Einstein's Dog

It was weird coming from the Bills, that DaBoll/Schoen went with keeping the mediocre QB and also not trading Barkley that year. It seemed like the opposite of what the Bills did, when they decided to move on from Tyrod and move on from paying RBs (moved on from Shady).

For that point (team assembly) I think there are a couple of things at play. One is the longer season and more injuries. A move based on an injury makes a lot of sense for any contending team - this was our R Douglas move last year. Kind of hoping KC is left out of it, but they would be in this category. A second thing I think is starting to happen is the culture of playing hurt, coming back as soon as possible, is going away. This year players with hanmy's are going on the IR - Nico Collins for example. E Engram took 4 games from a pre-game hamstring. C Kupp extended his time off and SF seems to be load managing McCaffrey for the playoffs. Even for the Bills, J Cook out with a toe injury. And yes, I think Beane will keep looking at the possibility for another adjustment at S or LB if he can find one that fits. I'm just glad he found the WR piece - because it makes me think this squad is a contender. As to your overall thought in the OP, it's not declining for me. Fantasy Football and betting aspects can make routine games interesting.

How was his tone?

To me, the above reads of a person disappointed in actually realizing they fell for the BS that the FO was selling. The diehard Bills fans who made themselves believe the "WR room quietly got better" or Beane is trailblazing into the "WRs are a dime a dozen". BS...BS...BS....just PR from the FO, sorry for those of you that fell for it. Lets not rain on the parade of those of us who are rejoicing in having what we considered the largest problem addressed. For me, this restores a lot of faith back in Beane. Smart guy who is working hard to address the Bills needs. I was worried after the 3-0 start and people were crowing on about how this new look was so dominant - that Beane/McD might be thinking that. This move is more like the move off of Tyrod even though they made the playoffs- don't rest at 4-2, you can make the playoffs but you are not a contender. Today, the Bills are a contender! Let those of us that thought this was the missing piece celebrate!!!

I don't think so. I believe Beane had wanted a top tier WR all along. The lack of a top tier WR was obvious (a lot of people on here just didn't want to admit it- we did not quietly get better). Beane had monetary constraints - some of his own doing, some circumstantial - but whatever- without a top tier WR this team was severely handicapped. I'm extremely pleased that Beane/McD didn't let the 4-2 start lull them into inactivity and call it a good rebuild year. With A Cooper the Bills are back in the discussion as a legitimate contender.

I'm taking it you're feeling pretty good about this too!! Great to see the FO do this when we're 4-2, recognizing the need even with a good record. Brings Beane back into a favorable light for me. Now he just needs to still add another WR next draft.

To the OP, certainly looks good IMO for the A Cooper side. I think your analysis though misses that the Bills were without a top tier WR for 6 weeks. We're lucky to be 4-2. The future is bright, a top tier WR was the missing piece IMO. Woo Hoo!!!!!

A couple of thoughts on this: A. A Cooper is on a limited time contract, it would be against his interests to cause waves - his future value would decrease - odds are he will be quiet the remainder of the season (see S Diggs in Houston as an example). B. A Cooper should certainly be the alpha - even in a potentially diminished alpha role, he is the Bills top WR. And if the Bills do well, A Cooper will get a lot of positive press. C. Even in a lesser alpha role, if A Cooper performs well and fits the culture, the Bills have a history or paying/recognizing such behavior.

Huge difference - in Miami the team made had a huge win and there was no downside in showing his emotion. With the A Cooper development there, while internally McDermott is probably excited, he doesn't want to show it, primarily for two reasons: 1. If McDermott showed excitement for A Cooper it would mean that the current players weren't good enough. The locker room culture is extremely important to McDermott. 2. McDermott probably does not want A Cooper coming in as a prima donna. He doesn't want a WR that demands a certain target share.

DHop leads my list. If you look at the relevant variables such as: goog veteran WR, on a team that stinks, affordability, and not too much of a diva - DHop scores well.

Beane should be thinking the Bills can win this year. But I am hoping this doesn't require Beane to rush into anything - this should have been thought out a long time in advance - probably back when they let Diggs go. But IMO it doesn't/shouldn't just be a win this year thing -which IMO eliminates D Adams. Getting DHop at under half his $13M salary for the remaining portion of this year and adding on 2025 at a G Davis type rate of around $13M would be a solid move for the near term and mid term. As it stands right now, WR is not just a problem this year.

It may be that all along Beane wanted a top tier WR but is under cost constraints (ie nothing has changed). So Beane would inquire, and nothing will be done in regards to D Adams - there is no way IMO that he is a fit- too costly, bad attitude, only half year rental. But DHop or Cooper are much more reasonable IMO. In a couple of weeks DHop will be a bargain. I would hope the FO would get him for not only this year but 2025 as well - because a top tier WR is a need for 2025 and you might as well fill that need now. DHop's last contract was at G Davis levels, DHop hasn't had near the negative press as most of the malcontent WRs, and they could find a reasonable way to get a year and a half deal IMO. I'm hoping this was considered a possibilty when they unloaded Diggs. Of course I've been hoping for something like this all along and it has never materialized (I thought when Tre money came in they would go after one).

I'm hoping the FO is not just looking for a half year rental out of some trade. This would probably eliminate D Adams - which is okay with me. But DHop or Cooper might be able to be worked for the half year and 2025. That would help eliminate the need to find a top tier WR next off-season.

Sometimes you having me shaking my head in disbelief. You're nitpicking an actual statistic and in the same post have this beauty: "It's 100% factual that had the Bills been forced to play start to finish all four games, that not only would Shakir....." That is not a fact, that is you with a strong belief. There is an irony that is not lost here when you nitpick someone who is quoting an actual fact and saying the missing context is pushing a narrative while stating an opinion as fact to push a narrative.

You need to keep watching. Early episodes it looks like the way you say but as the series progresses you see D Adams is a real prima donna. You see his ridiculous press conference where when the Raiders won, Adams couldn't contain his displeasure of not getting enough targets. You see Adams say he gave his approval for a QB change. And Adams implies he gave his permission and recommendation for the coach change. Early impressions of D Adams takes a dramatic change in this series and he comes off as a real douche.