BillsVet

Amazing how Smithers is always in the picture. For a guy TPegs said doesn't have anything to do with personnel, it was strange hearing the team prez was calling potential UDFA's after the draft. The front office, in its current configuration, is Brandon's. And those people have proven they aren't competent. He sure would. But Whaley's ego got in the way and wouldn't permit any competition to Manuel. This, after people were saying late in 2013 that Manuel couldn't play. https://twitter.com/jasoncolebr/status/503281788920553472 Didn't "Dealer" Doug cite this as something TT needed to improve on? Yet they just gave him a new contract? And people wonder why this franchise can't make the playoffs in a generation.

Rex being faux-humble in the post-game PC citing the Ravens defense comes off as real weak. Their defense wasn't special, but Buffalo's offense was unimaginative and TT, as he did so often last year, wilted when they needed him in the 4th quarter.

Greg Roman doesn't have the element of surprise anymore like he and Tyrod had in 2015. And you can be sure opposing defensive coordinators will use this game to make it more difficult for the Bills the rest of the way.

So these experts don't trust Rex to get a team into the post-season? I guess if you throw the last 5 seasons of Rex's coaching career out the window then they're wrong.

Or, they're looking for a possible solution at center and want a backup plan. That's how I see them extending a player at a position they just restructured the starter. People will say Wood played well last year...and he was indeed better. But he's a 7 year vet with a few major injuries and a UFA in 2018 playing on a decent sized contract.

Berchtold's day just got a whole lot better. So much for that non-ultimatum.

It is absurd that (EDIT: when) debating a football team's success there is no middle ground. Only "love" or "hate." I don't hate Doug Whaley, only that criticism of the GM makes one a "hater." For some reason, he is rarely, if ever open to criticism when the team for which he is charged with improving hasn't done that, or it is blamed on someone else or uncontrollable situation. I'd like for someone to explain to me what Doug Whaley's plan is to get this team into the playoffs. He's gone from banking on Manuel in 2013-14 (including the Watkins trade), to spending big in 2015 on free agents, to this year when they went all defense in the draft. During this time, he was not the driving force behind acquiring Taylor, who Rex badly wanted when HC with NYJ. (EDIT: He's all over the map) The Browns made significant changes this year, hiring analytics guru Paul DePodesta and new HC Hue Jackson. No one knows if those changes will succeed, but they've charted a new course. Their owner clearly saw front office dysfunction and did something quite radical. The Bills meanwhile, continue to employ many of the same people who were there when RW owned the team, including Whaley. These management types have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can't get it done and this off-season may well be their most embarrassing one yet. I know TPegs want to show loyalty, but in the process (as with the Sabres) he's relying on inadequate management. Now it's time to cue the usual suspects who defend the indefensible.

Where did anyone say or demand he's a top QB in the NFL? Talk about a straw man argument. The Bills will go as far as TT will take them and there's no getting around that fact. He's gotta step it up this season for Buffalo to go anywhere, and it'll be harder because opponents have a year of film on his strengths and weaknesses. Plus, the schedule most likely won't be as easy as last year's.

At least they finally got Aaron Williams in the concussion protocol. So things are looking up I guess.

No. Please pick up your pom-poms at the door and cheer everything the Bills do. Not doing so means you're a "hater." There's no middle ground in this debate.

He needs to be scouting for the Calgary Stampeders next year. This is outstanding insight.

Does this pre-season game factor into analytics to determining whether the Bills are still one of the best NFL teams going into the regular season?

I'm not surprised you're of the school that when a team plays well in the preseason, that's something to beat your chest about. When they don't, well, it's nothing because both teams are running vanilla schemes. At least that's what seems to be mentioned every preseason when things aren't looking good. If preseason game results are now a barometer for regular season success, why weren't they even going back a few years ago? I remember hearing that the results didn't matter in the preseason when the team didn't look good. Which one is it?

Pre-season grades are now indicative of success? We're really reaching now. The early nineties Bills were typically 0-4 each pre-season, yet would win 10 or more games. What does that mean?

The front office isn't accountable because it changes every few years, hence the new group gets another 2-3 years. Wash, rinse, repeat. Been like that particularly since 2006 when Marv and DJ came aboard. Then Brandon and DJ. Then Nix/Gailey. Then Whaley/Marrone/Rex. Personnel leadership has been changed out, new players, same result. One wonders who is hiring the GM's and why they're not held accountable.

If they're going to win enough to make the playoffs, it rides on the offense scoring enough points and that defense being, dare I say it..."bend but don't break."

We can judge drafts before the pre-season is over? It used to be the evaluation took at least 2 seasons.

This is shaping up to be an epic season and not in a good way. I think the Bills have put off making a decision on their GM which will need to be made in early 2017. The HC it's probably too early to tell now. Not having language in Dareus' contract for failed/missed testing is inexcusable.

This is a question that'll be answered next off-season. Something tells me the myriad of 2016 off-season blunders, if the season doesn't produce a playoff team, will not be forgotten when 2017 rolls around.

Where did I say anything about the current HC? Man you're angry today!

I was thinking about it, but didn't want to be comical. They waived him the other day, so no big loss. Best defensive player on the team with a 100M contract who was arrested in 2014 for possession, now on his second suspension, has crashed his car into a restaurant, and benched by a previous HC. Nice attempt at deflection. The guy's had a myriad of personal tragedies and for that he should be commended on handling it in stride. He's just not improving off the field, which hampers his on the field production.

Squirrel!

Who's talking about being done with the team? Or joining a Jets board? Only you are. This is what's happened in the last 3 months...for a team which stumbled to an 8-8 record in 2015 despite going on a huge spending spree.

In the span of 3 months, this happened: 1. May: 1st round pick Shaq Lawson, whose shoulder removed him from other teams' boards suffers a shoulder injury during a non-contact drill. He undergoes surgery and will not be able to play until Week 8. 2. May: The same day Lawson's injury is announced, it is revealed Sammy Watkins had foot surgery a month previous and is uncertain for training camp. 3. May: The Bills media policy is made known and widely panned for preventing any record of what players do in practice. Later, the policy is walked back. 4. May: GM Doug Whaley tells WGR 550 radio that football is "a violent game that I personally don't think humans are supposed to play." The team is forced to issue a clarification the following day. 5. July: Karlos Williams shows up 20+ pounds overweight and later is suspended 4 games for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. 6. July: Jonathan Williams, a 2016 5th round pick is arrested for DWI in Arkansas. 7. July: Manny Lawson is injured while working out and misses the beginning of training camp. 8. August: Reggie Ragland, a 2nd round pick the team depended on as an immediate starter, suffers a knee injury and will miss the 2016 season. 9. August: Cordy Glenn suffers a high ankle sprain and will miss the entire pre-season. Expected to be available for week 1. 10. August: Manny Lawson is suspended 1 game for a violation of the league's domestic violence policy. 11. August: Marcell Dareus suspended 4 games for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. I didn't include McCoy's fight with off-duty cops in Philadelphia, but considered it (EDIT:) because he was not charged.

It's only 1 year the Bills haven't made the playoffs. What's another one? It's hard to win in the NFL anyway.