Mister Defense

This has been a great day for the Bills and their fans. In a blink of an eye, the football gods have filled two of our most important needs, cornerback and wide receiver, and with two superb players. With Jaire Alexander we have our shut down cornerback, and with Metcalf our #1 wideout, the kind of big fast talented player we have dreamed about. (He was the player I wanted in the draft, the year, I think, we took Oliver.) Josh is just going to have to accept a lot less money now. No problem. Last summer when Jordan Palmer asked him how many Super Bowls the Bills would win under him Josh said 8. Time to get started. We can offer them a slew of players for these two, starting with Von Miller, Hamlin, Jordan Phillips, Daquon Jones... etctera And now we just focus on building a great D-Line. Thank you football gods for this amazing gift.

Lol I said that the Seahawks had a great defense, and that is indisputable. I think that is not an understatement. But you say, "Marshawn Lynch was a good running back for them." I don't think my take on their defense was wrong, or understated, but yours on Lynch!? Yikes, as no one who knows football would ever say something so understated, flippant, about Lynch's role on those teams. No one with any sense, at least. During those two Super Bowl years Lynch rushed for 2563 yards and 25 TDS. He had 683 receiving yards and another 6 TDS. That is 3,146 total yards and 31 TDS. I think most, at least sentient beings, would agree that is better than good, and a vital reason for their 2 Super Bowl appearances. Your take that very likely first ballot Hall of Famer Marshawn Lynch was not an integral part of those great teams would be rejected by almost anyone who watched Seahawk teams. Or who know anything about NFL football. Nutty take, with just nonsense to 'back' it up, but one we have come to expect from you over the years. Almost comforting, like a worn out pair of shoes that have almost no real use, but that we slap on when we don't want to ruin the good ones. If people believe your take on Lynch and his meaning to that team, then, yup, they should also believe that getting rid of Cook would not be a big deal too. And that running backs are a dime a dozen, and you can just plug almost anyone in for the same results etcetera. Thankfully, I don't think Beane or McDermott are that dumb. Like I said, the kind of decision making that caused the Bills to not make the playoffs for decades.

I want a huge mansion, a flying lllama, and a giant nose. And a tree house where monkeys are my servants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wAlQf4WdiE

Thanks. Is the list in the order they met with the players? Looks like the Bills will attempt to do what the Chiefs did a few seasons ago, leading to the last few Super Bowls, and, even more so, what the Eagles did so well last year, take a defense in need of significant upgrades and go at it.. Just a tidbit here, but I hope it is a sign of things to come. McDermott will be so happy if this is the case! Likely a little embarrassing for him last season, as those kinds of stats, that kind of defense, is not what he has put forth with the Bills or elsewhere. So if all things come together, next year Josh will have the things he most needs---a high quality O-Line, high quality running game, and high quality defense, all coming together. And young. Hope the Bills are soo confident in the talent available in the draft to fit their needs, that they do not feel the need to go after a mega high priced defensive end. Best case scenario if that is the case.

Yes, thanks, a good choice there. I agree with you, preposterous is the better choice. Some hope for you after all.

uhh, I think you are missing the main point... Possibly need to go back and actually read the exchanges. It would mean that you and the other person in this exchange may be two of the only people in the world who believe that Marshawn Lynch was not a vital player, an essential part of those excellent Seahawk teams and in each of their two roads to the Super Bowl. You cannot possibly believe that if you watched Seahawk games those years. But if you do, then that is incredibly illogical.

? I am confused about why you "remain firm" on this bizarre theory. Why would the Bills get rid of their 25 year old linebacker now? Please explain. And do you think this would be a good/bad move? Wouldn't it be dramatically more likely that they cut ties with their 31 year old linebacker, Milano, coming off two major injuries? I don't want that to happen, want to see what Milano can do this year, but that seems soo much more likely than your theory. Why get rid of your young linebacker now, creating a glaring need? Almost as bad of an idea as those saying, "Let Cook walk." Though obviously Cook is, at this point, a much more special player. Both moves remind me of the type of moves so often made during the drought years, with the Bills doing stupid things like this pretty consistently. And just spinning their wheels.

