[I can’t believe there isn’t a “go get Decastro” thread yet]

27 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

So I guess I’ll start one.  Not that I want to, this just isn’t the norm on this board when a name is released.

 

Probably because the word going around is he's retiring. The release before hand is a formality for him to get more money when he does. 

 

 

 

[Bills working out DT Eli Ankou (update: signed)]

11 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Well there is a very good example of the second scenario on the Bills already...  Zimmer was an UDFA and is on his 6th team (Bils twcie) including a stint in the CFL.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Zimmer

 

Zimmer overachieved for his pedigree, can't argue that. But let's not get carried away with his importance to the team. He jumped on a fumble and ran fast down the field on an INT return in the playoffs. I'd be surprised if he made the roster this season based on the depth of our D-Line. If he does, bye bye Harrison Phillips.

[Bills working out DT Eli Ankou (update: signed)]

19 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Update: Ankou signed 

2 open roster spots left 

 

On one hand: we need another 1-Tech DT beyond Lotulelei.

 

On the other: how often does an UDFA appearing on his 6th team in less than two years make a roster, let alone make a difference?

[Efe Obada “true sack score” ranked 9th in league]

1 hour ago, billybrew1 said:

Not me, I wanted to draft another WR in the second round this year. We had no receivers in the playoffs last year and we simply can not afford to lose any. Cole Beasley really is one of the top slot WRs in the game and we cannot simply absorb him even if we sign Ertz. (We'd be damn good but we couldn't beat KC or Tampa without everybody and everyone healthy and the whole point is to win a Super Bowl.) 

PS - Beasley is soooo good I might have misspoke saying we have to replace him. Right now, it is probably impossible to replace him. Whoever we did end up getting most likely would be a downgrade. I'm not a fan of Beasley's stance at all but I have to admit, if he is in single, he can just about beat anyone for that five to ten yard gain. Plus he is far from just limited to that. He is very good football player and Allen and him got it down.

 

Us not having WR's who were making a difference in the playoffs had way more to do with injuries than a lack of quality at the position. John Brown was snake bitten all season with his hamstring. When we had him, he was 50% at best. Cole was playing on a broken fibula. Diggs was playing on a torn oblique. Gabe Davis had an ankle injury he was playing through. Essentially, our ENTIRE WR core was injured and toughing it out.

 

So it's not that we don't have the guys. It's just that we were extremely unlucky in the timing of their injuries. Most teams around the league don't have a core as solid as Diggs, Cole, Emmanuel, Gabe Davis, and McKenzie. Most teams around the league are lucky to have 2 studs. The way, I see it - we have 4. If that were to become 3 for whatever reason, I'd feel comfortable (as long as it wasn't Diggs we lost). Especially if we added Ertz. I'd rather do that than add another WR like Golden Tate (who imo is probably the best available WR).

[Efe Obada “true sack score” ranked 9th in league]

4 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

NO. We’re NOT reviving that thread under the guise of another thread. I’ll leave this post up to spread the word, but if this continues, it meets up with the other one at the bottom of the outhouse.

 

Totally not my intention. Simply replying to a post. Sorry if that's how it came across.

[Efe Obada “true sack score” ranked 9th in league]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

I’m starting to think all posts lead back to Ertz.  I’m not busting youre chops, just funny.

 

it’s funny we have collectively fired Cole in less than 24 hours.  I’m hoping beane can pull a polian, and talk it out with him.

 

I'm not advocating we cut him. Honestly, we can't. One thing to release a fringe player on the roster for being a distraction and making things difficult because you can just say "he was the 54th man on a 53 roster". Cole's a star. It'd be obvious why we were doing it.

 

I'm more or less speaking to the idea that a.) He retires or b.) The NFL suspends him for habitually not following the guidelines. Looking more and more that one or the other is probably more likely than him playing all season for us.

 

And, yeah, as far as who's on the trade market or a Free Agent that could help in the pass catching department - Ertz is probably our best option. Especially since he's long been linked to us and Beane's never said that there's nothing to the rumors (like he has with other guys we've been linked to in the past). It's either him or signing a WR like Golden Tate.

