BillsVet

Did I say anything that isn't factual? Because facts don't care about fan-hood. There should be a safe zone, i.e. non-critical zone, created here on TBD. I beginning to think it's necessary for too many fans.

Say with it me JfH..."I...cannot...criticize...the...team...I...cannot...criticize...the...team." The Dodd and Lawson situations are not splitting hairs. It's a case of someone having a pre-existing condition (Lawson) versus a player (Dodd) who learned of the injury while in mini-camp (if reports are to be believed). Dodd also stands to be back for training camp, while various reports indicate Lawson will miss perhaps 5 or more. Tennessee has a few guys in his position who'll play while Buffalo will rely on Manny Lawson and some UDFAs/SFA's to fill in while Lawson recovers. It's amazing the extent you homers go to not criticize this team. No franchise has had a worse month than the Bills, who successfully found every pothole to fall into recently. For some reason it doesn't elicit the slightest hint of reality, although I guess this makes me a negative nabob.

The question isn't whether they've got experience or know which scheme they're running. It's still whether their scheme is going to work in a rapidly evolving NFL. All these looks and complexities are nice, but are you able to get the right package on the field playing New England? Are the players able to digest it and run it well from the get-go? Apparently they think football is still about being the biggest and baddest dudes around. That's nice for copy but it still ain't winning football games. Time to put up or shut up.

The 11 receivers beyond Watkins and Woods are a who's who of undrafted and street free agents. Little, Hankerson, Boykin, and Salas have all played or been a roster member for at least 4 teams, so expecting them to magically transform into a competent third option is wishful thinking. The remaining 7 receivers have done almost nothing in the NFL. Buffalo needs to work Clay into the passing game because after Woods there's very little.

Tell that to ownership who are trying to market a brand which depends on the on-field product actually being a winner. And tell that to career-minded individuals at OBD who know that in the NFL if you're not trying to win now you're getting closer to being fired.

I cannot believe how poor he is thinking on his feet. Public speaking isn't optional for people with a public position.

The media is restricted by the team from revealing too much about practices closed to the public. Perhaps the team should restrict the GM from speaking to the media in public. I imagine Berchtold's day got a bit longer after that interview.

Who happens to be the GM of a NFL franchise. Really quite stunning, isn't it?

Maybe there's more to this recent Carrucci quote: "General Manager Doug Whaley -- who chooses every word he speaks to the media as if it's a potential boomerang that will return to knock him in the back of the head..." I honestly cannot believe a NFL franchise has a GM who says this. You don't need to be a PR expert to know that making this statement when the league is involved in litigation over concussions is not beneficial.

No. Most of them would have been traded just like Peters was for draft picks. That's why Dick Jauron wasn't absolutely horrible because he managed to be mediocre with far less spending. Now, the Bills are mediocre despite being among the league's big spenders.

The Pegulas purchased the team because they wanted to and wanted to win. He spent more in guaranteed money last off-season than any other team and has discussed with Polian the concept of a czar overseeing football ops. I think we can agree that these moves illustrate that while he's not as concerned with the bottom line like the first owner, he does have some issues with management. I suspect there's going to be movement in the front office after 2016 if they're not in the playoffs.

They've made history. No franchise since 1991 (when playoff rules were changed) has missed the playoffs for more seasons consecutively. Only Cincinnati and Detroit have longer streaks without winning a playoff game. I know...negative nabob. TPegs didn't spend the money he has for them to be in anything but win-now mode.

I think this is the first time I saw a thread go from essentially mass division to almost a kumbaya moment. And I think that's good.

Trust me, you need a safe zone from anyone critical of this organization. It's a message board and whether you realize it or not, not everyone's going to agree with you. Deal with it.

TSW is becoming a lot like these college campuses where students demand safe zones because they feel "threatened." Rather than students it's a select group of posters who shout down anyone that dares express an opinion contrary to pro-team view. And if that doesn't work, to ridicule despite never having debated the merits of the opinion they disagree with. The objective seems only to suppress those opinions that in any way call into question the team, one that has shown no success recently. What's hilarious is that there are actual Bills fans who can't imagine why the team would get criticism. Kinda like those students who expected to be able to throw temper tantrums and get everything they demanded.

