Hopkins released by Arizona (7/16: signed by Titans)

[Alphadawg7]

41 minutes ago, Dopey said:

The day Diggs was "dismissed" by coach, Josh specifically said it's not football related. The issue was between Diggs and Josh. Josh even said they will work it out. Folks don't want to believe Josh could do wrong. I get it. I think he let this stardom get to his head, banged a couple of hot chicks who weren't his girlfriend and it caught up to him. Except for a few here, everyone wants to just forget about this and blame Diggs for having an ego problem. He looked pissed that Josh wasn't ready to play. Distracted, maybe? 

An old high school friend wrote in my yearbook back in the day " use a rubber and you'll learn, no deposit, no return".

 

No disrespect intended here, but that isn't exactly what happened though, and people took "its not football related" way too literally.  And just being honest, you seem to be basing your whole assumptions on how you personally interpreted that statement, not actual information that has since come out.  

 

I mean, it was at a football camp, amidst the football players/coaches, with a football player unhappy...so it was obviously football related.  Josh saying "its not football related" had more to do with the media's wild speculation he wasn't happy here, wants a trade, and all the other defcon 5 click bait stories they were putting out.  The issue Diggs had that day had everything to do with football.  

 

In fact, everything that has come out from actual people involved with the team has suggested it had to do with communication issues and how Diggs was used in the back half of the season, which is something Diggs has also directly stated in interviews.

 

No disrespect, but the stuff you are saying is more just wild interpretations than factual things that have come out about the situation by everyone in the actual know of what was going on.  

[julian]

40 minutes ago, Dopey said:

The day Diggs was "dismissed" by coach, Josh specifically said it's not football related. The issue was between Diggs and Josh. Josh even said they will work it out. Folks don't want to believe Josh could do wrong. I get it. I think he let this stardom get to his head, banged a couple of hot chicks who weren't his girlfriend and it caught up to him. Except for a few here, everyone wants to just forget about this and blame Diggs for having an ego problem. He looked pissed that Josh wasn't ready to play. Distracted, maybe? 

An old high school friend wrote in my yearbook back in the day " use a rubber and you'll learn, no deposit, no return".

that’s some manly soap opera wishful thinking right there lol. If this were an alternate universe and this romance novel were true, I think it would make Diggs look worse not better.

 

 A grown man throwing a hissy fit over another grown man’s sexual exploits because he somehow thinks that said man can’t serve his human needs and perform at work simultaneously is hilarious.

 

 That’s why this can’t be true, I refuse to believe Diggs is acting a fool and up in another man’s business(sex life).

[Alphadawg7]

17 minutes ago, NewEra said:

That’s why I said maybe over floyd and Poyer.  
 

I agree.  Hopkins is a risk.  I don’t think as big a risk as some do.  He had been healthy for 99% of his career.  Had one injury, took some illegal substances and was suspended for half the season.  It’s not like he was really hurt last season, he just didn’t want to risk any more injury (imo) while they were tanking with no QB.  
 

there’s risk that he faces an even longer suspension if he takes more illegal substances, but I don’t think he’ll be that stupid. 
 

I don’t think there’s any more risk in him missing time to initial than there is for Poyer. 

 

I know you are saying maybe, so isn't really directed at you so much...but no way I would take Hopkins over both Floyd and Poyer.  People are sleeping on the value of adding Floyd IMHO, and Poyer was (and has been) one of the most impactful players in our defense for several seasons now, especially last year.  I get he is "aging" but he isn't washed yet either when talking about what to expect this year.  And Poyer is the same age as Hopkins, so the aging thing is a wash.  

 

I would LOVE to add Hopkins, don't get me wrong, but people grossly misplace their disgust with the receivers after last years playoff loss.  We would have lost that game even if we had Hopkins last year.  This notion we had no weapons is a myth.   We had a TE who had 15 TD's the last 2 seasons despite not being heavily involved in the pass game with the need for him to help the OL.  We had 2 RB's who were supposed to be receiving weapons in Hines and Cook that we basically ignored in our offense as receivers by Dorsey.  We had a top 5 WR (something only 4 other teams can say) and Davis who despite his flaws, still has shown capable of making plays.  

