fergie's ire

And actually, in the long term I think it makes it easier for GMs because they will have more tape on players. Fewer underclassmen coming out this year means more seniors coming out next, and they should be easier to evaluate. The real reason the NBA put in the one and done rule, requiring players to play at least one year in college, was to save GMs jobs. It wasn't to help the high school/college kids. GMs kept drafting guys like Kwame Brown and getting fired and they wanted to make sure they could have tape of them playing against better competition.

I heard a great story about a high school DB who was highly recruited. He shows up on campus and in practice they having covering this white guy with average speed...and the guy torched him. It shook his confidence so much that he couldn't even cover that guy that he ended up quitting the team and football. The guy he was trying to cover? Steve Largent.

I think Belichick will be a disaster at his next stop. For one thing, I am not sure he will let go of GM responsibility. However, the bigger issue is that I think he needed Tom Brady. Not for Tom's talent (thought that helped), but because he had a QB who was okay being screamed at, belittled, and told "no days off." Because Tom bought in (until it got old and he didn't), others bought in. When Belichick disciples have tried to institute the "Patriot way" other places, it's been a disaster. I see the same thing happening when Bill goes elsewhere.

I agree. My belief with the draft has always been that you don't get better players earlier in the draft. What you get is better odds that a player will be good. Harrison Jr. looks like a generational talent. But the last receiver I can think of who seemed to be that kind of talent, with physical tools and ability, was Sammy Watkins. He seemed like a sure thing. At that cost, and with a deep class, I think they're better off picking multiple receivers and increasing their odds that way.

Exactly. Watkins was seen as a once in a decade kind of prospect but didn't pan out. On the other hand, people point out that we might have been better off if we had picked Justin Jefferson instead of trading with the Vikes. However, there's no guarantee that that is who we would have picked and little guarantee that he would turn out the way he has. Jefferson was the fifth receiver taken in that draft (behind Ruggs, Jeudy, Lamb, and Reagor). Just looked back at nfl.com's assessment of Jefferson coming out and he was seen as someone would "become a good starter within 2 years," but with "separation talent just above average." When you draft the top players you aren't necessarily getting better players. What you are getting is players with better odds of being better...but the early ones might be busts and the late ones might be hall of famers. Getting those better odds, particularly with a class so deep at wide receiver, just isn't worth it.

Particularly at a position like safety, I don't think an old name player is the way to go. Ideally can find someone the way they found Poyer and Hyde. Find players who have flashed talent but haven't had an opportunity for whatever reason.

I believe I heard that it's more than double the previous record.

I feel the Bates the way I feel about Dane Jackson on defense. I love having them on the team. They are great backups, very versatile and play well in spot duty...but if you need them to take over as a starter, they become a problem. I think in 22 they were hoping that Bates would develop as a starter but his failure to do so is one reason they went out and signed a couple of guards last year in FA and then drafted one early. Yes, that was as guard and maybe he is better as a center, but I think that the Bills brass has seen enough of him to doubt he can be a starter and he is too expensive as a backup. Anderson can fill that role and maybe develop into a starter.

Okay, but just for simple math, let's say that there are 100 eligible underclassmen who come out every year. If this year they all decide to stay in college, THIS draft pool will be reduced by 100. If, next year, NIL is abolished and all 100 classmen go pro, then the talent pool is increased by 100 (this year's underclassmen who are then seniors). However, if all underclassmen stay in college in perpetuity, as you suggest then, yes, there will be 100 fewer underclassmen. However, there will 100 extra seniors next year (the 100 who stayed back this year)...and then the 100 underclassmen from next year will add to the 2026 draft pool, etc. etc. You'll have the same number in the pool only they will be seniors instead of underclassmen...so more experience and more tape on them.

At worst, it would only be hurting the talent pool for one year. Say, for example, all the eligible Jr.'s stay in school this year. That would hurt the talent pool this year, but next year they would all be coming out, PLUS they would have one more year of experience. There would be fewer one year wonders to tempt GMs and then crash and burn. Seems that long term it would really help the talent pool....now, as for the quality of their poo, I really couldn't say.

