Beck Water

I think independent writers and content creators try to make a one month subscription small enough that a person might do it for one article? and then hope we're too lazy to cancel or find enough of interest. I subscribed to one Patreon that's $3/month. I likely don't get my money's worth but I keep forgetting to cancel. or until @GoBills808 or someone else who subscribed gets groused enough at those of us commenting without reading the whole thing that they just post it LOL

Isn't building the roster, and making a succession plan to the most important player, the job of the GM? I'm not aware of any info or even hints that Tomlin has takes a share of the GM's duties or controls decisions about who to draft or sign, are you? In this case, Kevin Colbert, who was VP and GM for the Steelers, probably gets the (dis)credit for failing to craft a succession plan to Big Ben beyond drafting a 4th round QB in 2017, a 3rd rounder in 2018, and Kenny Pickett in the 1st round 2022 (after which he retired). The problem of course, is that PIttsburgh failed to put a decent OL in front of him. They did draft OL in round 1 the last 2 years and round 2 last year, but Too Little Too Late. I think their new GM Omar Khan should get the blame for the failed Russell Wilson adventure with a side of Justin Fields. But, to be fair, what exactly is a good succession plan to a franchise QB? If you draft one too soon (Love), you may not have them under contract long enough to see how they actually play. If you draft one when you actually need one, they may not be any good and you have to throw them back and pick another. Let's be real, there's a huge element of luck here.

YES! Oops! Who would want to interview the Jets DC right now?

In the fall of 2021, my neighbor went to the HOF in Canton and returned with the gift of a mug with all the Bills HOFers on it, which I thought very nice of said neighbor. I can't help noticing that prior to receiving that mug, the Bills advanced to the AFCCG but after receiving the mug, it's been 3 straight division losses. What should I do with the mug? The neighbor in question is NOT a Chiefs fan.

It's only an aspersion if you imply he's insensitive, like saying "it would be insensitive of McDermott to say "I hope so" if the personal issue is someone close to Cooper died, but that would be in character for McDermott from all the rumors I've heard" A serious health crisis in someone close to Cooper would fit the circumstances and perhaps the health crisis is not yet resolved, but seems to be resolving - thus "I hope so" and "taking it day by day". Shakir had 9 receptions on 10 targets vs. Seattle and 7 receptions on 7 targets vs. Tenn, Good Job Samuel and better luck next time!

I'd like to point to Khalil Shakir as an example of this. As a rookie, he had trouble seeing the field and no it wasn't because McDermott had some inexplicable hatred of him. He had a 50% catch % and 2 scored drops on 20 targets. Over the summer, between his first and second season, he trained with .....funny you should mention him, Eric Moulds! Moulds had him do things like catch balls without gloves to force him to focus. The Shakir we saw in year 2 was a huge improvement who caught almost everything thrown near him, 39 receptions on 45 targets or 87%, and that hasn't fallen much as his targets have more than doubled. There's no reason Coleman can't improve in a similar fashion if he wants to and he puts in the work. He's got the athleticism and the body control and the eye judgement. And then he won't be asked to take 97% of the snaps in a meaningless game and take crap for it on twitter (which I didn't see because I don't visit the twitters except to look at specific people I follow, like Bills media.

I'm not sure if this is a point of disagreement or a semantic issue. I don't toss around words like "great" lightly or quickly. He had a good year. We've seen a number of rookies who have a good year, or a couple of good years, then fade for one or another reason (maybe no fault of their own). If you want to call Thomas great because he had a rookie year with a lot of yards and receptions that's fine. It's not how I use the word. My point was also to look at context. Jax had little run game (26 in the league), a good passing QB, and after injuries, basically Thomas or who? at receiver. So naturally he got a lot of targets. I don't want to take away from the guy, like I said I think he's good, but he had a team situation that favored his receiving production and the development of chemistry with Lawrence (who had Thomas or who? to throw to). If he weren't good, he couldn't have taken advantage of his favorable situation, but I'm not down with calling him great because he was in a favorable situation. If that isn't clear, consider an example of Zay Flowers. I think he's a good WR. His rookie year, he had 77 receptions on 108 targets for 858 yds, 71% of everything thrown at him. He was also on a team that was #30 for passing attempts and #1 for rushing attempts. He's followed it up with a better year, with more receptions, over 1000 receiving yards, more yards/reception - but he's still on a team which is 31st in the league for passing attempts and 2nd for rushing attempts. So that limits his production.

I see no lies. People were not talking about how he looked terrible when he went up for that jump shot TD against the Jets. Or when he made a neat over the shoulder catch for a TD against Jax. Or when he had a 125 yd game against Seattle. The guy was asked to soldier for 97% of the snaps in a meaningless game with a not-very-good and a bad QB he's had little practice with, throwing to him. He did what he was asked. Prior to having his right arm slammed into by Poyer's helmet and suffering some type of lingering injury that took him out 5 weeks (4 games), he had a 61% catch %

In college, I assume you mean? We do have a punt returner McDermott trusts on the practice squad. But it was initially reported we got out of the game with no injuries, and McDermott didn't sound too concerned about Codrington's hammy today, so let's hope his treatments go well and let's see what Wednesday brings

Samuel had a nice game, to be sure. 8 receptions on 7 targets. Wasn't playing outside though, which is where having a receiver who can get separation does make a difference.

FWIW on OBL Eric Wood commented about Keon "I give him a pass on many of those, they weren't necessarily catchable"

Dude. Saying missing the playoff game would fit the narrative of "quitting on the team" or "questionable passion for the game" is, in fact, casting an aspersion.

