UpstateSwagger

More wild assertions! So now I would participate in a dogfighting ring? And I somehow dislike my dog? I don't have a problem with someone hating Michael Vick. I take issue with people who presume to know him well enough to tell the rest of us what he thinks and how he feels. I really can't believe how some people get from A to B in this situation. That's the problem with your argument: everything is reduced to black and white. Those of us who wish to acknowledge that it is possible for someone to genuinely change as a result of prison time and being exposed to long, hard looks at one's self, somehow hate their own dogs or are the reason for humanity's short-comings? I'll say it again: the NFL is not for self-respecting moral absolutists. If you feel as strongly as your rhetoric would indicate, I don't even see how some of you can support a league -- on any level -- that employs Leonard Little, Donte Stallworth, Ray Lewis and numerous other nefarious characters.

Listen you mouth breathing low life. Let's not banter about intelligence; your argument is not an argument at all. It is a regurgitation of what you have said over and over since the beginning of this -- and I'm sure countless other threads. Answer some fundamental questions you whackadoo fascist prick. How can you turn the TV on every Sunday and support a league that employs the likes of rapists, murderers, woman beaters and recidivist offenders playing on half the teams? Do you not care for humanity? Sometimes it's hard to understand how people can be so judgmental and close-minded, but then again I figure your penance, and people with similar world views, is that you have to walk around hating everything you see. What a miserable way to live! And don't give me your human condition crap. Forgiveness and remorse are as human as it gets!

Again, I just don't see how you have the frame of reference and knowledge of the situation to make comments like that. Try, "I don't think he's remorseful, so I wouldn't want him on this team." Because to entertain the idea that you know what goes on in his head or his level of remorse because you read three snippets is utterly foolish. I think the enraged fringe is being narrow-minded (as usual) and dealing in absolutes (as usual) and everyone knows that only the Sith deal in absolutes. I have fostered dogs from a shelter for years, and I am disgusted by what Michael Vick did, but I still maintain that still so pessimistic and resolute in denying him any ability to change or learn from past behavior is a YOU problem. To be so blindly and sweepingly judgmental about anything is reason enough to look long and hard in the mirror yourself. Oh, and now you not only know how Mike Vick thinks but how God thinks, as well? That's ballsy. In fact, I haven't ever heard that angle taken on the Vick issue. They should feature you on ESPN: Guy Not Only Knows How Vick Feels About Dogs, but How God Feels About Vick!

This is what I don't understand about you sanctimonious sort: How can you be so sure he isn't remorseful? You have certainly never met him, and your complete knowledge of this man comes from 30-second sound bites prepared for the sole purpose of sensationalizing within reasonable limits. So, of course, what the guy did was deplorable, but to insist without hesitation that someone cannot possibly be reformed or genuinely remorseful just makes you sound like a myopic blow hard. Maybe you should pick a different sport to be a fan of. You can't possibly enjoy watching a bunch of thugs and miscreants run all over a grass field while collecting millions of dollars. Tell you what, all you holier-than-thou types can pick a church league team to watch that certainly won't let you or your unwavering moral compasses down. I'll take Vick. Our team is instantly better and completely watchable, and at this point, that's all I can ask for. I also don't quite understand this "Vick sucked before the dog incident." Didn't he consistently have his team in playoff contention and, at one point, led his team up to Green Bay in the playoffs and took Favre and the Packers out at Lambeau for the first time in their history?

