Logic

I don't believe that they will spend like drunken sailors. Beane did a lot of hard work getting the Bills OUT of cap hell and I don't think they're eager to return. I also think they'll be mindful of the fact that they need to stay in good cap shape to be able to retain their own homegrown talent in the coming years. That being said, I DO expect them to secure a few "big ticket items" on the offensive side of the ball to help out their young quarterback. Maybe an o-lineman or two and a quality receiver. Even this year, when they said they'd be very limited players in free agency, they signed Lotulelei and Murphy to good sized contracts as well as Vontae Davis and Chris Ivory. And this was in a year where they were consciously trying to save money. So looking ahead to NEXT year? Yeah, I think they'll spend some coin. Not an irresponsible amount, but some. Between the full slate of draft picks, the clean cap sheet, and the large amount of money they'll have for free agency, I expect them to make a big leap in terms of personnel next offseason.

I still agree with Chris Simms' draft night declaration that Josh Allen has a very good chance to start game 1 for the Bills. His reasoning? Bills coaches and players will watch AJ McCarron throw 10 passes, and then watch Josh Allen throw 10 passes, and there will just be such a stark an obvious difference in talent and zip that they won't be able to NOT play Allen. I think there's potentially some real credence to the notion that Allen will beat out Peterman and McCarron based on his vastly superior physical traits. The only thing that would prevent this, of course, is if the mental side of Allen's game is way behind that of McCarron and Peterman, but I'm not so sure I believe that that will be the case.

Personally, I don't think there are as many WR spots open as some others think. Benjamin, Jones, Kerley, and Holmes are all near locks to make the roster in my mind. That leaves two spots at most. McCloud and Proehl would seem to have the inside track on those two spots, based on their having been drafted. I could see only one of them making the 53, but in that case, it's just as likely that the final spot goes to second year players Dupre or Reilly. OLB, on the other hand? We've got Humber to back up Milano, but we need more depth at the outside linebacker spot. For that reason I pick: Corey Thompson, LSU.

The Broncos game is when I first realized things might be different with this Bills team. You have to remember, they were 2-0 at that point and playing really well. They were heavily favored, and we beat them fair and square...with a small assist to Von Miller The Falcons game is when I KNEW things were different with this Bills team. I realize their staring WRs went down with injury, but still. We went into a very tough road environment and beat a team that was in the Super Bowl the year prior. The Chiefs game -- coming off of that horrible mid-season stretch that had me thinking "same old Bills" again -- was awesome. How many times over the years have the Bills lost a must-win November/December game against the Chiefs? Too many to count. And to get that win at rowdy Arrowhead against an eventual playoff team was just awesome. My favorite of the year, though, was the Dolphins game. Obviously, the game itself wasn't anything special. But the experience of watching it at a packed Bills Backers Bar here in Portland...with Kyle's touchdown plunge and scoreboard watching the Bengals-Ravens game, and of course the eventual outcome...I'll never forget that day or that experience. And I am so, SO glad that I chose to go the Bills bar that day, my first such trip of the season. Amazing stuff.

You continue to astound with your maturity and high level of discourse. I'm sure you'll be a valuable addition to the TBD community.

Nothing says "I'm in the right" on the subject of maturity quite like "grow the !@#$ up, snowflake".

I agree that this thread is mean spirited and racist and should be locked.

Really? NOTHING? The glowing endorsements from multiple respected NFL owners -- not only praising her but going into detail and providing more than was asked -- does not a single thing for you? Okay then. To each their own.

