Whites Bay

I agree with a lot of your post. I've called out at least one of the posters who ran Wawrow off the board. I mean, Jesus, what's the goddamn point? "Think I'll get on the board, drop my shorts, and leave one in the punchbowl". Feel better? It's nothing constructive, and so goddamn pointless. "Ralph sucks." "Ralph's cheap". "Ralph doesn't have the balls or brains to hire [fill in big-ticket coach's name]". Oh, good. That helped me learn so much about the team. And then we actually have a national beat reporter contributing to the board who actually MIGHT HELP ME LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEAM, and these internet prunes run him off the board. If that's not grounds for banning them, I don't know what is. Maybe that SHOULD happen. The word would get out pretty fast. Here's a REAL depressing thought. If these constipated weenies are pissed off after a 1-3 preseason, how do you think the tenor of this place will be if the Bills get out of the chute (e.g.) 2-6? Better double the guard on the Rainbow Bridge.

The aspect of the entire episode that strikes me as being the most "desperate" is the time constraint the team is now facing. I'm sure the folks in Kansas City and Tampa are feeling the same pressure - you're days away from the season opener in the biggest sports venue in the country and there's a firing of a major character. It's probably worse for the Bills, because it's Monday Night Football. What a great time to lay an egg. This is like one of those nightmares you have where you suddenly realize you're supposed to be taking an exam in physical oceanography in about 5 minutes and you have no idea where to even find a pen... As far as whether the firing was a good move, a bad move, or a desperate move...does it matter? It was a necessary move. As someone pointed out, the offense hasn't shown much since the Denver game last season, and just kept stinking it up in the pre-season.

I'm always one to look for the positive in any situation, and THIS post just made me feel a lot better. Thanks! I didn't look at the schedules for the rest of the AFC East. Wow. I could easily see Miami going 0-3 before they get to the Bills, and I could easily see the Jets going 1-3 by Game Five. I'm going to have to jump over to NFL.com to see New England's schedule, but you're right - they'll probably machine their first four opponents (yes, that includes the Bills).

Not meaning to be a dick, but I guess there's a reason why "they" are in the Front Office, and "we" are on a fan board. 1) I don't know zippo about the background of the firing of Turk Schonert, but the little I DO read about it tells me that he was instituting something more akin to Kevin Gilbride's offense than the FO wanted. I remember screaming "Just run the goddamn ball" during his era until my throat was hoarse. No thanks. In fairness, Jauron probably should have done this about 2-3 weeks ago so AVP could get a few miles under his belt. I'll definitely grant you that. But not getting into the end zone for the entire pre-season meant something had to be done, and they did it. Doing nothing would have meant pitchforks and torches around this place. 2) Rhodes and Chambers? Big deal. I've been saying for some time that Rhodes was a goner by Week 4. I'm VERY surprised he was cut so early, but the FO must have seen enough positives coming out of Omon that Rhodes was deemed expendable. Maybe they're still washing the taste of A-Train out of their collective mouths. As for Chambers, same thing. He's been described as "Journeyman Backup" so many times that it may as well be on his resume. Again, the FO apparently saw enough progress in Bell that Chambers can now add "Out of the League" to his resume. 3) On a slightly related point, let's give credit where credit is due. Trading Ko Simpson for a 6th-rounder the day before he was slated to be cut was a stroke of sheer genius. We should be so lucky to move ALL of our bubble players for draft picks. As someone pointed out, since it was the Lions' pick, it can almost be looked at as a late-5th-rounder. What a steal. Hell, we drafted Simpson in the 4th, and got almost-a-5th-rounder for him. Smooth. I guess this is a long way of saying that YES, it's going to be a long season, and probably a losing one. But I'm in the camp that says the FO probably knows more about the business than I do. I'll take it one game at a time.

Interesting point, SiC. It ties in with the line that appeared in Tim Graham's blog from yesterday, something along the lines of "My sources tell me that it's a very tense day at the Bills Front Office" (sorry, Tim, I'm paraphrasing, but I don't think I'm too far off). Sounds like his sources were closely linked to that meeting! And you bet yer ass it was "tense"! As in - it probably took about an hour for the sphincters to open back up.

So why do you characterize that as a sinking ship? A better metaphor might be tossing ballast over the side of a balloon basket in order to gain altitude. I agree with the fact that there would likely be a change if the Bills get off to a 1-5 start, but I would think that a coaching change would be viewed as a positive....particularly on THIS board!

Wow. I actually get to say "I told you so". I figured Rhodes would get the axe (said so a couple of times), but I really thought it would be by Game 4. Nailed him in Training Camp? Please don't cut Roscoe. Don't use him as a wideout, but the guy's simply one of the best in the league at punt returns. Cut Parrish and every drive starts at the 19. Keep him and more often than not they'll be starting near the 40. If Tim Graham is right (and, given his record, there's no reason to think he ISN'T right), my money's on Kelsay being sent packing. They're probably burning up the phones working on a trade, but why bother? He'll be available in about 2 hours, 45 minutes.

According to the Buffalo News, Kelly is planning to sit down with AVP in the very near future to go over some modifications to the K-Gun that is currently being run. Also pointed out in the article, however, is Kelly's concern that there isn't going to be a lot of time for AVP to prepare. I wouldn't call this "Kelly's First Game Plan". Probably a look at the play-calling selection, and trimming it down to a workable scale to get them through the Pats* game. I'm so looking forward to the opener, but it's now starting to have that feel of waiting for the crash at a car race. One just can't look away.....

