Rochesterfan

It is true - as outside of the facility- they prohibit any gathering of players and/or coaches. Although it is very different than the Las Vegas issue - it is the same kind of thing. Typically the league can not fine the players in this situation- it is the team that must fine the players - my guess is there could be a league fine coming to the team. They might be able to avoid it as it seemed they stayed fairly distant and were protected as long as it was quick, but the league has discretion to fine and punish the team. I think they said in the video it was Davis’s idea.

@NickelCity - totally agree - I heard he did not meet the requirements placed in his reinstatement plan - that could simply mean he missed or did not have enough counseling meetings or missed a meeting with the NFL and those had to be made up. It did not sound like a relapse necessarily back into drugs based on the article I read and what I heard. @ColeB - I agree that he has already had to many chances, but until I hear more info on this - I am not jumping to the ban him for life until I hear exactly what the situation was. I think the lifetime ban should have come on failure/suspension #3 or 4 in Cleveland or NE. What I do not think is fair is if they reinstatement him week 16 or week 17 of this year. I think the NFL should keep him on the list through the summer and let him start 2021 if they are letting him back in.

They agreed to stop suspending for low levels of weed for players not already in a substance abuse program. Those already identified- it is still tested and suspendible at original levels. Not sure how this impacts Josh. They said he did not fulfill his reinstatement requirements- that may mean another positive test, it could mean he skipped certain mandatory counseling meetings, it could mean he was seen out with certain individuals or at certain clubs that were on his banned list because of access to drugs. I did not hear exactly what provision was broken and it sounded based on what I heard that he could get reinstated once those provisions were meet.

Definitely will help on a phone - constantly clicking on either the poster names or title and not going where I want. 👍

I won’t speak for your friend, but just watching him in spot duty last year and the fact that while Cam was out they did not start him and then when he came in against KC was terrible. I think they know he is bad, but what do you get playing Cam at this point.

They are suffering right now what the Bills went through with Trent, EJ, and Tyrod. When the only effective passing game is short to intermediate zones (between 0 and 10 yards) - it draws the entire defense closer to the line. That effectively puts even more guys along the line of scrimmage to kill whatever running game you may have. Then you couple that with an immobile QB and you invite run/pass blitzes making it even worse and it becomes a self-fulfilling circle where gaps are filled - so no running lanes, pressure is coming so you have to get the ball out quickly, the WRs are covered immediately and then also drop to many passes. Now the question becomes (and this is where coaching comes in) - How do you change this in season with the players you have? What options can you adjust in terms of speed/arm strength, mobility, o-line combinations, RB, etc. to either back the defense off or burn them. Right now Tomlin is failing them because this is 5-6 games with these issues and nothing looks different. I don’t care if it is a play or two out of a wildcat with a speedster at QB trying to just get the DC on the opponent to have to adjust to you for a few plays - they need something. As I said early in this thread - I think Tomlin is a master motivator and gets his team fired up on game day, but he is not an X’s and O’s guy. He would be and should be snatched up as another coach as he gets results, but I just do not think he can fix or adjust his team as needed.

I am at the point where I don’t want to see Barkley start a meaningless week 17 game either. I am not sure Fromm gets the call up though. For me I keep Fromm segregated and use a PS call up on Davis Webb. I would rather see what he can do for going forward and use Barkley as a back-up. I have no issues resting the starters and using it like an extra bye week - especially as KC has a real bye week - I would not mind getting some rest in, but the roster is just so small it makes things hard to rest enough people - as we saw last year with McKittrick (LOL) playing DB against the Jets.

Hmm - this seems familiar. I’ll Bite though. Ok first - Thomas is no where near the blocker of Knox, Kroft, or even Gilliam/Smith - so I don’t think he gets the playing time of any other TE in Buffalo. Let’s say - just for the argument - he got the playing time of TE #1 and got their targets instead - he would be at about 30 catches based upon his catch % and the approximately 50 targets. The exact same number of catches as Knox and Kroft - so little improvement. If you want to play the game he would get the same number of targets In Buffalo as he has in Washington - that would be about 90 + targets - which WR are you taking those 60 throws from (Diggs or Beasley). If you think he is getting the 90 targets - that probably means Beasley - who plays that receiving TE role (safety valve) - probably only gets 30-40 targets and since he is a significantly better weapon than Thomas and his catch % is higher - Having Thomas most likely makes the offense worse - you are moving targets from a better player to a worse player. I hope it helps to really understand when you have actual weapons - you do not need a TE to get that many targets - get the ball to you play makers. Even in KC with Hill and Kelce as a great TE - the number 3 receivers are all sitting around 30 - 40 catches. I would much prefer to see my TEs at 30 catches and 2 WRs in the 80-120 catch range.

