Beck Water

Yes, a couple of people upthread pointed out the Covid Rules aspect. We were told it was a non-issue because the league didn't react so a problem never existed - as though it's not part of the job of the HC to anticipate and head off such issues before we added the Buffalo Bills WR-less Game to the Denver Broncos QB-less Game It was also pointed out that if you're part of a group of subordinates who gave your boss what to him is a Big Ass Gift, it can call into question whether the Boss might soften his approach and not get up in your "Grill" as hard at times when it's needed. Or whether the Boss might subtly (and perhaps unconsciously) favor those who participated in last year's Big Give over new additions who did not participate. There are reasons why large upward gift giving is discouraged or prohibited in many organizations, but apparently those of us who think it might be a legit concern are just off in Left Field. 🤷‍♂️ Figuratively speaking, of course!

I don't want to turn this into Ty Dunne thread Part II, but over in that thread some of the quotes Dunne used absolutely rise to the level of questioning his qualities as a person - functionally describing McDermott in a way that's usually inconsistent with being a good person. Part of being a good person is having a degree of empathy for others, and treating other people well. Some of the anonymous sources Dunne quoted described McDermott: "He has zero relationship with the offensive players. Zero. None. Absolutely zero. He’s insecure. He wants the relationship that he can’t have with the players. Because he’s not physically, mentally, or socially able to.” "Narcissist" has become a pop-psych buzzword for a spectrum that ranges from normal and healthy concern for one's own self-interest (like keeping your job) to extreme forms where people are self-absorbed to a pathological degree where they don't understand that other people's feelings exist, a psychosocial disability. If you describe someone as not "physically, mentally, or socially" able to have relationships with players; insecure and jealous of people who do - IMO, you're describing them as having narcissism to the degree of it being a psychosocial disability incompatble with being a good person. Well, sure. And at the risk of harping, when a coaching assistant Dunne anonymously quoted said that Mcdermott is "insecure" "jealous" and something to the effect of "mentally and psychologically incapable of having relationships with players", they were speaking of McDermott's traits as a person. Were they not?

To be exact, having listened to this now, he said "we rallied behind each other, played for each other". There was nothing in there limiting it to "players" or talking about "players".

Thanks. That fits with stuff McKenzie said on his podcast with Dunne. Dunne asked, if he were in trouble, would it be harder to have a conversation with McDermott or Beane. He unhesitatingly said McDermott, saying that McDermott was like going to talk to your Father "What were you thinking? I raised you better than that!!!!" while Beane was like your "cool Uncle", where if you told him you stole a car he would say "Don't do that again, But was it a good car at least? Did you have fun?." (McKenzie said he never got in off-field trouble, has never drunk alcohol or used drugs, and "if it happens after midnight, I don't know because I'm not there") On the other hand, it doesn't fit with the bit from the Chad Hall truck story where an unnamed assistant coach is quoted as saying of McDermott "He’s insecure. He wants the relationship that he can’t have with the players. Because he’s not physically, mentally, or socially able to" and that he has "zero relationship" with any of the offensive players. McKenzie clearly felt a caring relationship, even though McDermott ruthlessly benched him after the fumbled KO return in the Colts game so he had as much reason to have a "beef" with McDermott as anyone.

Yeah, when in doubt, can't go wrong with falling back on the old "this is a group of guys who really love each other and play for each other" standard.

Could fool me. I think first and foremost, Tyler Dunne is a businessman trying to make a living as an enterpreneur selling subscriptions to his blog I think he acted in his interests as a businessman first and foremost

Dude. This is what you said that I was responding to: " pretty telling that had we surrendered yet another late game collapse to give up the losing TD you think the conversation would have been about a missed throw on offense tbh" I'm "with" the conversation just fine. You were criticizing him for an offensive "whatif" as "pretty telling" (whatever that means, but it's usually used critically) by making a defensive "whatif" ("had we surrendered yet another late game collapse") Not to mention the false starts. The refs do call 'em, but not nearly as often as the RT does 'em. Fair. We're just seeing it differently. When I've watched, I found myself saying repeatedly "wow, 2 years ago Lamar doesn't hit that".

They will, at the college and at the NFL level. Now, that said...it's happened that the official near the player will signal OK, the LJ on the opposite side will call a penalty, and it will stand. But that's relatively rare when the player checks their position. And Cheffers said Toney didn't.

You probably need to be logged in to see the thread, though you can log in with Google on a browser, you don't need a special account or the app Do it. It will rest your Bills fans soul.

