Logic

Probably give them a zero star rating too.

In recent years, we've started making homemade mac 'n' cheese on Thanksgiving day. Goes wonderfully with the rest of the spread. Not something I grew up with, but I'm glad we added it. I didn't think it was that odd, but many have said they've never had it on Thanksgiving. Also, I grew up around a lot of Italians, and many made manicotti or ziti or whatnot in addition to the "usual" spread. All of it got me thinking: Is there anything on your Thanksgiving table every year that isn't a typical Thanksgiving food? If so, what?

A New Jersey based team poaching a Bills front office member to be their new GM. If only there was some recent precedent we could look to to see how this may work out for them.

Not sure. My hidden cam feed from her living room was on the fritz during that play.

They say that when you spend a lot of time with your spouse, you start to kinda look alike.

I should probably defer to the resident draft experts here, but... It's hard to think the Vikings wouldn't rather have him than Lewis Cine, who they picked at 32. Or that the Commanders wouldn't rather have him than Jahan Dotson, who they picked at 16. Heck, the Bills themselves picked Kaiir Elam at 23! Have to think he'd go no later than the top to middle of the 2nd, at worst. And only because off-ball linebackers are still a bit devalued relative to other positions.

Nah. Last year's COTY was Kevin Stefanski. Year before that was Brian Daboll. Previous recent winners include Matt Nagy, Jason Garrett, Ron Rivera, Marvin Lewis, and Mike Smith. AFCCG appearances have nothing to do with it. McDermott deserves to have won one by now.

Since 2020, the Bills are indeed number one in point differential, while the Lions are 18th.

I posted some comments from that thread up above, but suffice to say that the draft capital used on him was not the only problem people had with him. It was frequently mentioned that he was too small to play linebacker, that he's probably nothing more than a LB/S 'tweener, that he was not a "need", and that he'd likely never be anything more than Milano's backup. And, weirdly enough, multiple people were also very upset that he was not Dylan Parham.

Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. I was very patient with him because he was only 11 years old when we drafted him, but by year four I was ready to move on.

I believe I remember being irritated that they didn't draft an offensive player with the pick, but then watching and reading about Bernard and understanding why they picked him, and reminding myself that 3rd rounders realistically are not usually instant starters. There are relatively few people in that whole draft night thread who had nice things to say about the pick. And yeah, I've had plenty plenty plenty of bad draft takes over the years that I'll readily admit to. I was ready for the Bills to draft Troy Franklin at the top of round two this year. I thought Ryan Nassib in round 2 would've been a sound decision the year he came out. I thought Josh Allen was JP Losman 2.0. So...yeah. I'm an idiot. There's a reason I'm not employed by an NFL team. You were actually one of the more REASONABLE people in the draft night thread!

Some replies from draft night are below (names redacted, but there are some great posters amongst the quotes below. These are only from the first 10 pages of the 36 page thread). Key takeaways: Instant draft night takes are usually bad, most of us have no idea what we're talking about, and sometimes we SHOULD trust the scouts. Oh, and apparently Dylan Parham was a very popular choice for the Bills in 2022. "Midget." "Joe marino is not having it at all. HATES the pick lol" "Bernard I had as a 6th round guy. If this is the future replacement for Edmunds then yikes. Not too happy with this one to be honest." "Meh. Over draft. Yet he might be a ST/backup to Milano." "He’s a backup to Milano? Seems like a weird pick here. " "Ok I'm having a hard time getting pumped for this one" "I had Bernard earmarked for one of those 6th rounders." "6-1 LB? 😂 Is Beanie Boy stoned too?" "Levy/Jauron level draft." "I was happy with the draft until this Beane dropped this turd pick into the punch bowl. Parham should’ve been the pick and went one spot after us." "Parham should have been the pick. This guy could have been had with one of our 6th round picks or maybe even a UDFA. There's no highlight reel for him on youtube, and no one has him listed as a day 1 starter. A real reach in the 3rd round. A true WTF pick." "just an awful pick. could have traded down and got him. Tiny, oft injured, most project him as a pure ST player/backup. With other OL and WR on board this is off. "

I'd love to dig up the draft night thread about Terrel Bernard and see how absolutely wrong so many people were. I'm not immune to it. I nearly cried when they drafted Josh Allen. I'm just saying...the discrepancy of opinion between draft night and now would make for some humorous reading.

