May Day 10

I get that the Bills need to take a turn... but with all these west trips, this is a tough season for it to happen.

This kind of speaks to my one fear of McDermott and Beane. They create this family, fun, and football atmosphere here.... which seems to be great, and the players buy in. However, I hope it doesnt bring too much emotion to it and cloud their judgement when re-signing their players. Good teams often allow performers to sign elsewhere, knowing that the delta between them and an rookie wage player (or someone waiting in the wings) will not be that severe. This will become especially important if/when Josh Allen gets starting QB money. It also makes things like Lee Smith and Croom happen. Great guys im sure. Connected. But no roster room or money for them.

I was reading the Patriots board on sunday. Someone posted a thread. A real one. About how to console his 9 year old son because he was so distraught for the loss and wouldnt stop crying. The "poor" kid knows nothing but Superbowls. I have a lot of friends in New England. One on my facebook feed posted a link to some column talking about that 'alleged' statement by Kraft the other day when he told 50 cent that they can/should win them all. Here is one of his friend's comments that made me laugh. Its like they think its automatic and easy. Let's just grab another Randy Moss this reminds me of the time right after Spygate and before 2007. They are going scorched earth. They can truly use the world is against them motivation now, and I think they will get a big time WR and another quality one similar to when they grabbed Welker and Moss. I also think a high-upside TE like OJ Howard could be in play. Kraft might just open the bank for once.

Yup. This was intentional to get the fan base emotionally in his corner 100%, and also tug at the heart strings of Bobby Kraft

Yeah, it doesnt seem that way, but all hands on deck, the more competition the better. There has got to be someone out there who can punt better than Bojorquez. When they punt from opponents' territory, it drives me nuts when they cant pin them in the 10. Just looked it up, and he had the 33rd "best" average for punts in the league, and 4th worst net average (33rd). You should never be in a position to blame a punter for a loss, but I think he played a big part in that Baltimore loss.

The Bills need a punter. Bojorquez had way too many shanked punts this season, and isnt nearly as surgical as most NFL punters seem to be.

That's the catch-22. I was actually reading the Pats boards last week and someone said: Keep the defense together Gather weapons for offense Re-sign Tom Brady Pick 2. All 3 is impossible. Even if offensive weapons are gathered, and Brady is retained, will it matter? They arent getting a generational (dare I say GOAT) Tight End any time soon or forever. Outside of slants and screens, Brady is unable to stretch the field or throw good sideline-out passes with any sort of consistency anymore. They already have Edelman for the slants. Screens they do a good job, but when a team defends the screen and tackles well? The only way I see this continuing, is if Brady re-ups for a pay cut, they improve the offense, and keep the defense intact It is also very tough to "get weapons". The Patriots have thrived for 20 years due to their ability to succeed without a glut of weapons and over-spending.

Beane and mcdermott both seem like very sincere and smart people. Its no wonder they were able to inspire a group of players like they have.

It is a great thing. At the very least, the programs have established long-term residency in the top 3rd-quarter of the MAC, which is pretty outstanding progress. Conference USA seems like it has become a South-locked conference. Logistically, for all sports, it sounds like a much worse option than the MAC, and I don't think it is that large of an upgrade. It did sound like the AAC didnt rule out expanding. They put it on the backburner. I feel like if Buffalo was really motivated to make it happen, they could do it.

Gronkowski conveniently omitted

How many seconds, and what degree of intent does a returner need to show before a play is determined to be unreturnable and the returner can just throw the ball on the ground? Isnt it just easier to go by the written rules of fair catch, bounce in the end zone, or kneel?

I guarantee if he decided to tuck the ball in and suddenly runs, and the bills defenders messed up and gave up on the play it would have been a touchdown and upheld. The rule seems very cut and dried. Should have been a touchdown. With that said, the bills had 200 chances to win that game and couldnt. Fan protests about officiating are lame

My biggest hope is a conflict between Kraft and Belichick over Tom Brady's contract status. If they keep Brady and Belichick walks, I will declare it done.

