cage

I agree with that! If you're in 3rd and long, you shouldn't get bailed out by a 5 yard holding penalty. Can make it 10 yds if necessary same as Offensive Holding, but why hand out the automatic first down? Seems like an artificial save, they're already getting the down over to run another play.

Couldn't they do it the same way they've modified "roughing the kicker"? There's a 5 yd version and a 15 yd automatic first down version. A close, aggressive play where there was some contact could be a 15 yard penalty (hand on the back, hands on should or arm as ball is arriving...). However blatant PI, obvious mugging, not even turning to play the ball is a spot foul. Also gives referees some latitude on late "hail mary" passes. Those heaves always make me nervous that the offense will get a cheap PI penalty,... not sure how much that actually happens. Anyway, penalty could be at the discretion of referee.

I'm not sure about the specific players, but if we traded back, got 3 #2s and Lamar Jackson,... that would be exciting.

I don't know about moving up to 2 or 3... it will simply cost too much. I think a more realistic situational scenario would be if only 2 QBs at the top of the draft... lets say Browns and Jets, then making a move to get ahead of Cardinals at 15 makes some sense. Maybe target #8-13. That would only cost one of our 1sts and probably either a 2nd plus later round? Or maybe less pics if Cordy Glenn is added. Something like that seems more viable...maybe? I hate making big move up, so very skeptical.

Undrafted should count as they're part of the draft process... Jason Peters, Fred Jackson, Pat Williams

Not outside the bell curve of 8 of the last 10 Super Bowls... that's still the goal, right?!?

Exactly,... so Alex Smith becomes a top 10 QB by that criteria. Worthy of a substantial extension.

Given all the discussion on QBs and in light of Alex Smith trades / extension I thought I would take a look at where current/active QBs rank in regard to playoff record, wins and appearances. My trigger for this was an article questioning the big extension for a QB with a 2-5 record in the playoffs, which by this analysis puts him in the top half of the league and ranks him at #10 when looking at the number of years he's led his team to the playoffs. This also brings into light how difficult a task it has been to find that franchise QB. Only 7 QBs (22%) have a long-standing winning record in the playoffs, that number rises to 31% when adding Bottles, Foles from this year and including Kaepernick as potentially active. Stat % Multiple Years (2+) 56% Multiple Wins (2+) 47% All Winning Record 31% Long-standing Winning 22% Rank QB Wins Losses Years in PO 1 Tom Brady 27 9 15 2 Ben Rothliesberger 13 7 10 3 Aaron Rodgers 10 7 9 4 Joe Flacco 10 5 6 5 Eli Manning 8 4 6 6 Russell Wilson 8 4 5 7 Drew Brees 7 6 7 8 Matt Ryan 4 6 6 9 Philip Rivers 4 5 5 10 Colin Kaepernick 4 2 2 11 Cam Newton 3 4 4 12 Andrew Luck 3 3 3 13 Alex Smith 2 5 5 14 Nick Foles 2 1 2 15 Blake Bortles 2 1 1 16 Carson Plamer 1 3 3 17 Marcus Mariota 1 1 1 18 Case Keenum 1 1 1 19 Andy Dalton 0 4 4 20 Matthew Stafford 0 3 3 21 Kirk Cousins 0 2 2 22 Dak Prescott 0 1 1 23 Jared Goff 0 1 1 24 Tyrod Taylor 0 1 1 25 Derek Carr 0 0 0 26 Jameis Winston 0 0 0 27 Ryan Tannehill 0 0 0 28 Ryan Fitzpatrick 0 0 0

very bold strategy!

That's a great point. I've been a Tyrod supporter until the latter half of the season when his limitations were so obvious. However, the Chiefs had a pretty big lull in the 2nd half of the season as well. Smith didn't look much better. I keep wanting to believe that half of Tyrod's problems were with the OC... I shouldn't go there...

Good ones...thx!!

No chance.... their only pick is a QB, especially after trading out of the Deshaun Watson spot last year. If waited to #4 to pick a QB and 1-2 teams jumped in front of them that would have to be an immediately fireable offense. They need to determine who their best QB prospect is and select him #1, case closed! Imagine ending up with the 2nd or 3rd QB picked, have him be a bust and 1-2 of the guys selected ahead of you become perennial Pro Bowlers.... I have no inside knowledge whatsoever, but guaranteeing that Browns take QB #1, no other option.

