GunnerBill

Yea. Placebo effect. They think "man I'm gonna be so focussed because of that" but when they get on the field that isn't what makes him make great throws, or good decisions. It's technique, talent and split second decision making. Yea. Placebo effect. He thought it made him better, so he kept doing it.

No I don't think it did. I think Josh Allen being in a better place mentally away from football and in a better designed offense that sought to simplify the decisions for him and reduced the opportunities for him to get himself into trouble were the factors behind it. Oh and just his insane level of natural talent. I think Josh Allen is a guy with incredible natural drive and determination to win. I don't think he needs people talking about him to foster that.

He wasn't a 1st round type Quarterback talent even before the injury. Good college QB, sad for him to end without ever really getting a shot in the pros because of health, but his ceiling was in any event somewhat limited.

As is well known on these boards I think bulletin board stuff is total mumbo jumbo placebo effect. It has no impact on performance.

Behave. He isn't calling out the MVP. He is doing exactly the opposite. He is saying that guy's the best so that's the one I wanna get. You have to be seriously sensitive to have a problem with this.

Cook has been in the league three seasons. His worst year ypa is better than all but one of Swift's five seasons in the league. Where they are similar is they both have the ability to stop their feet and then accelerate and burst quickly. But Swift doesn't have nearly Cook's vision. His misses too many holes. Sure, when you put a line that blows people off the ball in front of him he can be a big play threat. But he doesn't have the consistency in finding the smaller running lanes of Cook. And no, McDermott doesn't play favourites. He plays the guys who can help the team win.

Oh he is WAAAY better than DeAndre Swift. And I disagree he isn't a difference maker without gaping holes. The whole point about Cook is he makes the most of holes that are not gaping because he has elite vision. Did he have some runs last year where the Bills line just blew guys off the ball and he exploded through untouched? Yep. But he had multiple runs in that 8 to 20 yard bracket where a back with less vision is stopped at the line, or for a gain of one. While you are right he isn't a great pass blocker (nor is Ray Davis mind you, that's why Ty does it) if the Bills end up going from Cook to Davis that is a significant downgrade at the position. Normally I'd be like "meh, it's a downgrade at running back, who cares?" but the fact is until this offense gets better at generating explosive plays in the pass game outside of scramble drill those explosive runs are going to matter. He will play the season. 100%. He won't be here for OTAs. He won't be here for mandatory minicamp at a guess. He might not show up day 1 for camp. But by the tail of end of camp Cook will be here, he will be practicing and he will be ready for the season.

I think Edwards will walk after this year. The thing that stopped him getting good FA money when he left the Rams was injury. He has always been a good NFL starting guard, but he struggled staying healthy in his time there. If he plays a full year in 2025 to back up a full year in 2024 and continues to be a kind of 7/10 most weeks type performer he will go to the highest bidder next spring and the Bills would probably be looking at about a 5th round comp in value (obviously depending what else they do). The Bills will then either extend or use the RFA tag on Alec Anderson and let him and Tylan Grable have a competition for that spot at a guess. It is why Chase Lundt is a very interesting selection. While the Bills have a settled OL group this year there is potential for some movement next year and I think they see Lundt as a guy who could shift inside and compete or at least offer depth at guard. McGovern I think will stay and I think his number will come in around $10m AAV.

Yea it's where I am too. I actually mind less about AAV. It is length of commitment that concerns me. 3 years $45m but I can get put after 2 years with no more than say a $6-7m dead cap? Yea I think I'm in.

I agree Dion is the 2nd best player on our offense. It is then Cook or Spencer Brown for 3rd. McGovern is the next tier below. But there remains a sizeable gap IMO between Cook and our other backs.

I'm planning a holiday to Mexico in either the 2nd or 3rd week of November. Holding off until the schedule is out as I don't want to risk being mid air (or otherwise unable to access a device) when the Bills are playing..... knowing my luck I'd avoid Sunday and the Bills would end up some other weird and wonderful time that clashes with my travel plans.

Yea I think I heard both Joe Marino and Sal speculate about his spot on the roster this week. Maybe they are right and I am wrong but I think he is a lock to get some time early at a rotational 1T and if he is somewhat effective when the NFL releases the Beane Two after week 6 I think there is a chance they could move on from Daquan Jones unless he is really back to form.

Having seen him in the Embedded video I do hope so. That is one young man I hope to see a LOT more of..... 😍

This is fair. It is his take it to the house, explosives I think are hard to replace. And because we don't have a super explosive pass game beyond Josh scramble drills I think they have more value than they might in other situations. What I would also say is while our line definitely created a ton of good holes last year Cook has such good vision and that plays a part too. Davis found the big holes when they were there but he wasn't as good at finding the smaller creases as Jimbo. On the subject of the insta posts.... I am pretty confident at this stage that Cook will play this year contract or not. He will hold out as long as he can, but he isn't going to not play. The fact he is still positing Bills photos suggests he still wants to be on the team and this is just the business side where his agent is trying to maximise negotiating leverage - as he is totally within his rights to do.

I agree re. Moore. I got told by someone who was at that point still in the organisation Beane was heartbroken to let Gabe go and they suspected others had talked him out of paying him.

Believe me there is. Brandon Beane loves him. If he comes back that is a 100% Beane decision.

I mean he was nowhere near as bad in coverage as Bishop last year. That is why he started. We all hope Bishop has improved past Hamlin. But if he hasn't then he won't start.

The next draft is also in Pittsburgh I don't think they saw Pickens as a core young guy in that building. I think they had decided they were not paying him. This cashes him in for a pick.

Shakir #1 Kincaid and Palmer #2 & 3 in some order Coleman #4 Moore, Samuel and Knox #5-7 in some order

I am not agreeing Walker was great but I agree on the rest.

Yea, Bech and Thornton are rookies. Bech is an inside/outside flex guy and Meyers is the same. Thornton is EXTREMELY raw and is a package player as a rookie to me. He runs two routes. They don't have a single serviceable true outside vet receiver.

That's true. The place that immediately jumps out to me is Vegas who have basically zero established outside receivers.

I think it is a little bit higher than 50-50. Really depends what his market is but coming off a bad injury last year and the timing of this release (i.e. after teams have put together their rosters) the chances are he takes a 1 year, prove-it type deal. The Bills and Beane in particular loved him as a guy and a teammate.

Matt's still on the list, but losing Stef and JoPo in a single offseason was a blow.

I think the back probably plays a part in that (although his pad level was concerning even in 2023).