CBS Sports

‘There’s a big disparity in the amount fully guaranteed at signing. Allen has the most ever fully guaranteed in an NFL contract. It was widely reported that he had $100 million fully guaranteed at signing and $150 million of overall guarantees. That’s only true if Allen’s $2,618,595 third day of training camp roster bonus, which was earned on July 29, is included in these totals. Nine players, including Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and Titans wide receiver Julio Jones, had more fully guaranteed at signing than Mahomes.’

‘Allen’s new reported deal will have him averaging $43 million per year. According to Spotrac, that comes in at No. 2 behind Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, and just above the $40 million Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will average with his new deal. Allen’s $150 million guaranteed and his $100 million fully guaranteed upon signing are both record-breaking numbers, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.’

‘As it relates to Allen, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said on Monday that both sides have agreed to halt contract talks if they have not come to terms on an agreement before Buffalo’s first preseason game. The Bills’ three-game preseason will start with a game at Detroit on Aug. 13. Beane said that he and his quarterback are “in lockstep” as far as negotiations are concerned.’

‘The Buffalo News also reports that the team has not made any overt threats to leave Buffalo if it doesn’t get its full funding for the stadium, but has made it clear to government negotiators that there are cities elsewhere that would welcome an NFL franchise. As Wickersham has since revealed, Austin seems to be one of those possible destinations.’

‘We are months away from knowing about the “better” part of the above equation – given that the Bills came a few plays away from a Super Bowl appearance a year ago – but one need only spend a few hours watching the overhauled Bills defensive front operate in practice for the “bigger and badder” part to become readily apparent. This group now includes returning defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (311-ish pounds), back after electing to opt out of 2020 due to COVID-19, and top picks Greg Rousseau (6-foot-6 with long levers) and Boogie Basham (uber-athletic at 6-foot-3) are already menacing in the early days of camp, portending big things for a unit that lacking pocket-moving might in some critical junctures a year ago.’

‘Sanders saw first hand what Bills fans and Buffalo opponents saw throughout the 2020 season. A year after he helped guide Buffalo to a wild-card playoff berth, Allen earned Pro Bowl honors after scoring 45 touchdowns and amassing nearly 5,000 total yards. Allen’s play helped the Bills capture their first division title and playoff win in 25 years.’

‘Kelly admitted he saw this coming from Allen, who still has a long way to go to catch Kelly’s franchise records for passing yards (35,467), touchdowns (237) and wins (101). Allen currently has 9,707 yards and 67 touchdowns after three seasons, as the Bills are 28-15 in his starts.’

‘”Brandon mentioned [a new contract], I think at the end of the spring practice period there, and these things handle themselves,” McDermott said, via NFL.com’s Nick Shook. “They work themselves out when you got two parties that want to be together and have the same end goal in mind. Josh is a great, young talent and he fits so well with Buffalo and the city and the town and the people of Buffalo. So, I firmly believe it’s gonna work itself out.”‘

‘To be more specific, they’ve played there since 1973, but that could soon be changing. The organization is reportedly planning to construct a new stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., per RochesterFirst.com — who notes downtown Buffalo was in strong consideration before losing out to a more cost-effective plan to remain in Orchard Park.’

‘”Hi, I’m Cole Beasley, and I’m not vaccinated!” wrote the veteran wideout, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020. “I will be outside doing what I do. I’ll be out in the public. If (you’re) scared of me, then steer clear, or get vaccinated. Point. Blank. Period. I may die of COVID, but I’d rather die actually living … I don’t play for the money anymore. Fine me if you want. My way of living and my values are more important to me than a dollar.”‘

‘”Hi, I’m Cole Beasley, and I’m not vaccinated!” wrote the veteran wideout, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020. “I will be outside doing what I do. I’ll be out in the public. If (you’re) scared of me, then steer clear, or get vaccinated. Point. Blank. Period. I may die of COVID, but I’d rather die actually living … I don’t play for the money anymore. Fine me if you want. My way of living and my values are more important to me than a dollar.”‘

‘In a series of posts on his Twitter account on Thursday, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley laid into the NFL Players Association for the COVID protocols it agreed to with the league, which enacts strict protocols that must be adhered to by players who are unvaccinated. Per the NFLPA, unvaccinated players not only must wear masks and be subject to daily COVID testing, but also may not eat with their teammates, be subject to travel restrictions and not leave their team hotels, and are even forbidden from engaging in social media, marketing, and sponsorship activities.’

‘Allen’s accuracy and comfort in the pocket have most improved since his days at Wyoming. He went from a 58.8% completion rate in 2019 to 69.2% in 2020. Unprecedented stuff. And guess who finished with the league’s highest adjusted completion percentage from a clean pocket last season among qualifiers? Allen at 85.8%.’

‘And it’s that flame that could see Allen and the Bills take the next step in their contention for Super Bowl LVI, knowing they’ll have to get past the Kansas City Chiefs to do so. As they know all too well, that’s not an easy task, but they have the talent and competitive juice to make it happen. The only thing left now is to do it, and the sharpening of that iron begins in OTAs and minicamp.’

‘The return of 2020 opt-out Star Lotulelei should work wonders for third-year pro Ed Oliver who had to take on nose tackle duties at times last season at well under 300 pounds. With Lotulelei and Vernon Butler, Buffalo has more beef on the interior, although the overall pass-rush ability of the defensive tackles — particularly outside of Oliver — is not a strength.’