PoundingDog

Why wouldn't that be leaked (vs extension)? That should be a victory for the agent right?

So it looks to be either option 1 or 2 of the poll, only 30% of us expecting that result.

Best line I see on this issue. If the the 2 perspectives have a common ground, a deal will be done; otherwise, it's a no.

I wonder what else McDermott and Cook talked beside about this game. No I'm not talking about contracts. Next preseaon game, Josh and first team probably will play. Is Cook playing too? McDermott may have told him if no practice or at least one preseason game, no regular season start. Cook in full uniform and took part in warm up may be the result of those conversations not shared to us.

The ideal world is 1) a hard cap, none of the voidable years, signing bonus crap - every team has X amount dollars (the Cap) for the upcoming season. 2) every player is on a one year deal, for the upcoming season. 2 way street for every one at the end of the year. No dead cap for anyone. No hold out for anyone. As an example, Dallas can offer Mahomes the maximum, which means league minimum for other 52 players and the rest of the cap money to Mahomes. So you have no loyalty of fans attaching to any player because they are likely to go from team to team every year. No continuity of teams to speak of. Players have no security of a long term contract, which likely to prompt them to seek the best offer any given year. I don't think the players will go for that.

I don't know how Cook can simply end his "hold-in" if no extension is provided. At a minimum, I think there needs to be some constructive conversation to happen to provide a runway to come off the stage.

The bold part is the key. And Beane alluded to it. I read some where that Matthew Leist (actually a Syracuse grad), representing James Cook, represented his brother as well and no one else (up to a year ago) and orchestrated a successful hold out for Dalvin James against the Vikings. Who knows maybe this guys wants to show the world he can get "you a contract above the market value."

Ray Davis is 220lb, 5'8". Coleman a big jump ball capable guy. Part of the reason I said we are going that direction. I'm not saying we don't want a bona fide #1 receiver. Just that it is hard to get them from where we are drafting or signing due to cap situations. This is not an uncommon problem for teams in Bills caliber are having.

This might be a direction the Bills are moving to anyway. KC has gone in that direction since they traded away Hill (and they got 2 superbowl wins after that). All recent superbowl winners relied on superior defense. You look at the Bills roster, we have a strong OL which allows us to get more of a steady offense, not explosive offense. But we do have more potential, talent wise, on defense. If things goes more or less as they planned, and injuries does not show the ugly face on defense like the last 2-3 years in the playoff, I expect to see a steady (hope for dominating) defense and opportunistic offense (with Josh showing some superman form here and there) in January.

Listen to Beane. There is little conversation according to him. It is interesting at around 2:35 mark where Beane went onto talking about agents he has dealt with (not asked by Brown). And he said he has never done a deal with Cook's agent and need to "feel out". Then he went on to say "when you do a deal, it got be right for the player and right for the club." The underlying statement is obvious. I don't know where the story that the 2 sides are close came from. It sounds to me Beane is waiting for the Cook's side to move some before any further conversation.

For situation like this, you have to put yourself on both sides first before jump into a conclusion. Cook is going to be 26 in Sept. The clock is ticking for a running back - I'm sure his agent reminds him emphatically the general trend of RBs getting paid (prime year 24-28). For Beane, I think the offensive strategy is clear for the Bills and Beane has said it many times: pay your star QB and protect him. That means limited dollars for weapons, unless you are a HoF kind of guy. Is Cook a Darrick Henry, Saquon Barkley in the making? Probably not. Is he a Alvin Kamara? we need to see it at least one more year the trajectory. So here is the problem on hand. Cook does not want to wait while the Bills want to see more. Is there a middle ground without jeopardizing the cap that the Bills have put themselves into with all those void years contract of those no longer on the roster?

I somehow feel just the opposite. If the parties are getting close, like a break thru on the main points of the contract (usually the guaranteed money), I imagine it would be a more cordial response from Cook. As a matter of fact, I don't remember thruout the league where a contract is getting close while in camp, a player suddenly stopped attending practices (even just for no contact stretch, warming up stuff) - and in Cook's case, not even wearing the Bills gear (T sheet, cap, etc.) on the sideline. What exactly happened in the last 24 hours (maybe 48 since no practice Saturday) between Cook's camp and Beane?

