Richard Noggin

Um...I'm not a mathematician, but what if he gets EXACTLY 9 sacks? That's neither over nine nor under nine, right?

Plans change. Right. Circumstances now dictate that Nsekhe might be best utilized a swing tackle, which he does quite well. The Bills can afford a highly paid swing guy with their cap situation. No sweat.

That backup line is probably a bloated use of roster spots, as Feliciano and Long both have C flex, making Bodine (who doesn't really play G--not a big, strong dude) expendable. If only one of our depth guards also had T flex, we could do away with a 4th T as well. I think nine linemen is the max we'll carry, eliminating Bodine. I could listen, albeit un-enthusiastically, to an argument for eight, even, with either Waddle or Spain being cut (as neither has position flex--that I know of). It's all about position versatility for oline backups. Just like it's often about special teams utility for WR/RB/TE/LB/DB backups. P.S. Sometimes I feel like an a-hole predicting cuts or critiquing players like this, when my 2nd job has me interacting and getting to know them, their families, and the staff (of PSE/Buffalo sports teams in general) fairly well over time. Bodine is a smart, cool guy. I wish him the best. (He's NOT very large by linemen standards, btw. Listed at 6'4" 311, which might be a bit generous for both measurements.)

Oddly enough, I have a similar concern. Against the run especially, Edmunds has never shown the physicality and playmaking ability that the NFL's best MLBs, even early in their careers, display regularly. He strikes me as more of a freak athlete who's pretty good at football, rather than a heckuva football player who happens to be a good athlete. 250 not heavy enough? I agree he has the frame for more mass, but I've not heard his weight used against him, until now.

It's interesting, through this lens, to look at the types of linebackers New England has fielded in recent memory: my immediate thought is that Belichick has had continued success with bigger bodies at LB (multiple 250+ guys). Hightower and Van Noy last season, Collins (who was an athletic freak), Mayo, and Spikes before that... All while the rest of the league gets lighter and faster and more pass-happy.

True. But so many of us have to be absent more often than we'd like to make ends meet. Brady has the means to make expensive arrangements to have his family closer to work during the very long NFL "season", if he so chooses. He's definitely earned the right to do as he pleases with respect to voluntary "off-season" workouts, but it's an issue with me that he does so for the same reasons that so many of his younger, less-established teammates share but cannot/should not indulge. I believe the more seniority, security, and salary an employee accrues, the more responsibility (moral/ethical) they have to lead by example. Not on behalf of their employers, but instead on behalf of their colleagues who are still grinding to carve out a stable living. So often, of course, it works out quite the opposite. All the way up the ladder.

For sure...but the on-field blame-displays DURING said plays is just really poor football character. I effing hate working with ego cases like that (in admittedly different circumstances).

I'm reading this a lot on this thread. Scuttlebutt is he got canned because he did NOT draft for need? That's kinda, like...backwards, yeah?

What if it's just a slender, crescent moon? And it pierces only some lame-ass, non-tax-dollar-generating land mass? Might be kinda cool...

Wait, what? Are you saying that last year Robert Foster and Levi Wallace were NOT examples of significant UDFA success?! And that Matt Milano, in his two years on the field, given his 5th round selection, has also not been an unanticipated success?! I'm not sure what you're saying here. Using the word "career" is a bit silly, sure. But the three players mentioned in your post have been wildly successful in relation to draft position, and frankly just in general. So their "careers" thus far have been successful by multiple measures: Analytics favor Wallace's coverage snaps last season. Gross statistical productivity shows Foster as a beast in the second half of the season. If you watch Bills football, then you've seen Milano flash often over the past two years (and you also watched the D lag a little after his injury).

I do NOT see Russell Bodine making the cut, barring injuries, mainly because Feliciano AND Long both have position flex AND ability that Bodine simply doesn't have. They are quality depth guys/borderline starters at OC AND OG, whereas Bodine is maybe barely serviceable depth at OC and definitely nothing more.

Poyer seems like a better-than-average player and teammate who maybe has some off-season/downtime demons. Probably not an uncommon blend of discipline and depravity (just more publicized due to social media and his relationship). Back in the day we'd never know about his personal business, or if we did, we'd be more ashamed to drag it into the light. I've witnessed firsthand some impressive consumption and some questionable behavior from professional athletes IN-SEASON; it's difficult to know how that will affect each individual, professionally. We've seen it work out a variety of ways with Bills players over the years.

