Richard Noggin

Fixed it for you, in case Nick Tahou is a board member. Very litigious.

Weird to argue WR rankings amongst the premium tier likes of Hill, Adams, Kupp, Hopkins, Chase, Jefferson, Diggs, Evans, etc., given how uniquely gifted each guy is on that list. Celebrating one does not necessarily denigrate another. Could also probably toss in a few more prominent WRs (Brown, Thielen, Metcalf, Robinson, Samuel, and McLauren) to create a dangerous top-10/15. Of that cohort, only Tyreek Hill has coverage-busting cheetah wheels. The cheat code. Joystick movement skills. Paired with Jaylen Waddle, they could be a problematic duo to defend against, especially if Miami establishes its zone run schemes and play action concepts. Preston Williams has always struck me as more talented than he's shown, to be fair.

Don't overlook what a CLEAN athlete can do once they finally begin to push a regimen for the first time. MANY NFL prospects have yet to unlock their full potential based on a more focused regimen. I'd guess Terrel Bernard, for example, could easily gain 5-10 lbs of functional mass between now and September.

Sometimes it is best to simply sit back and watch as the bodies of your enemies float past

One MIGHT suggest that the "way" you're alluding to involves routing more cap resources towards scoring points (supporting Allen) while tightening the belt on the defensive side of the cap. Can't pay TWO safeties top dollar once the QB money kicks in, for example. That money needs to be divvied up at all three levels of the defense, rather than concentrated in one position group. Make our DEFENSIVE and SECONDARY coaches (including the HC) do more with less. It's the way of corporate America.

With whispers of a sample size greater than zero games, and so many early/1pm starts, especially, Jim Kelly (along with an incredibly accomplished cohort of teammates) was likely still sporting a BAC above zero at kickoff, and/or operating on an alarmingly acute sleep deficit. I'm sure some of the stories about 80s/90s Bills player pre-game "nerves" are legitimately funny.

It will have already happened in 2 years, innit? He will have completed his 4th and final season on his rookie deal, and will most likely have already been signed to his first extension or his first free agency deal, (or I guess his first franchise or transition tag) in Buffalo or elsewhere by May of 2024. Those who argue that Davis has ALREADY broken out get my vote. The entire league has TAPE of Gabriel Davis producing as a dangerous boundary receiver. The only question now is will the player stay healthy enough to produce like that for a full season. He has been hindered by injury at points of both seasons to date, and likely as a result, I recall a game or two last season where Davis was NOT on the same page as Allen on intermediate and deep routes (maybe due to complexity of option-heavy route concepts and missed reps). That last Jets game, for sure, and maybe the Colts? Who knows how Dorsey will tweak the usage of option routes in 2022?

The dude is known as SHADY for a reason, people. He throws shade always. He also throws praise. No matter what, though, from what I've witnessed, the dude really likes to hold court. Command the conch shell, if you will. Bogart the mic. Not a ton of NFL players or personnel are as free with their unflattering opinions in mixed company. I've been in close proximity with McCoy and his teammates on more than one occasion where Shady was entertaining the room with animated digs at other guys around the league. And he's funny while he does it. Guys respond to it. But he's also arrogant about it*. *More so when he first arrived in Buffalo. Richie Incognito, Doug Whaley, and Russ Brandon were the only other Bills who were similarly "loose" with the hot takes outside school (read: in front of my dumb arse while out to dinner at team functions or just generally). I once watched Kerry Collins give a diplomatic but ultimately critical take on Vince Young while they were teammates in Tennessee. Jason Garrett had asked him point blank, across the dinner table (that also included Jay Cutler, a high profile player I'm forgetting, and the heads of like ESPN and whatever recording label owned George Strait in 2009), what the deal was with Young. Collins eventually called him "an every now and then guy. Every now and then in practice he does something that makes you go 'wow'." The insinuation very clearly being that most of the time...not so much. Shady isn't similarly careful. No positivity sandwich with his spilled tea.

It's just internet physics at play here, dictating that any post criticizing someone else's logic, grammar, or math shall ITSELF contain such an error in logic, grammar, or (in this case) "math." Unless I'm wrong, I count 64 starting safeties in the NFL. 32 teams X 2 starting safeties per team. When coming in hot, best also come correct. (Your point was not nearly as flawed as others have characterized, for the record.)

While yes, of course, Wallace couldn't always win his matchups. Especially against really BIG/physical WRs (see also: Davonte Parker/Preston Williams) or really FAST WRS (see also: Tyreek Hill). Thing is, lots of CBs will struggle against elite physical specimens from time-to-time. Wallace probably even played his best ball in 2021. But his athletic ceiling kept him from being able to consistently match-up against more gifted WRs in isolated sets. Imagine that. He's better than most Bills fans will remember, yet not good enough to be more than a solid CB2/3, depending on the system. He represented HUGE value in his years here. Naturally, I hope the Bills absolutely torch him when they play Pittsburgh. I think you are really reaching here.

