dave mcbride

I said at the time that the non-PI call involving Smith-Schuster on third down -- and it was blatant PI -- in the first half had the potential to be a game-deciding play. It took a possession away from KC and was one of the main reasons they found themselves down 10 at halftime. So yeah, it sort of evens out. That said, the holding call was ridiculous given a) that they hadn't called holding all game, b) the situation, and c) the fact that it was ridiculously ticky tack. I mean, that happens on virtually ever play, and it's usually worse.

A challenge for you: go back and look at the sack rates for Flutie and Johnson for the years 1998-2000. You’ll note that they are very, very different despite rhe fact that both QBs played behind the same line. @BADOLBILZ is absolutely right here — some QBs are really good at self-sacking, and Big Ben was one of those guys. And almost all fanbases outside of the early 1990s Cowboys and 2022 Eagles fanbases think their lines have massive holes.

Which throw was it?

Thanks - good stuff!

You are misreading the post. He is saying Allen has to be the bigger person.

https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/13/bills-josh-allen-injury-michael-thomas-reacts-saints-twitter/ Michael Thomas on Josh Allen's elbow injury.

Does the 2020 number factor in their first round pick, Stefon Diggs? Because he sure as hell a Bills draft pick that year.

Are we sure there’s no Tyreek Hill? Because he was fifth round pick from West Alabama. There always seem to be guys like that who pop out of the woodwork who we have no idea about because for whatever reason they’re playing in nowhere programs (I do realize why Hill was there).

Interestingly, three nfl.com draft analysts -- including Jeremiah, who is very good and talks with scouts from all the teams -- have the Bills taking Robinson. I am NOT saying I like it! But they all say that he's a legit top-ten/top-five overall player. I do believe that the Bills were going to take Etienne in 2021, by the way, but Jax snagged him. Daniel Jeremiah: https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2023-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-texans-ravens-among-four-teams-selecting I think Robinson is one of the elite players in this draft class -- worthy of a top-10 pick. However, most teams simply don’t believe in taking a running back this high, and the depth at the position in the upcoming free-agent market could impact Robinson's value on draft day. Lance Zeirlein: https://www.nfl.com/news/lance-zierlein-2023-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-buccaneers-select-tom-brady-s-successor Robinson is my fourth-rated prospect in the entire draft, so obviously I see this pick as a major steal for Buffalo. Robinson should take a considerable amount of pressure off of Josh Allen's shoulders. Erick Edholm: https://www.nfl.com/news/eric-edholm-2023-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-four-qbs-selected-in-top-10-bills-eagles-add Would the Bills really draft a back in Round 1? If Devin Singletary walks in free agency, maybe. This offense needs another outlet, and Robinson is one of the top playmakers in this class, a spectacular all-around talent worthy of going much higher.

Well, he played great in a playoff game, so that's something that sticks with me. Granted, it was vs. a total scrub, but still.

Totally true, but the issue is that he's EXTREMELY expensive salary cap-wise for a fifth rounder.

At the end of the day, he drafted Josh Allen, which means he got the biggest of all big things 100 percent right and wasn't even remotely close to being in position to land him at the start of that draft cycle (before trades). He's drafted some good players and some meh players like all GMs. Oliver is the only shaky first round pick because the DTs taken behind him in the first are generally better. But he's not bad. Allen, Edmunds, Diggs (yes, I will always treat him as a first round pick because we spent an actual first round pick to get him), and Rousseau are all good, and the jury is out on Elam.

Who is DJ? And what are the concerns?

Bernard was a Cotton Bowl MVP with 20 tackles vs Ole Miss and I wonder if the Bills overestimated him because of "the tape" given that he certainly doesn't have the build you'd expect for an NFL linebacker. Reminds me of Keith Ellison. Here's a scouting report of him. Note the "elite intangibles" - that's catnip to McDermott. So far, though, he looks like a special teamer. I don't think this is going to have a happy ending. "Undersized sub-package nickel linebacker with special-teams value on the next level. Bernard possesses elite intangibles and teams will be drawn to him because of it. He's resilient, productive and showed a willingness to play through pain. However, Bernard lacks the desired frame and play strength and will face scrutiny surrounding his injury history. He needs space to operate and has the speed for man-cover duties as a pro. If the medicals check out, he should be a Day 3 pick with sub-package value."

Good post ... except for the "2 or 20" thing. With the caveat that I'm NOT saying that chances are good that we've got a Hassan Reddick on our hands, check out Reddick's leap between years 3 and 4: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReddHa00.htm. I wanted to sign Reddick (as you may recall), but I remember replies to the effect that he was a one-year wonder. Epenesa HAS improved, and if he gets, say, 11-12 sacks next season, the Bills will have an interesting problem on their hands. Because he will get paid if that happens. Not saying it will! Interesting that AZ chose to pay JJ Watt over Reddick in 2021. But AZ is a bad franchise.

My point is not catastrophism, which is you're imputing (i.e., the snarky "doomed"), but rather an unexpected handicap at the margins in the draft this year. I'd rather not have to deal with the handicap, but that's just me. They're drafting late without a full set of picks along with zero comp picks and they need some successes because they're going to be hard-pressed to take advantage of the FA market the next couple of years. Having an expected fifth get pushed back to the sixth is the sort of thing that reduces the draft capital they'll need to get a mid-round player (e.g., a move up to the fourth/late third or something like that) they really like. The sky isn't falling. But I wish the Bills had a better slate of picks than they do given that we're now in the massive-Allen-contract era.

It may have been something like wins an "NFL player of the week award," which he did (ST player of the week for the NE game). Not that I have any idea of what precisely triggered it, of course.

Not my point at all, but whatevs.

Agreed. In the abstract, yes, but if you're a built-to-win now team, It's less important when you have a ton of cap space and can spend money on high end FAs. The Bills can't do that.

Hines’ playing time/production exacted a fifth round pick rather than a sixth from the Bills. The Bills have six picks in total now - one each in rounds one through six. Definitely not great for an important draft year. The picks are all late-round ones except for the fifth rounder, which is from AZ. I have to think they’ll try desperately to trade out of the late first for more picks unless a player they love at either WR or OL falls to them. .

And the outlet he writes for is effectively The New York Times' sports section now.

Agreed about Campbell. Would you rather have Edmunds at the high price he's listed at or the much cheaper Lavonte David for a the two-year deal he's listed at?

Beane actually said as much in the end-of-season press conference.

I wouldn't consider a fourth-round pick much of an "investment." That's what they got him for. They also traded a second for Corey Dillon, who arguably should be in the HOF given his numbers. He put up nearly 1,700 rushing yards in his first season there and they won the SB.

Bill Walsh drafted Montana, Rice, Lott, Craig, Haley, etc. etc. And he traded picks for Steve Young.