Archives for August 12, 2017

'Of course, dealing no worse than the second-best offensive player and a quality starting cornerback, has left some Bills’ fans wondering whether it signifies Tank City … that is to say accept losing this year to improve draft position. After all, Gaines and Matthews were deemed expendable by the Rams and Eagles, respectively, yet are likely to move into starting roles with Buffalo almost immediately.'

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'"Rosters change over. It’s a new regime, so to speak," Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said. "We’re trying to do everything that we can to build the right team the right way. Sustained success is the word I used the day I took this job and that’s where I’m at today."'

'Regardless, these are the men who are on the harpoon for the Bills' past drafts. They were the general managers, and here's what's left of their legacies on the 2017 Buffalo Bills roster after Friday's trades of 2014 first-round pick Sammy Watkins and 2015 second-rounder Ronald Darby.'

'"I've been there," he said Friday after practice. "It's a business. He has to understand that. I can understand the type of way he feels right now, getting traded for a guy that he's probably better than. So I understand. But he'll be all right.'

'The trades, which I applaud, made them worse in the short term. You don't deal a starting cornerback and potential superstar wide receiver and get better.'

'So this isn't a tank, like the Sabres three and four years ago, or the Browns and Jets the last two seasons. In typical fashion, the Bills are middling it this season, looking to win in the short term while looking to get better down the road.'

'But throughout their news conferences at One Bills Drive, McDermott and Beane acknowledged they hurt their chances of winning this year.'

'The moves also close the door tighter on the Doug Whaley era. Whaley's biggest blunder was trading the 2015 first-round pick to move up a few spots and take Watkins fourth overall in 2014, a draft that was deep at receiver.'

'Stockpiling draft picks makes perfect sense. Bills fans should be thrilled that the new regime has two No. 1s, two No. 2s and two No. 3s in next year's draft.'

'This is not easy. I’m an emotional, personal guy and I want to get to know all these guys personally. That’s the hard part of it. Business is business, but when you have to call these young men and it affects their lives, that’s not easy.'

'"I need the ball at least 10 times — I need 10 targets — and I’ll be fine with however many yards I get," Watkins said. "And that’s what I addressed in talking with my agent. We reached out to a couple people and tried to pull some strings like, ‘Hey, I need my targets. You came up to draft me and I’m not getting targets — that’s a problem. You’re making me look bad and you’re making yourself look bad. Why not make both of us look good?’”'

'While Buffalo received starters at both positions, as well as draft picks, in return, local football fans reacted passionately on social media – many negatively, but others were more optimistic about the direction of the franchise.'

' Zay Jones, Anquan Boldin run with the starting offense. With Watkins out of the picture the Bills went with Jones – a rookie second-round draft pick – and Bolding – a 15-year veteran signed earlier in the week.'