Rochesterfan

Not sure there is a reason to assume this. His money from Houston was guaranteed- so right now he is being paid his same salary for not playing at all. I am not sure what offsets he has, but most likely if he signed with any team after being cut - at a per game contract less than his Houston contract - all it would do is lessen what Houston paid him - he would not get more money. I doubt he is set up to “double dip” or I think he would have already signed. Therefore the smart money if you clear waivers is to wait - collect your paycheck and see who is making the post season and sign up as late as possible. The players get paid salary for regular season games only and get “bonus money” in the playoffs - winners/Losers share. I do not think he is holding out for more money (at least for this year) as I don’t think it impacts his pay - he should be looking for a team that is going to win a few playoff games (extra money for him) and maybe a contract for next year also - although I would think he would prefer to be a FA as then you get more of a signing bonus. I don’t see him not signing until now as a negative - I think it is a player that understands the system and is trying to get his money and then sign with the right team.

Yes based on signing a guy that has maintained testing throughout. If a guy is cut or released and misses a day of testing or has to travel by non-private flight - they still all require the current 6 days of testing before re-entry. That would put Stills to Monday assuming he started receiving screening testing the day Schefter announced the visit and it is maintained. Guys like Jennings were brought in around Kumerow’s departure and were not able to sign until this week depending on the day of visit last week. Those visits were all before the Beasley injury meaning they were being evaluated for a replacement of Kumerow. Stills and Gentry came in this week for visits - they will need to meet the days of testing negative requirement and should be available to sign next week. The delay on Stills may have something to do with money or playing time, but as of right now we know he cannot be signed until he clears - so that is the most likely hurdle.

I believe he confused Jennings and Gentry - part of his issue with the timing.

Are you just trying to be dumb in this thread. Read through again - there is a MANDATORY 5 day COVID testing before any FA is allowed to meet or sign with a team. I don’t know if Stills will sign, but stop being obstinate that the reason is because he has not signed yet. Based upon Schefter’s tweet and 5 days - the earliest Stills can sign is Sunday or more likely Monday of next week after physicals.

Read through the thread - this has already been explained and the Bills have not signed Gentry to anything - he came in for a visit (that is where teams start the 5day COVID protocol testing if they think he is going to sign). Jennings - whom they signed to the PS - originally visited once Kumerow was signed by the Saints. He was signed by the Bills 5 days later - which was the reason for the delay between Kumerow leaving and the Jennings signing. Beane has talked about this since the beginning of the year once the NFL shifted the protocol to needing the 5 negative tests to meet with internal staff and get full physicals. He stated that it will take about a week to sign and replace guys - part of the reason for the expanded PS. The difference is a guy like Jennings comes in and is not a big deal - completes his 5 negatives and signs. A guy like Stills is a big name and therefore people immediately see him coming in and it gets talked about by Shefter and therefore the 5 days becomes noticeable.

I don’t get these posts - Nothing official can be done till he clears protocol. Based on timing of the original - his 5 consecutive negative tests to clear protocol and sign will not occur until Sunday at the earliest. Therefore - assuming he needs a full physical and to sign the contract- you are really looking at Monday mostly likely before it is official and we any details. This is similar to the Winters and Jonatthan signings that got talked about, but then took a week to complete. He may change his mind, but the fact that he has followed the Bills on Social Media and the current COVID Rules - suggest this is a routine COVID testing wait. Be a little patient and the info will come.

I think the Bills play the most 10 and 11 personnel in the league- meaning 1 or 0 TEs on the field and 3-4 wrs and even then they spread the RB out wide also. I believe Duke and Kumerow were on the PS as extra gunner/WRs because that is the driver of the offense. I think the Bills want a minimum of 2 WRs on the PS to help as needed. The offense does not run without several WRs available. I don’t think they are looking at Williams as a TE because they already have 4 on the roster and Becker on the PS. That does not mean Williams couldn’t run some of the Knox types routes, but I don’t see him as a strong enough blocker to play the H-Back blocker role the TEs are playing this year. They have also already used up Duke’s call-ups I believe - so much like Kumerow next time he needs to play - he must go to the active roster and pass waivers. Any new guys will have the free call ups the last week of the season and therefore can come up with no roster impact.

I think they liked Kumerow, but he was not a long term answer - he was just another guy at WR. Kumerow was called up twice from the PS earlier in the season with the John Brown injury. When Taiwan Jones got banged up - they had to move Kumerow to the active roster as he was no longer available for call ups. When Brown and Jones were both healthy and the Bills wanted to activate Brown from IR they needed an open Roster spot and Kumerow made sense. Unfortunately you can’t just move him back to the PS from the active roster - that can only be done as a call up for this year. Therefore he had to clear waivers and the WR short Saints decided to take a peek. I don’t think Beane “made a mistake” - Kumerow would have been WR number 7 and you would of had to move and weaken another position to free the spot. The Bills knew they had an extra PS WR already and as has been shown by the signings - there were other options available- it was a chance that made sense. Do I think they would of liked to keep Kumerow - Yeah - of course, but I think Kumerow is a better loss than perhaps an extra Safety or LB or even DLineman.

