RuntheDamnBall

And whither the learning curve and adjustment period vs. that of the known commodity? I see it costing the Bills football games.

Aside from coaching, I can't. Not on offense. And it's not just pick-6's. It's critical, 4th quarter situations where a pick is thrown, or turnovers in their own zone when the game is still in the balance - even if they don't immediately lead to points. As a game manager in 2011, Smith threw 5 INTs. With a little more confidence this season, he still only threw 5 over 9 starts (one ended by injury). Prorate it to a full season and you're still talking only 9-10 INTs. That would be an average of 7.5 INTs per 16 game season, the past two. Fitz has averaged 19.5 INTs the past two years. These things don't automatically change with more talent surrounding you, even though I don't think my argument that the Bills have a decent amount of offensive talent has been countered very well, either.

Davis was OK, the definition of JAG. Ayodele was not very good but he was no Eddie Robinson.

Well, I will spare you that, because that's not what I said. You sound the most offended of all here, so maybe I'll stop and just suggest some history books. You respect the fact that someone comes from a different place than you so you can each get past your own preconceptions and evaluate the person, as a person. How you each conduct yourselves thereafter in your personal interactions is another matter, and that is what determines whether the individual and his/her actions are worthy of respect. The stuff about following the leader is just pandering to a particular worldview of self-importance. True leaders listen.

You're right, Fitz didn't have the leader in YPC, A #1 WR that he couldn't connect with at long range despite his getting open, probably the best #2 back in the league, and a top-ten offensive line according to many independent ratings. If Fitz had Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, he would magically have been able to hit them in the numbers instead of missing them by 5 yards. Also, I see little about what defense has to do with it. The defense Smith benefited from in 2009 was good as well, but he didn't show results. The difference was offensive coaching and scheme. I just fundamentally disagree and I think that when healthy, the Bills have the edge or equal value in several categories. QB: Kaep >>>>> Fitz. Smith > Fitz HB: CJ + FJ > Gore WR: SF gets the edge here with better depth. I think I would take Stevie over Crabtree TE: SF wins hands-down OL: SF has a close edge. It's the coaching that's the big difference. I will buy that Kaepernick is a better QB than Smith, but I still don't see how the kinds of shortcomings Fitz displayed would be improved with Harbaugh. Fitz knew the throws to make and he couldn't hit them. Smith needed the game slowed down, and that's what Harbaugh was able to do for him. Edit: The defensive talent is clearly another story, but the Bills defense is still not throwing pick-6's.

Perspective can mean different things to different people. There is also the perspective of walking a mile in another's shoes and seeing how he/she may not take a word or an idea so lightly. I am not talking about the VW ad (which was frankly just stupid), but larger markers in our culture. The difference in belief is that simple, everyday things have significance, and we can adapt to both positive and negative messages. Obviously we're not in this realm, but you don't just get to genocide by one day declaring that the "others" are the bad guys. A negative stereotype becomes slowly ingrained in the culture to the point that it is not noticeable as disrespect at best, and threatening / intimidating in other situations. I understand how one could be unable to see it that way, but that's why we return to seeking more perspective, always. It's just about being respectful. I can't say that I live it everyday, but perspective is absolutely what this is about. I think in general we are too easy to default to disrespect because it gets attention.

Can there be no more than one grade in-between? Smith did have a completion % far exceeding Fitz's this season before losing his job to injury, btw. I would not say it was "everything but QB" that the 49ers did better. One major factor was health, and another was better game-planning and coaching. Either way, Fitz has not acquitted himself better than has Smith over his career as a starter. They had been about equal and then Smith really started turning the corner. Fitz had a nice stretch for a few games, got figured out and has not been able to adjust.

Huhhhwhat? So if BYU changed their name to the Black Samboes and had a mascot in blackface, it wouldn't be offensive because black people don't live in Utah? Has the whole world gone crazy?

We should try to get Tavares when he becomes a FA. Grew up a Sabres fan.

Ugh.

