NFL Season 2010

[GTHobbes]

Ralph definitely deserves a spot in Canton. A no-brainer. You need to look at his entire body of work.

First, he is the only owner the Bills have ever had, and Buffalo has become a model small-market franchise. Sure, the on-field results have sucked the last 10 years, but the Bills were an NFL powerhouse for a decade. Plus the Bills almost always sell out, and Rich Stadium (Ralph Wilson Stadium) was one of the biggest houses in the NFL, at 80,000, until renovations and the addition of luxury suites a few years ago cut the capacity to around 74,000.

Ralph also worked with Lamar Hunt to form the AFL. The NFL would not be where it is today without the formation of that league. Plus the Bills won the 1965 AFL Championship with Jack Kemp at quarterback for a dominant team. Just about everyone admits that if the Super Bowl started one year earlier, the Bills would have given Green Bay a hell of a tough game.

The Super Bowl run speaks for itself. Yes, the losses. But do you think any team will earn four consecutive Super Bowl trips any time soon? Unlikely.

Finally, Ralph hired and groomed two of the finest NFL general managers in the last quarter-century, Bill Polian and John Butler.

Wilson is a very worthy addition to Canton. He's one of the most influential and successful owners in NFL history. He's one of the true building blocks of pro football in America.

I guess the AFL stuff merits him a spot (it was before my time so I'm not the best judge of its significance or Wilson's role). But I'm not sure how can you say he's hired 2 of the finest NFL GMs in the last quarter-century considering the mess that has been the Bills for more than the past decade. Then again, I'm not all that familiar with those guys so I really shouldn't be picking any arguments there.

I just don't think anybody would have been beating down Art Rooney's door for enshrinement in Canton if his legacy included getting to and losing 4 Super Bowls, and running the team into the ground (and out of the country) for the last 11 years. I guess that's part of what a Hall of Fame is about though -- debating the pros and cons of whoever gets in.

[JackB1]

Wow, Farve can still sling it. He sure had me worried in that 4th quarter, right up to the interception
JETS keep rolling baby! LT continues to surprise with his quickness and speed. If he stays healthy, the
JETS have a great 1-2 punch with him and Greene.

Go JETS!!!

[pk500]

I guess the AFL stuff merits him a spot (it was before my time so I'm not the best judge of its significance or Wilson's role). But I'm not sure how can you say he's hired 2 of the finest NFL GMs in the last quarter-century considering the mess that has been the Bills for more than the past decade. Then again, I'm not all that familiar with those guys so I really shouldn't be picking any arguments there.

Polian left the Bills for the Panthers in 1994 and then the Colts in 1997. He built both teams into winners immediately, as he did in Buffalo. It's not his fault that probably Ralph Wilson's only flaw is the inability to open his wallet. Butler left the Bills for San Diego in 2001 for the same reason. He drafted a couple of guys named Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson before he died of lymphoma in 2003, and during his short time with the team, Butler built the Chargers into the perennial AFC West contender that it is today.

Neither Polian nor Butler had anything to do with the current mess in which the Bills slog. That's Ralph's fault for making bad decisions in the last decade. But his decisions to hire Polian and Butler and let them do their thing without meddling, a la Jerry Jones, was a master stroke.

I just don't think anybody would have been beating down Art Rooney's door for enshrinement in Canton if his legacy included getting to and losing 4 Super Bowls, and running the team into the ground (and out of the country) for the last 11 years. I guess that's part of what a Hall of Fame is about though -- debating the pros and cons of whoever gets in.

So losing four consecutive Super Bowls is a total failure? I'm sure there are franchises that would give their left nut and half of their assets to reach the Super Bowl two years in a row, let alone four.

Winning a Super Bowl is not the sole mark of greatness in the NFL. Who would you rather have calling signals for your team for a decade, Jim Kelly or Mark Rypien? Was Timmy Smith a better back than Thurman Thomas just because he has a ring? Do the New Orleans Saints have a more successful NFL legacy than the Buffalo Bills because they got hot one season with an excellent team and won the Super Bowl in their first real trip deep into the playoffs?

It's also preposterous to say Ralph Wilson is running the team out of the country. The Bills play ONE home game in Toronto, and a large portion of the team's fan base has existed in Southern Ontario for years. Toronto offered the Bills serious money for one game per year, and like any smart business owner, Wilson took the offer.

It's no different than when the Packers used to play one home game per season in County Stadium in Milwaukee to make it easier for people in one of their most rabid fan pockets to see a home game.

Finally, Ralph Wilson isn't the only team owner in the Pro Football Hall of Fame without an NFL title. The Chicago Cardinals won an NFL title shortly after Charley Bidwill's death, and he's in the Hall. Dan Reeves won no titles of any kind when he owned the Cleveland/L.A. Rams.

[GTHobbes]

I guess the AFL stuff merits him a spot (it was before my time so I'm not the best judge of its significance or Wilson's role). But I'm not sure how can you say he's hired 2 of the finest NFL GMs in the last quarter-century considering the mess that has been the Bills for more than the past decade. Then again, I'm not all that familiar with those guys so I really shouldn't be picking any arguments there.