Given that recent discussions on these forums about whether or not Kim Pegula is qualified to be team president, I thought this article was interesting and informative. I won't post the whole thing, of course, due to forum rules, but have included a few key quotes. I suggest reading the whole thing if you have time. Obviously, her membership on all these committees and her involvement with various aspects of the league are not the sole deciding factors in terms of her being qualified or not...but this article certainly paints a picture of a very capable, intelligent, involved woman. I believe the Bills are in good hands. http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/25/fellow-nfl-owners-laud-kim-pegulas-committee-work/?utm_campaign=puma&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter#link_time=1527294828 "If every owner in the league was as operationally proficient and knowledgeable as Kim is, I think we would be in a stronger place," said Jonathan Kraft, president of the New England Patriots and son of Pats owner Robert Kraft." "She's well-respected," said Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, a member of Business Ventures and Foundation. "She's obviously very intelligent. She works hard at trying to bring fresh ideas to the league, to the committees, making sure the ideas that are being floated around have been well thought through. Her voice is one that people listen to. I think she comes from a perspective of making the league and all of our properties more fan friendly, so her input is greatly valued." "Kim is a consensus-builder, has great business experience and she really adds to the discussion," Jacksonville Jaguars onwer and Businss Ventures chairman Shad Khan said. "She has a lot of experience in different industries and she brings that thinking and point of view to the forefront. Then, once a decision is made, she stands behind it. It’s evident that committee members value her in every respect – as a person as well as for her insights and experience. On business ventures, typically as various agreements are expiring, we ask ourselves, ‘How do we make them better? Who are our prospective partners? How do we value the financial end of the partnership?’ Kim has great perspectives on all of this.”

I think it's really funny that the OP says the "book is closed" on this trade before Mahomes or Edmunds have played one full season. An obvious troll attempt, right? He can't actually be serious with that nonsense?

So.....based on the fact that Josh Rosen looked good in the very first OTA session, you're asking if the Bills made a mistake by not drafting him? This HAS to be a joke thread, right? Surely no one is actually this ridiculous.

Disagree. I've watched Andy Dalton's game winning touchdown throw about a billion times now. That play was NOT luck. It was perfect execution by both Dalton and Boyd. Anyone who thinks that our making the playoffs was JUST luck is silly. What put the Bills in position to be the beneficiaries of that luck? Winning crucial games at crucial times. Had they not beat the Chiefs, the Colts, the Dolphins twice, the Broncos...had ANY ONE OF THOSE GAMES gone down in the loss column, the Bills would not have made the playoffs. The Bills put themselves into position to have luck matter. That's not luck.

Kyle Williams' TD run against the Dolphins instantly had me choked up and shedding a few tears. How could you not? After the fact, watching all the celebration videos -- with the video of Kyle's facial expressions as Boyd is scoring for the Bengals topping the list -- got the tears flowing again. Lastly, the "end of the drought" video that the Bills put together was the capper. Everything about the end of the drought and what it meant to Kyle and the team and the fans will be lodged in my memories forever. My favorite moments of Bills fandom (I was too young to properly remember the "glory years").

I predict this thread will reach...oh....19 pages. And you can bet it will all be well-reasoned, thoughtful analysis, too!

Tone deaf response from the NFL. Between this and their persistent obsession with eliminating any sort of violence whatsoever from the game, they'll be lucky to continue to be America's chosen sport. I concur that the NBA is in the process of bypassing the NFL as we speak.

Tremaine Edmunds will be the starting MIKE and I think they like Milano continuing as the WILL. I think the staff is high on Matt Milano and not eager to send him to the bench. The biggest hole in our defense, therefore, is at SAM, where only Lorenzo Alexander currently resides.

Agree to disagree on this one.

While I would love it if the Bills signed Kendricks, I do not believe they will do so for the simple reason that they don't value a two-down SAM linebacker very highly. I expect he will get higher offers elsewhere or, at the very least, a better opportunity. Here, he'd play in the base defense only, and would come off the field on third downs. We shall see.

I remember how excited I was for Steve Fairchild's offense in Buffalo. Lee Evans and Peerless Price on the outside with Andre Davis and Roscoe Parrish in the slot. JP Losman quarterback us to the "Greatest Show on Turf 2.0". Yeah..... Yeah.

