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I hadn't seen that, thanks. Some have argued (in the face of arguments that bigtime football is so bigtime that it distorts the mission of universities) that football revenues pay for other sports. Now we have an interesting control group to test that. kj

I just saw this on SI's site, and hadn't thought about this secondary damage until now. $60 million plus a significant revenue stream. Unfortunately, I bet the effect trickles (floods?) down into other sports, as well. Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/07/23/penn-state-big-ten-revenue-sharing.ap/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a3

Albert Brooks on Twitter: "They will leave the Joe Paterno statue up but they're going to have him look the other way." Thought that summed up a lot. He went from 409 victories to 298 and from all-time winningest coach to #12 (from the SI article linked above). Bobby Bowden is happy, anyway. The school loses 10 football scholarships. kj

BS answer. Re-read the question, especially this part: The word 'hypothetical' in the thread title might also have provided some sort of clue. It wasn't intended to reflect the reality of the Bills' D, just to prompt some Xs and Os discussion. Just a thought experiment for the wall, which beats a lot of whatever else gets discussed while we wait for camp to open. And the Jets coaches aren't really going to have much film to look at on Sept. 9, either. I do hope they wait to get some film before they start gameplanning, though. kj

I'm not Ralph, I'm Tony Sparano. With all the Tebow hype down here in New Jersey, I didn't find out until last week that the Bills signed Williams and Anderson. God, I'm over my head! I need all the help I can get. Thanks guys. kj

Good answers. But I am a cheap owner and will not pay a salary appropriate for this level of thought. Sorry. Anyone got Turk Schonert's number? kj

Turns out the opening is not with the Patri*ts. Sorry. kj

So you are asked in an interview for a hypothetical coaching position: How are you going to attack the Bills new defense? What's your response? (This is just a way of getting some Xs and Ox discussion about the new defense and how coaches might gameplan against it, while acknowledging that it's all just on paper now. But we kind of know the defensive scheme and what the talent can produce. So how do coaches prepare? I admit to knowing nothing that would enable me to answer, but I like reading informed Xs and Os answers.) kj

"It's not what it looks like, baby. Honest."

Maybe we should bring back Dennis Miller? Not. I like to be educated about the game without the talking head making me too aware of how little I know. Who fits that bill? kj

I would rather be pleasantly surprised and dealing with someone (who's likely an idiot no matter what the Bills' record is) shouting 'I told you so' at 110 decibels in early 2013 than drowning in disappointment in late 2012. Of course, my emotions will probably involve the first approach for a few Sundays, before giving way to exuberance, rational or irrational. kj

I think the question is more insightful if rephrased: How many mediocre SB winning QBs in the last decade? Not sure it does any good to compare today's game to Stabler's, or even Dilfer's. kj

I didn't see this link posted yet: Peter King at SI is among reporters shown evidence by the league: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/06/18/new.orleans.saints.bounties/index.html?sct=nfl_t11_a0 kj

A lot of tackles, but most were 150 yards down field or more. kj

While I am sympathetic to the argument that you need elite players but not necessarily an elite QB to win the big one, this list kind of argues the other way. Those dudes are not exactly the model QB for today's league, are they? (Might as well do a remake of the Super Bowl Shuffle and see how today's kids like it.) Here is a cut-and-paste of SB-winning QBs since the 1999 season, and the year of their season not the SB. Only 2 were not really elite, Johnson and Dilfer. While Eli has had his ups and downs, he shines in the postseason. Ben R.'s first he wasn't asked to do much either. There are 9 QBs here, and based on his career so far Fitz would have to rank at # 7 (generously) or 8, I am guessing: 1999 Kurt Warner 2000 Trent Dilfer 2001 T*m Brady 2002 Brad Johnson 2003 T*m Brady 2004 T*m Brady 2005 Ben Roethlisberger 2006 Peyton Manning 2007 Eli Manning 2008 Ben Roethlisberger 2009 Drew Brees 2010 Aaron Rodgers 2011 Eli Manning I could carry the list back to the early 1990s and the Bills Super Bowls and not really change the ratio of top shelf to day old bread all that much. kj Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_quarterbacks_with_multiple_Super_Bowl_starts#Winning_and_Losing_Quarterbacks

Super Mario is at #18. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19066749/top-100-nfl-players-no-influence-here-other-than-scouts-film Yeah, it's worthless info, but it's the offseason. kj

Some unholy combination of steroids, HGH, and the leftovers from an elaborate ritual sacrifice, no doubt. And I am sticking to that until I see evidence otherwise. kj

One major difference between this defense going into camp last year and going in this year: Kyle W. went from being our best D-lineman to being our 3rd best. And assuming the talk about his recovery from injury is not just talk, it wasn't because of deteriorating play. kj

Why would they do it if it didn't help them? Those who are willing to look the other way and say it didn't help them need to answer that question. Belichick is not known for wasting energy or time on inconsequential stuff. kj

If he were Bruce Smith, we wouldn't care. Yours may be my favorite avatar, by the way. kj

FYI, Chris Spielman has just published a book, That’s Why I’m Here: The Chris and Stefanie Spielman Story. Reviewed in the Akron paper One detail from the article: the couple (and Chris continuing alone, since her death a few years ago) have raised $10 million for cancer research at Ohio State U. kj

The game hasn't been the same since they outlawed the flying wedge.

He died last week at the age of 80. From Peter King: Marv and Co. were severely out-coached in that game. kj

Don Banks @ SI goes negative nancy: Remember Drew Bledsoe? He was supposed to save this franchise too. How'd that work out?

Now he is a verb?! That is one measure of success.