WhitewalkerInPhilly

I've been doing a bit of freelancing lately, and it just so has happened that I've been doing more travel to Buffalo. As tiring as travel is, there seems like a decent chance that I will actually be back in town for the start of the season. Now, I could find myself just walled off wherever I'm staying, but I figure that it would be nice to get out and watch the game at a local bar. I'm wondering if people have places that they would recommend in the Elmwood village area, Downtown or close to the waterfront, since that would probably be the easiest to get to.

NOOOOOOOO! OK, that's a bit overdramatic. And I think even Corey White was outplaying him at camp, but man, we are thin at CB.

Say what you will about not extending Sammy. I would have done it. But even I will say it's a calculated choice. Remember: OBJ and Brandin Cooks hit free agency in 2019. They are in the same draft class and are expected to set the market price for a WR for the next five years. They have had a lot more production than Sammy. By making the choice now, the Bills get the initiative in negotiations. If he has breakout career year, one where he strings together 16 complete games with the kind of numbers that we all hope he will be very expensive to retain next year. But A) we are likely to be in the playoffs if he plays that well and B) it would be more expensive and difficult to keep him long term the year after. If he keeps having nagging injuries and has a year like the past three, the offers won't be nearly as high. If he struggles and never turns the corner it might be time to cut bait.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm feeding the troll I agree. One thing I heard mentioned from the Astro report, regarding TT's innaccuracies was that they are working in timing routes. The kind of routes that are "set the hot read, three step drop, fire where the WR is supposed to be" This means that the goal of the drill at this point in camp is not to complete the pass. It's getting the muscle memory down on Tyrod's part, and getting the WR's (many of whom won't make the team) in sync. Yeah, he's having up and down days. That's what camp is for. We know what he is by now, and while I hope the scheme fits, I think we knew the best case was incremental progress. There really wasn't, and isn't anything reasonably better that we could have scrapped up with offseason for an immediate starter. Even Mahomes would have had to sit for a year, as he is clearly not ready. I don't think that the second follows the first. Unless the Bills are bad, really bad, which I don't think they will be, they are likely looking in the 10th-20th pick range is they don't make the playoffs. Kansas, as much as I want them to be awful, I don't expect to give us a top 5 pick. So I imagine that it would be difficult to get a number 1 or 2 overall pick. Even then, Goff rode the pine for a long while. Wentz was supposed to sit behind Bradford before the Eagles nixed that plan. So I see 3 outcomes really: A) The Bills are awful, in which jetting Tyrod make perfect sense, and it's time to bet the farm on a rookie QB using a top 5 pick, the Kansas pick, and next year's first. B) The Bills are ok, but just not good enough. It becomes obvious that Tyrod can help, but just isn't going get us over the hump. We take a guy, but let him ride the pine in 2018. C) The Bills make the playoffs. Tyrod proves to be the Alex Smith of this Andy Reid coaching tree branch. The Bills pick in the 20's, meaning that even betting the farm won't get them a top 5 pick. Tyrod likely plays out the last year of his contract, possibly getting traded at the deadline or benched for the rookie. Unless the Bills really, really bomb, I don't see Tyrod being gone next year.

I believe the logic was so that they get used to being under the lights.

Yeah, that's where I am.

I get that. Where I lose the logic trail is *how* it is disrespectful, especially after he changed it not to offend their delicate sensibilities. For a group that likes to complain about "snowflakes" they get butthurt pretty easily. You'd think Kaep had teabagged a war widow wrapped in am American flag while shouting "9/11 was an inside job! Wake up sheeple!"

Ok. How about this: The NFL polled viewers about why their ratings were dipping. 26% of people polled said the protests were part of it. Fewer viewers = less money for owners. Owners have the ear of the GMs. GMs control the roster. So if it means squeezing a few extra bucks from the flyover states, teams don't rock the boat. If you've never been in a workplace where politics and who is a better asskisser is valued over competence, I envy you.

