Tim Tindale

I agree with this take. He takes almost as much punishment as an RB1 and throws the ball 35-40 times a game for 20-ish games a year. There isn’t a human on the planet that can withstand that kind of abuse and continue to be successful in game 19 and 20 without being in peak physical condition. To suggest otherwise I personally think is insane.

Just read that the Chiefs only took a $2.65MM cap hit by trading Tyreek. Puts somewhat of a vat of cold water on that comparison.

Honestly, the parallels between where the Chiefs were (Tyreek was getting disenchanted, the Chiefs were strapped for cash, though Hill was two years younger than Steph) and where the Dolphins were (wanted more skill players around a cheap, promising Tua and a young Waddle and had cap room) are notable. No one would have called that trade before it happened either, especially because the Chiefs were trading in conference. One might say that Veach had goodwill to burn after winning the Super Bowl three years before this trade, but the Chiefs had just blown a lead at home in the AFCCG and lost big to the Bucs the year before that. Then they turn around and trade The Cheetah. I’m sure Chiefs’ fans were apoplectic, especially because it was theoretically creating competition within conference. And Tyreek is more of a game-wrecker than Steph. I just think something is possible here and the odds are higher than “near-zero/impossible”. It doesn’t have to be Houston, but yes, a similar situation where the other franchise has plenty of cap room and a cheap QB in the place where they want to add more talent to the WR room. Incidentally, I re-looked up some articles written in the immediate aftermath of that Hill-to-the-Dolphins deal. Tyreek was pushing his way out of Kansas City behind the scenes in part because he was unhappy with the number targets he was getting in Reid’s offense. He actually called his agent mid-season and told him he isn’t playing in Kansas City in ‘22. It’s not inconceivable that Steph may be doing the same with the change to Brady. To be fair, he also wanted more money. Steph’s contract is trickier with the dead cap (I think 27MM after June 1st) on Buffalo’s side, though I do wonder if there is restructuring that can be done to work around it. I’m not saying it’s absolutely going to happen, but I do think the odds are higher than others in this discussion. I think when it comes down to humans and incentives are aligned, things can get done that might seem shocking to outsiders. Anyway, good offseason debate and go Bills!!! Let’s hope Beane pulls off some magic and both improves the cap situation and Josh’s weapons.

1) You have no idea how they grade out their own players, especially after only one good year in Nico’s case (after two below average years without Stroud). 2) They are $60MM under the cap currently in 2024 and over $100MM+ in 2025, with a franchise QB already in place on the cheap. That affords them an awful lot of flexibility. I don’t why I’m pushing this, honestly. I just hate the implicit “zero percent probability” comments. We have no idea how either GM might attack this when you have lighter skill talent, a cheap stud QB, and a ton of cap flexibility on one side and the other side is more aged and in cap hell. These types trades happen in the NBA quite often. I just don’t see why it’s just so impossible in this case.

First, I’m not saying it will happen. My point was more pushing back against the hyperbolic “it would NEVER happen”. I think it can make sense for both sides. The post mentioned that Houston’s WR room is loaded. It’s not - Nico is a nice receiver, but he really hadn’t done much before Stroud arrived this year and Houston could come to the conclusion his big year was a product of Stroud. Just because he is young and put up a big year, it doesn’t follow he’s an alpha 1a that can command double-teams, you can count on for 100 catches per year going forward, etc. There are plenty examples of young WR’s who put up big years with great QB’s as the WR1, but weren’t really top 10 WR’s and you wouldn’t want to pay him as such (e.g. a 22-year old JuJu Smith Schuster in 2018 comes to mind, or 24-year-old Steve Smith for the Giants, who went for 107-1220-7 with Eli and never cracked 600 thereafter). Just because average fan says “Nico is young and put up a big year” doesn’t mean Houston will come to the conclusion that he should be paid WR1 money in 2025. Or, Houston could come to a different conclusion - we won’t have to pay Stroud for a few years. That allows us to tie up Collins and another established WR with a big contract to pair with Stroud for three years. That’s a luxury when you have a top 5-7 QB on a rookie deal. Maybe they decide to go “all in” in 2024 given how cheap and young that roster is. They certainly can worry about how many established playmakers they have around Stroud, especially after Dell broke his fibula late in the year. You may wonder what you are going to get from guy who relies on speed prospectively. I push back on “Houston would never do that and especially because that WR room is loaded.” It’s not, and they have plenty of wiggle room given they aren’t paying anyone on the offensive side of the ball. It really not crazy at all from their side. As for Beane, I’m struck by Diggs’ comment that, and I’m paraphrasing, “we will see how this offseason goes, it’s a business, and I hope I’m in Buffalo”. I know it’s Diggs and he stirs the pot, but that sounded like he’s preparing for the possibility that he could be elsewhere. The facts are the Bills are way over the cap, you have Diggs on a massive deal, is it so unreasonable that Beane decides to get out from under that contract to a team that has maximum cap flexibility? You can’t act like it’s the craziest thing you have ever heard when a few years ago, Minnesota was us (mercurial WR, unload contract) and we were Houston (young QB, cheap, flexible roster). Again, I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I certainly can understand both sides (more so than the standard “it’s crazy and it will never happen”.) And, if that’s true, I won’t feign absolute shock when it does.

