RuntheDamnBall

Or consisently breaks their hearts, or is consistently unlucky. Remember what team Mason played for in 1999.

RIP.

This. It has to do with his size and attributes, and knocks on his character. I wouldn't, for example, compare him to McNabb, who I think has had a fine career but is really much more of a pocket passer, or Vick, who I think is more elusive and less of a "tough to bring down" kind of guy. Newton might even be more of a "Roethlisberger with better arm" player. Regardless, I just see question marks and they mostly owe to the fact he's had just one year of starts in a D1 program. Don't think that that doesn't give Nix pause.

Fitz is just a much smarter dude than Derek Anderson. I have a lot of faith in his ability to improve and study over the offseason, and to work with Gailey in the future to improve. Anything can happen, but it seems like we know what we have in Fitz, and he's at least serviceable.

Sad Song is a nice under-the-radar cut. He did it live recently and the guitars are pretty Brian May-ed out, with a pretty full string section backing it. I recommend it.

Think what you will about Lee... but Halladay is the genuine article: There aren't many guys in sports who are elite talents without elite egos. Doc is by far my favorite athlete, even if he isn't on my favorite team anymore.

Might as well say "death to TV," dude. Blame the worker, not the tools.

His game plan = petition Roger Goodell to grant franchises to Coastal Carolina, University of Indiana, and Temple. If you want to achieve a whole new level of pissed off, read this CBS sports draft preview on Maybin. Some choice bits: I'm not a hater and I don't feel like there's no chance this kid could ever succeed in the league. I've defended his upside before. But it strikes me that the ONLY way he could possibly have succeeded in the NFL, coming out as early as he did and at this age, was to go to a franchise with a lot of true defensive leaders with a record of success. I'm talking about guys who would to treat him like the kid he is, and treat him like someone who has a lot to learn. I can't stand Ray Lewis, but we all know that Maybin wouldn't challenge or shrug off Lewis the way he can a coach. Aside from giving him a lot of money that he didn't have to earn, the Bills probably did him no favors by bringing him to this franchise, and by making him a highly touted first rounder instead of a second-rounder with something to prove. I can't write off a guy who's 22, but it doesn't seem like the light is going to come on for him unless he really wants it to... especially in Buffalo. Even then, a sizable chapter has been written in the book on Maybin. Teams know this. Here's hoping otherwise.

Look at the stats of this rookie RB. He came highly touted out of college, the Bills wasted a #1 pick on him, and he didn't start ANY games. Only 2 TDs? 3.9 YPC? What the hell were they paying for? A few nifty big plays and not much else. And it gets worse, folks. He actually regressed to 488 yards rushing in his sophomore year and only hit 742 in his third. Top draft picks are supposed to PRODUCE. Except for this guy ends up going on to five straight seasons of 1100+ yards (in 14 game campaigns), and the NFL rushing record. I'm not going to absolve the Juice of his sins, but he would not have lasted on the Bills if the whiny fans of today were running the team. You don't have to be a fan of the Spiller pick - and I do agree, there were needs that could have been addressed with fine players - but calling him a bust is just stupid.

I can't vouch for the skins, but if Shawn Nelson doesn't get stripped (or the officials stop the goddamned play), or if Lindell makes his kick, or if Johnson doesn't get alligator arms, those are wins. I know, ifs are for losers, but I don't know how you can take issue with winning strategy that was sabotaged only by poor execution on the part of a single player.

Is Hangman good enough at pulling to play RG? I agree on the vet/rookie dynamic but think Urbik could be promising.

I know Moats was actually drafted, and I almost wanted to use this quote to start another discussion, but Gregg Easterbrook made an interesting statement in his column this week that fits in here. It might floor some of the people who can't get over the number of "untalented" UDFAs and low-round picks playing for the Bills. I'll buy that the Bills need more front-line talent and they need to hit on higher picks, but here's what Easterbrook said: He was talking about the Patriots, but this could apply to the Bills.

This is the absolute truth. Tattoo it on the forehead of everyone who cares about this team.

