Virgil

I like it. What's scary is, those are all need picks and you didn't address linebacker. We have a lot of holes for this new scheme

Is the purpose of this to gloat over those who are wrong in 3 years when the outcome of the trade will be known?

Thank you for actually addressing the post, not the title

We are stocked with picks, may be gunning for a QB, and also a bunch of defensive holes. Each year is deep at different positions and weak in others. What if the season ends and the top 3 teams with picks and need QB's and won't trade with us? I know we have the ammo, but they need to be willing to deal with us and I don't see us being worse than the 49ers, Jets, or Browns. And then, what if there just isn't the starting talent needed at the defensive positions we require? I'm just afraid that we won't have a draft that meets our needs and this drags down the line.

A few things here. On some level, if you're a fan, then you have no choice than to celebrate it because it's done and over. I look at it from a betting man's perspective. Based on the last 3 years, would you bet on him being healthy and finishing with a pro-bowl season or a sub-par season because of injury or Tyrod's play? If it's the latter, you get absolutely no value from him and maybe keep him on a "prove it deal". So, if you get a 2nd rounder in advance of that more likely scenario, it's a big win. If he breaks out like you think he could, then yes it sucks. It's all a gamble and you just need to have faith in the regime changes or you will be miserable for at least the next 3 years

I think our run game will be good, but it's going to be different with a new offensive coordinator. Even if it's the same as last year, we still only won 7 games. I agree with parts of our defense being better. I think our pass rush will be better, but our LB's scare me a lot. If we don't get to the QB, I worry about underneath coverage, getting to the outside, and the deep ball. You aren't wrong. I think a 7 win team with less talent, new scheme, and harder schedule isn't far fetched for 4-6 wins

TT still has a deep threat in Jones. He still has weapons. The issue is, TT doesn't only have to get better, he has to dominate to not make the team go all in on a rookie QB. And to the point said earlier, no one can be 100% on any of the rookies. There are way too many examples of hits than misses. I like TT but just don't see the jump happening strong enough for him to lock it up. But I'm very happy to be wrong

Why would Shady care about the picks we have coming up? He should be pissed because he didn't come here to be part of a rebuild and it appears that's what we are doing. As for the picks, we already had 4 of them and arguably got less talented at premium positions