Polian left the Bills for the Panthers in 1994 and then the Colts in 1997. He built both teams into winners immediately, as he did in Buffalo. It's not his fault that probably Ralph Wilson's only flaw is the inability to open his wallet. Butler left the Bills for San Diego in 2001 for the same reason. He drafted a couple of guys named Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson before he died of lymphoma in 2003, and during his short time with the team, Butler built the Chargers into the perennial AFC West contender that it is today.

Neither Polian nor Butler had anything to do with the current mess in which the Bills slog. That's Ralph's fault for making bad decisions in the last decade. But his decisions to hire Polian and Butler and let them do their thing without meddling, a la Jerry Jones, was a master stroke.

Thanks for clearing this part up for me, PK. I know Polian's and Butler's names but honestly didn't know where they've been/where they are now -- I just never really kept tabs on NFL GMs. Again, though, I can only bring it back to the Steelers. If they had 2 great GMs and left them both go because they were too cheap to pay up, and then spent the next 10 years in a hole, I wouldn't exactly be clamoring for a Hall nod. But I do respect your right as a Bills fan to feel differently.

[pk500]

GT:

You need to look at Ralph's entire body of work, not just the last 10 years. Take the long view.

[GTHobbes]

GT:

You need to look at Ralph's entire body of work, not just the last 10 years. Take the long view.

I'll concede the argument, PK. If a dire hard Bills fan thinks he should be in, after suffering through such bad football for this long, then who am I to say otherwise.

[pk500]

GT:

You need to look at Ralph's entire body of work, not just the last 10 years. Take the long view.

I'll concede the argument, PK. If a dire hard Bills fan thinks he should be in, after suffering through such bad football for this long, then who am I to say otherwise.

Oh, that's chilly!

[GTHobbes]

Oh, that's chilly!

[pk500]

Did anyone see this miscue on CBS' broadcast of the Chiefs-Colts' game last Sunday?



EPIC!

[XXXIV]

Did anyone see this miscue on CBS' broadcast of the Chiefs-Colts' game last Sunday?



EPIC!

Good stuff!

[Jackdog]

Favre's wife throw this??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruxuGts ... r_embedded

[Rodster]

That was funny Jack

[XXXIV]

Favre's wife throw this??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruxuGts ... r_embedded

Thats great!

[XXXIV]

Well, I couldn't help it but Bradford did indeed look very good tonight. If we only had a big time receiver and a back up running back.

You wait.. Danario Alexander.

Good thing I plan to live forever.

Ya never know and I hope you are right.

TD!!! Danario Alexander!!!

Rams 10 Chargers 0

Lets go Rams!!!!

[XXXIV]

17- 3 Rams lead at the half. Win lose or draw its cool seeing improvements this year. Stuff like 2 TD leads are becoming ordinary.


I do have one complaint. They wound up with the running TD due to a penalty to go up 17-0 but wtf!?!?!?! was up with the playcalling on the 4 previous plays inside the 10. All passes. All TERRIBLE!

When your best player is a BIG running back you should......RUN the mother f***in ball !!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the asshole calling the plays is trying to get Bradford killed, his plan might work. That was scary stuff.

Now that thats out of the way...Hold the lead boys and.....

Lets Go RAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sportdan30]

Ooooh how I hate the Missouri Tigers, but I'll welcome Alexander to the Rams! Big credit to a guy who has had 4 knee operations. What a great catch for a touchdown too. It's also nice to see Chris Long get in on some big plays finally. The defense is looking tough. Where the heck were they last week against the Lions?

Let's see how they play in the second half. The Chargers can put up points quickly. And the Rams very rarely play a complete game.

[Rodster]

Nice to see Henne give 7 points away after the Dolphins D imploded when the safety was nowhere to be seen until after the catch for a Packers TD.

[sportdan30]

Yeah, the last set of downs by the Rams looked pretty bad. Bradford was rolling out a bit too much and getting his bell rung. That dude on the Chargers is going to get fined for that helmet to helmet hit. The Rams O line needs to do a better job of protecting him. Nice to see Gilyard make a big first down catch though. Get him in on some screens and reverses. That boy can run!

[sportdan30]

Looks like the Rams also need a new center who can snap the ball out of shotgun! That's a good way to cause an easy turnover.

[XXXIV]

Looks like the Rams also need a new center who can snap the ball out of shotgun! That's a good way to cause an easy turnover.

They could try running the ball. They are up 2 TDs. Do they know that? or is the rarity of it confusing them?

[Rodster]

I hope the Dolphins challenge the spot of the ball because it looks like the refs shortchanged Ronnie Brown on that 4th and 1.

Robbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbed !!!

[XXXIV]

You just got that Goodell special that Detroit knows all about

[Rodster]

nvm Ed Hochuli is in the game that should explain the call.

[XXXIV]

nvm Ed Hochuli is in the game that should explain the call.

Thats the problem with those reviews on ball spots. These self absorbed primas never wanna admit they are wrong. They screwed the Vikes out of a SB trip last year on a clear bad spot review that they ignored.

[GTHobbes]

Stillers makin' it look easy today in Big Ben's 1st game back -- love it.