starrymessenger

I tend to think 4 games is what will stick after the inevitable appeal, tho one might think the appeal will be somewhat compromised by Brady's refusal to cooperate with the investigation.I also expect repercussions at the HC and team levels. A fine and maybe a draft pick -first round. While BB may not have been in on this the low rate of Patriot fumbles since 2006 when teams were given control of the game balls suggests otherwise. And the Pats are repeat offenders.

He would never get out of Philly alive and he knows it - so BS IMO.

Still can't help wondering if some contractual shenanigans can't make this guy whole. The CBA seems to focus on his cash compensation while under the UDFA contract. But what if the team committed now to offer a first level tender after three years (yielding the second round comp he was allegedly seeking) and/or he was given a player option to enter into a new deal following expiry for an extra year (resulting in a 5 year deal usual for a first round pick) that made up the difference between a mid first round pick and an UDFA. While that might run afoul of the CBA policy it might also comply with the wording and would work some justice for the kid if innocent. Sorry, I just can't help it.

Should be a no brainer then I would imagine.

Well that totally sucks for him if he's innocent. So he's locked in for three years both as to salary and bonus and can only get paid if his performance justifies a first or second level tender after the three years. Even then as a first round talent he's getting the shaft financially. I guess we should forget about Collins. Does the one year in Canada thing work for him? Might be his best move.

So there is no way to pay this guy? Is he really locked into a dirt cheap contract for x# of years? He can't reenter 2016, he's not eligible for the supplementary draft. So off with him to the Siberian gulag? Or can he sign a contract with escalators, player or team options or containing terms that in effect morph the contract into something more in line with his actual draft value depending on certain contingencies. Unless a contract like this contravenes league rules or the CBA that is exactly the type of deal I would expect him to get once he is exonerated.

We have to find a way to throw some serious dollars his way and find a way to make his agent, who also got stiffed, some money too. He may be limited by the UDFA pool but hopefully you can draw up a creative and alluring contract. Assuming of course that he's not Ahern's next door neighbor for the next 100 years. We had a good draft. Land him and with Ritchie, Miller and what we had last year our coaches would have what they need to vastly improve the O-line.

Have to think so, tho people who bet against him are almost always wrong.

I generally like to see young players succeed, but if you're right the Bills will be a lot further ahead. I just have a fear of us falling further behind the curve in the AFC East at the all important position. For the running game to work in the NFL you need to be able to throw the football and one thing we do know is that Petty has superior arm talent.

Lots of college QBs don't play in a pro system. Some get drafted high regardless. True the Baylor system is super simple and tells us that he has a lot to learn, but he's got a good head on his shoulders and playing where he did doesn't prove that he can't make the adjustment with good coaching either. I would prefer a guy like that than a guy who played in a pro system and basically proved that he had serious issues that typically prevent him from transitioning.

Well I sure love the guy too, but I confess I have no idea what the market is or should be. He's probably worth more than any other player in the game.

Agree. It would certainly be an anomaly. I just wonder whether in a truly unique case perceptions of what the market really is could be so far apart that negotiations with a single suitor might not be possible. 5 years 150 with 70 guaranteed might be Irsay's view, and that of most teams. 200 with 100 guaranteed might be Luck's thinking. In my experience, people who are regarded as important assets and who get to negotiate their comp invariably opt for getting their money up front, even when it appears to make little sense relative to a more lucrative alternative that introduces some, albeit one would have thought manageable risk (at least to me).

But if he was determined to put himself up for auction to the highest bidder, his new team would be unable to sign him to a contract. And if that was his declared intention, the trade well might be poisoned since it would just be a rental. The real question for me, assuming that it's about services for hire, is how much of a hook are franchise tags and the risk of injury, and how much more, if indeed at all, having 32 teams bidding for his services could add to the compensation.

Would love to see Luck deliberately burn through two franchise tags and hit the open market. A bidding war around a HOF QB in his prime. Imagine what it would to to NFL Network ratings. Folks say that teams never let their franchise QBs go. Well they can go if they want to. All just a number crunch at the end of the day.

RIP Chuck Bednarik. BTW Chris Borland is a very tough dude and a totally class act.

I'm a little concerned frankly. Tho I disliked everything about Marrone's philosophy for the offence including his management of the line, I wonder how our recent O-linemen draftees will fare in Roman's system. Mobility seems to be important. When McCoy was tearing it up in Philly before times got tough he benefited from having a great tackle and guard who could pull and lead block on sweeps. Not sure I can easily envision any of our young guys being able to do that for now.

Great for sure. Now if we could only find another starting quality O-lineman our offseason would prolly be best overall in terms of filling holes, meeting needs and generally improving the roster year over year. Wonder what their thinking is re the O-line. Wisniewski is still out there or maybe they will be looking to the draft.

You're right. You don't get it.

No. Let's get him fired instead.

Schlereth used to wet his pants during games and thought he was putting one over on the fans. Nuff said. Rodent? He be a big dumb stupido fo sho.

Except for TD receptions their numbers actually are pretty similar the last two years, even tho Clay has fewer games played due to injury in 2014. Now that Mr Bortles will be serving it up to Julius instead of Peyton you can expect those TD numbers to go down, and probably be more in line with what Clay will do in Blo (6-8 per is my guess). And Julius can't make that block that will spring McCoy on a game winning touchdown run. Charles Clay can. And Julius can't set up in the backfield. Charles Clay can. Assuming he avoids the injury bug, we did not overpay. Charles Clay is a stud and will functionally be a centerpiece of the Bills O. This is a hugely important move and that's why they are bending over backwards to get it done.

Ranking Tevin Coleman as the #5 RB is a surprise to me. And that's going to change IMO.

Let's not forget who Ricardo Lockette is either. He's CJ Graham - an unproven track star with the hands of a backup receiver. Do you really want to put your Super Bowl hopes in the hands of CJ Graham in the thick of the action or ML, or maybe a big TE or tall receiver running a corner pattern? As Bills fans we have all seen what can happen. All time stupidest call.

I can take no solace from the disgusting dog face cheaters victory. Just saw Kraft french kissing Tom Brady. I may be tormented by sick sex nightmares forever. I hope Bevell rots in hell.

As soon as Rex was hired I was pretty sure JS was going to fold his tent. Though the Bills appeared to want JS to stay I didn't even think that made sense from a general management point of view in terms of allocating human resources and skillsets. That's one reason why I was not totally thrilled with Rex signing a long term deal with the Bills. A better combo for taking care of both sides of the ball would have been Kubiak as HC and JS as DC (not that I'm sure we could have landed Kubiak given Denvers interest). That would have left JS fully in control of the D with less probability that he would walk and with the Bills benefiting from top shelf coaches on O and on D. The D will certainly not suffer under Rex's stewardship. It is reasonable to expect it to improve given Rex's undoubted ability and the fact that many of the backers and DBs are young and still coming into their own. The line of course is one of the best, if not the best in football. Don't get me wrong I certainly like Rex Ryan. He's a player's coach and I like big affable personalities. I do have some concerns however regarding possible lack of discipline and control. I also worry a bit about neglecting the offence. Idzick was rightly criticized for poorly drafting DBs that have not panned out at a time when, for example, there was a need for receivers and a historically strong draft for them. I have to wonder how much influence Rex had in making those decisions. Idzick was never a personnel guy he was a cap expert/manager. Seems inconceivable to me that Rex did not at least have his ear.