Richard Noggin

I find it really difficult to predict what's reasonable for the Pats. The AFCE has recently been rife with "offseason ascensions" that fell short of their optimistic projections, and sure, the Pats are broadly seen as this year's contender. Could be the case. But there is too much projection in that narrative to have much confidence in it to date. (I'm privately impressed with their moves since the season ended. Not convinced their OL is up to par, however.)

Awesome thread overall. Just look at the magnificently nerdy nonsense right above me on my screen as I type out this reply: People can approach these ranked analytics from so many directions, and employ so many different analytical tools, as well as so many different philosophical/evaluative perspectives. Personally I think it's true that fans (of teams who didn't just win SBs) overvalue their own org's FA and draft MISSES. And probably aren't nearly as aware of the frequency or impact of other good orgs' misses. Grass is always greener cliche. But the truth is that if Beane and Co had actually locked down just a couple more hits amongst the misses, especially near the top of the draft, then maybe the Bills would have a 'Ship already. Or maybe if coaching was just a little more ahead of the curve. Or maybe if good players just made one more play... You see how insanely interrelated football is. Nothing can truly be analyzed or judged in a vacuum.

Pro Football Reference has 2024 Bills 9th in passing yards (also 9th in rushing yards). Where are you looking? And either way, being ahead of the Bills in that category doesn't exactly correlate with season success. Not a GREAT indicator imho.

He's brilliant but he's also a dork (different from being a nerd, which of course he is). He enjoys being a pedantic Buzz Killington about popular misconceptions and kinda publicly yucks people's (slightly and blissfully ignorant) yums. Not a great ambassador in that he doesn't inspire a ton of wonder, at least with his noisy public persona. I'll admit his first appearance on The Colbert Report (a billion years ago) is the episode when Colbert finally figured out his own character's persona. Amazing interview. Tyson would find a way to make an amazing, season-defining NFL replay seem less amazing once you realize that centrifugal force is not actually a real thing and that centripetal force, which is the actual concept, doesn't actually apply at all in this case. You see how arbitrary and pedantic that was to read?

Exactly my (implied) point: "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;" and yada yada

The Chargers social media team are the absolute best at this annual schedule release content (and I'd think are highly thought of nationally in the content creation/marketing/promotions spheres). They really know where to go to reach new and younger fans. They keep up. Older, established fans don't matter much compared to newly acquired fans who haven't yet established a specific team as the brand they might someday spend money on. Super smart. *not sure if Capt. Andrew Luck has traction with the new/young fans above, but maybe there's some retro/cult popularity I'm unaware of. Either way, quality collab.

Should be paid DOUBLE by the looks of this clip. And truly, the 2025 schedule, minus early bye week, is just another link in the championship chain of circumstances aligning to make this the year. Finally feels like even the NFL wants it to happen. **the author of the above optimism fully recognizes the likelihood of, and is even anticipating, yet another novel, season-ending calamity.

I can understand some rando NFL fan or person across the country who doesn't care enough to look at the video or to know anything about what Dawkins actually looks like. All they know is they saw a headline about it and that's the deal.

DO they, though?

People genuinely thought this was actually Dion's leg? For real? That's rough. Information literacy education never kept up with the proliferation of the internet. Education in general, really, wasn't prepared to combat intellectual laziness. And here we are.

Given that they used to wear the same uniform, the likelihood of that is increased. (No one tell Taylor that Stefon plays for a different team.)

That's just not what a show like that is focused on, though. Of course they'd touch on his day job lol, but there would be some crossover value for the network, which would most certainly involve topics outside his day job. He's a person. His fiancee is a person. They're both deeply embedded throughout digital and broadcast entertainment spheres. Consider applying a critical, holistic lens to the whole "stay in your lane" sentiment you've been positing whenever Allen's fiancée is potentially in play. He's spoken for.

You're an odd bird. That show isn't exactly where one goes to break down Xs and Os.

