Rochesterfan

This is just going to be very hard to do. The league plays past the combine and past the major part of FA. So these guys will have little chance to get drafted if they come straight out of HS. Worse yet - the timing of the league means most FAs will already be signed and the teams are focused on the upcoming draft - any guys that actually make a roster are just fill ins. The AAFL at least by folding early got several players signed before the big FA push. I think the XFL will get a few guys signed, but considering their pay scale is less than the PS and the fact that viewership is dropping badly week over week and next week starts March madness which will kill the viewership. I just do not see the XFL surviving. The only way a spring league is going to have sustained success is partnering with the NFL/NFLPA and getting these young PS players and true back-up level QBs into the game - guys that will have a legitimate place on NFL rosters and name recognition.

Actually ratings have dropped each week just like the AAFL - attendance is variable because some teams like ST. Louis just had a home opener that got big attendance - some games in other markets attendance was down. How many players exactly do you think are making the 90 man camp roster from this league? You are talking like you expect a bunch - just not sure why? The AAFL folded early and actually made great timing as FA was not completed and it was still a while before the draft and they got a small number with better talent. The timing on the XFL season is really bad. The season completes well after the FA period has been done and right before the draft. They will most likely get a few of their top end players - Cam Phillips, maybe a QB or two picked up from teams that missed out on a position in the draft, but most teams will be down to filling in the last few roster spots. These guys will be competing against undrafted FAs to fill rosters. If the top couple of players from each team are picked up - you are talking about 16 players maybe about where the AAFL was - not exactly a big marketing push - especially as many of them will be cut as part of the roster cut downs. I really don’t think that will make this a viable league long term and it will not drive players from PS or the NCAA to the league. At least that is my opinion as of now. I just do not see this ending well for the XFL and part of that is the new CBA and the increase in players and money.

Yes, but the NCAA is working to balance that out to prevent either an unfair CA advantage with athletes getting paid or having to block all students in CA from competition as they have been paid.

And why after California law changes - players will be paid. The XFL pay scale is lower than the PS payouts - so I think most players will sign their future contracts and the colleges are allowing transfers and shortly - pay - the pool of higher end XFL talent begins to further melt away. The other league realized without getting an agreement with the NFL/NFLPA to use these guys the talent was never going to flourish. Basically the XFL is arena league football. Different rules - low end talent - it will have a few guys that make it back to the NFL - just like Arena and AAFL did, but if they can’t compete to even get the majority of PS players and that number goes up. They are in trouble long term.

My guess is based on everyone of the current Bills PS players accepting a futures contract - that the majority would stay in the NFL rather than move to a spring league. The guys in the XFL are mostly washouts and guys that have little shot at getting back into the NFL. The PS players are going to stick to the NFL because that is their shot. As to college players skipping college and going to the XFL - I think that is just crazy talk. Will 1 or 2 guys that do not have the grades maybe take a shot - could be, but the majority will not for the exact reason we have going on in Indy right now - combine and the draft. Playing in the XFL will mean those guys will not be going to the combine and will not be getting the meetings with the teams. If the NFL leaveS the 3 years from HS rule in place - these guys would need to play in the XFL for for 2 years and take a year off getting ready (not a great plan) or risk playing a 3 rd year and playing right up until the draft - mid April based on this year’s calendar- I don’t think that is a risk most players will take.

I think the other huge piece to this is by increasing the PS and the active players - you will further reduce the talent pool of any spring league that doesn’t have an agreement with the NFL and the NFLPA. It will be interesting to see the impact on the XFL for next year as QB play is already troublesome. You are adding 5 more spots to the PS - that is 160 more young players with NFL contracts that pulls the majority of your starting QBs, WRs, RBs, DBs, etc. I also think you finally see something done right by the NFLPA by letting this go to the members - they knew the vast majority of players would approve - so good for them doing it right. Lo Alexander talked a bit about this on OBL - where as a veteran the deal isn’t great because it adds to the wear and tear, but as the average player only plays 3 years this significantly increases their earnings and brings more guys into play. He recognized it was good for the vast majority of the league.

