BarleyNY

No argument from me for points 1 & 2. The lack of much in the way of other options at that point in the draft is the best defense of picking him there. And you might as well go with a premium position if that’s what you are dealing with. I remember being more and more despondent as players came off of the board that year. I’m not sure what the cost of a trade up was or what options for trading back existed. I would guess not great either way. But I disagree on point 3. His college tape showed me nothing other than length that would translate to the NFL. I thought that he carried a lot of risk as a prospect too. He didn’t play for a year (covid) and came to the combine out of shape. He has panned out as well as he could have so I guess I can’t complain about that. Also my preference for the pick at the time was Asante Samuel Jr. due to some of the same reasoning: premium position and need. I also thought he was a safer prospect and had a higher floor and ceiling. I’d have rather gone after a player like that.

DEs that can hold an edge and defend the run but can’t bend the edge or do a very good job getting to QBs on their own are not all that expensive in FA. The opportunity cost was a prospect with real upside albeit at a different position.

Good synopsis of Rousseau. He’s doing what is asked of the LDE role in McDermott’s defense - setting the edge, keeping contain and getting an occasional sack. I don’t love using the 30th overall pick on a guy that doesn’t have the skill set to ever be a difference maker though. I said it on draft day - even if he works out he will only be here 4 or 5 seasons. I’d be open to giving him a modest extension, but I think he knows he’d get more on the open market. Some team will overpay him.

That’s a really good question. I wasn’t thinking of them, but, yeah, it would be the same set up. They have the added benefit of Kyle Shanahan though. He is phenomenal at elevating the play of his QBs. That would make them an exception to the “can’t get very far in the playoffs.”

Those needs (good list and order btw) aren’t all going to get filled via this draft. SVP aside, the opportunity to find a good, developmental OC on day 3 is very realistic. If a higher caliber OC fell to 99 - the end of round 3 - they very well could be the best value.

that’s rough. you’d think that Kincaid would eat well on seam routes

There is a model in the NFL where a premier RB is a necessity to make the playoffs. Dallas employed that with Zeke and Dak and Cleveland with Baker and Chubb. Ditto the Bills with Tyrod and Shady. It’s not a particularly good model because it centers around a QB that can only win with a premier running game and defense, but it can keep fans off of an owner’s back and allow a GM and HC to keep their jobs for a while. I’m happy that the Bills have graduated to a situation where they have a premium QB, which opens up the running game.

I’m with you, brother.

Or if you do please tell me in advance - especially if we’re heavy favorites.

Here’s a counter example: Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide is in the national championship game with their season long starter, Jalen Hurts, at QB. Earlier in the season I had predicted that Hurts would cost them a championship. While he has improved dramatically in the NFL, it was clear to me that he was not up to the task in college. Halfway through that game it looked like I was right - and I would’ve been if Sabin didn’t bench him for Tua. Very, very few coaches would’ve had the brass to do what he did. But he made the right move, and he got a championship that season because of it. That goes to show you the level of confidence and decision making ability that a team leader needs to possess to be truly elite.

I read the article. Honestly, it seems like a nothingburger. Old school coach does not click with young HC because they do things differently, has trouble connecting with his players and complains that some players like to enjoy the Miami party scene. Shrug. A lot of Shanahan scheme coaches brought in Fangio scheme coaches to hone their offenses. They’d all do well to diversify their defenses because that seems pretty dialed in now. I always thought that was a big risk for the Phins both with expensive vets looking to semi-retire and rookies with their first taste of a party scene of that magnitude.

Marquise Brown would be a fantastic fit on the Bills - as well as many other teams. A contract in the $7M-$10M AAV range is dreaming though. There would be no shortage of teams willing to hand that over to him today. I can see it getting bid up in a hurry. Teams will pay for his potential.

Mike Brown is the kind of owner that would let a player sit out though. It makes little sense to not tag Higgins. Letting him walk would net them a 3rd round comp pick in 2025 - and only if they have a net FA loss. Tagging him gives them options - sign long term, trade or get his play for one more season. It’s substantial money, but the trio of Burrow, Chase and Higgins is bringing in the cash too. Brown has to at least make it look like he’s trying to keep that trio intact. If he winds up getting a first rounder plus for him - and he will if he trades him - then that’ll be good for the team and it’ll save face for him and the organization.

Crime pays - apparently.

In his defense, he never had a good QB. I think he will have a HC job again. He might just be taking a year or two off because he’s getting paid out on his contract.

I find it hilarious that the revelation that the NYG get treated better than the Jets by the media was news to Saleh. It’s because one has a well respected owner and the other has a joke for one. How did he not notice that before he took the job? Saleh was a very hot HC candidate when he got hired by the Jest and I was very surprised that he settled for that job. He definitely effed that up.

My brother lives in Littleton, CO and does accounting. He had a very nice offer from a dispensary to come be their bookkeeper, but turned it down. Reason one was because he saw how much cash they had on hand and didn’t want to die in a robbery. The other was that he was afraid it would be a problem on his resume if he wanted to move on to another job.

This does make me think about how easy it would be for a GM to take kick backs. I’ll overpay you $5M if $1M makes it into this offshore numbered account. I’m sure there are quite a few agents happy to do that for a cut. Banks are ripe. If you walk in, hand a note to a teller and take $2k out you’re almost 100% screwed. Bank robbers almost always get caught. Next to a post office they’re the dumbest thing to rob. But if you are an employee who embezzles hundreds of thousands of dollars, they’ll fire you and sweep it under the rug. No jail time because the bank will want to keep it out of the news because that will be a problem for their reputation and stock price.

LMFAO! He put a retainer fee to a criminal law firm on that credit card. I guess at that point you might as well try that too.

Ridiculous. The Bills were let down by their HC in the 13 seconds game. The Lions players let their HC down yesterday.

The insecurity around here is rough.

That’s awful. I’m so sorry.

At least they didn’t give the job to Gronk.

Analytics should inform decisions not dictate them. In every situation there are nuances that are not factored in. Sometimes there are even assumptions inherent in the analysis that are not valid. Using analytics effectively requires understanding those things.

I agree that his 2008 SB win is a big part of the reason he is still employed by the Ravens. Going 13-4, getting the 1 seed and making it to the AFCC game after revamping both schemes helps a lot too. That all said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fired if the team drops off. I take it that you didn’t watch any Ravens games this season. Lamar very much changed his game and used his mobility to buy time to pass rather than simply taking off immediately like he did in previous seasons. It worked out very, very well for him this season.