Well, I consider the previous regime mis-managed a talented roster severely. Harbough merely brought out what they can be last year. But that is not his team. He has his QB for sure. His investment into the line and running attack style should give Bills some insight on how to handle the Chiefs. I strongly believed had the Bill used Cook more, the outcome of last year playoff game might be very different.

I do think it matters. Harbough has a reputation of turning around in 2 years and whereever he goes, you can expect he invests heavily on the lines. I can easily see the Bills looking at Chargers Chiefs game tape to give us some new idea when playing the Chiefs. Peyton got Bo Nix to play at an adequate level into the playoffs last year. 2nd year for Bo, you gotta think its a toupher out for the Chiefs as well. Carrol may not have the horses. But he did bring the best QB the Raiders have for the last few years. That said, I'd still bet the Chiefs winning the division. They have a 30-6 divisional record last 6 years (and that includes throwawy games like last year's season finale at Denver). I'm in the camp that the average of 1 loss in the division a season for the Chiefs likely comes to an end.

I found several several tidbits interesting. I know Vic has a lot of connections and thus inside info. His story of Beane sold Josh Allen to McDermott and Pegula is new to me. I don't know who Koshinski is until he introduced himself. Sounds like he has a lot of inside stories from the early 90s Bills. Vic's explanation of why the Bills are viewed highly by national media this year (as a superbowl favorite) beckons with me. The Bills last year was very close to the Superbowl. And this year they really didn't lose anything significant while added some pieces. Logics says they will still be very close to the Superbowl. One additional key to me is the growth of Allen last year. I have more confidence in Allen maintaining the level he achieved than anyone else on this team. Koshinski compared Kincaid's drop last year against the Chiefs to the Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree, saying Allen just hasn't gotten that kind of play yo upset a juggernaut is legit. Good point. Another point they talked about the 13 seconds where the Chiefs of the world expecting to win in any situations. This is something the Bills are lacking but I feel somehow this team is better prepared than ever in that department. Lacking a HoF guy like Kelce obviously matters. I just feel the gap is narrower. Carucci's observation of Spencer Brown being skinny has me worried some. His point is that the back injury may have impacted his off-season workout and Lineman easily shrink and lose strength without proper workout even taking the right supplements.

I just have one argument: when unprecedent history is being made, all conclusions based on previous history data is irrelevant. And Chiefs is on an unprecedent run RIGHT NOW - on a 7 consecutive AFC Championship game appearance streak, and 5 superbowl appearances from those AFC championship games, winning 3 superbowls. But nothing lasts forever. So they streak is going to end, especially for football how the ball bounces and how the injury impacts teams. The Chiefs have been pretty lucky in terms injuries to their biggest stars. Their biggest advantage has been their division. The Chiefs are 30-6 in AFCW last 6 years (The Bills 27-9). Coming to think of it, didn't the Patriots dominated the AFCE during Brady's run? I think the Chargers and Broncos will push the Chiefs like never before. The Ravens may have to fight thru AFCN more than the Bills (assuming the Patriots does not make too much of a jump). Overall, teams who are close fighting the Chiefs in the past are getting closer, younger with how the draft is set up. I do feel the Bills and Allen this year are matured enough, more than ever, to be ready to go toe-to-toe with them without throwing prayers.

