BarleyNY

Agents and players often go public after they fail to get what they want privately. I would bet that’s what happened here.

Yup. Some people get bent out of shape every time an agent floats a high salary in the media. It’s negotiation.

Thanks. I agree with most of your assessment. Rousseau has to win with his length. That’s pretty much all he has at this point. He doesn’t have flexibility to bend the edge and he’s not very twitchy anyway. He’s got good strength but hasn’t figured out how to convert it to power yet. Improvement there is probably his best chance at improving. He also can’t let offensive linemen get into his body. He’s done when they do. But when he uses his arms to keep them off of him he can shed well. The Josh Allen comp is interesting because Rousseau is raw and has a lot of room for improvement with coaching, NFL conditioning and experience. He may surprise like #17 did, but I expect more of a Shaq Lawson experience (though he is a different kind of DE). I see a guy that’ll probably be here through his rookie deal and maybe a 5th year option, but then heads elsewhere because we won’t pay him.

No nerve struck here, Polly. Just thought your post was hilarious in its absurdity.

Now Polly, you dropped Nick Bosa. He was voted to the Pro Bowl his rookie season. Also Young and both Bosas were named DROY. Got some DPOY winners too in the Watt bros (4 times) too. Why do you even bring up players who were NOT voted to the Pro Bowl as rookies anyway? Rousseau wasn’t either, but it’s not like that is a good thing. Lotta bad, average and slightly above average players don’t get voted to the Pro Bowl. As for reps, those tend to be earned. Oliver earned more reps this season and he got them. Now Rousseau did play solidly this season and he may very well improve. But he didn’t really distinguish himself on a DL with many solid players, much less in a league with some pretty great ones. And he didn’t earn more reps. So you’re still thinking All Pro, huh? You see a top 2 DE (or 4 if you include second team) in the NFL? Cool.

I disagree on the DL. IMO the DL is a solid unit. Oliver is the closest thing we have to a difference maker - and he may well be on the cusp of that - but collectively they are a good unit. They are not a liability. IMO Edmunds is. It’s not that he’s a worthless player like some here have said. There are positives to his game, but the deficiencies in it are the problem - and they are the same ones that you can read on his draft profile. LINK Here are the first 6 weaknesses listed on his NFL.com profile: - Instincts are average and relies on athletic gifts - Can be a step slow to diagnose Lured by misdirection - Will take random downhill paths that trap him in the quagmire - Patience is lacking - Races ahead of plays and voids his leverage and run fits at times He hasn’t grown in those regards and I’m long done believing that it will ever happen for him. He is absolutely not worth the contract he is in line for. I think you are half right

I already addressed the Sanders situation. Different CBA rules now.

The Bills have poured resources into our DL. High draft pick after high draft pick and highly paid vet after highly paid vet. How much better do you think it is going to get? At some point you might want to ask yourself why it is always everyone else’s fault that Edmunds isn’t performing better. Then ask yourself why he isn’t making anyone else around him better.

Rodgers to Denver. That team is loaded except at QB. It would be one more team in the AFC with an elite QB that could win a SB.

So blind faith then. I think he can be a solid DE, but All-Pro is an incredibly high bar. Tremendously high actually. There are only two first team and two second team All Pro DEs selected each season. You’re going to have to do a lot better than he’s a “youngster who shows good speed and strength”. What do you see that ranks him up with the Bosas, Watts, Garrett, Young, Quinn, Crosby and others who are already legitimately in the conversation?

This is where voidable years come into play. Converting salary to a signing bonus in the last season of a contract would not change the cap hit - unless voidable years are added. Then the prorated portion would be pushed out. Some examples: Player A signs a 1 year, $12M contract. Typically the whole $12M cap hit stays in that season regardless of structure. Now let’s change the structure. Add one voidable season and structure the contract with a $10M signing bonus and a $2M salary. Now the cap hits are $7M in year 1 and $5M in year 2 (after the player is no longer on the team). Now let’s look at this. We add 3 voidable seasons to the contract. $10M SB plus $2M salary. Now the hits are $4.5M in Y1 and $7.5M in Y2. This is because the $10M signing bonus is divided by 4 seasons at a rate of $2.5M/yr. Y1 cap hit is $2.5M + $2M salary. The next 3 seasons at $2.5M each accelerate to Y2. An interesting thing about this is that if the player is extended before the league year ends then the prorated cap hits do not accelerate. That only happens when the player is no longer under contract. Keep asking questions if you have them. I’m happy to help if anyone has more.

