Richard Noggin

Or a Roger McCreary, for that matter.

But will all that drafted depth actually make the 53-man roster? And if not, will they be poached (either when initially waived or as members of the PS)? That seems to be the debate around how to use this year's picks. There IS a case to be made for packaging picks to move up at some point in the 2022 draft.

I was living and working in hospitality in uptown Dallas when that first George Strait concert was held. It was like the biggest concert event in the history of music for a considerable demographic of the U.S., and the celebrities, athletes, and ultra-wealthy corporations and private citizens who flocked to it must have generated enough revenue, and the promise of future revenue, to exponentially reward the Jones clan on a scale most of us cannot really grasp. As you note, WNY isn't playing on the same field as markets like Dallas and LA. While I don't wish to forgive our MEGA RICH owners for their lack of comparable skin in the game, I also know the State and County essentially are forced to play ball. And of course it's not an investment without merit, considering consequential revenues collected over the 30-year term. Just sad that this is where things stand.

In a vacuum, I can see the wisdom to this team-building strategy. Draft a QB annually and plug him (or a recently drafted prospect who outperforms him) into a loaded roster. Rinse (trade or release) and repeat to remain stocked with cap space and draft assets. But what coach/GM combo has the job security to willingly employ it? If said coach/GM combo has 40+ mill to work with in a given offseason, what is incentivizing them to NOT pursue EVERY possible scenario to bring in an ELITE QB? Or, to utilize premium draft assets to acquire one (either by drafting or by trading for one)? In a given offseason, by the time they potentially realize they're shut out of acquiring their QB savior, then they've missed out on many of the defensive and offensive FAs who could help to carry out the proposed plan for the rest of roster. And coaches/GMs don't often get more than one crack at the QB lottery.

But don't Dallas and LA charge PSLs anyways? And aren't the State and County contributions considered loans/investments because over the course of the lease the taxes remitted back to those entities more than pays for the initial outlay?

EVERY major professional sports league is now disqualified from being an actual sport based on everything that ever happened before the 2000s.

I hear this approach. Sounds like an awesome setup. Over the course of this past season, though, I'd argue that something special happened inside the stadium. From frustrating losses, to improbably and memorably bad weather ALL season long, to a late season surge punctuated by an epically cold and generationally joyous playoff win, the Buffalo Bills organization and its fans RECLAIMED HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. Truly. After decades of homefield futility and crushing defeats, after Josh Allen's early-career yips at home, after 2020's barren stadiums, and after comically bad weather on MNF, this current Bills team finally figured out how to win in Orchard Park when it matters most. And in doing so, they reconnected with the gameday fans. So while I LOVE a good gameday backyard, garage, basement, or cave bar experience, the stadium experience was special by season's end. Everyone in attendance had to EARN IT this year.

That's what he said?

In many ways, the Bills should probably be the Bisons. Outside of Berman's "nobody circles the wagons" refrain, no one is thinking about "Buffalo" Bill Cody and his iconic status in the execution and romanticization of the U.S.'s fraught history of Westward expansion/colonization. We're mostly thinking about stampeding herds of bison, obscured visibly by nostril jets of vapor on a wintry plain and audibly by the seismic rumble of their unstoppable advance. (Ironically, eventually stopped by the likes of Cody and those he inspired.)

I mean, would a guilty person refuse to answer a question on the constitutionally-protected grounds that his answer could admittedly, in turn, be self-incriminating?

So are we thinking those deposition clips COMPLETELY exonerate Watson, or just MOSTLY exonerate him?

It CAN work, and HAS worked, every now and then. It might become less likely to work, however, as dynamic, QB-driven attacks proliferate. As @4merper4mer points out, though, there is some opportunity in the near future for an NFC team to pull off this approach. In a one-game Super Bowl, they might catch one of those AFC QBs on an off-night, or be able to disrupt them just enough. Doing that for two or three consecutive playoff games, to get out of the AFC tourny, is far less likely.

Seems silly to even post this one, dontcha think? The first two rounds are at least highly favorable (i.e., questionably good) value, and Watson in the 6th is just disqualifying. Just no chance. And also, no offense.

LFG

The obvious answer is to guarantee his acquisition. If there is more than one team interested, then a release would give the asset some control of where he goes. Giving up assets eliminates that uncertainty. Obviously.

NO ONE would lose sleep over using 6th and 7th round picks to move up in the 2nd round to draft a promising WR. In large part because no team would agree to trade down in the 2nd, more than a pick or maybe two, for such meager return.

You make really excellent points here about contemporary team-building draft strategy. I have to admit I hit the "agree" reaction on the post you quoted My first reaction to this post was, and I've left it in place, "Agree." It's true that the negative impact of bad play at the CB position can immediately result in points. In theory, with AFC offenses especially stacking insane talent at the skill positions, a hole at CB is more likely than ever to be exposed. This introduces a compelling counter-argument on both the micro and macro levels. The Bills, and all teams who are paying elite QB contracts, cannot count on long-term stability at WR. At least not right now. Stocking the cupboards with rookie deals seems more essential than ever. The Bill have some work to do on that front. Also, name all the elite CBs who played deep into the NFL playoffs (outside of Jalen Ramsey...who had his struggles). Defense is becoming more about scheme in the secondary and talent up front. Offense is essentially the opposite now.

Has the Panthers 2016 draft been mentioned in this thread? I'm guessing yes, but if not: a few early-to-mid-round (2, 3, & 5) CBs did NOT help that defense retool that position group. They took a notable step back that year, primarily due to their secondary. I know Tre will be back at some point, and obviously Dane has shown some ability. But CB is a big hole relative to this roster's depth elsewhere. You gotta have guys at that position. Obviously (insert St Doug reference)

How dare you suggest that ultra-rich NFL owners should stick to responsible budgets to finance their desired goals. That's advice for working class folks to follow. Because.

What are you implying by saying "neither of [Dawkins and Morse] have exactly been pillars"? Outside of COVID or a concussion, respectively (and in different season), both players have been EXCELLENT. Especially down the stretch in 2021, Dawkins and Morse are exactly what I'd label as the PILLARS of the Bills offensive line.

I'll admit that Tua looked more athletic and elusive in the pocket last season. Even Flores and his alleged/reported suspicion of his own QB's off-season physical "progression" would suggest that others can see Tua's work in the weight room. Conversely, his mediocre arm strength and lack of success downfield thus far in the NFL is a thing. To be fair (cue the gif) in the context of this board, no Miami QB has looked remotely competent against the Bills, specifically, for some time. I think that is skewing fans' perceptions of Miami's potential in 2022. That roster, with an annoying Shanahan offensive scheme, could be annoying.

I think if you dive deeper you'll see that's a more recent development. Hill in earlier years, even as far back as with Alex Smith, had a larger share of downfield production. NFL defenses forced this more recent shift to shorter, YAC-based production. (Although catching a 9-route 20 or 30 yards downfield can also result in significant YAC if he's got a step (in case the YAC-specific numbers are similar). Gotta look into avg depth of target.)

The phrase "words of wrong" really resonates with me.

So...on what grounds do you disagree with this source? You posit such a concrete timeline, which does NOT align with the sourcehttps://www.sportsmd.com/2021/09/01/recovery-time-for-acl-surgery-timeline-tips-and-faqs/, so please help me understand why 9 months is more realistic that 6-8. Thank you.