LongLiveRalph

He would certainly be checked out before any deal is signed. I'm sure Peters would be at the physical today if the Bills put the right offer on the table. By the way, he had a hernia. I realize the Bills would like to verify that he is okay...But it's not like he had a knee or a shoulder rebuilt. All previous experience with that injury says it's fairly common and not likely to present problems once it's been repaired and rested. I'm not even sure there's "rehab" that can be done, other than time off. He's certainly had that.

If the Packers trade Favre, do they have any leverage in controlling what that team decides to do with him? For example, if they traded Favre to the Raiders...Could the Packers write language in the deal stating that if the Raiders then trade Favre to the Vikings, the Packers get [x] picks in the draft?

YES, good move, because EVERY professional sports organization is completely up-front and truthful speaking to the media regarding an ongoing negotiation! This is the reason the media and fans almost ALWAYS lean toward the organization's stance when there are hold-outs: Because they have a PR department, the player does not. The media knows that the organization provides them with information, and they are going to report on these events with a slant toward the team's position. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you," so to speak. Anybody who thinks Peters and his agent are holed up in a bunker somewhere, refusing to communicate with the outside world is ridiculous. I've been saying that for weeks. Nobody feels sorry for a millionaire athlete who's holding out. I get that. But I also don't feel sorry for billionaire owners who lowball their talent. This "Be a man and honor your contract" stuff is hilarious. It's a big money game, with plenty to go around, and Peters wants his rightful share.

Possibly, for the first time in a long time...Weber opened some eyes in his brief stint in Buffalo last year, and I thought Sekera was probably their best defensman after the Campbell trade. I also didn't know Weber won a hardest shot contest in OHL two years ago, that's a bonus for a "defensive" d-man. The Sabres do deserve credit for always seeming to get their top-5 prospects a few games at the NHL level...Often times it is necessary because of injuries, etc. but I like the way Lindy handles it. He doesn't baby them, and uses them in big spots. I remember in one of MacArthur's first games with the Sabres, Buffalo was up by 1 in the closing minutes, and Lindy had him out there on the PK trying to protect the win...No sense bringing guys up if you don't find out what they have when it counts...

How awesome is that stadium? Beautiful park, I was pleasantly surprised. Pittsburgh as a whole was pretty impressive, I had never really been there so I didn't know what to expect. A lot of the rust belt cities are "sneaky cool," Cleveland's got some great spots, Pittsburgh is a legit city, and even Buffalo can shine (if you have the right tour guide.) I was also out in SD a few weeks ago and caught a came at Petco, another gorgeous place to watch a game.

I was so FUMED about ^this^ I never even noticed or considered it disrespectful!!! Travesty? Over retired numbers? HAHAHA!! Who cares.... Manny wearing 99? Who knows. The Dodgers have 24 retired, and supposedly Manny was issued 27. He came out in his first game wearing 99. I don't think Manny considers anything nearly as complicated as comparing himself to Wayne Gretzky by picking that number. It's likely he doesn't know who Gretzky is, or that he forgot it if somebody did tell him. Knowing Manny, he probably asked for 136 and they gave him the closest thing to it.

Jesus! The speedy jitterbug may be looking to run people over this year...

Pretty in-depth, a good read: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=37926...mp;service=page

There was a great stat related to this: Since Brett Favre became the Green Bay starting QB, the Bears have started something like 28 players at QB (forgive me, I can't recall the actual number, but it was in that neighborhood.) The point being, it's EXTREMELY difficult to find "your guy." Once you find him, you ride him. You don't pay him $20M to sit home.

When will Gary finally get it?

If it's three inputs, it seems like the face of the guy below would be in an unfortunate position in relation to the testicles of the guy getting blown....

Labs will definitely get aggressive if they feel their home or their owner is threatened. But this story sounds F'd up! That is the weakest SWAT raid ever if they think they'll be able to prove just cause while the unopened package was sitting outside the house. It's not like people were laying all over the house, in an orgy, with weed and coke all over the place. (The mayor was probably just waiting for the coke to get there to start that part of the party.)

Cue the angry parents here who replied in the JC Penny commercial thread where a teen couple was going to hook up in the basement. "Frankly, I don't need Guiness teaching my teenage daughter how to get triple-teamed." TV bad!!!!!

Seriously. If they manage to steal one in the the LA Coliseum in week 2 (which is possible as USC might be unsteady at QB, at least early on) they will likely waltz through the Big Ten again, stay in the top-2 all year, and get pounded in the title game by a faster, aggressive, more athletic team.

Exactly. I'm well aware of that. So when you sign a contract as a reformed tight end who is a project and MIGHT end up being a decent lineman, you get the bonus that coincides with that level. Two years later, when you are a team's best lineman, and only Pro Bowler playing what has become a franchise position in the NFL, shouldn't you command more bonus money? The Bills are at risk giving a new deal because Peters could get injured and it would be a loss of big bonus money. Peters is at risk not getting a new deal because on his first play, someone could roll over his leg and rip his knee, ankle, and achilles. He would get cut having signed his last contract at a backup LT level. He's a franchise player at the moment, and those moments can be gone in a flash. The Bills need to offer a nice raise and pay the man. Peters needs to come back to the pack a little bit and understand that the organization has been pretty fair and patient thus far, and also have developed him into the talent he is. Russ: Pay the man. Peters: Get your ass to camp.

