Dr. K

+1

I had them at 9-7 before the season started.

Moby Dick was all white, and he kicked a$$.

I agree. A simple way to cut through the distractions on this is to ask the question, "Who is the audience for this display of piety?" Is the prayer simply a prayer, or is it in some part, to a greater or lesser degree, a performance? For the Pharisee, the display is the object--his prayer is in public because he WANTS others (people who don't believe as he does) to see it and be chastened. The audience isn't God, the audience is human beings he wants to influence. That's, I think, why Jesus admonished people to pray in private, so they would not get a communication with God confused with a performance for other people. In that context, who does Tebow think he is performing for when he prays on field? (I've never seen him play, so I am taking others' word for it that he does this) I guess some Christians think that God wants this performance (it's "testifying") but I'm not sure Jesus would agree. But I think a lot of things Christians do in his name would appall Jesus, and since I'm not a Christian of that sort, my opinion is probably out of bounds.

The Pharisees were the "fundamentalists" of Judaism at the time; they saw the temple priests as corrupt and wanted the religion to get back to the purity of the past. Jesus, the Jew, saw the most vocal and public of them as hypocrites. We're undoubtedly going to never agree about this (and it probably doesn't belong on this page), but I see most public politicians and TV preachers as Pharisees. I don't know what's in Tim Tebow's heart, but on the field he's a football player, not a preacher. He can be a Christian football player (when I played basketball in high school in West Seneca, guys would cross themselves before shooting free throws) but I wish he would pray in his closet, as Jesus suggested.

Matthew 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their public displays of religiosity.

I think it's amusing how you can pick which columns on the TBD main page are written by Jerry Sullivan simply by reading the headline. I play this game whenever I come to TBD, then click on the article to see if I'm right. I invariably am. Even his "positive" columns scream "Look at me! I'm compensating!" I don't bother to read the columns anymore. He has nothing to say worth bothering about. The guy is a joke.

I think there might be an opportunity for Spiller on the end-around for a big gain. They faked it to him but didn't give him the ball against the Giants; the play went for little or no gain, but it looked to me like Spiller might have been off to the races if they had handed it off to him.

The Merriman experiment was worth a shot. His presence and commitment brought Barnett and a serious attitude. I don't see that the Bills giving him a shot cost them much; overall it was a solid net positive. Now we get to see what these young guys have got.

The Jets humiliated the Bills twice last season, worse than the Pats did to the Bills. Until the Bills prove they can beat them, they have the upper hand. But if I were the Bills, I would not be looking past Washington. Lose to the Redskins and the Bills would have dropped three of their last four, and the optimism of the first three games will have completely evaporated. Start thinking about the Jets next Monday.

In what way does pointing out how idiotic the suggestion of the OP is mean somebody is supporting every dumb move the Bills make?

You are an idiot. Or a troll.

I don't understand why so many people are eager to see Jasper on the field. They guy cannot play nose tackle. He was completely ineffectual despite his enormous size in pre-season. I'd love to see him succeed, but he's just a big body right now. he gets pushed around, can't use his hands. Troup with a bad back is better than he is.

Well reasoned.

Many people questioned Peyton Manning's arm strength when he was drafted.

In my prediction for the season, I had them 3-3 at this point, on the way to 9-7. So they're one game ahead of my expectations still. This is such a work in progress. They certainly are interesting to watch, both with strengths and weaknesses. The losses are painful, the wins are exhilarating. There's plenty of room for them to get better if they can keep the injuries to a minimum.

Good to hear from you after so long. Congratulations on the addition to your family.

This seems about right to me. I had them at 9-7 before the season started. I'd wish for more than 10 wins, but not count on it.

I love you to death, Bill, but you've been banging this "Wilson forced Nix to draft Spiller" drum tiresomely for a couple of years. I've never thought this was a credible theory, but even if it is, is it possible there is anyone here who doesn't know your opinion on this? You have certain players (D. Bell is another) that I am convinced you will never feel good about no mater how well they play. You will never forgive Bell for not being Jason Peters, as if Bell himself sent Peters to the Eagles (where he has performed so stellarly). For whatever it's worth, I think Spiller has so far not given the team what you want from such a high draft pick, but I also think he may yet turn out to be a huge asset to the team. Focus on something else.

I'm glad it didn't come to us having to find out, and this can just be an academic conversation.

Great post.

A combination of players already on the roster. Add in Kamar Aiken. Not a FA. Forget T.O.

I agree 100%. Aiken looked much better than Martin did, IMHO, during pre-season. I hope whoever the Bills start is able to get on the same page with Fitz in short practice time. A lot of the passes are timing patterns and this will be vital.

Sure turnovers are stops. I didn't mean to minimize the accomplishment of the D in getting them. Especially since so many of them were not gifts but forced errors--the result of putting major heat on Vick or of ripping the ball out of the receiver's hands. Still, would you want to count on the Bills forcing another turnover in that situation? That was the only way they stopped the Eagles in the second half.

Regarding that fourth down play by the Bills at the end of the game, where they drew the defensive lineman off-sides. I'm glad it worked, but I think that happening was unlikely and the Bills were lucky. Here's my question: Assuming the Bills did not try that ruse, then what should they have done? I was watching the game with friends, and some of them were adamant that the Bills should punt it and put the game on the shoulders of the defense. I thought that, given the Bills had not stopped the Eagles other than by turnover (the Bills made them punt only once in the second half, Gailey should have had them go for the first down, try to make the few inches they needed, which would effectively end the game. It would be a risk, since if the Bills didn't make it they would give up the ball at midfield, but I thought it was a better option than putting the game on the shoulders of an exhausted defense. Make six inches and win the game, not make it and take your chances. What did you think?