cgang

done (my first avatar too). Stay strong Jim. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Kinda getting emotional here, really happy for Andre. My favorite Bill and really well deserved. Congrats Andre!!

Damn! Isn't any other team going after udfa's? Seems we're getting all the promising ones (except Scott). BTW, thanks for the write ups 26corner!

That slow mo part of the video is hilarious. LMAO!!

Sabres, because I can't use the "Ralph is Cheap" excuse on Pegula, they have spent a ton of money, and they have absolutely nothing to show for it. Why they kept Darcy after canning Ruff is a mystery and I have no idea what the long term plan is. It is a mess. But I have to say........ The Bills are a very close second. I am down on both.

more "confirmation": http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8827684/mike-pettine-hired-buffalo-bills

I'm making the pilgrimage from Northern VA with my 12 yr old son, just like last year for the meaningless Denver game-- weather looks good for a Friday drive up and Monday drive back. The only things worth going to see are Spiller and Gilmore. If 'ole goatee sits Spiller or limits him to 2 carries, I'll be pretty pissed (but not surprised LOL!). Hammer- I'll see you at your lot. No way would I ever park at the Stadium. I like the idea of everyone moving to one side of the stadium (visitors side) and mooning them midway through the 3rd. Or just flipping them off at the count of 3.

Paradise by the Dashboard Light. (Meatloaf) "So now I'm praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you...."

How does he dispose of 15000 tickets- does he put them on stubhub or maybe give them to charity? Also, where is Russell's? I would like to check it out next time I'm in WNY visiting my family.

After the Sabres fiasco last year when we were at the bottom in January and I looked back at my predictions, I suddenly realized that I was an idiot. I do not want to make the same mistake twice. But if I do, whatever lingering doubts I have that I am an idiot will end and I would be able to say, without question, that I really am an idiot.

Well played sir! LOL

Here you go: www.spotrac.com/draft-tracker/nfl/ None of the 3rd rounders picked before him have signed.

+1. For me, Hammer's in particular.

He has a degree in sociology. Which is moderately more practical than my degree in history and philosophy.

Only 12 picks in the 3rd round have been signed as of today, and none of the 3rd round guys picked before TJ have signed. Link: http://www.spotrac.com/draft-tracker/nfl/ So he is tracking what appears to be the norm. Nothing to be concerned about yet... I am glad he is at OTAs though.

I was curious about TJ's contract status too and figured I would see how he compares to the other 3rd rounders. Of the 32 third round picks, only 11 have been signed. No player picked before TJ in the third round have been signed. Linky: http://www.spotrac.com/draft-tracker/nfl/ So nothing seems to be amiss. I am guessing there is a little bit of discussion/posturing going on as to his real value-- agent probably saying he is a third round and should be paid as a top tier third rounder and the Bills saying... but, wait, he is really more of a project and while we believe in him he isn't as polished as the top tier third rounders. Pure conjecture on my part. By the way, the Bills have kept pace with, if not are leading its AFC East peers, in signing progress. Miami only has its 6th and 7th rounders signed, Cheatriots* still need to sign one of its 1st rounders and its 3rd, and the Jests need to sign its 3rd and 7th.

I took my son to his first Bills game last December against the Broncos. He was two weeks until his 12th birthday and it was fine. It was a fantastic experience actually. We tailgated at Hammer's Lot, playing catch on a perfect December day in the open space right next to the lot. He wanted Pinto Ron's autograph and we got that too (shortly before we saw him get covered in ketchup and mustard). He still has that autograph on his bookshelf (Ken signed it on a paper plate). We sat in awesome seats that I bought from Casino2U (30 yard line, lower bowl). No issues with the crowd, all behaved perfectly well. What I am trying to say is that we had a fantastic experience. And as a result of that, my son has shown a greater interest in the Bills (he was making some tentative moves to becoming a Giants fan, cringe). We saw some of the draft together and he wants to go back to a game this Fall. It is something that we can both share, and that's all that matters. I may be a bit more liberal in terms of parenting, but I never felt that my son was seeing something inappropriate for his age. We tailgated, had a cook out, played catch, and saw a great game. Yeah, people were drinking (including me by the way) but in no way did I feel that was something out of the ordinary or damaging to my son. At no time did I feel that, wow, he should be a bit older to go to those things. I am not sure I would take him to an opposing stadium though. I guess if they were playing the Redskins, I wouldn't have a problem. But absolutely no way would I take him to an Eagles game in Philly. By the way, my wife and I did take our son to a preseason Redskins game when he was about 8 months old. We were stupid... had no idea what we were getting into and I would not ever do that again for kids of such a young age. The crowd was fine but we were concerned about the noise blasting through the stadium (Fed Ex field can get pretty loud). We wound up leaving our seats after the 1st quarter and we watched a little of the game in a more sheltered area where the noise was a bit diminished but wound up leaving for good at the half. Just my two cents... Having children is the toughest and most rewarding thing sometimes and to be sure it is never dull. Congratulations in advance on your new arrival!

Two hours later and I'm still laughing. The Seattle one is my favorite-- What is that monster thing, anyway?

This is awesome. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying right now. That's some funny *@#!

Could care less what Prisco (Prisco?!) thinks. Buddy likes him, Mayock ranked him #8 overall on his board, and Cosell put him at #3 based on film (calling him a Woodson-type player). All of that is good enough for me. I'm not doing cartwheels over the pick but I'm not pissed either. I think it was a dependable/responsible pick.

I was disappointed last night-- for some reason I convinced myself that we would trade up for Kalil. We didn't move and that was disappointing (I can live with Gilmore but that's not really the point of this thread). Nix is old school. He would probably tell you that changes in the CB or not, the new NFL is just the same as the old NFL as it all comes down to talent evaluation and not necessarily on new rookie money structure and that his philosophy is to keep his picks and let the draft play out that way. Like Beerball and CT, I would have liked to see a little more creativity but I don't think that's Buddy's style and he's been doing this for so long with some dependable success that he probably doesn't really see the need to change. Based on his comments, I am concerned that he is a bit entrenched in his views and that, perhaps more than most, it will take an incredibly special player and need to get him to trade up whereas others might be a bit more willing to take the risk.

Does anyone know who will be in the Bill's war room? I presume Buddy, Chan, Doug, and Chuck with (of course) a direct line to the scouts. How many can you pack into the war room?

Buddy flat out said as of noon today that rumors re moving up are BS. If they move at all, they are "likely" to move down. http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Bills-more-likely-to-move-back-than-up/0709f4a9-2b91-4cb6-a46b-f37a46f708ef So either Buddy is one crafty SOB or he truly is intent on staying put or moving down. Either way, I think this whole thing is really entertaining.

I've been visiting TBD multiple times a day since free agency as a classic lurker. Haven't posted anything, partly because I don't feel qualified to say either way who the Bills should or will pick. But I've really enjoyed the suspense. I told my coworkers that I can't wait for the draft tonight and they kind of looked at me like I was a moron. Whatever... I've really had a fun offseason ever since free agency and will have a few beers in hand to see how everything shakes out tonight. For the record, I agree with JW-- I think its Barron but would love it if we trade up for Kalil or if Blackmon falls to us. And if we take Martin in the 2nd. But what the hell do I know? LOL!

DAWW is easier to scream when the opponent is backed up at the 5 yd line so it is the practical choice. The Bill Collectors is my favorite for style points though.