 

Our team collectively crapped the bed, and the OL was atrocious.  We had guys open that Josh couldn't get to with how bad the OL was playing.  Plus, Josh started trying to press and force plays when things were not going his way.  Under no circumstance did we lose to the Bengals because no one was open.  And our defense laid down like a doormat versus the Bengals both in the brief regular season game and the playoffs.  Just like it did the whole game vs KC the year before in the 13 second debacle.  

 

This season...we have Kincaid, Shakir with a years experience, noticeable upgrades to Kumerow and McKenzie with Sherfield and Harty respectively, plus an upgraded OL to go with it.  And now McD is calling plays and all the talk is about a more aggressive defense where guys like Floyd, Rousseau, Von, Oliver, etc should benefit from getting more chances to get to the QB, not to mention Tre now further in his recovery and Elam a season under his belt.  Hyde is back too to go along with better depth at safety and corner this year.  

 

So I would love Hopkins, but he is not such a need that it would be worth weakening our defense by 2 impact players headed into a season where Frazier is finally gone and McD is coming in with a more aggressive mentality on calling the D that might have gotten us to the SB 2 years ago had it happened before the KC game.  

 

Just my 2 cents...again, love to bring Hopkins here still, but I would not give up 2 impact defenders to do so in a conference we need to face other potent offenses.  Especially when talking post season bad weather games where the passing game is often less effective.  

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

On 7/11/2023 at 11:22 PM, ExiledInIllinois said:

Did the Bad News Bears win in the end?

AND... What happened at the Alamo?

FFS man, the fans want the Magnificent Seven in free agency, all Beane is willing to spend for is the Bad News Bears. 🤨

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

That’s why I said maybe over floyd and Poyer.  
 

I agree.  Hopkins is a risk.  I don’t think as big a risk as some do.  He had been healthy for 99% of his career.  Had one injury, took some illegal substances and was suspended for half the season.  It’s not like he was really hurt last season, he just didn’t want to risk any more injury (imo) while they were tanking with no QB.  
 

there’s risk that he faces an even longer suspension if he takes more illegal substances, but I don’t think he’ll be that stupid. 
 

I don’t think there’s any more risk in him missing time to initial than there is for Poyer. 

I think he's an emotional risk.  Bills already have one kind of prickly star wideout, and adding a second is a risk.  

 

I've talked before about GM, the book the Giants GM wrote about building their Super Bowl team.  He said no team can win with three prima donnas, and it's really hard to win with two.   One you can manage.   Diggs is one.  Hopkins has the potential to be the second.  

 

One of things that made OBJ such a great addition for the Rams was that he came with a team-first attitude, something he hadn't shown consistently at his earlier stops.  

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

I know you are saying maybe, so isn't really directed at you so much...but no way I would take Hopkins over both Floyd and Poyer.  People are sleeping on the value of adding Floyd IMHO, and Poyer was (and has been) one of the most impactful players in our defense for several seasons now, especially last year.  I get he is "aging" but he isn't washed yet either when talking about what to expect this year.  And Poyer is the same age as Hopkins, so the aging thing is a wash.  

 

I would LOVE to add Hopkins, don't get me wrong, but people grossly misplace their disgust with the receivers after last years playoff loss.  We would have lost that game even if we had Hopkins last year.  This notion we had no weapons is a myth.   We had a TE who had 15 TD's the last 2 seasons despite not being heavily involved in the pass game with the need for him to help the OL.  We had 2 RB's who were supposed to be receiving weapons in Hines and Cook that we basically ignored in our offense as receivers by Dorsey.  We had a top 5 WR (something only 4 other teams can say) and Davis who despite his flaws, still has shown capable of making plays.  

