Matt in KC

I think the team has had at least 53 players on the roster during his entire period of employment and he's been active for less than 9 games, therefore he's still PS-eligible. But I'm not sure either. (Why can't this be easier to figure out? I can find out in minutes his weight, but not if he's PS-eligible? Why isn't this a standard part of his profile on NFL.com?) I'm sure several people will write about this in the TC battles-to-watch articles coming soon.

Okay, I'll chime in. RR: First of all, you actually can close the topic since you started it. This isn't some permanent mistake that you just have to live with since you posted while drunk (or whatever). Yes, fans will always be critical. A LOT of fans post here, so if you're listening for a theme, you may hear several voices. That doesn't mean a high percentage of fans feels that way, just that they get together in these threads, like attracting like. I don't hear anyone bashing RF, and few saying he should be replaced before seeing what this year brings. (And no one actually naming a QB the Bills could start this year who would be better.) I am an optimist, but I don't think RF can lead us to Super Bowl victory unless all the stars allign, though of course I hope I'm wrong. It's been great seeing what he has brought the last couple years. I love having a smart leader run our offense, BUT I'm not convinced RF has the necessary downfield accuracy (and supporting cast) to beat a really good defense consistently. That's about as strongly as I've heard anyone put it here on TSW recently. Are you outraged? Am I a hater?

Actually, the quote I pasted above says 'Players can't have an accrued season of NFL experience (six or more games on a team's 53-man roster, injured reserve or PUP list), unless they were on the active list (i.e. were dressed to play) for fewer than nine regular season games during their only accrued season(s) " I think Easley is PS-eligible.

My take, listed in the order of likelyhood the team keeps the players on the 53 man roster: 1. Stevie Johnson (lock) 2. David Nelson (lock) 3. TJ Graham (lock) - speedster 4. Donald Jones (near-lock) I thought he looked suprisingly good at times (NE), though I wondered if some of it was other teams didn't have much film/notes on him. I don't know why, but I'm not very excited about Jones' future and would not be at all suprised to see one of the below three outplay him by the end of the year. Purely on intuition he seems like a guy that will make the roster this year then fade away. The next three all have similar height/weight, have considerable upside and have shown flashes of their talent. 5. Derek Hagan - I think he's performing at the highest level now, but has lower upside than the other two below. 6. Marcus Easley - PS flashes, with increasing rep's and responsibility in PS. I'm very eager to see how he looks this year. 7. Kamar Aiken - Also a couple flashes last PS, but not a good as Easley IMO. Would love to keep him on the PS and would not be surpised at all to see him on a roster next year (Bills or otherwise). I doubt any of these last four make the team. 8a. Naman Roosevelt - All he does is catch the ball very well; he had a great camp and PS last year, and seems to have good chemstry with RF. I think he's the first to get a call if there are injuries and the player/s on PS aren't ready 8b. David Clowney - Clowney might have a chance as Graham's backup. They might want another speedster if speed is important to the design of the offense and they don't want all "eggs" in the TJ basket. 10. Ruvell Martin - I just don't see it. I'd be surprised and disappointed if he makes the team playing anywhere near the level he has so far. 11. Derek Session - He'll need all the stars to align to make the team. I'd be surprised to even see him make the PS. Practice Squad Eligibility summary: •Players can't have already been on a practice squad for two or more years, although a third year on the practice squad is possible if a player's team has had at least 53 players on the roster during his entire period of employment (players are deemed to have spent a season on the practice squad if they are on it for three of more regular season or postseason games during their first two years and at least one during their third year) •Players can't have an accrued season of NFL experience (six or more games on a team's 53-man roster, injured reserve or PUP list), unless they were on the active list (i.e. were dressed to play) for fewer than nine regular season games during their only accrued season(s)

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Absolutely. I can't imagine anyone hating on McGee. He seems like a total class act and has had the talent too. He's still got a good shot at being our best CB this year. He has been great fun to watch, one of my favorite players over the last ten years, and my favorite Bills KR of all time.

Merriman is an outside linebacker, not a DE! (kidding)

I think a lot of players respond strongly to praise. I took the comments about Dickerson as the coaches sending a clear message he can really win a job, and hey believe in him. I also think it's likely he doesn't make the team. Then again, it's the right time of year to add some rocket fuel and see if he takes off.... Competition at all positions is good for the team.

25+24+4=53

It's impossible not to get noticed when you're leading the league in sacks! Amen! It's also great to to hear we might have a defense that will attack, not just "bend but not break". In my opinion offenses (generally) need to outsmart defenses, and defenses need to beat offenses silly so they can't stay on task and succeed.