I really need to ask what was so bad about what he did. I'm not a SJW. I typically find them annoying. On the other hand I do hear a lot of "that protest only hurt it's own cause" for a lot of reasons. It was loud/profane. That there was property damage or criminality in proximate relation. Whether you agree with the cause or not, Kaep quietly took a knee. He didn't announce it, and only explained when asked. When vets aired grievances saying it was disrespectful he modified his protest. He did everything he could to take a stand in a quiet and respectful way. So what the hell? You can disagree with the premise, or it's efficacy, but I have no idea how to do it in a more peaceful way.

Look...there is a story, so they are going to exploit it. And there is a story. Kaep absolutely has his problems as to his play. I would argue that Tyrod might be better. But I can't say with a straight face that he has less upside than a collective group of Tom Savage, Brian Hoyer, Josh mccown and Brock Osweiler. And that's not even backups. If politics didn't play in at least a little, he would have been snapped up somewhere long ago. Two or three years ago we would have traded years of first round picks for him.

Thanks jw. I guess it makes sense. As upbeat as I am about the defense returning to form, it will be 2 brand new systems. I think the most telling attitude is that they traded back to get the KC pick. I don't think you do that if you are 100% sure on Tyrod. They also didn't go gangbusters on high prices FA's. If they can come on strong late, I'll be happy.

Ok, that makes sense. I would much rather see work on a timing route now than in the run-up to week 1.

Any Astro Notes on how Tyrod is doing? To hear from Joe B and even Fairburn the sky was falling but he sounded ok in Astro's writeup

I'm hearing a lot of "I've never seen this in camp before" and I like it. It's hard not to get excited about Zay. It sounds like he catches everything thrown his direction

I am a noted Kool Aid drinker, but I don't know. Something feels different this year. I loved Rex's bravado, but the back of my brain had whispers of things going wrong. This year, the risks are blunt to me: questionable LB group. Thin secondary. Thin WR. But for all that, for some reason, I'm not worried. From all reports, Lawson and Hughes are flying off the ends. Safety is no longer neglected. Dareus and Kyle look hungry. Tyrod has his limitations, but I salivate at some of the bootlegs Sieman was able to run last year. With Shady still in high gear, and JWill to back him up, and a strong FB and backfield receiving game, plus a cohesive O-line for the first time in years, I have few doubts of being a top 10 run team again. Zay looks worth the picks. If we can snag Boldin, I actually really like our WE group.

I did a double take too. I assume Holmes, who has had a rough camp so far. Zay looks like a perfect number two option so far.

Zay is sounding like an excellent investment, and Holmes is sounding like an excellent reason to sign Boldin.

Lol, did he steal that from Astro?

We also lost Goodwin! Isn't that going to be a huge loss? ... *chirp chirp*...*chirp chirp*

I heard a decent point on WGR last week: in terms of body type, Boldin is very similar to Zay. Now, he has maybe one or two year left in the tank, but if he can help Zay refine his game, that's worth a little extra alone. And that's on top of being a surer bet in the slot and a nice possession, move the chains WR at this point in his career, which we can use. Let's open the checkbook.

I agree that Holmes isn't likely to be cut, at the least because of ST and being brought in on a vet contract. But if he has a constant case of the drops, maybe we should up our offer to Boldin.

I just hope I don't get locked out trying to remember! And man, I don't think it's even been a decade yet! I can help with that. Just give me a credit card number, security code, social security number and your mother's maiden name. I kid! I kid!

Anyone know the terms of the trade?

Geez, right before camp too. I mean, it was assumed that he was 4th on the depth chart. For my money, it's a mix of Lynn thinking he might have something while he has Rivers to tide him over and Beane pushing Petterman

No. Just no. The controls you are suggesting are in place in the NBA, and what that did for the Sixers was encourage them to tank three years in a row and pull their best players at the first sign of injury year four. They were "punished" by being pressured to fire the GM who set it up. Now they are being rewarded with a roster full of very talented young picks and bountiful cap space. In the NFL, the point of tanking is to get a QB. Winston, Mariota, Goff and Wentz were 1 and 2 overall picks and none of them have made the playoffs. Goff looks like a total bust. You take your chances.