SoMAn

I canceled NFLST for this year. Will I re-up? I don't know. We'll get all the usual prime-time national and and 4:25 games. We'll know which games and times 6 days from now. That's a given. Because we play the NFC South division that includes Atlanta (where I live), it's very possible I might also get local broadcasts of Carolina, Saints, and Bucs games when they face the Bills. A little extra bonus. In the past, there've been Bills vs Miami (or some other team), and the local stations always show NFC South games even if the matchups suck. As far as he cost is concerned, I'm Elmer J. Fudd. I own a mansion and yacht. So, clearly I can afford it. But it's the idea of paying almost $500 for what could amount to maybe to 5 or 6 games only available with NFLST - just bad bang for the buck. I already subscribe to NFL+ through the NFL app. The game is shown in it's entirety immediately following the end of the live game. That's one option. I could wait and watch it on the app with the delay, (would rather watch live). Or I can go to a friend's house. Or to our local Anchor Bar. The cost of an afternoon at a sports bar made the Sunday Ticket a good bargain. But not if it amounts to $100/game for the ticket. But, Youtube and NFL are really getting greedy. There are already at least 5 or 6 games every week on local TV or with cable, (ESPN), Netflix, Amazon, etc. Even more during Thanksgiving week, Christmas week and other times. When Bye weeks come into play, there may only be 13 games shown, or rather, only 7 or 8 on NFLST. So, with the odds of having an attractive team (like the Bills) on TV locally, NFLST doesn't make much sense for me this year. When the schedule comes out next week, I'll have a better idea of which course to take, but highly unlikely I'll get the ticket this year.

It seems aisle seats are the preferred ones by most. I'm in the minority on this one. Since I keep my ass planted and rarely need to go anywhere before halftime or before the conclusion of the game, I like the middle. Sitting on the aisle, you can count on restless/hungry fans or the ones with small bladders who have to squeeze past you throughout the entirety of the game. It's worse when you're near young kids with short attention spans who have to come and go every 15 minutes and kick your drink over in the process. I'll take the middle given the choice.

Kaiir Elam's inactive roster spot will be much improved

No kidding. My handle is southern man. The Ga Bulldogs are top dogs over Falcons or any other team here.

A better option may have been to make an offer for tight end T.J. Hockenson in 2022 when the Lions made him available. Division foe Minnesota Vikings got him from for a 2nd and 3rd the following year. I'm still not sure what the issue was with the Hockenson/Lions relationship. I thought he was a decent TE.

No. The offense has been productive. It doesn't much matter if the points on the scoreboard come from rushing, the tush push, dink and dunk, play action, bubble screens, statue of liberty, etc. What should be obvious to anyone following the team is that It's the limitations of the defensive personnel that have kept the Bills from progressing further in the playoffs. The offense has been scoring points. EVERYONE knew the defensive side of the ball needed the most attention in the draft and FA signings. It would be great to have a marquee WR, but it's unlikely a team can fulfill their entire Wishlist in one offseason. Maybe Cooper comes back and becomes a role player. Along with Shakir, Samuel, Kincaid, Knox, Palmer, and progress from Coleman, the Bills have a decent enough stable of pass catchers. Add to that Ty Johnson, Cook, and Davis (who've all shown the ability to run routes and catch passes), I think the Bills will be just fine. Even better if they can count on an improved D to get the ball back to them with greater frequency.

They scored record points for a season. I don't GAF about passing yards or a lot of other stats that fantasy footballers get hung up on. The only stat that really matters is number of wins. And if the Bills made a serious effort in the final game, would have had a 14-win regular season - a team record. Why should anyone care about passing yards? Stats are often deceptive without in-depth analysis that can provide the real story. Wins. The only stat that matters unless you're invested in the Fantasy game. Marino had amazing passing stats. You can count on zero hand his number of Super Bowl wins. Elite WRs in the FA market are usually cost prohibitive when a team is trying to have competitive balance throughout the entire team roster. The Bills best bet for a top-tier receiver is to find an affordable one in the draft. They'd either have to get real lucky or find a way to trade into the top 15. The best receivers coming out of college are usually gone by the time the Bills get to pick. The idea that the Bills should have gotten their ace receiver this offseason is a head-scratcher. Offer a viable solution. Clearly, Beane didn't see a better option. If you or anyone has a better plan for securing the elusive #1 WR, I'd love to hear it.

