tom webster

I know you don't judge your business interests in such a short term vacuum. I am as frustrated as you but its way too early to sell short.

Frustrated over the injury is the implication. This was going to be a big contract year for him and its not going well. A few things; 1) I still think they make the playoffs, a first step in the Ryan process, a third step in the Whaley process 2) penalties, as aggravating as they are, shouldn't really be an issue. Look at the penalty leaders from last year, one and two were in the Super Bowl. 3) don't understand why a lot of the same people that rip the Watkins trade are concerned about wide outs. Aren't they a dime a dozen?

This league is full of bad coaching, questionable personnel decisions and salary cap mismanagement. The only thing that really differentiates most of the team is the guy playing quarterback. All the analysts hate the thought that but it could be that simple but it really is. When Green Baty's defense gives up over 500 yards and hangs on by the skin of their teeth, it's all covered up by their QB. When New England drafts 45 defensive backs and finds one that can actually play, their QB bails them out. If Tyrod Taylor turns into a true franchise QB, Rex and Whakey will be heralded as geniuses for their foresight. If not their skills will forever sentence them to the NFL land of mediocrity.

Not a bad start!

And it might even been all true. Does everyone really think that he bought a $225 million on a whim or without having a complete analysis done? More likely he had some high priced versions of PA, Dudacek, DeLuca compile an expert analysis of his proposed purchase and is there any doubt that in a lot more complicated way they said; 1) Good PR 2) Could help with that NYS Fracking thing 3) Take attention away from the disaster that is Penn State 4) Give your wife something to do 5) Hey, it could be fun Not to mention a guaranteed return on investment, albeit not what you are used to.

Is that the same as Cliff Benson is never to be believed except when he is? The guy has been quoted twenty times about why the Sabres, why Harbor Center and the only two things consistent? His answer fits whatever column is being written and in all cases, Benson advised no.

I think that will eventually happen but I think they will be sensitive to the veteran leadership through Christmas.

Who you taking out if you put both McCabe and Bogo in? I think eventuallly McCabe plays but at first he will be the #7 when Bogo returns unless Pysyk just can't handle the left side.

I wonder if he is still scared. Hearing him talk about this, it seems like he may have more of a psychological reason to stay out rather then a physical one. He was already talking about changing his style of play. Who could blame him if he just wasn't sure he wanted to continue at all?

I, for one, think Florida is going to be pretty good this year

They were a missed tackle away from being very good against the Giants.

Now that's the kind of game hood teams win. Missing half their offense, struggling and finding a way to win. The Kelly teams won games like this every season, albeit not as ugly looking but that's tge difference between offensive centric teams and defensive centric teams Yelp, Justin Hunter

So the guy who likes to interpret everything that is said or done by the cities sports franchises wants to use one line in one interview as a verbatim mission statement? Olympic teams play other teams put together for a short tournament. One of the reasons the hockey is more entertaining is because coaching is kept at a minimum out of necessity.

Could not be more wrong. This team is starting the process of becoming a Cup contender and that starts with making the playoffs. It is completely different when a young team at the beginning of the process makes it as a 7th or 8th seed as opposed to an old and tired team with its window rapidly closing. Missing the playoffs in a year that they are not expected to make them is no major setback but making the playoffs could jump start the process.

I let this one slide the first time but TM was taking a shot at the NHL when he mentioned that if you fight for that last playoff spot and don't make you still have a shot at a top three pick, albeit a slim one. So yes, his ideal scenario is to make the playoffs but hey if you come close and don't make it, getting a shot at a top three pick isn't a bad conciliation prize.

No fried bologna?

And the team has made progress under his tutelage. Too bad Jim Kelly didn't fall into his lap like he did for Bill but he is managing just fine. We will see how the rest of year goes.

Its still a process. I will be disappointed but I will also realize that Football, more then any other sport is a team game and you have both offense and defense learnng a new system once again and an offense ravaged by injury. Do you realize that at point last week 6 of 11 starters were out of the game? I still expect a 10-6, 11-5 year but I realize how slim the margin for error is. Mostly, I will judge Whaley on his four years, not the fifteen that preceded it. One thing I know without a doubt. Its ridiculous to judge anything after four games. Do you know who led the 8 divisions last year at the quarter pole?

One thing we know will happen if the Bills put a professional beating on them is you will once again fall in line with the bandwagon. I can just imagine what you would have wrote about Polian his first four years here if this board existed. A USFL, unemployed scout hired as pro personnel director and then promoted to GM after two 2 and 14 years? Typical Bills.

. I agree. I find it hysterical that fans who lump the last fifteen years together as if it was all the same people genuflect in virtual reverence for a leader of that forever failing squad. Jackson was a very running back who just didn't fit. Good teams cut serviceable players. New England does it all the time but, of course, its the Patriot way.

Just sent down today

In the interest of fairness, no problem changing your selection based on present information. You shouldn't be punished for picking early.

Last week to chime in. Who do you think we will be the surprise player on this year's team?

Again, all that matters is the progress made the three years he has been GM, not the time frame everyone appears to want to assign to Whaley. Bill Polian, 4-12, 7-8, 12-4. Doug Whaley 6-10. 9-7, ???. Unless of course you want to give Bill credit for the first two years when he was pro personnel director, 2-14, 2-14.

It's funny, when we criticized Darcy, his supporters always pointed to his winning trades and the rest of us would talk about all that matters is the end product. With Whaley, despite building what appears to be an exceptional and deep team, his detractors want to point out his mistakes. The good GM's are risk takers, they are going to make mistakes. All that matters is the wins and losses!