Florida Bills Fanatic

You're exactly correct. He is well past his effective playing days. This certainly provides some significant insight into the desperate mess that is the JETS. I'm curious to see how much they had to pay him to play.

The coaching staff is doing a lot of mixing players in and out of the so-called first team o-line. They are doing this to determine the best combination of players to be the starters and to determine which positions the various players can effectively play. Position flexibility will have a great deal to do with who makes the 53 man roster. Before we all become distraught over any of this, try to remember that defenses are always ahead of the offense in training camp. If they are still struggling after week one, I'll be concerned.

I think Bodine is a long shot to make the roster. He was terrible last year and he was terrible in Cincinnati before that. His only shot is if none of the options to be the backup can do the job or all are injured. If that happens, look for the Bills to pick up an experienced guy that is a late cut from another team.

You're right on point about this. I have no doubt that Miami will be a dumpster fire this season but I give Flores credit for realizing that the OL coach couldn't do a satisfactory job. Rather than continuing to perpetuate the mistake and take the team down a rat hole, he made the correct decision to move on. If the new guy doesn't work out, he can replace him next season or before. It's not like the only thing between the Dolphins and a championship is an o-line coach. I have to admit that it is nice to see other teams floundering around somewhere other than OBD.

Amen!

Orlando

I could see a situation where a veteran under contract is being pushed by a first or second year player with some upside. If a need at another team materializes due to something like an injury or holdout, Beane would be likely to move the higher cost older veteran to keep the lower cost younger player and gain a pick or two. For the Bills this season, this could materialize with defensive backs or the o-line.

I live in Florida now and have neighbors that are big Miami fans (season ticket holders). They also belong to a Dolphins fan club. They talk openly about how this season is going to be a train wreck. They also talk about the general feeling within their club that Fitz and Rosen not being the long term answer. They expect to be bad and draft a QB with a high pick in 2020. I'm sure there are some people that have high expectations for their team but it doesn't seem to be the majority view.

This kid was a talented player with a bright future. It became apparent in college that his effort and commitment to football was lacking. Arizona took a chance and the guy didn't respond. It's unlikely that he has much of a support structure of family or friends around him to provide a positive influence. This is just another pathetic case that happens all too often in professional sports. Maybe this will shock the guy to take some positive steps to turn things around but I'm doubtful. The Bills don't need the distraction of a high risk reclamation project.

What you say is true. When you factor in his age and the fact that he behaves like a two year old, I understand his cost only being a 3 and a 5. Every year there are some training camp cuts that are decent players that are picked off waivers by needy teams. Given that, getting a 4 for a guy like Zay with limited production may be a bit of a stretch.

I don't think Beane will be looking to spend draft picks or cash on a FA at this point. There would have to be a real team transforming player available. I don't think this guy or Clowney fit that description. I believe that Beane thinks he has his starters on the roster and that any future moves will be made to improve the depth and special teams at a reasonable cost.

I was at the game and I remember going home thinking that the team had quit on Ryan. I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to think that.

I agree with you. Until they deliver some results, it is mere speculation. I can say that in my opinion, none of our current guys have the physical skills of Eric Moulds. He was the real deal and the Bills could use a guy like him.

Until we know Daboll's plans for the offense this season, it is tough to know how the final 53 will shake out. There are always surprises and I am often surprised when I see good special teams players hit the street to retain a marginal depth player. Most of the opinions that I have read here are plausible with what we know now. We'll have to continue to watch what happens in camp and the preseason games.

I agree with you. This is a make or break year for Mariota. He has been unable to stay healthy and really has not become the passer that the Titans had hoped he would be. Losing Lewan puts Mariota in a bad situation. In addition, Henry really benefited from Lewan's run blocking and he will miss that for four games. Vrabel is a smart guy and he will try to lean on the run game and short passing game. Delaney Walker and Dion Lewis will be more important for these four games. Vrabel needs to do what he can to protect Mariota during this suspension.

Foster is still good enough to start on a few teams and I bet he will be looking to go to a team with a chance to start. I don't see him having a legit shot to compete for a starting role in Buffalo. He would be fantastic depth but he won't settle for that.

With the talented young people that the Bills have in their FO, it is just a matter of time before some of them move to other teams for promotional opportunities. Keeping them all for this season will provide the Bills with flexibility to fill future openings when they occur. It also won't hurt to have another capable guy to help prepare for the 2020 draft ( since the Bills will be picking later than in the recent few years ).

Detroit and Raiders look to be too high.

Blades are probably made by forced labor in the back of some South Florida massage parlor!

This is just a really sad situation. For those that think this is a really bad episode, I fear the end game for Richie will be "off the meter" bad. Without the NFL/football providing some boundaries and structure for his life, I believe he will spiral further out of control.

I think the player has almost zero leverage at this point. I don't see the Chargers throwing Gurley type money at him. They may very well offer him an extension with significant money but nothing crazy. As someone already pointed out, he has missed a bunch of games and the team will be somewhat reluctant to break the bank with a ton of guaranteed money. They have several contracts to deal with next season that will play into this situation. If he sits for a season, he'll miss out on earnings for this year and will still be looking at the franchise tag in 2020. If LA lets him walk after 2020, he will be in significantly less demand than Bell was. He shouldn't count on another team being as dumb as the Jets. The Chargers have some options as well. There are still some unsigned veteran backs available and there are always a few late cuts in camps around the league. Ekeler is a decent third down back who could fit with a couple of veterans to make a workable committee. I don't think LA will panic and cave in for crazy money. It will be best for both sides to reach a deal and I think Gordon deserves a reasonable extension.

Good post. I don't believe Beane will be pushed into a corner for any player except maybe for a franchise QB. When you look at the best teams with the best cap management, they have about six guys that are highly paid because they carry the team. If the Bills are working on a similar plan, it isn't too hard to guess who Beane may value and pay highly in the future. This doesn't mean that they won't pay some guys well but not at a level that elite players receive. Other than White, most of the recent draft picks and free agents still have a lot to prove. This includes Dawkins, Allen, Edmonds, and Milano. As fans we get emotionally attached to players, want to keep them even when the price is higher than the value of the player. GMs can't allow that to happen or they eventually crash the team and lose their jobs. Beane appears to be too smart to go down that road.

Bieber....? ouch Was he in the concussion protocol when he provided these responses?

I agree with you on this. In addition, Star needs to do a better job of keeping the guards off our linebackers. His role is to engage multiple guys in the middle and fill space. He was inconsistent last year.

Monte Ledbetter, Tom Day, Charlie Ferguson, and Wayne Patrick are some that I have met over the years. All were great guys.