Rochesterfan

I will not judge too much right now because you have a CBA deal coming up and if the owners feel like the overall salary cap and players percentages are going to go up - getting the deal done now before the CBA could save them huge money in a year or two. We also do not know what is going to become of things like the franchise tag or if there is a strike/lockout that costs the players/owners part of the year and they lose a lot of valuable contract time or even a contract year if the walk out/strike happens after game 1. The smart money was to get ahead of any of the potential CBA issues and get a deal done in today’s dollars and protect yourself and the team from any potential issues. We will see long term if it was the smartest move or not based on his play.

I believe bigger market teams that have built and invested in new stadiums are going to look at additional ways of keeping more of their own revenue in this agreement. For example in the last go around the bigger owners asked for and got more of the local revenue and suite money that used to go into the money sharing pool - meaning a place like Dallas gets more in local revenue than a place like Buffalo (shared partially with visiting teams). I think the next step is these owners are going to push to no longer split their home revenue with the visiting team and the home team keeps all the revenue they generate - making Dallas even more money and putting Buffalo at NEF further behind.

I listened to Goodell and what I hear is that he wants long term stability and viability for Buffalo and the best way to do that is via a new stadium. The new collective bargaining sessions are coming up and one of the things that the big revenue teams often look at is doing away with more and more of the revenue sharing. We always look at these sessions as players versus owners, but the owners often have their own internal wars over how to split up the money and last time the big revenue teams got to keep a larger percentage of home game revenue. I would not be surprised if the team ends up with further losses of revenue if they do not generate more for the league. In the end the TV deal covers most costs, but the extra revenue goes a long way to pay for amenities and that is what is driving Buffalo right now. They may need to increase their own sources of revenue just to help balance out things across the league.

Also just to to clear up one last thing - the average April temperature in Columbus is about 5-6 degrees warmer than Cleveland the last 9 years - a bigger difference than between Cleveland and Buffalo. Columbus also has several years with even more precipitation than Cleveland and Buffalo in April, but there are huge extremes - some years like 2017 they had 48 less millimeters than Cleveland, but 15 more than Buffalo. Others like 2015 - Columbus has 40+ millimeters more than both Buffalo and Cleveland. The number of days with precipitation is nearly identical also. So there is a bigger difference in temperatures between Columbus and Cleveland than Cleveland and Buffalo and Columbus actually has the most precipitation of all 3 many years.

Not sure it is a fluke - looking at the last 9 years of April temperatures the difference between Cleveland and Buffalo is about 3 degrees for both the high and the low temperatures (not 15-20) because Cleveland is also up on the lake unlike Columbus. Additionally, the last 9 years Buffalo has had significantly less total precipitation in April on average than Cleveland. 7 of the 9 years Buffalo has been less with the difference exceeding 30 millimeters difference in Buffalo’s favor in 2 years. The two years that Cleveland had less it was by 11 and 3 millimeters - nearly identical. Buffalo also had fewer days of precipitation in April 5 of the last 9 years and only 2 years did they have more. Based on the true data between the cities it looks like Cleveland is generally slightly warmer (about 3 degrees), but wetter with more precipitation and more days of precipitation (both rain and snow). I do do not see how anyone could logically say the weather difference is what would keep the NFL Draft out of Buffalo. Finally a quick review shows Chicago has temperatures right in the same area as Buffalo and Cleveland and even more precipitation on average than either city for April and they already had the draft. To me it is not the weather that will keep them away - unless Cleveland is horrible- it will be held as a carrot to get a new stadium and some new downtown buildings to host such an event and put on a great experience.

I disagree with your initial interpretation because the Bills will be running a bunch of option routes with certain receivers and the four step allow you to break down your momentum and cut in either direction based upon the reaction of the DB. This includes routes where if the DB breaks down and tries to jump a route - you can accelerate past them. Cover 1 and the Media has also shown videos where the guys are making 1 cut quick out and in breaking routes. I especially disagree with your assessment of the Pats - their slot guys are always using these 4 step cuts when running an option route - where do you think Daboll picked it up. I think you will see a lot of different techniques that these guys are being taught for specific routes just to get a reaction from the DBs. It is critical that they perform the techniques well to allow proper timing with the QB. The 4 step cuts - especially in the slot also are useful to allow the outside WR to pull his DB deeper to help ensure an open area to cut into. I think it may be a corners dream in HS, but playing a good WR and a well coached team - you would jump the route once and they would then burn you the rest of the game. The point of that break is to allow the WR to go left or right and up or downfield totally depending upon the play and movement of the DB - which is why these guys are talking so much about body position and what they are seeing to get on the same page.

