Rochesterfan

Most likely they will do a deal similar to Tre and Mahomes where it is an extension to the current contract after they pick up the 5th year option. Therefore his real cap hit does not hit the Bills until 2022 with the new NFL TV deal. Allen’s cap hit next year will not change much even if he signs a 10 yr 500 million deal that exceeds Mahomes and I expect they will work on something even more team friendly. The timing for the Allen extension is great as the Cap should rise significantly by the time his 40 million hits the cap.

Until we see the contract we won’t know, but my guess is similar Mahomes and Tre White - his new contract will be an extension to his current deal after they pick up the 5th year option. Therefore; JA gets his money earlier, but it has almost no impact on his salary cap for 2021 or 2022 allowing the Bills to re-sign guys and plan for the hit. That allowed Tre’s contract to be under 12 Mil this year and the cap hit to be under 15 mil until 2025 rather than the 19-20 mil per season of the extension. The extension for Mahomes meant this year was under 6 million with only 24 million next year before the big money hits. There is no reason the Bills can’t do something similar with an eye on the 2022 salary cap where it is expected to be new TV deals that dwarf the current deals and increase the Cap by 25-50% or more. Then you are really looking at how do you fit those guys in for 1 year before the new cap and bigger deals start.

Those trades were thrown out by the poster I was responding to - not what I would suggest for Watson. He was questioning if other teams would make trades. I think Watson is worth more than he thought.

Man glad to see you can still start useless threads. What would we do without another thread started by you - nearly identical to your others. 🤢 Maybe this on will get merged also. The LAMP is strong with this one (and useless)!

I totally disagree - He is their best player and he has just gone through a HC that ran out a GM many of the players liked and respected for his honesty in Gaines. The HC then replaced said GM, way overpaid to make a run last year, and then traded away their 2nd best player in Hopkins for pennies. I believe the team should have talked with him about the upcoming decisions- I get why the GM hire went the way it did - they got the guy they wanted last year, but NE shut the door on, but they could have been honest about that. I believe what Watson is looking for is a bit of diversity in who he is dealing with and who is dealing with the team. The Houston ownership group has already shown a lack of cultural diversity in how they spoke in the past, how they treated cultural diverse hires like Gaines, how they treated cultural diverse players like Hopkins, etc. He is looking for some level of understanding and a desire to at least look at candidates hat will understand these players. I truly think Watson is a leader and speaks for a large percentage of the team, but I also agree with @GunnerBill - at this point the silent treatment is not the answer. Be vocal and be strong and tell them why - it may not change anything, but at least others hear you and understand. Watson is a bit stuck at this point as he is under a huge contract and if the team doesn’t want to trade him - even sitting out does little good. Bell could sit out because it was the final year - Watson has until 2025 - so he is stuck. He is going to play - make yourself heard and use your voice for others.

First the contract window on a rookie is still 5 years. Even after Mahomes and Watson signed their deals - their cap hits this year were both under 10 million and although they jump in year 5 Mahomes is under 25 million and Watson is only 16 million. After year 5 the extension kicks in and their cap hits jump to close to 40 million - so yes they are still cost contained for 5 years. Basically if Herbert continues to grow they can extend him after year 3, but still get year 4 cheap and the 5th year option before the extension kicks in. That means a difference of paying Watson 40.4 million in 2022 and Herbert 7.5 million and that to me is huge. I personally think Watson is a top level QB - probably in tier 2 overall just below the elites, but he is a franchise level guy that has been screwed around by his team. The list of teams that would not make a deal is and should be small. Your example given if I was the Giants and you offered me Watson for Jones and my first - I would be all over that in half a second - that would be a huge steal for the Giants. If I am Miami - I would strongly consider Tua and the #3 for Watson. I have seen enough Tua throws to question his downfield throws and Watson is immediately better now. Washington to me is interesting, but in reality undoable. Chase Young looks and acts like a leader you want on your team, but straight up - I probably make the trade, but I don’t see Houston getting just a DE back - they would need a pick and/or a QB. The QBs that I’d keep myself would be: Allen, Mahomes, Rodgers, Herbert, Burrows, and that is about it. There are a few guys I would put in the “I could go either way” group: Murray, Lamar Jackson, Lawerence at #1, I will put Rodgers here also due to age, Wilson. Those guys it depends upon what I want to accomplish as a team. Pretty much every one else - I am willing to trade picks, young QBs, packages to get Watson to develop around. That is my feeling on it. You have a shot at a top 5-7 young QB - that positions you for the next 15 years - you take it and figure the rest out later.

You should really try carving in stone. LOL

Except he can pass multiple stages in a day - it does not mean he will, but he could be entirely cleared by the first practice or it could take until Sunday, or he could not clear. The time frame is not defined and clearing levels is not a daily task.

I will wait until after FA to decide, but unless we find the space to re-sign LBs and get younger DE’s, I would rather go about 5 other positions before picking a RB in round 1. I think all 3 levels on defense, OL, and TE are all ahead of RB for need/wants. The Bills have spent 3rd round picks on RB in consecutive years - that is enough investment - they have a pretty good level and idea of value/return in today’s NFL.

