Mister Defense

You say "rape is worse than murder". I think most would disagree with that statement, almost all, actually. I cannot imagine anyone in this country, if they had to choose one of those horrendous options for someone they loved, choosing that they be murdered instead. I have thought about this previously and believe that type of societal mindset may be, for some who rape, the reason they then kill their victim. Yes, rape is a horrible crime but to end the existence of someone is a dramatically more heinous crime.

? I did know that Wiley had serious character issues. It has been a long time since he played and cannot think of any examples to back that up. What are those? As that may cause me and others to change our perspective.

The Bills were missing their starting safety at the outset, and early in the first quarter they lost their best cornerback, one of the best in the league. Two vital players gone on defense, as they played against the two time MVP QB. Yet they still were beating the chiefs, at their home, late in the first quarter in the championship game. It further exposed the Bills' weaknesses on defense, their lack of high end players in the secondary and their need of a revamped D-Line. Something we had seen for almost the entire year. It was more evidence to me that the Bills need to get those areas fixed, and not with 'okay band aids', but with as high level players as possible. And it also showed the need for a wideout who could get open consistently down the field, to help them take the next step on offense. It should be pretty clear by the start of the season, or by Halloween?, if the Bills have taken the steps needed to win the next one--and to get that game at home next year.

Well, looking at PFF he made improvements last year in most aspects of his game. Pretty good upside according to the pre draft info. Huge. 26 years old. Hey, you never know. Jerry Hughes had not done much before the Bills got him at roughly the same age. Hughes had 5 sacks in his first 3 years at Indi--and then 20 in his first two years in Buffalo. At 6' 5" and 335 pounds, with good speed, maybe the new defensive line coach can move him forward. Hughes became one of the best pass rushers the Bills have had. Maybe Fotu can become a force in the middle, or at least a good rotational player against the run. I like the fact that he is young, and not a barnacle.

Stephon Gilmore, in my view. Homecoming. Older than Douglas but seemed to play much better than him this year. A few years older, but likely a future Hall of Famer. They need someone, as the cupboard is strikingly bare at cornerback, almost embarrassingly so for Beane.

THIRTY years later, 30, and they were adults at the time. Accusations like this make no sense. There is almost no fair way to now evaluate the veracity of this story, THIRTY years later. Extremely unfair to Wiley, as he is now stained for life.

So sad, but why not take the next step and make another awful move if you are the Browns? The Dog Pound, in winter, sitting in a big cozy warm living room will no longer have much bark. Tailgating will diminish substantially, as it has been reported to do when other teams move their team inside a giant warm living room: who wants to get ready for the game out in the elements, when you can just pull up in your warm car, and then head into your warm, cozy stadium. Fits soo well with a team that now lacks an identity, direction, and focus on what has made the Cleveland Browns who they are. Are the same yahoos who thought giving Watson a king's ransom to play quarterback, two years removed from the game and his life rocked by his salacious behavior behind this move? (Yes, I am not a fan of domes! Went to some football games at the SU Carrier dome during college and felt like I was sitting in giant, warm living room. Horrible atmosphere. To me, so bad it was almost no longer football.)

Obviously an area I disagree with you is the wide receivers. For reasons we still do not know completely of course, Cooper was a difference maker in only a few games, and so was not the player the Bill envisioned. 297 yards with the Bills. And I thought Hollins would have his best year as a pro here, but was not close, though he did play an important role and came on more as the year progressed. 378 yards for the Bills, while I thought he may eclipse the 690 yards with the Raiders just two seasons ago. It seems pretty clear that the Bills are determined to not make the same (possible) mistake they made with Samuels and fully believe that Joshua Palmer will be a starter next year, and a good one, With his route running and separation ability, I think he will be that this year, opening an area of the field that was too often neglected last year and which made it easier to defend an otherwise high level offense. I see Palmer as a 1000 yard receiver, far surpassing the productivity of Cooper and Hollins last season, and making an already excellent offense even better. Maybe wishful thinking. We'll see. And, yes, I also figured in Bishop's expected progress at safety as one of my reasons for improved safety play next year. The new found talent with Forrest, and the depth with Hamlin, likely mean a return, somewhat, to the high level safety play the Bills have been known for since McDermott took over, improving the very poor 3rd down efficiency and stopping many of the big plays. And while still in need of help, a huge D-tackle (or two) and an end, the D-line is improved with the three additions. Right now the cornerbacks may be the weakest the Bills have had in a long time, well before McDermott, but Douglas seemed to hit a wall last year. I don't want him back unless they are desperate, which they may be. They better get a decent cornerback before the draft somehow, or they will likely need 3 good ones there, which is tough to accomplish. The combo of some of these things makes me more hopeful than you are that the moves so far, and what is to come, are just what the Bills may need to take the next step. So I find these moves making me 'really hopeful' that they are doing the things to take the next step next year, as opposed to finding them 'really disappointing'. And they have ten picks in the draft, which I believe they will now parlay into 4 higher level players. The season will reveal how well we did in our analysis, but I think the Bills are at least slightly better in several key areas. With much more to come in the draft.

