What’s your hottest Bills take?

[Westside]

5 hours ago, BillsPride12 said:

What makes you think that? 

Just my opinion. Not based on anything in particular.

[BillsPride12]

1 hour ago, Westside said:

Just my opinion. Not based on anything in particular.

I hope your right, but I feel like they would have to really knock this draft out of the park in order for that to happen. 

[JohnNord]

On 4/11/2025 at 5:54 PM, Kirby Jackson said:

I think this is a fun offseason topic. What is your spiciest BIlls take? What is it that you believe that will trigger Bills fans?

 

I think Jim Kelly is one of the most overrated players in history. He was a very good QB. Historically, he was Jalen Hurts. Kirk Cousins numbers dwarf Kelly’s. He was the steward of an elite offense and did well with it. I am fine with him in the HOF but there are 30-40 QBs better.

 

What is your spicy take?

Keon Coleman and Dawson Kincaid will prove to be bad draft picks.  
 

DeWayne Carter isn’t the good 

[FireChans]

15 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

He's a guy Brady needs in his offense. Somebody that you can run those screens with, elite YAC. Always keep ahead of the sticks. I would argue his "skill" is so required in our offense his impact is at a level much higher than his actual value or talent as a WR.  

Brady may not be here in 2026.

21 hours ago, Billl said:

My hottest take is that the Bills should have let Shakir walk.  He’s a good, efficient option when used sparingly, but he’s not someone who should be heavily targeted.  In 2023, he had 600 yards and 2 TDs on 45 targets which was great.  In 2024 he received an additional 55 targets, but his production only increased by 200 yards and 2 TDs.

 

Meanwhile, they passed on Worthy and McConkey, presumably because they didn’t need slot receivers.  What’s more is they turned their first round pick into Keon Coleman and are playing him out of position.  Instead of putting him in the slot and let him bully defenders on slants, they’ve got him chasing jump balls on the boundary because he can’t get separation out there.

 

Khalil should have been given the Gabe Davis treatment.  Let him put up good numbers on a late round rookie contract and then let someone else pay him to be something more than what his skills suggest he can be.

Problem with this thinking is that Shakir’s walk year was after 2025. 

Drafting a McConkey to compete with Shakir snaps in 2024 and 2025 is certainly a strategy, but I think both are just less productive.

 

Ultimately though, the Bills didn’t decide to pay Shakir last year. They decided it now, on a team where he’s honestly the only receiving option worth a damn, looking at a relatively weak WR draft. It’s a problem of their own making, but what else are they gonna do? 
 

Put another way, if Keon had 1200 yards and 10 TDs last year, I’m not convinced Shakir gets paid.

Edited Sunday at 01:06 PM by FireChans

[ganesh]

On 4/12/2025 at 3:42 AM, BuffaloBillyG said:

Honesty, I feel like if Marino was the QB instead of Kelly the Bills win 2 of those Super Bowls.

The Bills failure in those SB is to not get Thomas going...including not giving him the ball on that last drive in SB XXV.....Somewhat similar in this years AFCC...the Bills needed to give the ball to Cook...who was Cooking..instead we had two lame Tush-pushes....

[RyanC883]

On 4/16/2025 at 9:45 AM, Nihilarian said:

That was a very strange time in Buffalo Bills history, and the Bills' owner, Ralph Wilson, who was a very "hands-on" owner. Simply put, the entire NFL world knew about this notoriously cantankerous and frugal owner, and he had a difficult time finding a solid, suitable man to fill that Buffalo GM role. As others have mentioned, the "marketing guy was the de facto GM (Russ Brandon), and all Wilson wanted was a figurehead GM. Ralph hired his old friend in Marv Levy. 

 

Let's also not forget that that particular owner was very much like the Dallas Cowboys owner in Jerry Jones in that, while not the literal GM, he was in the draft room making "his" choices for players. The man loved him some running backs and defensive backs. 

 

While very frugal at times, Ralph Wilson had a big heart, as in for that first Super Bowl in Tampa, he took everyone associated with the team from ball boys to the office staff to that game, he then learned that getting to a SB is very expensive. Also, every time a team gets to a SB everyone involved thinks they now need a raise. 

 

Yes, Marv Levy did choose Dick Jauron as HC...but alas, his other choices were shot down by the owner. Just to give you an idea of how "hands-on" Wilson was...during the NFL regular season, he was on the phone to Jauron every day from Detroit discussing the team. 

 

 

When Bills GM Buddy Nix wanted to hire a new head coach, he found out that anyone who was a quality candidate didn't want to work in Buffalo for this owner. The reason why someone like Chan Gailey was hired as the new HC by Nix was because during the interview, he told the owner that he could win games in the NFL without star players. Nix couldn't get assistant coaches to interview for the job. 

