SouthernMan

Colts - Luck has a field day picking on #28. Gets early lead. Bills have to play catch up and abandon running game. Taylor running for his life. Colts win. Patriots - Brady has a field day picking on #28. Gets early lead. Bills have to play catch up and abandon running game. Taylor running for his life. Patriots win. Dolphins - Tannehill has a field day picking on #28. Get early lead. Bills have to play catch up and abandon running game. Taylor running for his life. Dolphins win. Giants - Manning harassed by Bills D. Shakes it off, picks on # 28 replacement. E.J.Manuel drive halted inside red zone with time running out. Bills lose on missed field goal. Giants win. Bills 0-4. Fans start calling for Ryan to be fired. Harvey Johnson playbook found on-line. Bills regroup. Go 11-5 with their only remaining loss to Jacksonville in London when the Jags unveil their "bangers & mash" defense.

This is interesting..... In the 5 minutes since I posted this, Wikipedia removed the header (directly below the news of his release from Bills) that said New England Patriots 2015, accompanied by this blurb: "On September 5, 2015, Cassel signed a one year contract with the New England Patriots, per source." Hmmmm.

Wikipedia has already updated Cassel release from Bills. FWIW - they also say...."On September 5, 2015, Cassel signed a one year contract with the New England Patriots, per source."

Some other notables: Chris Spielman Paul McGuire Jim Haslett Jeff Nixon Fred Smerlas Joe Ferguson Reggie McKenzie Kent Hull Bobby Chandler

Lewis Chandler Groves Conner D.Johnson Campbell R. Johnson Hill Merrill O'Leary Sanborn C. Wood Kupper Gaines Richardson Mullligan Simms D. Williams Larsen Henderson Fluellen Palmer Lewis, Simms, O'Leary to practice squad if they clear waivers What do I win?

What is the NFL's rationale behind only allowing 47 players to dress on gameday? The teams are paying for 53 each game, right? Or another way to look at it - the teams have to pay 6 players full salary for 16 regular season games to not be available. Doesn't make any sense to me. There must be some logic to it. Anyone know?

Was it an afternoon session? I've always thought wood was most potent in the morning.

Not a single word about Bills HOF Billy Shaw? - the best guard that ever played in a Bills uniform. #66

In Joe Namath fashion - Tyrod Taylor - I guarantee it. Ryan was being coy by starting Cassel and now he'll start Taylor for the 2nd preseason game because "it's his turn" in the QB competition. B.S. He already knows who his starter will be opening day, but he's not going to show his hand - he'll keep the Colts guessing right up to the last minute. Though, they're not stupid. They've probably figured it out. E.J. is already out of the competition and may not even make the roster. That leaves Cassel and Taylor as the only two reasonable choices. By most accounts Taylor has better accuracy and the added threat with his running. Roman can design plays that use Taylor's legs (or at least the threat of him running) to their advantage. If the Bills want to build a long-term playoff caliber team, now's the time to see if Taylor can be their guy of the future. We know Cassel is just a band-aid. What did Roman do in San Francisco? Was his QB more like Cassel or Taylor? The answer for opening day should be obvious. Barring injury, Taylor will be the guy running out of the tunnel with the starting offense.

Interesting fact: In 56 drafts, the Bills have never had a quarterback as their first pick that became an elite player in the league. Worst first picks: Based on productivity (or lack of) - Tom Ruud, Reuben Gant, Phil Dokes, Terry Miller (decent rookie season, then nothing), Booker Moore, Perry Tuttle, Tony Hunter, Erik Flowers, Mike Williams, Losman, McCargo, Maybin. McGahee gets honorable mention. Taken in the first, knowing at best, his rookie season was 2 years away. Also - honorable mention to James Hardy and Roscoe Parrish, both 1st picks for the Bills in the draft, taken in round 2 The Cousineau choice gets a pass, since that was a money issue. Wilson was notoriously tight, which was why good players and coaches went through the revolving door at Rich Stadium. Every time the Bills started to show signs of looking like a playoff team, they were quickly dismantled to "save money". Mid 70s with Saban, and then again early 80s with Knox. Even if they hadn't traded Cousineau for a second 1983 1st-rounder, they may still have drafted Kelly with their first round pick rather than Tony Hunter if they only had a single first round pick. Who knows? On the positive side, the Bills have made up for some of the bad first round picks with non-first rounders Thurman, Andre, Kyle Williams, et al. At least they never drafted Tony Mandarich, Brian Bosworth, or Ryan Leaf. Poster boys for 1st round busts.