I wanted to get a trial run post in here before the season started and it looks like it took today's news to motivate me. I wanted to do them for the preseason games, but there's just too many players, vanilla schemes, and other things going on to limit observations to 10 things. I'm sure a lot of our new members won't have any idea what this thread is about, but I'm hoping things go as well as last year. I talked to Bill From NY and I have his blessing again. He's going to do a cameo review for one of the games, but I'll leave that as a surprise for some of you. As for today, I think my co-workers assumed someone died in my family. I literally stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the news on my phone. I saw in silence for about 5 minutes as I went through all the articles, called my father and had to convince him I wasn't lying to him, and then just listened to WGR and the pressers while I tried to wrap my head around what happened. With that being said, here we go: 1 - 6 Wins - That's about where I had the team this season, even before today's trades. I'd like to think that I'm somewhat a realist who takes every loss to heart and eagerly awaits the return to glory. With that, I believe that any team, regardless of talent, will struggle with a new head coach, especially a first time head coach. It doesn't matter the team or coach, it's just a matter of scheme and culture change. I'm not going to look up the stats, but I'm sure it's not favorable. Like anyone in a new environment, people need to learn, grow, and develop. I like the hiring and hope for the best. But that, plus our strength of schedule; I just think 6 wins was realistic. 2 - Tyrod - I've been accused of being in the COT and I joking go along with it. I like TT. I want him to succeed. I want all of our players to succeed and once I know they are who we are going with, I will root for them. I don't understand bashing your QB when he's your answer right now. Go with it or be miserable I think. With that, I think he took less to come back because his agent found a dry market out there. To take this deal means he's willing to bet on himself and I like that. Losing Watkins for him is a concern, but I think they got him another deep threat with Jones and a deep threat doesn't require a lot of skill. TT's first TD bomb was to Harvin, so he can make that work with anyone. The hard thing for TT this year is that I feel like he's as good as gone next year. I just don't see him lighting it up with all 1st year receivers in this system. Same reason I think Kirk Cousins will have a rough year in losing all of his familiar weapons. I think TT will give us an average year and then we use our picks to get a QB. I'm not saying I agree or disagree, I just think there's too much to overcome for him. With that, if this is a rebuild, then I'd be curious to know what trade options are out there for him now. If Denver offers me a 3rd rounder, I think we have to listen. 3 - Shady/Kyle, signed FA's - I really worry about the message that was sent with this trade today. Whether you are for or against it, you have to agree that our talent level decreased today. Both players traded away are better combined than what we received. Yes, we got draft picks, but that's for next year. So the only message I can take from this is that we are in the middle of a plan to get better over time. And that's completely fine. However, I wonder if this plan was made clear to players we just brought on. I wonder what Shady thinks about going through a re-build of sorts? I wonder how Kyle feels about going through ANOTHER rebuild as he edges closer to retirement? At the end of the day, they are professionals who get paid millions. But I think the faith, dedication, and buy-in to the program also goes a long way to what we see on the field as well as future players wanting to sign here. And maybe we aren't done. Is it worth trading a massive Dareus contract and eat the dead money this year and next so we can be free of it when this rebuild is done? I'm not saying yes or no. But if I'm a player drafted or brought in by the old regime, I don't know how you feel safe. 4. Standing here The old man said to me Long before these crowded streets Here stood my dreaming tree 5 - Drafts aren't 100% and we aren't alone next year - I agree with the method of building through the draft and not relying on FA. In a salary cap world and players having an average playing career of under 4 years, you need to be able to cycle through talent. However, not all picks in the top 3 rounds are homeruns and not all drafts are equal in talent. Just because we have 6 picks in the first 3 rounds doesn't mean that we are going to nail all 6 picks. Just because it's considered to be a good qb draft class, doesn't mean they will hold up until next year. And worst of all, even if we only win 4 games next year, there are other qb hungry teams that may lose less (cough Jets). Even with all the trade ammo we have; if we are picking 4th and the three teams ahead of us need a QB, why would they trade us? If the Bills had the first pick and a Andrew Luck type QB is available, there isn't any package of picks that will make me pass on him. This is my biggest fear. We will need a QB, RT, and multiple LB's, S, and DB's to fit this new scheme. What if those guys just aren't there in the draft talent wise? Do we just trade back and kick the can to the next year? And even if they are available, how long does it take for these guys to contribute and compete at a playoff year. Best Case Scenario is what the Raiders did 4 years ago. But that's 4 more years of this. 6 - The Pegulas - The thing I learned today is that our owners are not getting in the way. I've read quite a few things about them meddling or giving uninformed input. For the trades to occur like they did with the talent involved, I think it's clear that Beane and McDermott have the keys and are in full control. For this, I am pleased. Not because those two have earned the right to make these decisions, but because we've empowered them and put faith in who we gave the keys to. 7 - Sammy - I have a Sammy Jersey and I think that he has the size, skills, and ability to be a top 3 WR. He has the best route running ability and hands I've seen in a very long time. With that being said, what you leave on the field is what matters. Unless he played all 16 games this year and put up 1200+ yards with 8+ TD's, I would have been hesitant to give him the contract he would've earned in FA. I love the kid and hate to see him. I feel really bad about him playing with Goff in a contract year. I don't think we were going to get a 1st rounder for him and I don't see him pulling off the season I needed to see for him to get that contract from us comfortably. With that, the end result sucks and we are probably a worse team this year without him, but the smart bet was getting value for him. 8 - Darby - I also really liked Darby and don't see how a corner of his ability can't fit into our scheme. His contract was small and we had him locked up for 2 more years. I'm going to choose to have faith that McDermott really saw something that wasn't going to work in his scheme or the value in obtaining Matthews and a 3rd was too great. The problem is, if we don't resign Matthews, then this was all for a 3rd and I just don't see that as a good trade for a very good DB that finished 2nd in DROY the other year. On the flip side, Gaines is nowhere near the player Darby is. And Wright got torched constantly in Baltimore. He even had a nickname for it. 9 - The Fans - I feel really bad for the season ticket holders like my father this year. It was already a tough sell for the season with all the changes. And like many fans, my family can't attend all the games. He still needs to sell the December games, which is always tough since we are usually out of the playoffs by then. But we do have some nice early season hype that helps sell those tickets. After today, right or wrong, I think a lot of people are sold on this being a rebuild. I think that's a message that wasn't clear until today and the tickets are already sold. While rebuilds are necessary, you can't blame so many of the fans that don't have faith in a rebuild here after 17 years of futility trying to do it. 10 - Today's Trade Value - When you look at a trade, you have to look at the present and future. In the immediate present, we are a less talented football team. I don't think anyone is arguing that. At the end of the season, we may lose both players to FA and are left with a 2nd and 3rd round pick and without a 6th round pick. Will those two picks result in players better than Sammy and Darby? Who knows? If those picks are used in trades to get a potential franchise QB? Who knows? Will that QB actually be a franchise QB? Who knows? End of the day, we are clearly focusing on the future, the scheme that McDermott wants to run, and everything before they were hired is up for grabs. It's hard to go through this for everyone and you have to respect both the negative and positive reactions. I'm torn on having to go through it all again. Even if we are in position to get Darnold next year, who is to say he'll be available for us, he'll be a franchise guy, or that he'll still be that great come draft time? Remember Jake Locker and all the other #1 QB's going into the college year only to have them completely fall off in production? This is a lot of "What If's" and a lot of faith to put into a first time coach and GM. But we all share the same goal of turning this thing around. I look forward to seeing how it goes. Go Bills.

