Mister Defense

Great post, using facts and excellent reasoning here, along with very good writing. So, no contest here. The guy had said the same exact thing about running backs just a few months ago that he is now saying about wide receivers! And with the same kind of shoot from the hip, facts be da*ned, bizarre reasoning to 'back' his ideas up. Now, 'never mind', it's the wide receivers who should never be payed! Your "for a tremendous offense" comment will likely send all of the rest of the bashers into another fit, of course. Shoot, the Bills may have the best offense in NFL history this coming season, after having the best in the NFL last year.

But didn't you say almost the same exact thing about running backs a few months ago, that teams should 'NEVER pay a running back'? I thought it was you, but I may be mistaken. I thought you had said it was your rule, and never means never. If so, you are now saying the same thing, but about wide receivers? Just moving on to another position group? But here, it seems even more extreme As here you say "you should NEVER pay a wide receiver anything ever". I think it would be very difficult in today's NFL to play without any wide receivers at all. Yeah, running backs catch balls, and the Bills have two good tight ends, but I think it would put the Bills at a significant disadvantage if they did not have wide receivers on their team. But I do agree with your point that the Bills should now pay Cook, and am happy that, at least on this change of heart on running backs, you have come to your senses. And our team's QB seemed to agree with that in his mini-camp conference, which is important.

ummm...maybe winning some playoff games, and also beating their share of good teams in big games during the regular season would also help... Dallas has done neither lately.

Does not make sense--they cannot be a top ten team if they have not had almost any playoff success. And they have a dismal record, especially the last few years, against the good teams during the regular season. They have put no fear in almost any good teams, and that is especially true of teams with good defenses. Prescott almost always looks lost, confused, with the old adage, "like a deer in the headlights", an accurate image of poor ol' Zak whenever he faces a good defense. While I do like some of their off season moves this year, such as the acquisition of Pickens, Jones has been a mess as their GM since Jimmy, a true football guy, left in the 1990s. Dallas will never be a fully loaded talented team until Jones gives control of the girls to a real football man--again. One way or another. Top 20 team, maybe, but not a top ten team in the league now or recently.

Including the point of the thread, question itself. It may become a thing: Which running back in 2014 had the most carries?

Great news for the rest of the AFC Central--a waayyy over the hill narcissistic head case will now bring all of his HUGE baggage, distractions, and greatly diminished skills to the Steelers. Still can't believe they did not make a major push for a real quarterback this off season. And then they got rid of one of the best wide receivers in the league! Just like I said when he signed with the Jets, one less team the Bills can consider a threat of any kind. Maybe Tomlin's first losing season. And maybe his last with the Steelers. The Bills may get 10 sacks when they play them in November--in the unlikely event that rodgers is still playing at that point.

Hope this, Brady's last year with us, is a great one. In hist first full year as our OC, the most points in Bills' history, the most points in the NFL last year, only team to ever score 30 rushing and 30 passing touchdowns, Josh's first MVP............ And that stat you share, that I did not know previously. I knew they were superb in not turning the ball over, but not that specific stat. Think of how well prepared an offense it must be, how fine tuned, how sharp in their skills and execution, to have no lost fumbles by any running back, wide receiver or tight end--in an entire season.

Amazing post, one of the best I have ever read in this forum in the well over two decades I have been on here. Unfortunately it looks like not many have read it yet--or there would be a slew of posters hitting the 'awesome' emoji by now. And, of course, almost none of those who most need to read it will do so. And those of them that do read it won't get it; it is sooo far off the tracks for them. But If they don't know sh*t from roses, fu** 'em. They aren't worth converting and will never get off that dark, irrational Crazy Train. Truly a moving post, one full of insight and wisdom, as you define what it means to be a Bills' fan, and a human being as well. Everyone should read Folz's post. Yup, it's long, but just look at what this thread has become, the waste, the same few posters bashing all over again, like demented broken records.. How many of the posts in this thread are just nonsense, just a waste of everyone's time--again? Like so many of the off season threads dominated by bashing, negativity and ignorance. Instead, read that post, and be enlightened. Two posts above this one...