It is not my argument you flat out stated: And I am pointing out in the regular season they are 1-6 - if they had played them nearly as many time as the Bills that would equate to 3-18 compared to the Bills 3-20 during that stretch. Not exactly successful- so you are flat out wrong. Even if you include the playoff wins - they are no where near the most successful AFC team versus the Pats during this run. Add in the fact that they play 0.500 against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and beat the Browns at the same pace the Pats have beat the Bills. The Bills are playing 0.500 ball against the Fins and Jets and then dominated by the Pats. The Divisions matter. During Harbaughs’s time they were a consistently good team early - the last four years have been up and down with both the Bills and the Ravens making the playoffs once and the biggest difference being the one to two extra wins the Ravens get against their division rather than the Pats. But that is all theoretical- my point is you made a statement above to prove a point that Baltimore is probably the most successful AFC team versus the Pats and that is just false. Sorry

Don’t guess because that would be way wrong. Tom Brady has owned Baltimore with a 6-1 record in the regular season. Denver is the only team that has fared well at nearly 0.500 and then Miami. Baltimore has been more consistent, but they have also been in a division with Cleveland and not NE for the last 2 decades and that really impacts total wins and loses as much as anything.

This 100% - I do not want the Jim Kelly - no huddle fast attack. That was great; but I do not need that pace all game long. Give me a huddle when you come out for a few plays and then after you get a first down or two and you have some D-line getting tired - pick up the pace and don’t let them substitute and let the offense dictate the tempo and plays. Use it especially on 3rd down and short - you have the entire playbook - from QB sneak to long pass available and you can get the defense in a pickle before you even snap the ball. It is a huge advantage for the offense and one very few teams take advantage of.

You don’t think preparation for these things haven’t changed in the last 30 years. A 15/16 back 30 years ago meant very little because none of the Players went to draft prep classes that work specifically on the things they will get tested on in the draft. A 13 now equates to a 4 or a 5 back then because of the access to tests to prepare for this and tips on how to score better. It could very well be that Jackson did no prep work, but again that reflects on him. I do not care if he recognizes the changes to the offense or not - or can’t figure out where he is holding the ball and why it wobbles. I think he is just not a great player and like TT - will not be able to do enough to be a consistent winner once teams figure out the best way to defend him. I won’t question his athleticism, but there is no questioning his intelligence or lack there of. This is has been noted from his handling of questions, his wonderlic, his pre draft talks, everything has pointed to his subpar intelligence. It may or may not impact his play that will be determined.

This X1000. I fully agree on Ike also. If he can pick up Center - he has flexibility and then has a chance to replace Bodine and can make the team. If he is strictly a guard - I think it becomes a numbers game and he is either PS or on another team.

I believe the plan was for 2022 to be in LA. Same thing with a Super Bowl once the stadium is done.

Must be NE since we are winning the AFC this year right and they accidentally have NE at the end. I bet that Beane fleeced NE to move from the 30’s to 7 by offering Frank Gore’s used Jock.

Can I ask why you were discussing EJ Gaines on your Honeymoon - of course that was not a wise decision- LOL ?

Actually there are are over 4 DE that are the same age or older making more than Hughes even with the new contract - some significantly more money. A guy like Cameron Hayward in Pittsburgh - same age getting 14+ million and similar numbers and still has term left after this year. You have others like JPP and Watt with injury history, but bigger totals - both pushing 20 million a season with term left. I think 11 million for a top rated rusher - especially with the contracts being given out now is a steal. Now he just has to play these years out just as he has this contract.

Not sure I agree - currently he is the 20th paid DE in the NFL. We have this year and 2 additional years at about the same money. By next year and the year after he will be closer to 25 - 40 th in the market and the DE market has gone nuts with guys like Trey Flowers hitting 16 million next year and going to 23 million - he will look like a bargain. Heck DeMarcus Lawrence is already slated to make over 26 million when he is the same age as Hughes. I do not view this as overpaying at all - you signed a known entity at a premium position for significantly less than others have been signed recently and less than others of the same age.