Cooper's production very likely was hampered by his injury, which one doctor said was so serious he should not play again last year. We won't know this until we see Cooper play again next year, wherever that may be, or if at all. I don't think he was a bust, and that even in his limited roll he helped the Bills win a few games that they otherwise may not have won. 1250 yards, with Watson and Flacco throwing to him in Cleveland in 2023. Hard to imagine he fell off the cliff that quickly, but we'll see..

Yes, as Palmer will likely be a full time starter this year IMO. Cooper was not effective consistently, likely because of his late arrival and then a serious injury. 297 yards with the Bills. Hollins was good, especially as he got going, but only had 378 yards So, I definitely think Josh Palmer is a more vital part of this team this year than that combo last year. I firmly believe he gets much more than the combined 675 yards Hollins and Cooper got for the Bills last year. I think Palmer surpasses 1,000 yards this season and joins Shakir as the two leading receivers on the Bills. Maybe wishful thinking, best case scenario, but watch some more of his tape from the last two years. He is a starting caliber wide receiver, and a good one. Best move by Beane so far this off season, signing a missing link.

If the Bills think Cooper's injury and late arrival were the reasons he did not have a lot of productivity last year, then I want him back. He kicked kiester for a Cleveland team just two seasons ago, with 1250 yards. But if they think Cooper has hit a wall, then obviously, NO. I would hate to see Cooper go to the Patriots or Dolphins or Chiefs, or another AFC team, and have a high level year, when the Bills need a player like Cooper was in 2023, a guy that can put them over the top if that is the case. Glad there is little interest, so hoping he signs for a low number, under 10, but with good incentives. It would ease many minds as far as the WR room is concerned, and may give the Bills more draft capital to parlay their 10 picks into the 3-4 best D-tackles/cornerbacks they can move up to get. He likes it in Buffalo, and may want to end his career with a team he feels comfortable with, that he enjoys playing with, and that gives him the best hope of ending his career with a championship.

Who said they remain the same? You say it, and few others, who bash almost every move the Bills make, always. Better at wide receiver with Palmer, a guy who averaged 15 yards a catch the last two years, runs great routes, and gets open in the intermediate+ area of the field. Better at safety with Forrest who may become a starter, and the resigning of Hamlin, adding some depth and a safety net. Better on the D-lIne with Bosa, Hoecht, and Ogunjobi, though the suspensions hurt. Three areas in need of help, improved, by most objective standards that is... Hard to imagine anyone saying that the Bills have not gotten better in the off season. For a team that was in the AFC Championship game and leading late in the 4th quarter. And now a draft with a solid amount of capital to get a high quality D-tackle, some good CBs, and a speedy wideout.

Without the two suspensions may have said I was very satisfied. But the Bills did get stronger I think. Better at wide receiver with a likely starter in Palmer. Someone who runs good routes, gets separation, and can get down the field, with over 15 yards per catch the last two seasons. The offense was hungry for a player like that last year, to open up that part of the field consistently. I hope no one offers Amari Cooper much and he plays for under ten million, with incentives. The wide receivers would be set, much improved. Better on the defensive line, with players who will play a lot of snaps this year, stopping the run much more effectively and getting more pressure on passers. Better in the secondary, with the addition of Darrick Forest and resigning of Damar Hamlin. If Bishop comes through the Bills safety play will be much improved this year. Now they can focus like a laser on 2 defensive tackles and 3 cornerbacks. 1 wideout.

Does this also mean they can no longer take PEDs??? If so, that is even worse, and extremely unfair to the Bills who are already losing each for almost half the season. At the very least they should be able to play at their highest level when they return.

yikes, should leave almost no doubt now--a mammoth D tackle in round 1, moving up to get Grant.

Good, a good guy to have as a backup and such. Likely still knows this defense as well as any DB on the team. Now, hopefully they get a starting caliber CB in a trade or free agency, as they don't want to go into the draft with the CBs they have now, especially if Douglas leaves. Seems Douglas may be the best option out there now actually. But maybe it's Gilmore instead, a homecoming?

