SouthernMan

You're ok with current fill-ins?!? The weak linebacking made the Bills a joke on defense. The defense had more responsibility for the 2012 W-L record than the offense. Not that the offense was that much better. I don't care how good an offense we have, if the opposition is running up points, they're dictating the Bills approach to offense when they're in constant catch-up mode and have to abandon the running game - the strength of the offense. IMO - the Bills need to draft the player that has THE BEST chance of being an impact player. A big "maybe" with a huge learning curve at QB will further impede any progress. Better 1st round prospects than those now available have come and gone from the teams that drafted them. Many of them are now FA or trade fodder. There's no such thing as a "sure thing", but it's a calculated risk. In this case, I don't see a QB that is worth the #8 pick. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that none of the top rated QBs coming out this year will make much of a splash. It would be a tragedy to miss out on a greater potential all-pro LB for cross-your-fingers-wishing-well QB. Don't dismiss the importance of good linebacking. Apart from a good field general, 2 things top teams almost always have as their strengths is linebacking and tight ends - the less glorious unsung heros of championship teams.

Didn't read the entire thread - the first several posts were enough. The Bills need a starting caliber QB, but this is a very weak QB draft. I'll be shocked if they waste that valuable # 8 pick on any of the QBs when they know there are lower risk picks that have a far better chance of making an impact. As much as all of you are wishing for a QB, the defense was a greater factor in the won-loss column last year. If there's a LB that looks like a #8 pick, hoping they take him. What good is a rookie QB going to do for a team with so many other needs? And then what if the Bills suck again in 2013 and wind up with a top 7 pick ?(certainly very possible) At that point, they either by-pass a better prospect (assuming next year's class is better, as has been forecast) or they pick that QB in the top 7. If that happens, they've spent 2 years of first round pick on a QB and still have major holes in the receiving corp and defense. I say, take the best prospect that can be an impact player, and hope Kolb or somebody can hold down the fort and the Bills can look for the QB in FA or draft next year. Linebacker would be the smart choice IMO.

I haven't said squat for months about the draft and who the Bills should choose, but I've heard about enough of the QB talk. There's not one worth taking with such a high pick. And besides, the general consensus is that next year's QB class is a whole lot better. If that's true, even more reason to avoid a QB early in round 1. They'd end up with the best of a lousy class, not a potential game-changing prospect. The offense struggled last year, but the biggest problem is still defense, especially against the run. Nearly every contending team has at least 1 dominant linebacker. The Bills aren't even close to having someone that opposing teams have to plan around. They desperately need a linebacker who can sufficiently support the D-line and DBs. Unfortunately, the Bills just missed out on both Patrick Willis and Von Miller in recent drafts. If the opportunity is there to take a stud LB hope they don't pass up the chance.

The logo is lame and doesn't represent the team as we've known it historically. There's always this effort with professional sports logos to make any character/mascot look nasty and mean. Considering the recent history of the team, the Bills should employ a new artist to draw some buffaloes (bisons) sitting at a little table having a tea party.

There needs to be an asterisk next to the Cousineau pick. Although he jolted for the CFL for a lot more money, eventually his rights were traded to the Browns for a 1st round pick, which became the the #14 pick in the 1983 draft, which was Jim Kelly. In retrospect, the Cousineau pick may have been one of the best ever, even though it took 7 years to start paying off.

He's going to be a "made" man by the local Buffalo mob.

Reality check - there is no stud QB coming out in the draft and if the Bills are counting on a first round QB, he'll almost certainly be a project and still not be as capable as Fitzpatrick was for at least a couple of years. Fitz may not have had the best arm, but he could read defenses and had the respect of his teammates. It's not as if he had top tier weapons to work with in the passing game either. Oh, and BTW - the Bills still have a pathetic defense too. About the only hope the Bills will have is if they handle it the way they did when Joe Ferguson started as a rookie - hope for success on offense by handing the ball off in a run based ball control offense. If the Bills find themselves getting pummeled on defense and playing catchup, it's going to be a looong season for both the fans and the QB. If the Bills plan is to start a rookie QB, it'll be a recipe for disaster if his confidence is shattered. I don't think Fitz was the answer, but for now, the prospects appear to be a journeyman QB and a rookie. The Bills are in perpetual rebuilding mode, and as the years go by, they lose the talent they've previously drafted and developed. It never ends. This team is a joke.

