SouthernMan

At the risk of stirring up the QB controversy.... I won't be at all surprised if JP looks better in these types of drills and practices throughout training camp. He obviously has more experience, and he's probably got more physical talent than Edwards. But... it's when the bullets are flying for real that Edwards will put JP back on the sidelines, assuming he shows that he has better instincts and talent for the mental part of the game. Playing catch in training camp is not the same as being a field general and managing the game.

I have a 1960 media guide. Will trade for 2 tickets to 2008 opener.

Well said. LOL at the last line. Thanks.

I third that. What class you showed. What a wonderful goodwill ambassador and representative of WNY your were. Not. Mularkey, though probably not the best fit for the Bills, came within a hair of getting the Bills into the playoffs his first season. It's not as if he had the best cast of characters with which to work. He never said or did anything to embarrass the city or team. He left on good terms upon the change of guard in the front office, supposedly of his own volition. I can pretty well imagine MMs cousin walking away and muttering to his wife, "there's another Buffalo refugee who comes to our part of the world acting all smug like he's better than us. What an A--hole. If that guy is typical for Buffalo, it's no wonder Mikey wanted out of there."

Never played a down for the Bills though everyone seems to think he did. He was about as much a Buffalo Bill as was actor Dean Cain. Translation: has a photo of himself in a Bills uniform, taken before "the turk" asked him to hand in his playbook. In fact, he probably had The Turk snap the picture! This should be a lesson to all you marketing folks how important branding and name recognition is. Nobody forgets the name Carlester Crumpler.

I was able to procure a first draft as written by Marshawn (with some help from his mama, of course)....here it is: "So me an my boy Steveie is leavin from a nite out on da strip an dis fat beyotch singin o Canada walks right into my ride, but hey, dats da way it go sometime, know what im sayin? Anyway, no fowl nor harm I always say. Back to beast mode. Peace out."

Keys to a playoff berth (in no particular order): 1. Stay reasonably healthy. All teams will have their share of injury, but I hope we don't see anything like last season's IR report. 2. Better defense via a better offense - i.e., ball control, keep drives alive, keep the ball out of the opponents hands and keep our D fresh 3. Stronger in second half - make better halftime adjustments in weak areas and don't let the other team do the same. 4. They've got to establish a "killer" mentality. Put 'em away when you have a chance and don't let them back in to the game. (build on the losses of Broncos/Cowboys in '07) 5. Continued progress/maturity of last year's rookies and 2nd year players. 6. James Hardy needs to take heat off of Evans. This could open up the whole offense if he becomes a feared weapon. No more 8 men in the box on defense. 7. 3rd down efficiency - shut 'em down when it's 3rd and long. It was frustrating last year to see them get burned time and time again on 3rd down. Maybe this was the primary reason for drafting McLovin at the # 1 spot. 8. More pressure on opposing QBs (see # 2). Don't give them all day to find a receiver. Create turnovers. (especially against Pats) 9. Win within the division 10. STOP THE RUN! If they can show improvement in these areas, they should make the playoffs. Last year they were a less talented team with a tougher schedule and still made it to 7-9, and were only a few seconds away from being a 9-7 team. With the return of Poz, addition of Mitchell & Stroud, the DBs back, a healthy Kelsay, McCargo and K Williams another year seasoned, continuity of o-line, additions of Hardy and McLovin, reserves with gameday experience, etc., they should be able to improve by 4 wins. A lot will depend on how Edwards does in his sophomore year. The offense HAS TO improve. If he maintains his composure and proves to be a good field general, we may have an exciting season! 11-5

Seriously? How do you know he was DWI? What was the outcome? Hey....wait a second, are you by any chance a golfer?