These are Easley's incompletions and his fumble from preseason. All of his preseason plays are pasted in post 31 in this thread. 2011 Preseason Week 1 vs Bears *9-R.Gould kicks 60 yards from CHI 35 to BUF 5. 81-M.Easley to BUF 25 for 20 yards (81-S.Hurd). FUMBLES (81-S.Hurd), RECOVERED by CHI-20-C.Steltz at BUF 27. 20-C.Steltz to BUF 25 for 2 yards. PENALTY on CHI-81-S.Hurd, Illegal Formation, 10 yards, enforced at CHI 35 - No Play. Bears kicked off from the CHI 30. *2-9-BUF 30 (7:11) (Shotgun) 16-B.Smith pass incomplete short left to 81-M.Easley. Week 2 vs Broncos 3rd quarter: *1-10-DEN 35 (6:28) 4-T.Thigpen pass incomplete deep middle to 81-M.Easley (28-Q.Carter). Week 3 vs Jacksonville *2-5-JAC 45 (8:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to 81-M.Easley (21-D.Cox). Receiver and breakup near sideline at JAC 37. PENALTY on BUF-38-C.McIntyre, Chop Block, 15 yards, enforced at JAC 45 - No Play *1-10-BUF 45 (2:07) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to 81-M.Easley (26-D.Landry). Receiver and breakup near sideline at JAC 40 *1-10-BUF 33 (7:07) 4-T.Thigpen pass incomplete short right to 81-M.Easley. Overthrown, receiver in flat at BUF 35. Week 4 vs Lions *2-8-BUF 39 (8:17) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short right to 81-M.Easley. Screen pass, dropped at BUF 37.

But it's hard to punch the bullies in the mouth when they have so much time to figure out how to be mean to us!

These are all of Easley's plays last preseason, the only plays we've seen from him except training camp and the reports (and hype) that come out of it. I did this to evaluate the "hands of stone" comments I've read. I see one fumble on a play called back, and 6 incompletions, 2 of which note a pass breakup and another listed as overthrown. I've bolded the incompletions, touchdown and returns/catches over 20 yards to allow the bigger plays to stand out more. Overall it looks like a mixed bag, but shows him getting better as PS went on and getting more time with RF and the starters. 2011 Preseason Week 1 vs Bears *9-R.Gould kicks 62 yards from CHI 35 to BUF 3. 81-M.Easley to BUF 27 for 24 yards (21-C.Graham). Bears kicked off from the CHI 30. *9-R.Gould kicks 60 yards from CHI 35 to BUF 5. 81-M.Easley to BUF 25 for 20 yards (81-S.Hurd). FUMBLES (81-S.Hurd), RECOVERED by CHI-20-C.Steltz at BUF 27. 20-C.Steltz to BUF 25 for 2 yards. PENALTY on CHI-81-S.Hurd, Illegal Formation, 10 yards, enforced at CHI 35 - No Play. Bears kicked off from the CHI 30. *9-R.Gould kicks 50 yards from CHI 30 to BUF 20. 81-M.Easley pushed ob at BUF 29 for 9 yards (21-C.Graham). Bears kicked off from the CHI 25. *2-9-BUF 30 (7:11) (Shotgun) 16-B.Smith pass incomplete short left to 81-M.Easley. *9-R.Gould kicks 67 yards from CHI 35 to BUF -2. 81-M.Easley to BUF 22 for 24 yards (25-R.Jones). Week 2 vs Broncos 3rd quarter: *3-S.Hauschka kicks 64 yards from DEN 35 to BUF 1. 81-M.Easley, Touchback. *2-8-DEN 36 (12:18) 4-T.Thigpen pass short left to 81-M.Easley to DEN 14 for 22 yards (32-P.Cox). *1-10-DEN 35 (6:28) 4-T.Thigpen pass incomplete deep middle to 81-M.Easley (28-Q.Carter). *2-10-DEN 35 (6:22) (Shotgun) 4-T.Thigpen pass short right to 81-M.Easley to DEN 12 for 23 yards (22-S.Thompson). Week 3 vs Jacksonville *2-5-JAC 45 (8:58) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to 81-M.Easley (21-D.Cox). Receiver and breakup near sideline at JAC 37. PENALTY on BUF-38-C.McIntyre, Chop Block, 15 yards, enforced at JAC 45 - No Play *2-7-BUF 21 (:40) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 81-M.Easley to BUF 34 for 13 yards (21-D.Cox). Caught at BUF 32, crossing from left. *2-7-50 (13:44) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to 81-M.Easley pushed ob at JAC 35 for 15 yards (27-R.Mathis). Caught along sideline at JAC 35. *1-10-JAC 35 (13:22) (No Huddle) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to 81-M.Easley to JAC 32 for 3 yards (51-P.Posluszny). Curl pattern, caught at JAC 32. *1-10-JAC 11 (9:55) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left to 81-M.Easley for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 2 yds. into end zone (2nd Quarter) *1-10-BUF 45 (2:07) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to 81-M.Easley (26-D.Landry). Receiver and breakup near sideline at JAC 40 *10-J.Scobee kicks 74 yards from JAC 35 to BUF -9. 81-M.Easley, Touchback. *1-10-BUF 20 (8:19) (Shotgun) 4-T.Thigpen pass short left to 81-M.Easley to BUF 29 for 9 yards (20-T.Wheatley, 50-R.Allen). Screen pass, caught at BUF 20. *1-10-BUF 33 (7:07) 4-T.Thigpen pass incomplete short right to 81-M.Easley. Overthrown, receiver in flat at BUF 35. *2-10-BUF 12 (5:27) 4-T.Thigpen pass short right to 81-M.Easley to BUF 19 for 7 yards (37-K.Rutland; 56-K.Bosworth). Caught at BUF 17. PENALTY on BUF-75-C.Hairston, Illegal Use of Hands, 6 yards, enforced at BUF 12 - No Play. *10-J.Scobee kicks 67 yards from JAC 35 to BUF -2. 81-M.Easley to BUF 32 for 34 yards (20-T.Wheatley). Week 4 vs Lions *2-8-BUF 39 (8:17) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short right to 81-M.Easley. Screen pass, dropped at BUF 37. *4-J.Hanson kicks 69 yards from DET 35 to BUF -4. 81-M.Easley to BUF 20 for 24 yards (24-E.Coleman). *4-1-BUF 29 (3:44) 8-B.Moorman punts 58 yards to DET 13, Center-65-G.Sanborn. 86-N.Hughes to DET 23 for 10 yards (81-M.Easley). Return credited to DET 14 (spot of foul). PENALTY on DET-32-A.Berry, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 7 yards, enforced at DET 14. *4-J.Hanson kicks 69 yards from DET 35 to BUF -4. 81-M.Easley to BUF 42 for 46 yards (4-J.Hanson).