Speed is overrated in my opinion. Nelson runs good routes and has maybe the best hands on the team. And as a bonus, he's tall enough that an accurate QB can put the pull in his hands and well out of the reach of 5' 10" DBs. Maybe the Bills just don't have any plans to have a QB who can throw accurately. For all the speed TJ Graham has, what good is it if you don't catch the ball when it's thrown right to you?

One of my other club experiences was at a relatively small club called Stage 1 or Patrick Henry's (same place) at Transit and Main in Clarence. In 1978, they had two acts in a "battle of the bands". Talas and Dr. J Jone and The Interns were the two band battling it out. Talas was clearly the better band that night. The other band was fronted by a dude who "looked like a lady" and was fairly drugged out. Dr J Jones was an alias for a band that still rocks today. I was aquainted with the club owners, so I knew that Dr J Jones was a fake name for the band that was already selling millions of records by them. I'd seen them 4 years earlier opening for Johnny Winter at the Niagara Falls Convention Center when their opening number was Helter Skelter, and they were pushing their new single, Dream On. Had also seen Gregg Allman and Cher at the same club a few times. My friend was taking a good look at Cher one night when another of his friends said "why don't you kiss her:" He froze. Instead, Cher grabbed him and shoved her tongue down his throat. Gregg just stood there shaking his head. Ahhh, the good old days.

Never said anything about being a rah-rah, but I think a team often reflects the leaders - i.e. 0 the head coach and QB. I don't know any of those QBs personally, but my impression of Rogers is he has some degree of charisma and leadership that teammates can believe in. My impression of Johnson is he was guy always showing up uninvited and that you were trying to ditch in high school. Johnson maybe had enough charisma to do commercials for No-Doze. He seems like a real swell guy. Surf's up.

U2 is one of the few bands since 1980 that have had much staying power. Loved them from the first album, back when they were considered a "punk" band. In '81, they were promoting the first album Boy (and maybe October too). Saw them at the live rock club Uncle Sam's, on Walden Ave in Cheektowaga. Nobody gave a crap about them and I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me so I went alone. I knew then they were going to be HUGE. Both U2 and myself are still rocking out 32 years later.

Flutie was the ultimate competitor, made the most of his ability, and made those around him better. If he'd been 6-3 and 225 lbs., he'd be in the hall of fame. Was he a prick? Probably. But everyone loves a winner. Johnson on the other hand appeared lackadaisical, and was not a natural thick body, so he was prone to injury. The one thing everyone in this thread is missing is that a large part of Johnson's downfall is that he had the same timing issue that plagued both Bledsoe and Losman. Good quarterbacks have that sixth sense to know when defenders are converging on them. Johnson, Bledsoe, and Losman all had tunnel vision, focusing on their receiver and reads and didn't have that mental clock and sense to know when to dump the ball. This led to 3rd and long, 3 and out, and uneccesary sacks that often took them from field goal range, forcing them into a punting situation. That would drive me nuts! Johnson is the perfect example of a "combine player" Had plenty of the physical tools and atheletism that are measured at the Indy combine, but the things that are integral to being an NFL QB that can't be measured, such as heart, timing, and durability, he was sorely lacking. IMO - he had that same dull blade personality that seems to have such great appeal to Ralph Wilson, who made the call to start Johnson in the Titans game. it's the same less than exciting personality that has characterized the last 4 or 5 head coaches. For all the debate on this board and by so many fans who are divided over Flutie and Johnson, I'd love to get the opinions of guys like Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman, Tasker, to name a few, and know who their choice would have been.