The guy was funny and a clever wordsmith, no doubt. But he started rubbing me the wrong way with all his incredibly negative rants. One of the first times I began to feel this way about him was when he did his bit on golfers. He basically considered them to be a bunch of elitists who shouldn't be using precious land for such a stupid game when the land could be put to better use - like building homes for the poor. And who's supposed to build these homes? Who'd maintain them after they were built? What a dumbass socialist position. It's called capitalism. If some group or entrepreneur wants to buy and develop land as a for-profit enterprise, what's wrong with that? There's still plenty of vacant land George. I didn't hear of you using your riches to buy homes for the downtrodden souls who live on the street. He may have picked up a few fans with that view, but I'm sure he turned a lot of people off as well. This was only one of many times I heard him spew crap as if he were some college bleeding heart liberal who had an axe to grind, a bad case of class envy, and was out to get those evil rich republican types who believe in god and who choose to follow a concept of right and wrong as outlined by the 10 commandments. All this from a guy who for years thought drugs and alcohol were the answer. All the cocaine use probably expedited his meeting with his invisible maker. As funny as he could still be at times, his bitterness was a real turn off for me. May Joe Pesci bless you George, wherever you are.

This is why I believe there should be a qualifying test for voting in presidential elections. I swear too many people are swayed by misleading headlines and often don't examine the content of the full article before drawing a conclusion. What's worse is it's then parroted and repeated enought that it becomes "fact". I often quiz my elderly mother-in-law to see what she thought she heard after one of these tv news stories. You'd be surpised how often I have to set it straight for her with actual facts and demonstrate how she was being misled by a clever turn of a phrase by media types who have their own agenda. I suspect the poster who started this thread has to move his lips when he reads. That should always be the dead give-away that bad information can't be far behind.

Where does it say Johnson was driving? It says that he was in the vehicle but makes no claim about him driving. On the other hand, there is a section that states, "The District Attorney says the agreement is predicated on the fact that Lynch was driving the hit and run sport utility vehicle"

I don't know where these myths get started. Can anyone cite a specific example where they witnessed one of Edwards' passes fall short due to lack of arm strength? Hell, every QB at the NFL level can air it out. Some just take less body torque and have more efficient movement and zip from the wrist (see Dan Marino). Trent may not be in the upper tier of QBs in terms of arm strength (I actually have no idea where he might rank), but he wouldn't be playing in the NFL if he couldn't hit a receiver beyond 40 yards. In reality, the need to throw the occasional bomb is far less important that the ability to read defenses and be an every-down manager of the offense. Edwards has shown a sense for finding secondary receivers. I believe the offensive brass also had enough confidence to allow him to call audibles. It's largely acknowledged that that he has a better grip on the mental part of the game than does JP, possessor of the superior arm. The NFL scrap heap is overflowing with "cannon-armed QBs" once regarded as potential franchise saviors because of their throwing ability. Rob Johnson anyone? The poster child for this decription has to be Jeff George. All the physical tools but he never sniffed a Superbowl. On the other hand, there have been a number of QBs who weren't generally regarded to have Hurculean arm strength, but were brilliant QBs (see Joe Montana). At this time, I have absolutely no reason to have concern over Edwards' arm strength. Gettin' psyched. How many days 'til the season opener?

Well, the hardcover editions are on backorder from Amazon. It's a pretty safe bet that Tim will be #'s 1 & 2 on the next NY Times Bestseller list. If it were possible to tell the young man growing up in South Buffalo he'd one day have the top spots on the NY Times list, he'd have thought they were crazy. What a country! So many negatives associated with our blue collar hometown - long cold winters, poor economy, wide right, no goal, OJ, McVeigh, etc....But, we'll always have Tim to be proud of.

You called AAA? You mean to say that you were in a parking lot full of Bills fans in the cold of December and couldn't find a single good saramatin with a set of jumper cables willing to give you a boost? You must be kidding. Did you stand around post-tailgating for a few hours and end up being the last ones attempting to leave? I don't know what's more unbelievable - that you actually had to call AAA or the fact that they were there in minutes.