We also have Kamar Aiken: Aiken: 6-2, 213 pounds Easley: 6-2, 217 pounds Hagan: 6-2, 210 pounds It's hard to find the guys that can make it in the NFL, as you state. I like what I'm seeing. We have a much better chance of one of these guys emerging from the crowd than just hoping our one selection would, which is what I think we did with Hardy. If we can PS these guys and give them a full year to acclimate, develop and emerge, we have a much better chance of finding our guy. Some players like Greer and Rashad Baker just take awhile to "get there.'

It says the following:

Yes, I think the season is squarely on his shoulders, meaning I doubt we can win much without him. No way would we pull him after two loses unless there was something clearly wrong, like he was hurt. Of course we'd pull RF at some point. I'm curious how bad people think it needs to be to pull him. I personally think the season has to be clearly lost an we need to have someone else we want to assess (VY?).

Sorry if I'm being thick, but cn you explain that? I see you've listed 15 categories, so there are 75 "top 5 players" filling these. Divided by 32 is an average of 2.34 per team if it was random, right?

I personally think Moorman is quickly coming to the end of the road, but I'll jump in and play devil's advocate with what you pose. If Moorman and the rookie are performing at about the same level, we keep Moorman. He has proven over the years that he can perform under pressure and knows the weather and quirks of the Ralph. We also know how he works and handles gimself with the coaches, other players and the media. Until we see his competition perform better, in simlar conditions, why would we want the distraction of changing punters and the damage to our season if he can't handle it over the full season in some way? Punters are readily avilable. Is Powell going to be unavailable if we cut him? Is he really far better than another punter we could bring in next year to replace Moorman if needed? You might not agree, but it is not insane to choose to stay with Moorman.

...which will definitely be the number to have sacked Brady the most at the end of his career.

So, Powell has a big leg, can kick directionally, and can hold for FGs. Can he cover and tackle if needed (without breaking)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tEDp8M3gSQk <-- YouTube 2 min trailer. How do you embed videos? Rabbit Test (1978) directed by Joan Rivers is actually, I believe, the worst movie to ever be broadly released in the US. I saw this in the theater. I can't articulate my criticism better than this comment from IMDB:

End of the Bills write-up: What impressive scheming? Does anyone know to what is referring? (Our zone blocking?)

Ditto!

Someone message the following members? (Stand by... I hit enter by accident) SDBBFan SDBilliever SDBillsFAN SDBuffalo (etc.)

Thanks for posting. Unfortunately it's near impossible for me to get 12 minutes to listen during a normal work day. If anyone wants to transcribe the high points like has been done for other interviews/press conferences etc. I'd really appreciate it. (And yes, i know i can go listen after work....)