WhitewalkerInPhilly

Well frack. I mean, I know this is smokescreen season but...OJ Howard or Peppers maybe? I am ok with either but I have my heart set on Mike Williams

Last I checked on Spotrac, that ~10M was after estimated draft picks costs. And Gilly was on there. Also, the UDFA's won't count because we already have over 51 people on the roster. That's more than enough to add on a mid-priced vet free agent.

You know, I was blowing this off because it looked like an anti-TT thread. Bluntly, the logic side of my brain likes the idea: he will likely sign somewhere dirt cheap. He has some physical tools that can make you go far, and I don't particularly care about his politics. His protests were quiet, civil and checked off all the boxes of "avoided the things !@#$s say make protest invalid" But 1) at the end of the day, I think he's done physically. Even before last year there were signs that he wasn't taking his profession seriously (see: getting benched for Blaine Gabbert) and while many of San Fran's woes were not his fault, he definitely has backslid since the time of the Superbowl. 2) Do you remember the reception he got? The fact that some of our fanbase make t-shirts with his picture in the crosshairs of a gun? I doubt he's forgotten, and has plenty of reason to stay away.

We're not ignoring it, we just are seeing a WR corps which is Sammy and a whole lot of depth signings, a CB group that is Darby (who had a down year), Kevon Seymour (who might not be ready) and a whole lot of depth, and a safety group that has been completely retooled and pretty much bereft of depth. LB is not a position of strength, but it's so far down the list of gaping, glaring holes that I am honestly confused why people keep interjecting about it.

I'm sorry, what? Brown isn't phenomenal in coverage, and we have no idea about Ragland, but in no way do I see that as worse than our DB situation. At the very least we could throw Brown, Ragland and LorAx out there, but right now our CB starters are Darby and Seymour. We need help, fast.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we are building a base Big Nickel, and I think that our FA targets, or more specifically who and what we haven't targeted, seem to reflect that. Right now, we only have two established starters at Linebacker: Brown and Ragland. Yes, we have Lawson, but last year he was used more like how Hughes and Lawson are set to be this year as outside rushers. Neither Brown nor Ragland are amazing in coverage (Brown is ok, Ragland we didn't get to see but is more projected as a thumper). Rather than really getting on the bandwagon for Zach, we feel ok letting him shop the market for a long period of time, so he doesn't seem like a huge priority. But we've already heard that McDermott likes to play a safety in the box, so what if we are planning to drop Hyde into the box and run with two other safeties? Here's a writeup on the formation: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000375711/article/big-nickel-package-emerging-as-nfls-hottest-defensive-trend http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000375711/article/big-nickel-package-emerging-as-nfls-hottest-defensive-trend

Yeah, that's where I was going with it. Right before be re-signed Tyrod there were a lot of people banging down the door for a QB at ten. There are still a large number of people who think that we need to get a QB in the early rounds and cut bait ASAP *cough*Ryan*cough*. Honestly, the Panthers game is the one I hope to remember. That was the first year that I began going regularly to the Bills Backers when it used to be at MacFaddens in Philadelphia. I remember I got in early to get a seat at the bar with a prime view of the TV. When we scored the first touchdown, the waitress went onto the bar and poured a shot down everyone's throat. I can remember the last play of the game: I was rising to my feet when I saw Stevie wide open and the ball in the air. I don't know if I ever cheered quite as hard when the catch was made. They started pouring champagne to the people at the bar then.

I honestly don't see how a WR picked at #10 wouldn't start as a #2 receiver. Now, I think you can debate who is the bigger pick and fit for the system, but both Williams and Davis are slotted to be the #1 on many teams. Either one I think would be fine working with Sammy. After that though, I don't know many sure things. So I want one or the other. I think MW has a higher ceiling, but Davis is polished and has a lower floor.

I don't get it. Please correct me if I am wrong, but the President has the authority to declassify at any time. All of the Intel services work for him. So you would think it's a simple matter to produce the evidence and say "let's nail the bastard". But no, we see backpeddling. And no one is talking about how Sessions may have committed perjury.

Now, maybe DC Tom will call me an idiot, but maybe someone can explain the Sean Spicer argument for how when Trump tweeted "How low has President Obama gone to tapp during this sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!" That he didn't actually mean wiretapping. Now, I've considered that there's something called a "tapp", so if anyone knows about this super secret process, I would love to hear it.

I'm sorry here, for some reason when I read the title of this thread I thought that our front office had violated some league policy, and we were going to lose our 3rd and 4th round pick in 2018. But no, you were griping about not getting comp picks. This...this is stupidity on so many levels. 1) You never go through FA with the assumption of "oh, this will net us a pick next year". The NFL has simply been too inconsistent in handing them out. 2) What, you want us to not bring in FA's for anything? If you don't, you are asking for a tank.

I really think that we are going for Byrd. My guess is that they want the hubbub to quiet down and see the market, but I would want to see him return. I liked Graham, but he was always best as a #3 corner. The move to safety didn't really pan out, and he's on the wrong side of 30. With a year left on the deal and a load of cap space to free...this doesn't shock me.

You are kidding me

It's called "the nickel formation". You may have heard of it. Snarkiness aside, I would be good with going into a Big Nickel 4-2-5 as the base. Basically, the premise is that you are increasingly getting into a passing league, and you get matchup nightmares like Gronk and Jimmy Graham, or people running the ball out of shotgun spreads like Chan and Chip Kelly like to do. The pass threat is so deadly that teams now predominantly play the nickel, but it opens up holes for the zone run game. The counter is the "big nickel", bringing in 3 safeties so one can drop into the box while leaving the other two in pure coverage. If that's what McD is trying to do I am all for it.

At this point, I might be willing to overpay him slightly since we are so barren at WR. Fortunately I don't think we need to, since no one has scooped him up on the first day. I think we absolutely have to draft a WR in the first round at this point. But I would be ok with Mike Williams.

Huh I didn't see that one coming. I heard he was locked up with the Ravens. They desperately need him.

I wasn't aware they had tendered Butler. Of course, if the Saints want long term cap I'm pretty sure a one year tender doesn't give them that. In fact I think it increases the cap hit this year & then they have to pay through the nose to keep him.

I think I have been posting this a lot, but Chris Trapasso did a write up on the type of offense Dennison would be looking to install: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/1/20/14331974/rick-dennison-buffalo-bills-offensive-coordinator-tyrod-taylor-all-22 Here's a highlight from the end

Ok, quality insight. Any particular reason why not?

Continuing the "how do we fill out the WR group" I have been mulling on this idea. The Saint said no to the 32nd overall but maybe more receptive to the 10th. I am NOT advocating for a straight swap, but maybe we get a mid rounder back. Normally I wouldn't suggest such a thing. But today the WR market has gotten very small very expensive for anyone who isn't a camp body. Cooks is still on a rookie deal. He's a more proven commodity. It would definitely give us a #2 WR. The tradeoff is that we control him for less time. I thought I would throw it out there.

I'm seeing a lot of vet min...any objections to giving a lot of incentives for a certain number of touchdowns or receptions/yards

Well, both now that I think about it. 200 yard games for him both times. But I waa referring to the egregious missed tackles and snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory that was week 16.

I'd want to see WR or DB. If a fantastic safety drops to you, take it and run.

Huh, I don't recognize the name.

Well, now especially since we cut Easley. We desperately need bodies. I think we take a WR at 10 or trade back.