mjt328

Here is the reality check. Most of the premier players on our roster are on the threshold of 30 years old, if they haven't already passed it. Outside of Josh Allen, here are the All-Pro/Pro-Bowl guys and current leaders of our team: Stefon Diggs (29), Dion Dawkins (29), Mitch Morse (31), Von Miller (34), Matt Milano (29), Tre White (28), Jordan Poyer (32), Micah Hyde (32) The truth is that we could possibly get another 2-3 years out of this core. And Brandon Beane could do some creative restructures to keep them all around. That would be great. But we could also start seeing a noticeable decline this season. Next offseason could see us cutting some of them to clear necessary cap space. So to keep this window open, we need our younger guys to start stepping up and filling these roles. ASAP. At least some of them need to become leaders in the locker room, and start producing on the field at a high level (not just an OK starter). I'm talking about guys like James Cook, Gabe Davis, Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, O'Cyrus Torrance, Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Ed Oliver, Kaiir Elam, Christian Benford, etc. I really really hate saying this. And I'm hoping that I'm wrong. But I do believe the current window has already closed. The odds that everyone I listed above keeps playing at a high-level for 2023 and beyond is not great. Miller and Hyde are coming back from major injuries. White struggled last year, and may never return to his old self. Morse seems to miss time every year. There are some indications this preseason that Dawkins and Poyer may have already lost a step. And the majority of our "young talent" from the last 2-3 drafts has been a big disappointment. Combine that with a brutal schedule, ridiculously tough division, and the seemingly impossible hurdle of getting past Kansas City/Cincinnati.... It's just not looking good from where I sit.

Wasn't really thinking of this angle, but you are absolutely correct. The big hole on our defense is smack-dab in the middle, with the loss of Tremaine Edmunds. Adding big-money RBs isn't the smart move long-term, due to the cap ramifications. But it's absolutely going to make the AFC East a bigger struggle over the next 1-2 seasons, right in the midst of our rapidly closing window.

It depends on the situation. If Allen goes down for an extended period of time or in a playoff game, we are screwed no matter what. If Allen goes down against an elite team like Kansas City or Philadelphia, the quality of backup QB probably isn't going to matter. However, if Allen goes down for 1-2 games in the regular season, against a beatable opponent... Well that could mean the difference between homefield advantage, winning the AFC East, making the postseason, etc.

My two cents... I think this started as a 3-person race back in training camp. All were going to get a fair chance to win the job. My guess is that all three were going to get a chance to start a preseason game. But as practices went along, it became pretty clear to coaches that Kaiir Elam was lagging way behind, and so Dane Jackson remained a top the depth chart for the Steelers week. This was Christian Benford's big chance, and he ended up playing really good. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he's CB2 against the Jets, and would be shocked if he was traded. Also, the idea that Elam may be cut is ridiculous. It's certainly disappointing that he hasn't taken the job (now coming up in Year 2). But at worst, he's still our #4 outside cornerback. And the next guy isn't even close.

There are different kinds of leadership. I believe the Bills do have great leaders on the team, ranging from the coaching staff to the players on the field. I'm just not quite sure they are the kind of leaders needed to ultimately win an NFL championship. For example.. The job done last year to keep this team together during the Damar Hamlin situation was amazing. Nobody should ever discredit McDermott for the way he handled an unprecedented on-field tragedy, and got his team to continue winning games. He also must receive the credit for transforming a two-decade losing culture at One Bills Drive into one of the most respected franchises in the NFL. But when you look at situations such as 13 Seconds, or his comments regarding Stefon Diggs absence in mini-camp... it's also fair to question his ability to make quick/wise decisions on the spot. Which is a vital characteristic for someone in his position. In terms of Josh Allen, you probably can't find an example of a harder-working Quarterback. He sets the example and the tone for this offense, and is certainly respected by his teammates. But he also seems to lack the poise and calm that other top QBs often showcase in the big games. When things start spiraling out of control, he often does too much, leading to too many turnovers/mistakes. Teams usually resemble their leaders. There is probably a reason the Bills are known for making mistakes in the biggest moments.

If the Bills were in the NFC, I believe they would have already made the Super Bowl. Maybe more than once. Competing with Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes is a huge thorn in our side.

Belichick created a culture of fear, respect and brutal levels of hard work. That method worked well (at the time), because he also had Tom Brady and a team with a winning reputation. I'm not sure that style fits McDermott's personality, or if it would go over in this particular locker room. As an outside fan, something does seem to be off mentally with this team. It's August and you can already sense the frustration and lack of focus. Maybe it's bleed-over from the way last season ended. Maybe it's somehow related to all the Stefon Diggs drama. Maybe it's something with the coaching staff. Maybe Josh Allen really is too distracted with the rise to fame. I just don't know. But if this team doesn't get its head on straight quickly, the Jets are going to punch them in the mouth Week 1.

