BuffaloBillyG

I swear I've seen the same thread before...only this has a pretty chart. I mean, a pie chart would have been better because...well...I like pie.

Fair points. To the bolded, I do remember how they started out. And I understand they went through a lot...and likely more then we even know. They did start out red hot. However it was more than just the last game they had hitches IMO. The likelihood that this was due to the mental beating combined with the copious amount of injuries to impact players and a few games with unfavorable weather are in IMO the reason. I do think that all combined for some steps back on the season. Most of those issues should be resolved. Fresh year, fresh squad. I expect the Bills from the early part of last season to show back up as well.

I think that while your expectations have merit and are sensible, it's also worth nothing the the AFC is absolutely stacked with top teams. Running the gauntlet against the top (KC & Cinci) is challenging enough. The toss in teams that can be dangerous in a 1 game setting (Baltimore, Jax, Miami, possibly even the Jets and Chargers) and it becomes a taller task. For me I don't quantify by how far they make it, rather than what they look like getting there. 13 seconds was tough to take...but even in the loss it felt like the team took that step forward. Last year was IMO a huge step back based on level of play.

I suppose from another vantage point, we are still in a drought of some sort. A championship drought. Expectations and hopes change. Now, that said this version of Buffalo football is arguably the most entertaining and most complete version of the franchise I have ever seen (and yes, I watched the Super Bowl era). Be it they win a Super Bowl, two Super Bowls or zero Super Bowls I think many are so pressed into being opinionated that they are missing out on enjoying what will likely be "the good old days" before you know it.

Yeah I've heard that term, actually. You're just looking for something to argue about...stop it

Rumors are fun. I remember a rumor that a DHop signing with New England was looming.

As the great philosopher Josh Allen once said: ""Okay". We will see how it all plays out. I think Miami has a pretty good roster. Solid defense with Fangio at the helm. Good weapons and like it or not Tua is very good in that offense. Where it may break down for them is that offensive line IMO. Also if things start to go wrong McDaniel is (IMO) exactly the type of coach that will lose a locker room fast. A LOT of big ego and personality on the Miami team. Not sure he handle all them under adversity.

Growing. The "ing" signifies he's in the process of something. They teach prefix and suffix usage and meanings in like...3rd grade.

Oh snap, he's growing that Lovie Smith beard.

I heard it's actually Assistant TO the Head Coach

Partially correct and partially way off base. You are correct in saying they need him to agree to a CHANGE in the contract. A change would be things such as adding void years or straight up cuts in salary. It's not considered a change in contract to do a restructure as MOST contracts given these days have those permissions as part of the existing deal. The language is built in and agreed to upon signing the original deal. This would be the type of restructure you see most players receive. Conversion of salary to bonus to free up space. Now it would be a courtesy to mention it to a player or his representative before doing it. Especially if a GM has contact with a guy over the course of the off-season. But for a simple restructure it's not needed.

At least he didn't bet $20 on a basketball game from the team facility.

I nominate Rex Ryan

Those photos look like photos of Steve Rogers before and after taking the syrum that made him into Captain America.

By the same token, we have no idea if this is what he's actually upset about. Many different things have been reported/suggested. Everyone has "made calls" or "talked to someone close to the Bills locker room". But each "report" is reported speculation. And if it's ok to speculate about that then it's ok to speculate that we in fact brought in some guys that could make an impact.

Some very excellent points here. I like to pay attention to the wording as well. A source "close to the Bills locker room". Boy that's a wide net to cast, eh? Could be an agent. Could be a friend of a friend of the wife of a player. Could be an ex teammate (why does this whole thing scream of McKenzie being the culprit 😂?). Could be a lot of people. The validity of the report comes down to who it is that told Ben, and that's not something we will ever know. One thing is for sure. The way it's phrased the information isn't coming from a source "inside the Bills locker room". And most likely the only ones that know accurately are the ones that were not only in the locker room...but those that were in the meetings with Diggs, McDermott and Beane or the people those 3 informed (such as Josh Allen).

Yes, that is my point. I'm saying they can afford it and if the need met the price they would pull the trigger. "The price" isn't just dollars today it's what it does to the financial ledger down the road as well. We are agreed there. And no, not everyone understands that they can afford the move financially. Which is why we have so many in this very thread saying "we can't afford it"...which is what I was replying to.

Yeah, agree that is an issue and it was something the hurt. But IMO any of those other reasons I listed were just as big an issue if not bigger.

They can afford it. That's the thing most people aren't comprehending at all. Between restructures they could still make combined with an extension or two that would make sense as well as money they have spent since then and a couple of cuts that may happen anyway it's well attainable. The issue is they haven't (at least to this point) deemed that the need outweighs the cost.

Yeah, I don't mind Tua as much I do someone like Mac Jones. Jones just has such a punchable face.

To your first point...that's a lot of words to type to say that "we got next to nothing from the slot position" as I stated. Now, Allen missed some things, absolutely. He even admits that. But Beane didn't release McKenzie, let Crowder walk, sign 2 potential guys that can contribute in the slot plus spend a 1st round pick to upgrade the position because it was all Allen's fault. To your second point, The Bills run a LOT of routes where the WR has an option of which route to run based on coverage. This is common knowledge and has been discussed by players and the coaching staff. I don't need to know the call to know if 2 guys end up in the same spot...there was a miscommunication/misread by someone. And it happened numerous times last year. Oh, I agree. It was more than kicking the tires. However my point is if it was something that Beane viewed as a "must upgrade" the deal would have either got done then or shortly after DHop was released. I'm not saying the Bills wouldn't like him, but they aren't exactly going crazy trying to land him either. I do think that if Hopkins was released prior to Beane spending a 1st round pick on Kincaid there may have been more of a priority.

I mean, would DHop be an upgrade on Davis? Potentially, sure. And a good GM will do his due diligence on every available player. Past that we really have no idea the extent that Beane pursued him. We have been informed they had talks but who really knows what came out of it? We all have theories, of course. But if Beane really felt that strongly that an upgrade on Davis was a top issue DHop or someone else would be on the team... expensive nor not.

You can have a good offense and still have things to fix in it. Both can be true. Of the 4 things I listed do you not think any of them are valid and can't be improved upon? Which of those 4 are a "reach" according to you?

Interesting. You believe our biggest problem in the passing game last year wasn't: - Immediate IOL pressure forcing Allen to not have time - Getting next to nothing out of the slot position - Allen playing most of the season with an injury to his throwing elbow - Lack of creative routes/miscommunication on option routes between receivers But our biggest issue was a guy that averaged over 17 yards a catch had the #2 target share?

That's the fun thing about national pundits. Last year the popular "group think" predictions were that Buffalo would win it all. Then, the Bills had the unmitigated NERVE to...well not win it all. So the pundits need to regroup. "How could this be? It couldn't be because we were wrong...no. SOMEONE has to take the fall." They can't blame Allen. Half of them only know Dorsey because he smashed a tablet. So, McDermott is the fall guy because "he coached defense". Easy target and something that's easy to hop on board for those that struggle with original thoughts or ideas. I will guarantee all season long we see graphics every broadcast on "defensive coaches winning Super Bowls" every telecast followed by a weekly discussion about the unhappiness of Stef Diggs. A shot or 2 of the Falls and call it a telecast.