Sierra Foothills

I appreciate all those who post Bills content on this message board, so thank you. I'll take this moment to express how disappointed I am in the lack of video content coming from yesterday's joint practice. I surmise that because it was in Illinois that the local media outlets chose not to cover it. To make matters worse it appears also that the Bills media team didn't shoot video of the practice session either... or maybe the teams agreed to restrict video access? Either way I'm selfishly disappointed to not see any substantive reporting or video from yesterday.

Somewhere between a challenge and an encouraging appeal. For the click-averse: There’s been a lot of buzz about which cities will host @TheUFL teams in 2026. The interest has been huge — and we’ve seen #SaveTheStallions everywhere. I love the passion!!!!! But here’s the truth: hashtags and petitions don’t fill stadiums. The Birmingham Stallions are one of the league’s most historic franchises, but they’ve seen a massive drop in attendance. For the United Football League, that is not sustainable. We’ll do our part with better marketing and a stronger local focus, but the future of the Stallions comes down to you. If you want the team, kindly show up. Our goal next year is 15k fans per game. Let’s get to 5k season ticket deposits this week and I’ll see you all for the 1st game of the year!!!!! LFG!!!!!

Kelly was great but I don't think it's unanimous that he was better than Jim Allen.

Under McBeane, the Bills seem like they've been patient and cautious with injuries but this year, it does seem that McDermott has been more public in his frustration with players who haven't been able to practice. Ultimately I don't think that's a bad thing. Yes, McDermott runs the risk of pressuring a player to come back too soon and that's a delicate situation because only the player knows how his body feels. On the other hand McDermott is basing his frustrations on information from the medical and training staff AND there definitely exists a grey area where it's unclear if a player is better practicing or not practicing. McDermott's previous nice guy approach hasn't gotten the team to meet expectations. Guys like Parcells and Coughlin were always borderline a-holes but they have 4 Super Bowl rings as head coaches. McDermott knows that he has to win a Super Bowl with Josh and has perhaps come to the realization that passing some of that pressure and those expectations down to the players is a healthy, normal, and necessary dynamic. In my career my subordinates always knew what the schedule, budget, and expectations were. I was a nice guy but if you weren't performing, you were the first to know it. I don't expect Curtis Samuel to be ex-Spector-ated but it wouldn't surprise me either.

Tre White almost ran into Taron Johnson. As others speculated it was a slant over the middle with a lot of traffic to pick off the coverage. Elsewhere in the article in The Athletic: "In welcoming Allen, the reigning MVP, to Halas Hall on Friday, the Bears defense was put to the test. And although the Bears may have punched first, the Bills got the final word. “It’s good going against an MVP quarterback. It challenges you,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “You play this game to go against the best. He’s playing big-time ball, so (we’re) able to see what we are.” In the opening seven-on-seven period, the Bears’ defensive backs were immediately disruptive. Nahshon Wright proved to be one of the bright spots of the day. On Allen’s second throw — an incomplete pass to wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson — Wright nearly came up with an interception. Later in the period, Allen’s pass intended for wideout Keon Coleman was tipped, and Wright just missed the chance to snag it out of the air." "Safety Jaquan Brisker was consistently on the ball throughout the day. In seven-on-seven, he nearly intercepted Allen’s incomplete pass intended for tight end Dawson Knox, then he swatted down Allen’s next throw. Allen was intercepted three times — first in seven-on-seven drills by Kevin Byard III and then during 11-on-11s by Wright, who brought in the ball after it was tipped over the middle, but the play was called back on defensive holding. Edmunds came up with the final pick of his former teammate during red zone drills." "Allen and the Bills offense soon found some rhythm, though. Allen completed back-to-back passes to Coleman later in the day, the second of which resulted in a 30-yard touchdown. Coleman badly beat Wright to get open along the sideline, then turned on the jets to haul in one of his multiple scores." Behind a paywall: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6556392/2025/08/15/bears-bills-joint-practice-caleb-williams/

Yeah, the guys in Wild Cherry were kinda Gaelic if you ask me... not that there's anything wrong with that.

Also Curtis Samuel. It makes you wonder if any of them are going to be ex-spectorated.

We voted on that yesterday... you have to start checking your emails.

I believe his calf is experiencing pelvic soreness... or some sort of spleen ailment. His birthday is May 2nd... he turned 17 years old. Who's Alex Brasky? The Giants-Bills topic was 62 pages so I think you're underestimating by a fair amount.

The specific concern is that McDermott himself has stated that MLB and safety are the two most difficult to learn positions in his defense and the two positions most crucial to success. In addition McDermott himself has expressed frustration with Bishop. Last year due to his training camp injury, Bishop got out of the gates slowly, took all season to catch up and only started 4 games. This year Bishop was given the starting job and proceeded to again get hurt in training camp. He has missed two weeks of work and McDermott said the other day that the team is unsure of what Bishop is and isn't capable of.