The problem is not in the ability of Josh Allen to read a defense. The problem is a combination of issues. Stefon Diggs is the only proven receiver on the Bills capable of consistently beating coverage on short/quick/timing routes. Gabe Davis is more of a downfield threat. Isaiah McKenzie is just a gadget guy. The loss of Cole Beasley last year was horribly underrated. Defenses have gradually figured this out, and focused on taking Diggs away with extra coverage. Realizing the extreme limitations of his other WRs, Ken Dorsey really had no choice but respond with an attack heavy with downfield passes. While the offensive numbers remained strong overall, the efficiency decreased as the season rolled along. The inconsistency increased. It's only natural when you are talking about passes 20+ yards. With downfield passing, this also requires an average O-Line to withstand an extra 1-2 seconds, which they are generally not capable of doing. By the end of 2022, all of this resulted in an offense that was mostly Allen running around in the backfield avoiding pass rushers and making miracles happen... along with an offense incapable of consistently sustaining drives, then nosediving in the Red Zone. The success of this season depends on two things: - Can the Bills get production from other WRs outside of Diggs, especially on quicker/short routes? - If not, is the O-Line improved enough to allow deeper routes to develop?

No matter what, the MLB situation is going to be very interesting this season. There weren't a lot of options, but Brandon Beane showed very little interest in signing anybody with starting experience at that position. He would rather roll with vets like Tyrell Dodson and AJ Klein. His two draft choices (Terrell Bernard and Dorian Williams) are universally regarded as too small for the middle, and better suited for an outside role. Maybe this coaching staff has a genius plan for the defense, which will go completely against the grain and make Bernard/Williams work in the MLB spot. That would be great. Because if that position ends up being a weak-link that costs us games, it's going to get really ugly around here.

Despite the sarcastic comments, I think the OP is making a legitimate observation. When the UCL injury occurred, there were many concerns that it could be a long-term/career type problem. It clearly bothered him up until the season ended in January, and there is no guarantee he's just going to be OK with an offseason to rest. From reports, he's taken at least 2-3 hard hits in training camp. And it was after one of these incidents that he went back with the training staff, and since that point has suddenly started wearing sleeves at all times. Maybe it's a precaution. Maybe it's a coincidence. Or maybe there was a flare-up. You really can't expect the coaching staff to tell us if this was the case. For all the videos of Josh "slinging it" all over the field, he was doing it last year too after the injury. The issues that cropped up where mostly with short-range accuracy, and times he needed to adjust his arm angle.

I guess it depends on your definition of what a "rigged" game actually is. Are we talking about WWE-style scripts, with Roger Goodell working with owners, coaches, players, refs, etc. to fix a pre-determined outcome? Considering the large number of people who would need to stay quiet, that seems more than unlikely. However, is it possible that refs have occasionally been bought-off and paid to swing some games (or scores) a certain direction? Is it possible that players have been paid under the table to drop a pass, miss a block/tackle, fumble the ball? We know it has occurred in other sports (basketball, boxing for example). So why would football somehow be exempt? Especially with the huge money gambling generates. We know that NFL refs give favorable calls to the league's biggest stars. Ed Hochuli allegedly told Cam Newton he wasn't old enough to get a roughing call. And it's more than obvious that Tom Brady was babied by the officials for many years, after his knee injury. Many fans observe that star corners get called for pass interference less, even when playing very physical. Star receivers seem to get the benefit of the doubt more often on questionable catches. I've heard many in the sports media admit league officials want success from bigger market teams (New York, Dallas, etc.) That doesn't necessarily mean they are going to fix games in a certain direction. But it may influence some decisions. Does anyone remember when Goodell steered Michael Vick away from joining the Bills/Bengals, following his suspension?

For the media, the offseason is all about making bold (and often ridiculous) predictions. Without actual games, what else can they really do to catch people's attention? Last year, the AFC West teams all made their big moves to catch Kansas City. Combining that with the loss of Tyreek Hill, and there were TONS of media personalities predicting the Chargers, Raiders or Broncos to finish a top the division. Of course none of it came remotely true, and all the doubters probably gave the Chiefs even more motivation. In regards to the AFC East, I've noticed a pattern during the offseason where the talking heads keep trying to "one-up" each other. At first, the talk was about how Buffalo's window was possibly closing soon. Then you started hearing that Miami or New York could possibly dethrone us. Before long, most predictions had us in a Wild Card slot. Last week, one of the major outlets had us 9-8 and third place.

There are multiple things that obviously could go wrong. Injuries are always a possibility. Aging veterans could start to decline. Etc. But on paper, the Bills do look better than last year.

I think they consider linebacker a valuable position. This offseason was just the perfect storm. They certainly wanted to keep Tremaine Edmunds, but just couldn't match what his value was on the open market. Considering what the Bears gave him, that was probably a very wise decision. After that, free agency was extremely weak at the position, and there was nobody really worth signing. The draft was equally as bad, and never came close to lining up value with our draft position. Beane wasn't ever going to throw a big contract at an aging Bobby Wagner, or reach to grab someone like Jack Campbell. The Bills will likely cast the MLB as the player with the mic in his helmet. Outside of that, I don't think you will see much physical difference between the two guys. Considering the league's pullback on the running game (and RBs in general), it's an interesting approach to go smaller. We will see.

