Logic

Based solely on online interactions -- I admit to now knowing or interacting with any Ravens fans in real life -- I have found Ravens fans to be some of the worst in the league. Arrogant, uninformed, insulting, dismissive, and immature. I have had more productive and enjoyable conversations with fans of just about every other fan base. Ravens fans, though? I really have yet to find an even remotely pleasant one.

This is where I tell you that I see end stage free market capitalism as a hideous medley of crass materialism, brazen greed, and the prioritization of profits over the good of human beings, and that one need only walk down the street of any major city, talk to any struggling family, listen to any medical procedure cost horror story, or look at the profit margins of any billionaire to see that the unchecked and voracious financial appetites of money-obsessed corporations and the politicians who enable them is destroying this country and its people from the inside out. And then you tell me that I must be come kind of anarchist or communist, and that I should take my pinko propaganda to the PPP, and "America, love it or leave it". And some of the things that I said and some of the things that you said are probably true, but not all of them in either case. Now let's shake hands and agree that we probably disagree wildly on a lot of things other than Bills football, and then stick to that instead. Go Bills!

Not that this is by any means the gospel on the issue, but...a quick AI answer to the question "does piracy drive up streaming costs?" It's far from the certainty that you make it out to be.

You're not paying higher prices because others are stealing. You're paying higher prices because of corporate greed, which would exist with or without piracy.

I remember when they shut down Napster and it ended illegal music downloading forever!

Several have said this already, but just in case there were a few out there who still have lingering thoughts of this move signifying any kind of roster addition:

The practice squad is very different than it used to be. It is now essentially an extension of your roster, more so than just a training ground for young players. McDermott and co seem to have consciously decided this season to use their six veteran practice squad spots largely on players that know the Bills' system and locker room inside and out. Known quantities. Good locker room presences. Good teammates. In some cases, good leaders and mentors for younger players. Gabe Davis, like Jordan Poyer and Dane Jackson, will likely spend the season on the practice squad, providing leadership, mentorship, and staying ready in case they're called upon. Barring injury, they aren't likely to be called up. If they ARE, though, they'll be ready, and McDermott knows it. Davis, by the way is just 26 years old, and we've seen him produce in both the regular season and postseason for Buffalo. He averaged about 700 yards and 7 TDs a season in Buffalo, which would have made him comfortably the second most productive receiver on the team last year. You could do much, MUCH worse for a practice squad receiver.

Man.... A second MVP in a row for Josh. The last ever game at Highmark Stadium being an AFC Championship game under snow flurries... Josh outdueling Lamar and taking the Bills to their first Super Bowl in 30 years... Winning a Super Bowl comfortably over Tampa Bay (the team representing the city in which our franchise's most infamous moment occurred). Where do I sign up for this? Can you even imagine?

Certainly seems like there are mental health issues at play that the public doesn't know about. Various folks in the media have hinted as much. There's a reason a player of his talent level is just sitting there on the open market with no reported interest. What we DO know about him is also not great. Kind of a ballbag grabber, ya know?

No one can convince me that Peppers wouldn't help this roster. Give him Codrington's roster spot. Let him be your punt returner while he learns the defense. Our defensive staff would find a way to make good use of his defensive versatility. As a third safety or dime backer in certain coverages, he'd be useful.

The people on those sites don't usually have Poyer's steely baby blues or Rachel's....winning personality. They do tend to have terrific stamina and exemplary breath control, though.

Unfortunately, my league requires that defense and kicker be on the roster by the end of the draft. So I always take them in the last two rounds by mandate. First thing I do after the draft is drop both and add two additional players, then wait until near start of season to see if any players become IR worthy, etc, and eventually, begrudgingly, sign a kicker and defense. I'll admit: A good defense or kicker can definitely swing a week in your favor.