I'll be less interested in what goes down by 1800h tonight than in what goes down over the next 2 days. It doesn't happen all that often for the Bills, but I would imagine that the front office is going to be looking carefully at who gets cut from OTHER teams. That has to be a gut-wrenching feeling. You make the team, pop open a few cold ones, and just as the hangover is setting in, they call you up to cut you because they found someone better at your position. Linebacker comes to mind.

Just went to NFL.com. Never mind. Don't bother telling me what's going on. Charging people full fare for this game is highway robbery.

I can't get the feed anywhere on the net, and from what I see on the associated chat boards, it seems to be a particularly difficult time to do so tonight. As such, speaking for those of us on the outside looking in.... ...COULD SOMEONE TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON INSTEAD OF JUST BITCHING ABOUT JAURON? Thanks.

Let me start by saying I'm not initiating another DJ hate-fest. What piqued my interest was the fact that DJ came right out and said "Yeah, we're worried". Okay, kudos for the honesty. That's not coming from the Chicken Littles on this board, but from the Head Coach. Everyone ought to sit up and listen when THAT happens. The question is HOW worried? Bills Nation is 15 days away from playing The AntiChrists*, and the offense can't get into the end zone. Here's my request to those who review the replay ad nauseum. How good/bad has Butler REALLY played? My thinking is that Monday MAY mark the beginning of the Demetrius Bell experiment. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen tomorrow morning. I mean, if you're going to blow it up, you'd better blow it up Monday morning and give yourself over two weeks to try to pull it together. (One can say that it should have happened last week, but perhaps the coaching staff wanted to see if the Packers debacle was a unique event. It wasn't.). If the Bills start Bell at LT, move Walker to RT, and Butler back to RG, does the team improve? I'm beginning to think it's going to be a wash with Bell or Walker at LT, because you're going to have to suture (or weld) a tight end on the left side all season in any event. What do you think is the upgrade by reconstituting last year's right side? And if you do that, who goes to Left Guard? Wood? Two rookies on the left side might be worrisome, but if Wood's the stud that everyone makes him out to be, and you have the tight end on the left side (friggin' permanently), that might be a decent wall on the left. Apologies for rambling. I'd really like to hear from those who watch the tape over-and-over-and-over, because I don't have the capability. I think we do have some decent pieces up front, but I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that they're not in the right place. Where is the most glaring weakness on the offensive line?

This is giving me flash backs to 2001 again. At least they beat the hope out of you early around here.

Matter, It's irritating as hell that I'm even writing this. Please tell me...no, please tell ALL of us...what the !@#$ does "WAR" mean in your signature line? You're allowed hundreds of characters. Could you PLEASE illuminate?

This post is probably heading for PPP. Zazie, I'm one of the first on this board to tell the super-patriots where to get off, but I have to side with those that express incredulity at Sellers' action. (Having said that, I'm a moron for commenting when I haven't seen the film clip, but I suppose that puts me in the same boat as a lot of folks). Not dropping your colors to the ground is a concept as old as statehood itself. I can't imagine ANYONE doing it, regardless of their service to the country. And for all of those that toss the derogatory "French" and "Canadian" barbs, I know a number of French and Canadians who would bust you in the teeth for dropping the Tricolor or Maple Leaf to the turf. You just don't do that. Ever. I just hope someone pulls Sellers aside and explains that to him.

"Can I call a time out?" - Joe Gibbs

Well, let's make sure THAT doesn't happen again. Sheesh. Oh! I made 500! Woo hoo! No longer a rookie. And such an auspicious post, too. "Just Friends" - Oscar Peterson

Agreed. This is just a re-tread. Mods, you might want to condolidate.

Maybe it's all part of some massive hush-hush campaign. Perhaps the Bills really ARE going to roll to a 3-4. Do you think any of US would be told? Someone - Russ Brandon? - has already made the determination that this is the future, and pushed for the pick, assuming that Maybin would be a MONSTER at OLB. What's standing in the way? Jauron and Fewell. Think about it.......

Perhaps looking at this off-topic topic from yet ANOTHER angle, it perhaps would also make sense to game plan a particular player if you're considering putting that individual into either a different role, or into multiple roles. All this talk about Maybin being ideal at LB comes to mind. One would know that....how? Similarly, I guess, would be the case of Byrd and Harris, both of whom are trying out new positions. It might be better to test the hypothesis when the scores don't count (I recognize that we're already doing that to an extent with Byrd and Harris, and Harris looks like he's taking to the new position very well).

Bummer about the loss of the "Billdo" threads. That was a Sketch Soland Smackdown Extraordinaire. Glad I wasn't on the receiving end of THAT! Speaking of which, where is Sketch? I still remember that idiotic pony avatar. Amazing what sticks with you... I don't suppose we get credit for our post count from back then, do we?

Maybe bedtime will be 8:45 P.M. after all. It's a long drive to Quebec. One more drive, boys.

This is great. I needed an excuse to get to bed early, because I have to drive to Montreal tomorrow morning. I'm out of here by 9:00 P.M. at this rate.

Fine. So I'm envious! I'm trying to catch Syracuse Channel 5 on really crappy reception up here, but I can just get color. It's like 1977 again.

Do you need a life? Oh, wait a minute. We have one this time of season, and it's right here...