Based on everything Beane/McDermott have said over the past 5-6 months, this team is clearly moving away from the traditional MLB. They DO NOT CARE about size. I'm not sure why so many fans are struggling to catch-on. This team has drafted three linebackers in the past two years. Terrell Bernard, Baylon Spector and Dorian Williams. All are closer to the Matt Milano mold. And newsflash... Milano isn't going anywhere. The plan is to have two Milano-type LBs on the field in most of our base sets. It's probably been the plan since Tremaine Edmunds walked out the door. Not sure if one of the young guys will be ready to start Week 1, because they want someone who can run the defensive huddle and communicate assignments. That is why Tyrell Dodson is in the mix to start, and AJ Klein was signed as backup insurance. But eventually (probably this season), one of those three guys almost certainly will be taking over the MLB.

I've never been happier NOT to have a star running back. Now in addition to them being the worst value on the roster, they are becoming a massive off-field distraction. I'm perfectly happy rolling into the season with James Cook, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray, and letting other teams deal with the mess.

This. Some positions can flash in training camp. But at this point, the linemen are just going through the motions with their hands and feet. Until they put on pads and are playing at least somewhat physical, it's really hard to draw anything from their performance in practice.

The Bills had some REALLY bad offensive coordinators during the drought. But there was just something about Nate Hackett that was especially awful. Not sure I could even put my finger on it, but I must say I was floored when the Broncos hired him last year.

So basically, Stefon Diggs is frustrated that he's getting older and the Bills haven't figured out how to get over the hump in the playoffs. Completely understandable. That's exactly how I feel as a fan on the sidelines. Not sure exactly what was said at the meeting with Beane/McDermott, but for some reason the head coach believed that Diggs needed a day to cool-off and dismissed him from OTA practice. He then used a poor choice of words at the press conference to explain the absence, and the story blew up way bigger than it should have. The media had plenty of reason to pursue this story. But the rampant speculation that many "reporters" dished out... about Diggs being upset with the quarterback, wanting input in the playbook, demanding we sign DeAndre Hopkins, etc., etc., etc. Those guys should be ashamed of themselves and resign from their jobs.

Wow. Couldn't even make it to training camp before the first season-ending injury.

Jalen Hurts probably has the best O-Line in football, and one of the best #1-2 WR combos. Not to mention his breakout season happened during a ridiculously easy schedule in 2022. I want to see him continue the high-level of play for multiple seasons, before I rank him ahead of guys who have been doing it for 3-4 years (or even longer).

Every person requires a different approach. Some players need hard practices and ruthless coaching in order to stay motivated. Others respond better to softer practice sessions, and coaches who are less "in-your face." Beane/McDermott seem to understand what kind of players fit well in this locker room.

I voted Daniel Jones. The worst thing a team can have is an average QB on a franchise QB contract. The Giants surprised a little bit last year, but I see them falling back out of the playoffs and Jones getting the majority of the blame. Unfortunately, I don't think Aaron Rodgers is the decline that some Bills fans tend to believe. He has some weapons in New York, and some renewed motivation. Hopefully we can fight them off, but I think the Jets are going to be very tough this season. I could see David Carr bouncing back a little bit as well, especially in a very weak division. Lamar Jackson's deal will look fine by the end of 2023. I just don't think he continues to play at an elite level over the long-term, and the Ravens might be regretting it a couple more seasons down the line.

A player's "value" is only what NFL teams are willing to pay. And for many legitimate reasons, teams are realizing it's not worth paying Running Backs big contracts. Considering the wear/tear and small shelf-life, I agree that RBs get a raw deal compared to most other NFL positions. But then again, the fact that so many serviceable guys can be found out of college... that suggests it's one of the easiest positions to play in the league. I know that even back in high school, there were tons of guys who were pretty good at playing RB. Much tougher to find a guy who could throw or run routes and catch. When it comes to linemen, the physical size disqualifies the majority of human beings. And at the end of the day, even these devalued RBs are making 100x more than average Americans. Nothing is stopping them from playing 3-5 years and then retiring if they can't get the contract they want. Someone will surely step up and take that job.

The media had a responsibility to report on the Stefon Diggs situation, especially after the coach said he was "concerned." The media has a responsibility to continue asking questions and following-up on the situation as the season progresses, especially if new information becomes available. However... there has been NOTHING NEW to report since about June 13-14. The media has been very irresponsible regarding this story over the last 3 weeks, constantly adding new fuel to the fire through anonymous sources and rampant speculation. None of these so-called reporters knows anything, but I've still seen stories about how Diggs is mad at the coaches, Diggs is mad at the quarterback, Diggs is mad about us not getting D-Hop, the front office is quietly trying to trade Diggs, etc., etc., etc. The fact that Thad Brown is now tossing threats, shows he's got no clue on what reporters are actually supposed to do. His job is to report the news, not get involved and emotional.