dave mcbride

He was fantastic last year before suffering a toe injury. He was playing at an all-pro level through his first 8 games. He's only 31 and can still play.

Great piece. Draft picks are very overrated in this era of well-managed caps. This ain't 1998 anymore.

More Scandrick: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27926556/orlando-scandrick-rips-eagles-gm-being-released That team sounds like it has some real problems internally.

Art Schlichter was a prototypical passer ...

He was very good last season before getting hurt at the beginning of game 9. Through 8 games, he had 45 catches for 689 yards and 6 TDs. Extrapolated, that works out to 90 catches, 1378 yards, and 12 TDs--basically, an all-pro level season. He was IR'd because of a toe injury (presumably turf toe), which is hardly crippling long term.

Lotuleilei actually produced in Carolina up until his final season there, which is when he began his decline into the ultimate JAG. On the positive side, he knows his assignments and doesn’t get injured (no small thing). But as I said earlier, NFL players are paid to make plays. He is not even close to being a disruptor, and his lack of ability to pressure the QB is one reason why the Bills’ sack numbers are pretty low (13).

The thing I'd worry about if I'm worried about culture is appearing to favor one of your guys who starts every game, gets paid a LOT of money, but makes absolutely no plays. He literally hasn't done anything this season in the playmaking dept., and he did virtually nothing last season either. As a baseline, the NFL players on the field are there because of their ability to make plays. Lotuleilei has 3 tackles, 3 assists, no TFLs, no pressures, and no sacks through 6 games, and he has started all of them. And it's not just the numbers -- he's basically a barely visible and slowly moving slab of flesh in the middle of the TV screen on virtually every play. He's not disruptive at all.

To be clear, I am not opposed to taking a flyer on Gordon. I just don't think that the Bills' organization is likely to do so.

Yeah, when he wins yet another SB MVP on a 15-1 team we'll still be talking about his decline. Watch the games and the players around him. He hasn't changed; the other players have. FWIW, he threw a ball at 61 mph this offseason, which is elite: https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2019/06/tom-bradys-arm-appears-to-be-in-peak-form-patriots-qb-posts-photo-of-radar-gun-at-61-mph.html. I'm not saying that he's not trying to score; I'm saying that he's not forcing things in close-call plays because he doesn't have too.

I think he throws a ton of them away. I honestly think he's playing cautiously because the defense is so dominant. When he needs to make plays, he does (particularly early in games).

That's just not true. His arm is the same as it was in 2017, when he was 40 and arguably the best QB in the league. I watch a lot of Pats' games. Their issue right now is not him; it's the lack of NFL-level TE (until this past Monday) and injuries/retirements in their core blocking group (o-line/TE/FB) that have made them into a 3.3 ypc team in the run game (they were 4.3 last season). Brady is averaging 7.3 ypa and a 66 percent completion rate.

I'll trust the GOAT's opinion on this. His arm looks fine anyway.

They traded a second rounder AFTER they determined they didn't want him! That's why they made the trade in the first place! Also, Brady has been complaining that the WRs don't know the routes. You think Harry, who was on the shelf for a while, is ready to know the full offense for the stretch run?

That is true, but if he clears waivers - which is the most likely outcome because teams do NOT want to be on the hook for his full contract if he flakes out - then my scenario is operative.

I think you're just wrong, and anyway, has he overcome them? What happened late last season? Why is a such WR-deficient team effectively cutting him now?

I disagree, but we shall see. I also suspect that Beane/McDermott want nothing to do with a player who has had so many personal problems and who failed his team last season during the stretch run. But there's another thing you have to ask yourself: why did a very smart organization with such issues on their pass offense dump him? Who was the last NE player who was effectively cut mid-season who exceeded expectations elsewhere?

? - i don't understand your post. Which 12 individuals are you referring to?

That's the thing. Gordon is going to have options. I can't imagine the Bills will be high on his list -- i mean, i have to think he's had his fill of Lake Erie-adjacent snowbelt cities.

Are you ready to put that on your tombstone? Because it's sheer madness for them to not trade him. They're going to be getting a pick at around the 97 slot and nothing else for him, and that team is going to lose a minimum of 12 games this year.

How about multiple year-long suspensions and a long excused absence during a stretch run? You've gotta do better than that.

The Bills said they weren't trading Shady. It'd be crazy for the Bengals to NOT trade him. I mean, that's bonkers. I mean, it's football 101 to know you can't trust what teams say about a players trade-ability. Anyway, a starting WR corps of Green, Brown, and Beasley would be a fricking great group - a player for every level. A fast, tall, elite athlete who can high point and catch the 50/50 throws. A burner with good hands, excellent quicks, and good route running. And a slot guy with great short area quickness who gets open.

No mystery! I've said it elsewhere - AJ Green is my guy. I love him and think he's probably healthy. Obviously, I don't know for sure, but he had an ankle issue, and those don't last 4 months.

read the thread about the Tim Graham interview. Beane says they are looking for a culture fit. They kept Zay because they spent a high second on him.

I want to trade before the trade deadline. Not after. Getting someone sooner is better anyway - there's a time dimension to consider that brings in the law of diminishing returns. Getting that player up to speed in our complicated offense takes time, and there's 10 games to play. The Bills need to win most of those.

He may be the nicest guy in the world, but just last season he failed to fulfill his obligations because of personal problems and wasn't there for the SB run when the offense needed him. I have nothing against him; I just think that the Bills as an organization tend to steer clear of these folks. Building a particular type of "culture" necessarily means putting a fence around it to keep certain types out. He was a nobody -- a CFL flier picked up in the summer for whom they had no expectations. Not remotely comparable to competing against other NFL teams in the midst of a playoff run. As for AB, I think that if anything, they're going to be more gun-shy about problem players after that circus. Note that they jettisoned the one guy with some personal issues (Zay). Of course, he's not any good either.