I think Marrone started out relaxed, laid back and personable. It was once the Buffalo press started getting tougher on him as they were losing (and some poor in-game decisions) that he got more ornery and nasty. At the moment, the Jacksonville press is loving him, so he's not dealing w/ any difficult issues.

I'm not sure if that's quite the right trade, but if we do draft a young QB and have him mentored for 1-2 season's Dalton would be better to do that than Tyrod for several reasons. Tyrod is a unique QB and what works for him, is unlikely to work for whoever we draft. As the starter for this team, I think it would be difficult for him to transition to placeholder. Dalton, while having his own issues could be successful with this team if we're able to acquire some better receiving assets than we have now.... maybe it could work?!?

I don't think he's been perfect, but he has been pretty good. He's been good on challenges, there's not too many examples of poor/missed challenges and none that I'm aware of that cost us. On 2 min offense. They have been efficient at the end of half including a great drive we got screwed on before the half in NE. Good strategic choices in Colts snow game. They've typically been able at least close the half w/ a FG. I don't want to confuse inability to execute (and play calling.. on Dennison) w/ the 2 min coaching strategy, which is more on McDermott. I think he's been much better than his last 5 predecessors,... admittedly that bar is LOW

Despite the disappointing finish I think the season had a number of strong positives to build on in the future. Lets list them: 1. We have a clear answer on Tyrod... there have been lots of pros/cons debated all season long. I'll admit I've been a supporter, but the last half of the season clearly showed he won't be the QB who can take us to the promised land. While the QB position remains a problem, we've settled that question. 2. McDermott is a competent in-game coach...the tribulations of past coaches have been well chronicled from wasted TOs to poor/missed challenges to questionable gadget plays. While there's improvement needed on in-game adjustments and play-calling, we seem to have a competent in-game coach who will not lose us games. 3. Much improved salary cap... they bit the bullet and got rid of several big salaries giving the team flexibility and ability to maneuver going forward 4. Secondary has become a strength... Hyde/Poyer/White/Gaines, this area was a huge question mark in the off season and now is a bonafide strength. Though the defense needs further improvement (pass rush, run D, LBs) 5. Great rookie class... White (DROY), Dawkins, Milano played very well. Zay Jones needs to improve but showed flashes and Peterson seems to at least be a good back-up and will compete to possibly start. No obvious busts 6. Great draft pics in 2018... 2 firsts / 2 seconds / third can help with several areas that need upgrading What else??

Every mock I've seen shows the top 5 QBs gone by then.... long gone. They'll either have to package both, PLUS something else or sign another QB from somewhere. I think there's actually a lot of veteran QBs likely to come on the market.... Smith (KC), Keenum/Bradford/Bridgewater (at least 1 of them, maybe two), Cousins, Dalton ....even Bortles (just joking). who else

Pat Williams is a good choice... I had forgotten him. I'll stick w/ Fred on O w/ Shady likely being limited

Obviously if we go back to glory years it would be Kelly at QB and on defense we need more better run stopping, so Mt Washington! Perhaps a more interesting question might who would you add, since 2000, from the drought years, based on their play w/ the Bills?? Then I think I might take Fred Jackson given Shady's injury... and on D, how about Aaron Schobel to go opposite Hughes to rush and set the edge?

If we're going to win it has to be Tyrod!

definite way to make an entrance... however, I think should have made his handle: EnterAndyDalton

Curious how we rank per game if you exclude the Colts game under dire weather circumstances??

while very tempting, I was at the Thursday Night Jets game and you know how that turned out. Don't want to be the jinx.

That's the earliest flight as it leaves RIC at 5:30am... would have to fly in Saturday otherwise, which is being frowned upon by the wife.

Arriving into LAS for CES2018 at 9:45 on Sunday, 15 min before kickoff.... where do Bills fans get together for the game?? Bills Backers site online gives multiple locations.... there's can't really be THAT many of us to fill up five bars?!?