msw2112

Brown was a good player and had a long successful career. He also seems to be a great guy. I don't consider him an all-time great.

When I lived in Buffalo, I went to several games every season. After I moved away, I attempted to get back for at least 1 game per year. In recent years, family & work obligations have prevented that, but I'm out West now and try to catch games in this part of the world. I was at the last road Rams game (a win despite the Rex factor), Chargers game (the Peterman debacle), Broncos game (a loss, can't remember too many details) and Cardinals game (an OT win, but very ugly game). I am planning to attend Arizona and Denver this year if fans are permitted.

I'm not too hot and bothered about this. Dan O is entitled to his opinion, even though I disagree with it. Allen's numbers are not great, but he does so many things that statistics don't show. He's a great leader, plays with passion and seems to have the 4th quarter clutch gene. He needs to improve his accuracy and stop putting the ball on the carpet. He can (and I believe will) improve in those areas. Tua may turn out to be great, but I always take QBs from certain programs with a grain of salt. Tua had an NFL caliber offensive line, NFL caliber WRs, and an NFL caliber set of receivers. He's certainly talented, but he was also surrounded by talent that far exceeded that of his opponents (except for maybe LSU and Clemson). He won't have that benefit with the 'Fins and he's coming off a pretty serious injury. Plus, the number of first round QBs that bust in the NFL is pretty high. We'll see.

I'm more of a traditionalist, so I don't like it. The on-sides kick is an important part of the game that has always been. If the new rule passes, however, I could learn to like it.

I question whether Dak is worth that kind of money. I do NOT question whether Mahomes is worth that kind of money. 2 years as a starter, 1 trip to the AFC title game, 1 Super Bowl win, 1 MVP and record setting numbers. He also came back from a pretty bad injury to lead the team, showing grit and toughness. Dak signing for $35M is bad for the Bills as far as Allen's price tag if he continues to progress, but Mahomes signing for $40M is good for the Bills. Allen would likely command the same or more than Dak, but less than Mahomes. That said, if Allen has a MVP and a Super Bowl victory in the next couple of years, he will also be worth $40M+ and it will be a good problem for the Bills to have.

I'm a big Allen fan and think he will continue to develop and become one of the best in the league. I still have some doubts. Can anyone point to examples of NFL QBs who flashed great potential in their first couple of years, but had some question marks, and eventually became great? I would exclude a guy like Aaron Rodgers, who was not starting and playing in his first few years. Cam Newton was fantastic as a rookie, so he doesn't follow this pattern. I think Big Ben had a great rookie year too, so he wouldn't fit the bill. Mahomes only started 1 game as a rookie then was lights out in year 2, so again, he wouldn't fit the bill either. Brady was on the bench, but became an instant winner once he took over the starting job, so again, doesn't fit the mold. One that kind of fits the bill is Alex Smith, who struggled his first few years, but eventually became very good (but not great). I'd appreciate any input from the board. It would make me feel better about Allen's prospects if we can find suitable comparisons for high potential guys took some time to reach the highest levels, but got there....

Keep in mind that Brady will be 43 years old this season. If he craps the bed at age 43, that doesn't discount what he accomplished earlier in his career. If he craps the bed this season, all it says to me is that he hung around too long and should have retired.

Fromm is an ideal candidate for a backup QB role. Smart, humble, etc. Has talent but not elite, so probably not a huge threat to the starter, but can come in and keep the chains moving and not make a lot of mistakes. The upside is that he shows really well and can be dealt for a higher draft pick in the future, the likelihood is that he shows OK and is a good, reasonably priced backup for years to come, and the downside is that he's a bust and you're out a 5th round pick, which isn't a big deal in the scheme of things. A good draft pick in this slot.

I think that Terrell Suggs also fell in the draft due to his more limited athleticism. Some guys don't test well but are just great football players. Let's hope AJ is one of those guys. Other guys are great athletes and/or put up great combine numbers, but are not necessarily great football players. Bills FB Jamie Mueller from the Super Bowl teams was one of those guys. Mueller was a decent football player and a good guy to have on the roster, but he was not a standout on the field, despite stellar combine numbers. His career stat are in the graphic below. (My apologies - I can't figure out how to make the image larger, but if you click on it, it expands.)

My main point, which I now see I didn't state clearly, was that limiting him running was simply to protect him from injury. He's so valuable that we need him healthy. So even if the defense gives it, I might not recommend taking it at times when it isn't necessary. If he could run wild with no threat of injury, I'd be all for him running all the time. (And I also respect your point of view....)

I agree that you don't want to take away Allen's running game. That said, save it for broken plays where he can scramble for the 1st down, safely get out of bounds or slide. I'd also limit designed runs for him to the 4th quarter of close, meaningful games, playoff games, etc. No designed runs early in games, in blowouts, in games after playoff position has been determined (amazing we can say that about the Bills these days!), etc. OK - may be an occasional QB sneak on 3rd or 4th and short, but Moss may be able to help in those situations.

Unfortunately, there's a good chance Tampa (and all other teams) will be playing in an empty stadium again this year....

I like Dillon and think he'd be a good choice, but not that high. I see him going in mid rounds.

