IgotBILLStopay

Actually I may be in the minority here - but Julio Jones has some justification for the holdout. The numbers you give are a bit misleading. The key issue is $34 mill is not GUARANTEED. Actually, Julio is just getting cash of 10.5 mill this year (with the prorated signing bonus - cap hit for the year is 12.9 mill with a dead cap of 4.8 mill). At worst, he is playing on a 1 yr 10.5 mill cash deal ant at best, a 1 yr 15.3 mill deal if you feel like including the dead cap. When Sammy Watkins with far less production signs a 3 yr 48 mill deal with 30 mill guaranteed, a top 3 receiver in the league is going to get miffed at 1 year 10.5 mill no? These athletes' careers can end in an instant - if he had 34 mill guaranteed - we would not be seeing this holdout. And I think a 2019 first rounder for Julio is a fair offer (and the Falcons will come round to it) along with a little rework of the contract - maybe 2019 salary guarantee- will cause him to end the holdout and happily don the Bills Jersey. Git 'er done McBeane!!

RODENT strategy: Create discord in the team if you can. Based off public comments by team officials, add two plus two - make 5 and insinuate things - If the SHI(r)T sticks - claim credit - if not, repeat process.

I agree that we got fair trade value from the Rams. IMO, the mistake on McBeane's part came earlier - when they did not pick up Sammy's option. This is not to say I dont like McBeane - I am pretty stoked with most everything else they have done.

Yes it does. But this coaching staff has shown an uncanny ability to get the best out of less known replacements (who are hungrier) than better known names like Dareus. Let us hope that continues.

SInce most of the off-season moves are done prior to team cuts, I was taking stock of all the roster changes this offseason. Thought a Poll might be a good idea. My Picks: Best Offseason (non-draft) acquisition: Trent Murphy followed by Other (Streator / Reilly). I like the Lotuleilei addition - just not fully happy with the price. Contrastingly, I was a bit meh about AJ McCarron signing, but think it is outstanding value at 2 yrs 10 mill. Best Draft Acquisition: Edmunds with Phillips a close second. I hope to change this choice to Josh Allen a year down the road. Worst Loss: I am going with Eric Wood followed closely by Deonte Thompson. I am not sure Richie's mind is in the right place to pip these two.

I never know whether to feel happy or sad reading these reports. If the offense is struggling, I start worrying about the QB, OL, WR etc. If the offense is clicking, I get worried about the defense.

Found a few nice articles comparing the top two linebackers in the draft. The first link is the most detailed article. Speaks glowingly of both, but push comes to shove - picks Edmunds over Smith. Four articles overall 3:1 Edmunds! https://www.fanragsports.com/nfl-draft/nfl-draft-tale-of-tape-roquan-smith-vs-tremaine-edmunds/ https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/draft-analysis-which-lb-best-fits-bears-tremaine-edmunds-or-roquan-smith/ http://dabearsbros.com/tremaine-edmunds-vs-roquan-smith/ https://www.ninersnation.com/2018/4/14/17237236/2018-nfl-draft-scouting-reports-tremaine-edmunds-roquan-smith Another article that polls various people on the Edmunds vs. Smith question: https://www.49ers.com/news/draft-panel-take-your-pick-roquan-smith-or-tremaine-edmunds 3:2 Edmunds! And last, but not the least, another detailed video look at both of them: https://beargoggleson.com/2018/04/16/85064/

Thanks for replying. Can always dip into the injured / reserve for a mill or so. Also, we have so much cap space in 2019 - we dont have worry about the contracts in 2019. That said team has potential out after 2018 for both Thomas and Sanders. So they will only be a one year commitment (no 2019). http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/denver-broncos/demaryius-thomas-6531/ http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/denver-broncos/emmanuel-sanders-6590/

Where are you getting your numbers? http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/ This is what I see (it reflects Eric Wood's injury / retirement (so it should be the latest). It shows Bills have about 16 mill. I dont know if Josh Allen is included in the calculations. If he is not, we have 16 million. If he is not in the top 51, we should still have 16 mill - 3.9 mill +0.6 mill, which is about 12.7 mill. Even keeping aside 4 mill for injuries etc., we can sign an 8-9 mill player. And we do not really have top worry about the next year. What am I missing?

The real mistake was not picking up the Watkins option. We coulda had him this season at 1 year 11 mill when the market value for him was 3 yr 48 mill. BTW, I dont really have a problem with the trade to the Rams - I think we got a fair return (Gaines + second rounder) - though the linked trade with the Eagles for Matthews (for Darby + 3rd rounder) ) was, in retrospect, not so great.

FWIW, Corey Coleman of the Browns is the other trade candidate. I think he was handicapped by the Browns QBs and they drafted Anthony Callaway.

Have been thinking about the Bills' WR situation. AMong free agents, Dez Bryant is a pipe dream and Maclin and Decker are washed up. So, I was looking at release trade candidates. Denver is in serious cap trouble and needs to shed some salary. With two of the top three salary cap hits (Keenum is the third player in the group), Thomas and Sanders are the two candidates most likely to be released. / traded. Denver also drafted Courtland Sutton and Desean Hamilton in rounds 2 and 4 - so these two are serious candidates to be let go.

Now any chance, the appeals process drags on and he misses week 8?

I agree. IMO, Barkley, Chubb, Nelson, Smith and Edmunds were the cant miss non-QBs in the draft. And getting Edmunds at 16 is likely the biggest steal since the others all went top 8.

Umm it was more like Mahomes + last years #44 + Tyrod Taylor (which became #65 this year) for Tre White, Zay Jones and Tremaine Edmunds (edit), but I am still OK with what we got - given we also got a top 5 QB and a promising backup with starter potential at QB for cheap.