Alphadawg7

I respectfully disagree on it making sense. I get your points, and good reply, but here are my counter points to this. To be clear, I would not at all be upset if we signed Clowney, I am saying it just does not make sense anymore after our off season. They are NOT going to sign Clowney for more than a year, thats what you are missing. The priority is to save cap space to retain other players. So no, it does not make sense to sign Clowney, because those "age" concerns are not relevant this year. Clowney didn't even out produce Murphy last year, let alone out play Addison or Hughes. So for this year, we are stacked at DE and have a stud rookie to mix in and develop as well. Johnson isnt an unknown, and he narrowly out produced Clowney on the same Seahawk team last year. He may not be as established as the guys ahead of him, but he is definitely not an unknown and more than capable to be a key part of the rotation with the upside to be even more. This is why outside of fan desire, it does not make football sense for the Buffalo Bills to sign him right now in terms of need. The only exception would be to sign him to a longer deal, but that has 0% chance of happening. One, Beane will never give him what he wants in order to sign a long term deal because his focus is on retaining White, Milano, then Edmunds, and Allen in the next couple of years. Two, the only way Beane would do that is if Clowney took a MASSIVE cut in what he is looking for, and 0% Clowney does that. He is looking for the best one year deal so he can prove his lofty price tag he is seeking. So again, there is just no way Clowney will be a Bill at any point this year barring injuries IMO. Beane could prove me wrong, but I just don't see it. Nor do I see Buffalo being at all attractive to Clowney...not because its the Bills, but because there is a lot of talent at DE already and he would be in a rotation here, not featured. He wants to go somewhere he can put up big stats and be on the field a lot in order to get a big payday. Another 3 or 4 sack season and his search for a big contract will be all but lost. He needs to hit at least 9, and preferably double digits for the first time in his career in order to get anywhere close to what he wants. And yes I know he makes a bigger impact than just "sacks", but when you want his kind of money he is seeking, you need the stats to get the check.

Man, I just love our Front Office.

It’s definitely not Clowney. One, that likely leaks. Two, if it was, they wouldn’t bring him in with several other guys. Three, we have a log jam of talent at DE already, just makes no sense to bring in Clowney. If it’s big guys for DL, it’s likely depth at DT given Star opted out and Horrible Harry hasn’t stepped into any action yet coming off a big injury last year so may want some depth insurance for camp until they see how he is recovering and looks along with the other new pieces they already signed. My guess it’s nothing more than maybe some camp body depth, especially if they want to ease Horrible Harry along slowly given the lack of reps this year before week 1.

hahaha don’t know why but this made me laugh and love this meme

yes also a great point

This. Well said. Its going to devalue the first round and substantially increase the value of the other rounds. It’s going to creat an opportunity for talented front offices identify talent that didn’t get a chance to rise to the top because they didn’t play this year but were likely headed for a breakout. I love our front office and firmly believe we will have a significant advantage going into the draft over a majority of the teams in the league at finding this talent. And when I say majority, I’m not implying there are some teams better than us at it, saying there are some other well run front offices too where neither us or them has an “advantage” over each other. But that small elite group of front offices as a whole will have an edge over the less talented front offices at scouting talent and finding gems throughout the draft.

All good responses and an original good right up. 1. I hear ya on the comparison there, and you're not wrong about the description of both guys. But I think Yeldon has the edge because he knows the offense. Jones has the edge on rushing ability, and Yeldon has the slight edge on pass catching ability. And given Devin and Moss will be carrying the rock as runners predominantly, I think Yeldon's gadget value as a receiver and his edge of knowing the offense gives him that slight lead over Jones. But of course, it will all come down to what they show in camp. With this unique year, in close positional battles, I tend to give the edge to player with the most experience in our system. Had this season been normal, I would 100% agree with you on Jones having the upper hand. 2. I totally get where you are coming from on Smith, and it all makes sense and I know the coaches like his leadership. But at some point, his value as a player on the field compared to the upside of a younger player with promise has to come into play. And I think Sweeney showed enough last year and has a lot of upside still to have a leg up on a one dimensional player on the field in Smith. Plus, while a blocking specialist, he has probably been our worst offender, or at least one of them, in terms of dumb penalties. 3. We are obviously pretty close on Harrison, but like I said, Star opting out pretty much locks Horrible Harry in regardless if he still is working his way to his old self again. Too much talent to let go of, especially with a roster spot on the DL opening up with Star opting out, even if he has some slight ill effects from his injury. Especially given it may take a little more time for any player this year to get back to 100% with such a limited camp, they know that, and will give him the time. So while we are mostly on the same page with him, he's in my mind a 100% unless he has some kind of significant setback that will cost him significant time.