We don't know if Cooper has still has it, because of arriving here in the middle of the season and then a pretty significant injury. Had his best year just two years ago in Cleveland, and watching him then I thought he would be a perfect fit in our offense. Smooth, great route runner, reliable, like having another Shakir, just a little further down the field--a great combination. I assume the Bills would know if he is still a viable starting level NFL receiver. We as fans simply cannot tell based on the circumstances last year. If he is, he would be a great addition to this team, as they only have Shakir, Coleman (who no one can yet be sure about yet), Samuel, and Shepherd. So they definitely need 1-2 starting level players still. Hopefully the demand for Cooper remains as soft as it has been, and the Bills can get a very discounted price--if they think he is still a viable starter. Seems there is only a small chance it happens.

Well, it will almost assuredly be a lot less often now as a result of the signings in free agency. But I still think a huge immovable force in the middle, and hopefully one with some good speed and athleticism too, may be the most likely first round pick. This year they don't make the mistake they did last year with Thomas--and they trade up into the first round to get Grant. He would enable all of the rest of their players, tackles, linebackers, ends, to move to their potential.

??? is this a revised deal from the one a few weeks ago? Why no clarification or explanation in the OP of what this is? Bad post, obviously.

Thanks for your over the top praise of my analysis abilities--but I believe it was more than just me who felt that way, though I did not care about that at the time. But great take on Josh. I did not know which QB we should draft, kept going back and forth. But at one point, I have to admit, I was thinking the other Josh was the guy, the one most ready to play. But I was operating out of ignorance, as I had not seen almost any games played by the quarterbacks available. I just listened to what others said. But the conventional wisdom, and take by the experts often is wrong. And like in this case, comically so, though I am sure the Cardinals did not find it very funny.

Hmmm, seem to not be reading my posts... I thought what I thought at the time of the Miller signing, all on my own, based on what I knew about Miller and football. I did not look for confirmation of my views by others, but arrived at that all by myself. I did not look to see if the majority felt the same, or if one doctor may have a different opinion, but all by myself. I took full responsibility for my opinion at the time of his signing, and until now, that the Miller signing was a bad move, a bad risk. I have supported most of the moves Beane has made, but not this awful one--and did so at the time it happened. Check my posts at the time.. It sure seems I was correct on that and that you were wrong. But get over it--I have likely been wrong just as much or more than I have been right when it comes to the NFL and the Bills. You will likely be right on something soon and I will be wrong. Not on this though, obviously.

After I responded to your post you added a bizarre over the top praise of Miller from a doctor who sounds very lacking in objectivity. He sounds like Dr. Nick on the Simpsons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnpy3cC673o Again, JF, you are doing just what you have done in this conversation--first, using the fact that the majority may have felt as you did, and then, quoting one 'doctor'. It is okay if you take your knowledge gained from watching a lot of football, and, I assume, reading about it as well, and come to an intelligent, original decision. Calling the crowds' or one doctor's opinion evidence does not make it so. But I assume you know that.

Well, I know for sure that I believed the combination of factors--his big recent injury, the fact that he missed games each year with other injuries, and the fact that the traits that best defined his success, his speed and athleticism, were the traits of a younger, healthier man --were enough to cause me to think it was an awful move when Miller was signed, a bad risk. I am proud that you think I am the only one who was accurate on this in the entire world! Likely not the case, but thanks anyway.

Well, it is not revisionist history, was how I saw it at the time of the Miller signing, and also true for others! it is fine if that is the way you see it now, but some saw it differently. Correctly. So what you say is the actual revisionist history, inaccurate. Stating it emphatically as you do does not make it real. Teams not concerned with the fact that Milller was older than almost all high level pass rushers when signed, at 32, and turning 33 soon,, and who would be 37 at the end of the contract, who had a major injury just two seasons prior causing him to miss most of the season, and was a player whose game was based on his high end speed and athleticism would be very negligent in my book. How could they not be concerned? What you say, that it is revisionist history, is like saying those believing the Russel Wilson trade to Denver, or the Rodgers trade to the Jets, were good things, significant positives for their new teams, was the definitive consensus. It was not. Just look on this forum for reactions at the time the trades happened. While those trades were, for some odd reasons, generally praised by the media overall, there were many who thought they would be disasters for both teams, with no hope of success.. Some of us saw beyond the 'consensus' and called those trades the team killing moves they were--at the time they happened. Sour grapes to call out those with the correct takes on such awful moves when they happened. They were right, saw them for what they were, just like the Miller signing. Going along with the crowd's views on everything is not a great way to make decisions.

I disagree obviously, and think it is a near certainty that the Barkley contract changed the game for Cook, the Bills, and the other elite running backs in the league. An historically big contract does that almost every time, wouldn't you agree? But, we will soon find out which is the right take, as the Bills should show their cards soon, and make their decision. Cook may get close to 12 for the first year, but then it is going higher each year, and likely tops off at 15 million soon. And hopefully with good incentives, like Barkley has.