Buffalo Bills 2026 Thread

[tom webster]

58 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I've heard it said several times by radio/sports talking types: Leonhard's 3-4 is not equivalent to the 3-4 that Gen X and older fans would be familiar with. (And for me, I harken back to the days of the Bermuda Triangle when the d-line was Gentle Ben, Smerlas, and ... Sherm White?)

All I know is that Rousseau now gets previewed as part of the linebacking corps.

So I've mostly given up trying to understand what the new scheme is.

The Bermuda Triangle was actually the nickname for the nose tackle and two inside linebackers 

Fred Smerlas NT

Jim Haslett ILB

Shane Nelson ILB

Gentle Ben Williams and Sherm White were two of the defensive ends that played with them

[That Aud Smell]

23 minutes ago, tom webster said:

The Bermuda Triangle was actually the nickname for the nose tackle and two inside linebackers 

Fred Smerlas NT

Jim Haslett ILB

Shane Nelson ILB

Gentle Ben Williams and Sherm White were two of the defensive ends that played with them

oh yeah - i'm aware. i had the poster!

sorry to be unclear.

my point was that that was a classic 3-4 with 2 bruisers at the middle linebacker spots.

[#freejame]

I just read 27 pages of criticism of the Bills new jerseys on TBD and my biggest take away is thank god we have significantly less AI use on here. I’d prefer it to be zero AI, but those days are probably long gone. 

[Demoted]

17 hours ago, #freejame said:

I just read 27 pages of criticism of the Bills new jerseys on TBD and my biggest take away is thank god we have significantly less AI use on here. I’d prefer it to be zero AI, but those days are probably long gone. 

I dont mind the jerseys b/.c I dont have to wear it. 

[Eleven]

17 hours ago, #freejame said:

I just read 27 pages of criticism of the Bills new jerseys on TBD and my biggest take away is thank god we have significantly less AI use on here. I’d prefer it to be zero AI, but those days are probably long gone. 

If you mean SabreSpace.com, the long-running Buffalo Sabres fan forum, there is no official statement from the site's administrators saying they "don't use AI." However, the community has developed a reputation for being skeptical of AI-generated content.

The reasons appear to be cultural rather than technical:

They value original discussion. SabreSpace has always been a message board where fans are expected to contribute their own opinions, scouting observations, and analysis rather than repost machine-generated summaries.

Distrust of AI accuracy. Hockey fans on SabreSpace frequently criticize AI because it can invent facts, misunderstand roster situations, or produce generic analysis that doesn't reflect the nuances of the Sabres or the NHL. This skepticism is common in hockey communities generally. 

Quality over volume. Many long-time forum members prefer detailed posts backed by statistics, game footage, or personal reasoning. AI-generated posts are often viewed as repetitive or "slop."

Community identity. SabreSpace has been around for decades. Part of its appeal is that discussions are between real fans with established reputations, not automated content.

To my knowledge, SabreSpace has not published a formal ban on AI-generated posts. That differs from some online communities that have explicitly prohibited AI-generated text or images because they believe it lowers discussion quality. 

If you're asking because you've noticed AI is rarely mentioned there, it's likely because the user base is traditional and values firsthand hockey knowledge and debate over AI-assisted commentary, rather than because of an explicit site-wide prohibition.

[LTS]

14 minutes ago, Eleven said:

If you mean SabreSpace.com, the long-running Buffalo Sabres fan forum, there is no official statement from the site's administrators saying they "don't use AI." However, the community has developed a reputation for being skeptical of AI-generated content.

The reasons appear to be cultural rather than technical:

They value original discussion. SabreSpace has always been a message board where fans are expected to contribute their own opinions, scouting observations, and analysis rather than repost machine-generated summaries.

Distrust of AI accuracy. Hockey fans on SabreSpace frequently criticize AI because it can invent facts, misunderstand roster situations, or produce generic analysis that doesn't reflect the nuances of the Sabres or the NHL. This skepticism is common in hockey communities generally. 

Quality over volume. Many long-time forum members prefer detailed posts backed by statistics, game footage, or personal reasoning. AI-generated posts are often viewed as repetitive or "slop."

Community identity. SabreSpace has been around for decades. Part of its appeal is that discussions are between real fans with established reputations, not automated content.

To my knowledge, SabreSpace has not published a formal ban on AI-generated posts. That differs from some online communities that have explicitly prohibited AI-generated text or images because they believe it lowers discussion quality. 