[Efe Obada “true sack score” ranked 9th in league]

1 hour ago, billybrew1 said:

NE is going to play us with a double TE and run the ball down our throat. I can't imagine the Bills carrying less than four true DTs.....The last time Star started he played < 40 snaps/game.  In fact, the Bills need an upgrade at DT imho... Also LCB and TE. And if Cole chooses to die on that bitter hill, he has to be replaced (not absorbed) imho....

 

I agree on the needing 4 DT's and ideally, another 1-Tech needing to be added behind Star. Which is why I'm leaning towards Obada not making the final 53. I think he was signed as insurance in the event we weren't able to land a DE we liked in the Draft. Then we drafted 2 in the first 2 rounds. So... yeah.

 

Although I wouldn't be against a move being made, Corner isn't as huge of a need IMO as others feel. I don't think we were bad at the position last season and I see them even performing better than they did last season. And from what I've seen, Jackson is an upgrade from Josh Norman and that's the only change from last year. 

 

As for replacing Cole and needing another TE - I think Ertz should be revisited more than ever now (*ducks oncoming things thrown at him*). I think we're deep enough at WR with Diggs, Sanders, Davis, McKenzie, Stevenson, and Hodgins that we can afford to potentially lose him. Especially if we got another pass catcher like Ertz in the fold at TE.

[Efe Obada “true sack score” ranked 9th in league]

23 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

I really would be shocked if this guy gets cut...

 

I wouldn't. Unless he, Rousseau, or Basham are going to spend at least half the time inside playing DT - he's on the outside looking in. Because Hughes, Addison, Epenesa, Rousseau, and Basham are all locks and I've never seen us keep anything more than 5 DE's tops. 

[Efe Obada “true sack score” ranked 9th in league]

1 hour ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

True but I see it more as a numbers game if he shows up really well in the summer.  If he makes to roster I see Addison as expendable.

Hughes

Addison

Epenesa

Obada

Rousseau

Basham

I can't see them keeping all 6 plus 4 DTs.  Then again maybe they do but it takes from another position group.

I'm seeing a total of 9 DL.

 

I agree on the numbers point. Most of my life, the Bills carried a max of 4 Defensive Ends. In the McBeane years, they've seemed to carry 5. Never once have I seen 6 staying on the active roster.

 

But when it comes to Addison being released, I see another unprecedented issue. Brandon Beane has never told a veteran "we need you to take a pay cut if you want to stay" and then cut the guy anyways. Even with guys we didn't even use like Tyler Kroft. I think it's a bad look to the locker room and their "process" team building.

 

Beyond that, he doubled down in a press conference following the drafting of Rousseau and Basham stating Addison isn't going anywhere. That he's counting on his mentoring the Rookies and even discussed how he plans on using Addison in the rotation re: adjusted snap counts to maximize his impact this season.

 

So I don't think Addison is going anywhere. I see us cutting Obada or carrying 6 guys with us either taking from another position to carry 10 D-Lineman or one of those DE's will be playing both inside and outside ala Quinton Jefferson.

[Cole Beasley announces he will not be following Covid protocols, willing to retire]

5 minutes ago, Klaista2k said:

Why should anyone go along with the BS rules anymore?

 

If people had any self-respect at all they would simply stop complying with this crap. 

 

That's completely beside the point. Let's not turn this into a vaccination vs. anti-vaccination debate.

 

The point is - the NFL has the rules in place where you follow them or you're fined and suspended. Cole has stated he will habitually not follow the rules. Ergo - one of our best players WILL be suspended regularly and may retire.

 

If the rules change, then that's a different story. But as they are, this is a problem. 

[Cole Beasley announces he will not be following Covid protocols, willing to retire]

Just now, SCBills said:

I think only 2 teams have met the 85% threshold...  Cole won’t be alone. 