Agreed, but my guess is the Full Bills staff will do another physical once he clears protocol as part of the signing process.

I believe he was in town from last week after the Kumerow signing. He was tested and finally cleared protocol- then the Bills did a physical and signed him today. Yesterday was most likely is physical and initial meeting. The difference is as a nobody - he was getting tested and no one says anything or notices. A veteran that people follow on Twitter makes it a big deal. Just like today they brought in Gentry - they do this to begin the process because this year with COVID it takes a week to get a guy onto your roster. Would not be the least bit surprised if this new guy gets a call up as a PS player and then is dumped for Stills next week after Stills clears. Depends on special teams and additional injuries.

Really - learn how the system works and then review the posts - they have already explained this multiple times across the board - in multiple threads on the subject. It is really not this difficult to understand the Kumerow situation.

Good Lord - Is this meant to be satire - this cannot be serious right. 🤦‍♂️

I think it is the other way around. He will get COVID tests and once cleared - they can do the physical and finalize the deal. I think the testing must clear first.

I don’t think it is official until he clears COVID protocols to come in and sign. Beane said early in the season - it takes time to sign these guys because they have to clear to sign - if they officially sign him now - they would need to clear space before he clears protocol - so you lose a spot for a minimum of 5 days. Therefore it is a deal in place and once he clears they will make it official. Also - I don’t believe they can do a physical exam until he clears COVID protocol. You do not want him potentially exposing any of the Bills medical staff - which could then spread through the team. The official signing will come Sunday or more likely Monday and then he will begin to get acclimated to the team.

🤦‍♂️ No kidding

Hopefully Simon will be back to give more peace.

I believe a few years ago we said the same thing just before a bunch of money was donated to Dalton’s charity. Truthfully - I agree - see little way they lose.

I think a combination- Davis, Diggs, McKittrick, and TEs (Kroft and Knox) depending on route and gameplan.

Not only that in the AFC the Bills and Steelers would both be fighting for the #2 seed because of the bye in the old system, but now with the set-up 2 versus 3 seed has little meaning so either or both teams might rest guys rather than play the string out. I love having more games, but not sure it provides the excitement they thought.

Depends on what you are looking for. I think you have Sweeney and Knox as your all around TEs and you have Becker and Lee Smith as blocking guys, you have Gilliam as your special team/FB guy for next year. If you are looking for their version of Kelce - they already have that in Beasley. I do not see the Bills drafting for a Kelce/Gesicki - WR type because they have that with their WRs. If someone fell in the draft - it is an option, but I don’t see them making that a big part of their plan. I don’t see the Bills wanting to switch the 80 throws to Beasley to a TE and cutting Beasley to the 30/40 targets. Look at the KC attempts (2 guys Kelce/Hill) get the majority of throws and everyone else is 30 -40 targets. The Bills have that with Diggs and Beasley and several others at 30-40. If you target a TE - you are pulling throws from Beasley. If Diggs is hurt a TE is not the answer - they have 4 other WRs to play and will attack with the WRs. TE might be the 5th option as a need: it would be after DE/DL, OL, CB, and LB and it is much more likely that those needs will have a BPA over TE that has maybe 1 or 2 guys and one like Pitts is going top 10 - the other is projected late round pick - so not a BPA in 1st round.

I have no issue with it. Don’t change the rules - if you want to correct it - change the divisions. If you are keeping the divisions - then this will happen rarely. You should not create rules to impact a rare thing - if you want to eliminate a losing team from making the playoffs you have no divisions or 8 teams in 2 divisions and adjust the schedule accordingly. I have no issue with an NFC East team (or NFC west like a few years ago) winning a division with a losing record and getting the advantage of a division winner because that is how it is set up and fits the rules fairly over time.

Since you know it has been talked about many times - call up the old thread and add thoughts rather than start over. I see no real way they are spending a high pick on TE. They will have 5 on the roster already for next year even after letting Kroft go. 4 of them will be on rookie deals or minimum pay - so you are not saving money and this team is about developing talent and I think they will keep trying to develop players. Plus Josh seems to really love Knox - so I imagine that helps also. The Bills should be using early picks on DE, CB, OL, and LB to fill needs based upon FA losses. If a TE falls big time and is the best player on the board - then go ahead - I just don’t see that being even a top 5 need for this team going forward.

Totally disagree. What he said was 100% correct - maybe a bit mean, but correct. Diggs and Davis versus Duke Williams - a practice squad extra. was it necessary- nope, but that does not make it wrong. The team recognized they needed more: Diggs, Davis, Hodgkin, etc - they knew relying on Williams was bad. Williams wasn’t even the call up with Brown out - it was Kumerow. Should tell you what you need to know.

I hope so - that is exactly what I would like to see. A reward for Webb and a better potential QB than Barkley now that we are stable.

Which is exactly why they don’t want to flex the game. They want as many games with playoff impact on at the same time- therefore each team plays to win and you give the least advantage possible.