He is part art of a NASCAR team down south and wanted to spend more time with that organization. Kelso was a great guy - very intelligent and seemed to really do an excellent job with film study and knowledge.

I think more than this year - I think for the foreseeable future they are going to struggle. That is a pretty good division (minus the Bengals) and they have bad facilities and an owner that is not a favorite of the players. They are a hard sell right now.

The issue is now is in reality about the best time they can move him before 2020. If you play him this year (especially with that o-line and coach) there are 3 scenarios and really none lead to trades. 1. If he plays bad to mediocre (most likely scenario in my mind) - no one is going to want to part with anything of value because he looked bad and is super expensive. 2. If he plays great - just like with Pittsburgh- he will have shown value and the new FO won’t trade him (nor should they) - they just eat the contract because it is done. 3. He plays average - middle of the league - his contract next year is 15 million ( even factoring in the signing bonus - he will be one of the top paid backs coming off an average year - I do not think they get much in options, but maybe they can work a trade (huge dead money for them though) The way I see it for the Jets is they either trade him now before anyone knows what he is like as a player and eat the 12 million to get back salary cap for the future or he is a Jet through the 2020 where they can either cut him or maybe trade to get something small back. One year has very little chance of working unless they blow it up and try to restart.

Actually - he now becomes affordable for the price most teams seemed to value him at. The Jets paid 12 million of the guaranteed money - that leaves essentially the 4 years and under 40 million or just under 10 million per season - I believe. It actually makes him much more trade-able because his annual cost is significantly lower - I can see a higher round pick (2nd/3rd) for him or maybe more for a team that thinks this moves them to late in the round.

The issue is if Johnson didn’t want to do the work to search for a coach and a GM - why give the GM you want to fire a big say in hiring the HC. Additionally - why give that same GM the keys to the biggest FA haul in years for the Jets? If you think he is a bad GM - why let him spend and put you back into Salary Cap jail. If you are getting rid of the GM for doing a bad job - why do you let him run the final draft - to the point that the coach literally did not participate at all in the draft prep and running of the draft. Finally - if you were getting rid of the GM for performance- wouldn’t you have some legitimate people in mind and be moving on this process. The head coach just made a trade of a former 1st round pick and cut players to sign a punter. There is work and fires to be put out. In the end - you put together these 3 points and it is obvious they had no intention of getting rid of the GM, but the actions of the new coach forced their hand. Gase was not happy with the FA players signed - nor the money and it is obvious that he was not happy with the pre-draft and draft action. Someone had to go - so say bye bye to the GM. It may not be wrong based on the draft history, but I do not think it was part of a plan - it just needed to happen once you look closely at the 2 guys involved.

Hate to see this for any player/team, but I just do not have much sympathy for this player - such a waste.

I agree - similar to what we did with Lawson, but they had to make the decision on the 5th year option for L. Williams last year before 2018 played out. He was still a potential rising start and they hoped he would continue to develop - with some stability. If they had not made the decision on a 5th year - there is a good chance he would be playing elsewhere this year already. It is impossible to say what the Jets truly think of him because they signed off on the extension and obviously are now having 2nd and 3rd thoughts about that.

Because the 5th year option already has him being paid as a top 10 DLineman at north of 14 million per year. L Williams is a good player, but he is not open of the top 5-10 players in the league and to extend him - they are going to need to give him a huge contract that they do not feel he is worth. It is very similar to the Shaq Lawson situation in Buffalo, but the Bills chose not to give the 5th year option that would overpay - allowing them time to negotiate a contract more in line with play. The Jets gave the 5th year option and now have a guy that they feel is overpayed and it will be harder to negotiate a new deal at significantly less than he is making this year. Therefore - they will let him go test FA and see what he is worth and they stand a big chance at losing him. This is a continuous challenge for teams that draft high year over year because the option is a big pick-up for guys that are average - therefore they lose these guys rather than resigning them. It happens at most positions when these teams struggle for extended periods.

OR - it could be said they felt L. Williams was only there for 1 more year anyway and got his replacement- rather than a top quality DE like Allen. The issue is where BPA meets need - meets long term planning. The firing of the GM and the new coaching staff just changed the equation for the Jets.