Dr. Who

We're about the same age. I wholeheartedly endorse these sentiments.

Exactly right. What's the point of that kind of pessimism? If everything stays the same, might as well not bother watching the games. The wheel turns for everyone. Those who seem to enjoy putting a black cloud over everyone's sunshine aren't realists, they're . . . not very nice people.

I guess you are equally entitled to priggish smugness and hyperbole. I suppose the widespread belief that the Pats**** cheat and get more calls is just confirmation bias. Oh well, we all have crosses to bear.

If and when the Buffalo Bills crush the Pats**** and knock the stuffing out of Tom Brady, I predict they become America's favorite team.

Hopefully Taylor plays lights out and stays healthy. If he struggles a lot or gets injured, I think EJ will leapfrog Cassel and become the starter. Cassel is the mentor, come in in the middle of the game if the starter is injured figure. I surmise there is something ambiguous about the 2/3. If it plays out differently, so be it.

Okay, I think your eyes are wrong. One man's reasons are another's excuses and vice versa. I'm sure you're a fine fellow, though unwise in this case. Mainly I just felt like expressing some rhetorical spleen.

A first round qb who was drafted as a project, with an incompetent head coach, a first year coordinator, and no qb coach his rookie year. This is the first year EJ has had truly good NFL coaching and he has demonstrably improved. He has also been a consummate teammate, never whining or sulking and consistently working to improve. He is hardly a bust. The fact that you cannot properly contextualize the situation and show contempt towards an honorable person in what is actually a hopeful situation reveals the quality of your mind and character. The laughter of fools is the praise of the wise.

Obviously.

LOL, good one.

This is just tremendously informative and interesting. I hope you don't mind. I'm going to copy paste this at BBMB. I'll be clear you are the author. There is a dearth of this kind of informed posting over there.

I agree with 1billsfan on EJ. Gracious post, Bill. I wish that level of civility was more common.

Vic Carucci ‏@viccarucci 17m17 minutes ago Expectation of multiple #NFL personnel people is the #Bills will cut Matt Cassel & keep EJ Manuel, who has strong support from Doug Whaley.

EJ is more of the Ben Roethlisberger type athleticism. He's still lightyears more fit to keep a similar offense to what TT will run than Molasses in January Cassel. Aside from that, EJ has potential. He improved dramatically during the course of the pre-season. Only the foolish are blind to this and overtly or snidely imply that EJ should be cut or traded.

Alright, but if Tyrod had not played exceptionally well, EJ would have won the competition and most everyone would have been pleased with his marked improvement. It may be a matter of semantics, but I think it's better to say Taylor won rather than EJ lost. I think this is more accurate because EJ's performance in the pre-season games was exemplary. He could not have played much better.

EJ had nothing to do with when he was drafted. (I was okay with the pick, btw.) All he has done is work hard and now we discover with competent coaching an improved qb. He responded with grace to the Tyrod choice and the kind of commitment to renewed effort that is admirable. And yet some refuse to credit his improved play and hint that he is not the best choice to keep if we are only keeping 2 qbs. I surmise and hope that OBD is not as foolish and intransigent as those who continue to badmouth or snidely dismiss EJ.

Well, Roman is supposed to be adaptable, isn't he? I would start EJ and use a package of plays with TT. Probably won't work out that way, but that's the smart play, imo. Anyway, I'm out for tonight. Keep fighting the good fight . . .

I think the implication that if OBD keeps two qbs, EJ isn't one of them is a foolish decision. I doubt Whaley would be on board with that after this pre-season.

If 7 - 8, 170 yds, 2 TDS doesn't help your case, really nothing will. I'd like to know the rationale. I say it's more groupthink. If it isn't, too bad for us. EJ is going to be a good player for someone, I think.

So if they go with two, you think they're going to go TT and Meh? And cut EJ? Cassel brings what? Consistent pop gun arm and soporific offense. Nice call.

Nice, the derisive "fanboy." So is it okay if I call you a "hater?" Who is making a big deal out of an incomplete pass? It's being focused on because that was the only thing those who dislike EJ can find to gripe about. The man went 7 - 8, 170 yards, 2 TDS. EJ's arm will stretch the field, stop the defense from stacking eight in a box; the whole run game will flourish. EJ is buying time, stepping up into the pocket. In the game, when it counts, he's been damn accurate. No opportunity for hack journalists to sneer about hospitality tents. You deal with it.

And the usual lot here.

Anyone but Cassel. I think that's a safe bet right about now.

A well-reasoned, thoughtful post. It will, of course, only provoke the smug trolls to answer with pithy, snide retorts.

I don't think anyone thinks that, but thanks.

I think this is spot on.