 

It's not a matter of getting vaxed or not. It's a matter of Cole saying "I won't abide by the regulations put in place by the league". And he IS alone in saying that so far. It's one thing to not get vaxed. It's another to not get vaxed and then publicly say he won't follow the rules that state you'll be fined and suspended for not following.

[Cole Beasley announces he will not be following Covid protocols, willing to retire]

Regardless of where you stand on the subject - one of our stars outwardly saying he will not abide by the rules of the league is a huge issue. We're now facing, at best, a season where Cole will be fined and suspended on the regular. Think we seriously need to prepare for a season without him, at this point. 

 

EDIT: And by "a season without him", I'm not implying we should cut him. I'm simply stating that habitually disregarding NFL rules will lead to him being suspended habitually.

[Louis Riddick on NFL Live said the AFC was top heavy]

24 minutes ago, TBBills said:

Lol the Browns... They are the new Dolphins I guess.

 

Idk man. Did you watch the Chiefs v. Browns playoff game? They almost had them and sent Mahomes on a trajectory that essentially handed the Bucs the Super Bowl IMO. They worry me more than the Ravens. Lamar is trash, Baker is good more often than bad, and their RB and WR core are really scary.

[Who is your main DARK HORSE this season for the BILLS?]

1 hour ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

My Dark Horse was our lowly 6th rd pick Jack Anderson.  No not an all pro but for a 6th rounder, i think he can be a starting guard or even tackle or center in the NFL for years.

 

That's a bold choice. I can't see him being anything more than a Practice Squad player this season. He was our last draft choice in the 7th Round in a Draft where we took 2 other Offensive Lineman. 

 

We generally only keep 9 Offensive Lineman. Dawkins, Ford, Morse, Feliciano, Williams, Brown, and Doyle are absolute locks. And I'd put Lamp, Boettger, and Bates above him as well.

 

He'd have to have one helluva undeniable training camp and preseason. Even then - Dane Jackson (last year's 7th Rounder) did that and still ended up on the Practice Squad in a much less crowded field at CB last season.

[Danielle Hunter Situation]

All of these Defensive End posts point to a good percentage of the fan base not only saying they don't agree with how Beane has handled the position - but are simply disregarding he's made many moves in the first place and that the depth chart is already filled. You may want the guy in a Bills uniform but there has to be a place for him. There just isn't on this roster.

 

Addison took a pay cut to stay alongside Hughes. Beane has never told a player if he wants to stay, he has to take a pay cut, and then cut him anyways (not even Tyler Kroft). We signed Obada. We drafted Rousseau in the 1st. We drafted Basham in the 2nd. We drafted Epenesa last year with our top pick. We only keep 5 Defensive Ends Max.

 

We need a ton of cap space for Josh and Tremaine. We'll need our top picks next year to replenish players we'll probably let go just to make Josh and Tremaine happen. We aren't making an expensive trade. Especially not one that would cost the amount of cap and draft picks like Hunter, Jones, or Mack. And not to a position that's already been addressed. Heavily. As it is, we may have to cut Obada bc we have 5 keepers in Hughes, Addison, Rousseau, Basham, and Epenesa. 

 

LIke it or not - we are NOT making any more moves at DE for 2021. We won't be making many more, if any, substantial moves at all. If we do, it will be to positions we're light at like Tight End, 1-Tech Defensive Tackle, Linebacker, or Cornerback.

[TE Bug Howard working out for Bills]

Training Camp body at best. Changes nothing re: Zach Ertz.

[Travis Kelce says this team is neck and neck with the Chiefs .. the Browns]

Like it or not - the Browns put up way more of a fight against the Chiefs in the playoffs than we did. Had them on the ropes, but couldn't finish the job.

[What piece of Bills memorabilia would you love to have?]

Of things that are actually attainable - I've always wanted a 1987 Jim "Machine Gun Kelly" Costacos Brothers Poster. I check eBay for it frequently. 

[Sumbody in The Windy City not happy about Mitch Trubisky!]

