CircleTheWagons

Hmmm. Did you mean we need a #3 or a 3rd QB to compete? Personally, I think we still need to find a #1 QB. I think Losman's last 2 years have been such a disaster he won't be ready to "compete" for the starting job at training camp. If we don't bring in another starter, then I think Losman needs most of the reps with the first team in preseason. If he's not progressing by the 3rd preseason game we can bring in Holcomb to prepare to open the season. Preseason snaps will be way more valuable to Losman than Holcomb. If Holcomb starts the season after a truly open competition in preseason, I'm not even convinced Losman will be ready to be our #2. At least if Losman gets the majority of the reps and still gets demoted he will be more ready to step in during the season.

It might be that Ralph is still pissed too. I'm not comfortable with Evans as our #1, but bringing Moulds to camp is like playing russian roulette with team chemistry. Moulds had a few great years for the team, but his numbers (10.1 ypc, 810 yards) are what we need out of our tight ends, not our #1 WR.

Hmm. I don't think I've ever said a bad word about Losman BUT to say we don't need a quarterback is pretty darn optimistic. Heck, I don't even think there is a consensus on the starter for next year. What have you seen that I missed that makes you scream we don't need a quarterback? Here is a little bit of logic for you, if you can stop screaming for a minute: Simply because our QBs are unable to succeed with the rest of the offensive talent on the team does NOT mean that our QBs will succeed with better talent. If we have an opportunity to draft an elite QB and Levy/Jauron don't believe in Losman, I hope they draft him.

I'll step up for the personal attack. I have no problem with the Bills drafting a QB early in the first round, especially if there is no good offer to trade down. I would rather a QB than reaching for a lineman because it's a need. If anyone thinks that the Bills will become a playoff team because they picked a guard with the 8th pick in the draft you should just find youself another team to root for cuz you dont know sh*t about this one.

I still don't see Ralph's problem. He seems to be under the impression that the NFL has turned into the SFL (Socialist Football League). The league has agreed to help guys like Mr. Wilson by preventing the larger teams from pricing the free agents out of reach with a salary cap. If the revenues (and expenses) are going to be shared evenly around the league, what's the point of trying to be successful? If Ralph can't live with the agreement because his other 30% won't cover his remaining costs and provide enough profit, he needs to find other sources of revenue or sell the team.

Analogies suck But what if it turned out that a doctor's "salary" was only about 50% of what he actually earned in income and the definition of salary has changed since you negotiated 56%. Are you still happy with 56%?

Hmmm. There is professional curling in Canada, and it has also had bitter labor issues (believe it or not). A new professional league was started and teams that bolted were not allowed to play in the National Championships. It was a big stink for several years but thankfully it has been resolved. There was also problems with the television contracts, with our government owned broadcaster purchasing the rights away from our "ESPN" and doing a piss poor job. It's also been resolved. Sorry for the abolutely useless info, it must be trivia day in my brain today .

That "mommy apron strings" is a little harsh. I have never heard a story that JP wanted the job handed to him. I hope he's ready to lead the team this year, but realistically, with another new system and a slew of new coaches, it's probably going to be tough for him to adjust quickly. I wouldn't be suprised to see him sitting on the bench at the start of the year and pushing for the job by mid-season. Exactly what should have happened last year.

The conspiracy and money laundering charges are definitely serious and the links to organized crime are bad. I wonder how much of the charges are simply related to running a book. His real mistake is doing it in the US. Take it online and run it out of Antigua and nobody would have been the wiser.

I used to agree with you. The challenge is that the margin for error between winning and losing has shrunk a lot in the last 20 years, in every sport. It's not as easy to play 10% better than your opponents, you might only play 1-2% better, and if the bad calls influence the game by 5% against you, you lose. Obviously I made up the percentages to illustrate the point.

I thought it was Bradshaw that wanted to spend time with his family? Anyway, I agree that it would be ridiculous to remove the records, I was just trying to point out that there isn't much the NFL can do to retaliate, except those type of things. Of course it would be a disaster if they removed the records because it would ruin the "integrity" of the league.

While we're getting obscure, I remember one drive where Seattle got a brutal 3rd down spot, I think around their 30. I thought Holmgren would review the spot but they punted. Small, I know, but it could have been big.

The officials stunk. But they didn't cheat you out of a good game. Both teams also stunk. I'm not even sure the officials stunk worse. There was no saving that game. It might have been closer, but it wasn't going to be better.

I agree. Calling it a catch because you were pushed out of bounds prior to getting both feet down is a terrible rule. It's the refs opinion, not reviewable, and totally unnecessary. I also hate when they use the term a "football move" when they are determining possession, or worry about whether the receiver still controls the ball after falling out of bounds. The rules for catching a football in the NFL have become so screwed up that I can't tell when it's a catch or not.

That's exactly what I meant, although now I wish it wasn't

But don't they use computers to "interpret" a lot of those angles? Probably wouldn't be appropriate for instant replay.

I agree with everything you said except for this part - because in my mind it's all entertainment, how about if your old employer asked you to sit in meetings on Sunday for $10? If the NFL is pissed, exclude him from everything in the future, kick him out of the Hall of Fame, remove his records. They have the right to do all of that. It's an embarrasment for everyone involved that they couldn't come to an agreement, but I don't blame Montana more than I blame the NFL.

But isn't that what happens to Joe Montana every day anyway? What if your previous employer said come to work this Sunday and we'll give you $10? I'm suprised that some people still don't view professional sports simply as part of the entertainment business. Joe fulfilled his obligations to the league when he stopped playing and they stopped paying him. It sucks that he wasn't there, but why not blame the NFL for being to cheap to pay him?

Completely agree. As a Canadian, we do NOT need an NFL game, especially in Toronto. I'm not being anti-hogtown, but why on earth would they play a regular season game in Toronto when the Bills are so close for anyone who wants to watch an NFL game.

Most Canadians have Global, not Global Toronto - Global shows the national or regional games in Canada. Toronto may get the Bills, but we don't get them out west.

It simply means that the commitment required to be successful and the pressure involved with running an NFL franchise is tough on the mind and body. Of course, some people don't believe in the commitment (Spurrier) but they don't last long. The future success of this franchise, including its ability to stay profitable in Buffalo, could hinge on the coming free agent market and the draft. Out of the hundreds of players available, Marv and his team have to be evaluate all of the them, as well as evaluating the current talent on the roster. On top of that, fuggin Belichek has a few extra weeks of off-season this year to evaluate his roster and prepare for the draft, and Miami seems recommitted winning. I'm concerned Levy's going to try and put it all into perspective. We don't need perspective, we need 18 hour days, 7 days a week. He can run his 3 miles during the other 6 hours per day.

I don't know if anyone else appreciated it, but I laughed.

Isn't that like saying the guy buying his Big Mac is the ultimate shareholder at McDonalds? Consumer does not equal shareholder.

That's what I thought too, but I wanted one of our experts to confirm it