 

Gailey was the Miami Dolphin's OC in 2000-2001 and left the NFL to be a college coach (GT). He returned to the NFL in 2008 to be the KC Chiefs OC and was out of football for a season before being hired as the new Buffalo Bills HC. So, how does a guy who gets fired by his last team as an OC and sits out for a year get a new job as an NFL Head coach?

 

The Marketing guy becomes the GM...HC Rex Ryan was stunned to find Russ Brandon in the Buffalo Bill's cut room during training camp on the phone to players. Was there any wonder why Buffalo had a near 20 year drought for such a dysfunctional franchise? Still better than Cleveland 🤣

is this stuff about not being able to hire people true?  Seems odd given only 32 NFL jobs out there.  

[BillsFooteball]

Britt Will and Rachel Busch are 🔥 🔥 

[billsfan714]

The Bills allowed the 5th worst completion percentage on defense.   We need more help in the secondary that most think.   Not excited by Tre signing, expect a lot of D holding calls that will result in first downs and extended drives.   When I hear Joe Marino think we are OK at safety, I think he's nuts.

Edited Monday at 06:41 PM by billsfan714

[Chicharito]

Hot take: patriots win the division. McDermott and his defense are shown the door after the season. Bills lose 7 games all because we can’t generate a pass rush.

[Mikie2times]

On 4/20/2025 at 8:59 AM, FireChans said:

Brady may not be here in 2026.

Problem with this thinking is that Shakir’s walk year was after 2025. 

Drafting a McConkey to compete with Shakir snaps in 2024 and 2025 is certainly a strategy, but I think both are just less productive.

 

Ultimately though, the Bills didn’t decide to pay Shakir last year. They decided it now, on a team where he’s honestly the only receiving option worth a damn, looking at a relatively weak WR draft. It’s a problem of their own making, but what else are they gonna do? 
 

Put another way, if Keon had 1200 yards and 10 TDs last year, I’m not convinced Shakir gets paid.

His ceiling is basically Julian Edelman. Which certainly is not a bad player. Edelman was a key player for the entire Patriots run, largely based on his role in the offense. I sort of expect the same from Shakir. If you took Edelman off the Patriots and he played for somebody else. I imagine he would not be much more impactful than a average slot WR. 

[DapperCam]

My Bills hot take is that I think Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl, but not with the Bills. I think he’ll win one when he’s like 36 or 37 with the 49ers.

 

I think this, because the Bills are cursed.

[Dillenger4]

The latest buzz I have heard (Take) is trading Cook to Dallas for Diggs. Now I'm down for that! Hope it happens

[Don Otreply]

James Cook will accept an extension contract of 7.5 million per annum, 

 

 

 

 

🤣

[RoyBatty is alive]

On 4/11/2025 at 4:54 PM, Kirby Jackson said:

I think this is a fun offseason topic. What is your spiciest BIlls take? What is it that you believe that will trigger Bills fans?

 

I think Jim Kelly is one of the most overrated players in history. He was a very good QB. Historically, he was Jalen Hurts. Kirk Cousins numbers dwarf Kelly’s. He was the steward of an elite offense and did well with it. I am fine with him in the HOF but there are 30-40 QBs better.

 

What is your spicy take?

Comparing Jim Kelly to "the numbers" of Kirk Cousins or Jalen Hurts is absolutely ridiculous, totally different eras.

 

Compare Kellys number to another HOF QB, Joe Namath and what do you see?   makes about as much sense.

[Kirby Jackson]

11 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

Comparing Jim Kelly to "the numbers" of Kirk Cousins or Jalen Hurts is absolutely ridiculous, totally different eras.

 

Compare Kellys number to another HOF QB, Joe Namath and what do you see?   makes about as much sense.

If you read the thread, I said that numbers don’t compare across eras. That was the point. 
 

At the same time, Kelly was never one of the 3, or maybe even 4, best QBs at any given time. He was the Jalen Hurts of his era (minus the Super Bowl). He led the best team in football and was a top 5ish player on that team. He won a lot. I’m REALLY struggling with people that think Kelly was so much better in his era than Hurts is in this era. If Hurts ever wins another, I’m not sure that you could reasonably rank Kelly ahead of him. Josh Allen is one of the best few players in football. Jim Kelly was never that.

[Cash]

7 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

If you read the thread, I said that numbers don’t compare across eras. That was the point. 
 

At the same time, Kelly was never one of the 3, or maybe even 4, best QBs at any given time. He was the Jalen Hurts of his era (minus the Super Bowl). He led the best team in football and was a top 5ish player on that team. He won a lot. I’m REALLY struggling with people that think Kelly was so much better in his era than Hurts is in this era. If Hurts ever wins another, I’m not sure that you could reasonably rank Kelly ahead of him. Josh Allen is one of the best few players in football. Jim Kelly was never that.

