Logic

Williams - Bernard - Milano Olufouoshio - Andreesen - draftee ...seems good to me. I'm out on Shaq Thompson unless its one of those 1 year super cheap vet specials that Beane likes to do.

Most of all, I will simply remember the way it FELT to be at the Ralph. There was something bittersweet/nostalgic/beautiful/indescribable about walking to that old stadium, under those big, old lights. The same stadium in which OJ ran wild in behind the Electric Company. The same stadium in which Kelly and Levy brought the Bills back to national prominence. The same building from all those old Bills highlights VHS tapes I wore out, with slow motion and John Fascenda's poetic narration making me fall in love with pro football and the Bills at a young age. The feeling of walking through the tailgates and parking lots on a sunny fall day, smelling those smells and hearing the "Hey-ay-ay-ay"s ring out and anticipating the game to come, and then standing in the stands for the national anthem -- a moment which has always put a lump in my throat and still does, even to this day -- and feeling the nerves right before kickoff. The feeling after a big win, or even after a crushing loss, as you walk back to the car amidst 70,000 friends and family (because if you're a Bills fan, that's what you are to me) and process what just happened. All of it will continue on, of course, in a new form, in the new stadium. It will be the same in some ways and different in others. New traditions will be born. Hopefully, we'll see more success, more wins, and some championship banners hung in this new stadium. Things change, and you either change with them or you get left behind. Of all the places on planet Earth, the Ralph will always have one of the fondest places in my heart. Every time I was there, the phrase "where else would you rather be, than right here, right now?" was always 100% accurate. I'll miss the place.

We're talking about the guy who said he would retire from football tomorrow if it meant guaranteeing the city of Buffalo a Lombardi trophy, right? The guy who said he wants it so, so badly for this city? The guy who said he has vividly imagined exactly the words he'd say while hoisting a Lombardi for the city of Buffalo? The Josh Allen whose Hollywood fiance has spoken about her deep love for the city of Buffalo and its people? We're talking about THAT Josh Allen?! I just want to make sure, because I genuinely don't know where some of the "Josh is gonna leave Buffalo!" talk on these forums come from. Nothing he has ever said or done gives me that impression. Anyway, I think he's gonna sign an extension this offseason that locks him up through his age 33 or 34 season, and all this talk will be moot.

This is an excerpt from a longer interview where she talks about Josh and the proposal. Would also like to point out that I like the color choice for her outfit. But... Had to share this 😂😂😂

I think this is a really valid question. The two biggest examples I'd point to that suggest there may be something to it are Tim Settle and Poona Ford. Both played CONSIDERABLY better for their post-Bills teams. Put simply (because I am no defensive line guru), I can't help but feel that our defensive line needs its Aaron Kromer.

There is absolutely no way you could know that. Total projection.

Absolutely. As a matter of fact, it's giving me PTSD flashbacks to Kaiir Elam. Drafting a supremely physically talented defensive back, asking him to do things that his college tape showed were not his strengths, and trusting that you can just coach him into it. Sometimes, of course, that works out. But sometimes, as we saw with Elam, it does not. Here's hoping Bishop makes big strides in year two. I remember Bills media talking heads and draft analysts discussing this very question, and the thought being that DeJean would be a safety in Buffalo's defensive scheme. The fact that he played very capably at nickel corner -- a position which requires quick processing, tackling ability, physicality, and coverage ability -- suggests that there's a reasonable chance at success as a safety. I can't honestly say I know for sure, though.

I would argue that the Bills played Bishop because he was a high draft pick so they felt compelled to do so. And that it's genuinely hard for me to believe that they would've gotten worse production from Kareem Jackson. Meanwhile, we KNOW the kind of production they got from Kaiir Elam at CB2 in the biggest game of the season. It comes down to this: You're advocating for and defending strictly drafting for need rather than entertaining the idea of drafting the best player available. That's fine. I disagree. I think it's a bad strategy and one that has cost the Bills dearly in recent drafts. Good day.

To answer your question directly, lets look at the last game of our season against the Chiefs for the right to go to the Super Bowl: Keon Coleman had 1 catch for 12 yards. Cole Bishop did nothing of consequence. You're telling me their respective production couldn't have been achieved by others? As to the wide receiver question: in his second through sixth games after being cut by Buffalo, Marquez Valdes-Scantling posted the following stat lines: 3 catches for 109 yards and 2 TDs 2 catches for 87 yards and 1 TD 2 catches for 36 yards and 1 TD 4 catches for 51 yards 2 catches for 64 yards As to the safety question, the Bills had veterans Kareem Jackson and Micah Hyde on the practice squad for the KC game. They also had recent 1st rounder Lewis Cine. There's more than one way to skin a cat. I maintain that drafting BPA instead of leaving yourself with crying needs at certain positions and being forced to draft those positions is the better draft strategy.

