finn

I predict a flag-fest against the Bills, especially the corners. The Bills will overcome the blatant bias, but it won't be easy. Bills 30 Rams 27 (overtime)

Journalists interviewing journalists, the height of quality news. /s

All this pre-season hype will likely cause the reaction to the outcome to be way out of proportion. If the Bills do go all the way, all these media types will froth at the mouth ("Team of destiny!" "Best QB of all time!") If the Bills lose, even in a close playoff game, the combination of egg-on-face and schadenfreude will create a disproportionate negative reaction ("Frauds!" "Overrated!"). In fact, the whole season could be a roller coaster ride because of this hyped-up consensus. People love being proved right, but they love even more seeing a giant fall. Unless it's their giant

Well, unless the Bills have decided to stress the run now that they have Kromer on board. Make the offense more balanced, take the pressure of Allen, and so on. In this case, they'll want all three backs, as well as Gilliam. I'm all for the two-tight end formation, running Singletary and Moss behind big Tommy Doyle and working in Cook on screens and flares. It'll be fun to see what Dorsey comes up with.

Don't you think he's a bit light for a full-time back?

Actually, that's a good point. I could think of no reason why the Bills, who say they value character, would cut Haack and keep Araiza before doing (true) due diligence on this matter. This at least is one plausible explanation. They might not have wanted to keep Haack under any circumstances.

I suspect this is what is really going on, much like the Watson case: They both did things they thought were ok and are shocked to hear them described in a context that makes them seem like rapists or harassers. Araiza is likely experiencing cognitive dissonance now: He can't conceive of himself as a rapist but he can't reconcile that view with the facts seen in an objective light. So, like Watson, he ends up in this weird place where he's basically saying, "Yeah, it happened, but I wasn't thinking of it as 'rape' at the time, so I'm innocent." If this is correct, he's making it ten times worse by letting his lawyer describe the girls as a "gold digger."

I wonder if the news was related to Araiza being the third punter drafted. I realize other factors were in play, but it could have been a key factor.

I wish I were as confident as you about their motives. The reported information is pretty damning. The girl told a friend about the rape immediately and went to the police the next day. Does that sound like a false This take makes the most sense to me. I didn't understand why they cut Haack knowing this news was about to break. (I'm very skeptical that they believed Araiza, given the information we have.) Your explanation clears that up. Of course, now they're screwed. They really have no choice but to cut him. His abilities aren't worth the distraction, division, and bad press. Maybe Keenum can hold?

I was going to ask the same question about Joe Brady. You'd think there would be at least a few articles about him bonding (or not) with Allen and meshing (or not) with Dorsey. But it's been crickets, as far as I know. Anyone heard anything?

I used to post on a Bills board back in like 1993-4. (Forgot my username.) Would that be the BBMB people are referring to here?

Agree, except that I always thought it would be nice to have more than solid opposite White. Did the Bills every have two excellent corners?

One option I didn't see mentioned here is stashing Shakir on the protected part of the practice squad. It may be Hodgins time to make the team. He would be a nice backup to Diggs and Davis outside. Keep Kumerow and assign Crowder to backup slot and kick return duties. Cut Austin. Stevenson doesn't seem ready yet, so IR or PS for him. Six receivers, with a quality backup in Shakir ready to be called up.

I've never punted in a game, but I'm surprised that a guy with such a strong leg can't get as much hang time as he wants. Isn't it just a matter of changing his trajectory a bit? I'm sure it's not easy, but it's not like he has a whole lot of other things to work on, besides holding.

Can you explain this option to me? I've been streaming illegally with no VPN protection (which I understand hides one's IP address). I'd be glad to pay to watch legally, but the options seem very expensive.

I think it's clear he's the most physically talented quarterback in league history. But he also has a powerful desire to improve and intense competitiveness. He deserves to be in the conversation with athletes like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, who were both super-talented AND worked harder than anyone else.

Put it this way: If he wasn't our QB, I would want him to be, no matter who else we had.

This was my perception, too. Allen covered up for uneven play from Williams and Brown, as he had for much of the season. I'm a big fan of Beane's drafting, but I wonder if the OL is his blind spot. In particular, he just doesn't seem to think guard is worth much. Feliciano, Boettger, Ford... these have been mediocre players at best. What other position are he and McDermott content with mediocre?

KC will trade up for Jameson Williams. Three QBs will be drafted in the first round. Bills will pick Kyler Gordon in the first round, trade up in the second to pick Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker, pick up a guard in the fourth, and package later picks to move up for a WR.

RB OL CB WR TE LB Dark blue

I can see the Bills packaging their 5th, sixth and seventh for a fourth and using that on this guy. Beane must be frustrated that two low-round picks were taken off their practice squad this year. A fourth for a punter sounds high, but this guy is special. If he can consistently buy the Bills D ten yards every time, that's arguably worth even a high fourth.

Multiple spelling and punctuation errors? Check. "Mine is bigger than yours" boast? check. Impressive! Just missing the mouth breathing.

Let's see, nasty tone? Check. Specious reasoning? Check. Ad hominen attack? Check. Ladies and gentleman, we have a certified Troll on our board!

Same question right back at you. By definition, there are plenty of guards below this level, so what's your point? My point is that the Bills should upgrade, line play being, you know, important. Do you want me to spell out why I think a Super Bowl team needs better than average blocking? Not sure what's getting through here.