I can guarantee that, at least some point, the Bills' brass has spoken with Peters' agent. Just assuming that whatever is publicly uttered by ANY employee of ANY professional sports organization is automatically true doesn't make you much of a Realist.

Contracts are binding until the team doesn't want them to be anymore. It is a win now league. It is a what have you done for me lately league. Every organization is looking for every player's replacement the second they sign him. When you are coming off a Pro Bowl season and are widely considered to be a top-5 player, you look to renegotiate. Holding out is your only leverage. It is a physical game, injuries happen, and you don't want to play Pro Bowl seasons for a journeyman salary. It could all end tomorrow.

I don't disagree with that. But the NCAA forcing them to sit out the following fall (after the NFL ruled against them in spring) was typical NCAA hardline garbage. That sick one-handed catch Williams made in the back of the Coliseum end zone seems like it was about 20 years ago.

I think that's exactly what he's thinking. He rips his achilles in the first preseason game, he could be cut the next day. He is the team's best lineman, their only REAL left tackle in a decade, and their only Pro Bowler. He signed a deal when he was a project as an offensive lineman. Now he's widely regarded as one of the game's best. He shouldn't be the 3rd or 4th highest-paid lineman. Pay him for the talent that he is. At the same time, I understand the club's position. "We know you're underpaid, get to camp and we'll talk about it." Lee Evans is looking for a new deal, and he's in camp. I realize that caving in to a holdout only fosters more holdouts. But hey, you make a Pro Bowl, you have some leverage. To quote Teddy KGB, "Pay dat maan hees mahny."

That Tampa defense was very good, and the football IQ and physical play of Lynch and Brooks had a lot to do with that. Going into Philly and winning in the cold for the first time was a big accomplishment. But basically you're right, it was Tony Dungy's team, along with John Gruden's knowledge of Oakland's playbook and personell, turning in one dominating performance on one night.

Just speaking truthfully, Lynch being an accessible, charitable, handsome, charismatic white boy WITHOUT A DOUBT helps his chances. Of course he has talent, otherwise this wouldn't even be a discussion. But I think his game alone would leave him on the outer fringe of getting in. Combine his game with his highlight reel hits, successful teams, and the media love, and he gets bumped into the "likely Hall of Famer" bunch.

Wow, you've got an **** and an opinion. So does everyone else. But you're much better equipped to deliver yours? Well then, thanks for dropping by Curt Schilling. Everyone takes the good with the bad wherever they live. There are tradeoffs everywhere. Even if Buffalonians rag on Buffalo, they love their friends and family there, so they stay. Buffalo people get a bad rap for being sensitive about national criticism. I tend not to give a shiit and don't require justification for the things and the places I like. Anyone who has been to California knows that it's basically its own country with INCREDIBLE natural beauty. This is not debatable. That's why it's funny that in Post #7 of an "Earthquake" thread you bust out the "Haven't shoveled snow in 15 years" comment, like you immediately need to justify the fact that California is better than Buffalo. Talk about sensitive.....

Besides Deion Sanders, has there ever been a rookie DB who wasn't targeted by opposing coordinators and QBs? The fact of the matter is, the 2006 Bills were 7-7 after 14 games while having two rooks playing safety. I think Simpson played pretty well, all things considered. Whitner, as the #8 pick, was drafted to come in and start. Simpson was drafted in the 4th round to hopefully have an impact in 2007 and in 2008. Then, halfway thru game 1 of his NFL career, he finds himself as the starting free safety. He finished 5th on the team with 77 tackles (51 solo) and had 2 picks as a rookie. He displayed a smooth long stride and deceptive closing speed. Like any rookie, while I think "victimized" is a little harsh, Simpson was certainly exposed at times. My perception suggested that a lot of it seemed correctable with experience...More "speed of the game" issues, and taking bad angles...Not necessarily poor reads and dropped coverages. It was not a Defensive ROY performance from him, don't get me wrong...But he showed the instincts and toughness that suggest he can be more than serviceable as an NFL safety, especially now playing next to a MUCH more experienced and savvy Whitner (i.e., 32 games played vs. 1,2,3... games played.) It was my opinion that in 2006, the DB who was most victimized was Kiwaukee Thomas. I will give him credit, I thought he was better last season, but he was consistently toasted for 1st down catches when he came in as the nickel CB in '06...

So true. I've spent a lot of time in SoCal, there's definitely lots to love. It's just funny that immediately, the canned "It snows in Buffalo" comments come flying in from those out in Cali. You'd think when you have 180 minutes in your car everyday to travel 19 miles, you'd be able to bring some better thunder than the ol' "structural damage beats shovelin snow" nonsense. Something like, "Hopefully the aftershocks don't slow construction on the new Buffalo office tower" would've been better and less campy. Also, we've got BarBill chicken wings here. Suck on that in California!!!!!

There's going to be a lot of guys sitting out practice with tweaks. Happens every year to every team. But you're right, you never want to see player who just missed a full season sit out practice for an injury to the same area. Conversely, after missing 15.5 games last year, Simpson is going to be extra careful in July as he knows his eye is on September and beyond. I hear the Ravens have had a bunch of vets on the sidelines with soreness...Supposedly Camp Billick was an easy go for the veterans, and Harbaugh has come in and tried to show who's boss. Everything I had heard about Simpson was that he was so happy to be back and excited to be flying around on the football field. Hopefully we can just look at it and say that that first twinge is a part of the recovery process, and it's good it happened now.