No, it's a good comparison. As sometimes the best analogies are the ones that are not obvious, that you have to think about. Yes, the journey is the destination. And this particular journey is bringing us great things, great game days that fill our heads with amazing images. The championship will come. But, sadly, for many of those on that crazy negative train, even that will just be a one day thing. They will get right back on their super negative bandwagon at the first bump in the road.

Though I had to read that a few times to get your point, a great analogy to start But it's those last lines, that I just bolded, that accurately and factually nail some of the main problems with the bashers--they are simply not basing their ideas on reality, facts, but on pure emotion only. That is why their arguments are so consistently, thoroughly ripped apart and undermined when posters decide to push back. Those realities you point to so well, so accurately, are like mirrors to a vampire-- theyignore and avoid those at all costs. They cannot overcome them, so they just keep spewing.

Yup, just like ol' Ted Nugent said, 'when in doubt..."... Always the best policy.

Yup, I understood that...just made me think of that possibility, of Diggs getting invited to the wedding.

Diggs, interesting. They have said they are like brothers, and Josh says he loves Stefon. Doubt it. But we shall see..

Hallelujah. Well said.. With that last sentence maybe the most significant, most profound. Joyless. So sad for them. But worse-- that they try so hard to bring others to that dark place. Thank goodness it is only a very small percentage of 'fans' who are like that. I cannot imagine not enjoying this current ride and the joy it has brought to me and the overwhelming majority of Bills' fans.

How dare you start a thread like this? Who do you think you are? Just to antagonize the haters, I assume. Just flaunting the very high quality nature of our team since McBeane established this excellent base of success. Picture: a furious Yosemite Sam, turning bright red, steam pouring out of his ears, cursing his brain off... That is what you do to that small but prolific group of posters with such a positive, upbeat OP. I hope you're happy. Those are meaningless stats you point to, and the haters will make you pay for such such a careless, ignorant, heartless thread like this. They will not stand for this. Shame!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk9C1ukV-EM

This year we should see a different Cole Bishop, like we saw a different Terrel Bernard in his2nd year, and in Benford's 2nd and 3rd years, as Bishop has the physical tools, skills and intelligence. Like them he just needed to learn how the NFL game works, so his skills can shine through. And with that the toughness you speak of. If he is good the Bills defense is good, and if he is very good, the defense may be very good. To me the quality of Bishop's play this summer and in the regular season may go a long way in transforming the defense. I think he comes through and is considered a very good NFL safety by the end of the season, a player who got better and better as the season progressed

I think you may be right, especially for a guy still reeling, and likely feels he always will be, because of one of the most ludicrous trades and contracts in NFL history in Deshaun Watson. But he seems to like giving away his draft picks still, as you point out, as if they don't have much value. In the end what happened in the draft may end up being one of the best things to ever happen to Sanders. He is now a more sympathetic under dog to many, while previously he was being thought of as an entitled, arrogant rich boy, someone many were rooting against. On the other hand, can you imagine the pressure on him if he was a top ten or even top round pick? With all the unrealistic expectations everyone, including his own father, were putting on him? Now, maybe all of that hot air his dad had been filling him with his entire life, including in public, may be gone. And the pressure is off to some degree. He can just play football. As the expectations for any quarterback chosen in the 5th round are very low, by anyone's standards.

I agree about both Strong, great potential, and Hamlin as a solid backup--not the most fast athletic guy but seems to know what he is doing out there, a big plus for the difficult safety position. I also think Forrest is a nice addition as a backup and maybe as a starter if Bishop is not the real deal. To me, Bishop may be the biggest question mark on the defense and maybe the most important X factor for the overall defensive improvement this year. With Hairston as the starter opposite Benford, if Bishop has improved his processing ability that you speak of then the defense can take a huge leap this year, with the improvements in the secondary alone. So Bishop will be the player I am most focused on this off season and in early games. And the high level defensive line additions will enhance the secondary's performance as well.