This is an intriguing question entering 2022: who are the returner candidates, exactly? We know Hyde is the guy for when McD's backside gets a bit clenched in the bad weather or the big moments after someone else muffs it. He's the steady, no drama punt "catcher." But who are the ACTUAL candidates? Obviously Stevenson will get a look, although we can mostly agree his rookie audition was rough. McKenzie IS a dangerous returner, no doubt, but he's a bit dangerous for BOTH teams, unfortunately. Could take one to the house (if it isn't called back), and could just as likely throw up all over himself. Does more experience, more time refining his craft even-out some of those unforced errors? Who are the less obvious candidates? Hasn't Shakir seen some action as a returner? That seems right, and probably ideal if he can contribute there early on. Do Cook or Elam have any return experience? I like to pose questions to which I do NOT have the answers, by the way. I know some of you still awake have some answers or at least ideas.

Sweet satire.

Achilles running braces? 👀

https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/2022/05/19/julian-edelman-tells-an-epic-story-of-bill-belichick-roasting-players-during-film-session/ One of my most hated players, ever, earns some points here. Although the real highlight is just learning how Belichick savages his players. I feel dirty.

I will likely NEVER get to test it out, unfortunately. It exists almost exclusively in my imagination, although I practice the motion and release on almost any handsize spherical object I encounter.

I don't think a single player in any other sport is more pivotal than an elite NFL QB. Trevor Bauer, in particular, was a decent top of the rotation SP when healthy, but had a somewhat uneven career prior to his current disruptions. So I disagree with your claim on several levels. He did a youtube video a few years back that taught me how to throw a knuckle curve, for what it's worth.

I've heard professional athletes, namely Takeo Spikes, admit that he knew it was coming. Was battling through the precursors, kept pushing, and then *pop*... Every time I get back into training, especially running, I have to navigate achilles and calf tightness/soreness/straining for a few weeks. Started in my senior year of high school after soccer season ended; I stopped continuously (and properly) training for much of the winter and then experienced enough setbacks at the beginning of track season (with coaches who simply didn't want to hear it) that I just walked (or limped) away from the team. Then in college I took up rugby, and despite loving it, was hindered enough by lower leg strains that I couldn't finish that season either. This was 25 years ago. First 5k I trained for had me convinced I'd pop an achilles during the first few weeks of running. But at that point, in my 30s, I had the wherewithal to slow down, take precautions, and push through. Some years later I ran a fairly solid Boilermaker 15k (for an almost-40 yr old, 200+ lb guy who really isn't built for endurance sports). But then I had a kid, started working way too much, and now I'm petrified of running. Seems inevitable that I'll feel that dreaded *pop* someday.

The diversity of answers in this thread likely indicates, as most of us would agree, that the AFC is stacked with so many high-end QBs and dangerous teams in general that it's difficult to predict which will weather the regular season intraconference gauntlet healthy enough and clicking when it matters most. It also suggests that putting any single AFC team, including the Bills, on a predictive pedestal is unwise. Even the odds-on favorite to win it all has a roughly 15% probability at best, which might even be generous. The sheer volume of variables baked into a grueling 17-game NFL season, followed by a 14-team, single-elimination tournament, is calculus that laughs at predictions. No other sport is quite like this. Add to all the uncertainty the seemingly unprecedented offseason player movement of impactful guys, and it's a puzzle.

I rarely research the points I'm making on here before hitting "Submit Reply." It's fun to see if my thinking is sound or stupid based on responses from more informed posters. Just so happens I DID check out Taron Johnson's Spotrac page a week or three ago so the surprising fact that he's signed through 2024 is still fresh in my mind.

That defensive stops stat is indicative of exactly why Taron Johnson GOT PAID ALREADY. He's such a perfect fit for the Bills defense as a tenacious, aggressive player near the LOS who also happens to have developed a knack for playmaking in coverage as well. He'll be here for at least two more seasons as his extension is only now kicking in for the next three seasons (team could get out of the deal after 2023 with minor dead cap).

Could be an oddly good fit if it goes well early, or a predictably terrible fit if it goes badly early. I'll allow it lol

🤔

Crowder doesn't offer special teams value like McKenzie (and Kumerow), and future promise like Shakir or possibly Stevenson (or maybe Hodgins?). There ARE possibilities for keeping only 6 and Crowder not being one of them. I don't actually think that will happen, but to disregard it out of hand seems like a leap.

If we look at the two games last season when weather WASN'T historically disruptive, do we see a Patriots team that matches up well against the Bills? I know we've trounced the Dolphins overall, but I've watched that Dolphins D give us fits for entire halves only to be letdown by their offense and ultimately outmatched by Josh Allen (and Tre White that one game). They feel like a team closer to truly competing with us IF they take large strides offensively. Which is a BIG if. And of course the Jets are drafting well, so they would project to improve considerably. The Pats seem like an organization circling the drain, more than one poised to take a step forward.

Great use of white space, gents. Sometimes it's the notes you don't play.