Hmmm Yes, the Seahawks had a great defense, but many teams have had great defenses and did not have the kind of success the Seahawks had... In the 2013 season they went to their first Super Bowl under Carrol, and Marshawn Lynch had 1257 yards rushing and 12 rushing TDs. He also had 44 receptions for 316 yard and 3 more TDs. In the following season, leading to their second Super Bowl, (the not very important to you) Lynch had 1306 yards and 13 TDs. He also had 37 receptions for 367 yards and 4TDs. What you say above, for anyone watching NFL football those years, would be as backwards and as illogical as saying: Their defense is the reason the Eagles won the Super Bowl this year. Not Saquon Barkley. How dumb of a statement would that be, having watched NFL football this year? I assume you would agree with me, supremely dumb. Just as bizarre, illogical, and, frankly, unbelievable, that someone would think that Marshawn Lynch's production was not a seminal reason they played in those two Super Bowls. So, I am assuming you are not a big believer in complimentary football!? Or that a high level running attack is important to a team's success in today's NFL.

Be careful there.. Simple logic like that may cause some posters heads to explode. They want nothing to do with that kind of reasoning.

I cannot believe there is one vote for the hypothetical trade. Who would want to give away one of the best players on the team, a back with elite speed, vision, and receiving ability to your main rival, and for one 2nd round pick? I cannot imagine any sentient adult thinking this is a good thing. Someone please go back to the old Marshawn Lynch trade threads to see how many of the posters who were calling for that are now calling for this. Same twisted logic, and reasoning ability, in both cases. They are likely the same people who lambast the idea of 'complimentary football', who think the running game is not vital. But great to see that the vast majority of Bills' fans on here would not want such a super stupid, team undermining move. Would go down as one of the worst moves in the history of the Bills. Looking for a nice contract extension for Cook, in the 10-13 million a year range, in the coming weeks. Needed and much deserved.

He is not a running back, a group that has been notoriously underpaid for years now. He did not need to do that. Cook may have, to strengthen his hand. But I believe this is a sign that the Bills will very soon do the right thing and sign Cook to a similar contract, though maybe one more based on incentives.

Great news, as Shakir will clearly be a cornerstone of this offense under Allen. He may become a perennial pro bowler once the Bills have a high level wideout or two on the boundaries--and throw the ball to the backs more. Seems like a bargain price, maybe a considerable one. Time will tell. Thanks, Beane! Now, show Cook some love..and lock up someone who is just as vital to this offense, and like Shakir, just getting started.

I was just mentioning Sharpe because he spouted the most ignorant, completely uniformed opinions on Allen and the Bills that I have ever heard. For example, this year he said that the Bills were better because Allen was no longer doing this: scoring a touchdown, and then turning it over on the next series, with the other team scoring a touchdown. He made the point that for every touchdown the Bills scored, Allen's turnovers lead to as many touchdowns for the other team. Then he said this is what Allen does in the playoffs, scores a lot yes, but his many playoff turnovers lead to an equal number of scores for the other team. So, just having some fun with one of the laziest, dumbest, misinformed 'analysts' in the world.

yes

Funniest moment at the Ralph: Bryan Cox after being ejected, with almost everyone in the stadium shouting in unison, "As*hol*, as he was led down the middle of the field, spitting in fury. Still very proud of Bills fans for that reaction, that spontaneous unity.

Well, then get ir done! May be able to revive his once very promising career in a place like Buffalo. At 29, the Bills would be ultra negligent to not see what he has left. Maybe he has a few ten sack seasons left in him? Bigger than I realized, at 6' 5" and 280 pounds. Also a good thing. Beane and the Bills will be careless if they leave any stone unturned when it comes to their D-Line.

When is the last time this Bosa looked like a top tier player? I cannot recall that, but unless it is mega cheap, and a contract that is instead laden with incentives, no thanks. One of the most over paid players in the NFL right now.

