Bills Fan in MD

I'm building an eternal flame in its honor as we speak.

Yep, I totally get that when looking at things logically. That said, logic is hard to come by as a fan of this team!

After 24 hours of reflection, I don't think the Bills lost much by not getting Maclin, especially at the money the Ravens signed him to (including the two year commitment). I think what's bugging me, and likely most everyone else on the board, is that it feels like the Bills are always being slighted in the FA market. I know it's not a real thing (i.e., they typically get players who they are willing to pay the most for), but after almost two decades of being irrelevant any slight hurts.

Does anyone remember the 2009 offseason when people on this board were obsessed with signing an aging Laveranues Coles? This has the same feel.

You weren't the only one. I remember totally buying into what he was selling during his introductory press conference. Lesson learned.

And people wonder why this team played like a bunch of undisciplined knuckleheads these last two seasons.

Not the worst cut ever, but Sammy Morris had a couple of solid years in NE.

Once the playoff drought hit double digits. And the nostalgia itself never wore off, it's just that I stopped feeling like I didn't have the right to complain about not making the playoffs. During the 90s, I knew that our luck would run out and that we'd have to endure a period of a few rough years. Once that "few years" hit a decade, it just got to be too much. Now it's just ridiculous.

No, of course it's not a real thing. People who use the term will say that it's just satire, but if you look more closely you'll find that it's nothing more than a thinly-veiled slur. Not sure why it's being tolerated here.

Agree. We all say stupid things when we're that young. I hope I've owned up to all of the dumb statements I've made, but it's doubtful. I definitely know that I've never worn them in front of thousands of people!!!

http://deadspin.com/cardale-jones-graduates-today-from-ohio-state-1794996380 Nice story, especially the part of him realizing his earlier mistake.

That was an outstanding piece. Thanks for posting it.

This whole thing is surreal. I'm not saying that Pegula made the right move -- although he probably did, especially with Whaley -- but the idea that he owns two teams in two sports that are currently searching for a GM is a pretty good sign that he is still learning his way as an owner. He may very well get it right this time around, but the learning curve is real.

How will I go on with my life knowing that some random internet poster from New England doesn't agree with the team's decision????

Wait, so Buddy still has an honorary title with the team? I'm pretty sure we'll recover from that loss.

Because then you let Whaley walk away with all the scouting info and the team's entire draft board. The timing wasn't accidental - it was the point.

He's going to look great in a Pats uniform in 2021.

There are a lot of reasons to miss Ralph, but the product on the field isn't one of them. He micromanaged like crazy and was always afraid of giving too much power to the football people. The Kelly years are an anomaly; largely the product of personnel decisions made by Bill Polian. If you want an owner who understands the importance of a team to a community and who isn't afraid to call out the NFL when it puts larger, more profitable markets at a distinct advantage over others, Ralph's the guy. If you want someone who knows how to put the organization in a position to win, he was a disaster.

Even though Chris Berman is off the NFL, isn't he still with the network? If so, I assume he's not there on the cheap. Does ESPN really think that he's still bringing in viewers?

Sorry, but this comment is way too thoughtful and logical for this board. Can you revise to try and capture the requisite sense of doom that is required in any comment regarding the team's personnel decisions?

Good point. I guess if they were keeping him, waiting until the last second could theoretically prevent the Pats from signing their next choice at RB. This just needs to end.

Does anyone really think that the Bills are STILL discussing this? That it takes a full week to make this decision? The fact that they are pushing it to the last second tells me that they won't match, and are just waiting it out to mess with the Pats.

Yep. These offseasons get crazier and crazier. I'm guessing the average Pats fan doesn't even remember that they signed him.

I definitely did NOT leave early!! Never have and never will. That said, after almost 25 years I will readily admit that my memories are probably some sort of mix between what I saw live and what I saw on TV when I got home(and replayed thousands of times)! I wasn't at that game, but I was at the game a week later when they came back to beat the Raiders.

I was at the comeback against the Oilers in 1993. I was home from college and didn't get tickets in advance, but decided to go the morning of as I heard that the game wasn't close to sold out. I still remember watching people trying to climb the gates to get back in after they had left.