RT performance Utilization of both fullbacks Who we rotate at safety Backup Qb's All linebacker play

Selfish piece of...... 😀

In hearing that Ragland is now running with the 3rd team, I'm on the thinking that we need to just trade him if he's that far off from being a fit for the team. I'm concerned about how obvious we are making it with his demotions. At this point, I wonder if we even get a 4th rounder for him. Nothing personal about the guy and I'm not watching practices, but it's frustrating to see two of our top 4 picks from last year be completely wasted.

Why not just go to the panthers game? Or even the preseason ravens game? I'm assuming the two-for of a bills game and being in New Orleans. Either way, the visit to the Cap is worth it. Especially after 30 years a fan. That's crazy

It's a case of whether or not you believe it should be about the entire career or what the represented at a time in the NFL. Kurt Warner and the greatest show on turf was a very big moment for the NFL. It was just insane what they were doing. FFL leagues had him, Bruce, and Warner going 1-2-3. Never have I seen such a thing. TD just couldn't stay healthy. But when he did for those few seasons, I'd compare him to any RB in history. He was just a tank. I can see both sides of it. But for me, I want to walk the hall of fame and see the transition of greatness through history. Those two and what they represented were part of that. I'll get flamed here, but Andre Reed is less deserving that those two. He was very good for a long time, but never dominant. To me, I'd rather have TD in his prime on my team than Andre Reed.

He did in philly for a few years. A lot of it has to do with playing for the Bills IMO

I don't think that will ever happen. I don't want the Bills to never play a team in the NFC. To never get to see some of those great players would be a disservice to the fans.

Oilers. And there's a thread similar to this about if people were at the game and if they left at halftime. No one will admit to leaving.

Couldn't even make it to to our first preseason game for this to start.

I also believe that, in a sport where every game is so important, you shouldn't play any team twice in the regular season. You should have to play each team in your conference once, and then rotate other conference games in. I get that you won't get a home skins/cowboys game every year, but I think it'll honestly be better for the sport and you'll see more home teams come to your stadium.

Yeah, is this guy serious?

Go see absinthe. Best show in vegas

Not a single blind side joke yet? C'mon people! I guess he didn't see that one coming. Hey-O!

Yes. I'm happy watching his smug ass on the sidelines in pain.

I get the playoffs answer. But after almost 20 years, if this ends up being the first year of the McDermott era, I'll be happy to see it happen. Nothing against the team, just rookie HC's, new scheme, rookies and so many FA's starting...It's just a rare thing to all come together in one season.

I'm looking forward to this upcoming season because my expectations aren't very high. This is an experience year to me for our rookies and Coach. It's rare to have rookies contribute in a way that changes a teams path. Rookies Head Coaches always go through their growing pains. The Pats look stacked moreso than last year. Our schedule doesn't have many easy wins. This season reminds me of our 3-13 season, which was one of my favorites. Not because I think we will only win 3 games, but because I knew we were going to learn and get better. So for me, here's what I'm hoping to see this season: Tyrod solidifies the job, or they finish with a top 5 pick and we get our QB (Either Way, I think the QB question is answered going into 2018) The rookies show enough promise to be solid starters going forward. Jones at WR is the most crucial to me if Sammy doesn't earn his payday. However..... Sammy earns his payday. I hope he stays healthy all year and earns a pro-bowl spot RT position is solidified We are in all of our games and keep it close against the Pats by the season end. The season ends with us drafting Best Available, not for need again Dareus earns his contract Lorax continues his dominance Hauschka misses less XP's than Carpenter Brady gets hurt For those who think this is a beaten down attitude, maybe. But I don't think any team with this much transition and in our division would that great. Just my humble opinion