I can't think of a more knowledgable group of football fans, so I was hoping I could get some constructive criticism on an article I'm having a dificult time with. Urban Meyer (probably) doesn't hate the media, but he sure makes it clear that they are more nuisance than necessity to his college footballing empire. Like a jilted partner may slowly let the person down whom they've been dating, Urban has managed to subtly weed the media and fans out of his Fall preparatory practices. On the surface, the intention appears to be to purge the Gator's atmosphere of agents, runners and hangers-on, alike, but truth be told, I think Coach Meyer takes genuine pleasure in creatively using any means necessary to refocus his troops. On a deeper psychological level, this is just one more tool Urban will use to incubate an atmosphere of togetherness with an emphasis on uninhibited focus and commitment to the team. In the coaching world, there is a wide and varied spectrum when it comes to the approach to leadership. Some bark, some need only a steely glare, some get in their players faces while others heap encouragement on their teams sometimes even achieving the moniker of a “player's coach.” You have those that open the doors of their program for all to see and those that would seem to rather issue an ass-whooping than a media credential and prefer prostate exams to an honest press conference. It's not a real shocker then that Bill Bellichek and Urban Meyer get along so famously; while the “hooded one” is known for his one-word answers and vague injury reports (it's amazing how any injury, no matter how severe, can be reported as “day-to-day”), Urban has a more subtle disdain for sharing the details and un-checked access to his program. There's something in Coach Meyer's make-up that seems to crave an us-against-them mentality. This Spring's “Fowler-gate,” Coach Meyer's well-documented dust-up with the Orlando Sentinel's Jeremy Fowler over a Deonte Thompson quote, was a classic example of Urban showing his players that he has their backs against “them.” I believe this “them” entity to be just about anyone who is not a program guy. My theory goes as follows: You ask tough questions of my players or breach personal subjects with me? You're one of “them.” You're a player who has continually made poor decisions and embarrassed our program? Go stand over there with “them.” Excuse me, but are you a former player who's stepping out of line and questioning what we're doing moving forward? “Them.” And now, and maybe most importantly in this climate of shady, slick agents and thick entourages, have you taken money, do you know anyone with dirty money, do you have any delusions of nefarious activity that involves the taking of and/or giving of money? You are certainly “them,” and I will do everything in my power to keep you away from my program – even if that means shutting down my practices to fan and foe, alike. In the paranoid world of a football super-genius, outsiders may all look like agents and their runners. Urban Meyer is no rube. He looked across the country to maybe the only school and coach who could rival his college football empire, and he saw his complete antithesis – USC and Pete Carroll. Urban saw their wide open practices, high-profile “friends of the program,” countless ex-players and celebrities, and now, like a bad John Calipari movie, he's seen it reduced to relative ashes. Well, as if Urban needed any more affirmation that open-door policies create a myriad of problems in a myriad of foreseeable and unforeseeable ways, the USC investigations and subsequent sanctions may have been the tipping point. Over the last few years, open practices were reduced and reduced and now they've been stopped altogether. It is not unreasonable to think that USC's recent issues were the ultimate death-nail for fan and media access to early Gator practices. While I'm sure many Gator fans were disappointed about not being able to get off work early to get a look at the team in an afternoon practice, most Gator fans realize the recent success they've enjoyed is directly linked to the circling of the program's wagons. Urban Meyer's single-minded and unflinching commitment to success has brought them a few things much more valuable than a couple preliminary open practices: rings. As the slow burn of another summer gives way to the fireworks of a football-filled fall, all of college football will be waiting and watching to see if the program and the coach have lost their edge. Early reports from camp indicate that they shouldn't hold their breath. Coach Meyer has praised his players for a totally focused and committed camp, and the players have said the team has never been so tight. If you happen to be one of “them,” look out.

I assume the preseason games are all shown in the Buffalo market, but down hear in Florida we have to wait for them to be re-run on NFL newtwork. To my knowledge, the only way to catch a game live is to hope you can fin a feed on justin.tv or one of the other less-than-reliable similar streaming sites. My question is this, do any of our more tech-savvy board members have the ability and or desire to set up a live feed for those of us interested in catching these four games live? I can't pretend to know the particulars, although, I'm fairly sure it's very feasible to set up a basic site we could all tune in to. I'm sure a great deal of us would be appreciative for the opportunity to see these preseason games live.

Well, well, well, it appears a 7th Rounder is poised to crack the starting line up. There's a lot to like about Stevie, and after shooting this video, this web site was willing to label him a steal in the upcoming draft. http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/draftguys...ve-johnson---wr

I'm sorry, but I don't really understand the Luck love-fest. Maybe someone can help me. He's played one year, and has 13 TDs to 4 INTs in a mediocre conference with the best RB in the country behind him. This a franchise QB makes? A sub-60% completion to boot? I only watched about three Stanford games last year, but I certainly wasn't blown away by anything I saw. He's a big strong kid -- and he's supposed to be fairly intelligent. If that is our criteria, however, I would say don't waste your time, Ryan Fitzpatrick is probably smarter. If we're going to take a big, strong kid who can chuck the rock, I'd rather have one that has actually chucked it somewhere: Ryan Mallett - 30 TDs, 7 INTs, 3,600+ yards in a big boy conference. Besides the fact that Luck has somehow become the ESPN future's poster-child, can someone please give me a tangible explanation as to why I should jump into the Luck-fest?