Define contribute. Is that starting games? And if so, how many? As for TT, well, I'm not optimistic he'll become a more refined passer, but he's about all they've got right now. He may go the route Kaepernick did in another Roman offense, but it's too early to tell. I never inferred ownership rage. I did say they're most likely not thrilled the first round draft pick had to undergo surgery this soon. Because if they're involved as Doug Whaley says, then their top football people told them it wasn't a major issue. Do you think ownership likes being misled or fed information not accurate after spending dearly on scouts, personnel executives, and doctors to review prospective draft picks? I'm sure the Pegula's are reasonable, but it doesn't excuse that this is a business and a player for their business did not survive a non-contact drill. We all know this. But you think anyone's fine with paying out money to damaged goods. He doesn't mind spending, but he's not reckless with his dollars either.

You know he'll contribute this season when he just had surgery 2 days ago? Based on the reported timeline for recovery? Because as we all know, even if he returns on time he'll be playing in a scheme that is exceptionally complex and he'll have gone probably 8-9 months without hitting other players. I'm sure he'll take time to get into football shape and then, maybe, he'll start. Which probably puts him into action around week 7-8 at the earliest for a team that needed immediate help. In his place, we're talking about playing 11 year vet Manny Lawson or picking up an older veteran or using a street FA type. No answer at QB? I think they've been pretty consistent on who their starter is this year. And that they expect him to improve. Of course the Pegula's favor long term over short term. And they fired the HC and GM in one day late in 2013 after owning the team for 2.5 years. They're closing in on owning it 2 years this October, so they've already invested a ton on a team with this GM, and of late, the HC. So, should the Pegula's be happy their GM and HC elected to select a player who needed surgery 2+ weeks after draft night? I'll bet they're not doing backflips right now, especially because they've got to sign the guy featuring guaranteed money.

Gotta love how the new narrative/spin has been to explain Lawson as a long term investment...on a team that needed immediate help in the defensive front 7. On a team where the HC is known for his defensive scheme. Or how it wasn't a "win-now" type season despite the millions invested in guaranteed spending since the 2015 off-season began. Or how the HC once pronounced that they were "going" to the post-season. But there's one item not being addressed by the cheerleader contingent: How does ownership feel about their top pick being on the shelf for around 5 months? Because if we're to believe Whaley, the Pegula's are involved in decision making and add to the discussion. If the GM and HC told them it's a good move despite the reported injury and it won't be an immediate issue and this happens how should they feel? I'll guarantee they're not happy and have a severe lack of trust in their top football people. Gotta love it.

You're good with finishing .500 or worse for this long? Got it.

What if every season ends basically .500 or less for almost a generation?

Russ Brandon and astro-turfing. Ironically, two high frequency posters joined the month he was named team president. Coincidence? Who knows.

You guys got to the "woe is me" line faster than I expected. Oh and...

The whole thread since it was announced Lawson needs surgery has become quite the narrative. Buffalo needed front defensive 7 help and used their top 3 draft picks to address there. This, despite the scheme's complexity and veterans having issues getting it. Now, the top pick is hurt and expected to be physically unable to play for at least 4 months after surgery for an injury everyone knew he had. Still...it's a positive. It's so positive that people are talking about signing the recently released Jarius Wynn, or a 35 year old Calvin Pace or a 36 year old Dwight Freeney or banking on street FA's. Ranked 19th defensively last year...it's a positive their top draft pick won't be there. Because he can still do cardio! And he'll be good to go when he's cleared! Doesn't need to be in football shape either. So Lawson's injury is a positive. That's Twilight Zone stuff there. Cue the mega posters in their defense and/or ridicule.

At this point, is there any chance Baghdad Bob has been hired to feed Whaley and OBD their talking points?

Whatever dude. Owners just spend millions (or in some cases billions) in hope of winning. Just like buying lottery tickets.