Logic

I won't be there. I shelled out the money for Sunday Ticket this year. Figured I'd save money in the long run vs running up a bar tab every Sunday at Cheerful Bullpen. Last year it was still hopping at the end of the year, but that's only because the Bills were in the playoff hunt. I don't think you'll find the place packed, but given that it's Bills-Pats and that people are excited about Allen, I think there'll be a decent number of people there. On the other hand, I don't know that the turnout for a week 16, nothing-to-play-for game is the best representation of the Portland Bills Backers, any way. If you'll score some brownie points by hanging with the fam, it might be better to do that. Maybe someone else here who has been in the past couple weeks can shed some more light on recent turnout? Oh, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Seattle. I didn't mean to say that it's not a great place. It's such an awesome city. Ballard is my favorite. I visit often. I'm just saying that it's a shame to see thousands of locals getting priced out of the city due to Amazon and the like. It's a shame to see the homelessness situation there just like I see it here. And now the same type of mass infiltration is happening in Portland. I'm eventually gonna get priced out, and that sucks because I love the Pacific Northwest.

Meh, not to sidetrack this on politics (which njbuff already did), but I would argue that the Proud Boys (aka nazis by a different name) and their monthly intimidation rallies have been just as harmful to the peace of this city as ANTIFA. They're butthurt that what was once a bastion of proud racism (Oregon was founded as a "Whites only" state) has become a liberal stronghold. So they show up in ski masks with heavy weaponry to scare the locals. If anything is really dragging Portland down these days, though, it's rampant homelessness and skyrocketing real estate prices, not to mention the constant condo high rise construction projects. What happened to Seattle (and many other places) is now happening here. Gentrification ruining neighborhoods, population growth outpacing infrastructure growth causing constant traffic jams, etc... So in other words, the usual. Oh, and despite the above, Portland is NOT a craphole. It has thriving food, craft beer, cannabis, music, art, social, political, and sports culture, not to mention some of the nicest nature parks in the country. The huge population influx I just mentioned above is evidence that Portland is awesome. More people are moving here than the city can handle, and its one of the fastest growing cities in America. Wonder why that is? As to the original question posed in this post: Portland Bills Backers at the Cheerful Bullpen is an awesome time. Prize giveaways, Shout song after every TD, Labatt's, wings, etc...You'll have fun. Enjoy Portland!

I was under the impression that you couldn't own other sports teams IN OTHER MARKETS, but that it was permissable to own multiple teams in the same city/market. I could be way off base here.

The fact that the Bills are working out QBs tells me Anderson is retiring after this season (who can blame him?). Next year, Barkley will back up Allen and be the mentor/sounding board, while a younger developmental prospect of some sort will be brought in for training camp.

I can't bring myself to question McDermott and Beane any more when it comes to scrap heap and no-name free agent signings. I DID notice that the Rams waived Pharoah Cooper, who was a 1st team All-Pro kick returner in 2017. Can't help but think that signing him and stashing him for next year would be a great boost to our special teams.

Thanks. I was thinking the same. I have put in a waiver claim on Everett and Engram, though Engram scares me...ESPECIALLY if OBJ is back in the lineup. I have Brate, but he laid an egg with 1.6 points on Sunday. I've got some deep digging to do to determine which of the three to play. Weird year for TEs.

I am familiar with Hollywood Brown and N'Keal Harry...but I am not so familiar with the apparent top WR in the draft, DK Metcalf. Can anyone who IS familiar with him fill me in on some details? What is body type, speed, playing style, etc? Player comparisons? Given that the Bills have fallen to the 10th pick, I fear the top two OTs will be off the board and, as such, am warming to the idea of using a top pick on a WR.

I am in two leagues. In one of them, I coasted into the finals (which are a best of two series beginning this week). In the other, I went 11-2, only to see a guy who was 3-7 at one point come back from the dead and nearly beat me in the semi-finals. I won by ONE POINT because his QB Drew Brees somehow scored only 6 fantasy points, and my running back Christian McCaffrey caught two meaningless late game passes. One point. Phew. But I'll take it! Two finals matchups this week. Now if only I could find a tight end worth a damn...

Fair enough, Shaw. I think of Buddy Nix's old quote: "I don't care about the labor pains, just show me the baby". You're referencing the fact that Foster's college "Labor pains" didn't produce much of a "baby" at Alabama. I would argue, though, that what matters is what he's doing in the pros. So far, the "what's he doing in the pros" baby is looking pretty sharp. It's similar to Josh Allen in my mind. He didn't set the world on fire at Wyoming, but he's starting to show that he can play serious ball at the pro level. To me, what a guy does as a pro trumps whatever happened in college. I can't look at a guy who, since he's been starting for the Bills, has less yards than only TY Hilton and Amari Cooper, and not see a potential star...ESPECIALLY a guy who has been producing those results on a below average offense, with a sporadically accurate rookie QB. Time will tell.

I agree with your overall point about the small talent disparity among NFL players. I disagree, however, that Foster will be "just a guy". Currently, he is averaging 87.6 yards per game. That would put him on a 16-game pace of 1,400 yards receiving. And he's an undrafted rookie at a position that historically takes time to adapt to the NFL! I look at Foster and everything about him screams "#1 receiver". He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He played for Alabama. He is 6"2' and has elite deep speed. He runs crisp routes. He works hard to improve his craft. He has great chemistry with his quarterback. I ABSOLUTELY believe that Foster has what it takes to be a #1 receiver and a star in the league.