I certainly suffer from a patient and respectful form of "Hamlin Fatigue" as I'm sure many Bills fans do. Unfortunately I believe in some cases that the fatigue has morphed into an animosity towards him... especially when coupled with the perception of him as a borderline player. My prediction (especially because Bills on Hard Knocks was announced in May) is that this series will appropriately and finally close the book on the Hamlin story. I think many will be relieved. Yes, I seem to remember reading that the Bills were able to dictate terms of the production because they consented to be on the show. Yeah, McDermott is a high character person but at 51 years old, he'll never be a good public speaker and even in athletics, I think it's important for leaders to be able to articulate messages well. Hopefully this area doesn't limit his success. From the standpoint of a fan, I would rather have an owner who is 1) engaged and involved but not 2) meddling. Pegula is ideal in this regard. As for episode 2, I'll stick with my take after episode 1: Kind of boring in a good way The AV production values are excellent. It's a feast for the eyes. For me the best part was the phone conversation between McDermott and Marv. It's really quite unbelievable that Marv is 100 years old. His mental acumen is probably greater than most people 35 years younger than him.

"Your world frightens and confuses me... sometimes the honking horns of your traffic makes me want to get out of my BMW and run off into the hills..."

I move that we bar salad jokes...

Aye, he runs like a colt on a fresh pitch of turf grass coated in morning dew...

Don't forget they traded for Deshaun Watson. If you believe the rumors leaking out of Cleveland, they're about to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history... and sign him to the first fully-guaranteed contract worth over $300 million.

It's not a matter of worse or better... it's a matter of timing... 4 years of timing. This just in... the Browns have gone live for the press conference...

Congratulations guys... you're all old. 😛

Boogie Jackson?

According to my research, that Jack Jones passed away last year at the age of 86 years old... so I'm unsure whether it's the same guy. I'll defer to the more knowledgable fans on this one.

To add some context, the cornerback victimized on the great majority of those throws was Jack Jones. He's had some on-field and off-field incidents and is generally considered to be a talented head case with questionable character. He's currently listed as 2nd string on the Dolphins depth chart.

In your scenario do you see them on separate horses or the same horse? Side saddle? Just to play devil's advocate, isn't it possible that Bishop returned to practice sooner than he would have had McDermott not expressed his frustration? Hairston was injured on day 6 of training camp. He had as many good moments as he had learning moments. Tre White?

The video was inconclusive though it appeared Stewart was stumbling forward. Per CBS Sports: While it was instigated by Stewart's hit of Burrow, the fight was also an accumulation of Cincinnati's offensive line getting pushed around by Cincinnati's defensive line throughout practice. Stewart's hit of Burrow was the straw that broke the camel's back. "I think we got a little loose from an O-line perspective today," Bengals center Ted Karras said afterwards. "Some things transpired that warranted a response, and Lucas delivered that. I thought we handled it well overall. It wasn't like a shut down the practice type of scuffle. And probably about time we had one of those." Karras was asked about Stewart and if he likes the level of intensity that the team's first-round pick brings to practice. "Hell yeah," Karras said. "Just be smarter. ... Great player. But, come on, man. That's all our hopes and dreams right there. And we got to be better, too. That's on us." Karras is right. While Stewart hitting Burrow is inexcusable, the Bengals' offensive line has got to protect their Pro Bowl quarterback if Cincinnati is going to have success this season." It seems like a pretty minor incident.

There's research which shows that cannabis use is helpful in managing certain types of pain and also aids as a muscle relaxant. It's also considered generally helpful for those suffering PTSD. These effects would be beneficial to NFL players. Beane looks really stoned. Also, O-linemen can be found in the middle and lower rounds of the draft (Edwards entered the league as a 5th rounder) and we all know of Aaron Kromer's ability to identify and develop O-linemen. Thanks for posting that link. Don't know if this helps but per PFT (a credible source of contract terms): 1. Signing bonus: $9 million. 2. 2025 base salary: $1.28 million, fully guaranteed. 3. 2026 option bonus: $7.4 million (see below for guarantee details). 4. 2026 workout bonus: $250,000. 5. 2026 base salary: $2.01 million (see below for guarantee details). 6. 2026 per-game roster bonus: $340,000 total. 7. 2027 workout bonus: $250,000. 8. 2027 base salary: $9.13 million, guaranteed for injury at signing; on the fifth day of the 2026league year, $6.22 million becomes fully guaranteed, with the remaining $2.91 million vesting in on the fifth day of the 2027 league year. 9. 2027 per-game roster bonus: $340,000 total. 10. 2028 workout bonus: $250,000. 11. 2028 base salary: $9.681 million, $1.18 million of which is guaranteed for injury. 12. 2028 per-game roster bonus: $340,000 total. 13. 2029 workout bonus: $250,000. 14. 2029 base salary: $10.41 million. 15. 2029 per-game roster bonus: $340,000 total. For 2026, $5 million is fully guaranteed at signing. Another $4.41 million is guaranteed for injury; it converts to full guarantee in on February 9, 2026. The contract includes a $1 million escalator for 2028, if any year from 2025 through 2027 he participates in 45 percent of the offensive snaps and the team makes the playoffs. The contract also includes a $1 million escalator for 2029, if any two years from 2025 through 2028 he participates in 45 percent of the offensive snaps and the team makes the playoffs in those same two seasons. The new-money average on the four-year extension is $11.5 million per year, with $15.28 million fully guaranteed at signing. By 2026, the full guarantee increases to $25.91 million. The total injury guarantee is $30 million, with $28.82 million fully guranteed by 2027. From signing, the contract has a value of $10.254 million per year over five years; Cook was due to make $5.271 million in 2025. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/inside-the-james-cook-deal