "write" this one in. I don't think that people really realize how fragile this young team could have been tonight or the negative ramifications this game could have had on our season. We were HUGE underdogs and our boys came out swinging. Don't lose sight on the fact that we were not only on the road in our season opener but AT New England of all places! I now fully expect to KILL Tampa next week!

I don't believe Buffalo received the proper credit. I truly think that we outplayed the Patriots and they took advantage of just one play. I'm not going to regret anything that we did, I'm proud of what we did and I feel that our future is finally bright.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm so damn proud of this team! Would I want them to win this game? Hell yeah but don't lose sight of the fact that they showed up and played their balls off! I'd like to mention first was the sight of Belichick with his arms crossed and folded before the half ( I think it was but I'm pretty drunk now) was priceless! Secondly, I LOVE DEMETRIUS BELL'S ATTITUDE! I don't give a sh-- about how many penalties he drew. He was up in the Patriots' faces, especially that fat ass Vince Wilfork. I take back anything that I might have thought of Trent Edwards, the guy was cool! Too bad TO didn't play more in camp, I think he could of made more of a difference if he did but whatever. I'm gonna get off of Jauron's ass, he coached these boys up pretty good and kudos to Van Pelt also! I'm sorry that I ever doubted our team, I actually feel pretty dirty about not having any faith. Shame on me! I was looking for us to play with heart and attitude and our boys delivered! I'll admit that I thought that we were going to get blown out and that would have been alright with me but only if we played with intensity. Well, we didn't get blown out and our boys played with more than enough intensity, we actually should have won the game! I truly feel that there is a new dawn in Buffalo. I LOVE our young players, they have the right mentality!

Ooh, that changes things! I'm so proud of this team!

Me too! That's the attitude that we have been missing.

....and I find myself reflecting on the Buffalo Bills. The more I remember, the more I realize just how much they have been a part of me and my life. Tonight's opener sure doesn't look good and once again the majority of the national media will be having a field day heaping the praise on the Patriots and trashing the Bills. Oh boy, here we go again. Am I ready to go thru this again? Season opener on MNF, on the road and against one of the nation's darling teams? What I think and what I hope are vastly two different things. My hopes and thoughts are clashing violently right now. I'm not even thinking that this will be a close game but what I do hope is that our players go out there tonight and represent themselves, their families, the franchise and last but not least, our community with pride, passion and commitment with being and playing the best that they can be. All I want is them to play with heart from snap to whistle. I'm not asking too much. I, like so many of us, have earned this request. I'm overwhelmed right now with so many emotions. Right now this reminds me of the way I felt in the last several moments of Super Bowl XXV. Watching, holding my breath, waiting on pins and needles when all of a sudden Thurman tore off that big run. I lost it. I never felt so proud being a Bills' fan as I did at that moment or since. No quit, no surrender. WE were not going away quietly. WE were there to fight with everything we had. Tonight I want that same attitude, regardless of the score or outcome. I haven't quit you so don't quit me. The older I get the more I realize what the Bills mean to me. Entering tonight's match-up impacts me like if one of my kids were ready to be facing an insurmountable deterimental task. I'm in pain for these Bills, so fragile and vulnerable of a team at this early stage of the season. But I have resolve. It's not tears that sting my eyes, it's pride. It's not fear that makes my voice waver, it's love and it's most certainly not shame that makes me overwhelmed with emotion, it's passion. I guess now that there is only one thing left to say..... ....Go Bills!

It's the way he approaches it. When the Patriots got Matt Gutierrez, he was supposed to be the heir apparent to Brady at Michigan, and then Kevin O'Connell, I thought that they were going to be all set with their QBs but apparently Belichick's intuition led him to believe otherwise. He seems to know what he wants and what he's looking for in a QB. On the other hand Matt Cassell turned to be pretty effective for the Patriots. In comparison we tried to take a QB (Losman) in the 1st rd and failed miserably. As of now I don't think that anyone can state conclusively that Edwards is the long term answer for us. There's got to be some kind of lesson in there somehow. Well, you got me on that one.

