Einstein's Dog

I think you can file the players responses about the cold being the reason right next to "They want to play for a Contender".

The DE market looks like it's dwindling fast - the Bills could really use one. As for WR one element you didn't include was cost - I think the budget is a huge factor. I don't think they need a 1200 guy and I don't think it necessarily has to be a stretch guy. I think they are looking for about a $15M budget fit. Guys with good hands and catch rates are important in the "everyone eats" world. That's why I think C Kupp is a possibility. A lot of people think he is redundant as primarily a slot which they think we are loaded at, but I disagree. If Shakir goes down, the Bills are in trouble IMO. The void is not covered by Kincaid (TE, not been used at slot) or Coleman (has not been used at slot).

I don't think anyone should hold missing out on Crosby or Garrett against Beane. Their respective teams were not letting them go. I don't think it's reasonable to think Hendrickson can come here either. DK is different, that was a possibility that was chosen not to take. The FO is going to allocate resources in a different manor, I can understand it, but would have been excited if it had happened. I agree with almost all of your assessments. My only issue would be if the FO tries to draft the WR instead of FA, that IMO would be a big mistake. The Bills have a solid opportunity to vie for the #1 seed and you don't do that by filling in a starting WR position with a rookie. We already have the Coleman/Hollins subpar grouping on one side, we need a starting caliber veteran WR on the other side. I hope Beane isn't doing too much value hunting and we get shut out. Get us a C Godwin/C Kupp/D Slayton or even maybe back to A Cooper.

Well, I'm in the bummed group of missing out on DK. I don't prescribe to the offense v defense battle and instead look at it from acquiring a top talent. DK was, IMO, the most doable get out of the top bunch (Garrett/Crosby/Hendrickson/DK). You would still do the D stuff, it was/is an allocation of resources. Speaking of allocation of resources, weren't you a big pay Cook proponent? I am now thinking Cooks importance has increased. Any WR that I hope the Bills get will be of a lower tier, more short term, and lower cost than DK - C Kupp, A Cooper, D Slayton. Beane needs to fix this Cook situation, the offense needs him (I would have preferred having DK and being cheap on RBs, but that ship has sailed).

Go from one pipe dream to another? I don't think so. DK Metcalf seems real - act quickly Beane.

But you seem to be thinking his motivation is to be with a good team over maximizing his paycheck. The Bills have a reputation of not paying big money to RBs. Cook may want to cash in on his outlier season and to do that he needs to be with a team that pays big money to RBs.

And I admire your deep dive into parsing out the movment of the miniscule odds of the adding Garrett or Hendrickson. The idea of keeping alive the long shot pipe dreams by passing out realistic transactions is not a solid philosophy.

You seem to be assuming his agent had nothing to do with the post. You also seem to think that being part of a trade is something Cook would not like. I'm not sure either of those are true.

Okay Beane - looks like sending a 1st and $30M can get this thing done. I'm on board. Do it. This sets the offense for 3-4 years (DK/Shakir/Kincaid/Coleman/Josh/R Davis). The other big needle movers are wishful thinking, Garrett might not even go until June and for multiple 1sts, and we might not even get a seat at the Hendrickson discussion table, being a competitor and all.

What did Cook think posting the $15M figure would do? What was Cook looking to accomplish by putting that figure out there? Without that figure out there, the fanbase would be getting antsy for Beane to get a deal done. The fanbase wouldn't be solidly on managements side. Most people would know that calling for $15M was out of line to comparable RBs. Why do you think Cook posted the high $15M figure?

Kind of, I thought the FO was going to make a move for a top tier WR last year. I thought it was the FO plan all along and thought/hoped they would do it when they got the June 1st money. They did eventually get Amari, I don't know if waiting until in-season was the plan all along or not. So yeah, my new thought/hope is the FO is intent on bringing a top quality talent (DL or WR). I hope they don't wait until the season begins to do it this time.

First off, you said the Bills were 1 for 3 on value of extensions to drafted players, which is what I was responding to. Josh was drafted and extended as were some others that you missed. If you were trying for some other more obscure point, doesn't matter with that type of ridiculously small sample size. I disagree with the main point about giving market value extensions to good players a year early. It is one of the great advantages of drafting decently. These type of contracts are cap manipulators which allow for future adjustments. Secure the somewhat newly drafted core and then add the jewel FA piece(s?). The big move hasn't been made yet.