To the guy who said "Shula was a major dick" - I've always suspected he is. My opinion was reinforced while watching the always gracious and humble Marv Levy give his Hall of Fame speech on TV. Seated behind him are several NFL HOF'ers appearing amused and respectful during Marv's anecdotes. All that is, except the sour puss Don Shula on camera directly behind Marv. He looked completely agitated, as if he was still carrying a grudge against Levy for the ass-whoopin' Levy and the Bills gave him over a 10 year period.

In a related topic, I recently saw The NFL networks list of the 10 toughest home stadiums for visiting teams. Can you believe the Bills didn't even make the top 10?!? I put no value in these lists. They're right up there with pre-season speculation on teams records. It's all somebody's opinion - no more important or having any more merit than any of ours.

I've lived in the metro Atlanta area for more than half of my life, but I grew up in Bills country and will forever bleed red, white, and blue. People "back home" frequently ask if I'm a Falcons fan. Hell no! neither do I don't care about the Georgia Bulldogs or the Ga Tech Yellow Jackets. It's a mystery to me how anyone can change allegiances to teams as easily as they change their socks. I went to games at the rockpile, sitting 4 rows from the field, saw O.J. numerous times, was there when they finally beat the Dolphins in 1980, was at the first Monday night game in Buffalo, was at game Dec 7, when fog blanketed the darkening sky and the Bills, fighting for their playoff lives, had a great victory over the Rams. and Smerlas, Haslett, Nelson, Ritcher, et al came out for an encore and and did a chorus line dance. I was a season ticket holder even after I moved to Atlanta. I'm a 1-team man. I love football, but anything not involving the Bills is just another game.

Point taken. I understand that sometimes guys are having a rough day and get moody. But I wasn't interupting them in a private moment with their family or while they were dining. This was an event, that in addition to being training camp, is there for the fans as well. Otherwise, it would be a closed session and wouldn't be selling souvineers. The players are paid very well to perform as professional players. IMO, part of the obligation as a player that represents the region is to being polite to the fans who make it possible for them to earn a good living. These guys bust their ass physically. How much more difficult is it to suck it up and be decent for a few minutes to those who loyally support them, even if they're in a foul mood? Gee, real tough part of the job - saying hello with a forced smile and signing their name to a ball. Poor guys.

I went to the Bills training camp 20 years ago at Fredonia. I bought one of those souvineer Bills logo footballs you buy at the fan van players can sign them. Thought it would be cool to have in my man cave where I watch Bills games. Been a fan since going to games as a kid at the rockpile. So, 20 years ago I'm in my mid-30's. Is that too old to be a fan who wants a souvineer? Apparently we're not too old at that age to spend a shipload of money on tickets and other merchandise that players all benefit from. Anyway, I approached both Fina and Hull. Both were complete dicks, especially Fina, who was more interested in taking a ride on the golf cart with his girlfriend or football groupie. Naturally, he had his leg all wrapped up. Hull gave me one of those "screw you" looks and reluctantly signed it. It wasn't as if there was a line of kids all waiting for them. Is that so hard to be gracious for a few minutes to fans, many of whom have been fans and supported the team since childhood? On the flip side, we met a lot Bills back in the 60's when they were just regular people. Butch Byrd, Tom Day, Jack Kemp, Paul McGuire - all terrific. Most were great. O.J. included. Billy Shaw was seated across from us on a flight to Buffalo from Atlanta for one of those greatest team anniverary games. Couldn't be nicer. Without asking, he gave my wife his HOF ring to check out, and then gave us signed HOF tradiing cards for our nieces and nephews.

in no particular order: OJ Simpson Billy Jo Hobert Perry Tuttle Eric Flowers Aaron Maybin Dean Cain Ernie DiGregorio Tom Jolls The French Connection Talas

I presume you were referring to my eariler post. I don't want to debate the topic - this isn't the place for it. Seems all I ever get are wise-guy remarks when I ask, "why should higher wage earners pay higher PERCENTAGES than lower wage earners?" How is equal percentages of earned income for all not fair? Should the guy driving the Jaguar across the Peace Bridge pay a higher toll than the guy with the 1972 Maverick? Makes about as much sense to me. I don't claim to have the answer. All I want to hear is a rational explanation that makes some sense. And by rational, I don't meana crybaby "because they're rich, they can afford it - and we hate them because we're not rich !!!" Anyone?

The tax codes are insane. A $40 million dollar athlete contract makes for good headlines, but the reality is athletes see a much reduced number in their bank accounts after taxes, insurance, agent fees, lawyers, accountants, and all the other places their wages go. Even if they're only left with 25%, it's still more than most of us will earn in our lifetimes. But, if the contract is more in the 5 million range, still a decent pay day for a young guy after expenditures, but hardly considered wealthy in today's economy. I'll never understand the people who think the wealthier "rich" citizens should "pay their share" - i.e. - pay a larger percentage. IMO it should be an equal percentage for everyone. Some form of a flat tax. Eliminate the frigging IRS! Is sales tax at the pumps or at retail outlets based on your income? Hell no. If you make $20,000, you should pay x%. If you earn $2,000,000,000, you should pay the same x%. What could be more equitable? The vast majority of anything the federal government has it's hands in is a bureaucratic nightmare - the tax code is a prime example. NOBODY understands it completely, including the people who run it. If we had a flat tax for the last hundred years and suddenly a government agent proposed the current system we now endure, they'd be thrown into a padded room making such a ridiculous suggestion.