Then let's not make it that kind of post. The guy has been nothing but football his whole life and I think that's kind of interesting. I'd like to have a coach like that on our staff.

I heard just a few days ago on Sirius radio (Pat Kirwan I think) tell a story about Belichick and his father Steve would have a deal about not spending more than $.50 on any book that was about football. I don't remember if he said that it was when they went to gararage or rummage sales or if it was just at a bookstore but that they really got off challenging each other and that Belichick actually used a few plays from these little dime football novels. Keep in mind that belichick's father Steve wrote a book about scouting. It's called "Football Scouting Methods" and it's out of print but if you ever run across a copy of it at a garage sale or book sale, scoop it up, it's worth a large chunk of change. Another aspect that I find interesting is about the background of Belichick's best friend and most trusted adviser Ernie Adams. Check this link out and tell me if this isn't bizarre. http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr..._secret/?page=1

Brady wasn't an accident, if you haven't already read the second link I posted then it's worth reading, it explains Belichick's thinking on what he looks for in the back-up QBs. If it wasn't Brady then I'm confident that Belichick would still of had a competent QB. Btw, he didn't draft Bledsoe, Parcells did.

I know that this is the guy that we all love to hate but here's a couple of links that reveals some of his insights, especially about QBs (second link). When I say this it's not about trying to start a great debate but cheating aside I still think that he is one of the greatest coaching minds in the game today. I'm providing this to not only understand more about Belichick but also expand my knowledge of the history of the game and the great minds of the forefathers that helped make this league and game what it is today. Furthermore I do believe that if Belichick didn't cheat/push the boundaries he still would have achieved comparable success. This guy has done nothing but lived football his whole life. I'm not a fan of his but I can give him the credit that he has earned without being biased. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview09/co...&id=4443119 http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/...cks-backup-plan

My reference was never meant to be taken as ethical. I'm talking about resolve, dedication and hard work. That's what it took for Bell to get where he is at. As far as I can tell he never cried foul or looked for a handout. He went and got his idenity and success. Kudos to him.

Marketing/revenue. He's a one year rental and I don't hold that against organization. Profit is not a dirty word.

I don't believe that this is Bell's kind of make-up. The guy is a love child of Karl Malone and he never whined one bit about not being accepted by his father. Instead he chose to make his own way and stand on his own two feet and he should be commended for it, with or without success on the football field. This is another example of the kind of player/person that our "fake" GM is quietly assembling.

That would be interesting.

My guess will be the Saints and the Chargers in a very entertaining game. How appropiate this will be, the former Charger QB vs the current Charger QB.

The guy has a job to and that is to write. I'm not happy about what's happening but Lombardi isn't the end all. Unless I'm seriously mistaken I'm not going to just write off our organization because what a beat writer is professing. I still think that there is options for us to take advantage of. I don't believe that we got rid of our T and not have a plan or idea on how to compensate for it. Maybe I'm wrong.

No, this is the guy that is no longer a GM in the NFL.

There's still work to be done but it can't all be done overnight. I wouldn't be surprised if Schoebel is gone by next year, or before, and Kelsay is offered to become a LB under a restructured contract for 2010. I don't believe either of these two players will be our DEs next year. I love your phrasing and terminology, it's excellent! None. I bought into the Bills long, long ago. I don't have the time now but it might even be a great post for someone to start about ALL of the moves that Brandon has made since he was in charge full time. The mentality of the personnel that were either added or that were replaced is shockingly different. This guy is getting rid of the primadonnas and replacing them maniacs. I love it! I'm sorry you feel this way. I'm not thinking play-offs anymore although that's not an impossibility. People are worried about Van Pelt and his inexperience as a OC. This is one of the funnier things that have been floating around since this promotion. The guy was the offensive quality control coach. Does anyone know what that is? I think not or otherwise people would be applauding this promotion. The quality control coach is the data base for EVERYTHING that happens for the team. They draw up plays for the coach, they know what the percentage on offensive plays versus downs against defenses etc etc. I'm not worried about this guy at all. Brandon is not going anywheres and I don't believe Jauron ever really mattered since Brandon took full reign. No matter what happens this year Jauron will never get fired before the season ends, he's too congenial and he's really not that important. If the bottom does fall out this year he will be replaced period. I mentioned Schottenheimer in an earlier post (like several others did) and I think that he would be an excellent choice in the event that Jauron can't get it together this year. Thank you and I can understand the way that you feel. I'm not happy either with all the BS that has been going on with this team for the last several years but I really do think that we are finally moving forward from being complacent. I couldn't agree with you more. Excellent insight LynchMob23.