That was my take too. You can listen to Steve Tasker and Chris Brown on that - not "will prob take us down" but Tasker said this was the team he did NOT want to face and one of them said they talked to Luke Kuechly about which offense he found most difficult and it was NO because of Payton (though I'm gonna guess Drew Brees had something to do with that). Anyway if you want a moderate dose of gloom here you go https://www.buffalobills.com/video/eric-wood-dissecting-broncos-bills-playoff-matchup-recapping-the-regular-season

He used the word "hopeful". What should we think about that?

Life advice: When you find yourself starting a sentence with "I'm not trying to be _________ but" ask your self one thing: ---> Do I actually want to be (insensitive, rude, hurt your feelings, a jerk - whatever word you were gonna use)? If yes, proceed If no, shut up I don't think McDermott gave him leave to go tour Egypt or close on a house or something. There are things that are bigger than football and can't be scheduled to occur in the off season.

No, if Cooper isn't back they will call someone up from the practice squad - possibly Shavers.

Monday is the day to "get right" from the game, watch film and "do the corrections". Tuesday is a day off Wednesday they start to install the game plan If Cooper isn't back on Wednesday then start to worry. Seems like this Fantasy Source thing just puffing up worry.

They do have talent. I don't remember who Simms called out, except that Logan Wilson their MLB was out in November. Their safeties and a CB maybe?

Are you willing to update the OP? Here's what I've heard as of 8 pm Monday Raiders - Pierce says he hasn't heard anything and is planning for 2025 Jags - Fired Pederson, keeping Trent Baalke Cowboys - have a negotiating window with McCarthy thru Jan 14th, but Bears have requested permission to interview him now Colts - staying with Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard. Fired DC Gus Bradley Titans - no decision yet on Brian Callahan Giants - staying with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll Bengals - staying with Zac Taylor, fired DC Lou Anarumo

I'd be right with you on giving it to him.

Yeah, Spags wants to be a HC. His age and the fact that the hot hires are young offensive savants is against him. As Leslie Frazier found out, the number of teams queuing up for a 65 yr old DC with a poor former record as head coach is rather small. Ah, the Rams. To make a long story short, Spagnuolo made one big mistake. He hired Josh McDaniel as his OC going into his 3rd year. Longer story: After 2010, when Bradford won OROY and the Rams went 7-9 and barely missed the playoffs, Pat Shurmur, a WCO guy who is a bit of a QB whisperer, left to take on being HC in Cleveland. FOOL! but I digress. Spags then had the bright idea to hire Josh McDaniel, fresh off of being fired by Denver for being an arrogant ass and taking them from an 8-8 team to a 4-12 team. McDaniel decided to take his 2nd year QB and switch him from his QB friendly WCO to his very complicated totally different verbiage EP offense and to the Patriots Way of hard coaching. And Bradford looked like he totally couldn't play ball. Amendola (his "guy" in 2010) was hurt and Bradford was injured on and off through the season, but he really just looked like he couldn't buy a clue. Seriously. The good news is he only threw 6 INTs all year; the bad news is he only threw 6 TDs. Anyway, the Rams went 2-14 and that was it for Spagnuolo.

Do they? I dunno - on one of his Chris Simms Unbuttoned shows Simms ran down the Bengals defense and the talent they've lost since 2022 and haven't replaced. Being out last season for 7 games and probably limited in the off-season, it seems to me that Burrow started the season slow and the Bengals had some losses because of that. I mean, 164 yds, no TDs and 10 points against New England, seriously? I think you might also justly point to the ebb and flow of offense in the NFL. More and more teams are playing to shut down the pass, and the league leaders this year are using the run game to exploit that coverage and the league's trend toward lighter linebackers who can cover in the passing game. Meanwhile the Bengals are like 30th in the league for rush attempts, rush yards and 26 for Y/R. Whoever it was covering the game Saturday kept yammering about how Burrow likes his receivers spread out, 5 wide. Well, 5 wide helps decode the coverage, but honestly, it shouldn't be entirely up to Joe especially if he's getting the ***** knocked out of him every play. Anyway, makes me wonder if Lou isn't the "escape goat" for Zac Taylor. Seems to me there could be a real chance the Saints hire Joe Brady

I could say "no" at $20M very easily. After Tyreek left KC, Mahomes had a career year with insane passing numbers, all pro, and league MVP. It was commented then that Mahomes was playing more freely and comfortably because he didn't feed any pressure to "feed" Hill and could just go where the defense took him on each play. Kind of like some of the commentary about Allen playing freer and more comfortably and just being able to take what the defense gives him this season. In any event it's a moot point. Hill is under contract in Miami through 2026 for $10M fully guaranteed salary plus a $1M signing bonus, but that's because the Dolphins treated a $17M 2024 option bonus like a signing bonus and amortized it. They'll carry something like $28M of dead cap if they trade the "Cheetah", they'll want to be compensated, and they won't be wanting to trade him in the division. He was. Hollins was also mugged on a couple. I think the refs hadn't gotten the memo that they were supposed to be helping the Patriots lose this game.

Just a couple little points: Coleman was not being covered by a LB on that play. He was being covered by cornerback DJ Reed. It was a scramble drill, and Reed was tryin' to keep up as Coleman shot towards the post then reversed at Allen's hand signal and ran back towards the corner. The LB was just trying to get into the party when he realized Allen was still on his feet and there were 2 receivers in the end zone. And no, perceiving Coleman's foot as nearly on the turf is an optical illusion of that angle, it was actually ~ the LB's knee. You can watch the whole play unfold here if you like. https://www.buffalobills.com/video/can-t-miss-play-keon-coleman-s-high-point-td-catch-caps-josh-allen-s-heave-bills-vs-jets-week-17