Beck Water

I don't at all see it as a forgone conclusion that Malik Washington, or any other late round rookie, would play 40% of the snaps, but you could walk me through your reasoning and help me see it. The way I see it, the last few years, the Bills have been heavily a 1,1 team. Maybe 65-70% 11. But I think the "tea leaves" say that may change. -Shakir averaged 68% and that's lowered by 2 games where we barely passed and he was only on the field 50% of the time. I think it's a good guess they want that to go up. The Bills seem to think Shakir can play a bit outside, or in the Bunch formations Brady loved with LSU, so I don't expect to see him coming off too much. -Ditto Samuel - he was a 68% guy under Brady in Carolina -I think they're going to want Coleman to get on the field and let him take his growing pains and lumps Now let's say for the sake of argument that's 70% of the snaps. -Kincaid was on the field 58% of the time, and I think most people feel he's earned an increase. -But if they want a TE who can block in-line, and block downfield as opposed to get in the way, that would be Knox. So if you don't want to pull Kincaid off the field, that would mean 22 sets. I would love to know what our % 22 set was after Brady took over - anyone? It wouldn't shock me to see us play 20% 12 next season. -After Brady took over, Gilliam played an average of 7% of the snaps, so we were either in 2,1 or 2,2 7% of the time -Last 4 seasons, Mack Hollins has a low of 27% of the snaps (MIA) and a high of 94% (LVR). Last year with Atlanta 39%. So who knows, but because of his blocking chops, don't expect to see him much lower than 30%, I think. That might fill in for any breathers Coleman and Shakir need. Basically, I think there's room for a 4th WR to get in the field, but I don't see it being a 5th round rookie (even if he was a fantasmagorical blocker in college), and I don't think it's gonna be 40% of the snaps. And I think a 5th round rookie would be more likely than not to be "Shortered". What did you think of the year PFF ranked Tyrod Taylor in their top-10 QB with Buffalo? I'm not blanket dissing off PFF, but I don't think one really should put too much weight in their player rankings, OL grades, or DL grades for example.

Thing is, he's not the bottom of the barrel. That would be someone like John Ross (who? Cincinnati 1st round WR 2017) or N'Keal Harry or....Kadarius Toney? Guys who were drafted high and have not been able to live up to it. Or, for that matter, Andy Isabella and KJ Hamler. Claypool undoubtedly has talent. He showed that in '20 and again in '21. He can play at an NFL level. It's just whatever's in his damn Haid that's the question. There musta been something in the water of that Pittsburgh locker room, WR catching the Cray-Cray all round: Antonio Brown, Juju S-S, Claypool

Steelers drafted him mid-2nd round Bears traded their 2nd round pick for him (#32) I think Claypool got to thinking that his ***** smelled like Roses just because he was a 2nd round pick and laid down a couple of 800+ yd seasonss. Last year, the Bears benched him then shipped him off to Miami for a 2025 6th round pick after Claypool made any petulance/checking out Diggs might have displayed look like a minor toddler dispute. In case that didn't get the message across that he better shape up and do his 1/53rd, the Dolphins let him on the field with the offense for 51 whole snaps in 9 games, while expecting him to grind on ST. He was inactive a couple of games, anyone know what was up with that? Anyway, if the Bills are prepared to manage him I don't have a problem with it - given the Bills cap, it has to be a low $$ deal. Let him compete with Cetus and Shorter and Shavers for the #6 spot

Huh?

*blink* *blink*

It's the base, not the "up to" that I'll be wanting to see. If he's got a 1k year left in him, when is it going to emerge? It's been in there incubating since 2019, while he's been chugging along at 35-45 catches for 500-ish yards since Cleveland

Again, I'm not all up in the details of it, but there has been all sorts of skeevy business going on in the PSE front office from Russ Brandon, to Ron Raccuia, to John Roth and Kathryn D'Angelo being fired last Fall for being unable to keep their Bowsers Truckled. As I recall there was a shakeup and John Roth was brought on board in January 2023. Jessica Pegula's Players Tribune article was published February 7th. Unclear to me when her husband was fired. But the thing is, if the Pegulas had a culture of "lifers" as the Bills had under Wilson, it would stand out that someone close to the family got fired. As it is, it seems as though the business side of the Bills and Sabres has lived in a constant state of churn especially the last couple of years. Whether it's well-needed churn or destructive churn, I couldn't tell you. Taylor Gahagen was probably fired for cause, not just let go given the choice of words - but whether it was because Jessica and he are now "outlaws" to the Pegula family (as Graham implies) or because he was felt to be doing a poor job (maybe too much time jetting about to his wife's matches and not enough minding the business?) or because, in a culture where bousers seem to be untruckled all over the place, maybe his also unfastened Unless proven otherwise I think it's more likely than not that: 1) Jessica wouldn't have written that article for the Player's Tribune without at least running it by her siblings and father. So I don't think publishing that somehow cast her out of the fold 2) her husband's firing is most likely related to his OTJ performance and churn in the Pegula business offices Remember, Tim Graham is seeking clicks and subscribers for the Athletic, so it's in his interest to sensationalize where he can

Laura Pegula is 41 - not exactly a fossil. If I were guessing, my guess would be that the kids from the 1st marriage kept their distance from the Bills, regardless of interest, while the 2nd wife was the Face of the Front Office, and she not unnaturally probably wanted her kids to follow in her footsteps. Now that the 2nd wife is out of the picture, the kids from the 1st marriage may be saying "hey - we were here first, we have priority over your 3rd born who is off playing high level tennis, not grinding in your businesses as we've been doing"

I mean you can suggest it, I won't pillory you - as was pointed out up-thread, the Bills and Milano have both been un-forthcoming with details of his injury, and the upper range of the RTP time presented by BangedUpBills would put him returning in early September. I just don't think signing a guy who was a very good linebacker in his day, but was a vet minimum player who started the season on practice squad for Carolina last season is particularly interesting or out of line. It seems like SOP to me - try to grab some quality vets who can compete for spots at the back of the roster. We'll have Jones competing with Morrow and Spector for the backup Mike, and Morrow competing with Williams for the backup OLB. Ulofoshio's shot at the roster is on ST. We normally carry 6 LB on the roster and we carried 9 LB into camp last season.

