Richard Noggin

Never put rich, successful men on a pedestal, unless you know them very personally. And even then. Especially elite athletes who have been treated differently since they began playing sports at a young age. Enjoy the entertainment they provide, and celebrate the good works they might do in the community. But don't ever be shocked to discover dark secrets about the way they treat women. Many men are only as decent as their opportunities allow. It would be cool if that begins to change now that nothing stays secret for long. Maybe there is a silver lining to our societal loss of privacy. Think about the Buffalo Bills legends of the 80s and 90s. Or that larger than life legend from the 70s. They're often, but definitely not always, deeply flawed dudes. Elite competitiveness and unshakeable self-confidence don't usually add up to decency. That's my rant. But here's to hoping that QB17 is a different breed of beast!

Don't be so myopic. Timed speed doesn't exactly correlate with production. Certainly doesn't cause it. Everyone agrees the Bills could use more speed on offense, but that doesn't mean a guy like Hodgins will struggle to make the team. The stat means your opinions about where he lines up aren't supported by data. With all due respect.

Sounds great if it works. The proposed plan--to trade down for a SPECIFIC player--is initially fraught with risk, and the additional uncertainty in trading back many hours from Day One to Day Two of the draft. Each selection in the space between picks is a vulnerability, and the added time for intel gathering and trade talks overnight could easily add to the volatility. (I'm not going to research right now if the top of the 2nd round (Day Two) features above average trade frequency, but I'd be happy to see the results.) I think trading back, in theory, is best conducted with a value-based BPA approach in mind. There's either a logjam of equivalent talent available at a team's pick, so they trade back as far back as that logjam would reach (thereby ensuring they don't miss on a valued prospect while simultaneously adding value to their draft) OR there's a dearth of talent deserving of the pick, so they trade back to acquire assets rather than reaching. I'm sure targeted, player-specific trade-backs happen. I just don't think they're the best strategy longterm for maximizing draft value.

I admit that I wanted the Bills to approach the offseason just like this: move on from a fan favorite or two in order to sign players who impact the QB more directly (either as protectors or as pass rushers). That seemed to be where the Bills fell short in the playoffs.

Greg Thompsett's tweet just upthread indicates the opposite...

Looks like Poz, minus about 30 lbs of neck mass...

Stop rubbing it in, okay?

3 of the 4 players you've listed line up in very different positions (on STs) than Jones. Neal lines up at the same position, gunner, for which a team typically needs 2 guys at any one time. I'm sure you understand all that, yet you list these guys as if they're interchangeable.

QBU

I admire your resolve.

Gotta call you out on this one. See also: their very recent approach to "roster management." (Don't be misled by the Taysom Hill contract numbers, as advertised, of course. They're paying that piper, all right.)

Actually? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

I'm appreciating everyone showing their work on this problem, so I can follow along vicariously.

MUCH tougher and MORE COMPLETE than John Brown. Everyone is so focused on timed speed, but the best WRs usually don't have the sub-4.4 40s. What they DO usually have is technique, body control, suddenness, aggressive hands, and tenacity. I'll take a fierce dude like Sanders as the #3 or #4 option. Let's go.

Whereabouts up thread? If you don't mind providing directions, kind sir... Turns out working a 16-hour day has me WELL behind in my Bills FA news...

Just as the discussion was dying down...

Just how old do you think Hunt is?

Fair. Except he's absolutely "above average talent."

Why so dramatic? Can't we discuss this without being over the top about it all these years later?

Come on. It's not even a real kick, if you want to be more precise. It's like a feint, to be honest. He makes more contact than anyone should, but it's not traumatic force at all. Designed more to embarrass than it was to injure (by my eye). And I'm not one to be forgiving of such transgressions, I assure you.

That's a dramatic recap of what's on tape. Any kind of violence towards women is unacceptable, of course. But his action was not exactly as you're describing.

I think making such a black-and-white assessment of what really occurs in said video is a bit hyperbolic. But I don't think rehashing a well-hashed incident is terribly useful now. It's certainly not a NON-issue.

I don't think an objective evaluation of what occurred results in a guy who is forever untouchable.

I think any Bills fans who really pay too much attention (most of us here), and especially those of us who have experienced or lived with (or both) alcohol/substance abuse, have implicitly understood that our boy Poyer gets AFTER it off the field. Or at least used to. I'm actually shocked his exploits haven't gotten more coverage. Maybe one of the benefits of being in the Buffalo market?

Oh sh!t, you were serious?!