Gramps

There's always the chance Jackson might not be there @ 21/22, especially after the combine. Lots of teams need QBs if the draft order stays as is.

Gretzky was not the fastest, but he possessed a skating agility like no other. I read an analysis years ago and it was said that Gretzky had the best agility ever when it came to pivots, quick turns without losing speed, and change of direction. Also Gretzky's shooting accuracy was head and shoulders above other players. Add in unparalleled hockey sense and an ability to see the entire ice and there you have it.

Look at the GAA for goalie in Gretzky's era versus today. Billy Smith was one of the top goalies in 1981-82 with a 2.97 GAA. In 2016, that would've ranked him about 71st. Grant Fuhr was @ 3.31 which in 2016 would have ranked him last among regular starters Bigger equipment and move to a better goaltending style has contributed to reduced scoring.

My comment was meant as an alternative to McCarron - I'm leery of Bradford and Bridgewater due to injuries. So alternatives to McCarron - Foles / Cousins / Keenum / Fitz / McCown / Moore / even Kaepernick if the blacklist is lifted.

So you think the Bills will contend with McCarron or one of the Vikings' castoffs ? I'm not willing to wait a couple more years if other experienced QBs are available that give us a better chance.

And look at the goalie equipment back then ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh056e-AYGM

You guys forgot to add your proposed solution for the Bills at QB until the new pick is ready.

A little side Gretzky story - I was in grad school at UB in '82 and my buddy's dad gave us his tickets for 2/24/82 for the Oilers. Just happened to be the night Gretzky broke Espo's record. After the game, we went to Mulligan's on Hertel to hook up with some other classmates. Gretzky, Semenko, and few other Oilers showed up and my buddy was brave enough to ask Gretzky to do a shot for my b-day. Wayne and Semenko said yes with no hesitation and proceeded to set up about 12 B-52 shots on the bar. We toasted happy b-day and we then left them alone. True story but alas no pics to prove it.

Probably not and I think the main reason is the added size of goalie equipment and the fact most goalies these days use a more effective butterfly style. If Gretzky was playing today with the same cast of characters, he would still be putting up plenty of points. Hockey sense and puck awareness haven't changed much over time. I'd like to see posts from all of you guys ranking the QB draft and what you think the Bills should do.

Watch some highlights from the modern era and you can find some poor movements as well. Not every defensemen today is fleet of foot.

Then it remains a claim only ... I'd put Larry Robinson, Paul Coffey, Orr, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, Denis Potvin, Langway and others against anyone playing today. I'll even toss Housley in there.

Funny ... I don't take offense as I have thick skin. When someone says that 99% of today's defensemen are better than those in the 80s, that's an opinion with no substantive data to back it up. Just like the poster who said that some NHL defensemen couldn't skate backwards. Sure, here's my ranking : Rosen Allen Mayfield Darnold Rudolph Jackson Falk When I said I wanted Foles and QB @ 21/22, that's my opinion. You don't have to agree with it and the Bills may not go in that direction. I'd rather have Foles and a chance to win next year than an unproven McCarron, an injury-prone Bradford or Bridgewater, or some other UFA except Cousins who the Bills most likely can't afford.

My last post on this ... Strictly your opinion. I have mine - you have yours. Just like all of the opinions about who the Bills should draft. None of us really knows who will make it. And the link provided for the "era" comparison is laughable at best.

This is not a debate and what difference does the number of teams make from 28 in 1990 to 32 ? Each QB is only playing 16 others. If anything, Flacco's numbers should be lower considering he's playing against better athletes and more "sophisticated" defenses. And the game is "radically different" ? Please ... Sure it does ... condense the NHL to about 12 teams and tell me who got cut.

I watched Gretzky in person a few times ... goalie equipment and the stand up style definitely played a part in Gretzky' success. As did a great cast of teammates. If you don't think defenders could skate back then, you're nuts. In 1982, there were 21 teams and today there are 31. If anything, defense talent is spread out more.

Bullcarp ... Football's the same, a yard is a yard, Kelly & Flacco play or played primarily outdoors and so on, 16-game schedule. There were 28 teams in 1990, 32 today. Possibly better athletes today which would work against Flacco on defense. Concussion protocol now which would work against Flacco now should he be removed from a game. I would agree you can't compare Gretzky to today's players mainly due to the size of goalie equipment. Same with Ruth - relief pitchers as we know them did not exist in the 1920s. Stating pitchers stayed in the game until the end in most cases and Ruth hit most of his home runs in the live ball era. But comparing Kelly who finished in 1996 to Flacco who started in 2008 is definitely doable.

Whatever dude ... football the game hasn't changed that much. And do tell ... how do we adjust for "era" ?

Are you a Jim Kelly fan ? He's in the HOF with similar stats. http://www.nfl.com/player/jimkelly/2501579/careerstats http://www.nfl.com/player/joeflacco/382/careerstats

Oh I dunno about that ... Flacco's career stats are pretty good and he's got a ring. Beggars can't be choosers. We have a starting QB that everyone wants to run outta town and a backup with a noodle arm that is looking at 3rd string next year.

I think most on this board would be thrilled with Foles for a few years and a QB selected at 21 or 22.

I had Karlsson with the bullet from the point.

Newsflash - he's the head coach of the Colts. I'd take my chances on Daboll with Foles.

I'll take Foles based on those 6 games, especially his playoff and SB performance.

The comment about body count was that it could've been high with any collection of weapons. I personally don't think anyone needs an assault weapon with the exception of law enforcement. My point is that banning assault weapons is only one piece of the puzzle. There is something seriously wrong mentally with a person willing to kill multiple people at a school and as a result, end his own as well. Put these folks on law enforcement's radar and have LE do their job.

Trading for Foles if available would be a step up.