Shouldn’t the NFLPA be doing the exact same thing. They are supposed to be looking out for the majority of their members, but they don’t. The NFLPA is mostly influenced by the top 1% of their members - guys like Watt and Sherman - that will make enough money that additional health benefits and retirement and more players will have no impact on their career. This is why they struggle as a union. The rank and file players see things like lawsuits to protect Brady, but the NFLPA does not work to protect them in these cases. The team reps are supposed to represent the wants of the 50+ members they serve and not their own interests. This is why they keep getting beat because they are focused on the few not the many. The NFLPA should be working on increasing the players percentages and upping the league minimum for all players and putting percentage limits on the top guys to make sure the middle tier players keep a job. Putting in some type of veteran clause to help increase the average age of the rank and file and increase the money for the majority. They should be trying to get a 17th and 18th game for the guys that will only see 4 years or less - you are talking about less than four games for a majority of the players careers and that extra percentage and the long term health benefits could be huge. The NFLPA should have been pushing for the retirement/health package that the NFL put forth in the last deal that got nixed where both the league and the players take a percentage of their compensation and put it into a fund managed jointly for retirement and healthcare that could be accessed by the majority, but the NFLPA nixed that because it would cause a decrease in salaries at the top end rather than something that benefits 4500 players yearly.

I think it is very relevant what was said at the end of year PC about what to expect in the off season. I do not expect then to go out and sign top flight talent in FA. I think they will use FA to once again fill all of the holes and upgrade some talent levels (see OT, WR, and DE), but it is not going to be the #1 guy at those positions. I also believe just like last year - if a true #1 WR is available via trade - Beane will be talking to the teams and trying to work something out if he thinks the deal works. For this to be ok to me (and I really doubt it will get there) - Beane needs to get that legit WR (maybe a Diggs type - not an AJ Green type - younger, fast, good catch radius - a guy you can still build around). They also need to improve talent at DE and OT - so they can strictly be working BPA. Finally you have to assume Kyle is the BPA at that spot. To me none of those things will line up at the Bills pick in the 1st round, but if they do then fine - I will be happy with the pick. The second statement is true of all teams, but Beane has shown they are good at drafting - just look at the team and the age of the starters at most important positions. The thing is - a good FO also must understand their strengths and weaknesses- especially when it comes to the draft. Some teams excel at identifying players at certain positions and struggle with players at other positions. If the recognize that - they can draft well and make sure they are hitting those strong positions early and hitting the weaker positions later and less often and supplementing that with FA and trades to get proven talent. NE often struggles with WR and DB in their drafts - so they hit those positions via FA and Trades - even with drafting a WR in round 1 last year - he looked like a potential weakness so much that they signed WRs in FA and signed then AB in season and also traded for a WR in season. Their best CBs were all guys they picked up in FA. They struggle with those positions, but recognize it and supplement those areas via FA and trades.

I will wait until after FA to determine that. I think if the Bills FO is great at drafting defense - then go ahead and draft defense. Use FA and trades to stock the offense with known players and hit on draft picks on defense. I personally do not care how they improve the team- just keep getting better. Now if they do not address they offense in FA and trade - then I may lose my mind with a safety, but they seem to have a handle on how to build that side of the ball.

Hapless - I do not disagree at all, but in the hours and the days after it happened - Garrett had no one at all defending him or the actions - 100% for long term suspension - kicking him out of the league. Suddenly - after coming up with the one “excuse” of race baiting - there have been several athletes and media that did not condone the action, but at least stated they understand. He suddenly at least got a small group of people back potentially on his side. It also shifted the context 180 degrees from assault to people questioning whether Rudolph is a racist or is Garrett a liar. Long term it has no impact, but it went from 100% against him to more people qualifying that it was wrong, but if a racial slur was used - I can understand the rage. He was able to change the narrative and I believe that was the goal of it all along. Now we will see if a lawsuit comes out - it could totally backfire for Garrett, but my guess is they come to an agreement and in the end Garrett doesn’t need to say it any more because it becomes a part of the narrative.

