Flip Johnson

Just to verify - New England knowingly traded a damaged player to Washington for a draft pick in hopes that they could sneak him past their medical staff? Now that the plan didn't work they instantly cut him.

Rex sounds very optimistic about Henderson after being totally silent during his health issues. It looks to me like 9 O-Lineman will make the team, with CK, Groy, Velasco, and Henderson all there as backups. If Seantrel is healthy he will push Mills and may take the job away. Groy and Velasco seem like borderline NFLers - and we already know that Kouandijo cannot play guard. Any possibility Henderson could play guard in a pinch?

Absolutely dirty hit by Hall and Rex called him out in the press conference.

OK - thanks - not as bad as I initially thought, but still don't know why you'd consider carrying an extra guy for league average performance.

Great analysis. Love that he noticed Woods picking up the LB. I don't understand the people who can watch a play like that and want to complain about McCoy's contract. He is an incredible, elite talent.

I am truly wanting to know: 1. Jordan Gay was on the 2015 Bills as a kickoff specialist. The Bills ranked 24th in the NFL in touchback percentage last year. 2. Gay clearly cannot kick field goals at an NFL level as last week's preseason game indicates. 3. The new touchback rule (ball spotted on the 25) would seem to mitigate against the touchback anyway. Why would any team consider having a kickoff specialist when the advantage of a touchback has been limited? 4. By all accounts Dan Carpenter is having a good camp. And yet I heard John Murphy talking last night about the battle for kicker. Rex's press conference on Saturday seemed to indicate that they wanted to give Gay a chance. How can this possibly still be a battle?

To a certain extent we need to withhold judgment. The offensive and defensive packages are very basic so communication is not being pressed as much. However: 1) Hughes looks poised to have a dominant season. 2) Gilmore seems to have an extra level of swagger this season. 3) It's obvious that we have a lot of depth in the secondary. I don't know how much to make of the defense being "all in" this year. But guys like Corbin Bryant, Adolphus Washington, Jerel Worthy, Zach Brown, Lorenzo Alexander, etc. don't have a 19M malcontent in their ear, and they aren't resting on their laurels from 2014.

Goodwin is a legitimate playmaker, especially given TT's deep ball prowess. He is going to make the team and he will be a real part of the game plan until his inevitable season ending injury. I believe Salas is almost a sure thing. I know he is hurt right now but Rex knows what he can do. Dez Lewis has enough potential that they will try to stash him on the PS again, or he may be the 5th WR if he can show on ST or compete with Boykin. Powell is like Deonte Thompson last year. Nice camp, going to get cut. Listenbee is PS. I've heard very little on Easley's prognosis but he is active as soon as he can get off the PUP. I'm giving Greg Lewis and Kain Colter zero chance to make the team.

He really didn't have a distinguished college career. Felton is not being threatened by this kid.

No. They are the favorites but they are vulnerable this year. I live in Boston and most Pats fans think that Jimmy G will go 2-2, but that it won't matter because the team will still end up with the 12+ wins they've had each of the past six years. The more likely scenario is that the division will be contested well into December. The Pats often pick up momentum as the year goes on, but Brady's suspension WILL hurt - not just for the four games, but because for a month he'll be away from the facility, unable to practice with the team, etc. It will take that much longer for the team to get traction. When Brady comes back the team plays 3 of 4 on the road - @Browns, vs. Cinci, @ Pitt, @Bflo. Put it this way - I would be surprised in New England is better than 5-3 at the halfway point. And that means the opportunity is there for the Bills and Jets to make this a real race this year. I also think that the Brady suspension is taking attention away from his mounting age and the physical toll that he has taken, along with Gronkowski, Edelman, Dion Lewis, etc. The champ is not dead until you knock him out, but they are vulnerable this year.

Why is it that when New England overpays for our mediocre players we go into a panic? Anyone with eyes could tell you that Scott Chandler was a middling tight end with major athletic limitations. We get a real TE in Clay but suddenly because Belichick signs him Chandler must be some secret weapon. Chandler is on the street, because amazingly, Brady couldn't turn him into a superstar and a red zone nightmare. Now they have discovered a diamond in the rough in Chris Hogan. I'm so scared.