I don't know if he's going to work out for us but he sounded much much more confident. Good kid - probably felt very disappointed last year and turned it into motivation. The idea to spent most of the time working out with Rapp is really nice. And I would not doubt that is one of the reasons McDermott put him on first team without any competition. It reminds me the story of Polamalu in Pittsburgh who had an un-inspiring rookie season after the Steelers traded up in the first round for the very first time to get him (27th overall, a 3rd and a 6th to move up to 16th overall to get him in the 2003 draft). Side story, Doug Whaley was tasked to call teams and he recalled people didn't believe the Steelers would move up in the 1st round. And then Polamalu proceeded to not starting a single game for the Steelers in his rookie season. Polamalu subsequently stayed in Pittsburgh for the most part of the off season, and attched himself to Cowher as reporters noted in OTAs, camps, etc. Since then the NFL rules have changed and coaches are not allowed to advise players much in the off-season. But I'm sure the Bills coaches were aware of what Bishop was doing in Buffalo.

If anything, looks like Beane is comfortable taking a jab here and there to his boss. Imagine someone in Dallas' front office says publicly that Jerry did not like someone and we took him anyway and we are right; plus Jerry tried to take credit for that. Ask Jimmy Johnson! We don't know the inner works among Pegula, Beane and McDermott. What we do know from public info Whaley and some tidbits Beane gave is that Terry seems willing to give the final say to the people he hired to make those decisions, NOT as some sounding board to allow himself to make the decisions. There are some well documented accounts on Pegula's fascination with Mahomes. I'd guess there are other stories of who Terry liked but maybe not actually panned out in NFL (I'd think if there are 2 or 3 more cases of Mahomes kind of disagreements between Terry and the front office, and Terry is correct, we'd see some changes in the front office already). Kim Pegula, before her medical issue, openly said they (Pegulas) got good people running OBD, I think she speaks for Terry as well.

The thing with Kincaid is that in the training camp setting, he would shine brightly because it maximizes his traits: he gets open. The one thing I'm not sure about is contested catches and I don't see much improvement last year vs his rookie season. The guy has a college catch rate 75% to 78% last 2 years in CFB, absolutely the best. In NFL, the Bills brass and everyone rightfully thought he's going to pop after a catch rate of 80% in 2023. Then last year to 58%. Maybe it is injury. Maybe it is adjustment the defenses have made to make it more contested situation. I just know that he's not someone when the ball is in the vicinity, he has hands to catch it (like Diggs); he relies on his legs to get into his "catching position", i.e. he's not going to make acrobatic, body-twisting catches.

Does Antoine Winfield Sr. ring a bell to anyone here? It's not that ancient. Drafted by the Bills 1st round (23rd overall) 1999. Played 14 seasons with 3 pro-bowls. He did not start as a rookie until someone injured in December. I still remember his interview before that start (against Colts) that "this week, my teamates are counting on me." He went on to intercept Payton Manning in the game. I feel Hairston is likely to get the same treatment. But I think his chance to start sooner than December is very high. Benford has a well documented injury history in NFL. White is getting back to be full-time starter since ...

I'd not attach the word ghost to Mack Hollins for what he contributed last year. He became an important part of the Bills offense, especially in downfield blocking that average fan does not pay much attention to. Mack has his limitations. OBD certainly wants Keon to do what Mack was giving the Bills last year and more. Let's see.

Was that Joe Brady jumping up in the background before Keon hauled in the ball? Keon has that capability - he flashed before. And it is not a high percentage play to be honest. But there are times that is the ONLY play available, espectially playing against a good defensive team in the playoff. We need that play to get to 50% completion level.

Like the content on DL investment where Beane said "let's take some swings at defenseive line." I think the failure of getting talent there is on OBD's mind. I had to laugh when the question of Beane's son working for the Giants as a scout came up and Beane said "he's fortunate enough to get an interview with Giants." Really? Fortunate? I bet the interview question Schoen had in that interview is "can you tell your dad don't forget me when I'm let go here." Note his son interned in Carolina first and guess who runs Panthers front office there?

I shall hope so. But not expecting so especially in Sanders rookie year. A stout DT can stop run and pass rush? Not that many in NFL (consistently I mean). I know Chris Jones might be the best right now, but even he didn't flash that much as a rookie. The one I still remember is Richard Seymour who had as big an impact as Tom Brady for Pats' first Superbowl and he was a rookie - I saw first hand in person in one of their playoff game that year.