I know on the Jets board earlier this year they were blasting Palmer because Darnold has shown so little improvement, but I think it is something about Josh and how little he has played QB that helps him make changes. Everything is not solidified in his technique at this point. I don’t know what percentage of growth is Palmer and/or what percentage of that group time is just a frat boy party that relaxes and gets them prepared to learn, but for Josh it works. Then to get into the newer technology to analyze his throws and how to improve and then to rep that - just shows his work ethic. They all say they want to get better, but I firmly believe that it is in his DNA makeup to outwork people because he has always been doubted and that drives him to do those extra reps, watch that extra film, or ask a question to understand what the OC or a WR is seeing. He is also not afraid to change and to adapt and that is sometimes the hardest thing for these kids.

Not only that, but to trust a guy like Kumerow will be in the right spot and make that play is amazing. That was not Diggs or Beasley that he has been with all off season or even a guy like Davis that has been on the team since the off season. This was a late addition to the PS - that got called up to play special teams and yet Allen put the ball perfectly on him like they have run that play a thousand times. Good for both of them - that was impressive to me.

I get what Joe is saying - it is just a different ownership group and coaching staff than was in place when these guys were there. I don’t know that any of them have a relationship with Matt Rhule. I could definitely see interviews, but it is not like if Rivera had still been there with original ownership. Matt will be looking for someone that aligns with him and although it could be any guy off the Bills staff - I don’t see a higher % chance than other open GM spots.

I think it is really an all or nothing. If you are resting guys like Brown, Williams, Morse, maybe Diggs or Beasley (due to nagging injuries) - then I don’t want JA in there with a partial o-line and limited weapons trying to win a game against a team that needs the win. McD has to decide and if he is playing the starters even for a few series - then I want all of them that are able in there playing. If they decide a few members of the o-line or a few WRs cold use a full week off - then give the rest to all the starters you can. I don’t want a missed block by a back-up Tackle or a WR that can’t get open causing Josh to hold on to the ball to create a situation where JA misses a playoff start because we wanted to win. It is a difficult balance for coaches and will be approached differently throughout the league. I just don’t think you play it safe for a few and let others go all out. The same thing occurs if you decide to sit and protect Josh - then I don’t want Diggs or Brown out there because a bad pass by Barkley could cost the team. Make a decision either all in or rest the guys and let the consequences fall where they may.

You are making the assumption #2 versus #3 or #4 matters significantly. In previous years with a bye week - I think it would matter, but to be honest at least on paper right now the #3 seed would most likely be better than the #2 seed. It really depends upon what the Bills want in terms play versus rest. My guess is you see something similar to the last Jets game last year - starters prepare and gameplan and then play 2-3 series (1st quarter) just to stay in practice, but gives them less physical games and built in rest. The game has little meaning and the rest is more important. It may also help to get the Dolphins in and Baltimore out of the playoffs.

I don’t see scenarios. I see a lot of typing about wins and losses. Still way to much to play out. I will look again after Monday’s game.

It has always been one of the biggest issues - part 2 was always getting people in and out and moving around in the stadium (bathrooms and food drinks). Sitting in the stadium spread out and cheering was never the issue. The problem is people want to be together and celebrate before and after.

That is exactly what I want to see. Bench Tua again in the 2nd half - good for their psyche. Then Fitz winning against NE - ideal.

Lower it was just below the knee - could be calf/knee - we will see in the 2nd half - think he is done in NE though.

Looked bad - non contact I think - looked like a knee - bad timing for him.

We need a banging our head against a wall emoji. He is not eligible to play this year - he was designated the international spot as an extra PS player. He is not eligible for call up or to play until next year - so no we will not see him.

Where does the RFID chip reside in the ball? Because a football is not round where the chip lies would matter significantly for where the ball went. Is it straight forward or is it sideways or is it at 3/4 angle - you are talking 3-5 inches of change and therefore the same type of inaccuracies - assuming you could line the entire field with receivers to be able to get an accurate plot. It could work near the goal line assuming you can tell the exact second the player is down or stopped because the ball keeps moving. The hardest part is that guys who are down - a knee just touches - then extend the ball forward - so you still need to be able to see visually multiple data points to spot it correctly. Guys forward moment is stopped and they reach the ball forward - you would still need to know exact moments. In addition you would have to know the exact accuracy of the chip. Many times you are talking within inches and if it has an accuracy of inches and due to the Balls shape you have inherent inaccuracies- it might be no different than what we currently have. It is not that I don’t think they should try, but I don’t think it is easy fix you make is sound like.