October 29, 1973 Bills 1st ever Monday Night game. My brother and I took a shuttle bus from Transit & Main to the game at the new stadium. We weren't quite old enough to drive yet, and those were the days when parents gave you a ticket and sent you on your way. We didn't have cell phones so I don't remember how they knew when to pick us up. We probably walked home from the bus stop...up hill the whole way....in 4 feet of snow...in flip-flops. We sat in Club seats (great view/site lines) a few rows in front of the booth where Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, and Frank Gifford were announcing the game. Game 7, and OJ broke the record for most carries in a game as well as surpassing the 1000 yard mark halfway through the 14 game season. It was then that the talk of a 2000 yard season began. The Bills won 23-14. I don't think I went to any other games that year, so probably my next one was the opener the following year - another Monday nighter against the Raiders. Probably in the top 10 of most exciting Bills game. OJ sidelined with injury and Ahmad Rashad and Joe Ferguson hooked up for the game winner with seconds left. I think there were like 3 scores in the final 2 minutes. But there's still nothing like that 1st time - walking through the inner corridors of the stadium, hearing the buzz, and then walking out through the tunnel thingy and seeing the field all lit, the players warming up, the (at the time) high tech scoreboard. Wow! Great memory and many more since.

Touchè I forgot all about that. I never read them things. Anyway, I've fix it - so you happy now?!?!

So, I'm reading this thing here, getting hungry for a beef on weck. Long story short...I had to stop near downtown Roswell Monday - think to myself, "Mrs. Southern Man is running her mom around tonight, so hey, what the hell, I'll just come up Pine Grove to Shallowford and stop at Gallas and get me a Buffalo-style B.O.W." Sounds like a plan - right? Having the phone number programmed into my mobile phone, I call ahead. It's about 4:30 pm - ok - trying to beat the 5 o'clock rush. Some guy answers, sounds half asleep.... "Gallas". He sounded really enthused. I thought maybe the guy was a janitor or something, answering the phone - I had to ask if they was open. Thought maybe Monday was an off day. Guy monotones, "yeah, we're open". I asked if they would go ahead and make me a Beef on Weck. I'm about 5 minutes east, heading west on Pine Grove, so naturally I ax the guy, "how long will it take?". Guy says "15-20 minutes". WTF? I'm not gonna sit there for 10-15 more minutes waiting for speedy to make me a friggin' samwich. I tell the guy, "forget about it" - half expecting he'd reply, "oh....we can have that in about 10 minutes". I'd have been ok with that. Instead, Mr. Excitement just says, "ok". Click. Was that the guy who used to play for the Bills? One head-slap too many? So Bob, what's up with that? The good news is I'll be up there in July and September and get my Buffalo grub fix, big time. My poor mother can never understand why I don't want to have dinner with her. Like I can't get pork chops and string beans with julienned almonds in Marietta. "See ya later ma, I'm going for a Mighty." Anyway, I was gonna respond to your statement about "worse politicians" and I got all sidetracked. You can blame the politicians all day long, but in the end, it's those damn Buffalonians who keep electing the talking bobble-heads. How's that Peace Bridge and the Waterfront thing coming along guys? Thought so. Maybe I'll just swing down to Bass Pro.....oh, nevermind. THEY'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS! IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT THEY'RE STUPID! Whose fault is it really that they're making decisions on the future of the Buffalo area? The constituency perhaps? Hell yeah. get rid of 'em. BTW - Did you open the other spot in Buckhead? Mrs SM works there - said she saw one there?

Because the gravity of the (alleged) crime and the import of the victim's place in this world should be based upon some superficial perception of attractiveness - right? I'm ashamed of those of you who posted disparaging remarks after seeing the photo. Since when are you all so high and mighty that you're somehow better than this woman? She's a human being, struck by a motorist, who then proceeded in a cowardly fashion by leaving the scene and failing to come forward to admit the error in judgement. How many of you slobs have turned down a photoshoot for the cover of GQ? Gimme a break. Funny, how all week we've been praising the memory of Tim Russert, and then proceed to post this garbage. Tim was universally loved, in part because he had enormous respect for all everyone he met (Norwood not included). Most of you probably heard the Russert quotes this week: "Work hard, laugh hard, and have honor" Where's the honor from you "fans" and from the driver who has yet to fess up?

Exellent AUTHENTIC fish frys from Gallas. Thanks Bob! Great wings too. None of that asian spice, sprinkled cayenne, marinated wings, and all the other crap wing sellers do to ruin our hometown delicacy. And yes - it would be great to have the famous Buffalo-style sausage w peppers & onions and/or"Royalé" Italian sausage & Cappicola hot subs. Mmmmm. Jeff - welcome back to civilization and away from the shadow of Bartow. I assume your commute has improved tremendously.