Well NE signed him and traded away another veteran WR and then after cutting him their QB complained so much about a lack of talent that they had to trade for another WR. So to me it cost them going after a better WR at a time they needed one and now financially they are still on the hook for money owed to AB even though he only played 1 game. I also get a prove it deal - I am asking you what makes you think he will accept a prove it deal and how much are you willing to pay. You said it is low risk, potential reward, but you are talking about a player that wanted out of Pittsburgh because they did not give him enough guaranteed money. He supposedly refused Buffalo when we would not up his guaranteed money. He accepted Oakland with huge guarantees and is now suing them for non-payment after being cut. He got big guaranteed money from NE - played a week and was cut and now has a lawsuit against NE also. I do not think you understand what he is going to want. I do not think you are getting him on a “prove it” deal without guaranteed money. So the question remains how much are you willing to spend on him because I am pretty sure our GM knows exactly what he is worth and it is nothing. You also left out what/how long do you think his suspension will be for? You also gave nothing on your expectations or what you think will happen as he complains about JA and how that impacts the team. As for NE - prior to AB and with AB they were the heavy favorites to return to and win another Super Bowl. They fell way short at the end and their leader and QB - Brady was complaining about not having AB and a lack of talent - so I think he had a pretty negative impact on the team and perhaps is part of the reason if Brady decides to move on.

Yes because even Belicheck and Brady - 2 GOATS - were able to keep him in control. I mean it is not like he called out the owner or anything in NE. Let’s turn this around - please tell us exactly what you think his “incentive laden” contract - that AB will want to play for - will look like (remember that was a big part of the issue in Pittsburgh as he wanted big guaranteed money)? Also what are your expectations for an AB suspension for next season if he signs? Finally, what realistically do you expect from AB if he is signed by the Bills at his age - having not really played in over a year. Do you really think the Bills or JA use him as a true #1 or much like the gameplans this year - is JA to find the open guy making AB very frustrated. What kind of numbers do you see and do those numbers make AB happy or does he constantly call out JA as not Big Ben?

Yes - you cut him - nothing ventured - nothing gained, but what they always forget to mentioned is what do you lose. You cut him and you gain nothing, but you lose the ability to bring in someone that will help the team for 16 games. You miss out on players that will actually bring gain. You end up like the Pats that were desperate for a WR so they bring him in and trade away someone that would have given them more. Then they are also forced to trade for a guy that is ok, but doesn’t give them enough. Who knows what that venture cost the Pats in both money and for the season.

Exactly what I said - he comes in suspended and acts up never even getting on the field - airing dirty laundry - turning players and coaches. You get rid of him and he acts even worse bad talking everything about your team - especially your young QB. Now you have media storm surrounding the team. It would be one thing if he cared and really wanted to play, but it seems obvious that he doesn’t care - see his treatment of the team and management in Oakland. He wants the money and doesn’t want to do anything to get it. He is working lawsuits against 2 NFL teams already - let’s add ours to the list. Additionally - let’s say Beane loses his mind and does this - now you have your #1 WR - suspended for most likely at least half the season - although my guess is with 2 sexual assault cases pending, multiple failure to pay lawsuits, and a full on assault case he was arrested for - it could be longer. Now you have signed him - does that prevent you from making a move to improve the WR position more. Then like Oakland and NE found out - he screws your team and now you have no #1 WR and you wasted time and resources on nothing. Plus you now have a potential rookie coming in and getting to learn and see the Diva act - it could create issues with development. The team places a huge emphasis on veteran leaders teaching the young players how to do things right - why would you want the WR room - the easiest room to go insane (Diva’s) - to have the king Diva present showing all the wrong ways of doing things. What I see is a player/contract with little upside (he couldn’t even make it work in NE and blasted the owners and team when he left) and lots of potential to destroy what you are building - especially at QB.

He would purposely lie to give others a reason to see why he did what he did. It has already worked as people question Rudolph and what impact this has on his teammates. He needed to make it seem like he didn’t just go crazy for no reason - let’s give everyone a reason that will play with a large segment of the population.

Why - what are you expecting from him. He will be suspended at minimum 8 games - so you get a guy that doesn’t care and you have to put up with him for 1/2 a season not around risking making you look stupid. Plus how motivated do you think he will be to take a low guaranteed contract. I do not see him being happy if a team like Buffalo that he already bad mouthed - offers him and incentive laden contract - my guess is you could lose a lot for very little reward. With little effort he could destroy your team just by leaking garbage or live streaming a meeting. If I am Beane - Brown can sit and rot - we would look elsewhere for talent that will actually play for you.