Yeah, that's the other thing: It's not as if Foster is JUST fast. He's 6"2'. He's also not just running Go routes. He's running a pretty full route tree at this point. Receiver is also a position that is historically difficult to succeed at as a rookie. Yet here comes this undrafted kid and he's already producing at a top 20 pace from a yardage standpoint. His ceiling is high.

I am starting to believe, contrary to popular opinion, that Foster CAN be a number 1 receiver. I've seen a lot of "oh, he can be a number 2 guy, but he's not a real number 1 receiver in the NFL". To that I say: Based on what? Foster currently is averaging 87.6 yards per game. That would put him on a 16-game pace of 1,400 yards. That's number 1 receiver territory. Furthermore, he has the physical skills (size, speed, agility) and, apparently, the work ethic to be great. To those saying that speed receivers can't be #1 receivers, I present Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, DeSean Jackson (in his prime) from recent vintage, and guys like James Lofton and Steve Largent from the days of yore. Do I want the Bills to add a "bona fide #1 receiver" type in the draft? Of course. But do I think Foster can be a #1 quality receiver for the Bills regardless of what else they do? Yes, I do.

Thanks for the post. I feel that Zay Jones is and always has been a slot receiver. The Bills have been doing Zay and themselves a disservice by playing him outside most of the time for two seasons. Once he moves to his natural slot position full time, I believe he is capable of a Cooper Kupp-like role in the Bills' offense as a possession receiver, move-the-chains guy. We saw just recently in his two touchdown game that he IS skilled enough to get it done, he just needs to be put in position to succeed. All the Bills receiving corps really needs is a legitimate number 1 receiver and a quality tight end. The number 1 receiver will push Foster to the speed/#2 role, Zay to the slot to split time with McKenzie, and the new tight end will be a much needed security blanket for our young quarterback. Gonna be a fun offseason.

Just wanted to chime in and add myself to the long list of people who were disappointed on draft night when the sentence "the Buffalo Bills select Josh..." ended with the word "Allen" rather than "Rosen". So far -- and it is EXTREMELY EARLY to be talking this way -- I appear to have been wrong. Allen has been better than Rosen in their respective rookie years, there's no doubt about it. Both guys have bad o-lines and suspect "weaponry". The key difference is that Allen has the athleticism, toughness, and improvisational ability to overcome this. Rosen does not.

4 sacks and a bunch of hurries in limited playing time due to injury is worthless?

It's true that Murphy isn't 100%, but totally false to say that he "isn't doing bupkis". He had a sack on Sunday that nearly resulted in a safety.

He was quite bad. I'd much rather seem them start Boettger going forward. If it turns out that Teller and Boettger are both quality guards, then it lessens our offseason o-line shopping list considerably.

You're right! I forgot about Deonte! So scratch the Cam Phillips call-up.

Beane just said in an interview that he hopes to get Ray Ray back on the field, for one. I also expect them to call Cam Philips back to the main roster. So: Zay Jones Robert Foster Isaiah McKenzie Ray Ray McCloud Cam Phillips Talk about a youth movement!

Addition by subtraction. Last 4 games are all about finding out who will be on the team next year. Neither of these guys fit that criteria. Glad we're finally biting the bullet and moving forward.

When I first read this, I thought "this guy's nuts!". But then I sat and thought about it, and the only guy I can name that provides more pure entertainment value at QB right now is Patrick Mahomes. So...wow. That's a heck of a thing!

I'm sure people will be lining up to lambaste you and tell you what a fool you are. But ya know what? I like the bold statement! And I can see it happening. I'm not quite ready to say that I agree, but I AM ready to say that it's not that unreasonable of a thing to proclaim. As it stands, he may ALREADY be the most PHYSICALLY GIFTED QB the Bills have ever had. The rest is up to him.

Fair enough. To me, there are a few things that lead me to believe he could be great here. To start with, he's the only guy in the free agent pool that isn't 30 years or older. That's the first thing. The second thing is that he's 6 foot 4 and has elite deep speed. He also has a 1,000 yard receiving season under his belt. If you put THAT guy across from Foster as the outside threats, and Zay Jones as the "move the chains" slot guy, you're gonna have an explosive offense. But I certainly understand where you're coming from.

I can't help but think that a single bona fide number one wide receiver would do wonders for the offense as a whole. Just look at what Amari Cooper has done for Dallas. I'd offer a pick for AJ Green or try to sign Tyrell Williams if he hits free agency. Either guy would be the number 1 wideout, which would allow Foster to slip to the number 2/speed option on the opposite side and Zay Jones to move to his natural slot position. Then you'd have McKenzie for the gadget plays and whatever 2nd-5th round wideouts they draft as depth/developmental prospects. Don't get me wrong -- I hope they add MULTIPLE receiving options this offseason. But if they can add a quality center, tackle, and a legitimate #1 wideout through free agency, they'll be in good shape.

Sooooo.....can we just ban this guy already, or are we still waiting a bit longer? I.....disagree with this, to put it mildly.