Logic

I agree. Sometimes, a kernel of truth accidentally slips out. A good example is recently when Brandon Beane was "saying a whole lot of nothing", except that he mentioned that sometimes in the draft you're looking at maybe a position where you're about to have 1 or 2 pending free agents the FOLLOWING year and you're not gonna be able or willing to pay them, so you have to look into the future when drafting. That sure as heck sounded to a lot of ears like Beane was talking about drafting an edge rusher, knowing that Hughes and Lawson are both up after this year and won't both likely be paid top end contracts. So there's an instance of a guy "saying nothing" but accidentally possibly tipping his hand about a position to be on the lookout for in the coming draft. But as you said, you had to read between the lines and connect the dots yourself.

Totally fair. American Beauty's themes of death and coping with death really speak to me. Box of Rain and Brokedown Palace are all time favorites. Also, separately, Candyman is one of the most underrated and one of my all-time favorite Dead songs ever ever ever. Hard to pick a loser amongst the bunch, though!

I can't help but wonder what the story is with this guy behind the scenes. Players who run 4.22 and get drafted 9th overall don't tend to spend their whole rookie season inactive and get traded entering season three unless there's really something wrong. This smells like the Corey Coleman thing to me. In Coleman's case, he was apparently a kinisthetic learner and was unable to learn NFL playbooks effectively. What's Ross's deal?

I think he's suffering from "Alex Smith syndrome" due to the amount of different offensive systems he's already had to learn in just five years. Like Smith, I expect him to have a resurgence later in his career, once he's able to sit back and learn the same offense on a more stable team, perhaps as a backup initially.

Poor Mariota. Five OCs in five seasons. Surefire way to ruin a QB.

I'd give them a 5th. There's no way a guy with 4.22 speed can't somehow find a role in a Josh Allen led offense.

Anyone watch Letterkenny on Hulu?

Not a drama, but a comedy: Letterkenny It's an incredibly smart show described as an incredibly dumb show. The writing is pure linguistic bliss. Absolutely brilliant. It's a niche sort of humor for sure, but man is it funny. It may have made me laugh out loud more than any show in history. It's on Hulu if anyone is interested.

I agree, actually. While I DO think Foster has #1 potential, I still want the Bills to add a veteran and a highly drafted rookie to the room.

Love 'em both. Just depends what mood I'm in. If I'm looking for raw, balls-to-the-wall electric psychedlia, Live/Dead can't be beat. If I'm looking to sit on my porch and watch the rain fall and put on a record, American Beauty is tops. Tomato/potato. Listening to Herbie Mann's Memphis Underground right now. Only one track in so far, but it's awesome.

Great list. A couple new ones on there that I'm gonna check out as soon as I get home from work. Glad to see he included "Workingman's Dead", though I would have chosen "American Beauty" instead. A lot of people don't know that Thompson was a big football fan, as well. Diehard 49ers fan. Would go to games and, well...generally act like his usual self, much to the consternation of many around him. When they'd ask him to sit down or stop using so much profanity, he would angrily shout back "This is football. Go to the ***** opera!" Never has been or will be anyone like him.

Is he peacefully protesting police violence against minorities? No? He'll be fine.

I have seen MANY comments to the effect that Foster is "only" a speed receiver and therefore not a "true #1" from Bills fans and writers. As for exaggerating the 2018 season: I would argue that it's not at all an exaggeration to be excited about the #1 potential of a guy who -- despite going undrafted and spending half the season on the practice squad -- managed to post 521 yards and 3 TDs across 7 games (including games of 105, 94, 104, and 108 yards receiving). That's pretty excellent production from ANY rookie receiver, let alone one from whom so little was expected that he wasn't even drafted. As for not sneaking up on opposing defenses anymore: defenses were ALREADY playing corners much deeper against Foster at the end of the season and recognizing the damage he could do. What happened then? Foster became dangerous on curls and crossers against defenders that were giving him a lot of cushion. It also opened up the field for players like Zay Jones and Ian McKenzie to be more productive underneath. I understand cautious optimism, and I'm not here to proclaim that Foster is a surefire top 5 WR next season. I will not, however, curb my enthusiasm about a player who I view as a vital and exciting piece of the Bills offense for the next several years. Let's put it this way: If the Bills were to draft a receiver in the first round of this year's draft who was 6 foot 2 and had Foster's speed, and said WR went on to post Foster's numbers over the final 7 games, we'd all be thrilled. So why wouldn't I be even MORE thrilled that we got that production out of a guy who cost the Bills absolutely nothing in draft capital?

