Buddo

Pleased about this. A useful part of the offense, that adds some variety.

Certainly with the Bills, but I suspect elsewhere also, is that guys are almost putting a premium on the situation, rather than just being about the $. Probably in part, because there aren't the $ around to give too many options, unlike other years. It's something I've often thought should be the case. It's not so much a 'hometown discount', as being in a place where there are good chances of you getting paid the length of the contract, rather than simply getting cut after a year or two.

After looking into it a little, I think this is a decent signing, with the chance to turn out pretty well. From what few highlights I've seen, Hollister is much more of a traditional TE than it seems. He's also got good hands, which is what he uses to catch the football with, rather than letting it come into his body. Imho, he can be a valuable outlet and I would start him ahead of Knox, as he's simply much more reliable catching the football. Definitely offers more than Smith did in the passing game - he actually can run. Familiarity with Allen is also a bonus, especially when it comes to knowing how hard the football comes at you. I can see some potential there with Hollister, in a more traditional TE role, that doesn't necessarily rely on blocking at the LOS. From what I've seen, he does have the abilty to get open underneath, and I feel that was an area where we lacked last season. He isn't going to be a world beater, but I feel he could well become a valuable addition to the offense, both as a short area outlet, and in the Red Zone.

Anyone think that's overpaying? Lmao Barkley was probably going to cost about the same fcol. Terrific piece of business under the whole set of circumstances.

The general 'desire' for a backup QB, is that he can go 50-50. Trubisky's record as a starter, exceeds that comfortably. I don't think anyone here would have had confidence that Barkley could win multiple games if Allen was hurt for a stretch. Loved the game he won for us against the Jest, but he has done nothing since that inspires any confidence at all in him as a starter if necessary. Imho Trubisky could win you more games than he loses as a backup, and I don't think you can ask for more than that.

A decent move. The clip being shown of what he did with that awful throw from Hill, should tell you what you need to understand. This is a veteran receiver who understands what to do to support his QB, when a play breaks down, or goes off script. Diggs was good at this, as was Beasely, to an extent. Having another WR who does it also, will give Allen even more chance, when he has to start moving.

Hard to know for sure the FO thinking on this one, but if they make him an offer, I think it's the only offer they make - non negotiable. Overall, he's been a good returner for us, but I don't think he adds anything as a WR, when the hope was that he could. I'd class his roster spot currently, as a 'luxury position', and in another year I'm sure the Bills would have tried to maybe work something out. Going forward, we need to get more play from whoever we have returning, simply because in this cap strapped year, the value isn't there for a guy whose sole contributions will be returning. TBH, if it's a choice between say Roberts and McKenzie who gets an offer, then I'd go McKenzie every time, as he contributes offensively, while also having return ability.

Terrific news on Williams - and Milano. A shout out also to guys who have restructured etc., to make these moves possible, it speaks a lot to both the quality of the people, and the quality of the current organisation. I wouldn't underestimate the impact that the training facilities have either, so well done also to the Pegulas for ponying up the money for them.

There's stuff about it around here - probably in the Milano signing thread. Tweets, etc. but not necessarily from the most recognised sources.

Wouldn't be entirely against it, but not really fussed either way. One thing I would say, is that even at 30, he's got so much speed, that losing a step would still make him quicker than the vast majority. A big concern is that guys like that, with a less than solid build, are more likely to pick up knocks that keep them out of games. I'd also say that he is the type of guy who if he commits to football, he will throw himself into it whole heartedly.

Sad to see him go. Unfortunately something had to give due to the cap situation. As someone else mentioned, Smoke was a big part of the original turning around of the offense. His career seems to have gone in fits and starts in respect of injuries. Ironically, I think he's due for another healthy year, but with the cap hit, the risk was too much, imho. Good luck Smoke, against any team not called the Bills, the guy was a class act, full stop.

Solid move. Hyde has been terrific for us from the get go. I don't think his play has suffered at all. I do think that Poyer has improved more, and it makes it seem as though Hyde isn't doing as much. As someone said earlier in the thread, Micah has made a fair few critical plays for us, and while not elite, his tandem with Poyer, works really well. A microcosm of the sum of the parts being better than the individual.

Curious as to where the $9 million figure comes from. If it's from what he was slated to earn with the Vikings, well I seriously doubt he will be getting that from anyone in a hurry. Of course, I could well be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but although I rate him as a traditional type of TE, I'm not so sure too many teams actually want that - although it's my belief that the Bills are one who does. Personally, I think he could make a significant difference to our Offense going forward - especially in the Red Zone - but also as a far better outlet for Allen when under pressure. Also, just because Daboll didn't use our TEs much, I feel that if he has got one he can trust, then he will get him involved in the gameplan a lot more. I have no idea how much he might want, or how much the Bills would be prepared to pay, but TE is definitely still a position where the team can improve.

