Mister Defense

Thanks; good post. And I hope you are right. But, to me, a great running back this year can make the Bills a playoff team. Allen is a dynamic player, hard to stop and defend. If the Bills add all around back, like a Thurman Thomas, it could be the most important step they take in the draft.

I hope you are right and that it is very early in the draft. But now, he will not be the 3rd down running back! If the Bills are smart enough to get a great back in the first two rounds, he will readily beat out the current running backs--it will be a slam dunk, no contest decision. And the Bills will know that going in. I just hope the Bills are that smart... Josh Jacobs? To address one of the most clear and obvious weaknesses on our team!!!!!!!!!!!! Inexplicable. Yikes.

It is shocking to me how few people understand our dire need for a great running back or two. With that kind of thinking, do our eyes deceive us? Was our running game NOT one of the most profound weaknesses on this team last year, a main reason the Bills were not better, with the only good running done by Allen? Don't say it will all fixed with a better offensive line as we cannot rely on that--McCoy, a very good, sometimes great player as a Bill almost never looked good--and that is not an exaggeration. He looked done. I hope that is not the case, both for his sake and the Bills, but we can only go by what we saw--and what we saw was no longer a starting caliber NFL running back, and, if we believe what we saw, not even a backup caliber running back. The Bills best get a running back or two--and early in the draft--or this will very likely be a major reason the Bills don't succeed this year. Almost no team can do well, especially one led by a young quarterback. without a solid running game. It makes the passing game better, the defense better, and is even more important with our climate. Good running backs are not, no matter the silly common knowledge now, a dime a dozen. See: the 2018 Buffalo Bills . The Bills can not this clear and present, even dire need, go unadressed.

Yes, a likely scenario, but I still would prefer to see the Bills get a great tackle this year. I want this line to be considered one of the best in the league this year as that will mean the offense can be playoff caliber. After this year I believe that the Bills will be picking in the 2nd half of the first round and great tackles almost always go very early. Great tackle in the first and running back in the second, please. Defense for most of the rest, with a possible tight end as well.

Good point; definitely a weak area. But at least the Bills addressed that to some degree.

Why are running backs so devalued now? They were once one of the most sought after players early in the draft. The Bills need a great young running back. If that is the (big) missing link this year, and the Bills do not address this clear weakness in the off season, that would be almost negligent. Josh Jacobs. Running back, Alabama. First round. Last year one of the weakest areas of this team was the running back position. So, buck the trend, get a player in the first round that will make the entire offense go. Trade down a bit, get at least another second round pick, and still nab him.

A joke?

What?? Unprosecuted crime?

Looking at the Dolphins' current quarterbacks, 3 6th rounders and ol' Brock, right now you'd have to say Fitz is the best quarterback on the roster. Shoot, if he keeps playing, he may end up on a good team and be the actual starting quarterback. I hope Miami is not that team, but compared to previous decades, I know little about the current Dolphins. Team in decline or rising?

Aint no one gonna read all of that Yikes..

Well, this stop should bring his career earnings up to 60, 70 million! Not bad for a career back up, drafted in the 7th round, huh? Glad he is a good guy; will likely do a lot of good with his enormous stash of cash...

Thanks, just reading that online. Yes, that does make a difference considering the guy has had only 30 sacks in his career. Hope the Bills got him cheap!

Good move, as he had 9.5 sacks just two years ago. Did not play great last year in New England, but you never know. Depending on contract could be a good low risk, possible high reward signing.

Wow, poor Grabbert..

I had no idea this guy was such a slimeball, choking, strangling, his pregnant girlfriend when she was eight weeks pregnant a few years ago. And now more! I had been in favor, somewhat, of the Bills making a play for their cut slimeball running back after he beat his girlfriend, as the Bills are in a desperate need of a young, highly skilled running back. But reading this it makes me regret my stance. I am glad the new Bills avoid this kind of scum of the earth, that the Chiefs seemed to have gobbled up in their desperate attempt to improve. Makes me proud to be a Bills fan, knowing that this organization won't do that. Who wants to win like that? On the shoulders of scumbags?

Yeah, but who cares about those bashing Josh Allen? They obviously have not watched him play very often if they think he is not an accurate quarterback and ignore the fact that he wings it (way) down the field at record rates. Bills fans with any brains know that we have an elite---and very accurate--quarterback. And an intelligent, hard working one who will get better each game, learning from each snap. Ignorance abounds by NFL analysts who rely on misguided 'common' knowledge rather than their own direct knowledge and research..

Very cool to hear. If the Bengals wanted him then it is an excellent sign he is no good.

Not sure why some react as if this is a surprise or a reason to mock the Browns--everyone was well aware that there would be a significant consequence, maybe a year suspension. 8 games is a light and expected penalty in most people's minds and not a surprise at all to the Browns I assume.

Obviously, it's Roland Hooks, as he started it all.

I hope that is the case, but it is the mindset of doing something so off, so regressive, that is worrying so many.

!! THIS is the problem, why this is board is so po'd at this move--that it looks like we are going to basically stay put at running back despite the horrific year McCoy had. Gore can come in if he gets hurt!! Please, no! McCoy should be challenged by two young, talented running backs, not a 36 year old has been. So, to me it is not so much bringing Gore in that is causing so much consternation, but what it may mean for the running back position next year. If McCoy sucks still, then Gore takes over?? The Bills desperately need a few young, talented and high motor running backs. If THIS is truly the plan, as stated in this post, and it seems like it may be, the Bills are blind, and not seeing the extremely clear need--and what a young, talented running back can mean to to this team. This is essential, and not just for the running game to improve but for the passing game as well. This sucks, is very discouraging---and I really, really hope this poster is wrong, that the Bills cannot be this blind. Yikes.

Come on!!! Just getting home and see this... What is it with the Bills and old, tire, worn out running backs???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? It is inexplicable, a horrible move. Exactly the opposite kind of running back they need. Yikes, yikes, yikess... Looking forward to reading this thread for some hope that I am wrong and to see everyone else just flame out at this stupid, waste of money signing. I didn't like the Brown attempt and don't like this--both are not what the Bills need.

Come on. This is dramatically more pervasive and intrusive than normal coverage. Only poor teams and showboat leaders would want that for their team. I almost guarantee you that I am right and this current coach would never even consider such a thing. Generally speaking, this is why the poor organizations, like the Bengals--, twice, and the Browns, and Dolphins are the teams---and those thinking any publicity is good, such as the Cowboys (twice). Those teams, to me, are the opposite kind of organizations that we now have in Buffalo, which is a very good thing.

I cannot believe that this staff would even, for a second, consider doing something so undermining, public, and detrimental to a team. Not a cut on the OP, as I know many would like this too, but there are dramatically more negatives this positives for participating teams. This staff is all about the TEAM---I cannot think of a more negative thing for a team than airing internal decisions, opinions, and conflicts for all to see. Such a serious minded, team oriented guy like McDermott subjecting the inner workings of his team to national television? No way, will never happen. (That is for people like Rex Ryan and Hugh Jackson.)

Prediction: The hiring of Gruden by the Raiders, and the amount of money and power given to him, will go down in NFL history as one of the most disastrous moves ever. It is so bad that this, the second year, may be his last year. But if not this year, next year.