I agree with most of this. Couple notes: I would have put TJ Yeldon in Blue as I think he likely makes the roster. They obviously wont keep just 2 RB's when one is a rookie. They tend to want to bring rookies along at a slower pace, and while I am certain Moss likely starts week 1 as Devin's backup, I still think they will want a veteran in that room given Devin still only has one season under his belt with this being a no preseason and COVID impacted camp. I think I would swap Sweeney and Smith in the red and blue. I think Sweeney showed enough last year to have a leg up on Lee who doesn't offer much outside of blocking and has struggled with penalties while in Buffalo. Especially with Kroft healthy and being their as a vet presence around Knox and Sweeney. Harrison Phillips is a Lock, especially with Star opting out. He was our best DT before getting hurt last year, and they love this guy. I wouldn't have him in Blue Outside of that, I would have put the list together the same everywhere else.

My bad, didnt mean to include a *spoiler* ha. But yeah, I just love football and enjoy all the behind the scenes about the players, their lives, whats going on with the pandemic, how they are all handling it. Based on this thread, seems others just want to see football plays only, which is fine and their preference. But Hard Knocks for me has always been about so much more than "football" itself, and thoroughly enjoy the series and never find it boring. Honestly, one of my favorite parts of the overall series history is watching the coaches and how they each handle their teams. And this year has two good ones as I very much like both HC's.

Great move! Now Beane!

I too have loved hard knocks since it’s debut. And this year will be even more interesting IMO, seeing on the inside how teams are handling this pandemic. Loved the first episode. My absolute favorite part of episode one was watching Ramsey not give into the media pushing him for a click bait quote about his contract. Thought he was quite mature in his response. To me, this sheds a lot of light IMO in how media tries to shape the public perception of a player. Ramsey has often put his foot in his mouth as a young cocky player having a lot of success. No doubt about that. At the end of the day, these players often start to mature and learn from these mistakes, but the media never wants that to happen and they want to keep pushing that narrative constantly. So major kudos for Ramsey taking a stand and not falling for it giving into the bait they were trying to ram (pun intended lol) down his throat. Living in LA, all I’ve really heard is very high praise for him in the locker room as a teammate and a leader. I know some people within the Rams organization too who have nothing but great things to say. Like Diggs...media is gonna probably try and get sound bites out of him at times because he voiced some stuff or posted some cryptic stuff while in Minnesota. But sometimes, all that’s needed is a change of scenery for a player. As a hardcore Bills fan, and a Rams fan as my second team living in LA, I have given them both a clean slate on their new teams in terms of being “potential distractions” and everyone else should too IMO. Obviously if any of the old shenanigans start to resurface at any point, then of course it’s fair to continue to question their character again. But I honestly don’t think either will be a problem with their respective new teams.

Hmmmm...yet I know several nurses working exhausting and insane hours in packed hospitals from COVID. So maybe take your own advice, try looking at media other than Faux News, Breitbart, and OANN...all fake news sites...and also stop taking idiots on twitter as facts.

IMO Duke > McKenzie. What do we even need McKenzie anymore for? He's only a gadget player, and we have a number of people on this team who can handle those gadgety routes. He's really small and never made any real impact other than a cool play 2 or 3 times a year. I want to score points, and I would rather have a big target who can high point passes or be physical in the Redzone vs a small gadget guy that rarely touches the ball. I have nothing against McKenzie, but this is a rebuilt WR core and I just don't get the roster spot he would take up in those listing him as making the final roster. I don't feel like he brings enough to the table to justify beating out some of the other guys that are in the locker room, including Duke. My way too early WR depth chart predictions: Locked up: Diggs, Brown, Cole. Starting outside guys and slot are 100% locked barring injury. Highly likely to make the cut: Roberts (for his ST contributions), Gabriel Davis. If we keep only 5, those above are certainly the most likely to be the 5. 6th WR spot: Duke, McKenzie, Hodgins, Easley. For me, Duke has the edge here, and Hodgins is the most intriguing given he's a rookie. I also would not count out Easley, they keep bringing him back, so they seem to like him. And with the rest our WR group upgraded and bigger already, he could sneak in as a backup slot WR if he shows out in camp. NOTE: Roberts will likely be 6th on the depth chart IMO, so technically who ever wins this "6th spot" will probably be ahead of Roberts either week 1 or sometime during the season IMO. My final prediction (we keep 6): Diggs, Brown, Cole, Davis, Duke, Roberts. Hodgins and Easley go to PS I think less experienced players like rookies and Easley are going to be hurt by not having a preseason and as much prep time. Duke has a year in our system and some reps with Josh. The team seems to really love Duke in the locker room as well, so do the coaches. He plays with an edge to him as well. So, for me, do not underestimate the lack or prep time to players new to this team. Its going to be MUCH harder to make the roster this year for later round rookies and UDFA rookies than its ever been due to the deep and talented roster coupled with the impact of COVID on reps and opportunities.