No, and same for NFL.com in general, which is very weak in format/ease of finding things, and also in content, for such a huge and overall savvy company. Part of the problem is that they feel they cannot be objective in their coverage, as they are basically covering themselves, while CBS Sports and ESPN can do that much better and do so. Ditto for most of the NFL Channel TV shows, such as GMF, which is soo boring, so lacking in content they need to repeat significant portions of their show each day.

Just sour grapes from Elam so I really do hope he is the starting corner for Dallas this year. Let's see him put his money where his mouth is. I only wish the Bills played the girls this season, as it will be fun with or without elam, but more fun with the guy. This coaching staff takes okay/decent CB prospects and turns them into starters, and sometimes stars. So I am not betting on Elam blossoming this year, playing for a much lesser team and organization. Despite his laughable comments. The good thing about the big miss with him is that the Bills likely upped their preparation for this and last years' drafts considerably. Looks like, on paper at least, they may now have high end talent at most of the CB positions. We will see soon how it comes together on the field. Bishop runs a 4.4, Hairston a 4.29, both hopefully replacing Hamlin (a 4.63 40) and Douglas (4.59). Should give every Bills' fan hope that they will see a very different secondary this year. (And Darrick Forrest ran a 4.4.)

This would make no sense at all for the Bills to do. Why would they get rid of a player who makes a bunch of good plays during the season, and overall is solid, if not very consistent or high level, for a player that made almost zero good plays last year? You don't cut a decent player and then bring in a completely washed out, done player, wayyy past his prime--ever. Miller is not miraculously going to become a viable NFL player again this off season let alone a good one.

No way, as this is a very bad idea. The Bills are in much better shape as far as pass rushers are concerned after this off season. They will now battle it out to see who starts, gets playing time, and who gets cut. One of the main problems last year is that he was dead weight, almost never made an important play in the pass or running game, a wasted roster spot. The Bills clearly (eventually) saw that and it would not even cross their minds to let Miller take a vital roster spot again. I doubt any team will, unless desperate. Or very foolish.

I have watched 30 or so episodes and found it okay sometimes, overall. But mainly liked it only when the Bills or something related was a topic. But I did not understand an integral aspect of the show, the points awarded, and did not have any idea who the host was, what his expertise was as far as sports. I really disliked that they never explained the points thing, what that meant, how/what the criteria were etcetera, in all of the shows I watched. Not once. Seems like a really bad thing to do, a way to turn off viewers, especially new ones giving the show a shot for the first time. Need to be aware of the audience and attempt to make things clear for them. That really diminished the show for me, not having any real understanding what was actually going on. If you don't have basic clarity, you will not be able to build or maintain your audience--and so are on borrowed time. Now that it is over, can someone explain that if they know? I assume they had a point system/criteria of some kind and that the host had extensive background in sports, other than as the host of this show-?

That should be your avatar when it comes to the Bills' offense, Beane's neglect of it, and the Bills' wide receivers. Yes, and I apologize, as of course, that (see italics) was not your intention. Just sharing, with no intent to make this about the Bills' offense. Definitely not.

Let me guess... The Bills have no players in their list? I am sure that is NOT why this is posted, why it is a thread. Could have just cut to the chase in the OP for what will likely be the dominant line of thinking for a group of posters, and just posted some variation of this at the outset, to save a lot of time (and wasted space, repeating and repeating and repeating...): I cannot believe how Beane neglects this offense...(fire him, fire him, fire him...) leaves our superstar quarterback with almost no good weapons... and almost nothing at wide receiver... the Bills' offense may suck this coming year as much as they did last year (is that even possible?)... Josh again will just be throwing balls down the field to phantom wide receivers, balls bouncing harmlessly on the turf, over and over... Brandon Beane must be fired, and not just now, years ago...we need a time machine, as that way we can prevent the offensive collapse that wrecked the Bills last season...(Doc Brown, can you help us out?) Poor, poor [MVP} Josh... All the other AFC contenders have far superior offenses, talent, the Bills are not in the same league... Most neglected, talentless offense in the NFL, maybe in NFL history... 2025: worst offense ever?