Along the same lines, I've said for many years the team would save a ton of money and have a better team if they would put out top dollar for proven personnel people who could assess players with some level of consistency. Instead, they've wasted multi-millions on 1st round gambles like Eric Flowers, Mike Williams, Aaron Maybin, and many others in who never amounted to much on the field. The difference with perennial winners like the Steelers and Patriots is they've historically had great talent evaluators who make the most of early picks and find starters in later rounds.

Lists are for schoolgirls who need a record of the cutest boys in the 8th grade, women organizing dinner parties, and TV programmers who can't think of any other way to fill time slots on the cheap.

So then, why the stink all over this kid? His ex-girlfriend was murdered and he's not connected to it, other than he hasn't been ruled out. Unless the authorities know for sure who committed the crime, I guess nobody is ruled out. How was Winston drafted # 1. Was he ruled out? I can understand a few teams shying away if they'd heard some rumors, but a top OL prospect going undrafted? So, the OT, Denzell Goode, drafted at # 255 in the 7th round, is less risk and higher value to the team than Collins? Something is fishy.

Someone catch me up on the story. La'el Collins was a great OL prospect, a likely top 10 pick, but fell out of the draft because his ex-girlfriend was murdered - right? The authorities are saying he's "not a suspect". What am I missing? Why is Collins suddenly persona non grata in the draft if he had nothing to do with the homocide? The only thing I can figure is that in spite of what the authorities are saying officially, there must be strong suspicision of his involvement, but they don't yet have the evidence to indict. The investigation officers must have indicated to the NFL that Collins actually IS more than a person of interest, otherwise, I'd have thought at least 1 of the 32 teams would have taken a chance on him in the draft. Anyone know how he's being tied into the murder?

Insecure? Not at all. I engage in mature adult relationships and reality, unlike these video game addicted nitwits who immerse themselves in a fantasy world, playing for hours on end. I'm not referring to someone who enjoys a casual diversion occasionally for fun. I'm talking about guys whose whole world revolves around their gaming addiction. Do you know what every one of the nutcase school and movie theater mass shooters have in common? - They WERE ALL heavy duty gamers. Every last one of them. Immature, insecure man-child males who aren't grounded in the real world.

speaking of video games, does anyone else find it ironic that all those high tech shoot-em-ups and medieval fantasy games marketed during sporting events are labeled "M" for mature audiences? Shouldn't they be rated "I" for immature man who is still emotionally 12 years old .

Depends how you define "best RB". Best pure runner - O.J. He ran like a thoroughbred stallion. Long strides, quick, fast, great balance, ability to cut on a dime. He had incredible field vision and a sense of where defenders were - even if they were coming up behind him. His O-line was good, but not as good as the Superbowl era O-line. He wasn't really a power runner by today's standards, though his size was an advantage. He just seemed to glide. He was doing on turf what Gil Perrault was doing on skates. He was a freak. Best all around back - Thurman Like OJ, he had great vision, able to read the blocking flow so he could make his cuts and squeeze through gaps. He had a lower center of gravity and could find smaller holes and break through them. He was superior to OJ as a pass receiver. He was probably the best RB Buffalo ever had at picking up blitzes and protecting his QB as a blocker. He possessed a better football mind than OJ and could read defenses as good as any QB. In today's game, if I had to pick one, I'd rather have Thurman Thomas. Cribbs was definitely the next guy I'd put on the list. Unfortunately for Bills fans, he was a Bill at a bad time. Coaching changes, contract issues, player discontent, and an extended player strike in 1982. He was voted to 3 pro bowls in 4 years at a time when fan voting wasn't a factor. Coaches and other players did the voting. He had a great rookie season under coach Chuck Knox in 1980, but got caught in the usual upheaval at One Bills Drive, with coaching changes, money disputes, and general acrimony among players. (why do think Jim Kelly cried when drafted by Buffalo in 1983?) This was a typical pattern throughout Ralph Wilson's ownership. Cribbs was in a contract dispute and jumped ship after 4 years, going to the newly formed USFL. If Cribbs had been in a positive situation throughout his career with an owner, coach, and team that maximized his talent, he would be in the Hall of Fame by now. Like Thurman, he was smart and was a good pass receiver. He just got caught in the gears during a bad period in Bills history.