I wasn't in that crowd, I liked Gilmore and would have preferred to have kept him, but at the same time, it didnt make sense given the plans of the FO.

I never said it was a talent thing. I said his play then was not at the same level it is now in NE. He is widely considered the best CB in the NFL right now, and not one person outside his parents would have called him the best DB in the NFL during his time with the Bills is all I was saying. But my overall point was you just dont spend big on a DB just before you tear it all down and clear out the cap in a full rebuild.

Again, you are missing the point about a new regime coming in to do a complete rebuild and gut the cap issues. You dont pay big money to a CB IMO when you need to rebuild the whole franchise. And while I agree he was always talented, and I liked him, I still think it was the right move. And honestly, it proved to be the right move as we have had a top end corner in his spot since he left for pennies on the dollar.

Not saying his talent wasn't there, I am saying his play on the field was not at the level it is now, nor at the level at the contract he was seeking. But the more important factor was still that you don't spend a butt load of money on a CB when you are about to fully gut the team and rebuild while also clearing out cap space.

I mean no one with any football intellect of any kind would leave off a safety duo that has combined for 600 tackles and 19 INT's the last 3 years. Thats not even being a homer, that is just an egregious and shocking snub. Not only are they one of the best duos in the league on one of the best defenses in the league, but they legit have a case for anywhere in the top 3 and without question are in the top 5.

This thread made it to 7 pages? Shocker. Tre will100% be resigned and stay with the bills. And the Gilmore comparisons as reasoning was not an accurate comparison. At no point did Gilmore play at the level he is currently playing at in NE. He was seen as a pretty good talent, not the best CB in football when McD got here. Most importantly, one of the first things McD and then Beane wanted to do was clean up the cap situation, and signing a CB at that time to a contract that was above his performance was not the way to do that, especially on a team about to go into a full rebuild.

This is what being a great GM looks like. I have been saying and will keep saying it...Beene is without question one of the top GM's in the NFL, and once the Bills put some playoff wins on their record, there will be no way to deny that anymore. His ability to manage the cap, keep players happy, manage contracts, find talent, pull the trigger when he sees fit on moves, get value from our scrap heap in trades, etc etc is as good as anyones in the league.

Not weird, the organization is not run by Terry and Kim. How well the Bills are run is substantially more a testament to the combination of Beene and McD. Terry and Kim still get credit, they are doing the right things. But point is, that its not very easy to find a great GM and also a great HC, let alone both at the same time. Beene and McD have taken a firm grasp on how this team is run, finding talent, the culture, etc. None of that is a dig on Terry and Kim, just saying while they struck gold with our GM and HC, its not something easily replicable either.

Thats a really terrible take on this situation

You have a major flaw in this proposal. That is this: You would have a modified bubble: teams would practice during the week at home and then each division would have a game site that all 8 teams travel to on the weekend. You cant have a "bubble" if teams are going in and out of it. The NBA bubble works because no one is allowed to leave or come without doing a quarantine first. So if the teams are traveling to and from the bubble every weekend, then its not a bubble and its not a safe contained space rendering it a futile process.

Let me see if I got this straight...you did NOT get COVID, just got sick and self quarantined for safe measure...and thats your reason to tell players to "GET TO WORK!". This makes sense to you how? What does you NOT getting COVID have to do about whether a player is comfortable playing with the risk of getting COVID? ?‍♂️

Geezus this thread is disturbing. I cant even believe some of the posts in here. Bottom line: If a player isn't comfortable playing this year, thats their right and no one should blame them. Ive seen the devastation of this disease first hand, its serious. My friend lost her husband who was 38, in good shape, and NO health issues prior to COVID. He got it in March, didn't even need to be hospitalized and recovered at home. But, the COVID caused permanent damage to his lungs and heart. In June, where he had been negative since early April, he was riding his bike alone and died from the damage it permanently did to his organs. That is the major issue...even people who get COVID and have just mild symptoms could die from it in the future earlier than they should have from the damage it leaves in your body after recovering. I got other friends who have recovered from COVID with the same long term issues. My friend Brian has severe scarring in his lungs and other lingering damage and has to go in every 28 days to donate plasma with the antibodies and continue monitoring his issues. If Tre White decides to sit out 2020, I will fully understand and look forward to seeing him back on the field in 2021. As a Bills fan, of course I would love to see our squad at its full strength if we play a season in 2020. But, ultimately, my stance is to support what each players feels is the best decision for them as individuals and their family. This is a personal decision, he doesn't owe the fans or the team anything here, this is about the risk he is comfortable with. Well said...but I would add to Foolish that its also absurd...and kind of disgusting if you ask me.