Rocky Landing

Nice one, Shaw-- one of my favorites. It was reported recently that the Bills will have the most continuity of any team in the league heading into the season. Considering how well they had gelled in 2019, that should really give them an enormous leg up for at least the first few weeks, if not the entire season. And, on offense at least, the two additions to the starting lineup-- Diggs, and (I assume) Daryl Williams are immediate upgrades. My only concerns are on defense. I've watched quite a few plays with AJ Klein from his last season with the Saints, and I'm not sold. Compared to Edmunds, and Milano, he just looks like a "low-motor" guy. I'm also concerned that our rotation at DT is a downgrade from last season. Having Oliver, and J. Phillips splitting reps was pretty awesome, and I wonder how much of an affect having the D-line so fresh in the fourth quarter had on our fourth quarter comebacks? I think the opt-out of Star hurts us more than people realize, also. Not that I have any concerns with Horrible Harry, but I don't have as much faith in Butler, or Jefferson as most. All that being said, I believe we have upgraded at DE with Mario Addison, and while it will take some time, I believe Epenesa is going to develop into something special.

Last season they had Neal listed as a safety, but he played nickel CB quite a bit. I wonder if it really makes much of a difference how they have him listed? Obviously, they were happy with his backup abilities at nickel and safety, and of course he was one of our best STers.

Other than the Pats*, Jets, and Dolphins...

How are STs "less and less a part of the game?" Did they add another down while I wasn't paying attention? Is field position no longer an issue? Do field goals count for fewer points? Teams ignore STs at their own peril.

IIRC, wasn't one of the "highlights" of Late Nate's career (so far) when he threw to KB in that Indy blizzard game?

Yeah, I'm sure Beane, and McD have no idea if Allen has "hit his ceiling." It's all just a big mystery, really.

I hope not.

Hyperbole vs. hyperbole.

Does Roberts clear waivers?

A surprise to many.

I know he's a special teams guy, but I remember how unimpressed I was with Jones before, when he was a Bill.

I wonder where his head's at regarding playing vs. a decent paycheck? To hear him talk, it doesn't sound like it's about the money, but that he's following his dream. I would think another year locked on the PS might kill that dream? Although, so might declining the special status. Be that as it may, he seemed like a really fun player to watch. I hope he gets his chance.

[vague title] response in 3... 2... 1...

A assume Wade can turn down his special status, and I wonder if the Bills would still be interested in keeping him on the PS (or any other team, for that matter)?

I understand, to a degree, indulging in a little schadenfreude towards a group like the Pats* fanbase. But, I don't get the schadenfreude towards other Bills fans when a player they're a fan of gets cut. Seems pretty dickish to me.

Perhaps more this year, with a 16-man PS. Or, perhaps less with the realities of pandemic life?

Fitzpatrick is a seasoned vet, and a better quarterback. Is that in question?

Well, his rookie year in AZ, he played behind the worst O-line in the league, after which he was dumped as part of a re-build (a fairly experimental re-build, at that). Then, in Miami, he was literally positioned to fail. The Miami FO was so egregiously tanking that the NFL competition committee got involved. And, needless to say, there are plenty of Bills fans who wanted him to be drafted over Allen, and they hate to be proven wrong. Of course, none of this means he doesn't stink.

How is he still relevant? A quarterback’s white elephant It’s enough to give you fatigue TSW decorum would just say ignore him But, good God, how is he still in the league??? Peterman

Nobody played better hungover than Namath.

Plus, a second ranked defense with Jim Schwarz to a 24th ranked D with just two starting personnel changes. Disgraceful.

This is a troll thread.

I actually kinda have the opposite take on his decline. In fact, I'll just go ahead and say it: I'm willing to put the decline of Marcel Darius (as well as the entire rest of the defense, for that matter) largely on the shoulders of Rex Ryan. We went from the #2 ranked defense under Schwarz, to the 24th under Ryan with just two changes in personnel. Marcel wasn't the only defensive player to lose all motivation, and check out that season. Darius went from 10 sacks in 2014 to just two in 2015. Mario Williams went from 14.5 to 5. Hughes went from 10 to 5. Kyle Williams went from 5.5 to 1. The team, as a whole, went from a league-leading 54 sacks in 2014, to just 20 in 2015. The Ryan regime was a motivation-suck for the entire defense.

I'm certainly NOT saying only keeping five WRs is likely. But, I do think it's possible, considering a few different factors: (a) the new PS rules, (b) it looks like they're giving Roberts more snaps on offense, and (c) they may want to keep three QBs, four TEs, and four RBs, plus a fullback. EDIT: And, more to the point of my original post, I think keeping five WRs is more likely than keeping seven. Too many mouths to feed.