This sort of thing is why I think the line in the Pledge of Allegiance - "justice for all" - is a joke. Did Mary Jo Kopechne get justice? If Teddy wasn't a Kennedy, he'd have spent a few years behind bars. There is no equality for defendants in legal decisions. The guy with the biggest stick ($$$) wins.

Tackling ain't rocket science. What could they possibly teach in the pros that hasn't been drilled into him for the past 12 years?

Right. It can't be proven, since the witness are either dead or if there way anyone else present, they were probably paid off. OJ, Robert Blake, and Casey Anthony were also found "not guilty" in a criminal court of law. Anyone think they're actually innocent? Skillful legal manuvering and stupid juries are a ticket to ride. IMO - Ray Lewis was somehow involved and there was a cover up. Two young men are dead forever. Any involvement whatsoever is unforgiveable.

I didn't say he wasn't the murderer. That's beside the point. If he drove the getaway car, he'sjust as guilty - surely you must have that basic knowledge of the law. Charles Manson was never actually present for the physical killing of those victims in 1969, but he was still convicted of murder. As far as the "self defense" aquittal - based on whose account? Unless someone is breaking into your home and you assault them, I can't imagine too many scenarios on a public street in which a double murder is necessary. I haven't re-researched the case, but if I recall, the two young men were not gangstas with extensive records. Probably just some drunk wiseguys kids who messed with the wrong people and paid the price. But the fact is they were both fatally stabbed. The Lewis companions couldn't have thrown a few punches? A body can take a good stabbing and survive. The fact they both kids were killed means there was a deliberate attempt to murder. When the kids were mortally wounded, did Lewis or his party call 911 for help? No. They let them lay there to die, if they weren't already. And then Lewis lied about being there. Lewis can carry on about his god and other christian b.s. - but when his judgement day comes at the pearly gates, I'm afraid St Peter's gonna stamp his ticket for the down escalator.

The only question I have is why does Lewis get a free pass as a national hero instead of the same shunning that O.J. gets from America. Did I miss something? Is there evidence that he's completely innocent and didn't have any criminal involvement? If that's the case, why did he pay off the families? He was there and knows something that could have led to justice for those kids who were killed. There's little doubt about that.

I've never been able to understand how Ray Lewis has gotten a free pass in the media following his obvious involvement in an altercation that resulted in the deaths of 2 young men in Atlanta during superbowl week, 2001. The suit he was wearing that likely had blood evidence on it has never been recovered. He settled out of court (paid off the families) to avoid a civil suit, probably fearful of having the same resuts as O.J. It's a given that he provided the getaway car for the others involved. Of course the others involved were aquitted since there wasn't enough evidence. Well duh, the victims weren't available for testimony and Lewis, if not a participant, was the most credible witness to the event, and considering his role as chaffeur, is guilty at least as an accomplice, even if he wasn't the one with the knife. So how is it that he still gets commercial endorsements and is fawned over by the press? Ironically, there is a large public outcry and dislike of him for his involvent, yet it's largely ignored by the media who still portray him in the same light as Michael Jordan or some other untarnished star. I don't get it.

Did you ask why the comment was made - in other words, what his reason for disassociating himself? Does he expect true fans to change loyalties from year to year depending on the current degree of the team's success? If so, what a douche bag...obviously has no concept of what a good fan is. Was he a journeyman player who made a stop in Buffalo on his way to insurance sales training? I had a post a few a days ago questioning the lack of motivation by some players today, particulalry on recent Bills rosters. I think the idea of investing ones heart into the team is a part of that drive. The glory year superbowl Bills by and large loved The Buffalo Bills. They took pride in their team and adopted town and realized they were representing the people of Buffalo. The guys who have no emotional investment in their team should move on - like the ex-Bill who questioned your allegiance.