Yeah, but then they'd be as miserable to read as you are. (Most of your points use sound judgement, by the way, being grounded in the observable reality of the past. But what a wet blanket you are in this context.)

THAT is an interesting analysis and conclusion. I'd kill to JA's stats in those same categories last season; something tells me our young QB, like Darnold (and probably even more so) ranks highly with respect to target/completion depth on 2nd- and 3rd-and-long. His efficiency numbers are where the progress must be made. But Josh Allen is nooooooo Ryan Tannehill, for sure.

That's culture for ya!

I absolutely underestimated him, even after poring over his youtube highlights. He didn't really flash on "film" as I remember it. Didn't look fast (despite being light) or instinctive from his hybrid safety position. I hope it's the same way with our QB (with of course MUCH higher stakes) : a guy who under-performed in college but projects favorably in the NFL due to physical traits, work ethic/intellect, and coaching/scheme fit. (I didn't much care for Josh Allen's college footage, either.) Being wrong is often quite rewarding, if one is honest with...oneself.

Forgive me for zeroing in on this one, limited point, in what is otherwise a thoughtful post: BUT... ...it got me thinking about the Patriots and how they tailor defenses to particular opponents. Don't they (as evidenced in the Super Bowl, playoffs, and for many many years) put their best man-to-man guy (currently Gilmore) on the opposing team's best or most productive receiver, then double the second-best receiving option with CB2 or LB/EDGE guy (if it's a TE like Kelse) plus a safety, leaving 8 defenders to stop the running game and secondary passing attack? So, then, how will/should Belichick scheme to stop the 2019 Bills? Who gets Gilmore, and who gets doubled?

Ugh with the "way too long to read" comment. The full context, tone, and nuance of a text matters. It informs every point made within. Wait until you have time to read it before commenting. But that's just, like, my opinion, man.

Or...the timeline is not as innocent as he claims it to be, and his retirement announcement came AFTER his badly timed test. Then, upon later learning that teams (especially New England) were interested in him despite his looming suspension, he decides to sign and then "come clean" with his story. That's just as believable, if not more so. For the record, I actually believe the player enough not to judge him either way, in this instance. Just saying. His story IS mighty believable. Except that I'm not sure 38 is a common or advisable age to begin testosterone supplementation. Meh, rich folks get access to a different world of healthcare...

I wonder how it will affect LAMAR Jackson and HIS team? (Smiley face emoji?)

That's the point, right? He did the thing he had to do, despite the personal conflict of interest. Canning Castillo might wind up being a pivotal move in franchise history, if the optimists are correct about Buffalo's trajectory...

Underrated aspect of his tenure here. It's been a pleasant surprise for this Bills fan to watch the head coach apparently agree with our assessments of which coaches need to go, and to move on from them decisively: (but without the insecure and bridge-burning midseason firings) Dennison, Crossman, Castillo, and a full cast of offensive position coaches. Let's not forget McD's handling of Leslie Frazier and the defense early last season; he intervened decisively and effectively, and without alienating or badly undercutting his D Coordinator. In fact, I'm fairly certain (without looking it up) that he shared the duties the following weekend, at Minnesota, and awarded Frazier the game ball following an upset win and defensive masterpiece. THAT's head coaching. That's putting your best people in position to succeed.

Does anyone else think it's POSSIBLE that McDermott's understanding of what it takes to field an effective, modern NFL defense: speed, instincts, and undersized playmaking... ...is actually a VERY convincing argument for building a heavy, mauling o-line and a run-first, play-action offense that exploits the intrinsic weaknesses of such a defense? Is it possible he's building a modern defense AND simultaneously fielding a (less-modern) offense designed to beat it?

Adam Gase is not an effective leader. He is too ego-driven. Too self-interested. Strong leaders maintain integrity and accountability even during (or ESPECIALLY during) challenging or dysfunctional moments. Gase is too busy politicking and saving face. His draft behavior was petty and pathetic. And the Jets organization just fully endorsed that brand of tantrum. Now I expect Gase to unsympathetically demand more integrity and accountability from his roster than he is willing to exhibit himself. Recipe for discord, if you ask me.

These mega-threads present challenges for me as i am often late to the party (two full-time jobs), attempting nonetheless to read through them diligently and chronologically, then sniping at posters like yourself who make silly missteps with their native (I presume) language. I think i was an entire day late with my post. That IS unforgivable, isn't it?