starrymessenger

It's (unfortunately) obvious that if AB can stay sane and work in the Pats O they are much better than they were day before yesterday. He's crazy but he's a very smart receiver. Knows how to read a defence. Then there is his over the top physical skill. The key however is Brady. He's the engine than drives that offence. He's old. The way to beat him has always been pressure on passing downs, especially up the middle. The Pats interior offensive line is mediocre at best right now. We will see if Dante can work his magic again. My take: Brady isn't what he was, not nearly, but he's probably still good enough to make it work. If he misses time all bets are off however.

Legit off his rocker next level crazy.

But will Bill send him out for the coin toss?

I blame the Russians. Anyway may he start effing things up in NE as soon as possible. Sidenote: cudos to those who called it.

So reality is more hyperbolic than fiction I guess. They actually held exactly such a die in for chicken in Toronto as part of the protests. That was the reference.

Today it's AB. Mere amusement. Starting tomorrow it will be a very different matter. Serious business.

Absolutely but if you could make it work my goodness an OCs dream come true.

And let's hold a die in to honour murdered chickens while we're at it.

Don't know that NE works for either party. He'd be on a short term deal, probably a year, would be paid less and would have terms similar to Oakland if guaranteed at all. I have a hard time seeing Brown accepting all that. Plus BB is a stickler and a disciplinarian. Doesn't seem like the right chemistry to me. Seattle would be a better fit IMO.

Browns. Don't know if it happens but I'd love to see it: Baker, OBJ, Landry and AB (plus Callaway and Higgins). Wowza.

On O, play action, screens, bubble screens, with a few shots downfield with Brown/Foster: On D shut down Robby Anderson with safety over the top = Bills win. Will be interested to see how Bell makes out after layoff and behind a line that, like ours, hasn't really played together.

No. Both sides together need to agree a waiver in writing.

Because that's what his contract says. Based on the wording his guarantee is automatically voided. Wonder what his agent was thinking. Just hoping for the best? Raiders are probably hoping he doesn't show Monday. That would seal the (non) deal.

Yeah, so as a technical matter I think AB was already in breach with loss of the guarantee as of when he first missed practice. The contract, or what remains of it, would now have to be amended to reinstate the guarantee, otherwise it's gone for good. I think the Raiders FO and Gruden have known where they were going with this. Gruden is probably playing his own sinister game of hardball with AB "Sure you are welcome to play Monday night, and get paid, only without the guarantee. Have a nice day, dufus." If the language surrounding the guarantee is not standard boilerplate, and is special to AB, then it looks to me that the Raiders protected themselves very well. Maybe AB's agent could have done a better job protecting his client (and himself) given who he was representing.

At some point this season Williams will get his shot. If he makes out well he will stick IMO. Agree entirely with Taylor being a major threat to Harrison Philips. Taylor looks to be much more versatile, athletic and impactful. He can defend the run (has lined up in the nose, tho not exactly prototypical) and can 3 tech. It's not H. Philips job to get after the QB but even when he is in the neighbourhood he can't finish. Taylor most definitely can. So he can see the field as a run stuffer and he can also back up Oliver. This guy was as a steal. Money for nothing. Note they wasted no time signing him.

Lots of Italian kids in the hood where I grew up. Always amazed me that they always called each other by the usual derogatory epithets. I sure knew better than to try that myself, even if in jest.

Apparently this expression predates the plantation era and condescendingly denotes a white person too poor to own slaves. Ironically there is no shame or disrepute in being poor. Owning other people on the other hand...

Money money money mo...ney (love that tune)...and a lucid interval. Wonder if what his agent told him came as a revelation.

The way I read this, which may be the way you are reading it, he is already in default. If this is indeed the case then the contract automatically terminates the guarantee. It's as though it never existed. If they decide to kiss and make up it may then be necessary to revise the contract. Given the wording if I were Brown's agent I don't think I'd be comfortable having to rely on the theory that the Raiders had by their conduct waived a stipulation inserted exclusively for their own benefit. I wonder if these are standard terms in player contracts or whether they are special because of Brown's baggage.

Not surprising. Its because he's crazy.

Quite apart from having to hold the ball, which I agree can be an issue, I don't know that Brady still has the arm to make the best use of AB.

"You know drugs are bad"

I sort of agree with this. Like many others I didn't want AB exactly for these reasons. And I was a little disappointed and more than a little concerned that the Bills pursued him at all. IMO management still has a lot to prove when it comes to drafting and signing skill position players on offence. I understand that a rebuild takes time and that this may be the last piece in the puzzle. And I get it that John Brown is a proven starting calibre receiver and CB a very good slot receiver, but after next year's draft they need to be in a much better place talent wise than they are now. I want to see how Singletary works out. If it's another Zay day I will seriously start questioning their evaluations. I think pursuing AB was an error in judgement.

Vincent Taylor is a quality young DT with some scheme versatility (4/3 or can line up as nose). Also surprised he's signed to a PS unless he's been given some assurances about being called up. Great move.

Thank you. So we will be seeing him week 10, if all else fails. Agree he needs to suit up and play assuming no trade happens fast.