RuntheDamnBall

KD knocks it out of the park.

Even numbers certainly prove to be more sustainable, over time. You can't dispute a fact.

It's totally a "what have you done for me lately" league. As someone posted in another thread, beat the jets and cowboys and the bills will pretty much be toast of the media. The cowboys are totally overrated as usual, and we'll see what jets team we get next week...

He reminds me of a young Bruce Smyth.

I just deleted my "total domination" prediction on accident, but I'm glad the bills proved me right today. Nice win!!!

The Ignore button is a beautiful thing.

You don't say!

Oh, jokes! I get jokes!

That is for all intents and purposes what this is, amirite?

Freddie Mac?

Fitz Narrative arc, v3.0: "Now he is finally making what some of his fellow alums are making on Wall St.!" Har har har.

Isn't that where Marv went? What are the odds?

Holy sh--! Fitz went to Harvard?

You're logic is amazing dood!!!!!!!!

Achilles clause meant no guaranteed money in 2012. That's why. He was trying to see if he could test it without letting it sideline him.

Forget it, he's rolling.

If Jax was throwing stupid money at Poz, you can bet there were options at what Barnett got in Buffalo, or maybe a little less.

From B-Lo rumblings: This is an Achilles injury, hence his money for 2012 is not guaranteed, hence he is not a risk at all. They have lost money on him, yes, but they can cut their losses in 2012 or get a hungry impact or depth player back at rush OLB. I fail to see the potential drawbacks here. He will compete with young guys for the job and if he keeps them off the field it will be because he looks good again. Whiners gonna whine. *EDIT: ($1MM Roster bonus if he's there on day 7 of next season).

If you're talking about Jerry's work, I don't think it's mailed in, but I do think it's calculated to get a rise out of fans (both pro- and con-). That he threw Maybin's "success" into the equation cements that for me. No Bills fan, and I mean not a one, thought that Maybin would amount to anything post-Buffalo, and a lot of us still don't. To hold that up as some sort of indicator of this current front office's ineptitude is pandering at best. I don't think Sullivan is an idiot, but his writing is just noise to me. Gaughan and Wilson (and now McKissic) are providing analysis that are more worth it for me to read as a fan. Your articles get to some of the underlying stories behind what's happening at OBD. If a writer is going to contribute opinions, though, they had better have more basis than "the Bills have sucked, and here's another example of how."

Cautionary note that straight line track speed doesn't always = escapability and mobility.

The Bills' "lead journalist" says so. Nonetheless, the whiners are right and Merriman is a shell of his former self and worthless and was a meaningless signing. Wah.

My thoughts exactly, though a late second wouldn't be the worst reach in the world if they think he can be the QB of the future. Based on projections and the wealth of QB prospects in this draft, though (I see Moore ranked 11th among QBs some places) - he could turn out to be a 4th-5th round steal.

Agreed. I think if the best player available is a highly ranked QB that has fallen to them, great. I wouldn't go mortgaging the future for one, though; they are in good hands with Fitzy. Among the reasons I like Moore is that he will not have the kind of pedigree that suggests they have to force him in there, he seems like he could learn a lot from Fitz, but he would come in with something to prove, with plenty of naysayers. Underrated players who work hard and are good leaders fit in in Buffalo. That's not to say you pass on the next Manning, but you take what's there, and I have a feeling the quality choices on the defensive side (Courtney Upshaw, perhaps?) will be too tough to pass up after this year's results. I don't know how anyone who rooted for Flutie could diss a guy like Moore, who is inches taller and less of a tool. Bills fans could get behind this kid.

I disagree with this, in that the positive feelings are not just the sum of those listed players and personnel, but a growing force within the team. Getting outsiders with a record of success to believe in the team is in fact a big deal. Convincing Morrison and possibly Barnett to come here should not go unappreciated. In the meantime, looking at this as an "on-the-cheap" upgrade is silly. They have young players; they needed veteran depth, and in the best-case scenario, a good vet for someone young to challenge. That didn't happen here but it's happening with Shep / Andra Davis, and I think it's a good way to go. We knew going in that this was going to be a long-term building project, and it remains to be seen if Buddy has hit or missed on some of these defensive picks (Troup, Carrington -though I see flashes of good play from him-, the new DBs). These guys, including George Edwards, are all learning, and I do prefer to see this thing built as opposed to being the product of wholesale changes and quick-fix schemes. You might argue that bringing in Merriman would qualify as the latter, but Nix knew a player who is still very young in this league, with a level of past play that was pretty dominating. In NFL terms the money spent there was not major. You can only fault the team for spending that cash on Merriman IF they don't pony up for the other players; at this point, I don't fault them for not finishing all the extensions yet when there is still so much work to be done during the season. It will look good on them WHEN they re-sign Fitz, Stevie, and Freddie. Additionally, what amounts to a Poz-for-Barnett swap at half the salary is a MAJOR, MAJOR coup. What was that? A gamble on a talented player with injury history? Sound familiar? It worked out and has helped the defense, even though they are still working toward better results. Sullivan is just giving voice to the reactionary fan, once again, and not seeing the forest for the trees. The shame here is that I think he knows this and is just trying to get hits and sell papers, rather than provide insight. Nix is damned for what doesn't work out, and little-praised for what does, among these folks. That's fine, and I don't think he much cares. Now, the reactionary fan has some justification - we are, after all, in year - what, eleven? - of not making the playoffs. But the book is not closed on this season despite the injuries. We all were talking about how bad this team was 7 short weeks ago. This is year two of Nix/Gailey and we're seeing some results, if not success across-the-board. I'm on board with the plan, for now.

I don't watch enough college football to provide a fair assessment but Kellen Moore has always seemed to me to be a quarterback a team can win with. Pros: Smart, accurate, good pocket presence, decent mobility, four-year starter - lots of evidence on him and that fits Nix's desires, good onfield leader, has played well both under center and in shotgun. Cons: not great size and not elite arm strength, questions about competition ...but there are plenty of winning QBs who fit that profile.