 

Our team collectively crapped the bed, and the OL was atrocious.  We had guys open that Josh couldn't get to with how bad the OL was playing.  Plus, Josh started trying to press and force plays when things were not going his way.  Under no circumstance did we lose to the Bengals because no one was open.  And our defense laid down like a doormat versus the Bengals both in the brief regular season game and the playoffs.  Just like it did the whole game vs KC the year before in the 13 second debacle.  

 

This season...we have Kincaid, Shakir with a years experience, noticeable upgrades to Kumerow and McKenzie with Sherfield and Harty respectively, plus an upgraded OL to go with it.  And now McD is calling plays and all the talk is about a more aggressive defense where guys like Floyd, Rousseau, Von, Oliver, etc should benefit from getting more chances to get to the QB, not to mention Tre now further in his recovery and Elam a season under his belt.  Hyde is back too to go along with better depth at safety and corner this year.  

 

So I would love Hopkins, but he is not such a need that it would be worth weakening our defense by 2 impact players headed into a season where Frazier is finally gone and McD is coming in with a more aggressive mentality on calling the D that might have gotten us to the SB 2 years ago had it happened before the KC game.  

 

Just my 2 cents...again, love to bring Hopkins here still, but I would not give up 2 impact defenders to do so in a conference we need to face other potent offenses.  Especially when talking post season bad weather games where the passing game is often less effective.  

I love the floyd addition.  Love it, love it.  I think you might be sleeping on how good Hopkins is.  He was really good last year with Colt McCoy and Trace Mcsorley throwing him the ball in 6 of his 9 games played. 
 

agree to disagree about hopkins vs Floyd.  Hopkins vs Floyd and Poyer- idk. Poyers my favorite player and I still MIGHT take hopkins. Difference being- we’d have Rapp to take Poyers place.  It’s a fall off for sure…. But I think the difference between hopkins and Davis is massive 

 

Edited July 13, 2023 by NewEra

[SCBills]

23 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

I mean Davis effectively ended the Bengals game with a typical drop and nobody is scared of  RBs playing WR…. The weapons are middle of the pack at best. 

Does Hopkins make that catch?

 

(yes)

 

Does Hopkins make the catch and/or draw DPI on Sauce and maybe we’re playing Jacksonville instead of Cinci?

 

(yes)

 

Im not saying we should go all in on Hop, but these are likely assumptions. 

[BADOLBILZ]

3 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

This season...we have Kincaid, Shakir with a years experience, noticeable upgrades to Kumerow and McKenzie with Sherfield and Harty respectively,

 

 

Shakir?   What has he done to instill confidence?   He was uninspiring as a rookie and the final impression was dropping a bomb when he was wide open in the WC game against Miami that helped flip the momentum into the Dolphins favor.  Every team has late round picks in the mix for a WR spot.

 

And how are Sherfield and Harty proven to be "noticeable upgrades"?

 

 Against the Bills Sherfield took a punt up his a$$ costing the Dolphins 2 points and then dropped a TD pass in the WC game.  

 

Harty has averaged less yards per season over the course of his career than McKenzie and they are both unplayable fumble factories on special teams.   Harty also has a more significant injury history.  

 

 The reality is that they shuffled one set of guys who had proven they couldn't excel in Buffalo.........for a group of guys who have only proven they can't excel elsewhere,  to this point in their run as journeymen in the NFL.    

 

We are all hoping that these guys are better than the backs of their football card say they are but it's a stretch saying this years flyers are definite upgrades or more promising than guys like OJ Howard and Jamison Crowder were last offseason.

 

OJ Howard was the same kind of receiver his first 3 seasons in the NFL that Dawson Knox was last season.....after he got paid.  There were expectations that OJ Howard would return to that form.  AT LEAST if not be better.  

 

And I saw one person cite Sherfield and Harty as better players than Crowder when those two guys haven't even averaged 200 yards receiving per season in their careers.   Crowder averaged over 650 yards per season in his career coming into last season.  

