BarleyNY

I don't think he'd be getting a second opinion if it was stable. I thought I read that there was instability, but I'm not sure the source was reliable. Looking for it.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00297 Unfortunately it looks like surgery will be needed. I was reading up on ACL injuries and non-surgical treatment is only for partial ACL tears with no instability. He has instability.

There is no short term IR in NFL. He's not eligible for the PUP list since he's taken part in a practice already. He'd have to be carried on the roster or put on IR. All NFL teams may bring one (and only one) player back from IR. They used to have to designate that player at the time they placed him on IR, but now they can do it at the time they bring the player back.

https://mobile.twitter.com/reggieragland?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor ReggieRagland(mafia) 11m11 minutes ago ReggieRagland(mafia) ‏@reggieragland God makes no mistakes This isn't a great sign. I feel bad for the kid.

Looking at the WRs after Watkins and Woods, the Bills 3rd WR might not even be on the roster right now. If no one steps up and takes the job, then Whaley will have to find a cut/waived WR or trade for one.

That second ILB signing really seals. One could have been something else. Two is because Ragland is out for an extended time. Maybe the delay in telling the world how severe his injury is was so that they could get guys signed. If Ragland was expected back soon they wouldn't have signed two stopgap vets who could start if needed. Maybe one. Maybe. But not two. They won't be expensive, but I'm not sure if either was given more than vet minimum or not.

Count me as delighted that the Bills haven't signed an OL in the last couple days. Hopefully that points to a minor injury for Glenn.

If we aren't to praise someone for doing what they should be doing, then when DO we praise them? Seriously, kudos to the FO for getting on this quickly.

I don't know that Reddick spraining his MCL and expectations that he will be out 6 weeks would have prompted signing Spikes. Maybe they didn't like what they saw out of him before he got injured and are looking to replace him. Or maybe it was the combination of the two injuries and neither is that bad, but it's concerning that we already know the extent of Reddick's injury and not Ragland's. Again, no need to jump the gun here and assume the worst, but there's certainly reason for concern. Edit: Just saw that Hawthorne also signed. Now I'm very concerned about Ragland. The odds that he will be out for an extended time are looking much higher.

If the Spikes signing is due to Ragland's injury, then the Bills sure moved fast. That's good. The definitive medical info hasn't come out yet though, so there's no need to get ahead of ourselves. But the timing of the signing is concerning. And this is why the timing of the Spikes signing is concerning.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/08/07/brandon-spikes-back-with-bills/ Looks official that Spikes is a Bill again. That does not bode well for Ragland's knee.

If Little is standing out as one of the most consistient WRs, then I'm even more concerned about that group than I was. I say that somewhat tongue in cheek. Little has always been a physical specimen and an excellent blocker, but one with hands of stone. When he was with the Browns I read reports of him doing things like spending extra time after practice with the JUGS machine, but I also heard rumors that he didn't dedicate himself to his profession like he should have. He'd be a hell of a find if he did dedicate himself and if his hands did somehow become reliable. Admittedly the hands are a huge "if" and I'm going to need to see real proof before I believe it, but his upside is huge. A sure handed Little would help this team enormously.

Really hope this isn't serious. There are three players the Bills can't afford to lose this season: Watkins, Taylor or Glenn. It'd suck to lose a lot of others, but any of those would be devastating.

Wait, those aren't TEA leaves!

Thanks, Hopeful RG3 just started with him since signing with the Browns. Hue Jackson is close with House and training with him enables RG3 to get extra work in with a guy who is teaching the same things the same way.

MMQB talks about QB guru Tom House, whom Tyrod Taylor has worked with. Also some Whaley discussion in Four Downs #2. http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/08/03/tom-house-quarterback-nfl-training-camp-notes

Crap. Sometimes those are worse, sometimes not. Hopefully he just tweaked something.

I agree that it'd be nice for the Bills to have a deal in place for 2-3 more years (effectively) and not to worry about using a tag on him next season. But I disagree that using it means he's gone the following year. I doubt Taylor would sign it. He'd force a long term deal or trade. $21M isn't that far out of line for a top half of the league QB and it's a great deal if you got him for $3M the previous season. That's a $12M per year average.

Freeney certainly makes sense, but don't overestimate what you'd get out of him at this point. He's at the end of his career and would just be a guy you'd rotate in as a pass rush specialist. Not that that wouldn't be a help.

Thanks for the insight. Any idea whether or not he'd have an increased risk of re-injury if he came back at the point you are now?

I literally scrolled back up to see if Gugny started this thread.

Okay, I'm listening - and I found this: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst According to Football Outsiders the Bills have a huge advantage on kick offs. Does anyone have a stat for, say, opponent average starting field position after kick offs? I'd like to see them compared to the league with a stat that I can more easily understand. That all said, I'd still like them to find one guy who can do both.

I'd put him 20-something, which is where you have him. He's serviceable with no real upside and he's in real trouble behind that OL this year. He's the best they're going to do for 2016 though.

I hope so. The more I think about it, the more I think TT has earned a bridge deal and the more I'd like to have a chance to see more of him than in just 2016.

I can see what you're trying to do, but I don't think that contract or structure would work for Taylor's camp. I'd be great for the Bills though. It is essentially a 1 year deal plus a two year deal option plus another one year team option. Taylor would get an extra $9M this season, but lose his ability to get a huge deal next offseason. The Bills would be paying that extra $9M to have an option for two more years at $18M & $20M and then another season at $22M. That's a pretty good deal for the Bills, but even if the $12M in 2016 was guaranteed then that's still less than 1/3 of what Osweiler got in initial guarantees. My example might need some numbers tweaked, but it also allows for the tag to be available for Gilmore next season and Watkins the following season. It also keeps Taylor here for two seasons. I like that much more than having just 2016 to evaluate him before deciding how big of a deal to offer him.