Richard Noggin

He gets ahead of himself all the time on broadcasts. He's a really sharp and funny dude in person, even if a bit of a dry, witty prick when holding court (which is not exactly a criticism in my eyes), but with a microphone he gets lost. Must be the professional need to fill the air with words. I'll bet his at-home, on-the-couch commentary is MUCH more engaging.

Hodgins was absolutely playing special teams today. The one Colts kick return that had some success (going right to left) towards the near sideline was a cut inside Hodgins (who technically kept contain on the play, so I'm wondering if the 2nd layer pursuit was the issue). I don't know if he plays punt teams, though. Probably just kickoffs. Maybe someone else knows for sure?

On one hand, Vrabel's temperament can't be all wrong, seeing as his team consistently overachieves for 17 games each season. Then again, their criminal mishandling of A.J. Brown's entire career to date tugs us in a slightly different direction, especially in light of playoff results. I'm reminded of hard-ass defensive-minded HCs who did a poor job of supporting their young QBs...Mike Singletary and Brian Flores, for example. Lots of benchings and public criticisms. Maybe Jeff Fisher (benching Jared Goff) compared with Sean McVay (making him an effective pre-snap marionette). Giving your young QB some ***** slack seems really effing important these days.

This is the thing right here. It's a problem, potentially. But maybe it's a good problem to have?

The preseason Play from Allen's rookie year that keeps getting mentioned was a back shoulder-ish two-seamer to Ray-Ray McCloud that kind of improbably forced itself into his arms as he slid between defenders.

Agree. The Bills don't need to keep TWO more dedicated gunners when they've also got Siran Neal newly inked up. I know Neal sees the field on defense, but isn't he considered a lock at one of the gunner spots? If so, there's not much to justify keeping two more guys for the job who aren't likely see the field at their respective positions (except as injury backups). So I think it's time one of these two get waived (I prefer to vote off Jones, personally), UNLESS maybe Kumerow suddenly factors into their plans at WR?

Obviously I agree. Benford seems to be on the McBeane trajectory (under-the-radar 3rd day pick who just thrives in this culture). But I like to try to understand opposing arguments.

This looks like a 100% chance of keeping 6 CBs. How could they cut one of those 6 in favor of some fringe STs guy? With Tre still rehabbing? No way. I GUESS Benford could be cut but does he survive waivers to come back on the PS? Probably depends on preseason performance. And I'll bet the Bills aren't willing to risk losing him.

You appear to be avoiding a lot of salient context just to present this semantic point. The NFL would be challenging the severity of the punishment based on the decision rendered. He has already been found to be in violation of the code of conduct on several grounds. You're intentionally conflating judgment with sentencing. I'll bet you're smart enough to know that.

Is this the place to admit I kinda liked Rudolph for the Bills in that draft? All his big-time college program leadership and pedigree. In the spirit of destroying my credibility further, I liked Rosen more.

That was a seriously toned-down performance for the OG waterbug... (I mean really, have you seen his concert moves back then? His spastic hips and feet were years ahead of his time.)

Anyone remember which play it was last season where he ran faster than whomever he was blocking for (down the right sideline)? His mph were up around 20/21, which is Derrick Henry territory as a 240 lb human being. He might have had the highest mph on the team that day (one of the stats they display prominently at the stadium).

I'll admit to being absolutely irate over those two consecutive drives that went nowhere with shockingly unimaginative, conservative play calling. It was so glaringly infuriating. THAT'S when the Bills truly lost the game. You simply cannot squander back-to-back drives against such a potent offensive opponent. You need to capitalize on EVERY advantage, and convert EVERY point you can possibly squeeze out of a 60-minute contest. Otherwise... On one hand, McD is deserving of intense scrutiny as a game manager and situational tactician. No doubt. On the other, he has built, and continues to build upon, one of the most competitively successful organizations in the NFL. He is an excellent leader. Without question.