Back in the day, the Patriots used to do what you are suggesting. I think they did it to Troy Brown, if I remember. If they had a player who was not performing up to his contract, they would cut him...effectively tearing up the old contract...and then re-sign him. It's also what teams like the Bills do at cut-down day at the start of the season. There are a few problems, however. A) The player needs to agree to a pay cut (which is not usually the case with the cut-down day players) B) You need to be confident that they won't jump to another team and C) You have to pay them any guaranteed money owed on the original deal. NFL contracts have never been guaranteed (which is why the Patriots could just cut Troy Brown and not owe him anything), but in recent years players have been insisting on including more and more guaranteed money in their contracts. Often, it's done through signing bonuses that get paid out right away but are spread out over the length of the contract for cap purposes. You still have to count that money against the cap if you cut him. The worst example of the guaranteed money problem is Deshaun Watson. He's almost half way through his contract which is fully guaranteed and has barely played and hasn't played well. Sure, they can cut him but they still have to pay the rest of the 230 million because it's guaranteed.

With one big difference. We have our QB extended and they still need to extend theirs. Not saying our situation is great, but that is a rough situation to be in for Miami....and now talk is that Dallas is going to sign Dak for crazy money. It's good to have Josh signed for a few years...and maybe when they restructure they can work in an extension of a few years.

We're gonna sign Zay Jones and bring him back into the fold? Where's your daughter getting her info?

Didn't Shakir have the lowest drop rate in the league? If I remember correctly, that means all other receivers were more than offsetting his success.

And in so doing implying that the records would continue to line up....meaning Allen and the Bills will win today and the next 2 playoff meetings.

Anybody else think that Josh with Sylvester Stallone hair looks like Rob Schneider?

I like when he does the pump fake 7 yards down field and players fall for it.

Are you kidding? He clearly LOVES the Bills and their fanbase. It's a click bonanza for him.

Mark Schlereth used to talk about how often professional athletes are successful because they are delusional but there are two kinds of delusions. He said the lineman who was next to him who was a future hall of famer and at the time was like a 10 year vet, perennial all pro. He said they would be in the huddle and this guy would be in a panic because he was absolutely convinced that the 7th round rookie he was going up against was going to smoke him. He was convinced that this borderline roster guy was better than him. On the other hand, some pros who are barely on the roster are convinced they are the best at their position, not only on the team but in the league. Opposite delusions both drive these athletes to success. I think you find these two mindsets in life and amongst fans. Some fans are always convinced their team has no chance against the Panthers and the others are convinced that the Ravens have ZERO chance against their team.

He does hesitate a bit with the juke and, to me, it seems like he might be thinking he should slide and thinks about it. Saw interviews that pretty much every teammate and coach were yelling "go down" and he might have heard those actual voices but certainly heard those voices in his head. It's as if he thinks, "I should slide" and then says "Aw, screw it..." and takes off.

Thank you. Between college and pro I have watched a lot of football games the last few weeks and it was driving me crazy where I saw that.

There was a game recently...maybe in the college football playoffs where this happened. A kickoff rolled to a complete stop about the five yard line and about 2 yards in bound. The returner laid down on his stomach with his feet out of bounds and touched the ball. It was therefore an illegal kick out of bounds and they got the ball out at the 40. Found a link to this example by the Packers a few years back. https://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/25/13049606/packers-kick-return-ty-montgomery-randall-cobb

On the interference call it seemed very similar to the contact against Dalton Kincaid in the end zone. Yes, he hits Kincaid early but it was close and clearly going for the ball. I'd also need to have a closer look but, to me, it didn't look like the Bills defender did actually pull the receiver. Yes, his hand is around him but seems to be resting on the receiver rather than grabbing him...which DBs will do. But again, either way, it was close and seemed consistent with the way refs were calling it.

Did we have Lamar Jackson's number or Greg Roman's? That's the concern for me. This offense looks different.