vincec

So then who cares if he's out of the division? What's the big deal?

Don't agree. You don't improve by reducing the level of your competition. If you beat the best, then you are the best.

That rules Buffalo out.

Would have been nice for last season, but I doubt the Bills could have afforded to keep Marshall this season even if they had gotten him, and certainly not after TT and Gilmore get new contracts next season so it would have been a short term rental just like Cassel.

No he won't.

Except of course that at this point in his career Chris Long is a faint shadow of what Jones is.

I know, but I have no doubt that this is in the backs of their minds.

I think it's important to point out that the basis of the NFL's punishment being overturned had nothing to do with the merits of the case. The Patriots were cheating and Brady knew about it and encouraged it. I have a feeling that this will play a part in the judges thinking as to whether he can be punished.

Apparently it all depends on scheme. If it's a scheme that Mario likes then he will be effective, otherwise he will stink.

What I see is that offenses have become much better at dealing with complex schemes. They work quickly, giving the defense less time to make changes and adjust to offensive formations. This strategy alone was so effective in the late 80s when the Bengals started using it that many teams just sat in their base defenses rather than try to make substitutions and adjustments. Can't get more simple than that. Now it seems like half the teams in the league go twice as fast as the Bengals or Bills ever did. That makes it really hard on the defense. Also, they use spread formations, making it harder for defenses to disguise what they're doing and they use quick, short passes to minimize the effectiveness of complex blitzing. So it's harder than ever for defenses to matchup with the offense, create pressure and disguise what they're doing.

He's going to fit well with NE and it's pretty low risk for them. He's a great athlete and a hard worker and he can play ST. He's a good blocker and they are hoping that he can take the next step as a WR with Brady throwing to him, but even if he doesn't then they will still get something out of him and they can cut him after this season. From Hogan's perspective, if he ever wants to establish himself as a WR instead of just an athlete, then there is not better opportunity than this.

We'll see how this turns out, but I'd say it's a pretty long shot that the #3 or #4 WR on a losing team like the Bills will suddenly turn into a star even with Brady ar QB. If all else fails, at least he can play ST so it wouldn't be a total fail like Chandler.

She's really a big help to his career.

That was last off season. This off season they're basically undressing Miami with the trades. Although I will say that it's tough to know what Miami is trying to accomplish regarding personnel because I know zero about their new DC and his system.

My thoughts exactly. He's an NFL minimum type of guy.

He would be a better backup that 95% of the guys out there.

To be honest, you could easily wonder if his one good season under Schwartz was just an anomaly and not the perfect system fit that some people think. He was playing behind the best front 4 in the NFL that season so I'm sure that helped a lot.

If this were fantasy football where you just add up the stats then you'd be right, but it's not.

Maybe, but he's really put the pressure on himself now. He doesn't have a lot of experience and would probably benefit from some patience but that is out the window. He'd better come out looking like the next Tom Brady or he's going to get lambasted given what they signed him for.

This has been the reality for the last 10 years. The AFCE is a joke after NE.

I think they should have kept McKelvin personally. I though he played pretty well under Pettine two years ago and would have been a very solid #3 CB. I don't think that he needs Schwartz's system to succeed the way Bradham appears to. Plus I really liked the guy. But you can't keep everyone I guess.

Sadly, Sanchez is about as good as you can expect if you go the veteran backup QB route. Not great but has some ability and a decent amount of starting experience. Anyone better could probably be a starter somewhere and won't want to come in as a backup. However, I think that if you're going to go the veteran route then you might as well stick with EJ because guys like Sanchez aren't really any better. A better option, IMO, is to draft someone and hope they turn into something good.

Yes. #1 overall pick who played even better than that.

Yea, with 5. Awesome job. So you now think that Mario is going to turn Miami around and make them a winner? lol. Mario has never won anything or even come close, no matter where he played or who played QB. Plus he has a reputation as a player who doesn't go 100% all the time, has a "me first" attitude and doesn't set a very good example for the rest of the team. But hey, he made a lot of money, racked up some sacks and helped a couple of teams to 9-7 once so he's great. It surprises me how many people on this board, many of whom were athletes or coaches themselves, think that effort, leadership work ethic and toughness are not relevant to building a winning team.

Well it took a decade for him to get another shot. We'll see if Marrone can do any better.