Richard Noggin

Of course. His measurables are elite and he can catch. There is something missing, to my eye, though. Maybe just circumstances, QBs, org disfunction/turnover. Seems suspicious that such an amazing athlete can't figure out how to block well enough by year 5. Or maybe the current regime just isn't interested in making it work with a tweener who might want top-of-market money, and aren't helping to pump up his apparent value to them.

Obviously his RAS is elite as a TE. Now do it as a WR (it's probably out there). That's the real measure of a guy who doesn't block much or line up tight to the line much. Might still be impressive, given his head start with size and his bonkers 3 cone drill. ***trigger warning for coach Kromer*** (just to be on the safe side)

On one hand, there are QBs who physically fell off cliffs after repeated/cumulative punishment: happened quickly with Cam Newton, happened a little more slowly with Jim Kelly, and happened eventually with Ben Rapelessburger. Those guys were limping shells of their former selves when they retired. John Elway had just enough athleticism left at the end of his career to steer that Cadillac, but sure seems like he is fairly broken. Brady's obviously never allowed any physical punishment with his elite decision-making, release, and sometimes cringe-worthy sense of self-preservation. He's just a walking, breathing business decision. And look at him flourish, that vapid victory machine.

His off-field antics aside, this guy BELONGS on McDermott's staff. What an amazing approach to teaching offensive line play and assembling the best OL group possible. Coaches who are willing to tailor everything to the specific talents they're coaching will continue to have success in today's and tomorrow's league. More than ever, players (and students) respond to feeling "seen."

Waiting to report is different than pre-scheduling a 10-day conflict mid-camp. That's team-sanctioned special treatment. It just adds to his utterly hate-able, dooshier-than-thou ethos. And in the end, because he'll probably play really ***** well, it probably doesn't even matter. Unless, of course, the OL losses do in fact undermine the Bucs' ability to keep Tommy squeaky clean up the middle (and to impose their wills on the ground when necessary). If Tommy starts regularly spiking passes and turtling to avoid punishment, which we've seen him do in the face of fast pressure, then that could be fun to watch people react to on a national stage. He is capable of looking like a scared brat out there. I'd like to see that side of TB12, and have people conflate that with his training camp getaway, just for ***** and giggles.

Love that energy

#3 needs to chill

Depends how big he is?

To be fair, he started out that way as well. Then exploded onto the scene. Then evaporated from the scene. Methinks maybe Allen's primary strength as a rookie passer lined up with Foster's only strength during that brief, but fun, second half of 2018.

Crowder is a solid Slot WR insurance policy, though. Unless of course the team was targeting a certain injured FA.

The bolded is so fascinating, given that when he was drafted I also thought he was more of a 3-4 guy...but as a 5-tech DE (def not an OLB, of course). I'm wondering what really triggered such a RADICAL body transformation? No way that was anyone's goal for AJ to go from big and strong and slow to skinny and weak and not-as-slow... It was a difficult time to be a rookie, no doubt. Wonder if the player had some understandable, extra difficulty with the loneliness and isolation?

Sidebar: the ABSOLUTE INVERSION of that season's first and last games was unbelievable, yet so perfectly emblematic of where those franchises were headed.

That's McDermott's CORE belief as a coach. That's what "the process" is all about. Allen is the perfect disciple for this approach. Dweck's work was the absolute backbone of my teaching philosophy when I worked primarily with urban, underprepared college freshmen. Which is a similar cohort to many football players. Trauma and struggle often lead young people to defensive, protective, "fixed" mindsets. Don't show any weakness. Don't put yourself out there. Fear failure. Which is simply no way to get better at anything.

