GunnerBill

That's awesome. I have seen Zidane, Messi and Maldini in the flesh I think they are probably the best 3 players I have had the pleasure to see live.

Not only our best win but I think the 2nd best team we have played after Baltimore. I'd take them straight up vs Houston.

I get Cincy at 9-8 as the 7th seed playing at Buffalo in the wildcard. I might be too low on Denver in my picking games. I'm frankly amazed they have won as many as they have thus far. Interestingly in the NFC I ended up with San Fran missing out at 10-7.

Yea Osman was before my time. But I remember Wark from his third spell at Ipswich early Premier League years when men were men and shorts were short.

You fell in love with the chain gang? Yea.... that might just be you. I think officiating has always been about the same. The thing that leads to so many unwatchable flag fests now is the rule book has got ever more complicated and that is where I'd start in trying to tidy it up.

He was playing hurt in the Bengal game two years ago. From memory I think he was healthy last year.

Ah yes I have seen it. Years and years ago tho with my grandad. Pele, Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles and, bizarrely, John Wark.

Josh Norman had a career year playing for McDermott's D in Carolina the year they made the Superbowl in 2015. He never played at that level before or after. But he was a pretty good player in 2013 and 2014 with the Panthers and in 2016 and 2017 with Washington. He never lived up to his contract in Washington but that is because he was paid on the back of that one career year as the best paid corner in football (which was always silly). But his first two seasons there he was still a good corner. As for Tre White... Tre was an elite corner in the league. Pointing at struggles in LA after two major injuries doesn't prove your point. Douglas is who he is. I don't think he was great anywhere else or has been great here and Levi Wallace for reasons I've already explained to you is not a legit comparison. You are just wrong on Benford.

Maybe he can, maybe he can't. Maybe he re-injures it and it DOES affect whether he can play in three weeks. I'm definitely not.

That isn't how injuries work I'm afraid. His wrist is hurting now. Not in 5 weeks.

Haha I will be as loud as anyone on Sunday.

I generally agree. The exceptions being win or go home games when you might push a guy. This isn't that so they should be cautious.

It is worth fighting for. I am not saying this game does not matter. Not saying that at all. I am just saying it isn't a prize worth taking any unnecessary injury risks with players nursing things.

As I said in my first comment in the thread, it's definitely concerning that there may be some disconnect between the team and the player about whether he is ready to go. But ultimately if the only difference between the two positions is whether he plays this week I'm absolutely fine with erring on the side of uber cautious. If he misses Sunday, has the bye and is still saying he can't go against the 49ers that is the moment to really freak out about it. For now it is a concern but a concern with a small impact.

He obviously doesn't think he is healthy enough to play. Players know their bodies. Of course some have higher pain thresholds than others, but I just don't see the sense of taking a risk at this point if he is saying he is not healthy enough to play.

There is a difference between forfeiting the game / not trying to win and pressing a player who is not fully healthy into action ahead of time. If this was week 18 and a win and you're in game, or it was a playoff game they should do absolutely everything to get Cooper on the field. But it isn't that. It's a regular season home game at 8-2. If you play Cooper this week and he re-injures or further injures the wrist I think that would go down as a bad risk/reward decision.

Even if they win this week I don't think this Bills team goes 3-0 out of the bye. Do I see the Chiefs losing two more games even if the Bills do beat them? Not without a Mahomes injury, no. So if it is a question of rushing Cooper back for this week or holding him out, letting him have basically a full month to rest the wrist and get it right for the stretch run I'd take the latter.

that is not true re. the Browns oline. They had pretty good offensive lines in the early part of the last decade - that 2010-2015 period. The teams stunk, sure. But the offensive line was by far their best unit in that period.

Definitely concerning, but I'm not going to freak out about this yet. I'm fine if they sit him this week and through the bye personally. I know what that means for our chances this week but honestly to get the 1 seed is a massive ask anyway.

Yes it would have to be this offseason (or a tag and trade next season I suppose). You wouldn't get a 1st. Maybe you wouldn't get a 2nd either... but you might get a 3rd and something else. That was what the Chiefs did with Sneed. Got the 4 years of excellent play, tagged, traded and got a 3rd and a late pick I think. And the benefit of that over comp pick is you get the 3rd straight away rather than waiting a year. Agree reality is it is moot.

Yep. Some of that is obviously driven by injuries the past two weeks to Cooper and Coleman but more of it is also driven by going into the season with Mack Hollins as a starter before the trade for Cooper. And that's on Brandon Beane. The fact that the Bills are 8-2 despite it does not change the fact it was a poor example of roster building.

Groot and Benford this year, Bernard next year is a pretty safe bet I think. Shakir is the wildcard, definitely think they keep him, but when they do it might depend if they think there is a saving to be made by going early.

Benford is the only one I'd definitely pay so in order of priority we are not that different. You are just wrong about Benford's talent level and the differencial to some other guy McDermott can find and get good play from. I'd be willing to extend Bernard but only on a shorter deal. If he will take 3 years I'd do it.... similar to Matt and Taron's first non-rookie deals. I think he is in a similar spot as they were.... non-premium position, has missed some time, but makes plays when he is out there. The Bills have ended up with all pro level play from those other two and I'd be willing to make the bet again with Bernard but if he wants a big 5 year commitment I'm not going there and regrettably I'd let him walk. They also did Milano after the expiry of his rookie deal just before FA and that would be my play on Bernard. I'm not doing it this spring, I'm trying to get it done next year before free agency opens. Shakir there is a level at which I'd be willing to do it, but it requires him leaving money on the table. If he wants north of $20m that is too much for any slot receiver not name Amon-Ra St Brown. Cook, like him though I do, I'm not even talking turkey with. I'm not paying a running back. I think the Bills will sign the first three though. Cook I do believe walks, but I expect the Bills to retain Benford, Bernard and Shakir. The slight cap management challenge when your GM misses on early pick and hits late is it means any extension is a cost rather than a saving cap wise in year 1. The Bills would save money on the 2025 cap by extending Groot (which I also expect them to do) but Benford, Bernard and Shakir would all be extra money on the 2025 cap if you do them this spring. Think that forces you to stagger them over 2 years.

I'm probably slightly influenced by the fact that when I started watching the NFL the Rams were still in their late "Greatest Show on Turf" era... but my head goes straight to Orlando Pace. Interesting to see so many throwing Trent Williams in. He is definitely a future HoFer and the best of this generation. Tyron Smith is the other guy from the past decade who was perennially elite but the last 2 or 3 years injuries have definitely affected him and he has sucked on the Jets this year.

See you are doing it again... Benford is atypical of the late round corners McDermott has a history with. The only thing he has in common with Jackson and Wallace is he was picked on day 3. As a talent he isn't even comparable.