Wow, extremely enlightening. So many of us likely thought that the reason the Bills have not taken the next step in the playoffs, and especially intelligent analysts like Shannon Sharpe, was that Josh Allen was stinking it up in the playoffs. Now, thanks to your detailed breakdown, we all now that is likely not that case. Thank you!

Actually, not a bad idea. 3 million base salary, with some modest incentives. And a clause in his contract that if he complains about anything behind the scenes or in public he can be immediately cut with no compensation.

Nope No Ezeiruaku. NO more 'undersized' defensive lineman. It is a running league again, as it was destined to be when most teams went smaller and faster. Duh. The teams that run and stop the run best will win. The teams that have the big beasts on the D and O lines will be the dominant teams in the coming years.

Overall I agree with your last point here. But the Bills have a very solid O Line, and a great trio of running backs, though under-utilized this year in both the rushing and passing game. As they did in the Championship game, of course. The Bills, after searching for a difference maker at running back since McCoy left, have that player in James Cook. I cannot imagine them now saying, "Let him go, let's roll the dice again--and again and again. Rather than paying the man a good, deserved salary. It would be a huge step back for the Bills, as they add another significant need, weakening them, making it less likely they win it all next year. IMO.

Hopefully the front office has learned its lesson, as the league is doing now overall. Just watch the Super Bowl again to see how detrimental a poor running attack can be, even to the best quarterbacks. The best Josh Allen and best Bills are based on how good the running game is. We saw it several years ago, after they lost to Tampa and then started running and running, becoming the #1 running team in the NFL and looking unstoppable. And ditto last year post dorsey, and this year, clearly much more focused on the run. I think the front office will put their money where the logic is now, and not discount the value of a great running game to Allen and the Bills. You would not consider getting rid of a great lineman and the same logic applies to a great running back, both very difficult to find.

I had thought it was sarcasm, it's such a bizarre and ridiculous thing to say, an old worn out cliche that has no more legitimacy than if you added any other position to that phrase-see below. It is like people hear something and then just repeat it over and over and over, no matter how out of date it is and nonsensical it is. The facts be damned completely. Don't pay wide receivers. Don't pay cornerbacks. Don't pay safeties. Don't pay linebackers. Don't pay defensive tackles. Don't pay slot receivers. Don't pay tight ends. Don't pay kickers. See how each phrase is as stupid as the others and without any merit? That kind of stupidity has forced Cook and others to do extraordinary things to get payed what they deserve. You would have thought the last few years would have put an end to the devaluation of running backs..

Seems strange to offer several more extremely bad examples/comparisons here to support his point, the bad comparison! Jonathan Taylor had the 4th most rushing yards this past season, rushing for over 1400 yards. To you, he is "absolutely not" 'that guy' anymore? Did you see him in any games this year? Healthy again, Taylor was a beast again, and clearly in the conversation as one of the top backs in the entire league. And then you throw in another bad comparison, Breece Hall, a player who has never been, not yet anyway. Then you say 'these guys are just very up and down', I think implying that most running backs are that, extremely inconsistent, and also if the Bills give him a big extension it may seem like a total disaster' if the OL suffers a rash of injuries. To sum it up, here you imply that the Bills should not sign Cook to a big extension because he may flame out like the once great, now clearly not great, Taylor, who had over 1400 yards and 11 TDS this year, and that the Bills should be extremely wary of a contract extension because, for some reason, their O line may suffer a rash of injuries limiting Cook's effectiveness? Not very fact based or logical points made there to support your point, in fact you seem to undermined it considerably with your examples and analysis. With that logic literally almost any good or great player, and at any position, should never be offered a big extension. Seems like an awful way to build, and maintain, a great team, throwing sense and logic out the door completely.

Umm, how is this in any way relevant to James Cook and the Bills offering him a good contract now?? Mostert is 32, turning 33 in April. James Cook is 25. And furthermore, Mostert had over 1,000 yards rushing, at 4.8 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns--in the 2023 season. Cook is just getting started and clearly one of the top backs in the league already. So, you need to offer a dramatically better comparison than Miami not bringing back the 33 year old Mostert next season, to the Bills not signing Cook. The comparison is comically bad, in my book..