Happy

Big loss, but the Ravens seem to do well with player personnel acquisitions, as well as John Harbaugh plugging them in. I wouldn't be too concerned if I was a Ravens fan.

Maybe I'm not giving Tre enough credit for the strip and fumble; the tacking/physicality part of his game is worth noting. However, he gets beat bad more than a "shutdown" corner should, both during the regular season and the playoff game. There was a stretch during the regular season where Levi Wallace was the better CB and Tre really seemed to be struggling. In the playoff game, it's DeAndre Hopkins so let's set the bar low for a CB? Um, no, how about not. The play Tre got absolutely toasted on set up the Texans for a TD. I don't remember if it was their first TD or a go ahead TD; when you're up by 16, it doesn't matter a whole lot. So let's not pretend that Tre only got beat once, because that is not true. IMO, it is not worth breaking the bank on a CB, games are won and lost in the lines, which is where most of the resources should be allocated. It doesn't make sense to pay a CB top money, at least not now since you can't play the position anymore...at least like you could even 10 years ago. That's my honest thoughts...too bad if it doesn't conform to TBD group think or if it disappoints you.

Is Arena League starting back up? Looks like one of those logos.

If Tre belongs in the discussion of elite CB, you absolutely have to refer back to the wildcard game and performance vs Hopkins. Otherwise, the bar is set low. Bolded part is a good point. Not sure he's worth elite money...at least not right now.

Subway is still a lot bigger of a chain than Jersey Mike's. I do agree that a Jersey Mike's sub is much better than Subway; I won't go to Subway any longer.

How so? They just moved the potential out in Star's contract through the 2021 season rather than 2020 season. I doubt they cut Star until after 2021, but that doesn't stop them from bringing in another 1-tech and looking into shifting Harry Phillip to 3-tech, which is what I think they should explore doing.

This is depressing. It is like Beane and McDermott saying "we want to suck on defense, we don't want to stop the run, and we don't want to pressure the QB."

The Bills will sweep the Patriots AND win two playoff games in the offseason? Sounds about right.

Yeah, Stephon Gilmore got burned a bunch. IMO, it doesn't make sense to pay DB's as much as they are. You can't play the position like it should be played since the WR always gets the benefit of the doubt.

There is a lot of group think that goes on around here.

That was an important game, you just can't get beat like there. And it wasn't just one game, he got burnt in other regular season games.

Agree, Tre Pay Day will soon be here. Tre may not have allowed a single passing TD, but he got burnt enough that allowed the opposition to get into scoring range; DeAndre Hopkins ran his mouth about it after the Wildcard loss. Maybe it's that I'm of the mindset that it makes more sense to pay your lines big money rather than your backfield.

Please tell me we're not using Madden to rate players....

Umm, he got badly toasted by DeAndre Hopkins in the playoffs. Show me where I said he sucks. I think he's good, but not quite elite...one step below that.

I can get behind this suggestion as I think it will make a big difference. The DBs will have an easier job on defense and the offense will improve in both running and passing. I thought I remember hearing that this was tried and didn't work out well. Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I thought I recall that Dawkins isn't as good on the right side of the line.

It's smart to extend Tre now, but I don't think he should be the highest paid CB in the league. He's good, but not quite "shut down" good.

I agree. My point was that ESPN passed on giving Romo $17M, so I'm surprised that they would even consider going after Peyton who will want more...if they can even lure him to the booth.

What if McDermott is now deciding to take the Rex Ryan route - come in late, leave early, and mail it in during game day?

Didn't ESPN balk at paying Tony Romo $17M a year to commentate on games? Now they're going to pay Peyton > $20M? Not sure I believe it.

I think it depends on if Beane finds someone better either in the draft or FA, and the guy beats Ford out of a job in camp.

Now all they have to do is add an Offensive Playcaller and take those responsibilities away from Daboll.

Drafting a guy is easier said than done, at least the right guy. It is easy to draft the wrong guy and have him sit behind Brady for a year or two, then suck the next year. The Raiders have Carr and the 49ers have Garappolo right now...those are the birds in the hand. I know they're not world beaters, but you can work with them, you just need a good supporting cast around them. The 49ers, at least, have that. Why topple what you have for Brady well past his prime and an additional year or two, max.

I can see Brady going to the Titans or staying in NE. Doubt he goes to the Raiders or 49ers. It would put those teams in a QB bind within a year or two.

I agree. The Bills were a better team than the Dolphins in the late 80s through most of the 90s, though Marino was a better QB than Kelly. Jim may be considered tougher than Dan Marino, but Marino (like any other QB during that era) took their share of big hits and still played on.

I think a 5 yr, $80M + contract is a little high for a zone CB, but looking at the numbers you suggested, is there much of a difference between 5/80 ($16M AAV) and 5/68 ($13.6 AAV)? The Bills probably need to give him the higher figure due to the type of defense they run; creating a hole by letting Tre seek a better offer (which he would probably get) is going to hurt filling other holes up front.