MTBill

After Anquan left the Bills last season to work on social justice issues, he worked to create the "Players Coalition" with Malcolm Jenkins. The NFL and this group have agreed to create a partnership with $90M in funding. I believe this is a great step to hopefully end the controversial anthem kneeling while also giving the players a voice on social issues - which may or may not be limited to a few interests. Perhaps another method would be something similar to the "pink" month for breast cancer. Where the players wear some sort of identifier to show their support for social issues. Good move by the NFL, and Anquan did accomplish something after saying he wanted to, so good on him, even if he was a jerk for asking to be "unretired". UPDATE ---------------------------------------------------- Today the NFL also released a new policy instructing all players on the field must stand for the anthem and presentation of colors - if they do not, the team will be fined. Players may stay in the locker room during the anthem if they wish. I personally hope that these two measures create a social justice discussion as it's own entity and leave the game to being about the game. I do not feel this has had a horrible impact on ratings as has been pointed to, but I guess if this gambit works, we'll know. I think the real reason for declining ratings is Millennials do not care as much for televised sports.

Why I would sit Josh Allen behind AJ - unknown O-Line, I don't want him getting murdered (which may lead to) resorting to bad habits with footwork - let him get more practice to work on mechanics better receivers - I am pretty concerned with this group, they did not do much last season, and here we are again. And they can't stay healthy. I believe in Josh Allen - I just think we have got to give him some maturation time - he only played 2 years of Division 1 football in a weak conference. Let his tools mature as he sees the game from the sidelines - maybe his career starts mid-season, maybe not. Start him when he is ready and when we know he isn't going to just get mauled. I'm not at all worried about his completion percentage, I do think after reading several articles posted here that he needs to continue to perfect his footwork to make that the "habit". Progress was made, but I think without more comfort in this, he could quickly go back to bad habits when under the gun.

I can recall being infuriated by 'ground chuck'. I really think he was one of our best coaches of all time - and when you think about it we've had some great ones. Lou Saban, Marv Levy, Chuck Knox (not in that order). I think if Wade had been able to stick around a bit longer - he'd be up there too.

Looking at schedule.... 2017: vs. Jets - W - 5-11 @ Panthers - L - 11-5 vs Broncos - W - 5-11 @ Bengals - L - 7-9 @ Atlanta - W - 10-6 @ Jets - L - 5-11 vs. Buccaneers - W - 5-11 vs. Saints - L - 11-5 vs. Raiders - W - 6-10 @ Chargers - L - 9-7 @ Chiefs - W - 10-6 vs. Patriots - L - 13-3 vs. Colts - W - 4-12 @ Patriots - L - 13-3 vs. Dolphins - W - 6-10 @ Dolphins - W - 6-10 Wins - Beat 2 teams with winning records and 7 teams w/ losing records Losses - Lost to 5 teams with winning records and 2 teams w/ losing records WC - @ Jaguars - L - 10-6 2018 (team - 2017 record - prediction - notes) @ Ravens - 9-7 - ? (To me this is a wildcard, a win isn't impossible but it is on the road with all our changes) vs. Chargers - 9-7 - L (They improved their team in 2018 and are a possible winner of the AFC) @ Vikings - 13-3 - L (I don't see a win even if it were in Buffalo) @ Packers - 7-9 - L (Aaron Rodgers is back) vs. Titans - 9-7 - W (I'd like to think this is a win at home) @ Texans 4-12 - L (Watson is back and this is in their house) @ Colts 4-12 - W (I think we can win this again, without the blizzard) vs. Patriots - 13-3 - L (not likely to win this) vs. Bears 5-11 - W (I don't see how you lose this game) @ Jets 5-11 - L (We struggle in NY) vs. Jaguars - 10-6 - W (I think this could be a win in our 'revenge' of the playoffs) @ Dolphins - 6-10 - L (This could end up being a win, but I think they have improved enough to win at home) vs. Jets - 5-11 - W (I can't see us getting swept by the Jets) vs. Lions - 9-7 - W (Snow game vs. dome team 2.0) @ Patriots - 13-3 - L (not happening) vs. Dolphins - 6-10 - W (Closing out the season with a win vs. the Dolphins.... again!) 8 teams we face had a losing record in 2017. I count 7 wins - so I would say 5-9 wins is a solid range. If I had to bet I'd take the over on 6.5.