First of all, he's a 200 lb. RB, so let's not pretend like he's slight. And what help has Chris Johnson had the last two years in terms of other weapons. The kid played in the ACC for a fairly mediocre team. Do you not think he's been keyed on before? Gamebreakers are a rare breed.

Alright, pal, you aren't hijacking my thread with your "POS...POS" garbage; I've seen it before (you have put it into multiple discussions) and this isn't a moral-crusade facilitating line of thought. I didn't mention Mike Vick, so save it for the holier-than-thou, justice-for-animals (ignore human suffering) crowd. Take a hike!

You, sir, have asked many questions and, seemingly, provided no answers. So I will take this opportunity to answer them myself: Most reasonable people are not running Marshawn out of town for being a thug; they are curious as to what kind of trade-value we can get for a guy who has trouble toeing the line, finding the hole and getting to camp. Kawika Mitchell isn't a starter? Ring the five-alarm-bell! Do you think we brought in Andra Davis to anchor the second team? Davis has experience in the 3-4 and Poz is a work-horse at the least. Who Should Kawika start over? Gaither for a second-rounder is far different than paying Peters elite LT money.

Great point. I have a hard time understanding people who are hyper-critical of Mt. Cody's weight. NTs are space-eaters. Obviously, you don't want someone unable to move, but he did anchor the best defense in college football last year. Plus, he has, to a certain degree, committed to slimming down slightly this offseason. Lay off the pudge! I like my NTs sloppy. And so should you. They're not bodybuilders; they're RB/C/OG killers.

Oh, I think they could like Dez Bryant very much. Anquan Boldin is a tremendous #2 receiver; he lacks the speed and separation ability to be a true #1. I'm sure the Ravens realize this. Baltimore had the worst receiving corps in the league last year. I'm willing to bet they haven't put all their eggs in the Boldin basket. And remember, letting go of a Gaither-caliber player would be a much bigger deal for a team without a plan. All indications point to the Ravens believing they have their true, future-LT in Michael Oher. That fact cannot be overlooked or dismissed.

Performing admirably as a backup -- where he belongs. I think he is valuable in the sense that he can provide depth inside and outside if necessary.

As we approach the draft in the dog-days of the spring, the wandering mind must occupy itself somehow. If I was Buddy Nix and I was looking to change the culture in Buffalo while simultaneously staying somewhat true to my belief of building through the draft, here's what I do: We swap 1st-rounders with Baltimore to acquire Jared Gaithers. Word on the street is they want a 2nd. As I mentioned on a previous thread, this more than equals a 2. This allows the Ravens to move up and snag Dez Bryant -- a player recent reports show that the Ravens covet. With pick #29 we select Terrence "Mt." Cody. We have our 2-down NT taken care of. He works in perfect harmony with Kyle Williams who becomes our penetrating, 3rd-down NT. Now we get crazy. We take our 2nd and trade for Brandon Marshall. Recent reports say that if the Broncos get desperate, a 2 will be enough to acquire one of the most dangerous WRs in the game. Say what you want about his antics, no one would argue he isn't one of the most dominant players in the game. With pick #73 (our 3rd-rounder) we scoop up Dexter McCluster. This fulfills Chan's "water bug" roll. McCluster can play in the slot or take snaps from the backfield. He instantly becomes the Bills most dynamic offensive play-maker. On to the next big shakeup. We trade our 4th for Jason Campbell effectively completing the coup. We use the rest of our pick to add depth to the line and LB corps. Our opening day lineup looks as follows: Offense QB: Jason Campbell RB: Jackosn, Lynch, McCluster WR1: Brandon Marshall WR2: Lee Evans Slot: Dexter McCluster TE: Shawn Nelson LT: Gaithers LG: Levitre C: Hangartner RG: Wood RT: Green Defense LE: Stroud NT: Cody/Williams RE: Dwan Edwards OLB: Maybin ILB: Poz ILB: Andra Davis OLB: Schobel CB: McGee CB: Florence FS: Byrd SS: Scott/Whitner Nickel: McKelvin Now I don't know about you guys, but that looks like a playoff roster. The wildcard is obviously Campbell, but for a 4th, it would certainly be worth a shot, in my opinion. I know it seems far fetched, but both trades are feasible. Flame away. I can dream, damnit; this is America!