We're talking power rankings? Ok. Thanksgiving sides. Go! 5. Cranberry Sauce 4. Mac 'n' cheese 3. Mashed Potatoes 2. Sweet Potato Casserole 1. Stuffing

First: Sean McDermott should have won coach of the year in the Damar Hamlin/blizzard year. Keeping the team together through all of that and achieving a 13-3 record was an incredible achievement, regardless of how the playoffs turned out. As to the topic at hand: "Coach of the year", much like League MVP, has taken on a different meaning. These days, it more often than not tends to go to coaches who coached a previously bad team to a winning record. Guys who come in and resuscitate bad teams and make them good. Dan Quinn would fit the bill this year, as would Jim Harbaugh. I don't think that SHOULD be what the award equates to, but it is what it is. For the Bills to have the best point differential in the league since 2020 and to be as consistently good as they are, its downright criminal that McDermott has never won it. Alas, he is punished for his consistency.

I have no feelings one way or the other on the topic at hand. I just couldn't help but notice that it was kinda funny that the kicker topic was created by a guy named St Pete Gogolak.

Are you certain that this is correct? I didn't think the factor of whether the "extra" game was home or away in any given year played any part in determining whether a team plays an international game in said year.

Your username checks out.

Wanted to point out that, if I'm not mistaken, it's technically possible that one of our home games next year could be played overseas. Would suck giving up a home game while playing at that stadium for the final year, but it's possible it may happen.

I think that the idea of an NFL head coach knowingly holding stuff they think will work back from an opponent "just in case" they meet them in the playoffs, is nonsense. It's fallacy. I don't think it happens. There are too few games in an NFL season, and they're all too important to potential playoff seeding, and everyone works too hard (from coaches to players) to knowingly hold anything back that would help you win a regular season game. Now maybe when you play a divisional opponent two times within a few weeks, a team you see often, you hold a little bit back in the first meeting to use in the second meeting. But an opponent you only see once in a given year, and as early in the season as we played the Ravens, no less? Absolutely not. I just don't buy it. I don't think the Chiefs did it against the Bills. I don't think the Bills did it against the Ravens. In both cases, I think one team just outplayed and outcoached the other. It happens. It's the NFL. I don't buy into all the 4D Chess.

McDermott's comments about "being smart" when Milano returns and "staying in rhythm" leads me to believe that they won't rush him into the lineup, and that they value the continuity and flow they have on defense right now. As others have mentioned, it's a good problem to have. One of the silver linings and blessings when starters miss time due to injury is that sometimes it allows the depth behind them a chance to develop on the field and get much needed reps. That's been the case with Dorian Williams. Milano is a leader and a playmaker and has a big dead cap hit if cut this offseason, so I expect him to be a Bill in 2025. Beyond that, though, I'm not so sure.

Outstanding. Thanks for this!

You're probably right. I'm an animal lover, so I certainly wouldn't hit just ANY horse. He'd have to really have it comin', ya know?

I disagree that usage and quarterback play are the factors primarily to blame for Samuel's lack of production so far this season -- at least not in a vacuum -- which is what this post makes it sound like. Between the way Samuel looked to the naked eye throughout much of the year and McDermott's post-game comments about Samuel needing to get his confidence back and remember that he's a good football player, I believe something more has been going on. My guess would be that Samuel's lingering turf toe hasn't allowed him to fully be himself, which has gotten into his head, and has also changed the way Brady uses him and the degree to which he is relied upon in this offense. While I agree that it will be incumbent upon the offensive coordinator to continue to find meaningful ways to get Samuel involved, and incumbent upon the quarterback to trust Samuel and to look for him in big moments, I ALSO think that both of those things will have a better chance of happening if whatever has ailed Samuel (be it physical, mental, or both) is behind him. So...yes I think it's coaching and quarterbacking, but I also don't think Samuel himself should be absolved of responsibility for his lack of production this year.

I have to admit that after the Bills had a good O-line last year, I was pretty irritated at Beane for trying to "fix what wasn't broke" by letting Mitch Morse go and moving McGovern to center. Lo and behold, that was the right decision. Our O-line is even BETTER this year, particularly in the run game, and I think moving from Morse (a finesse center) to McGovern (more of a classic mauler) is a big reason why. For not the first and certainly not the last time, Beane was right and I was wrong. Additionally: Aaron Kromer. Oh my GOSH that dude has made a difference! Sure, he's not to be trusted with beach chairs, but the man can coach the hell out of an offensive line!