Josh's agent to Harper later that day:

To be fair, that is way too many Carrie's for any one man to handle in a single day. Except maybe peak Wilt the Stilt.

Total agreement. However, being able to confidently/competently mix in man and press coverage calls on either side of the formation IS an option they've admittedly sought to add to their repertoire.

Great read. The dive into Dorsey's early work with Cam Newton is especially salient: "Mike Shula, who worked as both QB coach and offensive coordinator for the Panthers and is now a Buffalo assistant, said Dorsey was instrumental in empowering Newton’s voice in the quarterback room. “He was flexible enough to say, ‘Hey, we got a guy here where it’s a little bit of unchartered waters. Let’s see how far we can take this,’” Shula explained. “He pushed the idea of, ‘Hey, let’s listen more to Cam, he’s got a lot of good ideas and it’s not what we’re used to.’ We went back into some of his stuff at Auburn. … The more we listened and the more we put that stuff in, the better we got.”" Also: "Dorsey said Newton “forced me to evaluate and research and do other things to expand your scope of what you can do as an offense.” And Beane and Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who were both in the Panthers organization during the Newton era, saw that innovation daily." Dorsey's promotion feels VERY organic and well-timed. Let's hope it works allows the offense to find more consistency.

Strongly disagree. The team played well during White's absence last year (minus the Chiefs), and while Wallace is now gone, guys like Lewis, McCloud, and Neal (not to mention Elam) are ready to step up. Leslie Frazier and Sean McDermott develop DBs, BELIEVE THAT! Plenty of other, more rational areas for concern.

I wish this kind of engagement and intensity translated into making plays on game day. What an effing GEM he'd be if that was the case. And maybe he's finally ready to just play fast and loose and impact the game. We don't know he isn't still catching up to the game, but we haven't seen the results on the field yet.

Without reading through the thread, let me be the next poster to point out Tom Brady's previous arrangements with the Patriots via his snake oil sports supplement/training business. TB12 was paid below market value for years, according to the salary cap. TB12 was NOT in fact paid below market value for years, in reality.

I'm not sure how much private exposure fans have had to Andre Reed, but from my limited but intimate access, I'm not ready to take his word as anything more than hype / bluster. Not saying he's wrong about OBJ's potential interest in the Bills (Buffalo is a SEXY destination for WRs), but whatever conversation they had was akin to late-night bro-hype over nose beers.

If anyone has an extra ticket to Kids' Day, I'm looking. We have two season tickets, but with me working that day, it will take BOTH my wife and my mother to fill-in and wrangle our 5 year-old daughter at the stadium. I took her last year to that inferno of an afternoon. So we need a third ticket. We're high up in 137 this season, I'm pretty sure. Were 2nd row in 336 last season, so we chose to relocate to the lower bowl just below that.

Those really high end (for working Americans) camp salary rates are typically in addition to much more impactful guaranteed bonuses; even fringy guys often see 5-6 figure signing bonuses and other built-in escalators for sticking around and performing. Remember, even guys who get waived have opportunities elsewhere and on average last for 2-3 years in the league, even if bouncing around. A FRINGE roster guy can easily make a million or more in his first 3 seasons as a practice squad-ish talent. Where's the risk in that? Working hard year round? Join the club. Takes me 10-15 years of INTENSE workload to match 3 years of earnings as an ultra-fringe PS/Street FA guy. And good for the players, don't get me wrong. I love to see wealth transferring to these modern day gladiators. But don't cry for them, either.

Herein lies the rub. With highly-drafted QBs on rookie deals, they either get a top tier AAV extension, or they hit the market (or hit the road via trade). There is no middle class with the team who drafts them. Big money or no money. Does it work the same for a 1st round MLB? Or is there room for a reasonable, mutually beneficial extension? I was pleasantly surprised by Milano's deal, and he has inarguably outperformed Edmunds to date.

While not very imaginative or dynamically different, these unis seem kinda okay to me.