Agree that the full picture of why the Bills called Klein is more nuanced than I presented, but I think the point stands that the Bills went into the season presenting Dodson and Spector as a serious options at MLB. Early in the season, when we were ahead in a couple games they pulled Bernard and Milano for Dodson and Williams. When Bernard went down vs Cincinnati, I believe they tried Williams rather than Spector (Dodson was already playing for Milano). I guess one can argue against shifting position on 2 guys, though the Bills have cheerfully done that on OL before. I just don't think they were comfortable with Dodson at MLB to start Klein at MLB ahead of him vs. KC, and certainly not comfortable with any of the rest of their depth - Matakevich, Spector, Williams. So I think it's a valid point that they acknowledge their LB depth needed overhaul, even though, overall, I agree with you that if they could have kept Dodson they would have.

Kirby, Kirby, Kirby. I can go with you that it's more important to have top starting WR than to have top starting off-ball LB. The fact that the Bills were able to splice together an adequate Milano replacement from a combo of Dodson, Poyer, and Rapp that allowed them to have a sound defense speaks to that. "INFINITELY" in all caps? Mmmmm I think what the Bills defense looked like in the playoffs while we were playing The Ghost of AJ Klein and One Winged Dodson, would show that's not true. So you're upset because the Bills valued a potential backup LB and STer over a WR drafted 24 slots later (meaning 2/3 of the league didn't see him as "significant snaps with upside") and 56 slots later (meaning all of the league didn't see him as "significant snaps with upside" and then again 2/3 again)? Mmmm Ok, if those guys turn into Puka Nacua or even play significant snaps for Miami and Dallas, I will come back here and give you your props. I think the Cold Hard Football Facts are that a backup LB who plays ST is more likely to play meaningful snaps this season, especially with the Bills having moved on from 2 ST stalwarts at LB. And if the Bills are counting on a 6th round rookie WR for significant snaps with upside, then we really haven't done enough to address WR. Which actually, I'm concerned about, but I can't get all fluffy about taking a LB over a WR late in the 5th.

You're likely correct that other things being equal, the Bills would have preferred to bring Dodson and Jackson back, because the Bills do love to hang on to their backups and STers and McDermott values continuity and leadership. But Beane and McDermott have also promoted the idea that their backup LB can step in and start - 'next man up'. And clearly, the Bills didn't have faith in Dodson as an MLB, or they wouldn't have persuaded Klein to park his RV and hop on a plane. When you have 4 backup LBs, two of them seasoned vets, and the answer to injury is "platoon the role" or "bring in a guy off the couch", I think it can be argued you need change at the backup LB position. And I think McDermott and Beane must realize that. I would argue that showed a different path at vet backup was needed. And at least on paper, Morrow looks like an upgrade - a guy who has had the green dot on his helmet in games, a low-end starter, but willing to play ST - potentially closer to what AJ Klein was in 2020/2021 when he was ahead of Dodson on the depth chart. Dodson wasn't getting vet min from the Bills, BTW - $2.1M, fully guaranteed. Matakevich was getting $2.5M, also fully guaranteed. Dane Jackson, also $2.1M IT's not like any one of these salaries is exorbitant, but one argument about the Bills cap management is that they've been spreading a lot of their cap out to backups and ST guys. That's served the Bills well in a lot of ways, but then Beane tells us he's not able to add top FA at edge and WR. It may be something Beane needs to do differently to get over the top is be willing to "churn" a bit more and have less seasoned players or vets like Morrow

Pretty much, This

TF are the Chargers up to? They trade away Keenan Allen for a 4th round pick after a 1200+ yd 100+ catch season, and spend $5M to sign this guy? They did double-dip on WR in the draft though, so that should make their fans all happy! Pretty much, This Pretty much, This

I hear you on discounting statements made by players, but Milano seems cut from a different mold - Mr Minimalist in what he says to the press and how often. He's not a Von Miller offering to do a presser while he's only just been designated to return, and taking up a roster spot before he's really able to play effectively. Milano is Mr 'Time Will Tell'. Of course, being able to do his normal off- season training and being able to play at an all-pro level, are two different things, I grant that. So I may read too much into it. As far as timeline/coordinates, have you seen this Banged Up Bills article? https://bangedupbills.com/2023/10/09/examining-buffalo-bills-matt-milanos-right-knee-injury/ The median "lost time" is 232 days; the upper range 330 days. That would put him somewhere between end of May (232 days) and beginning of September (330 days). He mentions a couple of other cases: Of course, there are different degrees and locations of the fracture, and that impacts the length of healing, but it's very positive that Milano was seen on the sidelines moving around and even jumping up and down a bit. As I understand it, the big concern with any fracture is nonunion, where the bones simply don't heal for whatever reason (and sometimes unpredictably). That doesn't seem to be at issue here.