RuntheDamnBall

I thought that often when I read Barnwell's offseason stuff. He was so blindly critical of the Bills that it was clear that he hadn't really investigated them that much and seemed to be going off of the stat sheet. Barnwell is also a true believer in Eli Manning, who looks like El Garbago this season, thus far. That said, I did appreciate that they really paid attention to this game and knew players that your average fan doesn't focus on - like Searcy. And I do think Mays is a little better.

You know, I tried but I couldn't get into the Hold Steady. I think I just have a hard time with quirkiness in my music, though.

I should have been clearer. They said the Bills "could be" one of the worst teams. I still think some of that analysis was either lazy or too heavily based on preseason results. But it is good to hear some conversation about the Bills from outside observers that is football-based and nuanced if not wholly praise.

God, what a mess, on the ladder of success - where you take one step and miss the whole first rung.

Isn't that the Residents, dude? Or is it the Proclaimers? Cool. I'm gonna be there with the Caveman + friends. You going?

If anyone wants to check out the latest The Grantland NFL Podcast, Mays and Barnwell spent a good chunk after the first ten minutes or so talking about the Bills in their "adopt a team" segment. Summary in case'n you can't listen: They actually spent a lot of time lauding the defense and admitting it looks better than they thought at first. They believed like many of us that there might be a drop-off with the loss of Pettine and Byrd. They loved Corey Graham and think he might be one of the best overlooked FA signings. Didn't really mention that he might have, IMO, an extra comfort zone being back home. They also love Kyle Williams and Aaron Williams and think that the D-line will look great all season. They don't think Spikes will be back after this season based on the play of Brown & Bradham, and Alonso's return. On the offense, predictably they're excited about Watkins and think CJ is even better than he has looked, because the run blocking hasn't been great. Aside from QB, they think the rest of the tools on offense are there, but the line play needs to improve. They are not high on EJ at all, and they think his ceiling is not high enough for the Bills to make the playoffs. That said, these guys thought the Bills were the worst team in the league coming into the season, so they've been wrong early on and admitted as much. Worth listening to even if you disagree (though Barnwell gets outed in his confusion about Kyle Williams' position in the 3-4).

Are the Falcons the iceberg, then? This is a weird metaphor. I was thinking more of a scene from There Will Be Blood where there is a drill pounding into the ground over and over and then it topples and explodes.

This should be a surprise to no one. The lux condo housing stock is out of freaking control here. I can't wait for this sh-- to crash and the greedy bastards to get their comeuppance.

Jerry Sullivan doesn't sell drugs to schoolchildren, but he has touched a nerve with some Bills fans.

Feeling really sorry we don't have Lovie or Josh McCown right now. Looking like a dope on those particular wishlist items. ..

Hell of a game, this.

I see no need to waste the time. It'd be like responding to every KellyTo83TD post.

Morning, pry the windows open Let in what's so terrifying Summer is as faded as a lone cicada call Memories so bright I gotta squint just to recall Regret the words I've bitten More than the ones I ever said

Actually, I read it, and I'm sorry, I thought it was kind of BS to lead the whole piece by associate him with people who are suspected of committing violent crimes… at all. Even if it's a non-association association. I mean, really? Is this what it takes to get eyeballs on your "work" these days?

Is this true? I was there with the Caveman and I don't remember them not taking calls from Fredonia.

This video will warm my heart forever.

I hope this past week opens things up for Caveman and Woods this Sunday.

Game manager is a term used a couple ways IMO - The rookie who is being put in a good situation and playing mistake-free (or low-mistake) ball. The journeyman who has been around, knows what he sees, is calm in the game. He is never going to be excellent, but runs the offense competently. Again, low-risk and low-mistake ball. Fitz sometimes seemed like a game manager as long as he played within himself. When he tried to be a gunslinger and win these come-from-behind games, results were mixed. I think EJ fits the first description. The difference is that I think "game manager" is not his ceiling.

That's well stated, Dave.

That was brad Johnson with the bucs.

Disagree. Unless you think the answer is never to target a guy who is well-covered. That DB made a great last-second play, the only play possible to keep that from being a TD. I'm going to argue that on that play there can't be a more perfectly thrown ball, because then you are overthrowing the guy or leaving him hanging out to dry.

Forget the titles. If you've written EJ off already, you're being short-sighted. If you think he is the second coming, you don't exist, because nobody has ever said that. I see three camps: 1) people who think he has superb potential that he is meeting at times, but has a ways to go 2) people who are skeptical, but hope for the best 3) people who think he'll never be a good QB. They usually use "facts" like "the eye test" and "can't read defenses" and "progressions" and "slow eyes" and a bunch of sh-- that they heard Todd McShay say. Camp #3 is treading water right now because they are thinking in absolutes. Camps #1 and 2 could be characterized as reasonable, even if they disagree.

He is? I think he just said "time to get on the bandwagon." Unless he is writing in code or something. And if you don't think there are bashers, search "EJ" "never" "NFL" "QB" and see how many posts come up.

The awesome thing about being an EJ "realist" is that you get to move the goalposts whenever you want.

I hate to say it, but Brian Moorman had been holding this team back for ages.