Richard Noggin

Didn't Poyer take a couple bad angles in preseason (I know, who cares) and in the first game or two prior to the injury? Now, characterizing a defender's "bad angle" can also be the result of hesitance, false steps, and/or a lack of footspeed/range (which you explicitly recognize in your post). I recall seeing Hyde being more active in the box and coming downhill at the beginning of the season, and I wonder if that means Poyer was playing the deeper role more often, which would have then really shined a light on his diminished range? Therefore, this recent adjustment to him explicitly lining up on the 2nd level would be a way to reduce the space he has to cover, allowing him to leverage his instincts while mitigating his diminished speed?

Overdorf has persisted through it all, and mostly because he is a dutiful, ethical, excellent lawyer/accountant who never sought undue power. He used to catch some flack, but that guy is not to blame for any of the floundering. Littman had major influence over cap decisions and broad contract parameters, whereas Overdorf was the guy who made those green-lighted deals workable and well-constructed for all parties involved. I suspect Littman had major influence over all the non-cap salaries as well, meaning he had a hand in bringing in less expensive GMs, HCs and their staffs, scouting depts, etc. (And also played a major role in the more expensive, established names not even considering Buffalo, due to his (and RW's) reputation for interfering with football ops.) ANYWAYS...Montez Sweat is probably underrated by many fans due to meh sack numbers and lesser draft status than Chase Young, but I'm pretty sure he has some solid secondary metrics, like pressures, hits, forced fumbles, etc. Kind of like when Jerry Hughes was obviously being disruptive for the Bills but wasn't recording a ton of sacks. Guess the Bears are gambling on him continuing to improve despite joining a much worse DL group?

I think Littman gained significant influence over all expenditures once Butler left, and then even more so once Donahoe left. He became RW's proxy, essentially.

You're probably thinking of Jeffrey Littman? He was Wilson's chief bean counter, and after Polian, and then Butler, were gone, the personnel dept didn't have anyone competent and confident enough to just override his (Littman's) influence and force Wilson's hand. Edit: turns out @BADOLBILZ already ID'd Littman as the unnamed accountant several posts above mine. That guy's (Littman's) influence definitely grew as the Bills were employing lower and lower profile HCs and GMs (which is where Ralph WAS actually cheap).

Rasul is signed through next season already, and I'd argue that if he plays the way some hope he will given his scheme fit, the Bills might even look to extend him a year or two and bring down the cap number for 2024. Don't think Joseph is a guy who would even want/need to be re-signed for a full offseason and training camp. He has a pretty awesome thing going now for 2 straight years whereby his body gets TONS of rest and recovery and he gets to make a mid-season, educated decision on which suitor to choose. Fournette? Maybe. McD likes big, veteran RBs. Joseph definitely added value to Philly's vaunted IDL last year, and whaddaya know? He signed with them the first week of November. Hmm. I will not google "Stefon Diggs ice bucket challenge" I will not google "Stefon Diggs ice bucket challenge"

Did you just call yourself cool?

I wish we had 👀as a post "reaction".

So is that "few weeks" nugget the buried lede here? The admittedly non-linear progression/circumstances of the injury, post-London, is kind of super interesting, but otherwise, the juicy bit is the 3-week recovery forecast. Right?

I am not implying that actual vest batteries are dangerous lol. Apologies or maybe thanks that the dreadfully inappropriate implication was not more clear.

Gut-check time (at the risk of brutal cliche)

I went with a buddy who got in with his battery-powered heated vest during the Patriots blizzard game in...2021? I lack the expertise to know how the new scanners (maybe first appeared last season and might not be at ALL gates/lanes?) materially impact what gets in and what doesn't. Feels to me that as long as it's concealed, and as long as it wouldn't reasonably be misinterpreted by some monitor-less, automated body scanner as some kind of weapon...then you're good. Vest batteries probably DEFINITELY SHOULD be flagged though am I right

Yeah super mediocre rankings, but the isolated pass rush talent/success could be more valuable if the passing game took a step forward. But that's unlikely with a Canada/Pickett offensive ticket.

That lineup sounds fine. But has the on-field performance this year matched with that assessment? (This is an honest question with SOME pessimism, statistically. Gonna use the old googler now and probably learn about how wrong I am.)

Yeah? (Aside from Watt and maybe still Heyward)

No sweat. I wasn't a true believer by any means, but even if I was, I can handle eating a little 💩 -- it's good for us.

I'd like to thank this thread and its contributors for reminding me how much I effing hate Trey Hendrickson. Not a huge Joe Mixon fan, either. Come to think of it, the Bengals and the entire city of Cincinnati can get rekt. Don't get me started on the state of Ohio in general...

Hendrickson put some dirty plays on film last season, for sure. Gets my nostrils flaring a bit

D'oh (I was careful to not buy-in. but to share the material facts nonetheless)

There is a day-old Facebook post from an account for "Matt Milano" with a picture of him on the field after a play, with the caption: "Soon💙"...

And/or also maybe it was always going to wait until the trade deadline to see what developed internally and leaguewide. Put feelers out there to the top street free agents to establish fallbacks, then navigate trade market opportunities and potential practice squad prospects, then, if necessary or more appealing, circle back to those wily vets in waiting. In this case, it might be best case?

Wilson was a.WR who converted to safety, if memory serves.

But McDaniels is an offensive guy. Then again, that would track with Belichick's bizarre decision to have Judge and Patricia run the offense last season.

So how will you process things if the Bills come out and execute like they did against Miami? What does that look like? You seem convinced of future futility based on selectively highlighted past failures...but what about their past successes? To be fair, the Bengals essentially ended the Bills 2022 season twice last year. No doubt. And their offense still seems uniquely capable of abusing our off-zone cushions through the air, and our nickel and dime personnel groupings on the ground. But this is 2023 now. The teams are not the same. It's a new matchup. McD and Dorsey are not clowns, despite how fans feel after losses.

Wouldn't that be something. Cheers to that image of a healthy Tre, Rasul, Christian, and Taron locking it DOWN. I don't think White makes it back as a CB before 2025 tbh. If at all. A move to safety is intriguing, and would be welcome given our impending/expected losses at that position (can't see Poyer or Hyde still in Buffalo after 2023/2024). (Wow, Micah Hyde was SUCH a good signing. Such a steady cornerstone, that we often discount what an impact athlete he's been, too.)