He was PFF's 8th ranked prospect. https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-board-big-board He was Scouts Inc's 19th ranked prospect. https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2024/story/_/id/39854410/2024-nfl-draft-rankings-top-prospects-scouts-inc He was Joel Klatt's (of Fox Sports) 24th ranked prospect. https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2024/story/_/id/39854410/2024-nfl-draft-rankings-top-prospects-scouts-inc He was Daniel Jeremiah's 25th ranked prospect. https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2024/story/_/id/39854410/2024-nfl-draft-rankings-top-prospects-scouts-inc It's not a "hindsight 20/20" situation. DeJean was touted by nearly everyone of consequence as solidly a mid to late 1st round pick. Furthermore, as I pointed out in my thread, the fact that DeJean WASN'T considered a realistic draft candidate for Buffalo because they were "set at cornerback" is EXACTLY the problem. Drafting BPA over need would dictate that DeJean WOULD have been a viable candidate there. You draft good players over "need" players, and before long, you look pretty smart. Case in point: Benford got hurt and Kaiir Elam flopped and floundered in the biggest game of the year, repeatedly being picked on by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. If only the Bills had had a more talented corner waiting in the wings! And wouldn't you know it? Fast forward to this year, and the Bills are likely going to be in the market for a viable starting corner. But instead of having one waiting in the wings, they'll have corner among their obvious NEED positions, and may end up having to draft one when he isn't the BPA solely because the need is so crying. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Rather than re-litigate the "Coleman over Worthy" thing, which has been discussed to death... I will instead point out that for all of Beane's talk about drafting BPA and not being a prisoner to need, his track record shows that he ABSOLUTELY drafts for need in the first and second round most years, and 2024 was no exception. I think every draftnik and their brother had Cooper DeJean rated ahead of Keon Coleman, but WR was the bigger need, so Coleman was the pick. In retrospect, Cooper DeJean and Xavier Worthy likely would both have been superior picks. Each of them scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl for their team as rookies, while Keon Coleman (who, yes, may still wind up being a productive role player or even a WR2/3) was near the bottom of the league in separation created. The book on this draft won't be written for a couple more years, but early returns are not promising. Brandon Beane needs to put his money where his mouth is and stop drafting for need, because he has left some great talent on the table by not truly drafting BPA. While I agree that it's too soon to tell, it's tough to hear and agree with "it's harder to make an instant impact on a good team" when Cooper DeJean and Xavier Worthy scored three touchdowns between them in the Super Bowl a couple Sundays ago.

Thanks for the link and for your summary. I guess what's frustrating to me, based on what you're saying, is that an Eagles team that plays the Chiefs far less often than we do was able to figure out the strategy you outlined: don't let the receivers win early, contain rush Mahomes all day, don't let him out of the pocket, force the receivers -- if they're going to win at all -- to win later in the route. The thing is, many sharp fans could've told you this is the plan to beat the Chiefs as currently constructed. So why did it seem like this was NOT the plan the Bills employed this year? I don't buy lack of adequate personnel as an excuse. Sure, the Eagles' defensive personnel may be superior, but it's not SO vastly superior that the Bills couldn't try to replicate that Eagles' gameplan. So why didn't they? The coverage was generally soft. Sure, we lacked Benford for much of the game, and sure, maybe we feared that our safeties would get beat deep. Nevertheless, it didn't seem like the Bills were trying to limit and bother the Chiefs receivers early in their routes. More egregiously, the Bills definitely did NOT prioritize contain rushing Mahomes. Rousseau broke contain MULTIPLE times in the AFCCG. It stood out on screen it was so bad. So that's what puzzles me. How is it that Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich -- neither one a fool or a slouch -- couldn't seem to figure out that Eagles defensive gameplan and employ it, considering they face the Chiefs every single season, sometimes twice a year? It's maddening.

How about teams with very good to elite QB play who don't even MAKE the playoffs? Herbert's Chargers have been subpar until this season and have missed the playoffs several times. Burrow's Bengals missed the playoffs entirely this year. Do we get to count those?