Thanks for the read as always, Shaw. I am amazed -- not taken aback, not slightly surprised -- but absolutely AMAZED, shocked, gobsmacked, delighted...that the Bills are where they are today, considering where they were at the end of Rex and Whaley's tenures. You're absolutely right, they haven't won anything of note yet. But just from a pure organizational standpoint, is there one single Bills fan, football fan, or analyst on the planet who would dispute that they are in a much better, more stable, more constructive place? A top notch front office fronted by an intelligent, well prepared, thoughtful, and ready general manager. Multiple guys under him who are also high quality (Schoen, Gaine -- who has since left, Dan Morgan now, and on it goes). The coaches? A heck of a staff, headed by McDermott but just as importantly also featuring quality coaches like Leslie Frazier, Bob Babich, Rob Boras, Terry Robiskie. Not only do they stress the importance of fundamentals and scheme execution, they also stress the importance of chemistry and culture. They have definite calculated purpose. And those are the biggest buzz words that define this era of Bills football. Chemistry, culture, calculated purpose. It is incredibly refreshing to see. It all sounds like obvious stuff, but to Bills fans who have been stuck in a 20 year dysfunctional cluster!@#$ of historic proportions, it suddenly feels like getting fresh air and light after suffocating in the dark. It all goes back to the Pegulas. They not only saved (both) Buffalo sports teams and continue to play a vital role in revitalizing the community, they also now have provided the most legitimate reasons for Bills-related optimism since Marv Levy was head coach. Thanks again to you for writing, and thanks to the Pegulas for...well....just about everything.

I'm not gonna play the "let's say" hypothetical game all day long. Each case is different. In this specific case, I feel Beane made the right decision. I'll be happy to evaluate the next thing that comes along when it actually comes along.

Viewing it ONLY as an "age cutoff" thing is over simplifying it. But if a player is 34 AND becoming a headcase? I'm okay with it. Oh, and I'm not going to do backflips to make sure he doesn't become a Patriot. I don't care. They've whooped us twice a year for 17 years now. Let's suppose they sign Incognito (which I doubt they will), what does that mean? They win 13 games instead of 12? The Bills shouldn't make personnel decisions based on fear of the Patriots.

That depends. In your hypothetical, Is Jerry Hughes 34 years old with a history of mental instability and recent displays of erratic behavior that threaten to bring unneeded drama to a developing locker room? And did I miss where Incognito signed with the Patriots?

After not letting Boldin out of his contract last year, Beane not letting Richie out of HIS contract this year would have been a bad look for the Bills.

I can't see how this is so hard for people to understand. Beane and McDermott value chemistry and culture above all else. They have shown that they will not hesitate to get rid of ANYONE who they don't think will positively contribute to the chemistry and culture of the locker room. Richie Incognito, with his erratic behavior, sudden instability, and the drama that his "I'm retired, no I'm not, I want my release, can I come back?" routine was creating, became a threat to the chemistry and culture that Beane and McDermott wanted to build. They thus decided that the best move was to get rid of him, even if it meant "giving him what he wants" and losing some bonus money. People thinking we were going to get a trade asset in return for a 34-year-old guard who has recently displayed erratic behavior are dreaming. I believe that Beane assessed that the tiny silver of potential of getting a 2019 7th round pick in exchange for this guy was not worth the headaches he was beginning to create. As to the notion of holding on to Incognito's rights so that his only options are retire or play for the Bills. Why? It was one thing with Boldin, who agreed to play for the Bills, then 10 days into camp retired, then asked if he could be let out of his contract. Beane felt burned by Boldin's failure to honor his commitment and reacted accordingly. With Richie, he had three good years with the Bills and was a key part of their playoff season. Why hold him hostage? Especially given the aforementioned headaches he is creating. Sometimes, addition by subtraction is necessary to maintain intangible qualities like chemistry and culture. I believe this is one of those cases.