I like Uche or Dobbins. I love Michigan and hate Ohio State, but colleges aside, you have to go with the BPA. That said, the Bills haven't had a great track record with Buckeyes. A few that come to mind are Adolphus Washington, Cardale Jones, Tim Anderson and Donte Whitner. Balancing that out, Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield were good. Not a lot of Wolverines, although Jay Riemersma was a decent TE for us and I think we had a brief stint with TE Mark Campbell who was also OK. Dobbins looks like a real stud. I like Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin too, but I recently learned (from this board!) that he has fumbling issues, so that disqualifies him. Dobbins was pretty dominant in the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson last year (and against Wisconsin and Michigan), some of the top DLs in college football, and he was really good all season long. I inserted a screen cutout below, although it's a little hard to read. Uche was also terrific all season. Either would be great additions to the roster.

I like Taylor, Dobbins and Dillon. My scope is a bit limited, as I haven't seen that many of the guys play. I saw both Taylor and Dobbins play live last year and both were dominant against top 10 defenses. Plus, others from Wisconsin and Ohio State have been successful in the league. I know Dillon as a former Michigan commit, who ended up at BC (I think an injury may have been involved with the change in schools), and he had a great career at BC. I have not seen him play, but like what I have read about him and think we can get him in the mid rounds. Plus, his size is a nice complement and change of pace to Singletary. I don't see Taylor and Dobbins surviving the 2nd round.

I like Herbie and Fowler for college games - not sure if they would be the right fit for NFL. It really surprises me how the networks struggle so much to find decent talent. With all the national and local sportscasters out there, you'd think that the top networks and the top leagues could find a few decent broadcast teams. As to some of the other names that were mentioned in the thread, I like Harland and I like Gus Johnson. I love Chris Speilman the person and the player, but not a huge fan of him as a broadcaster. I really dislike Spiro Dedes and cringe every time he gets assigned to a Bills broadcast, but I'd listen to him 24/7 before having to listen to Beth Mowins.

Third year in the same system, a young quality RB, Diggs and 2 other good WRs, a quality line that will be in its second season of continuity and could be even better (Ford may improve and they got the new OL from Carolina), Knox and Sweeney improving and Kroft staying healthy at TE, I'm a big Allen fan, but agree that he'll be out of excuses this year.

I think that teams should have 3 QBs, of the following types: 1) a bona-fide, unquestioned starter; 2) a veteran backup; and 3) a developmental guy. Depending on how heralded the developmental guy is, you can stash him on the PS, or you have to keep all 3 on the roster. The veteran offers mentoring and game experience, while the developmental guy offers future potential and someone to run the scout team. After a few years, the developmental guy might become the veteran backup and you get another developmental guy. Some teams draft a QB every year and I like that idea. If your #1 is a younger guy that looks like he'll be around a while, you can go late rounds or UDFA for the developmental guy. My whole model fails for some teams, like the Bills of the past, if you can't find the #1. It's great that the Bills finally have the #1!

I liked Whaley, and the Watkins trade notwithstanding, he brought some good talent to the roster. The defense under Schwartz was excellent. Whaley's downfall was due to 2 things: 1) his inability to find a franchise QB, a sure GM killer; and 2) getting stuck with Rex and not having the clout (or desire) to stop that hiring from happening. Despite liking Whaley, I am glad that team moved on and think that the current regime is much better.

I was not a fan of the red helmets at the time, but I got used to them after a while. I believe the whites ones they wear today look better, but wearing the reds as a throwback to the most successful years in the history of the franchise might be a cool look. I'm not into uniforms that much and I think the Bills are fine, but I did really hate the Sabres' goat head and banana slug uniforms and believe that they look way better in royal blue vs. navy blue - the Bills too.

Allen's passing TD numbers need to go up, as do the RB TD numbers. I wouldn't be upset if Allen's rushing TD numbers went DOWN. The hope is that others pick up the slack (and more) and Allen is less exposed to injury and opportunity to fumble.

I didn't notice much, if any, change either. Maybe a bit of a lightning bolt coming out of the bottom of the "A" in Los "A" ngeles. I have no issue with the changes (if you want to call them that), but I really don't see anything to promote.

I guess the thought is that you don't publicly call out your own guys. That said, I didn't think the comment was all that bad and for Ross to give his honest opinion isn't the worst thing in the world. I think Rosen probably wishes he was a better player in 2019 too. As to Ross, he may not be the best or most successful NFL owner, but he didn't get to be a billionaire by being timid.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I still think Rosen has enough talent that, in the right situation, he could salvage his career. The Arizona team that he was on was the worst in the league and had one of the worst offensive lines that I have ever seen. Then, the Miami team that started this past season wasn't much better. I admit that they improved as the season went on, and that was partially attributable to Fitzpatrick's play in lieu of Rosen, but also the product of some great coaching by Flores. For Rosen to improve/salvage his career, he'd need to come on as a #2 on a good team with a stable scheme and stable coaching staff, and develop. I'm not saying he'd be an All-Pro, but maybe a decent player worthy of a spot on an NFL roster. Knowing what I know now, I would still take Allen 10 times out of 10 over Rosen. I didn't feel that way on draft day and was wrong.

Gordon: most talented, but wants to be paid too much and likely won't want to split carries with Singletary (as stated above) Freeman: injured quite a bit the last couple of years, but very talented if healthy Hyde: solid, but least talented of the bunch Miller: also solid, but not much tread left on the tire Surprisingly, I just looked all of them up and Freeman, Hyde and Miller are all 28, while Gordon is 26. If we didn't have Devin, I'd say Gordon, but since we do, I'd cast my lot with Freeman. As a complimentary back, he may not get as banged up as he's been and the Bills current training regimen has a good track record for keeping guys healthy. We definitely should add a RB in the draft, but I guess we also need a veteran on the roster. Does Yeldon qualify as that? Another question: how does Yeldon stack up against these four FA options?