RuntheDamnBall

Very true. It's easy to talk these guys up when there is little else to talk about. That said, I've been following Boyd and Murray for awhile and I would be happy to see either in a Bills uniform so long as they aren't 1st round picks for us.

Probably anyone besides Byrd and Levitre? Whitner? When you don't have much of quality entering the free agent market, you don't want to lose the few pieces that are actually good. McKelvin re-signed so quickly that we weren't able to hash it out over his value, but he signed a team-friendly deal. Guys like Wood and Williams did the same. They're good team players, we like them. Guys who try to get what the market will bear are bad guys and we should hate them, unless they re-sign and then they are good guys again. Look, OBD has said that you need to keep your own. The people you support believe this. Just because they can't come to terms doesn't mean they don't believe it. I don't think Levitre was worth what he got, and that's fine. If they were prepared to let him go, though, that does mean they should have had a better backup plan. No one on earth is saying throw $9MM a year at everyone -- just, maybe, two players. So can we cut it with the straw man arguments? This ain't the first time.

Oh good, the return of this argument that no one has made, ever.

It would be more palatable than the current arrangement, but I'm not sure that the NFL is that invested in maintaining the Bills game in Toronto as a tradition. I could see them being interested in that second international game, but until the Bills are a better team that is never going to be a ratings draw.

He would be a terrific pickup in the 5th. The injury could give the Bills pause, though, if they are looking for a guy who can contribute in year one.

Some context about the lack of a sellout: The Packers weren't guaranteed to make the playoffs, and they changed refund policies this year so that ticket purchases would be rolled over into next season instead of refunded in cash. So fans who didn't want to take that risk would only have been able to buy tickets starting on Monday.

Fingers crossed that this long nightmare ends.

They could each take QBs, this is for sure. Cleveland is said to be high on Manziel, but they could just be high on drugs the way they are running their team. The good thing is that if QBs fly off the board, other talent will be there at 9. If they don't, the Bills could potentially have a very valuable trade chip at 9. Only Bridgewater really appeals to me at the top of the draft; I'd take my chances with Boyd or Murray falling for a QB pick in the first couple of days.

I agree with just about everything the OP has offered, except for the opinions on Manziel. I just don't see an NFL QB there in his combo of style of play and size. He is Brees' size, of course, but he isn't nearly the kind of pocket passer that Brees was coming out of college. I'd be happy to trade that pick to someone who wants to take the risk if he falls to us at 9.

Maybe Geno sent Mel some "impressive" photographs.

I like Boyd, but I'd race to the podium to take Murray with the ninth pick in the 3rd round.

I think using a R1 pick on a QB when the top talent is gone at that position is lunacy. There will be so much other top talent available that it's not a good idea to take second tier that high. It's a mis-allocation of resources, of the sort that netted us JP Losman and McCargo. We aren't in DIRE need of a QB, it would just be a very good idea to have a plan B in case of EJ regression or injury. I would be more than happy to see them use a second or a third on a guy who just had a year not as good as last, like Murray or Boyd. I really believe in those two and not a year ago were they both considered potential top 20 picks. To me, Schaub looked in real decline this year. There is a chance that like Palmer he just needed a change of scenery. McCown could be another option but he is talking retirement and they'd also have to outbid the Bears for him. The other FA options are middling unless someone like Bradford gets cut. This is probably an unpopular idea but I think Ponder could actually make a decent backup, if he gets cut. I want no part of the Jax QBs, Cutler, Weeden, Vick, or Manziel on the draft front.

That sounds about right for the Raiders.

You can wait around to be led, or you can go lead by example by doing your job right. If any of our players are doing the former, I would like to see them leave. Much is made of the Ray Lewis types but honestly, the guy was just extremely good at mugging for the camera, and several of his teammates admitted they didn't understand what the hell he was yelling about all the time.

Also that Andrew Luck's rookie season rating was lower than EJ's.

Calling him a star at Stanford is being charitable. Not to mention the Raiders' Dakota Fanning Appreciation Society.

These are good assessments, but I feel like most of us are on the same page with them (unless I'm missing a lot of comments of late). Chandler is an ideal #2 TE... a star at the position would likely help everyone out.

There's the league and then there are individual teams. I can imagine that plenty of them think it's a good idea in principle to be forward to thinking in this regard, but don't want to be the ones taking big steps and jeopardizing image with a certain set of fans. Plus, it's not like Vick has shaken the dog-killer stigma.

Cycle back 40 years and make the issue interracial marriage. Would it have been right to sit back and not rock the boat -- or worse, to make a teammate who is in an interracial marriage feel unwelcome, like not part of the team? Because that seems to me to be worse for the team. This is the kind of lens that an advocate is viewing this issue through, FWIW. And there is a difference between not wanting to be part of the crusade -- which I understand -- and then having a coach / team leader making (allegedly) very bigoted statements of his own. The suggestions to tone it down are fairly understandable, given that he represents a public organization. Journalists have to do the same, to basically keep any advocacy out of the limelight, because it does suggest a conflict of interest. It seems like this is a step beyond that, if Kluwe is to be believed.

Manuel's personal rating is a few points better (77.7) but point taken, and I agree with #3. His draft position, a second year in the system, and the short timelines of NFL coaching staffs demand progress. I really hope the Bills hire a real QB coach to help. The Bills have also been unable to keep a QB healthy for years, outside of Fitzy (and even he had the cracked ribs a few seasons ago). This year, you've got to say that this was Manuel's fault, not the lines, which in a way bodes well. They still need guards and more weapons, though.

Thanks, Chief. I'm going to head back to my normal life cutting public radio game shows. Peace out.

Sorry to make you uncomfortable!

There are many people who feel that way and I understand those who. But I imagine from Kluwe's perspective that if he never gets another chance to kick, yet that there is someday soon a gay NFL player who feels comfortable enough to be himself, that it will have been worth it for him to speak up. I fully understand those who say "keep your relationships at home," but no one asks that of a straight player. I can't imagine that an out player would be bringing his partner to the locker room any more than straight players are bringing their wives.

I'm sick from caring so little.

That makes me sick to my stomach.