Edited July 14, 2023 by BADOLBILZ

[mead107]

Wake me up when the season starts

 

[Goin Breakdown]

I just realized that possibly, in 2 weeks this thread and topic will be done with. Just sign with someone please. 

[Solomon Grundy]

Mike Tannenbaum on Get Up yesterday said it best!! Bills need to sign Hopkins. Media keeps with this narrative of Diggs wanting the ball more. Not because Diggs thinks this is the best case for the offense to succeed, but because he wants to stat pad. Put a reliable option opposite him and the Bills are winning, you wouldn't hear a peep out of Stefon. We weren't hearing this from Stefon when Beasley was playing at a high level. Stefon wants a chip!! He can taste it. Just needs a little more seasoning. Hopkins will make the offense SPICY 

[Warriorspikes51]

1 hour ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Mike Tannenbaum on Get Up yesterday said it best!! Bills need to sign Hopkins. Media keeps with this narrative of Diggs wanting the ball more. Not because Diggs thinks this is the best case for the offense to succeed, but because he wants to stat pad. Put a reliable option opposite him and the Bills are winning, you wouldn't hear a peep out of Stefon. We weren't hearing this from Stefon when Beasley was playing at a high level. Stefon wants a chip!! He can taste it. Just needs a little more seasoning. Hopkins will make the offense SPICY 

 

you'd think if a team had offered good $ he'd already be signed somewhere

 

There are still some quality UFA's 
 

If not Hopkins, I'd love to see Ngakoue or Ingram sign here.  That would give us a constant wave of good edge play. 

Again, if a team offered good $ they'd already be signed

The longer these players are on the market, the better chance we have of snagging one who decides to take a little less for a good team 

 

[drummernut74]

11 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

you'd think if a team had offered good $ he'd already be signed somewhere

 

There are still some quality UFA's 
 

If not Hopkins, I'd love to see Ngakoue or Ingram sign here.  That would give us a constant wave of good edge play. 

Again, if a team offered good $ they'd already be signed

The longer these players are on the market, the better chance we have of snagging one who decides to take a little less for a good team 

 

It’s not so much about being offered good money. It’s about the the teams he wants to play for offering him good money, which they currently don’t have (Bills / Chiefs). He’s got a Diva complex and thinks he’s going to win a game of chicken by exploring other teams that can offer him more, and thinking he’ll get the teams he wants to up their offer out of fear of missing out. He just feels stuck at the moment. Just my $.02

Edited July 14, 2023 by drummernut74

[Einstein's Dog]

57 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

you'd think if a team had offered good $ he'd already be signed somewhere

 

There are still some quality UFA's 
 

If not Hopkins, I'd love to see Ngakoue or Ingram sign here.  That would give us a constant wave of good edge play. 

Again, if a team offered good $ they'd already be signed

The longer these players are on the market, the better chance we have of snagging one who decides to take a little less for a good team 
 

I disagree with going for another DL.  Our Defense is set, and if healthy McD has enough talent for it to be one of the best in the league.

 

Available money should go to the offense, in particular I am concerned with the WR2.  First option is DHop at the figure Beane has already floated out there.  I don't think that will get it done, at betonline the odds moved significantly towards Tenn today.

 

If that doesn't work I think they ride it out for the first few weeks with Gabe.  And then make a move.  Odds are one of the NFC South teams will tank.  Then Tampa - M Evans, Carolina - A Thielen, or New Orleans - M Thomas, should be in play.  In the AFC West either the Raiders - D Adams/Renfro, or Denver - Jeudy might come available.

[Warriorspikes51]

1 hour ago, Einstein's Dog said:

I disagree with going for another DL.  Our Defense is set, and if healthy McD has enough talent for it to be one of the best in the league.

 

Available money should go to the offense, in particular I am concerned with the WR2.  First option is DHop at the figure Beane has already floated out there.  I don't think that will get it done, at betonline the odds moved significantly towards Tenn today.

 

If that doesn't work I think they ride it out for the first few weeks with Gabe.  And then make a move.  Odds are one of the NFC South teams will tank.  Then Tampa - M Evans, Carolina - A Thielen, or New Orleans - M Thomas, should be in play.  In the AFC West either the Raiders - D Adams/Renfro, or Denver - Jeudy might come available.

 

Evans, Adams, Thomas, Jeudy would all be very fun additions 

[Alphadawg7]

19 hours ago, NewEra said:

I love the floyd addition.  Love it, love it.  I think you might be sleeping on how good Hopkins is.  He was really good last year with Colt McCoy and Trace Mcsorley throwing him the ball in 6 of his 9 games played. 
 

agree to disagree about hopkins vs Floyd.  Hopkins vs Floyd and Poyer- idk. Poyers my favorite player and I still MIGHT take hopkins. Difference being- we’d have Rapp to take Poyers place.  It’s a fall off for sure…. But I think the difference between hopkins and Davis is massive 

 

 

Dont get me wrong, I am as high on Hopkins as you are.  He was excellent last season and would love to add him.  Just feel like our offense can afford to not have him more than our defense could afford to not have both Poyer and Floyd.  

[GoBills808]

8 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Dont get me wrong, I am as high on Hopkins as you are.  He was excellent last season and would love to add him.  Just feel like our offense can afford to not have him more than our defense could afford to not have both Poyer and Floyd.  

This is kind of the crux of the issue tho

 

It's true that the offense can afford not to have Hopkins...because we rely on Allen to do everything which may prove to be unsustainable

 

Similarly the defense, always needing a ton of resources, could reasonably have less capital allocation and then take a step back...but if the offense moves forward concurrently imo that's a win overall

[Alphadawg7]

17 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Shakir?   What has he done to instill confidence?   He was uninspiring as a rookie and the final impression was dropping a bomb when he was wide open in the WC game against Miami that helped flip the momentum into the Dolphins favor.  Every team has late round picks in the mix for a WR spot.

 

And how are Sherfield and Harty proven to be "noticeable upgrades"?

 

 Against the Bills Sherfield took a punt up his a$$ costing the Dolphins 2 points and then dropped a TD pass in the WC game.  

 

Harty has averaged less yards per season over the course of his career than McKenzie and they are both unplayable fumble factories on special teams.   Harty also has a more significant injury history.  

 

 The reality is that they shuffled one set of guys who had proven they couldn't excel in Buffalo.........for a group of guys who have only proven they can't excel elsewhere,  to this point in their run as journeymen in the NFL.    

 

We are all hoping that these guys are better than the backs of their football card say they are but it's a stretch saying this years flyers are definite upgrades or more promising than guys like OJ Howard and Jamison Crowder were last offseason.

 

OJ Howard was the same kind of receiver his first 3 seasons in the NFL that Dawson Knox was last season.....after he got paid.  There were expectations that OJ Howard would return to that form.  AT LEAST if not be better.  

 

And I saw one person cite Sherfield and Harty as better players than Crowder when those two guys haven't even averaged 200 yards receiving per season in their careers.   Crowder averaged over 650 yards per season in his career coming into last season.  

 

Shakir year 2 > Shakir year 1.  That is just basic fact he has more experience in the NFL and our offense at this point.  

 

And sorry, your no context stat sheet evaluations that don't factor in injuries, teams, who the QB was, etc are not how you evaluate if one player is better or not than the player they are replacing.  If you can watch Kumerow play and watch Sherfield play and not see that Sherfield is clealry a better WR, then I don't know what to tell you

 

Same goes for McKenzie vs Harty.  McKenzie only positive trait besides his personality is his speed, which he wasn't good at maximizing.  He struggles to track the ball, so for all that speed he isn't a guy who can take the top off the defense, plus he is a below average route runner with questionable hands who can't catch in traffic or fight for yards.  

 

Harty is a legit deep ball threat, a dimension this offense has lacked.  He is faster and can handle any of the gimmick plays that McKenzie was better suited for while also adding pressure to the defense as a deep ball guy.  

 

No one is saying those guys are as good as Hopkins, but they are better players than the guys they are replacing and Shakir should be better in his 2nd year than his first, especially with increased opportunities.  And that Shakir drop you referenced is comically understating the difficulty of that catch.  It wasn't a gimme between the catch, the tackle and impact.  Ive seen Diggs drop easier catches, so to cherry pick that one and doom the kids future is pretty ridiculous.  

 

Individual stats coming from completely different systems and circumstances are categorically inaccurate way to evaluate the abilty of each player.  Especially considering Kumerow and McKenzie got to play with one of the best QB's in the NFL.  

 

Edited July 14, 2023 by Alphadawg7

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

Evans, Adams, Thomas, Jeudy would all be very fun additions 

 

If Beane feels good enough about our weapons, following the Drafting of Kincaid and Shorter and the signings of Harty and Sherfield, to not make DeAndre Hopkins a priority or pay his asking price - then there's no way he's paying for any of those guys and trading picks on top of it.

[BADOLBILZ]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Shakir year 2 > Shakir year 1.  That is just basic fact 

 

And sorry, your no context stat sheet evaluations that don't factor in injuries, teams, who the QB was, etc are not how you evaluate if one player is better or not than the player they are replacing.  If you can watch Kumerow play and watch Sherfield play and not see that Sherfield is clealry a better WR, then I don't know what to tell you

 

Same goes for McKenzie vs Harty.  McKenzie only positive trait besides his personality is his speed, which he wasn't good at maximizing.  He struggles to track the ball, so for all that speed he isn't a guy who can take the top off the defense, plus he is a below average route runner with questionable hands who can't catch in traffic or fight for yards.  

 

Harty is a legit deep ball threat, a dimension this offense has lacked.  He is faster and can handle any of the gimmick plays that McKenzie was better suited for while also adding pressure to the defense as a deep ball guy.  

 

No one is saying those guys are as good as Hopkins, but they are better players than the guys they are replacing and Shakir should be better in his 2nd year than his first, especially with increased opportunities.  And that Shakir drop you referenced is comically understating the difficulty of that catch.  It wasn't a gimme between the catch, the tackle and impact.  Ive seen Diggs drop easier catches, so to cherry pick that one and doom the kids future is pretty ridiculous.  

 

Individual stats coming from completely different systems and circumstances are categorically inaccurate way to evaluate the abilty of each player.  Especially considering Kumerow and McKenzie got to play with one of the best QB's in the NFL.  

 

 

1) No, it's not a fact...... it's an opinion based on extremely limited data.......all of which indicates the opposite of what you are presuming.   Dude was a 5th rounder for a reason.   Modest speed and quickness combined with very short arms makes him a tweener prospect.

 

2) Harty caught all of 2 passes for 13 yards last season.   He's caught a measly 64 passes in his entire career and has never had a 100 yard game.   There is not much to draw from but some youtube highlights in a stretch of the 2021 season which was about the only stretch of his career when he's been healthy.    He's been plagued by recurring hamstring inuries every year......including during offseasons even........ until last year when he was hurt all year with the turf toe!   That's why he was out of the Saints plans.......lack of availability.   McKenzie is a proven mistake factory but he has caught 141 passes........and he's actually been available most of the time.    He hasn't missed an entire season to a foot injury like Harty and Jamison Crowder both did last year.

 

3) Individual stats aside?   Jamison Crowder put up 650 yards per season prior to joining the Bills.........were Harty and Sherfield playing with lesser QB's when they were putting up their 190 per season?   Face it, these guys are journeymen in the truest sense of the word.   Crowder was not.    But like Harty his injury history followed him around despite the change of scenery.   Go figure.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 14, 2023 by BADOLBILZ