My point is that players now have an easy out with the football related injury angle. They still have to say the right things go through the proper process.

Sarcasm, blind faith or do you have some rationale?

It has been a long time since it has happened. There have been changes to the CBA since Megatron and Sanders had to pay back a portion of their signing bonuses. The Eric Wood situation shows why it is nearly impossible for teams to recoup that money now. As long as it’s injury related, the money isn’t recoverable. Almost any player who’s played the game for any length of time can claim that. So as long as one doesn’t screw up like Woods almost did it’s not happening. That is correct.

1) Sure, it’s theoretically possible. In such situations all of the money that has been paid but has not hit the cap must be accounted for. That would hit immediately or in the following season if it is after 6/1. The other issue with this particular contract is that he has guaranteed money through 2023 so there’s no way he or his agent would rip that contract up for less money. 2) It depends on the structures of the old and new deals. Also existing contracts can be amended. Some things to know with respect to the term ”restructure”. It can mean pretty much any change to a contract, but here’s a breakdown: - A true restructure is conversion of salary and or roster bonus money to a signing bonus so that it can be spread over the remainder of a contract. The player gets exactly the same amount of money and the team gets immediate cap relief. - It can be a euphemism for a pay cut. It’s used as a face saving measure for a player that just took less money and often a shortened contract. - Addition of performance bonuses to a contract. This is usually part of a pay cut that allows the player to earn back some or all of his decrease, but it can be added incentives for a player who is outperforming his contract and wants an increase. It can be for hitting statistical benchmarks, games played, pro bowl, etc. The golden rule of player contracts is that any money paid must be accounted for on the cap. There is a minor exception for some vet minimum contracts that slightly reduce their hit, but it is a very minimal impact. Also once paid signing bonuses are nearly impossible for teams to recoup. Breach of contract lawsuits are really the only way. If successful (which hasn’t happened yet) then that recouped money would come off of the cap. Hope that helps.

He did only play in 8 games last season. 2021 was definitely a down year for him so it is possible that they move on from him. I didn’t mean to sound so definitive. I just don’t think him getting cut loose is a slam dunk.

Edmunds is not tradeable with his current contract. (One year, $12.7M fully guaranteed.) The Bills aren’t in any position to move on from him either. So the question is whether the Bills start preparing for his (possible) departure next offseason. We will have to wait and see if a backup who is a potential replacement gets drafted this season. It’s smart business regardless of what the Bills think of Edmunds.

Hunt would be the best RB the Bills have had on their roster in a very long time. Great runner and weapon in the passing game. I doubt Cleveland moves on from him this off-season though.

The good news for the Jest is that they have a lot of great draft picks. The bad news is that they really need them and also they’re the Jest.

Sure, there’s a material difference there. But a bust to me is any player who does not come close (performance-wise) to living up to his draft status. You can split that hair a lot of different ways. If you want to call Shaq Lawson a moderate bust and Darron Lee a major bust, then I’m fine with that. Also a player’s individual performance is what matters, not the performance or success of the team or the impact of those around them.

I get your point, but you just described a bust for a player drafted 16th overall. He can play in this league and it’s not his fault that he was drafted too early, but that’s how draft picks are judged.

Probably showing my age here but when I see Velus Jones all that I can think about is Velvet Jones (Eddie Murphy, SNL).

Cap ramifications! Oh no! All the Rams have to show for that is a Super Bowl trophy! Well, one Super Bowl trophy so far.

That’s really nice work.

Free agents - Bills Spotrac’s FA tracker. Can sort by team, position, etc.