finn

Davidson seems like the real deal. Maybe keep five receivers (Shakir, Coleman, Samuels, Hollins, Shaver) and four tight ends.

Funny how these season-ending injuries happen only to the few All-Pros we have/had on the roster: White, Miller, and Milano. Let's hope Dorian Williams develops instincts fast. Or Deion Jones turns out to be capable because the middle of the field is looking mighty weak at the moment. Btw, Justin Simmons is evidently signing with the Falcons today.

I see the OP's point, but it implies that McD isn't going for it enough, and his being forced to because he has an incompetent kicker might be a good thing in some circumstances. But as he or someone else pointed out, the Bills are already top-five in going for it on fourth down. So gambling even more is likely not a good thing. Plus, you always want flexibility so you can respond to the circumstances. (E.g., Trubinsky is in there and falling flat.) Time to bring in another kicker. If Bass is so fragile that the competition causes him to spiral, better to know that now. But maybe he'll improve instead. Or maybe the new guy (or woman!) will be just be better. Even then, I can see McBean sticking with Bass, hoping he gets his swagger back.

He also has Hamler being waived and signed to the practice squad. Me, I would keep Hamler as KR and reserve WR over La'El Collins, who seems washed at tackle and JAG at guard. Put him on the practice squad instead of Hamler. As for Gilliam and Morris over Davidson, I get it, but I think it's a mistake. The offense needs more juice, even at the expense of special teams. Keep G or M, but sign Davidson to the 53 so Allen and Brady have a 6'7' target to work with. Pete Metzelaars with wheels.

Cook and Bass are both on the All-Pro "Hold My Breath" team. MVP is a runner-up. Fortunately, they have teammates who are among the most clutch in the league, including Allen, Kincaid, Shakir, and, to judge from training camp, Coleman.

Yeah, his MO is a boom or bust player. We got rid of one pass dropper in Gabe and still have one in Cook; we don't need another. I'd rather give the roster spot to Davidson and let Hamler stretch the field in addition to his KR duties.

Just won the job. The media will have the narrative all teed up by the time we play the Chiefs: We passed on Mahomes, Humphrey, and Legette, got jumped for McDuffie, didn't know enough to keep the Punt God, and had to be content to sign their castoff, MVS. Hopefully, that narrative will be dampened by a good year from Coleman and MVS, and a disappointing year from skinny Legette.

Agreed! Allen is as good or better in most categories. That's not homerism; it's objective fact. Plus, Allen doesn't sound like Kermit the Frog.

Exactly. I'll always remember him for dropping the most heroic throw of Allen's career to date, which is saying something. With an injured elbow in the face of a fierce Jets pass rush, Allen chucks it 60 yards in the air and puts it right into Davis' arms. His new team should have looked harder at that tape.

Optimism aside, I agree with your assessment. I favor bringing in Simmons on a one-year contract, if possible, and starting him alongside Edwards while Bishop develops. Hamlin and Rapp as backups.

Yes, but I read somewhere that he's been working hard in the offseason on the center position, which he played in college in part. I don't know much about snapping. Is it really that difficult a skill?

Things always look rosy in training camp, but I'm more optimistic than I've been since Diggs' first year. I never liked Gabe Davis as WR2 or Knox as TE1. This year's offense has both depth and balance. The receivers may not be elite, but Shakir, Coleman, and Samuels are all exciting players, and Kincaid may in fact be elite. There's more depth at WR, RB, TE, and across the line than we've seen in years, and Brady seems to know what he's doing. It's ironic that the talking heads are downplaying the Bills chances this year, with some discounting them entirely. At least in terms of the offense, this team might be the best in the Allen era.

Starting to get exciting. From Diggs and Allen carrying the offense to threats across the board.

Maybe, but I like seeing people poking fun at Mahomes. Already he's being anointed as He Who Can Do No Wrong, and that should be corrected before it's cemented like Brady's image was. Few things are as annoying as saints among us. (Plus, he really does sound like Kermit.)

I'm just enjoying a grumpy mood. I'm all for not forcing 60% of the offense it to one diva.

Allen at TE!

Allen's leadership might be an overlooked factor in the team's prospects this year. Talent isn't everything. Old timers remember the "resilient Bills" teams that often won on sheer grit. If this is truly Allen's team now, reflecting his personality, I'm curious to see how it manifests. I'm thinking fun, cheerful, loose, a bit goofy, but also extremely competitive. McDermott's temperament is arguably the opposite: grim, cautious, nervous, controlling, old school. Ideally, they would complement each other, or, better, McDermott will get out of the way of both his coordinators and confine his role to making sure the team is prepared. Let everyone play to their strengths, and they could get finally get over the hump.

I don't like the backhanded compliment, implying he's not a candidate for best overall quarterback, sorta like saying Thurman was the best "all-around" back. But of course he's the best dual threat of all time. It's not even close. You can quibble about different eras, but Allen is bigger and stronger than Young, a better passer than Elway and Lamar, and a much, much better passer than Newton, Fields, Vick et al. He might end up being the best passer of all time. It's still early, and he's on pace for a truly spectacular career. Just needs a few Super Bowls wins to revise the narrative.

The team is pretty lean already. DeQuan could be cut if he's hit the wall and DeWayne Carter looks good.

Seem to me the bottom line is that it's too early to cut Bass, but it would be foolish to trust him completely, especially after minicamp. Even if he rocks training camp, I would have other options on speed dial. The Bills can't afford to revert to losing close games, as they did in 2022, or have their kicker melt down in the playoffs. The trouble is that bringing in serious competition might cause Bass to lose confidence. But if he's that fragile, it's better to cut him now and let him haunt some other team. I want a kicker with swagger (which McD used to say Bass had), not a head case who has the world holding their breath on extra-point attempts.

Even with the appalling injuries in the playoff game against KC, the Bills would likely have won if Diggs and Bass, supposedly two of the most reliable players on the team, hadn't choked. Even if he's perfect in the regular season, I won't trust him in the playoffs, not after last season. You want your kicker to be an asset, but at the very least he can't be a liability. That's what he was last year. Time to bring in real competition.

And you KNOW that if the reverse comes to pass--that Allen's team and coaches end up superior to Mahomes'--that the football world now confidently claiming Mahomes is better hands-down will suddenly see the importance of system, supporting cast, and coaching.

Last year I would have said Gabe Davis. This year, I hope I'm wrong about Spencer Brown. He's had some good stretches here and there, but on balance he's been a liability (or injured) since he arrived. The pessimist in me says he'll play well, sign a big extension, get injured, and be the same uneven player when he gets back. I really want to be wrong. I miss House Ballard.

Free safety. Mike Edwards appears to be no more than a good-adequate backup, which is why he's on a one-year deal. Unless Damar sees the light, the free-safety position is a glaring need. Simmons will be expensive but worth it. If he stays healthy, there's only the question of whether Bishop can play at strong safety. If he can, the secondary stays a team strength.

Kelce is fading, and McDuffie is no better than Taron; he just plays on a team that won a championship. Jones is for real, and so is Humphrey.