Richard Noggin

Brandon's wife was never/rarely in attendance for team dinners (although he did usually pack up food to-go for her). McDermott treats public ocassions like dinners differently. His wife is with him whenever appropriate.

Very generous in general to the public and those in working/service class fields; but boastful and chauvinistic with his peers. Bit of a salesman's ugly chip on the shoulder. Truly a throwback to a time before social media and #metoo. Majority of his interactions are quite respectful. Likable on one level, but an obvious snake on another.

It was just "reported" by me in my post. I was there. These kinds of anecdotes are not uncommon.

At LEAST one WR spot, maybe two, get allocated instead to S, CB, and/or DL. 7 WRs is a non-starter.

The time he "privately" boasted to other male community business leaders at a cocktail function...maybe Buffalo Club members, or some other such affluent network...about his recent visit to a Japanese brothel. Essentially it boiled to him being revered as some very "large" American man for whom their prophylactics were too small. Rich stuff, especially if you've stood next to him.

Hear Hear

The kicker is, it's totally different management. Except for Russ. He was in the room, Hey, can we blame Russ?!

How dare you, sir.

Is the "hmm" insinuating something?

So then, apply that perspective to your own line of thinking...and voila!

Ooh...let's hear more about this juicy Brees gossip.

Definitely Lincoln Station. That place is awesome. You'll feel immediately at home.

Really teased this one out, didn't ya? (Thanks for posting.) What specifically is Rosen's issue in the redzone? The metrics--which otherwise favor him (often behind Mayfield) get a little muddy down there.

So...I just now watched the play in question. I question your depiction of it. Post-corner route that broke open; throw was clearly too far to the inside shoulder, although the WR definitely could have hauled it in. If Jones does make the catch, there's no way he scores, given the adjustment and full extension entailed. They had a timeout remaining, so it would have been 1st and 10 at the 2 yard line +/-, maybe 7 or 8 seconds remaining. I will admit to thinking the Miami game you're referencing, combined with the Seattle game, was evidence that Taylor had taken an important step forward. In hindsight, it looks more like he peaked right around then.

The Mike Clay references in this article are completely off base. Clay, personally, is not predicting the Bills to go an NFL-worst 2-14. He personally projects them to go 5-11 (which is curiously ALSO the worst NFL record in 2018). The referenced prediction is a somewhat arbitrary exercise/experiment in forecasting, which he's entirely open about and not at all personally married to. Check out his Twitter feed on the subject, and his subsequent interactions with #BillsMafia (cited by Rodak as well). Just sayin: bad reporting. But in the spirit of healthy debate: is it THAT unfathomable to Bills fans that the 2018 team (which has very little to do with the 2017 team) might not win many games?

I'm of the mind that McBeane does not fancy Lamar Jackson's skillset, based on published comments and roster (including gameday starters) management. Can someone show me anything that suggests this regime would draft Jackson to be their franchise QB?

Driving While Interwebbing is a serious offence, especially during draft season. Please abstain. Granted.

Well I live in Buffalo, and I don't see a "fit" issue here. Wins and losses determine how good a fit is. Just because he has a decent brain doesn't mean he has an attitude problem. It just means many people in the world of sports don't know what to do with him. He won't just shut up and entertain us, like a good boy. That moral tire fire actually benefitted from the lack of attention people paid to his personal affairs in our small market. Bigger city might have meant bigger gossip. And there was much to gossip about... Take it easy, Francis.

I like words. So, thanks for this.

Watched him first-hand power down over a dozen stiff cocktails during a two-hour dinner, on several different occasions. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Actually read the article. This kid is fascinating. Some won't like him because he's obviously left-leaning. But that's dumb. He is a thinker, and probably is therefore more misunderstood than anything.

That's what she said?

Fair question. I imagine either of us could do ten seconds of research to shed a little light on the matter. Meh...

Was it the new regime who opted against Sammy's 5th year? Definitely wasn't Beane. He inherited Watkins on the final year of his rookie deal. (Unless I've been dead in a cave somewhere...which has been known to happen.) So, was it McDermott? I mean, officially, it was Doug Whaley. But, was it really coach's call? How do you know?

Having just now, late at night, watched the youtube "film" on all the relevant LBs, including #3 from FSU, I would like to offer the following very technical and high-level analysis: Derwin James looks fast and capable against the pass; nearly his entire highlight package contains him making plays against called passes and QBs improvising off of called passing plays. He flashes brilliantly against the pass. But very few of these highlights reveal downhill run stops and gap integrity. You know, boring, traditional linebacker stuff. Rashaan Evans, on the other hand, has a youtube reel filled with shooting gaps, setting and/or blowing up the edge, sifting through traffic to make plays at or behind the LOS, etc., in ADDITION to zone drops and buzzes to the flats and passing game disruptions all over the field. Looks like Evans, just for example, is already primed to be a MIKE on any and every down. Looks like James is ready to play a hybrid/nickel role whose game is less multifaceted, at least early on. Agreed, but at 12? At 12 you're looking for an EVERY down impact LB, no? A guy who excels against the run and the pass.