JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 We can quibble over the fact that they're actually the ONLY team in NY but still... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/05/15/strong.hunches/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a1 News flash: The Bills are closer to dethroning the mighty Patriots in the AFC East than the big, brash Jets. Rex Ryan might love his team, or at least profess to, but it says right here they're not even the second-best team in the state of New York. That would be the long-downtrodden Bills, who can rightfully lay claim to having the best offseason in the league. After 12 playoff-less seasons, the longest active drought in the NFL, there's hope again in Buffalo. And this time, it's there for good reason. While the second-place Jets (8-8 in 2011) were busy creating a potential team-splitting quarterback controversy for themselves with the Tim Tebow trade, not to mention the dubious decision to draft a 4-3 defensive end to play in their 3-4 front (Quinton Coples), the fourth-place Bills (6-10) were adding and retaining quality pieces to the puzzle at every turn. Be it their re-signing of key veterans Stevie Johnson, Fred Jackson or Scott Chandler, their drafting of talents such as Stephon Gilmore, Cordy Glenn and T.J. Graham, or their headline acquisitions of Mario Williams, Mark Anderson and Vince Young in free agency, the Bills have made moves to get better. Maybe a lot better. The Jets? They've made a messy locker room situation that much messier. Life under Ryan in New York will never be friction-free, but pouring gas on the fire and expecting things to settle down is a curious approach to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D521646 Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 None of means anything until the Bills take the field. Tim- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullpen Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 So on the media barometer list, I'll put him down as a "like" for the time being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Media praise makes me nervous. I much prefer to be under the radar. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zonabb Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Media praise makes me nervous. I much prefer to be under the radar. PTR Yeah because the success this team has had when they've been ignored has proven unfounded time and again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 While I'll happily take the praise, at the expense of the hated Jets no less, it's interesting how he spins the Tebow aquisition as potentially "team splitting," but doesn't say the same about the Vince Young signing. I'm delighted that the Bills didn't stand pat with a sub-par 2nd string QB, but if Fitz falters early, that Bills locker room will split like the seams on a fat man's pants as players take sides in the great "Fitz or Vince" debate of 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Don Banks = Genius GO BILLSSS!!!! "I expect to be undefeated...I expect to win every game." - Chan Gailey 19 and 0 baby!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondo in seattle Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Speculative praise is fine but I greedily eat up the kind of praise that comes when your team is winning! Here's hoping for some of that later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I hate that Don has given the Jets bulletin board material, because I think Fat Rex feeds off crap like that, but at least it's only May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxelRipper Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Technically aren't they the #1 Best (and only) team in NY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Long Beach Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 While I'll happily take the praise, at the expense of the hated Jets no less, it's interesting how he spins the Tebow aquisition as potentially "team splitting," but doesn't say the same about the Vince Young signing. I'm delighted that the Bills didn't stand pat with a sub-par 2nd string QB, but if Fitz falters early, that Bills locker room will split like the seams on a fat man's pants as players take sides in the great "Fitz or Vince" debate of 2012. I think you may be overrating what a guy with a ONE year contract in COMPETITION to try and get a BACKUP job after being discarded by TWO other teams will do to the Bills. Tebow was a starting QB with a massive fan following, who is in no way of losing his job. He's also backing up a QB that has been earning more and more criticism for his poor play in a highly critical and media unfriendly place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I hate that Don has given the Jets bulletin board material, because I think Fat Rex feeds off crap like that, but at least it's only May. Even as a national media source, between The Daily News, the Post, Newsday, etc. I think it hardly even registers. Those NYC teams exist in a media maelstrom every day of the year. The Jets are gonna be a very interesting team to watch this year. It's a pivotal year in Ryan's tenure for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Miner Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 We can quibble over the fact that they're actually the ONLY team in NY but still... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/05/15/strong.hunches/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a1 The pessimist would say that this isn't an effort to praise the Bills, but an effort to increase attention from the NYC people. Step 1) Write a controversial statement blasting a large market team by telling them a small market team is better Step 2) Number of viewers and hits to your site increase from outrage of large fanbase Step 3) Profit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Media praise makes me nervous. I much prefer to be under the radar. Ditto. Hopefully, it's just off-season boredom that will go away once camps open... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cincinnati Kid Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I don't think Vince will create a controversy. My buddy, a Giants Fan, keeps telling me that VY will be our starting by October and I just think he's crazy. Vince is our backup. He will not challenge for the starting spot, and will be a great relief option if Fitz gets hurt, but he will not create the Fitz or Vince debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Media praise makes me nervous. I much prefer to be under the radar. PTR That ended the day we signed Mario Williams.....our boys are just gonna have to deal with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyHorseAteTheKid Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 He even liked the T.J. Graham pick.. Refreshing to not be getting kicked in the teeth by the national media!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montanafan Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 By all accounts Tim Tebow is a great locker room guy, and I think he will do whatever he can to downplay a controversy. On the other hand, he has had one year of playing time under his belt and should improve markedly with good coaching. Truth is, he may end up being a better qb than Sanchez. Somehow I see the Vince Young thing as all good. If Fitz does stink up the joint and the Bills are losing as a result, I would rather have a viable alternative to turn to and see if he can turn it around. It is better than the alternative of watching the team continue to swirl down the drain. Only the old timer's will remember this- But during Buffalo's first championship season, there was a huge Jack Kemp/Daryl Lamonica controversy. Lamonica came in several games that year in relief of Kemp and won some games. In fact Kemp was benched for one game and the fans were clamoring for Lamonica. Despite the controversy, Lou Saban reinserted Kemp as the starting qb and the rest is history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McD Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 None of means anything until the Bills take the field win the dvision. Tim- Fixed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 1337187712[/url]' post='2468077'] Only the old timer's will remember this- But during Buffalo's first championship season, there was a huge Jack Kemp/Daryl Lamonica controversy. Lamonica came in several games that year in relief of Kemp and won some games. In fact Kemp was benched for one game and the fans were clamoring for Lamonica. Despite the controversy, Lou Saban reinserted Kemp as the starting qb and the rest is history. yeah, but Lou was gone after that season, Daryl stuck around for a couple more. After The Mad Bomber left, he made a history of major beat downs every time he faced the Bills. At least we got Flores and Powell! ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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