I will just wait and see, but it did not look like a normal concussion to me. Mahomes head really does not get hit or suffer the classic acceleration/deceleration that you saw with say Jackson. With Mahomes what you saw was a Browns player wrap up his head on the hit and then sort of roll and you see Mahomes head pull up at the neck and then his full body weight is yanked upward almost like he was going to be suplexed. The bodies reaction was similar to a concussion with the typical wobbly knees and vacant stare. I don’t think it was blood flow related (like MMA) - to quick and not really a choke move. I think it was more stress/strain on the neck and nerves. I actually believe both sides could be correct and make sense as “neck concussion” are a real thing as studied by UB in the past (https://completeconcussions.com/2017/03/14/neck-causing-concussion-symptoms-part-1/) and if he had those typical concussion symptoms - he would be placed in the protocol and have to clear the protocol - even if it was not brain related. Therefore; Reid saying he is in protocol and has to clear is 100% correct and people saying it was not really a concussion (in that his head was not the focal point), but was caused by his neck (nerve) may also be correct. In the end some people will believe whatever they want and I really don’t care. If he clears - he plays and if he doesn’t clear - then we need to be prepared for that also.

I would rather have Diggs and Bass than Teller. Teller would have been cut here if not traded. Heck last year he was so bad in Cleveland in pass blocking (and run blocking) that he was one of the worst Guards in the league. Does he survive in Buffalo on a pass first team last year? Do you think if we kept him and got rid of Spain last year the Bills make the playoffs? Spain gave up no sacks and very little pressure and Mayfield was calling for Tellers head and the interior of the Cleveland line was awful. What changed was bringing in Stefanski and a run first, run second, and play action offense that allowed Teller to be a run oriented guard. He still is below average in pass protection and was marched straight back into Mayfield several times on Sunday. Teller also has no position flexibility- so he is a liability on the Bills OLine where they want guys that can play multiple positions. Congrats to Teller for what he has done and you can go root for him, but I don’t think or a second the Bills blew it on Teller - I think they recognized his strengths and his Weaknesses and got something for him rather than outright cutting him. His Weaknesses would put him on the bench and his strengths do not fit in with the offensive scheme Dabol runs. So bye bye 👋.

What do you mean we don’t know why? Tyrod had been terrible for 3 straight games and he was looking for a spark. Was the offensive doldrums caused by Tyrod or the team? It made perfect sense to bench Tyrod and made perfect sense to go back to him when Peterman blew. Tyrod was a back-up in Baltimore - not because of his color, but his play. He was a starter in Buffalo not because of his color, but he was the best of a terrible QB room. He got benched not because of color, but because of poor play. The Bills moved on and traded him to Cleveland not because of Color, but his play. Cleveland benched him in game 1 and never game him another chance due to his play. Anthony Lynn in SD left him as a back-up and finally started him after Rivers left, but he was again a poor starting QB. Injuries allowed them to bench him and never look back. Color is not Tyrod’s issue - it is his play and always has been.

Did it all through College. Jackson did not need to make the tackle - he needed to try and at least force a cut back inside. This happens all the time on kick returns where a guy breaks contain - the pursuit has to try and work ahead to cut off the front side or the sideline and force things back to the rest of the pursuit. Jackson early on had the speed to make his pursuit work, but Johnson did a great job letting Tre get in front of him and Poyer cleaned up the back pursuit. I would not expect Jackson to necessarily take on Tre, but if as they are running - Jackson dives across in front without taking on the block you at least have a chance. The stopping and cutting under gave no shot at making a stop.

I will not get into any of the ridiculous viewpoint garbage as that is totally inappropriate, but I will say as you add more fans - you also have to add more support personnel across the stadium. You would need more gates open to flow people in, more spaced out parking and more times to enter, more security to ensure people are safe, more vendors and cleaning staff, more bathrooms would need to be opened and that does not get to the increased testing that would need to happen and space out those. The change in logistics is significantly more especially as you add upper decks. Then you also have to ensure people don’t find ways to sneak down from upper decks like they always do. I mean 6700 fans in week 1 and we had fights already - I think they have done a great job of balancing the fans with the staffing and infrastructure to ensure as much safety as possible. If you upped it to 16000 fans you would have to quadruple the support staff - so you go from like 6700 fans and probably a total of 10,000 people in the stadium and lots to probable 16,000 fans and probably closer to 25,000 people total in and around the stadium.

Davis got rolled up on his first pass attempt - the Raven defender landed on the back of his leg/ankle. I am guessing it was a ankle sprain/high ankle sprain and it really effected his ability to get open. He gutted through and did his best, but that obviously created some issues.

I actually agree and think with his speed - Jackson actually had the ability to sprint ahead earlier and make his way to the sideline to force a cutback. I get the self preservation, but I do not think he gave it his all and this comes after the pregame comments about how he has never used his full speed - just looks a bit bad to me. I have watched Jackson several times with the ball look like the fastest athlete on the field, but that play he looked like he was just trying to find a way to get it over with and the cut up field behind Taron and essentially give up the TD was all self preservation- even a full dive straight in front of Tre maybe gets Johnson to slide out of bounds. The play like this earlier in the season - DK Metcalf gave his all to make a play and prevent a TD on a potential pick 6 showing another level of speed, but Jackson sort of made a Minimal effort in a playoff game.

