dubs

If the NFC North Bills played the AFC East Bills 16 times, I predict the AFC East Bills would go 0-1-15 and the NFC North Bills to go 1-0-15. The NFC North Bills would beat the AFC East Bills in week 17 because the AFC East Bills signed EJ Manuel to play in a meaningless end of season game. But in 2018 the AFC East Bills would draft Sam Darnold and the NFC North Bills would sign TT to another extension so......yeah... Also..... Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk.

Haha. It's really easy. We TRADED two firsts and a fourth but received in return a higher first so it was a net trade of a ONE first and a fourth. We USED two firsts and a fourth because that's what we used on Sammy. The net loss of the trade and the pick itself.

Well, Brady has 14 division titles but only 5 super bowl titles, so I'd say the NFL has done a much better job of manning (no pun intended) up that the AFC East has done.

The merger made him feel comfortable coming out of the shadows...

Hope that between Peterman, Cardale, and one of the 5 projected five first rounds picks one turns into a real franchise guy.

Alex Smith is terrible. TERRIBLE! He got benched for Kaep. He's good enough to not turn the ball over and beat crappy and mediocre teams but will never be able to take a team anywhere. I don't think the bills will be in the 20 range. So maybe a 10 and a 12.

Nope. We take the two good picks and get a real QB as opposed to Mahomes or Alex Smith.

Hahaha. Always love these JiM truisms. Andy Reid has won exactly as many Super Bowls as head coach as JiM. I can't wait for the Chiefs to go 7-9 this year and get their pick.

Hahaha. Zak Perersoctt

"Control the story before it controls you - Michael Scott"- Jeffismagic

Yeah, I agree as well. But I am hopeful that this is more of a "all hands on deck" situation in which once the GM comes on board, SMcD goes back to focusing on coaching duties.

I know, it does seem weird. here's kind of what I think happened from a timeline standpoint (again, could TOTALLY be wrong here, but just a hunch based on how things have transpired). Pegs got to the end of last season and said, Rex is a disaster. He gave way too much power to Rob and the defense was horrible. He's go to go. So they fired him. They considered firing Whaley and Co as well, but knew that it was a tough time to hire a new front office with FAs and the draft coming up, so rather than scramble to clean house and potentially make a rash decision, they kept DW and decided to look for a new coach. When they hired McD, they did it with the notion that they loved what he brought to the table (obviously mostly intangibles) and decided at that moment his vision was going to be the vision going forward. Whaley was a dead man walking. But they also decided that the next GM would have to not just coexist with McD, but be a true partner. Meaning they are going to share the vision and ultimately credit or blame depending on how the next few years go. So in the end, I think the timing seems funny, but at the end of the day the new GM and SMcD will be a package deal and it will either work out or it won't. Again, not guarantees this works or that things played out this way, but just one humble man's opinion.

It's a good point. I am not saying a guarantee it's going to work. But there is also no guarantee it's NOT going to work. The most important things for a franchise to be successful, IMHO, is: 1) Put good people in place in important positions (Coach, GM, etc..) 2) Ensure those people are coordinated, working in tandem, and have the same vision 3) Get good players I think that gets teams most of the way there. I think with McD, there is a chance we are starting to get number 1 right. Maybe not, but maybe we are. I think they are trying to find a GM that will complete number 1 AND number 2. That's going to lead to getting good players though the draft, retention, and FA. Gonna take some time and might not work and I understand the concern with a relatively neophyte in there. But it could work as well, especially if McD is what the Pegulas think he is.

I think everyone here knows that McDermott is an unknown. That's pretty obvious. The conclusion that you are jumping too is a little premature. Just because he's young and hasn't had this role before, doesn't mean that he won't be successful or that the Bills won't be successful. Just as likely is that the Pegula's are looking to hire a GM that's a good fit with SMcD. I think that makes a lot of sense. I can't promise that it will work, but I am not going to discount that it's possible and that the team is at least moving in a direction that makes more sense than it was a few years ago.

I think this year is much different than 2015, actually, but agree that most of it is based on whether or not you believe that McDermott is doing the right thing. And I also will acknowledge that it's tough to say right now given that McD is an unknown. As for 2017, I am not super optimistic. In the longer term, I am more optimistic. I think McD is a good hire, based on what he's done so far. For example: - Renegotiating TT - Trading back in Rd 1 and getting some ammo for 2018 - Putting Sammy on a play and get paid year, giving us more options in case SW is damaged goods Time will tell, but what baffles me are the prophets that are CERTAIN they know what will happen with this team.

hah. well, unless Terry and Kim are holding a gun to your head, you don't have to pay the prices they charge for tickets. You can choose not to buy them! not to mention average ticket prices for Bills games are one of the lowest if not the lowest in the league.

Ralph is cheap

I think there is a good argument for the Bills decision here. But only based on the premise that they are very concerned about SW's chronic foot issues. Best case scenario: SW's foot fully heals, he tears it up in 2017 and we franchise him and work on a long term deal. All this would have happened with the 5th year option anyway. Bills just end up paying $5m or so to protect themselves. Worst case scenario: SW's foot just can't heal properly. He's in and out of the lineup in 2017 and his career never really develops the way he should have because of the injuries. And the Bills are totally protected agains this by not picking up the 5th year option. Bills fans worst case scenario: SW tears it up and bills lose him in 2018 for nothing to the Pats (very unlikely to happen).

I know. Sorry, was being snarky and I shouldn't have. Anyway, I think there is a good argument for the Bills decision here. But only based on the premise that they are very concerned about SW's chronic foot issues. Best case scenario: SW's foot fully heals, he tears it up in 2017 and we franchise him and work on a long term deal. All this would have happened with the 5th year option anyway. Bills just end up paying $5m or so to protect themselves. Worst case scenario: SW's foot just can't heal properly. He's in and out of the lineup in 2017 and his career never really develops the way he should have because of the injuries. And the Bills are totally protected agains this by not picking up the 5th year option. Bills fans worst case scenario: SW tears it up and bills lose him in 2018 for nothing to the Pats (very unlikely to happen).

Last I checked, coaches don't count against the salary cap. I mean, it's easy for you to say that, but in reality it's complicated due to his foot. They can still franchise him next year if all goes well. Basically they are buying a free injury option that could cost 4m or so next year.

I don't think that's right. I think they could pull the offer for any reason OTHER than injury. The 5th year is fully guaranteed for injuries. Right?

I don't think being seriously concerned with SW's health is an outlandish position. Right? I mean, I don't think any person would say that Watkins without chronic injury concerns is awesome. But if he keeps hurting his foot and missing games, then not much you can do.

I think you have to try and separate the decision to trade up for him with the decision to give him the 5th year option. Clearly, at this point, it looks like a pretty bad move to trade up for SW. However... At this point all that matters is what will happen this year and beyond. Unfortunately, I think there are real concerns that Sammy's foot is more than just hurt. Seems like it might be injured to the point of impacting his career. If that's the case, probably a prudent decision. If it was another reason than that, horrible decision IMO.

Got it. Well, unfortunately for Sammy and the Bills, he's got to be seriously injured or a serious risk to re-injure his foot. Otherwise it's a no brainer. Foot breaks are tough and highly susceptible to future fractures. I think he's already fractured his foot like 3 times.

Is the option guaranteed immediately or not until next March? In other words, can they cut Sammy prior to March and not be on the hook for the option