I thought we were gonna have to put up a bunch of points yesterday. I didn't think 20 would do it. My point is if we're gonna "whatif" various plays, why is only one side of the ball fair game? Shouldn't both be fair game? We could have scored there.

I thought Allen's tap on Mahome's chest before walking away was like "yeah, whatever, bro"

I thought the idea was to score more points than the other guy Two ways to accomplish that: 1) give up fewer 2) score more Maybe it's telling that you think it's telling that someone wants to consider both?

Am I the only one to whom it occurs: if Toney isn't so far offside there, does he make it to the same place at the same time to receive that lateral? I don't think you can change one part of one play, and assume the rest of the play is equivalent.

LOL *SNAP* My reaction to reading that remark was "this goes beyond what a protractor will check, Nuggie-man. Bring your tape measure, or maybe a surveying team with a transit"

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. I think this highlights an instance where sometimes statistics can be a forest that hides changes in the trees (and I say this as a stats geek) It used to be true that Jackson would take the short throws to the TE across the field, and deep throws down the middle of the field, but he couldn't make the deeper throws to the sideline. It allowed teams to focus their defenses after the pattern developed. Then he started taking those throws, but not necessarily making them. I can't tell you if it's better WR, or if he's just kept working on it, but I think opponents recognize this year, they have to defend those areas now. I'm sure there are stats that track this somewhere

This may surprise some folks considering my views on Dunne's opinion pieces, but I don't see that as a foregone conclusion at all. I think there is legit concern about the quality of McDermott's play calls and in-game decision making. I've heard Jim Kelly state publicly the latter has to get better. It wouldn't surprise me if people Pegula listens to (Bill Polian and so forth) would state the same concerns to Pegula in private. Then there are the 12 men gaffes and the excessive penalties this season, especially pre-snap. I also think that Pegula is legitimately "allergic" to being publicly embarrassed, and some of the stories told in Dunne's piece are embarrassing (not just 9/11) Counterbalancing that, I believe Pegula doesn't care for what he considers biased or over-the-top media treatment (he commented after Whaley's infamous "not privy" presser that he felt it a shame what was happening to Whaley in the press), and I think his experiences with the Sabres have taught him that change for the sake of change is unwise. The Bills have won enough under McDermott to make it a legit concern to Pegula that they can more easily do worse than better. Anyway, I think it's probably true that McDermott will be reviewed at the end of the season and I think the jury will debate then, so to speak

I have actually, and I've been pretty impressed how his passing has improved and how the Ravens passing offense has developed this season under their new OC. ? Have played Chiefs 5x in regular season under McDermott. 4-1 regular season, 0-2 playoffs.

What did McKenzie say?

They do call the RT. He's had 15 penalties this season including 7 false start (which is a dead ball foul thus supercedes Offside) and 1 offsetting. Thing is, it's like DBs mugging the receiver, even if they're called for DPI or DH it's not called nearly as often as they do it. But the Chiefs have been (IMHO) getting the "star treatment" on penalties IMHO, thus their reaction I guess.

I missed that, did they (Mahomes and Reid) really? considering they were gifted a late hit/UR call on Mahomes that sustained a drive, That's Some *****.

It was Jerry Hughes. He was on the injury report weekly for a "Vet Rest" day, then disclosed the ligament injury/surgery post season. The NFL investigated and bought the Bills explanation that he got the day off from practice because as a vet, his body overall needed it (and not because of his wrist) but also said "going forward, err on the side of disclosure" (especially in the case of key players) IMHO it just goes to show that a lot of players are playing through injuries that don't keep them out of practice, so are not considered serious enough to show up on the injury report but are none the less hindering. In fact, to my understanding, players don't WANT to be on the injury report because then the opposing players will target them.

McD did give an update. I can't tell you which presser it was though.

A few weeks ago McDermott was asked about Jones and Milano and said Jones had a chance he might be able to return late in the season, Milano not.

I guess it is a valid point that in the past, some NFL refs have inappropriately picked up flags to favor "star power". But it's a very entitled argument for Mahomes and Reid to expect that privilege to be extended to them, and frankly, I'm with you - I thought that was horrid when it happened.

He doesn't. It's just the counterpoint to Mahomes claim that they never get called for offensive offside because the refs "warn them". The counterpoint is that the WR can ask the refs for feedback to avoid mistakes, but the refs don't offer it unsolicited, nor are they obliged to offer it, and Toney didn't ask. Mahomes is wrong on all counts.