Genuinely never encountered this word before. Perdures. And I spent a lot of years teaching college English. So thanks for that. No doubt the Bills offseason WR Train has consistently sputtered in comparison to the loudest/majority fan preferences. Something Beane chose to address in a very public and uncharacteristically bothered way. To be honest, I love his emphasis on a strong and deep OL, and the resulting offensive balance and flexibility (in concert with their best offensive position coach--Kromer--seemingly having increased input since Brady's promotion). But I know so many of us wonder what Allen could do with LEGITIMATELY dangerous receiving targets across the board. Then again, those stacked WR rooms aren't the ones typically winning Super Bowls, so...

Wait, those are actually Dion Dawkins' legs? Dion looking SKINNY innit lol Obviously that's someone else for so many reasons.

I'm too addicted to the relatively breezy ingress/egress of approaching Highmark from the West (even though I live up north outside the 290) to know much about those lots east of Abbott. I'm guessing ECC, where we often park, will be in more demand once the new stadium is open. Shorter walk for us, too. I wonder if fans will modify their habits/routes much?

Isn't Cousins under contract with Atlanta, who has not shown any public eagerness to move him so far? (Maybe I missed something)

Hunnerd percent.

I found it noteworthy that Hancock himself very recently said S is his most natural position (over NCB). He's currently learning both, no doubt, but admittedly feels more natural at S. Of course it's possible the stated plan for Hancock changes/evolves throughout the summer. I'm compelled by the scattered Micah Hyde comps. GB wasn't sure at first (or ever) where Hyde belonged, either. McD sure saw his best fit with crystalline clarity. Fingers crossed Hancock makes his value known early and often, wherever that turns out to be.

Seeing a lot of Bishop + Forrest vs Bishop + Hancock debate. And I get the hope that Bishop just steps up in year two and grabs hold of a starting position. That's best case. But...all things being equal (which they're not, considering draft investment, contracts, etc.), Rapp feels like the leader out of the clubhouse based on past performance and tenure, and the #2 job is yet to be determined (but the Bills hope Bishop makes it an easy decision). The DB room overall is SO much better than it was last year. The effort to overhaul the unit's athleticism and aggression makes this a fun transition year. True of DL as well.

I just love this typo so much for us. So many implications. Deliciously loaded. Lately in this thread I'm seeing reasonable extension proposals being discussed rationally. Difficult to argue with much of it, but then again, doesn't it seem like Beane's happy to get one more super motivated season (we'd presume) out of Cook, even though that could/would price him out of Buffalo's range? I just assume Beane is fine with drafting another mid-round RB next year and rolling with Davis, Johnson, and the rookie. Seems like a position they're willing to embrace turnover and roll with rookie deals and select/inexpensive vets. That could change. But Beane seems fine with RB Money Ball.

Swear I overheard Brandon Beane (shortly after he was hired) say he hopes "that Allen kid in Wyoming has a down year so we have a chance at him" when asked by a rich blowhard guest at Tempo about their draft plans at QB. I can see which table Beane was passing as he said this. I trust that memory less and less as time passes (might have been later in Beane's first season on the job, in reference to Allen's pre-draft process/athletic testing), but the memory persists in my rolodex of intimate team official interactions. I remember being terrified the Bills were targeting the Wrong Josh (Allen) that year (because I'm STUPID) much like I was worried they would pick Landon Jackson at 30 this past draft.

Have you seen his interviews where he reveals he's from Massachusetts and speaks with a very metro accent? Disconcerting, at first, but SO impressive given how iconic and unplanned his character's impact has been (was supposed to die in first episode, but Hader made a last minute audible to let him live). What a gem.

Normally, I want to pump the brakes on immediate, negative reactions to limited evidence, but it's REALLY DIFFICULT not to be at least a little disappointed in the tight seating dimensions revealed in that short video. Especially given my already-in-motion financial obligation to seats that will likely be identical. Those people were packed in like Allegiant Air or Frontier Airlines economy seating. One important mitigator: standing seems to CREATE more overall space to move and breathe. Different fan heights, and shoulders at an angle facing midfield, allow more 3-dimensionial room to spread out. Good to know they're keeping it COZY in the 100s damn.

Hilarious if he's announcing something completely unrelated to the schedule, like some kind of streaming content development deal or a reveal along those entertainment lines (thinking of that Skydance Sports overall representation deal he signed a couple months back).