Yes he is threatening to sue for defamation not libel as CB suggested (and battery), but as the article states - difficult for Rudolph to prove Malicious intent to win this case. All a lawsuit does it keep this in the public eye. A lawsuit puts the burden of proof on Rudolph and since there are times where it is just the 2 of them away from others - very good chance it is just he said versus he said and the case either gets tossed or settled - if it even can get that far. In the end hopefully this will shut Garret up, but he is in deep and this is his only fall back - so he will have to stick to it. I just wish the NFL had kept him out for longer - I do not think he deserves to play after that kind of attack.

You keep saying this - you do understand to sue for libel - you must show how it financially impacted you and your future earnings. Just because someone says something about you does not mean you automatically can sue. Even if it is a bold face lie. Additionally - all suing does it keep it in the spotlight. If there was truth to it or not - how are they going to prove anything - the players on the Steelers that were there denied it. No Browns were close enough to hear anything - so it would be MG stating his piece versus a few Steelers with No real evidence. Not exactly law suit material. In the end - either way the ends are not justified by the means - you have a player that deserved to be suspended and has now been reinstated. We will see how long before his next suspension as he as continually pushed the line and even in his limited time before this was noted as a dirty player.

Not sure this is even true. He agreed to 1.75 million less in base salary to make it guaranteed. Both sources stated the per game bonus, signing bonus, and workout bonus stayed the same. So in reality if he plays every game with all of his bonuses he will make $500,000 less than his base salary alone would have been this year. If he played all 16 games on his old contract he would have made closer to 8 million with the bonuses. In real world dollars he just took a 1.75 million dollar pay cut to ensure his roster spot for this year. He also took the pay cuts out to year 2 and 3, with minor guarantees for injury. I am not sure he survives going into 2021, but he has provided himself with some insurance just in case.

Even if you tried to set-up a signing bonus to be paid at the end with good behavior - a la the Pats. If he eventually plays for you team and screws up - you have a law suit coming your way to get his money. Why bother with the headaches for a guy that is looking for free money. He signed with Oakland with no real intention of playing there - just to get the money. Then tried double dipping with the Pats and couldn’t make that organization work. I do not want him for any money or any reason on my team. The negative outweighs the positive even if he could play a full season coming up.

At this point it doesn’t really matter because even if a team signs him - you have to figure with multiple sexual assault cases pending and his taped actions toward his “baby mamma” - plus now another legit assault case that he was arrested for with damages to other people’s property - he is not playing for a team in 2020. He is looking at a full year suspension without pay before he can ever play again. Why would anyone sign on for that. That would be a whole year of a guy on your team giving you nothing, but being put in a position to make it worse and make your team look bad. We saw exactly what kind of damage he could do to teams while still in the NFL and then we saw the crazy come out while not on a team. What are the chances he gets better after a sit down with the commissioner and being told he is getting suspended without pay for 8, 10, or even 16 weeks. He will explode again and make it worse. Just let him go and let the drama wash over you.

This is the kind of move a Miami makes. Take the contract and a decent pick/player and let it be part of the rebuild - just like Cleveland did. Does not mean it will work for them. This is not a move a decent team that is coming off a playoff run and wants to grow and build a team long term makes. So No for Buffalo. Maybe for a Miami/Cincinnati team that is still players and a year or two away.

That was Reid being nice. It seems he recognized that Shady is done and used that excuse to get some other guys touches. He has essentially been benched since Williams came back and has less than 5 cares since early December. They need him - on the bench.

He is speaking for the owners - his job as he did in SD, STL, Oak, etc - was to get in front and be the bad guy - warn those cities about what the owners want and put a threat of a move out there if they do not get it. His job is not to make you feel good. Notice how right afterward we hear the study is complete and they will be releasing it in the next few months - of course it is done - it falls right in the time frame Roger mentioned - coincidence? Nope! They already knew the outcome - now it is Roger’s job to sound the alarm and be bad - put out a move, lack of competition, etc. and then let the Pegula’s be the good cop and ask nice and move toward a public/private partnership to give them exactly what they want.

He said that because they already knew the Pegula’s report was complete and going to be released. He was up there being the bad guy for the Pegula’s. He put out the threats so the Pegula’s get what they want. In the end the NFL owners can decide many things, if enough of them voted they could strip him of the franchise and force him to sell - they also could continue to manipulate the CBA which is up and further lessen shared revenue- which means teams like Buffalo will continue to find it harder to be competitive. There are lots of things, but in this case just remember- Roger is speaking for the Pegula’s not himself.