Great post. Thanks. People tend to think that whatever replacement we get would definitely be an upgrade. And while of course it's possible they would be, it's also very possible they would be a DOWNgrade. After all, winning one's division five years in a row is quite an accomplishment (first time it's happened in Bills history), as is making it to the conference championship game. People are quick to say "well, McDermott has Josh Allen, so of COURSE he's successful", but that simply ignores and minimizes the tons of head coaches who have very good QBs and still don't routinely post double digit wins and claim division crowns. If these things are so automatic just by virtue of having quality QB play, why haven't the Chargers been very good under Justin Herbert? Why don't the Bengals consistently post double digit wins and win division titles like we do? I believe that winning consistently and making the playoffs year after year is harder than people think. And I believe that it's nowhere NEAR the foregone conclusion some seem to think it is that anyone replacing McDermott would constitute an improvement. The Bills, while undergoing significant roster turnover, breaking in two new coordinators, and posting a TON of a dead cap, improved from last year and made the AFC Championship game for the first time since 2020. I'm not sure what it is about that year-to-year improvement and being an eyelash away from a Super Bowl -- WHILE getting younger and shedding veterans and eating a bunch of dead cap, no less -- that makes people so eager to move on from the head coach and so sure that anyone that replaces him will be an improvement.

Meanwhile, multiple other teams around the league have ALSO changed coordinators, players, head coaches, and GMs, and they're all MORE than a touchdown away.

I don't necessarily disagree with some of what you say here. On the other hand, your post should have the following asterisks, IMO: *The Bills have the most wins in the NFL since 2020 *The Bills have the best point differential in the NFL since 2020 *The Bills have won the AFC East a franchise record five times in a row *If not for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, there's a very good chance the Bills would have appeared in at least one Super Bowl *The Bills were a touchdown away from being in the Super Bowl THIS year At the end of the day, none of what I just listed resulted in the Bills hoisting a Lombardi, and that's obviously the ultimate goal. But if you're going to make the points you just made about "staleness" and "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic", it seems only fair to mention that the Bills have been one of the most consistently excellent franchises in the NFL the past five years. They consistently win their division, consistently rank at the top of point differential and wins league wide, and consistently make the playoffs. A Super Bowl win is the ONLY thing they haven't done yet. Seems like quite an accomplished and successful franchise to be likening to the Titanic.

To be honest, I'd love for the Bills to stop cycling through veterans and draft a young, explosive guy of their own. Unfortunately, with the needs at DL, safety, and CB, I doubt they're planning to invest a high pick in a WR this offseason. Still, of the veteran receiving options, I'd rather re-sign (a hopefully healed up) Amari Cooper -- who we already know is a locker room fit -- than Deebo.

The Bills need an explosive outside receiver that can beat man coverage, win deep, and open things up for the middle-of-the-field guys. Deebo is not that guy. At this point in his career, he's more of a gimmick player than a complete WR1. He's Curtis Samuel with better blocking and strength. 2021 was awesome! But since then? Woof. It's a no for me, dawg.

I agree. Beane has been good at hitting singles and doubles and even the occasional triple his whole GM career, but he too rarely hits homeruns. The Bills don't have enough difference makers. Don't have enough "very good to elite" players. Sure, he drafts guys that stick around the league and are in the "pretty good to good" category. But he doesn't draft enough KILLERS. And no, the "we pick too late in every draft" thing is not an excuse, and I hate when Beane says any version of it. I like Brandon Beane overall as a GM, but I agree: When it comes to evaluating college talent and drafting, Brandon Beane needs to step it up, ESPECIALLY in rounds 1 and 2.

Watching the game last night made one thing abundantly clear: the Bills' defensive line has, thus far, been the primary factor preventing them from winning a Lombard in the McDermott/Allen era. It's not just that the Eagles pressured Mahomes on over 50% of his dropbacks and gave him a career high in sacks. It's the WAY they did it. Straight four man rush with zone coverage behind it. Not a SINGLE blitz all game long. Of course, there's a little more to it than that. Vic Fangio is an elite defensive mind. But the principles were simple: Play disciplined zone coverage in the back seven, cause havoc with your front four. Don't blitz. It should also be a FAMILIAR strategy. If Sean McDermott had his way, it's how the Bills defense would play every single game. It's the exact strategy that, in an ideal world, he would employ full time. The only problem is that the Bills don't have the defensive line that the Eagles have, so employing this strategy does not typically lead to the same results. Yes, the Chiefs o-line was injured and bad this year. Nevertheless, in BOTH Mahomes-led Chiefs Super Bowl losses, the primary reason for their defeat was an ass kicking DL across from them, kicking their butts, down after down. We know the Bills have been sinking resources into the DL year after year, and without great results to show for it. We must resist falling into the "sunk cost fallacy" and saying "hey, we tried that, it didn't work, can't keep doing it". On the contrary, the Bills MUST keep doing anything and everything to build a great defensive line. The Eagles invested premium draft picks in their DL year after year after year, until it became what it is today. The Bills cannot give up. They need to keep swinging. Going all the way back to the Giants defense beating the unstoppable Patriots in that Super Bowl, to the Bucs beating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and now to the Eagles absolutely shellacking them last night. The evidence is clear. You want to beat an elite, all time great QB and offensive mind? Build an ass-kicking defensive line. The Bills need DeWayne Carter and Javon Soloman to hit. They need a fearsome 1T. They need to take a swing on a Garrett or a Crosby or a Sweat. But regardless of HOW they do it, one thing is clear: fixing the defensive line should be the Bills' top priority this offseason.

