4BillsintheBurgh

One nice thing about playing the nfc north is schwartz has a lot of info on them and probably an axe to grind. That's not going to hurt. I think we get to 10 wins if all facets of our team play to their talent.

I'll throw "Smooth" into the ring.

If I remember correctly, Bryce Browns issue was holding on to the ball. Hopefully he's got that issue corrected.

I'm guessing he has to lose some weight and they don't want to do it too quickly.

Do you mean Elliot? I think Hogan already is on ST. You have to look at slot vs outside wr's also, if we keep 6 do you have 3 guys on the inside with woods doing both in a pinch or do you go with 2 inside including woods and 4 outside? I also think we may see some TJ Graham returning KO/punts late in preseason games if the front office thinks they can get something for him in a trade. If he can catch the ball consistently in practice, of course.

I think the one issue with the hurry up offense and the subsequent pressure it puts on your defense is that you tend not to use starters/high snap count guys for special teams. We seem to have enough talent on special teams to excel from the non-starter pool and the onus will be on Crossman this year to have the guys making plays.

Other than not getting the tickets?

You sent the wife in? Is your picture up in the store as a "do not let this man in"?

I'm with you. On the other hand, a lot has been said about how well Hughes was performing going against OT's not named glenn. I think kujo is a mauler but he isn't strong enough or good enough technique-wise yet, but we'll see how he progresses through camp.

Still recovering from http://www.anthrocon.org/

Pittsburgh had a stadium that still had the original principle owed on it after 30 years. Voters voted against any taxpayer funded solution. Heintz field was still built. At least the state made the team increase the tax base by building up the area businesses as a way to get something back for the taxpayers. I feel articles like this one contribute to the downfall of newpapers/reporters because of a lack of content. The guy has listened to some people and then gives his opinion. How about an example where a community was hurt and why along with an example of where it worked and why.

I am going to try, I should be able to. I will try to get a ticket to the night practice, that should be good.

I'm with you Estro. I think the biggest factor in the change of thought process was Ralph's passing. I think OBD got that "we're probably one and done" feeling so they did what they could to improve their resume by signing folks and making the move for Sammy. As far as cap space, that could be looked at a reason to not franchise him, but I think that can also be worked around as the Saints did when they decided Byrd was worth 9 mill a year and they didn't have the space. I think the bigger issue was the cash outlay, especially if they wanted to spend some money in free agency already. And the players understand the business side of the game also so I doubt there was any hard feelings or distractions there even if he came in late. If I remember correctly he even sat one extra week last year because Marrone and staff thought he needed the time after he said he was ready.

1. Johnny Manziel - Minnesota 2. Jadeveon Clowney - Jacksonville 3. Blake Bortles - Cleveland 4. Khalil Mack - Texans 5. Mike Evans - Buffalo

I hear what you're saying here, but "well enough" helped contribute to a 6-10 record. I was hoping we'd get measurably better at backup instead of moving laterally. My fault.

I hope you mean developmental (Tuel, Dixon) and not backup (Lewis). I would be disappointed if they did not bring in a veteran to displace Thad if they did not like him. I don't see how one of the 2nd tier of quarterbacks in this draft could be counted on if they need to play next year. It would be a huge gamble assuming they are trying to push for the playoffs.

Yes, I assume is he also not going to be looking for another job and may be the only one not willing to mortgage the future to win next year. Plus I also assume he has been Ralph's right hand man through all this time of not going for this kind of trade.

Couple things - it seems OBD is trying to be all in on making the playoffs this year, as such could use all the players they can get high in this draft. If we were to move up, it would be a wonderful marketing ploy. With a new owner, none of their jobs are secure and probably the only one who may want to hold on to next years picks is Littman - other than that I would think OBD wants to make the splash and get to the playoffs if for no other reason than resume building. So if there is a move up, my guess is that next years picks are on the table more than this years, maybe with a player for some immediate value to the trade partner.

Hey, he cut his hair, he's got to work his way back up!

Congrats on your season, thanks for the story.

Either way, there's a sign in the window at OBD that says "We're dealin'!" Not a bad thing at all.

I think the only player at DE that makes sense at 9 is Anthony Barr. He has the dreaded "potential" to be a dominant DE but watching him play a little he doesn't understand leverage in the run game which would be a problem for us given the last couple years. Edited to add: I think Barr would be a good fit in Pettine's defense. I wouldn't mind Aaron Donald because I would like to see more tackles for loss out of our DL, but I don't think he will play against NFL OT's well because of his size. I like him much better against the interior OL and as such have trouble findind a roster spot for him with Dareus on the team. Now without Dareus...

With some of the comments from front offices (ours and others), I have come to the conclusion that we were successful because Modrak was less involved at the bottom of the draft. With EJ and a lot of the higher round picks, Nix talked about being more involved because the job is more contingent on hitting those picks. And that makes sense, but it lead me to think the lower round picks and udfa's got less "input" from other members of the front office and were picked based more on what the scouting guys assessed than anything else. Hence the successes, IMO.

All I know is - if they ask me not to eat for however long before a surgery - I'm not eating.

You could try the chant thingie, sure. Don't you have to have the pants on for that to work? I am taking some solace in the fact that we haven't maybined or mccargoed a draft pick under nix/whaley and this year more than any other I can remember in the recent past we don't have one position that we have to get in the first round. So I would not like to see a qb or rb taken. I would not be happy with Ebron or Mosely because I don't think they are good value but I can see where they fit on the roster and financially on the team. I think it's unfortunate we don't have a DE that makes sense for us because I think that would be a great value match for #9. I don't think Aaron Donald is long enough to play 4-3 DE full time in the nfl, I think he will do much better against guards than tackles but I think he's a good player and wouldn't be upset if he was on the roster. Seems like Kony Ealy (every time I see that name my brain says Tony Kealy) isn't in play at 9 even though to me he or Dix fills a need on defense. So I'm pretty easy going when it comes to who they pick because I do not get the chance to interview the players and that is such a big part of how they do in the nfl.