So because an institution has always had some kind of racist elements, people are begging to be offended by something that didn't originate with them? Is progress really such a problem? You're right that some people will always be offended or look for slights... I am not sure that is the same thing here. There is taking offense, and there is just the general hurt of being reduced to a caricature or something less than the person you are. I have very little Native American blood (Great-Great Grandfather was Mohawk) so I don't really presume to speak for anyone, but the essence of white privilege is that in fact one doesn't have to worry about these things because the white world is the accepted norm. I guess my point is, since we can't presume to know what is going on in another person's head, maybe we can't see how much some of these things actually do hurt. Personally, I like confronting these things head-on in humor and subversion, but I could see, for example, why a Louis CK bit might not fly with a different audience that isn't "in" on it. And I think to his credit he acknowledges that. Also, I realize I am breaking the OP's protocol, but I didn't start it. FWIW I think the whole Indians name and presentation is generally more offensive than that of the Redskins and probably needs to go first. That caricature is something of bygone era that we ought to put behind us.

Yeah. And I'm not saying at all that I would have zero reservations about Smith. He provided major cause for concern in his pre-Harbaugh career, and really didn't mature (as a player - seems like a generally mature person) or show he could carry a team until the playoffs last year. I just take issue with the notion that he is equivalent to Fitzpatrick; the evidence clearly proves he can get results that Fitz has never gotten in his career. People can argue otherwise, but Fitz did have a team that Carson Palmer had recently taken to the playoffs with a couple of great receivers, he came up with Mike Martz, it's not like he was toiling away under a succession of purely horrible circumstances. Fitz has positives and he has very identifiable limitations. Smith has at least been able to work with his and produce victories, even when it came down to managing the game. We have seen Fitz throw away enough games with a late INT that the case should be closed.

I agree. The name "Bills" should be changed to "Lazy Crackers."

Jasper was switching positions and was a longshot 7th rounder from nowheresville from the get-go. Pucillo, too, was a 7th rounder but came from a decent school in Auburn and saw a decent amount of starting time at guard and center. He got Bledsoe blown up on multiple occasions. Jasper was fun to root for; Pucillo was sickening to watch when the whole rest of the world outside of his coaching staff knew he stunk.

This thread underscores the lunacy of the idea that the Bills can just let Levitre go and plug in a replacement like magic. Agreed there. Schultz wasn't your prototypical safety but he could play. Jim Leonhard was a poor and tiny man's Schultz.

You're positively nuts. I don't think Smith is Peyton Manning or anything and I do think Kaep has the higher ceiling, but if you can't admit that Smith has shown more in the past two seasons than Fitz has ever shown in his career, I can't help you.

I see zero to give me cause to believe that Levitre is going to ask for more than Mankins money. And despite that, I think the whole "he isn't an All Pro" argument is hogwash. Put him on the Pats or the Ravens and he would indeed be an All Pro. While the All Pro honorees tend less often just to be fan favorites or strictly players from winning teams, it is a factor as with any recognition. Bad teams don't get their good players recognized as often. Even so, this team would really regret letting Levitre go and either cheaping out on that need or expending further resources to fill it when a quality option existed in-house.

Yeah - Brian McClure?

Except you can draft potential and should pay talent. Levitre is talent, now. His replacement in the draft, regardless of potential, would almost certainly face a learning curve that would surely be part of another insufferable 3-year rebuilding plan. Plus this replacement would cost a draft pick that we really need to use to fill existing gaps at QB, TE, LB, LB, LB and WR. I get it if we try and cannot afford or appeal to Levitre. But this "let him go" argument is madness.

Yeah, they often don't. Need someone with a better memory here. I only remember him getting into games and being ineffective.

I still feel like there has to be someone worse than Tim Anderson.

I thought about him, too. He has a similar career arc to Panos. Some production with another team, sucked here.

Sorry, Dwayne Wright. Ralph's insisted selection in Round 4. Selected later in that draft: Bushrod (tackle from the Saints), Doug Free, Scott Chandler, Kevin Boss, Brent Celek, Ahmad Bradshaw. Rodney Wright was a do-nothing WR 7th rounder from Fresno State. I think he got arrested.

I'm making the mistake of comparing him to guards, but you've got to go with your worst. I am definitely enjoying this in a cathartic way.

Rodney Wright, Daimon Shelton both were way worse.