If you're asking because you've noticed AI is rarely mentioned there, it's likely because the user base is traditional and values firsthand hockey knowledge and debate over AI-assisted commentary, rather than because of an explicit site-wide prohibition.

Boo. Just because the opportunity to go there exists does not mean one should.

[Hoss]

25 minutes ago, Eleven said:

If you mean SabreSpace.com, the long-running Buffalo Sabres fan forum, there is no official statement from the site's administrators saying they "don't use AI." However, the community has developed a reputation for being skeptical of AI-generated content.

The reasons appear to be cultural rather than technical:

They value original discussion. SabreSpace has always been a message board where fans are expected to contribute their own opinions, scouting observations, and analysis rather than repost machine-generated summaries.

Distrust of AI accuracy. Hockey fans on SabreSpace frequently criticize AI because it can invent facts, misunderstand roster situations, or produce generic analysis that doesn't reflect the nuances of the Sabres or the NHL. This skepticism is common in hockey communities generally. 

Quality over volume. Many long-time forum members prefer detailed posts backed by statistics, game footage, or personal reasoning. AI-generated posts are often viewed as repetitive or "slop."

Community identity. SabreSpace has been around for decades. Part of its appeal is that discussions are between real fans with established reputations, not automated content.

To my knowledge, SabreSpace has not published a formal ban on AI-generated posts. That differs from some online communities that have explicitly prohibited AI-generated text or images because they believe it lowers discussion quality. 

If you're asking because you've noticed AI is rarely mentioned there, it's likely because the user base is traditional and values firsthand hockey knowledge and debate over AI-assisted commentary, rather than because of an explicit site-wide prohibition.

You're fired.

[#freejame]

36 minutes ago, Eleven said:

If you mean SabreSpace.com, the long-running Buffalo Sabres fan forum, there is no official statement from the site's administrators saying they "don't use AI." However, the community has developed a reputation for being skeptical of AI-generated content.

The reasons appear to be cultural rather than technical:

They value original discussion. SabreSpace has always been a message board where fans are expected to contribute their own opinions, scouting observations, and analysis rather than repost machine-generated summaries.

Distrust of AI accuracy. Hockey fans on SabreSpace frequently criticize AI because it can invent facts, misunderstand roster situations, or produce generic analysis that doesn't reflect the nuances of the Sabres or the NHL. This skepticism is common in hockey communities generally. 

Quality over volume. Many long-time forum members prefer detailed posts backed by statistics, game footage, or personal reasoning. AI-generated posts are often viewed as repetitive or "slop."

Community identity. SabreSpace has been around for decades. Part of its appeal is that discussions are between real fans with established reputations, not automated content.

To my knowledge, SabreSpace has not published a formal ban on AI-generated posts. That differs from some online communities that have explicitly prohibited AI-generated text or images because they believe it lowers discussion quality. 

If you're asking because you've noticed AI is rarely mentioned there, it's likely because the user base is traditional and values firsthand hockey knowledge and debate over AI-assisted commentary, rather than because of an explicit site-wide prohibition.

[shrader]

Don’t worry, 11. I laughed. 

[Hoss]

10 minutes ago, shrader said:

Don’t worry, 11. I laughed. 

Haha AI so funny

[That Aud Smell]

11 minutes ago, shrader said:

Don’t worry, 11. I laughed. 

i gave a disapproving emoji - but also saw the joke.

[Wyldnwoody44]

It took me at least a paragraph before it triggered the satire in my brain. 

I need sleep😂 

[nfreeman]

From a fairly knowledgeable Bills observer and writer:

 

[Hoss]

15 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

From a fairly knowledgeable Bills observer and writer:

 

Knowing everything we know about the guy, I'm not shocked he's a practice star. The guy is a bit insane and loves ball.

[That Aud Smell]

10 minutes ago, Hoss said:

Knowing everything we know about the guy, I'm not shocked he's a practice star. The guy is a bit insane and loves ball.

lol - so true.

[K-9]

I suspect Gardner-Johnson is on a short leash and imo, Brady fired a salvo across his bow when telling him to turn off his live stream from the locker room. CJGJ has had dust ups at each NFL stop in his career and while I know the Bills’ locker room room culture is mature and well-led, if he doesn’t conform, the Bills won’t hesitate to send him packing. Good player, so I hope he can show it on the field for an entire season without the drama he’s courted with his previous teams.

