That Aud Smell

Good stuff. I do not mean to suggest that McDermott consciously thinks this way or is that stupid.

If I understand your question, I think Eleven was inferring that I'd implied there could be a racial preference at play in choosing between two try-hard, faith-based QBs. That wasn't the point I was trying to make, although I wouldn't rule it out as having been in play on some level when it came to going with Peterman over Taylor. (I also think lots of other things were in play, too, including Taylor's value to Cleveland (and the value of that pick to the Bills), the idea that McCarron might be the bridge QB, maybe the savings in moving on from Taylor as a veteran bridge QB (?).) More broadly, I am concerned about the presence of a feedback loop (not sure that's the term I want) with regard to Beane's and McDermott's preferences with personnel. Did Harrison Phillips do anything noticeable yesterday? Let us not forget: He's got that prominent football/cross tattoo on his arm. I'm not reaching any conclusions. But my radar's been turned back on in this regard.

I didn't mean to be too on the nose with that. I don't think it's quite that straightforward. I do think there are some unacknowledged (and maybe acknowledged) biases that are unduly influencing this regime's decision making processes with regard to personnel. Not for nothing: It struck me yesterday how much Trent Murphy looks like McDermott - generally speaking.

And so too is Peterman. I wonder if there are/were any other criteria.

I'm fairly convinced that they believe their own narrative. The question I'd left open was whether they could make it work. It has seemed at times like they'll be able to do it. Yesterday, not so much.

Fair. Last year's team started smartly -- they generally looked good. Then they were effing terrible. Then they squeaked into the playoffs.

(no idea whether what pi says will come to pass -- but let it be so!)

Interesting. I think that impression took hold for me in the first half of last season -- before the Saints and Chargers games.

I've also got my antenna up anew for whether Beane's and McDermott's type of player ("try-hard" and/or faith-based guys) is causing them to target and sign the wrong players. My current point of concern and curiosity is Trent Murphy. The guy's either not that good of a player, or he's plagued by undisclosed injuries (my bet would be a nagging sports hernia) and therefore not showing well. In either case, a FA signing that is doing nothing to move the needle.

I'm still okay with trading Tyrod for an asset. This post did not age well. Yep. Total and complete embarrassment. And it fundamentally calls into question McDermott's/Beane's ability to evaluate talent, at least at the QB position in the NFL. What are they seeing? What biases are prompting them to conclude that Peterman can get the job done? Absurd. That was generally their calling card last season, even when they lost. That squad yesterday looked completely befuddled.

I really appreciate the effort here - you’re articulating things I might have known or understood at one point, but couldn’t or didn’t call to mind. Language is enormously powerful. It controls, dictates, influences, and prescribes a great, great deal.

Kindly sod off with that. #readingcomprehension Samesies.

Let’s Go, Bills!!

@Eleven for Mod.

I think the insistence on *not* identifying every single racist aspect of our society, language, etc. is the most significant obstacle to progress. Black writers/thinkers whom I respect will tell you: The thing that’s impeding progress isn’t the overt torch burning hooded racist (or something close to that), it’s the millions of earnest whites who *think* they’re not racist but make dozens of choices, large and small, that perpetuate racist structures in a society built on the same. I say that as a self-acknowledged racist. I know I am. I’m working on it, constantly.

Object all you want. IMO: It’s wishful thinking and delusional to think that the reaction to the black kneeling players isn’t largely (yeah, maybe not entirely) rooted in racism. I know enough history. I have my own significant sample size from which to judge. I’m confident and (un)comfortable in my take. And I acknowledge others feel and think differently. They’re entitled to that, obviously.

Did you gloss over the part where I said I didn’t think Eichel actually intended the word that way, whether consciously or subconsciously? Because that’s the part where I specifically did not impute racial bias to Eichel.

I saw high-end quality for the Sabres. Hells yeah.

Sir. Please re-read what I wrote. I specifically did not impute any racial bias to Eichel. I said the word he used has a certain ... stank to it, based on my experience in eastern Mass. And that his use of it could be a byproduct of where he grew up. As for the big reasons that our society is so polarized, I’ll just say that I just deleted what I thumbed out and that I am sure our views on such matters are quite different.

Hear, hear. As much as I have at times despaired over what Trump says or does, the op-ed writer's claimed virtue infuriated me. It really made me angry. If what s/he says is true, it's a fookin' soft coup is what it is. It is as damaging a thing as has been done to the Constitution in my lifetime, I think. And that's scary business. Now, mind you. I understand that such a soft coup would be a product of how uniquely odious and imbalanced the POTUS is. But, goddammit, there are procedures to address those issues. And I'm not just talking the 25th Amendment -- I'm also talking more bureaucratically about a process of getting the POTUS to tone down a certain charted course of action.

That is fair. My point remains.

Well, for a long time, the anthem just was. There are some here who've traced the history of the practice. Tied to honouring those who served in the armed forces and such. More recently, though, the league made a clear choice to cast their lot and their brand with a certain type of patriotism. Their member organizations even made a bunch of money off the DOD (maybe still do?) by helping them run in-game promotions and such. Anyway, the process of commodifying and branding an amorphous concept like that always leads to reductivism and over-simplification. Hence: MURICA! There's a lot of that going on. My social media feed (mostly FB) is awash with those friends and relatives of mine who find the kneeling and the Nike ad campaign to be a complete and total affront to all this country stands for. Every time I read those kinds of gripes, I hear a white person complaining about how uppity them n***ers are and how much ground the white race has ceded in its supremacy. I'm not saying it's what those folks consciously have in mind, but I'm saying that is what at the root of the issue. Holy sh1t. I tuned in for a while. Unwatchable. The anticipation of football's return is way better than football's return. If you don't bet on the games and/or have a true rooting interest, there's rarely a reason to watch. Also: