Hamlin back on one-year deal

[KOKBILLS]

I think he's still going to have a tough time making the final 53... We'll see... Depends on the Draft...

[BananaB]

2 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

 

They let players walk all the time. Last year with Gabe, Tremaine was allowed to walk, I could go on but this team let's players walk all the time. 

Bad players. Not signing Tremaine and Davis because they ain’t worth going price is different then not signing Hamlin.  

[zow2]

17 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

I think he's still going to have a tough time making the final 53... We'll see... Depends on the Draft...

,

If he makes the roster at all it better be as depth and mostly inactive.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

3 hours ago, DapperCam said:

Our safety play was pretty bad all season. It’s not a mystery why fans were hoping for an upgrade.

 

Was there a worse pair of starting safeties in the league than Rapp-Hamlin? Neither of them would start on most teams. More evidence for that is Hamlin just struck out in FA and is circling back and re-signing probably for near vet minimum.

I feel like Cole Bishop is the forgotten man which is pretty nuts to me because he’s a 2nd round pick. It’s oddly reminiscent of the treatment Terrell Bernard got. Fans don’t give players time anymore. They are automatic busts if they don’t have great rookie seasons.

[Brand J]

Q: Who wins in a footrace between Hamlin, Douglas, Rapp, and Coleman?

 

A: The turtle

[billsbackto81]

When was the last time someone said, "Wow!! What a spectacular play by Hamlin"?

 

I'm over the whole Damar thing. Good story, but to me its run its course. I thought he was getting cut last off season if not given a back up role at best. I think media perception and public opinion would've made it hard to release him. 

 

IMO he's not a starting caliber safety on what we hope will be a championship roster. 

 

My fear is Beane will bring lower end FAs to compete but will get beat out because of the familiarity Hamlin has with this scheme and he'll end up the starter once again. Just like they used to do with Levi Wallace. 

[DapperCam]

13 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I feel like Cole Bishop is the forgotten man which is pretty nuts to me because he’s a 2nd round pick. It’s oddly reminiscent of the treatment Terrell Bernard got. Fans don’t give players time anymore. They are automatic busts if they don’t have great rookie seasons.

I feel like there are 2 reasons for this:
1. Bishop was pretty bad his rookie season. There is a chance he'll improve, but we need to see it.
2. Bishop is a box safety. That is the role he played in college. We need a free safety. Bishop is a more natural replacement for Rapp than Hamlin.

[CheshireCT]

For anyone complaining -

 

1. It's a one year deal for probably not that much money

2. He was a starter in this defense all season (meaning they know what they have, and he's a reliable option)

 

That means - if we find a replacement, he's ideal depth. If we don't find a replacement, the spot is at least covered. Plus he's a great guy, not a bad bonus.

[BillsFanForever19]

This says to me that he didn't have a market. It doesn't make much sense for either side. I thought if anyone could use a change of scenery and a fresh start, it was Damar - after everything that hangs over his head here. And we definitely want to either start Cole Bishop or upgrade. 

 

With us bringing him back and signing Forrest - it tells me he didn't have any takers and playing for a roster spot here was his best shot at sticking. And I don't think that's guaranteed.

[3rdand12]

7 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Booooo

 

Plays 5-10 yards back and hopes the QB throws a duck.

I might suppose some Person Coached him to do that ? Doubt there is much freelancing during presnap looks

 He's a solid , not spectacular player. Good signing imo

To agree with you a bit, Its just a one year deal. I think they are going to have competition back there this offseason

 Cheers ! Utica

[3rdand12]

17 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

This says to me that he didn't have a market. It doesn't make much sense for either side. I thought if anyone could use a change of scenery and a fresh start, it was Damar - after everything that hangs over his head here. And we definitely want to either start Cole Bishop or upgrade. 

 

With us bringing him back and signing Forrest - it tells me he didn't have any takers and playing for a roster spot here was his best shot at sticking. And I don't think that's guaranteed.

I do think it makes good sense for the Bills. Glad they gave him a shot to test FA to be fair and honest to him

 But I never thought about that emotional part of his relationship with Fans. Being a burden/ed

 Bring on the competition and see where he lands in the rotation !

 

[2003Contenders]

7 hours ago, Logic said:

I truly believe that Damar's cardiac arrest incident forever clouded many people's ability to evaluate his on-field play in a clear-headed way. 

No, I don't believe Damar Hamlin is a high level NFL starter. Yes, I DO believe that he constitutes good depth, provides a baseline level of acceptable play when he's on the field, and is a great fit in the locker room and the community. 

Every team in the NFL rosters backups that aren't high level starters but can contribute and play useful football. Damar Hamlin is one of those, but to hear some people tell it, he belongs nowhere near an NFL field. 

Do I want him penciled in as starter? Nope. Do I think he can get you out of a three-week stretch with minimal negative fallout if your starer goes down? Yep, absolutely.

I think the emotionality, the politics, the super weird "he's a Make-a-Wish player" argument...all of it...shrouds many people's opinions in emotionality that they can't shake off, and doesn't allow them to respond to or evaluate Damar THE PLAYER in a reasonable way.

I will die on this hill.

Very well said!

 

Suddenly the safety depth chart looks much deeper with Bishop/Rapp/Hamlin all returning and the low-cost acquisition of the Forrest kid.

 

Drafting a safety high is no longer the priority I thought it was going to be -- and Beane could (and should) still invest at least one of the mid-round picks on a young safety with upside.

 

Not really any downside to re-signing Damar. He will probably never be elite, but he is a professional and understands this defense. I like him on the team in 2025, regardless of role:

-- Providing quality depth

-- Mentoring younger players

-- Keeping the seat warm until a better player DOES come along