I don't think that it's Jauron making these decisions. I think that Brandon has a little Polian in him.

My impression of what happened today gives me encouragement that we are finally committed to really building this team with the kind of players that a lot of us have coveted for a very long time. None of what I'm about to say is built on fact, just strictly opinion and intuition. I believe that Russ Brandon is resolved in ridding the roster of deadwood and replacing them with players who are gung ho about playing football. Unfortunately it's not going to be in the timeframe that we all have long been waiting for. That's ok with me, I'm just happy to see our organization finally taking the neccessary steps in moving in this direction. I'd rather sacrifice this season, if that's what it will take, to insure the future growth of this team. I know that we all have been sold this bill of goods before with the Donahoe regime but somehow I feel that this is different, much different. There have been numerous bold moves this whole off season to right up to today. I refuse to believe that any of these moves were knee jerk decisions but instead were a pledge that was made back several months ago to do what is called for to bring back the quality of players and football to Western New York that we experienced in past decades. No more of players just showing up for paychecks but instead obtaining football players, real football players who are willing to take their livelihood seriously and that are willing to play all out. No more indecisiveness on who they are suppose to be and who and where they play for. I don't think that all the players who deserve to be rid of are all gone but I will say that a message was sent and it was loud and clear. There is no one that is untouchable regardless of the need and vulnerbility of position. I will venture to say that the remaining players are realizing that they better buy in or get out and I applaud this mentality, it's been long overdue. I don't feel that Jauron is the driving force behind these decisions but moreso Brandon and maybe some others but they all deserve credit and our support in finally really making big time decisions and having the guts to do it regardless of how foolish it may look to the rest of the league and even to us, the fanbase, for that matter. I'm advocating to celebrate these latest developements instead of languishing in them. It's always dark at night before the morning and there is going to be a new dawn arising in Buffalo. I'm quite confident that the 2010 draft will be bringing us a tackle in the 1st round with the mentality and ability of a Eric Wood. In the interm I wouldn't be surprise to see the Bills make a trade for an OL in the very near future. An OL like the Packers' Scott Wells is the type of player/person that I would expect Buffalo to consider. I'm not so worried about what the short and long term solution is for our OL but I'm much more concerned about our QB situation. I'm not implying that Trent Edwards is not the answer but instead I just don't know what to make or think of this player and position. I also believe that for our administration to make these tough decisions they must also feel confident in some of our current unknown players, at least I hope they do. One last thing that I would like to mention. For the first time in a very long time I find something refreshing about this team. I always have these expectations that are never met and I'm felt to feel disappointed, heartbroken and frustrated. Now in the aftermath of all that has happened in this off season I am left with no lofty hopes and goals. Anything that is accomplished this season will be a success to some degree and I will feel that for once this team actually exceeded expectations and overachieved to some extent and this will actually leave me thrilled, less of course we were to go 0-16. I hope that I wasn't too boring but after today this whole situation in Buffalo impacted me in this unexpected way. I hope some of you can feel this way about our team.

I think that not only is he not fragile but he's also a fiery kind of player. Edwards is too brittle for my liking and Quinn would give the Bills a better shot at securing a future franchise QB.

The Patriots have a sign that simply says "Do your job". I question how much accountability our coaches and players have.

Schottenheimer's biggest nemisis was Elway. Not a bad QB to lose to.