Seconding/thirding etc all who said thanks for this. I have been hoping to see Eric Wood to play his natural position for a long time. Could be the next Kent Hull. Can you guys remember that we were trotting out schmoes like Chris Villarial and Trey Teague and Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston for so long? Ugh. Hangartner seemed like a Hall of Famer in that context, but I'm glad to entertain the idea that Wood stays at C.

Maddux pitched over that mark every season from 37-40. If Lee is really as special a pitcher as they think they're getting when they pay that much, he'll trigger the options. If he isn't, his career is likely winding down by that point and he might not play out a longer contract. The Yanks' and Rangers deals would only be guaranteed if the player were not retired. I'm not saying he wasn't leaving money on the table, I'm just saying the gap narrows if he's consistent.

I hope to add it to the list after a few more seasons. Kid does look like a player.

Maybe, just maybe, they have a very excellent roster and their practice squad guys are unpolished players, that could one day make an impact? Nah, it's easier to just say "Newsome not like him enough for roster, he sucks."

+1000

But he's in the room! What I get out of this is that Cam Newton is a mixed metaphor, whose dad takes him shopping and passes a collection plate to NCAA recruiters.

Yeah, NO BUMS FROM KUTZTOWN STATE, or WABASH, or NORTHWESTERN, or NORTH DAKOTA STATE, or ALABAMA A&M, or OCCIDENTAL... I WANT TO SAY I HAVE HEARD OF THEIR COLLEGE! BIG COLLEGE PROGRAM = BIG NFL WINS!

Perhaps the scouting department should consider its instincts, and go against them, given the track record!

Jury's out on that one, but a lot of guaranteed money can change things. I recall Russell winning some big games. Russell also had WAY more of a track record, and still busted. I am wary of Newton's character given the circumstances surrounding his departure from Florida. He has bounced back, no doubt, but I am not interested in seeing the Bills give another one-year-wonder #1 money, unless he's Bruce Smith with a time machine.

I know you're half-joking but that'd never happen as long as King Felix's cheap and controllable. There's no IR in MLB, Mr. Baseball Super-Fan. The Brew Crew have run their franchise pretty well over the past few years, though I think they'll regret the Lawrie-for-Marcum trade. I say that as a big fan of Marcum, but I think they overpaid by trading their top-hitting prospect. Marcum does look like a #2 in the NL, though, so it's not a wash. In any case, all you have to do is be competitive in your division to have a shot. Come playoffs, all bets are off. The Giants proved that. It's a LOT harder being a fan of an AL East team not from Boston or NY, though Tampa has made things interesting.

There are vesting options that close the money gap in the contract offers. He left more guaranteed money on the table, but if he performs even adequately he'll hit the innings mark to trigger the options.

This. Lebron and Lee couldn't be more different. LBJ took TV time to humiliate the city that embraced him. Lee took a normal amount of time during free agency to make a family decision. Most of the lambasting of Lee is coming from bitter Yankees fans, confused that their divine right to every player they offer the most money to has been violated. It must not help that a few bad apple d-bag Yanks fans are in part responsible for this, as they heckled and spit on Lee's wife in NY. Maybe a lesson to corral your own when you see your fellow fan being a dick to someone. I feel bad for Texas, but they get two very high draft picks out of this, so the loss of prospects is mitigated by Lee helping them to the most successful postseason ever for the Rangers. I'm sure Lee was most interested in Philly, but they didn't drop into the picture till the winter meetings. When it was decided the money difference was pretty negligible, and he was comfortable with the atmosphere in Philly, and he gets to pitch in the N LEast instead of facing BOS/TB/TOR and pitching in high-pressure NY, it kind of became a no-brainer. The real story here is that the media don't know stojan, hence everyone's surprise. Laughably, Jon Heyman of SI, who usually gets it wrong with regularity, had the scoop about the #mysteryteam. Everyone, myself included, thought he was making this up and was a mouthpiece for Lee's agent to help drive up the price.