Beck Water

Yeah. My "take" on it is that the lawyer knows full well the Bills would be within their rights, with Hines on reserve/NFI, to take a number of actions of increasingly hardball nature. At a minimum, they are not on the hook for Hines salary, including apparently the $1M of it that is guaranteed for cap skill or injury. But, as you point out, the Bills now have to replace Hines. Their first shot at this was to sign Darrynton Evans for $940k. I think a reasonable "meet in the middle" approach for a guy who Beane says they want on the roster in 2024, would be to agree to pay him the $1M of his $2.56 salary that was guaranteed, and for Hines to agree to not pursue a grievance for the remaining $1.56M. That lets the Bills backfill his position.

You are correct

Can I say that you're both right, just in different pressers? @GoBills808 is correct that prior to Day 1 of minicamp, McDermott was asked how concerned he was that Diggs wasn't at minicamp, and he replied "Very" - touching off a media storm and eliciting clarification from Digg's agent Adisa Bakari that Diggs reported, underwent physical, etc @MasterStrategist is correct that at a later, "extra" press conference to address Diggs, McDermott "said he's concerned anytime "any player" misses practice But they weren't the same presser, and the earlier one did not answer generally or mention "any player". So I guess that makes @GoBills808 more right. On this point. (Don't let it go to your head, Oh Defender of Lettuce)

Josh! Pass intended for Diggs.

There's some stuff in the training camp starts today thread. Also in Astro's update Harty, Shakir and newly signed RB Evans getting work on PR KO return had a bunch more From Astro update: ----------- The kick returners were Khlil Shakir, Darrynton Evans, and Deonte Harty. In that order. New faces, new places. [I think he means punt return, based on something a media member tweeted, but maybe they did KR too] During kick return drills they used some new faces, as well. KeeSean Johnson, Dane Jackson, Kaiir Elam, and Alex Austin showed a mix of familiar and unfamiliar numbers. ------------

Just a little point that McDermott had options other than very, a little , or not. He could have re-framed the question, or answered a different question, or made it general as he tried to do in a later press conference "I'm always concerned when one of our players isn't practicing, but we're hoping to get him out tomorrow, we'll see how that goes". It wasn't McDermott's best press moment to answer as he did, I don't think that's debatable.

I don't think anyone would argue against that. But I also think that everyone - head coaches included - does not always choose the best language in front of a hot mike 100% of the time. There are words McDermott could have used in other press conferences that would have raised less controversy here and elsewhere as well.

John Wawrow: 🤦‍♂️ (that's the exchange that led to Diggs saying to Wawrow "Just ask the question, please. Thank you."

I don't think McDermott would be "picking a fight" but let's flip the question. The last time McDermott saw Diggs, he was seen screaming at Josh Allen on the sideline then rushing down the tunnel before McDermott addressed the team and having to be hauled back by a PS RB. Do you honestly feel that's behavior McDermott wouldn't feel the need to address with a player?

I was going off of some reporter's tweets about who the PR guys were

I wouldn't bet the farm that the script didn't go the other way - that McD said some things that Diggs took offense to and Diggs left in a snit, leaving McD concerned. In reality, I imagine it went both ways

In hindsight and from a place of calmness, McDermott's comments did a lot to raise concern. My guess is that McDermott was right off the heels of a heated convo that didn't go too well from his POV and was speaking from the heart.

https://www.buffalobills.com/video/camp-highlights-josh-allen-finds-stefon-diggs-for-the-touchdown

Hines agent firing a shot across the bow; some of the responses: Also Ed Wasielewski commenting on Broncos placing WR KJ Hamler and DT Mike Purcell on their NFI (non-football-related injury) list: The Bean-meister says "no comment" in a nice way:

There's a video out there with Josh describing a situation where he and his younger brother had a heated exchange during a basketball scrimmage, ending with Josh's brother throwing a punch and giving him a black eye then Josh driving off and stranding his brother at their highschool. His mom freaked out and called her oldest daughter: "Oh, they'll be fine. They're best friends. They'll hug it out." When you're an uber competitive alpha male, evidently brotherhood looks a bit...Different.

I need answers. What happened here?

Love Astro! Found this interesting The kick [I think he means punt] returners were Khlil Shakir, Darrynton Evans, and Deonte Harty. In that order. New faces, new places. During kick return drills they used some new faces, as well. KeeSean Johnson, Dane Jackson, Kaiir Elam, and Alex Austin showed a mix of familiar and unfamiliar numbers.

excerpts from Stefon Diggs talking to the media post practice

Nah, me bad. Thanks for looking out!

I can't keep up. Evans is our new guy, the running back, right? NP. "Why" is because Twitter is "improved" and if one goes to an account with a web browser it now presents one with months or years old tweets. Perfect for sloth-brains like myself screwing up before that second cuppa.

Oh, Boy. Buckle Up, People.

Because I made a mistake, and already deleted that post. Why make an issue of it?

I hope not. The guy whose role I think we want Kincaid to fill is McKenzie/Crowder - on the field ~60% of the time, hauling them in over the middle. Morris was a 25% of the snaps on offense guy, who played 2/3 of the ST snaps. That's not what we want from our 1st round pick. Now, there's some good stuff that Morris did, which we hope Kincaid can emulate - did a good job of getting on the same page and getting open for Josh on extended plays. Ran good routes. Showed signs of being able to release with some nifty moves like the arm-over he pulled off, think it was against Miami. The Bills didn't keep 2 TE in 2021 and it was a bit unusual. 2019 saw them keeping 4, Knox Sweeney Kroft and Smith. In 2020 they kept 3 (if we count Gilliam as a FB): Knox, Tyler Kroft, and Lee Smith. 2022 was Knox, Morris, and Sweeney. I don't think it's a stretch at all to think they'll keep 3, but I wouldn't count out Morris in favor of Sternberger unless Sternberger shows some stuff on ST.

That was the report. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/saquon-barkley-signing-new-deal-with-giants-a-timeline-of-contract-drama-how-both-sides-reached-agreement/ Barkley called the reported contract offer "cap" though, so it may have been incentive-laden or had other conditions