Archives for February 16, 2017

'The deadline this year for any players who receive the franchise tag to sign a long-term contract extension is July 15. If the two signs can't come to an agreement before then, a player's only option is to play out the year on the tag. A player can sign his franchise tender before July 15, and the two sides can still work a long-term extension. This happened last year with the Bills and left tackle Cordy Glenn.

'Blame for the Bills’ cap situation falls directly on Jim Overdorf, the team’s senior vice president of football administration. Overdorf has given out some downright goofy contracts, including an ill-advised extension for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus worth potentially $100 million that is an anchor on the Bills’ cap. Left tackle Cordy Glenn is also scheduled to have a cap hit of more than $14 million in 2017. Glenn is paid like an elite left tackle, but has never made a Pro Bowl and missed the end of 2016 with a back injury, which is bad news for an offensive lineman.'

'If making the playoffs is the objective after a 17-year drought, they should keep Taylor as the immediate solution. If they want a Super Bowl, they should cut ties with him. Taylor is somewhere between a starting NFL quarterback and a franchise QB.'

'"The Bills have a number of high-priced players who may no longer work with the new coaching staff. Tight end Charles Clay is paid like a superstar for role-player production, although his contract makes him difficult to cut. Defensive end Jerry Hughes and defensive tackle Kyle Williams are also questionable fits with new coach Sean McDermott. GM Doug Whaley may be loath to blow this team up because of the dead money involved, but there's a case to be made to start clearing the decks."'

'"This is obviously based on the idea that Tyrod Taylor would be playing somewhere else. We'll be able to say that definitively, one way or the other, in March. If there's a big question here, it's whether Watson is any more ready to start in year one than a quarterback who's currently on the roster. I think the Bills will go a different direction if they're able to bring in a veteran QB in March."'

'Ryan Fitzpatrick has a history with Bills and an affinity for the Buffalo area. If he would come at a reasonable price and with a willingness to accept a backup role, Fitzpatrick could be a fit with the Bills.'

'Starting with the offensive side of the ball, here’s what the Bills should consider in regard to their upcoming free agents…'.

'The Eagles need a running back if they say goodbye to Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles. Even if Sproles is back, the Eagles can't use him as their feature back. Second-year player Wendell Smallwood doesn't appear ready to become the top back.'

'Let’s face it. If Alexander had been signed for the vet minimum by the Patriots then had the season he did, he’d be the poster child as another example of how they’re the greatest ever at finding talent at cheap rates.'

'“I think it’s a great day for us to come in and show our appreciation and spread love to the guys that make things possible,” said Kouandjio. “It’s important for everybody to come out and support our warriors. We all understand that our freedom isn’t free.”'

'“Much like the Chargers, the injury bug got Buffalo early on this season,” Danny Kelly wrote. “Their top pick in last year’s draft, defensive end Shaq Lawson, missed the first six games recovering from offseason shoulder surgery; and their second-round pick, projected starting inside linebacker Reggie Ragland, tore his ACL in training camp. Dealing with complications from offseason foot surgery, Sammy Watkins spent half of the season on the injured reserve, and in the eight games he did play, he was a shadow of himself. To top it all off, the Bills lost Pro Bowl center Eric Wood to a broken leg in Week 9.”'