Josh lost his best WR before last season. It didn't seem to impede their progress. On the contrary. They 86'ed the diva superstar WR and had their best record and went the AFC Championship game, and very nearly the Super Bowl.

The problem here is can you get an accurate assessment of value without including the QB? You can have the best tandem of WRs in the league, but if your QB is a six-foot noodle-armed player with poor field vision and minimal leadership skills, what have you really got? Josh has shown that he can make the most of a WR group minus a standout #1. So, the question should maybe be, would you rather have a QB of Josh's caliber and average WRs, or great WRs with a middle of the pack QB? The answer should be obvious. For me, the QB is the ace in the hole that teams scramble for years trying to find. After Kelly and Marino, the Bills and Dolphins looked to fill that void for decades after the HOF careers of those legends. Unfortunately, top WRs now command idiot money. The Bills are trying to balance the team, spreading out their skill throughout the squad. The good news is that Buffalo is now an attractive landing spot for players. Maybe they'll get a #1 with a FA looking at a one year prove-deal that they can parlay into bigger money. Maybe they'll find that 5th round Stefon Diggs difference maker in 2026. To answer the question honestly, in my opinion, any team's WR group is only as good as their QB. Would I love to see someone like Jefferson lined up opposite Coleman? Sure. But, not at the expense of the rest of the team.

The whole Cook fiasco is beyond stupid. He's under contract! He has few options. Sure, he can sit out. That way he can lose a decent paycheck and at the same time compromise any negotiating leverage with other teams. Ideally, he'd want to play his balls off in 2025 off to increase his value in FA. As far as drafting or signing another RB - there were greater needs. Also, there may not have been a back the Bills thought fit their culture or talent level. Should they just sign any warm body to fill the position? Ray Davis may be to James Cook what Thurman was to then starter Ronnie Harmon. Davis looks very capable. The Bills still have Frank Gore Jr., who looked serviceable. There's also someone called Darrynton Evans and FB Reggie Gilliam in the backfield. The Bills are in the driver's seat. Cook will play in 2025 after which the Bills can slap the franchise tag on him, trade him, sign another FA, or draft another back in 2026. The Bills have options - not Cook. How much of James Cook's posturing is attributed to bad advice from big brother Dalvin whispering in his ear? He's on his 4th team since 2022. I doubt he's making top dollar as a journeyman. Maybe he should let little bro and his agent handle the business end of it. If James is smart, he'll shut up and let his play on the field speak for itself, and then he can get the money thing sorted out after the Bills win the Super Bowl next February.

I think that's very possible. Maybe even (*gulp*) # 1, depending on injuries, head to head, and other yet to be determined factors that could derail the Bills' hopes for a 6th straight division title. They gave the Bills a run for their money in the late December game in Buffalo when the Bills were still fighting for their playoff positioning. Of course the Pat won the final in NE, but I don't count that one since the Bills were playing reserves in a game that was meaningless as far as playoff seeding was concerned.

It would be cool to showcase Buffalo and WNY for the draft, but with the volume of attendees today, the lack of local accommodations makes it impractical. It's funny how not too many years ago the NFL draft was just another day at the office, held during the work week with most fans catching up on the picks in the local newspaper or watching the local evening sports news with Rick Azar, et al. Then, ESPN started televising the draft picks in real time. (desperate for content) Eventually, it turned into a minor event with draftnik attendees getting a seat in a ballroom in New York. A lot of whiney, disappointed meathead Jet fans in attendance almost made it worthwhile. Now, it's a huge deal, with thousands gathered to patiently hear their team make it's choices or watch their favorite player get picked. This is a great example of how people can be manipulated by hype. A non-event has become must-see event and a hot ticket for some. It's cool that these folks, (mostly a younger partying crowd), enjoy the event. Personally, I can't imagine standing there, surrounded by a mass of boisterous fans for hours, waiting for one NFL prospect to be revealed. Last year when the Bills traded out of the first round, I have to think there were Buffalo fans who stood there all day eagerly anticipating the Bills' pick, only to go home or back to their hotel with nothing to show for it but a pair of aching feet and a sweaty tee-shirt. Yes, the NFL is the master of hype. Now, the schedule is the next 'big' (non) event. Can't wait. 😃 They need to come up with something to keep fans engaged in June.🙄

With multiple tumbles and misfooting I can’t help but wonder if he had the wrong cleats for whatever the turf or conditions were. Was that a trend in real game action throughout his college career?