There's an article on PFT that is talking about David Njoku (sp?), that mentions that Browns HC Stefanski, and Rudolph, have a good relationship. Browns can cut Njoku at no cost. Rudolph might be up on their list of replacements, due to his relationship with Stepanski, which was from 7 years together at the Vikings.

I think this would make a lot of sense. I believe he is the type of TE that the Bills actually want, and could be an 'every down' player on offense. Knox just isn't ready yet, whereas Rudolph is about as reliable an 'all round' TE that you can get. Blocks well, safe hands, and a big red zone target when wanted/needed. Diggs should be able to give the FO all they need to know if he will 'fit', and if Diggs thinks he's worth looking into, then I would be very much 'on board', as I doubt he would want/recommend anyone who he didn't think was a guy who might not buy in.

It's one way to avoid it happening again.

It can't really be argued that Tampas D was the difference in the SB. The trouble is, KC had no O-Line of any real sort. When using generalizations, people seem to be blithely overlooking that fact. It's also true that the Tampa D-Line is pretty darn good, but one wonders how good they would have looked if KC had had their starting O-Line going against them. Now that's a game worth watching, whereas it quickly became obvious, that the last SB wasn't.

I'm sure that Star returning will improve matters, especially in respect of letting other guys play. The Bills D will almost certainly improve with his return. My difficulty in that, is that I don't see that as being enough to take us 'over the edge' defensively. Somewhere we need to find a guy who impacts games more than what we currently have on the D-Line. For all that the Tampa D-Line was much better than ours, in the Superbowl, they had it easy, as KC didn't have hardly a recognised starter on their O-Line. They were able to get loads of pressure from their front 4, which let them blanket KCs main weapons, and make life incredibly difficult for Mahomes. It's the only gameplan in town that is going to work against KC, but it was just too easy to implement, due to the useless O-Line KC had to put out, because of injuries. The Bucs actually owe the Bills big time, as not only did their actual starting LT get crocked in the Championship game, but when we played them earlier in the season, another of their O-Line starters went down and out for the season. Even when Fisher went down, the Bills D-Line were unable to capitalise on that, and tbh, even if Star had been playing, I don't believe that much would have changed there. We simply couldn't do enough. Which leads me back to the fact that not only do we need Star back, but we also need someone else who is going to give the oppositon trouble.

He's not being used, so there's little to no point keeping him. Tbh, I think he has been very under-used in his time here, and I don't see that changing going forward. No idea why that should have been the case, but it is what it is. While there isn't likely to be much of a market for his services, at least he will have more chance of getting playing time if he can sign elsewhere, as I think he's a better player than we have given him the chance to show.

Thomas Pynchon is a writer I would recommend, but he isn't going to be for everyone. He has a style of his own, but is bitingly observant, and funny with it, in his characters. Talking of funny - Terry Pratchett, who has just the best takes on some of the absurdities of life, contained within his 'discworld' series - and some of the funniest turns of phrases you will see written. Thought provoking Sci-Fi, would be Philip K Dick, who manages to fit in more stuff in small novels, than should be allowed. None of the movies made of his stuff, actually covers even remotely all the things he puts in the novels.

They obviously hadn't lined 'em up right.

Hope it all goes well and successfully. All the very best.

In fairness, Milano hasn't exactly been breaking the bank on his rookie deal. Under normal circumstances, I think the Bills would be happy to give him a long term deal at good money, i.e. the $10 -12 million per range. That might have been enough to keep him. As things stand, I feel his desire to maximise his $, is more a function of the fact that he hasn't earned that much so far, relatively speaking, and he knows the Bills can't really afford to pay him in the range he deserves. That's neither his fault, or the Bills. Ultimately, this next contract, is his future, and his overall performances mean he deserves a shot at the best one he can get.

Team friendly, or cheerio. He's been an asset for Josh, but we are getting to the point where that aspect of his contribution, should be becoming unnecessary. Realistically, we could do with someone better, assuming we are still going to be contending, as there may come a point where the backup has to win us a game, and not just keep us going. I do not like our chances in a playoff game if Barkley has to be our QB. Under the current circumstances, (cap etc.) it probably makes the most sense to try and bring him back for this year only. In the future, we have to try and do better.

TBH, I would lose no sleep at all if they took a CB with the #30. It would improve the team, and give us a solid tandem for the next 5 years. I also like the idea that that can prevent some of the effects of pre snap movement. You got two quality corners, you don’t have to have one following a #1 wr around. Our guys can just concentrate on their assignments.