I believe the Ravens were trying to get the Bills to run a specific play out of that formation. You see the guy coming out from inside and I believe they were trying to bait a slant with an undercut. I think the Bills saw the set-up and had a quick screen option and Josh checked to that giving them an easy TD.

I thought Jackson did a terrible job on that play as he has shown speed and had an angle - he really should have gotten over to the sideline. That was 100% self preservation and not a team play. Could you imagine Josh running down that play - he would have tried to shove the DB into the running lane and would have tried to make a play no matter what. Jackson - who is a competitor- just did not seem to me to give his all on that play.

I think this is key - that entire team is built for strength and intimidation with running and stopping the run as the foundation. That was the key to the NFL - 20 years ago, but that is their strength and they play to it as well as any team in the NFL - it means they will continue to show success for years to come - especially in the regular season where they play with a just about unmatched intensity. I think the OLs pass rushing struggles and the fact that the Bills could get pressure with 4 (and not even 4 rushing all out - they played games to drive lineman back and compress the pocket. It was not all out attacking on pass plays they still tried to contain - which is all the more damning. What I am not sure about is how good or bad their WRs are. I think that Brown obviously has talent that they simply can not use in this scheme. Sneed is a big body guy makes a bunch of plays and seems to get open - again he is a running game supporter and seems like a good compliment. Dez to me was a stupid signing, but I think they were looking for a WR post up guy like another TE more than a true WR. They recognize who they are and sign and draft fit players better than just about anyone. The problem with that has always been course correction is tough because your guys really fit what you do and are not necessarily good at changing the course of the team. Their strength is a run blocking OL, big athletic TEs, and a powerful group of running backs and a run option style QB. That will be hard to shift to a 2020 style offense without some major change.

It was not just while he was here. Roman is a brilliant run play designer, but his passing attack and design is way below average. Several teams have had to go the multi-OC route with Roman calling the plays and designing the run plays and a true passing game coordinator designing and set-up passing plays. The problem with that is unlike a guy like Daboll that seamlessly can intertwine the 2 - when the run and pass game are designed separately- they do not have the same look and feel. I think Roman is very limited, but I also think Jackson is limited. He just does not have enough experience (or perhaps ability) to read the defense and make plays. You can see just how uncomfortable he was in the pocket. When you mix that with poor play design - it limits the team. The athletic ability of Jackson is through the roof and you can really see that in his runs and some escape ability, but what you do not see is what Josh added this year - which is that calm presence in the pocket just knowing he has answers. So of that is the QB and some of that is the OC - not giving him full control and the answers. If I am Baltimore - I think you have to move on from Roman and find out can Jackson improve in the pocket before you sign the mega deal. Not that he isn’t a great player, but they must have questions about his ceiling and his growth especially when you get to games in the playoffs where you need to make that play. Against Buffalo he had no plays. His big play against Tennessee was a long run - not a pass play. That would worry me, but it is not insurmountable as that was JA in year 1. The problem is they may have to take some lumps to find out what Jackson’s ceiling is.

Where do we stand now? Outcoached another guy on your list. great job McD!

I think in the case of Stills and Freeman - it is more the Bills desire to have experience / Veteran players available for an emergency- rather than a look ahead to next season. I think McD would rather have a guy that has played in the league and shown some level of success to be available for an emergency call-up or in case a player of Brown or Beasley re-aggravate their injuries and can’t go. Next year is still a long ways off in these guys minds and yes it could eventually lead to help for next year - I think that is just a plus not really part of their signing plan. These moves are really all about the 4 game run they are in.

As we have not heard about contract money or length - both of these would seem to be only under contract for this post season. That does not mean they could not get a contract after the season and before FA begins, but at this point they are just PS for depth in the playoffs.

Not really a loophole- something a bit different this year. Teams were allowed more veterans and more players on the practice squad. Teams got 2 free call ups that allow you to use a practice squad player, but not elevate them to the true active roster. Therefore these players at the conclusion of the game revert back to their practice squad designation and can be signed. Teams could not take a normal roster player - like let’s say a back-up DE like Murphy or guard like Winters or an All-Pro in your example - and move them to the PS. Those players would have to be cut (which then reverts them to waivers and any team could grab them - not one specific team you want) and claimed to the active roster. If the player clears waivers then any team is free to sign them to their roster or their practice squad. This case is unique because Veldheer was signed to the Colts practice squad from retirement due to injuries (like Freeman and Stills with the Bills). He was activated and played because of injury, but was still a practice squad player and therefore eligible to be signed to another teams active roster. Green Bay though is showing the dangers of this as he is uncontrolled as he comes to your team and you are introducing a potential issue just for a little depth. If he mingled with other OL or the QB room - this could end the Packers season.

I still think it was a big thumb your nose at management that forced him to bench Wentz and play Hurts.