And what about Josh? Remember when they extended him early and there was some backlash? And Tre? One huge advantage of drafting good players is the right to be able to negotiate early. Shakir/Bernard/Groot are being extended at market rates a year early. Hopefully Benford is next. Would have loved for Cook to follow suit but the indications point to Cook wanting above market rates.

Well, she also said she thinks Seattle is fine with Geno. I don't take what she says as gospel.

"Doesn't Care" and "prefer not to" are not the same thing. Beane when asked his opinion could have said "I don't care" but he did not say that. This conversation started by asking why was Cook the whipping boy. It's because he made public his outrageous salary request. It's frustrating to fans to have a good, exciting RB overvalue himself. It's a sign of trouble to come.

So Beane did care, but now you're saying it shouldn't affect negotiations - which I agree with. Now you're saying "both sides are guilty" but Cook started it. And when you say it doesn't really matter, it does to a lot of the fanbase. Cook has made himself out as an unreasonably high participant in the negotiation. If Cook hadn't posted on social media the fanbase would not have known who was at fault, whose side to take.

I don't agree with you on this Happy. I'm thinking we're going to see a lot of churn on parts of the defense (DL + S+ new CB) and Beane/McD want to lock up some of what they have now. I also think it is one of those deals where it will look even better in a year.

How can you say no one in the FO cares when Beane said he would prefer not to negotiate on social media? And Beane also said something to the effect of the $15M was nowhere near what he had in mind. So if Beane made his offer and we haven't heard anything and there is not a lot of back and forth - those are all indications of potential problems.

I don't even consider it swinging for the fences. A team can have a high priced QB/LT/WR/DE/CB. Adding a Garrett or Hendrickson on with DK might be pushing it although I would like to see it (even though that seems unlikely) - maybe add a K Mack or J Bosa.

That offer seems low, why not a 2025 2nd (the Bills have two)? And throwing in the overpriced C Samuel should help the financials/cap. I disagree with the idea that the Bills have this big difficulty budgeting in a future (remember they would be trading for his current contract and giving him an extension) $30M, that is very doable now for the Bills IMO. And the Shakir contract is a normal to smallish WR2 contract for a team.

You're saying this like it was a mistake to add Diggs. I disagree and would like them to try again. And I like the player/person of DK better than Diggs. I would also like them to try and add a big piece to the defense - kind of like the attempt with Von. That didn't work out so well IMO, but I want the FO to try again - get Garrett or Hendrickson if they can afford it.

I'll give it a shot. Most of us want the team to get better. One way is to add an elite talent. Of the four top talents being discussed: Garrett/Crosby/Hendrickson and DK Metcalf - DK Metcalf has the highest odds/likelihood of being able to be obtained. Add an elite piece, then fill in the rest. If that elite piece is DK then draft and put other resources into improving the defense.

Not only possibly mesh well with Josh but with the whole Bills organization/culture. Strong, workout warrior, who has accepted his target share. They want Kincaid and Coleman to add strength and toughness - what a great example. And if J Brady wants a bully ball option, the DK/6 OL/Knox/Hollins (jacked up Coleman) would bring a lot of beef to the table. Getting DK can also get the FO back into the smart philosophy of higher cap allocation to top performers in the premium positions - QB/LT/WR1/DL/CB1

When I say "have Cook play out his contract" I mean the FO does not cave in to Cook's desire to rework his contract for $15M money. I want the FO to stick to the philosophy of not paying big money to the RB and if Cook refuses to play they would have the backup plan of R Davis/Ty/ and rookie. I would like to see the cap allocation of money go into a top tier WR like was done in the past with Diggs, now it should be DK.

What better WR can you get for 2025? D Adams is old and a diva, C Kirk is a slot-like duplicate, C Godwin was hurt, C Kupp is old and often hurt. DK is in his prime, is fast, and as a bonus is big and a work out warrior. And forget just WR - look at all big moves. Garrett is complicated - read Barleys explanations, it is a long shot to happen, Crosby is gone, Higgins franchised. DK looks available. A DK contract around $30M is not outrageous. Top WRs already near $40M at that is before Chase resets the market.