Honestly, while I have no idea if this rumor has merit, identifying Houston as a landing spot isn’t crazy at all: 1). Nico Collins is on the last year of his rookie deal in 2024. He’s going to want 1a WR money. Is that the WR you want to pair with Stroud and pay 1a money to? I would be questioning that. 2) Tank Dell is a 5’8” 165-pound slot receiver on a rookie contract coming off a major injury. It’s irrelevant to whether you want to bring in an expensive WR1 to pair with Stroud. 3) Metchie is one year removed from leukemia with two years left on a rookie deal. He caught 16 balls this year for 160 yards. I mean, WR4 perhaps? 4) Robert Woods will be 32 next year coming off a 40-catch season with one year left on his contract. He’s maybe a JAG, at best, at this point in his career. 5) If I’m Houston, I’m trying to find my Jamar Chase, Tyreek Hill, Ceedee Lamb, or dare I say, Steph Diggs to pair with my franchise QB. A Ferrari at WR1 that I’m willing to pay. Tee Higgins fits the bill but he is probably going to get franchised, and then you have to outbid other suitors after 2024. You can go the draft, but you have to hit the pick correctly. I don’t view that WR room as loaded at all and Diggs makes a lot of sense there, particularly if the WR1 is not in the building. Niko Collins may not be the guy you want to pay top 10 WR money to after next season. They have the room because Collins and Stroud are on rookie contracts. I mean, it’s not a crazy rumor at all from Houston’s side. If you are Beane/Bills, you make the deal because you think Houston believes Diggs is still a top 10 WR while you are convinced he’s on the decline with a massive contract. Seems like a reasonable rumor to me.

The Baltimore Ravens are making a terrible mistake honoring Ray Rice. He's no 'legend' When discussing what is the utterly disastrous and staggeringly tone-deaf decision the Ravens made in honoring Ray Rice on Sunday as a “Legend of the Game,” a Ravens tradition that recognizes a former player for his accomplishments on and off the field, we need to go back in time. We need to go a dimly lit elevator at an Atlantic City hotel. We need to go to a moment that was so brutal it became one of the biggest stories in the country and was even addressed by the President of the United States.

Herbert is going to continue to be the highest multiple stock on the planet. He gets a pass because he has a one-game playoff resume. You can’t struggle on the big stage if you don’t actually play in the games.

The Chiefs have 17 at halftime against the best defense in the league. This is starting to look like a beat down. Ravens should fire Harbaugh, I guess. He has thrown away two MVP Lamar seasons in the last five years.

I don’t know… watching this Ravens/Chiefs game. We were an even somewhat healthy defense away from being the AFC champs. The Ravens look like inferior team here, at home, and it’s not really close.

Tee Higgins is a 25 year old game wrecker and would be a great fit on the Bills. Worth it, full stop. If he ends up back on the Bengals on a long term deal, it’d be miserable… only surpassed by landing on the Chiefs in a long term deal.

…and constantly injured. The Josh narrative of a lack of commitment doesn’t square at all with amount of punishment that man takes at that position. And he is rarely hurt. You mean the team we beat at their place a few weeks back, where “big brother” had a meltdown and cried to mommy (the refs, the media, Josh in the post-game handshake) because things didn’t go his way?

Bills 28-23

If Bass didn’t have the yips, it’s 37.

Brady was notorious for exactly this. Only, he won 7 rings so we let it slide.

The Patriots and Chiefs games in ‘21… those are amazing. He was unconscious.

275 yards, 4 TD, no turnovers in tough weather conditions. Pretty good.

The internet is a cesspool of emotional nonsense and blather. Yet, here I am aiding and abetting.

Chiefs are coming to our house now. Cannot wait until Sunday night.

Bills 27-17

Let’s f***ing gooooo!

Steph’s role in the offense has changed since the Trevon tweet… the Bills beat the Cowboys, Josh passed Dak in the MVP race, and the Bills keep winning. Coincidence?

I remember when Tosh’s derisive observations were funny.

“He’s not as good as my punter on Madden.”

I was just reading the Bills’ playoff journey with Josh: 4-1 at home in playoffs (only loss to Bengals last year) and 0-3 on the road (Houston and KC twice). Doesn’t scream “nervous”. You know what does? Lamar Jackson at 1-3.