Those are some names I recall from the BBMB

Wyo is a "she." I was a longtime BBMB member, since the early 2000s. She, Robyn, was an important voice there, IF we're talking about the same poster, of course. I've only been on this board since BBMB shut down, so I could be missing important context. I really think this is an ELITE sports message board. Difficult to compare eras, as we all know, AND I wasn't a member here during the drought, so my experiences on the BBMB comprise an incredibly challenging 10-15 years of moderator nightmare. There were more negative crusaders over there, naturally, given the on-field futility. (But maybe also the management here works to keep discussions productive?) Did I need a reference to join this board after the BBMB shut down? I feel like someone reached out and invited me to check out this board.

You say this is an objective look at Blackshear's chances, but then you selectively measure this longshot's various traits against the team's RESPECTIVE BEST OPTIONS in each category. That seems disingenuous. Moss only has an explicit advantage over Blackshear in 1/5 of your chosen categories, for example. Devin Singletary is clearly superior in 1/5 (the first one, of course, but probably also the second one until proven otherwise). Plus, "more accomplished" (the first criterium) seems ridiculous when comparing an UDFA against a 4th year 3rd round pick. I don't even really disagree with your ultimate conclusion. I just think your arguments defending it are questionable. In my view, if the Bills intend to keep Blackshear on the roster, then that means Taiwan Jones is gone. The other 3 RBs have skillsets he can't replace on offense (to your points, actually). Jones probably CAN be replaced by Blackshear or someone else on STs. And Blackshear maybe is best seen as a very poor man's version of Cook, in that he brings juice to the offense and STs (neither Singletary nor Moss can offer STs value and the kind of playmaking some are seeing in Blackshear's potential).

I've been excited for Dorsey to bring a more balanced, less matchup-obsessed play-calling flow to the Bills offense since Daboll became a "hot" commodity a couple years ago. Daboll installed and developed a top tier offensive system, especially with respect to route concepts and flexibility........BUT he never really had consistent success marrying the pass game and the run game. He knew how to attack a defense schematically, primarily through the air, but didn't have much success keeping defenses off-balance consistently. He was stubborn to adjust to in-game realities he hadn't prepared for. I think Dorsey is going to be a more conventional, intuitive play-caller, and I mean that to be a complement.

I'm trying to figure out if this Broncos player (tackling Von) was the 3rd person at dinner last night (Friday) when I waited on Miller, McManus, and another Bronco. Might have been Kareem Jackson?

Gorgeous home, of course. But REALLY empty lot. No character, from what I saw in my thorough 25-second survey.

If only the entire system wasn't stacked against this kind of thinking... Then again, it's nearly impossible to argue against players absolutely maximizing their money as soon as possible, without exception. In such a dangerous, short-lived career, especially for RBs who are devalued and prone to even shorter careers, it's just smart to get the most lucrative possible 2nd NFL contract.

I disagree with your timetable. While getting value for the aging player the season BEFORE he hits FA is generally the best long-term value play, I don't think volunteering to lose Poyer NOW makes sense unless he forces their hand. The Bills should want the roster as stacked as possible for a championship run THIS YEAR. IMHO if Poyer is willing to play out his deal, then that's the best arrangement for everyone involved.

I think it would be irresponsible for the Bills to keep both Poyer and Hyde beyond this season. Unless one or both are willing to take considerably below-market deals to chase championships, which I don't see as likely. Let Poyer ball out in 2022 and then test the market. Continue to develop the pipeline behind him. One of either Johnson or Hamlin could develop; maybe Johnson already has? I think the money needs to be re-routed to the offense either way (WRs, TEs, and OLs). Two All Pro safeties over 30 is a luxury the Bills probably can't afford after this season. And that's okay.

Never give away your secrets! As a remote worker this past year, I can't have management OR my family seeing how the sausage is being made...

"Don't say nothing crazy around me, I'm mic'd up today dawg!" he says, warning his teammates while they stretch. Then immediately, "I'm mic'd the ***** up!" That's entertainment.

This seems reasonable. Basham is probably the more "skilled" of the two right now. Rousseau was always going to be a raw prospect coming off a long break from seeing the field. But if he can harness those elite physical traits, and keep growing into that frame...then his ceiling is something different.