Game Day Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills News, 12/24

by MattRichWarren on Dec 24, 2011 6:57 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

Quarterback magic has a way of wearing off - Jerry Sullivan
"But he's still the best they have, their best chance to win games in the short term. Fitz put together a terrific 16-game stretch spanning the 2010-11 seasons, throwing 32 TD passes. He developed a strong bond with Chan Gailey and his offensive teammates. It would be foolish to throw that away without a better alternative. Fitz isn't the elite passer he appeared to be in September, but he's better than he showed over the last seven games."

5 Things To Watch In Bills - Broncos - WGR 550
"The Bills definitely got screwed over by the schedule makers this year. Not just for the upcoming game, but for three December contests. But then again, had they kept up their torrid pace from the first seven games, we likely wouldn't be having this discussion." Five things to watch in today's game.

Motorola XOOM Scouting Report - Week 16 - BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown previews today's game.

Bills Focus: Chan Gailey 1-on-1 - BuffaloBills.com
The Bills head coach sits down for his weekly one one one interview.

Inside The Bills | McGahee likes facing Buffalo
"Got drafted there," he said. "It was a good time in my life. I was happy."

Inside The Bills | Chandler, Stevie probable
"Scott Chandler was limited in practice again on Friday, but is listed as probable. Chandler has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Stevie Johnson was also listed as probable and assured he would play this week as he has dealt all season with a nagging groin injury."

Inside The Bills | 2 spies for Tebow?
"The spies (with Tebow) are really the two linebackers on either side because you always have to be aware of him keeping the ball after faking the hand-off coming out the back side, so there’s always that spy on him, but you can’t have just one. You’ve got to have them on each side."

Inside The Bills | Fan Friday 12-23
Chris Brown addresses the pass rush, Chan Gailey calling plays, and more in this week's fan question column.

In Tim They Trust - The Buffalo News
"In last week's 41-23 loss to New England, the Patriots played more man-to-man defense in the second half, and Tebow struggled. Receivers did not get open quickly, and it forced Tebow to make tougher throws into smaller windows. Tebow was 6-of-15 passing in the second half and 11 of 22 overall. The Bills may try the same tactics today -- if they can get Denver into passing situations."

Broncos' Pistol not a popgun, Bills must counter with Spiller - The Buffalo News
Five things to watch in today's game.

Tim Tebow and Denver Broncos take on Buffalo Bills | Democrat and Chronicle
"He just speaks more openly about it, and I have a lot of respect for that because it's tough to do sometimes and he's using his platform wisely with the gifts that he's been given," said Buffalo's Chris Kelsay. "I commend him for that."

Bills in talks to extend deal to play in Toronto beyond 2012 | ProFootballTalk
"Wilson expressed optimism that the deal will get done, and he also offered one piece of information that should be good news for the fans: Ticket prices are likely to be reduced. The Rogers Centre believes filling the stadium has been difficult because Bills tickets, which have averaged $180 a seat, have been too high."

ProFootballWeekly.com - Spiller's value increased, but not as featured back
"We hear that while Spiller has enhanced his value, this stretch has also shown how valuable Jackson, who was hoping for a pay raise this offseason, is to the offense."

Tebow Time: Bills brace for surging Broncos - Yahoo! Sports
"I’ve seen it all in Florida," Nelson said. "He may not be your conventional every day NFL drop-back quarterback. But he’s going to win football games, somehow, some way. He’s wired differently to where the game’s on the line, he believes and he wills his team to victory."

Deconstructing the Bills’ blowup - The Globe and Mail
"For a while, it looked like Christmas Eve at Ralph Wilson Stadium this year would be about the Buffalo Bills chasing down their first playoff berth since 1999, with fans packing the stands."

Nick Barnett is leading tackler for Buffalo Bills - Fontana Herald
"Barnett is enjoying an injury-free season as a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, and even Buffalo’s recent losses (including a blowout at San Diego) have not diminished his enthusiasm. Barnett said he is having the time of his life with his new team."

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Sully's soft side - It must be Christmas...

I would have expected Sullivan to jump all over Wilson’s words from the Warrow AP interview about Fitzpatrick and the excuses Wilson was coming up with for Fitzy’s bad play and the fact that Wilson doesn’t want to thrown money away.

However, his article is more of the apologetic and rationalizing for the mistakes Fitz is making and how ho hum our offense has been playing.

If this sounds like a rationalization of Fitzpatrick’s slump, so be it. The point is, things can be relative with NFL quarterbacks. Their play can be a product of circumstances. Tebow has a rare ability to lift the players around him. But he hasn’t been asked to carry the offense with his arm. Fitz has, and he’s simply not that sort of player.

While the point that Sully is trying to make is that Tebow is a bad passer and winner because of the player around him and if he played on Buffalo, he’d/we’d be even worse off… I would argue the point that Fitzy hasn’t been able to “lift the players around him”. Kelsay says the team has lost their confidence and their swagger. Earlier they expected to come back and win when things get tough… Now they just are playing for their jobs.

That is the EXACT trait I want to see in a QB… I want a guy that the other teammates and fans look at and say… we’ll bust through brick walls for you and do anything we can to try to win this game. Sure a few players can have bad games from time to time… but when it is the whole team… people are looking for their on-field leader to step up and lead them to victory. Make plays (not pick 6’s or overthrows to WR’s in the clear). Jackson was that Warhorse earlier this year. He’s not here! Fitz needs to be a leader… This is his team and he is just hiding behind the beard. Give me Tebow and his leadership because I’d rather watch 11 for 22 for 194, 2 rushing TD’s and 94 other yards plus a motivated team fighting for first place in a division anyday over what we’ve seen in this last half of this season or for that last 12 years.

by dabillsr1 on Dec 24, 2011 7:52 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, I hope all of those “Sully is criticizing the team for not extending him but once they do he’ll criticize them for that too” people will at least admit he is being reasonable about Fitzpatrick and what he brings.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 24, 2011 7:56 AM EST up reply actions

the fact that Wilson doesn’t want to thrown money away.

Why is that a bad thing? Would you want to throw money away?

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 24, 2011 8:02 AM EST up reply actions

Sully has a history of critizing the Bills for spending money.

The obvious answer is “no”. No one wants the Bills to throw money away. They needed to extend Fitzy this year because they didn’t draft anyone last year and Thigpen is not “waiting in the wings”. They couldn’t let Fitz get away and need him at least another 2-3 years before they can sign and develop someone else.

My point and the one I though Sully would critize more is that Fitz certainly needs to inspire his team more with playing better himself and motivate his teammates around him.

by dabillsr1 on Dec 24, 2011 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

that Fitz certainly needs to inspire his team more with playing better himself

True, but…I think the problem is his inconsistency is as much a downer for his teammates as it is for us. The team sees several good plays, then, boom- their hard work gone in a flash as a result of “bad Fitz” appearing. His talent, arm, footwork etc. gets in the way of him being more consistent. So, his play is somewhat counterproductive(albeit unintentional) to being “inspirational”.
IMO, you can’t change talent. You cannot make him more accurate other than to call short route passes, short drops, that defenses study and key on key on because there is no down field threat. Also, if a defense feels there’s a 50/50 chance the pass won’t get there period, they gain the upper hand confidence-wise.

"Listen, we're not giving money away"- Ralph
Thanks for the education, Ralph...I'm not giving mine away (to you), either!

by fansince60 on Dec 24, 2011 9:00 AM EST up reply actions