Quote

So I expect the Bills to eventually describe Mitch as the greatest No. 2 quarterback in league history. But, trust me, that designation will be impossible as long as Justin Fields is the Bears’ backup quarterback to Andy Dalton.

 

Because this guy knows for a fact, before taking a single NFL snap in training camp or preseason, that Justin Fields is without question the best #2 option in the league 🙄

[Is Chandler Jones available on the NFL's black-market?]

12 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

The team beat around the bush for 5 years trying one thing after to make a number one receiver appear.  A first round pick trade up. A second rounder. Another second rounder. Free agent after free agent. A trade for a former one. Finally they went out and paid the appropriate value for the real thing. 

 

You can not agree with how he addressed the position. But it's completely asinine to disregard that the moves have already been made and the roster spots have already been filled. Rousseau, Basham, and Epenesa are here and they aren't going anywhere. Addison took a pay cut to stay and Beane says he isn't going anywhere. 

 

We need a ton of cap space for Josh and Tremaine. And we need the draft picks to replenish the players we'll already need to release next season to make that happen. The last thing they can afford to do is trade and sign a premier pass rusher this season. That's why Rousseau and Basham were drafted in the first place. Like it or not, get used to the opening day depth chart for Defensive End being made up of guys already on the roster for this season.

[Is Chandler Jones available on the NFL's black-market?]

32 minutes ago, Just Joshin' said:

If he is out, maybe Mack?

 

Addison took a pay cut to stay along Hughes. We signed Obada. We drafted Rousseau in the 1st. We drafted Basham in the 2nd. We drafted Epenesa last year with our top pick. We need a ton of cap space for Josh and Tremaine. We'll need our top picks next year to replenish players we'll probably let go just to make that happen.

 

We aren't making any more moves at DE. Especially not one that would cost the amount of cap and draft picks like Mack. The position has been addressed. Heavily. As it is, we may have to cut Obada bc we have 5 keepers in Hughes, Addison, Rousseau, Basham, and Epenesa. 

[Is Chandler Jones available on the NFL's black-market?]

RIP to a bad idea

 

 

[Falcons trading Julio Jones to Titans]

49 minutes ago, Process said:

We went into this off-season NEEDING to add a playmaker on offense. We didn't. 

 

While I won't argue we could have used an upgrade at RB and TE - it's absolutely crazy to say we NEEDED another playmaking WR. Josh threw for over 4500 yards last year with Diggs, Beasley, and Davis. Sanders provides an over the middle, in traffic, contested catcher that we didn't have while maintaining Diggs, Beasley, and Davis. WR is a strength on our roster. "NEED" is a word I'd use to describe other positions such as CB, 1-Tech DT, TE, or RB. And what it would have required in cap space we'll need for Josh and Tremaine (or help in positions more worse off) is too much for a luxury that also would have required someone like Gabe Davis riding the pine more than I'd have liked. 

[Falcons trading Julio Jones to Titans]

Never made any sense for us unless we were going to move Sanders or Beasley. When you already have one of the best WR cores in the NFL - you don't give up the assets and cap space it would have required for a 5th starting quality WR. Especially with Josh and Tremaine's large deals looming. And i'd have rather not delegated Sanders, Beasley, or Davis to the bench.  

[Is Chandler Jones available on the NFL's black-market?]

3 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Prior career means little when you're talking about agings players who can decline from getting older and especially coming off injury.  If Jones were, say, 27, it would be a far different story. 

 

And 1 sack in 4.5 games works-out to 3.5 over a season.  Maybe he gets more, maybe he gets less.  The point is it isn't worth spending a ton of money and a draft pick to take a gamble that least year was a complete fluke and he'll be the player he was prior to his 30s.

 

Seems there's a lot of folks around here who feel that both our 1st and our 2nd will provide nothing in Year 1 and are essentially red shirts 🙄

 

Baffles me that everyone is counting out both our top picks, are closed off to the idea that Epenesa could improve, AND feel both Hughes and Addison provide nothing.