I get the argument in the past when people were declaring this after a week 4 loss against Miami or KC or whatever. You have to admit that this is much different. This was the weakest Patriots team since the early 00's. Brady is at a crossroads, and even if he stays on the Patriots he is like 43. The offense just lost its most dangerous weapon, and their other weapon is also getting old and beat-up. Their O-Coordinator also will likely leave. They just lost 2 meaningful home games in a row to the Dolphins and the Titans, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tannehill. They were 4-5 to close out the season, and they really didnt look strong since week 4. I would also say, another team in the AFC East appears to have it together for the first time in the Patriots' dynasty. Like I mentioned upthread, I would hesitate to count Belichick out... but there is no denying that this is a very transitional point in this 'run' like no-other time in the past 20 years or so.

I dont know... Even if Brady leaves, I could see Belichick re-inventing them the way Harbough did for Baltimore. One strike against them is their below average drafting as of late.

Better: Chiefs Ravens Pats (Id like to put them equal, but couldnt get it done) Saints Seahawks 49ers full-strength Eagles I think it is far-fetched to think the Bills take 2 games on the road versus 2 of these teams, then beat the other one on a neutral field (I know the Saints lost). Even at home, they dont seem like they have enough juice to beat the Ravens and the Chiefs (now that they are playing good). Same as Bills: Texans Packers (I just cant come to terms with them being as good as their record) Vikings Titans Rams? Worse: Everyone else I think the Bills could join that top class starting next season. They need to improve their offensive efficiency in opposing territory. Get another athletic RB, get a decent WR target, Dawson Knox progresses. Keep the O-Line intact. I think being in the category they are in is great progress and right on target

I say yes, to a point. They had a lot of games against weak or compromised opponents. True. They won almost all those games though. That is not easy to do, no matter who the opponents are. The Jets, Miami, Denver, Washington, Giants, etc all proved to be pretty dangerous at times. Pittsburgh was on a roll and on the road for a Sunday night game. Dallas on Thanksgiving wasnt a garbage win. Tennessee on the road, good win. They also were in every game until the very end, with the exception of the Philly game that got away. When push came to shove though, when they played the upper class in NE, Baltimore, Houston in the playoffs, they couldnt get it done. I would argue that this was not the season the Bills were 'supposed to' be a contender in the top class of the NFL. This was supposed to be a nice step forward into next year when the real window to compete is opened up. On a neutral field, are there any non-playoff teams who would be favored over the Bills? I dont think so. That's something.

Its his decision as long as he re-signs him In case of emergency, break glass, its Kraft's decision to re-sign him to top 5 QB money for multiple seasons, give him right of refusal on every employee of the month, choose his own offensive coordinator, and select his own receivers and tight end

Its not a need the money thing or greed. I bet its a personal pride issue. He probably feels undervalued and taken a bit advantage of. He wants a few years committment at a price that he would likely get on the open market.

He is going to work kraft over. Belichick is going to take his ball and go to the giants

Im fine. Disappointed the bills arent moving on, and do realize the game was in their hands for most of it All season, the offense moved the ball, but inside the opponents' 40 would stall out. Either bad penalty, sack, or fg attempt. Better scoring efficiency there, which is fixable, means this is a superbowl team. Need a 1B running back who isnt gore. Need a big wr with hands. Need more consistency from the te.

On one of houston's big 3rd down plays, there was a blatant block in the back right in view of everyone. It was on philips i think

After thinking about it for a day, i think it was boneheaded and should have counted. The bills didnt lose because of that though. Still had a 16-0 lead in the 2nd half and chances to win in overtime

It helps their psyche to paint allen as an incompetent bust. I remember reading their boards after the opener and it was pretty much accepted that darnold's bust was going to canton, while allen is a bumbling fool who was already busting out. If the admit Allen is, in fact good. Or, at least progressing, it is coming to terms that a divisional rival may have a franchise qb for the next decade and a half on the heels of tom brady' 20 year run. That would be depressing. Its much easier to try to criticize josh allen. I would be doing the same