And they would need that why? A better use for that space would be......... O.J. - cam. Could even make it a revenue generator to help pay for improvements. Or better still, all proceeds go to battle domestic abuse. The idea: put a dollar in and get 3 minutes of watching O.J. live in prison and see how he makes the most of his Sunday afternoons. For $2 bucks, it's a 2-way camera and he gets to see how much fun you're having as a free man! Hell, I'd spend a couple a bucks for that!

Nice enough, but I notice in the field photo (#3 out of 5) - same old shittie team between the chalk. Oh well, as least they'll have a stupid gas station overhang as you cross the street. (What's that all about?)

Congrats to the Fitzpatrick family. Actually, I'm almost surprised they could conceive. I would have thought Fitzpatrick would come up short or shot it over her head.

BTW - Sullivan may be all those things, but like the work of Rush Limbaugh et al, controversy sells. They are in business afterall. If his role was to be a mouthpiece for the Bills, how boring would that be? I frequently have posted contrary statements that I don't necessarily agree with or may question, with the sole intention of kickstarting a dialogue that will encourage various points of view. That's what makes it interesting. Otherwise, it's just a big virtual pep rally for the hapless Bills. CJ Spiller sucks! Now let's talk.

Spot on. Sure, Sullivan can be abrasive, opinionated, and at times seem negative. But it's the duty of America's free press to hold those in the public spotlight accountable. Granted, a sports franchise doesn't have the same degree of import as those in the political arena, but it's the same idea. Sullivan may not always be right, but at least he's doing the job of asking the questions instead of just fawning over the Bills like some wide-eyed 10 year old. Sullivan, like a Mel Kiper, Dan Dierdorf, or Theismann, is just one of those guys that so many love to hate. That's your right, but at least someone is trying to hold their (The Bills) feet to the fire. The current assembledge of coaching staff is baffling for a team that desparately needs to rehab it's image and status as a contender. How many coaches straight out of the college ranks have been successful as NFL head coaches? Maybe Jimmy Johnson? Coaches far more successful than Marrone (Saban, Spurrier, Holtz, to name but a few) have used their college pedigree to secure NFL jobs. The vast majority have failed. So Marrone, who doesn't even have that impressive a record - you really think he's gonna get them to the superbowl? That's the goal, isn't it? Marrone is .500 coach. On second thought - he's a perfect fit for the Bills. :-)

I've come to realize that anytime you do a reality check regarding the Bills, blinded-by-love fans at TSW get upset if it's not all wishful optimism. Unless it's a synchophantic blind faith love affair with the Bills, praising their latest offseason brainstorm, you're labled as someone "stirring the pot" or being a "negative Ned", or even "a troll". Sullivan laid out some interesting facts in his column. I'm not exactly feeling all warm and fuzzy inside about the new staff after reading that. This staff has repeat and rinse in 2016 written all over it. What in the world could possibly justify the hiring of the Lion's ST coach? Maybe Marrone has a gambler's mentality of "he's been a loser his whole career - this year he's due to hit big.....due I tell ya!" WTF? Last spring when so many of the wide-eyed optimist Bills fans had visions of a dominating defense and a division championship, I cautioned that the pattern in recent years is to make a few bold moves to get fans excited, only to have the same results. In this case it was the signing of Williams, Anderson, and the draft picks. I too was excited and hoped for the best, but was still aware that we'd all been there before, so my statement was "not so fast". Show me. I said the Bills look good "on paper". That's when I first posted the "on-paper" Lombardi Trophy avatar you see to the left. Well....no dominating defense. Amazing, they stayed relatively healthy, and still ended up with one of the (statistically) worst defenses. I was pummeled by the optimist club at TSW for being "a troll". A troll or a realist? No playoffs, but at least y'all still have the dubious "on-paper" trophy! Here's the problem now....the new coaching staff doesn't even look good "on paper". We're screwed!