I would love to see BB just put a clinic on against Tua, but the NE offense is so bad that both teams are stuck in single digits. I would then be ok with another Tua benching and Fitz pulling the game out. More QB questions is best.

How early - are you talking rounds 1-3? Is TE more important than potentially replacing a starting guard (Mongo) or starting tackle (Williams)? How about DE and our need there (Hughes or Murphy)? What about LB if we let Milano walk? You have picks only in the 1st 3 rounds and you potentially have 4-5 starting positions that will need filled or get younger that should be much higher priority than TE. I could see a TE if someone drops almost a round from where they are expected, but you already have 2 TEs on rookie salaries and Gilliam is minimum salary player - so even a draft pick is not really cheaper than the TEs in the room. I just do not see them targeting a TE in their first 3 picks. I think they have more than enough spots to be looking for that unless the value is so far above the pick - TE will not fall into their BPA. I could see an extra 6th round pick for a potential PS player at the position, but an early pick seems highly unlikely.

Yep - I believe (we will have to see how everything plays out) Kroft is totally replaced by Sweeney and the TE group next year looks very similar to this year. I could see them working with Lee Smith to step away, but even that I think gets replaced by Becker from the PS over the long term. I just do not see the fit or the need for a receiving TE on the roster.

This just is not happening - in my opinion. I don’t think the Bills are looking for a legit #1 TE an certainly do not seem like they will have the Cap space to trade for #1. They are asking their TEs - be it Knox, Kroft, Smith, or Gilliam to play a half back blocking role. That does not work for guys like Kelce, Gesicki, Waller, Engram, etc. They aren’t blockers - they are glorified receivers and that role is picked up by Beasley for the Bills - who by the way has more receptions than all the TEs except Kelce and Waller and those 2 lead their teams in catches by quite a bit and I would rather have Diggs leading the team. People in this thread (not you at all) are crapping on Knox and yes he still has a long ways to go, but the expectations just make no sense. People want a TE like Gesicki, but then the Dolphins are running him out of the slot and taking a different pass catcher off the field. The offense the Bills are running is predicated on using a FB/HB and/or the RB to diagnose coverage - get extra protection- and slide out to draw coverage away from the primary receivers. The #1 TEs in this league are all receivers and they basically play the identical role to Beasley and so you are not really replacing Knox - you are looking to replacing Beasley. He is your seam route runner, he is you flare control route runner, and he is the QB safety blanket. Of course the Bills want more consistency from Knox, but considering Knox, Kroft, Sweeney, and even Gilliam are all basic clones - that seems to be what they are looking for in a #1 TE. Blocking and a few routes with mismatches and leak outs around the goal line and as a safety valve is what you are going to mostly get. A few routes where they use his athletic ability to get a one on one to help clear out space - Josh just needs to take what they are giving. The only way I seen the Bills improving the TE position at this point is if a highly ranked 1st rounder falls so far as to be unavoidable. I do not see a trade or FA that is significantly better (due to money) and I think they will have some holes to fill in the first 3 rounds that keep TEs away.

Would it be great? Would you have played him last year over Mongo and Spain to give him the needed playing time to develop? He was ranked as one of the worst guards last year, but Cleveland played him and took the losses. Would you have been ok losing more games and not making the playoffs last year to maybe develop a guard? The issue is that people think the Teller of this year would be the Teller the Bills developed if he stayed and I don’t think so. Beane recognized he had talent and said as much, but he was their 4th best guard last year in pre season and had no position flexibility- so Beane recognized he was not making the roster and could get a return. Cleveland made the deal and played him a lot last year and worked through the struggles and then brought in a run first HC and a run heavy plan that plays into his strengths. I don’t think for a second he would be anywhere near the same player on the Bills with a pass first attack leading to a more passive OL set-up - as that is still what he struggles with. If teams know the Browns are passing and they attack the o-line - Teller is a different player - he is not a dominant pass blocker in definitive passing situations. Beane has made a several mistakes - Teller at the time of the trade was a needed move or the Bills were cutting him for nothing. He (and Ike his replacement once they got him back from the Chiefs) are examples of why the PS is needed to give guys time to develop. The Bills knew both of those players had potential, but neither were ready last year and needed time and last year for the Bills was not a growth year where we could experiment and let the o-line in front of Josh struggle. They had expectations of making the playoffs. The difference between Ike and Teller - was Ike worked on position flexibility- he learned center in case it was needed - Teller is/was and will continue to be a guard only. That is not what the Bills want in a back-up o-line.