I know we currently don't have a 3rd round pick due to the Cooper trade, but I was under the impression that if we let Cooper walk that, depending on other factors, it could result in us recouping a 3rd round compensatory pick.

You're right that I don't have any answers, but I have a few opinions. For one thing, I think that both Lamar Jackson's fans and Josh Allen's fans are WILDLY loyal to and defensive of their guy. Both were doubted coming out of college and have been doubted or disrespected (though the comparative extent of this disrespect for each guy is up for debate) ever since. Ironically, Josh and Lamar's fans should probably each root for (or at least have empathy for) the OTHER guy, too, because their cases and stories are way more similar than they are different. So the first opinion I have is that the fierce loyalty and defensiveness that each fan base has on behalf of their favorite QB causes the two fan bases, when they butt up against each other, to get really heated and emotional and intense. Since Josh and Lamar will always be compared as members of the same draft class, and as guys whose paths are likely to cross often in the AFC playoffs, we can expect continued heated debate and vitriol. The second opinion I have relates more to the media talking heads: A lot of people have confirmation bias and take lock regarding Josh Allen. They had strong opinions and/or made strong statements about him coming out of college, and they don't like being shown up or having to admit that they were wrong now. They cling to any piece of evidence that supports their original, outdated analysis, and disregard and belittle any new piece of evidence that proves they were wrong. People HATE being wrong. The third opinion I have, again, relating more to the media talking heads (but also to the fans) is: there are racial components. Some of the stuff Dominique Foxworth and Ryan Clark and others have said have the whiff of a certain bias towards Lamar and against Josh. On the other hand, many Ravens fans claim the same type of bias but in the other direction from guys like Dan Orlovsky and Chris Simms. Ravens fans claim Bills fans are racist for things like the hanging Kermit/Mahomes effigy, Josh's Twitter comments from high school/college, etc. I've seen each fan base claim that the other fan base's QB gets preferential treatment from the media because of race. So even though all of it is pretty silly, it doesn't change the fact that it enters the discussion, and lots of people feel its a factor, and it taints the discussion we sometimes see on television about these guys. I agree that it's an uncommonly heated and vitriolic debate. I think most of the discussion is toxic and immature and silly. Alas, this is the culture in which we live. Social media, 24 hour sports news cycle, clickbait media, etc, etc. It's gross.

Put simply, both guys had great (and legitimate cases), so any reasonable person should be able to say "both guys deserved it. It was a close race. Congrats to whoever wins". You can root for your favorite guy or have a stance on who should win, sure, but being reasonable means recognizing that they BOTH had all-world seasons, and either of them winning would make sense for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, if you are NOT capable of recognizing the greatness (and deservingness) of the other guy, and if the only way you can prop up your preferred candidate is by tearing down the other guy and pretending like he didn't have a good case, then, well...I don't think particularly highly of your maturity level, intellect, or ability to rationally recognize and process nuance. Unfortunately, there seem to be far too few of the former, and far too many of the latter. Or at least, those in the latter camp seem to be much more loudly vocal and forceful in the espousing of their opinion. A real shame.

Unfortunately, SEVERAL AP voters have felt the need to defend/explain their Josh pick since last night, because they're all receiving a bunch of backlash and mockery from everyone from Dominique Foxworth on ESPN's Get Up, to Mike Florio of PFT, and on and on. As far as I can tell, the vast majority of AP voters take their job very seriously, and several of them have mentioned poring over multiple games and All-22 and agonizing over their decisions. Only for people who DON'T do that (like Foxworth and Florio) to act holier than though and cast aspersions on anyone who dared to have a different opinion than them. The discourse throughout this MVP race was highly toxic, and it continues to be so. I'm glad the race is over and Josh won, but that doesn't mean the chuckleheads are gonna back off their ill-informed stances or sophomoric insults.