 

As someone who was also around during those years, what's your early 90s QB list look like?  I'm assuming you've got Montana & Marino (and Elway?) above Kelly most/all years, and maybe swapping in Steve Young once he became the starter in SF.  Who else did you/do you have above Kelly?  I'd take some but not all of Randall Cunningham's years, and maybe a couple Warren Moon years as well.

 

I get your point, and I think it's fine for a "hottest take" thread, but I personally think you're overcorrecting.  IMO, Kelly was probably never above something like 3rd-best QB in any given season, but he was also probably in the top 5 most years.  (Just going from top of my head memory here; feel free to prove me wrong.)  Regarding Marino specifically - there's no real doubt that Marino was the more talented passer, but at the time and in hindsight, I'd rather have Kelly than Marino for 1988-1995 or so.  Kelly was IMO the better leader, and it showed on the field.  And his ability to call plays at the line as part of the no-huddle was a huge asset that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

[Pete]

James Cook gets traded the next 48 hours

[Mikie2times]

10 minutes ago, Cash said:

 

As someone who was also around during those years, what's your early 90s QB list look like?  I'm assuming you've got Montana & Marino (and Elway?) above Kelly most/all years, and maybe swapping in Steve Young once he became the starter in SF.  Who else did you/do you have above Kelly?  I'd take some but not all of Randall Cunningham's years, and maybe a couple Warren Moon years as well.

 

I get your point, and I think it's fine for a "hottest take" thread, but I personally think you're overcorrecting.  IMO, Kelly was probably never above something like 3rd-best QB in any given season, but he was also probably in the top 5 most years.  (Just going from top of my head memory here; feel free to prove me wrong.)  Regarding Marino specifically - there's no real doubt that Marino was the more talented passer, but at the time and in hindsight, I'd rather have Kelly than Marino for 1988-1995 or so.  Kelly was IMO the better leader, and it showed on the field.  And his ability to call plays at the line as part of the no-huddle was a huge asset that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

Just to recap, as I fought this fight. Warren Moon was better. Dan Marino would have won multiple Super Bowls with this team. Jim wasn't a leader, if he was he wouldn't have partied before the Super Bowls. 

 

Now to his credit, most of this isn't Kirby, in fact, I think Kirby largely agreed with what you wrote (because I wrote something very similar). I'm just sharing the collection of what I have heard debated upthread as I share a very similar opinion as you. I also agree, I think it is an honest conversation to ask ourselves how good one of our icons actually was. As icons often get a little more love than they should. For many of us, Jim was the QB during our adolescences which makes it even more nostalgic and gushy.

 

The fact is, Jim didn't play well in the playoffs and as a whole, he likely wasn't one of the top 2-3 QB's of that era. But as you point out, I think we need to be careful to over correct. When you look at the all time passer charts, Kelly is anchored in a space that makes it pretty fair to call him a Hall of Famer. As well as one of the all time greats for the Bills. If anybody wants to say he's a top 3 guy all time, I would argue against that pretty quickly but from what I can tell most here are being fairly honest about what he was and wasn't. Then another group seems fairly bitter towards the guy which I don't really get, but some people are just bitter in general. 

Edited Tuesday at 08:48 PM by Mikie2times

[Kirby Jackson]

18 minutes ago, Cash said:

 

As someone who was also around during those years, what's your early 90s QB list look like?  I'm assuming you've got Montana & Marino (and Elway?) above Kelly most/all years, and maybe swapping in Steve Young once he became the starter in SF.  Who else did you/do you have above Kelly?  I'd take some but not all of Randall Cunningham's years, and maybe a couple Warren Moon years as well.

 

I get your point, and I think it's fine for a "hottest take" thread, but I personally think you're overcorrecting.  IMO, Kelly was probably never above something like 3rd-best QB in any given season, but he was also probably in the top 5 most years.  (Just going from top of my head memory here; feel free to prove me wrong.)  Regarding Marino specifically - there's no real doubt that Marino was the more talented passer, but at the time and in hindsight, I'd rather have Kelly than Marino for 1988-1995 or so.  Kelly was IMO the better leader, and it showed on the field.  And his ability to call plays at the line as part of the no-huddle was a huge asset that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

That’s almost my exact list (and I didn’t love Young). Favre in the later years as well. Montana, Marino and Elway were for sure to me. Those 3 were the only ones that were consistently better. There were Cunningham years, Moon years, Favre years and Young years as well. Those were a little more up and down. He was probably 4 to 6 in most years. He was higher the year that Thurman won MVP. Jalen Hurts has an MVP runner-up as well. I think that it is the perfect comp. I said it before Hurts’ Super Bowl win and took some heat. At this point, Hurts probably passes him. They are so similar in terms of their roles.

Edited Tuesday at 08:56 PM by Kirby Jackson

[Augie]

16 minutes ago, Pete said:

James Cook gets traded the next 48 hours

 

I find this more interesting than most.