During the National Athem, a montage on the HD scoreboard screen with images of Tim superimposed or interlaced with the American Flag and images of Buffalo, ending with a film clip of one of his famous Meet The Press "Go Bills!" sign-offs. I can only imagine the thundering applause and tears that would follow.

I was referring to the NFL Ticket rather than the Superfan thing. Not sure what involvement, if any, NFL has in the packaging of the Superfan offer. I'm sure the NFL has some say in it. It wouldn't surprise me if DTV makes less than no money on the Ticket. Superfan may be the bone the NFL throws to DTV so the satellite company can make some additional money from the NFL faithful. Who knows? You yungins gather 'round while pappy here tells you about the days before sports bar satellite TV and the best we could hope for was a static-y a.m. broadcast from some distant city carrying the Buffalo Bills. Perhaps we'd have to settle for the scoring recap and a 2 sentence blurb from the USA Today on Monday morning. Geez - the bad old days. It was like a national holiday when the Bills would actually be shown here on local Atlanta TV. I used to scour the local TV listings, hoping I'd see the Bills on the TV schedule. Even then, there was always a good possibilty it would be changed in favor of some other trendy team. Even though I think the NFL Ticket/Superfan combo price is a bit high and the NFL greedy, it's still a much appreciated luxury to sit in the comfort of my own home sweet home and know I can see EVERY Bills game - (as long as some monster storm doesn't blow through about the time I sit down to watch the game). Now, if we can just put a playoff contending team on the field............

It's not Directv doing the pricing. It's the NFL! Directv has absolutely no control over the yearly NFL Sunday Ticket subscription price. All they can do is make concessions through other offers or promotions (movie channels, DVRs, etc) Although the price is a bit steep, it's obviously still worth it for displaced fans like myself. It's my one yearly indulgence and treat to myself. If I were still in Buffalo, I'd probably have season tickets (assuming I could find a decent paying job there). If left to the available programming here in the Atlanta market, I'd only see the Bills for the Monday night broadcast. The cost of the NFL ticket and HD/Superfan ripoff is still worth the price to be able to sit in my cozy den, with the smell of the pot roast slow cooking, my favorite beverage at my side, total control of the DVR remote so I can pause, FF, RW, adjust the volume, take a nap at halftime, etc.

Yes, you need the superfan package. So...even though I already pay a $10/month fee for HD access, I also need to spend $99 per year for the Superfan package, even though I don't care about any Superfan feature other than see the Bills in HD, rather than the stretched out out Silly Putty image on my recatngular screen. I'm not one to get totally immersed in the whole world of NFL football every hour of Sunday afternoons in the fall. I don't need to see 8 games on the same screen. All I want is to enjoy my Buffalo Bills in the comfort of my own room with a High Def picture (before my aging eyes can no longer appreciate the clarity of high resolution!) This is the NFL, not Directv who determines pricing. More NFL greed. I wonder what they'll do in 2009 if all programming becomes digital/high def and the superfan package is no longer needed for this purpose. Probably raise the price of the standard NFL ticket.

Sounds great in theory, and no doubt the increased exposure and marketing should expand the fan base, but it's not as if the entire 5 million population is suddenly going to go nuts for American football. A small percentage of sports nuts will probably make up the vast majority of converts and new recruits. Hockey is still king in Toronto, and there's probably a large portion of the metro population who doesn't give a flip about pro sports of any kind, let alone some other city's/country's football team. Toronto is not Buffalo. Most major NFL cities don't have the kind of fan enthusiasm seen in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Denver, et. al. Will the strategy add to the fan base? I think so. Hopefully a larger "corporate fan base" (oxymoron), which is where the Bills are lagging behind the most in the league, will help them compete and remain viable, but I wouldn't include the number 5,000,000 in the equation of potential fans.

Correction - L.A. might get a team for the 4th time. Current NFL teams who once made LA home - Raiders, Rams, Chargers