I second this notion. I keep seeing people talk about how Foster will be a good WR2 or a "role player". What?! Am I taking crazy pills?! If you use his average receiving yards per week once he came up from the practice squad to project a full season, it's something like 1,400 yards and 7 TDs. In what universe is that not a number 1 receiver? And to anyone who says "speed WRs can't be true number 1 receivers", tell that to Antonio Brown and Tyreek Hill. Robert Foster is 6'2" and runs like a gazelle. If he simply adds a bit of muscle in the offseason and adds a few more routes to his already-expanding route tree, he's a number 1 receiver. Now, I ALSO want the Bills to go out and draft another number 1 caliber guy, don't get me wrong. But Foster is more than a complementary piece or just a speed receiver.

What an original and unique thread idea!

....and you read the part where the people from whom Kraft solicited the "favors" were indentured sex servants, right?

Except that in this case, it was literally people being held against their will as sex slaves. Educate yourself before you say this stuff, unless you condone people being stolen and sold illegally into sex slavery, that is.

when said solicitation occurred at a sex trafficking ring, it's a pretty big deal.

You can really drive yourself crazy with the "what if" game as it pertains to the Bills. For me, it's the quarterback carousel. It began with Donahoe refusing to give up the draft capital necessary to get into position to draft Ben Roethlisberger. The deal was on the table, but Donahoe felt the asking price was too high and pulled out. So to begin with, we could/should have had Big Ben. Once that fell through, they could have chosen not to settle for Losman and waited a year to draft a franchise QB. Had they done that, Aaron Rodgers would have been there for the taking the very next year. Next up comes Cam Newton, who the Bills were 1 or 2 meaningless losses away from being able to draft. It was well known that the Bills would have taken him if they'd had the 1st pick. Then you have Russell Wilson, who many of us thought was the target when the Bills traded up for TJ Graham. Last but not least, as everyone knows, the Bills could have taken either Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes. I fully understand why they didn't want to take a QB that year, and how it all sort of makes sense in context. Nevertheless.... The Bills could have reasonably had Big Ben, Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, or Patrick Mahomes. I like Allen, and I sincerely hope he becomes the franchise QB fans have longed for. Still, can't help but look back on what could have (easily, reasonably) been.

As an exercise in seeing HOW crazy and unrealistic you can get and to just pass the time during the long offseason, I guess this is useful. But its just SO unrealistic that I have trouble seeing its practical value as a tool.

I like Croom, too. I just think he's more of a flex tight end/receiving option than someone who should be counted on as a TE1. As TE2 or TE3, though, I think he has definite value.

Don't worry: If the Bills sign any player, ever, for any reason, you can darn sure bet there will be people who find a way to get worked up about it.

Would love to see them sign James AND draft a young TE. James/Draftee/Croom is a nice lineup at that position. James is the dependable all-around guy, Croom is the flex receiving option, and draftee is the future at the position. I'd be fine with the Bills drafting two tight ends, but with as many needs as they have, I'm not sure it's reasonable. Furthermore, I get the sense they want a dependable veteran at the position, particularly since TEs historically take a few years to really start producing at a high level in the NFL. James fits the profile of who the Bills should be looking at in free agency: Young players signing their second contracts in the NFL. No third-contract players, unless they come cheap.