[inkman]

The more I think about the Keon Coleman draft pick, the more I relate it to NHL drafting. There will be plenty of good picks in the top 2 rounds, just make sure you don’t draft the worst possible player in those spots.  Nothing I’ve seen to date indicates he’s ever going to live up to his draft spot. He just doesn’t have it. 

[LGR4GM]

42 minutes ago, inkman said:

The more I think about the Keon Coleman draft pick, the more I relate it to NHL drafting. There will be plenty of good picks in the top 2 rounds, just make sure you don’t draft the worst possible player in those spots.  Nothing I’ve seen to date indicates he’s ever going to live up to his draft spot. He just doesn’t have it. 

In the NHL once you get out of the guys that you love or even really like, you start drafting traits such as a shot or skating or toughness whatever. Anything that looks like it might end up above average in the NHL and you hope a bit. Keon Coleman had not special trait. He was a bad separator, he had average hands, his routes were average, and he had above average size. There wasn't anything that was a special trait and so here we are. At least Morozov is hella smart and physical. Heck, Bedkowski is at least physical to a fault. Coleman is Mrtka. 

[Porous Five Hole]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

In the NHL once you get out of the guys that you love or even really like, you start drafting traits such as a shot or skating or toughness whatever. Anything that looks like it might end up above average in the NHL and you hope a bit. Keon Coleman had not special trait. He was a bad separator, he had average hands, his routes were average, and he had above average size. There wasn't anything that was a special trait and so here we are. At least Morozov is hella smart and physical. Heck, Bedkowski is at least physical to a fault. Coleman is Mrtka. 

 

Mrtka has better hands 

[Broken Ankles]

4 hours ago, K-9 said:

I suspect Gardner-Johnson is on a short leash and imo, Brady fired a salvo across his bow when telling him to turn off his live stream from the locker room. CJGJ has had dust ups at each NFL stop in his career and while I know the Bills’ locker room room culture is mature and well-led, if he doesn’t conform, the Bills won’t hesitate to send him packing. Good player, so I hope he can show it on the field for an entire season without the drama he’s courted with his previous teams.

8 stops in his 7th professional season. Makes you ask, what is it about this guy that other GMs haven’t offered him an extension or the fact three teams wanted to trade him.  It’s like that guys that’s married  & divorced 7 times.  Maybe it’s you.  

[K-9]

45 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

8 stops in his 7th professional season. Makes you ask, what is it about this guy that other GMs haven’t offered him an extension or the fact three teams wanted to trade him.  It’s like that guys that’s married  & divorced 7 times.  Maybe it’s you.  

In a word, maturity. 

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, Broken Ankles said:

8 stops in his 7th professional season. Makes you ask, what is it about this guy that other GMs haven’t offered him an extension or the fact three teams wanted to trade him.  It’s like that guys that’s married  & divorced 7 times.  Maybe it’s you.  

from what i understand, he has a tendency to be a selfish d1ckhead.

we all know that guy, right? or some version of him? like - he's not a BAD guy - but he is ... shall we say ... 

and he just tends to wear out his welcome with certain portions of a team's locker room, coaching staff, and/or FO.

 

that's the sense i got, anyway.

[nfreeman]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

from what i understand, he has a tendency to be a selfish d1ckhead.

we all know that guy, right? or some version of him? like - he's not a BAD guy - but he is ... shall we say ... 

and he just tends to wear out his welcome with certain portions of a team's locker room, coaching staff, and/or FO.

 

that's the sense i got, anyway.

 

I kinda think it should be "habitual line crosser", but I know "line stepper" is a thing.  Perhaps it's just me being uptight about precision.

[Weave]

10 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

 

I kinda think it should be "habitual line crosser", but I know "line stepper" is a thing.  Perhaps it's just me being uptight about precision.

[Night Train]

On 7/29/2026 at 2:24 PM, tom webster said:

The Bermuda Triangle was actually the nickname for the nose tackle and two inside linebackers 

Fred Smerlas NT

Jim Haslett ILB

Shane Nelson ILB

Gentle Ben Williams and Sherm White were two of the defensive ends that played with them

I loved the Chuck Knox era.  He got a raw deal from Ralph at the end. 

He took over a 2 win ,rock bottom team and had them in the playoffs in less than 3 years. I sat in a stadium with 60,000 empty seats when he arrived. By 1980, they were sold out ( 80,020 ) .