For a past Buffalo Bill comparison I’m thinking maybe more like DE Aaron Schobel.

I couldn't go higher than A- without picking a 'sure thing' blue chip player that usually goes in the top ten. Also, it's all speculation at this point. But, my optimism has me believing the Bills got a handful of future starters/rotational players that will contribute to the ongoing playoff streak.

Same here. We're in a golf community, and there are a lot of kids driving those things. Most of our streets have minor inclines, and I've see those kids rip down the hills right through the stop signs. I've express the same concern as you. I think it's only a matter of time before there's a serious incident that results in injury (or worse). As far as the Elway accident - was the guy standing on the back of the cart where the bags go? I'm not quite understanding the scenario. I can't picture him sitting in the seat, falling out from the side, and hitting his head. If he was standing on the bag carrier, or if there was a rear seat kit, I can see how someone could take a tumble if he wasn't prepared for a sudden acceleration. Regardless, it's a freak accident that I'm sure will haunt Elway for the rest of his life.

Coleman was still learning and was playing with an injured hand. The Bills were exceeding expectations in what many believed would be a ‘transition year’. When the experienced pro bowl receiver became available at a reasonable price, Beane and Co. probably thought, ‘let’s go for it. We’re in the thick of it for a playoff spot, and maybe even the top seed.’ It was a gamble. The return investment was minimal, but it was a worthwhile risk. They don’t call Beane ‘big balls’ for nothing.

Her hasty interjection would indicate they met on some seedy dating site or possibly an escort service situation. Either way, it appears to be a mutually agreeable relationship, so good for them. He's got the young chick with the perky satellite-seekers, and she's got access to a luxurious lifestyle on Bill's yacht and fancy restaurants. No money worries. When Bill gets busy during the season with 18 hour work days, she can roam free, spoiling herself shopping for designer clothes, sporty cars, and 'socializing' with young guys her own age. As long as she doesn't forget to stop at the pharmacy for Bill's little blue pills, he'll be happy and so will she.

I don't think that was the kind of leak the OP was referring to.

When we were kids there was an Asian-owned cleaners called 'Walnut Cleaners'. To us they all sounded like South Park's City Wok guy. We called them to ask if it was Chestnut Cleaners. When they said (with their accent) "no, dis is warnut creaners', our punchline was "oh, we must have the wrong nuts". We thought it was so funny. But, we were probably 8 years old and armed with the local Yellow pages. In hindsight, it is funny only because we were such little snot-nosed idiots. Ahhh, marvelous days for immature boys before the advent of call ID.

Do you have Prince Albert in a can?

For all you experts who are disappointed that the Bills didn't get a WR earlier in the draft - give us a name that would have made you happy. It's so easy to say "get a wide receiver". WR1's don't just grow on trees. There obviously wasn't one available at their pick that fit the grade the Bills'staff had on them. Glad they didn't 'reach'. Going into the draft, everyone knew they were going to target DT, DE, and CB early on - areas of need. Nobody can deny that the defense needed fortification. Those needs were addressed with the first 3 picks, rightly so. So, my question for those whining about the lack of a receiving threat - who was available that they could have chosen that would've provided an upgrade to the existing squad? Realistically, any rookie WR is going to experience some challenges in year one, even those taken in the first round. What impact do you think a 4th rounder would have? Just to reiterate Beane's valid point, the Bills were a top scoring team. I don't think the loss of Mack Hollins and Amari Cooper are going to change that metric.

Not worried about it. We have a very good O- line, top running game, and a QB who can make the most of the wideouts on the roster. Some of the teams who’ve put all their chips on speedy WR like the Dolphins have come up short in other areas because a disproportionate level of the cap is dedicated to three players. I think the Bills will be fine. I’m still anxious to see what a players like Shavers may have to offer.

Regardless of his skills, my sense is that Cooper’s personality doesn’t fit with the character of this team. He’s like the guy at a party who doesn’t move from his corner chair and barely engages with any of the others.

I'm anything but an expert on college talent, and maybe it's just being used to watching pro ball, but he looks slow to my untrained eyes.