Graham makes too much money to be a 4th or 5th CB. AW at full strength is a huge addition to this defense. I believe Rambo will be in the picture but not as a definitive starter.

This is a not a meaningful statement. They completely overhauled the offense from 2014 to 2015. New QB, new O-Line, new backfield, new receivers, new coordinator. Of course the defensive changes will not be that extreme.

Classic chicken vs. egg scenario. A lot of the coaches I mentioned actually peaked in year 2 and then couldn't sustain what little they had built up. With Rex, if he can build, the team will finally make the playoffs.

Since "continuity" seems to be the operative word heading into 2016, I looked at Bills' coaches since Marv to see if there is evidence to support this idea of stability. I am looking at W-L record in year 2 for the last 8 Bills head coaches, as compared to year 1. - Levy +3 in year 2 (4-12 to 7-8. If you count '87 as his first year, then he is +5 in year 2). - Wade Phillips +1 in year 2 (10-6 to 11-5) - Gregg Williams +5 in year 2 (3-13 to 8-8) - Mike Mularkey -4 in year 2 (9-7 to 5-11) - Dick Jauron - Even in year 2 (typical DJ - 7-9 both years) - Chan Gailey +2 in year 2 (4-12 to 6-10) - Doug Marrone +3 in year 2 (6-10 to 9-7) - Rex Ryan - ??? In summary five out 7 coaches previous to Rex made advances, one stayed even, and one got worse. I don't believe that any of our coaches from Gregg Williams through Marrone would be considered league average or above, and yet the results in year 2 of their program generally showed progress. Obviously, there are multiple factors in play - some of these coaches set such a low bar in year 1 that it was relatively easy to get better. Also, Rex is not inheriting an overhauled roster the way Gailey or Williams did. But there is evidence to suggest that W/L should improve in the second year of the HC regime.

Amazing - that guy has played in 46 games with the Bills. I cannot think (or reference) a single big play he made here.

I am not convinced Thurman is safe, especially given Carucci's track record of late.

False. Edelman's return will help them but will not make a big enough difference. The cumulative effect of injuries to Edelman, Amendola, Dion Lewis, their O-Line, and even Gronk is going to do them in.

I'll raise you one. Tyrod looked like a professional QB the entire season.

Look at Fitz's numbers against Rex in the last five years. Plus the Jets are in the awkward situation of having a must-win road game against a team that they are supposed to beat. This is a Bills W and will leave the Jets heartbroken and the Bills fans frustrated at what might have been.

Good for him. We are in the midst of a leadership transition and Sammy has stayed healthy long enough to develop some credibility.

Looks like Roman is safe, although I thought that about Pettine in 2013. The Bills have not had continuity at GM, HC, QB, OC, and DC in many years.

+1 And Pegula knows it.

This guy has played 140+ games, he'll be in his 11th season next year, and he's probably known all season that he isn't coming back at 20M. Even if he was playing great, Rex/Whaley could find a 3-4 OLB who could rush the passer for less than half that money. It is in his financial interest to convince as many people as possible that his dramatic statistical decline is entirely about scheme and has nothing to do with the wear and tear on his body. He still wants to sign a lucrative multi-year deal. Again, not defending Rex's scheme per se, just saying the division in the locker room seems to be coming from someone with an obvious agenda. When you throw in his track record of dubious financial decisions (remember the diamond ring lawsuit?) and remember that he's never been seen as a leader on this team this starts to seem obvious.

Again, not letting Rex off the hook for failure to get players coached up and understanding what he is trying to accomplish. But to refer back to the second Pats game, where we all appear to agree that the game plan was sound and the defense was aggressive: the Pats biggest play happened because DUKE Williams missed a tackle. Duke is playing because of injuries. Does anyone think that if Schwartz was here and just letting the front four loose that Kevin Reddick, AJ Tarpley, Manny Lawson, Tony Steward, and Randell Johnson would be effective at the second level?