He won't be dealt because of cap space. He costs more to trade/cut than he does to keep and right now there is just not much wiggle room. He gets a chance to prove if he has value on this defense - because of the cap hit.

Lately, this place is feeling a lot like "Network". Fans are mad as hell and they aren't going to take it any more. Their opinion and that of at least one pundit in the media - because there is a real shortage of media opinions to meet anyone's flavor - matters more than everyone else's, and damnit we have to hear it.

For one thing - despite EVERYTHING you said - which seemed illogical at the time to plenty of us.... they snuck into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Beane & McDermott did not dig this franchise into the hole, they are trying to dig us out of it. Would you rather we still had Whaley & Rex (or Lynn)? I trust the process - because unlike years past when it felt like crap throwing monkeys running the show, there is a plan and a process. We shall see if it leads us to Progress - the positive outcome of the Process - or if it leads us to another process later.

Time to disconnect until training camps begin and we have real information instead of all the opinions on the FA/Draft. I get that some folks maybe really emotionally attached themselves to a college athlete - but until things are actually done on the field - no one knows who will be a bust or who will be a stud. I too was disappointed that we cashed in all of our 2nd round capital, but this was the only way to ensure we'd get the players they wanted and we cashed in on getting 1 of the top 4 QBs and another top LB. It was inevitable.

Rosen - it isn't the "high IQ" I wonder about - it's the attitude.

How many of the previous projects worked with this coaching staff? Every one of these QBs have skills and weaknesses. We'll see how this works out. I am super excited that we did not get Rosen. He is Ryan Leaf 2.0 from what I can see.

The draft is popular because of the following: Despite TV ratings - the NFL is popular, especially due to Fantasy Football Because of the contract structures of the NFL with the salary cap - the draft is vital to a teams success - unlike other leagues where you can pay a "tax" to go over the cap. College football fans also enjoy seeing their team's athletes succeed and watch for that purpose as well. The timing of it - if the NBA Finals were on during the same time, or some other big sporting event, it would be less popular, but really it is the sports news - moreso than round 1 of the NBA playoffs and early season MLB games. If some NBA favorite is facing elimination on Thursday - that could change some viewing habits, but that wouldn't reduce the hype already surrounding this.

I think it's time for the Internet to be Dead to me. At least until Thursday night... This is ridiculous - speculation of complete chaos as to what will/will not happen depending on who is reporting. I cannot recall ANY other draft with this much hype, it is because we have a decent crop of QBs and a plethora of teams who need a decent QB. It is unfortunate that timing does not allow the team to see how AJ works with teammates prior to the draft. We could have our QB already on the roster.

Yes - depending on how the first 3-6 picks go. I suspect they have 1 tier 1 QB, 2 who are a half step behind, and 3 who are another half step behind. If one of those top 3 is available in pick 5 and they can swing a deal with Denver - or not, they will work the phones moving down as long as a top 3 is there. Once those 3 are gone they probably sit tight and maybe move up to 8 or 9 (depending on cost) - to make sure no one leapfrogs and leap over Miami who is probably after a QB too. I think the second scenario is they don't move at all if they aren't viewing those bottom tier picks as worthy of top 10 - they aren't going to reach.

And this pretty much confirms what I believe. There is "1" QB who deserves to be in the top 5, the others are all rated much lower. I suspect if you had a followup question to who is the "2nd" best QB - The results would be even less bunched up - there is 1 tier 1 guy, and 4-5 tier 2 guys - one of whom is likely to be on the board around pick #12.

Let the chips fall where they may. Don't overpay to reach for a QB to satisfy the media. The value in this draft is the 2nd/3rd round picks - which is why what the Jets paid was ridiculous.

Nightmare scenario - Gronk + picks to the Giants... for #2.

I honestly think Beane is playing it by ear somewhat - and planning on something in 4-10. If there is a "cream of the crop" heads above the rest QB in their book, they are likely gone by #3 and I don't see the GIants trading down to 12. However, I suspect the grading is much more bunched up. If the Giants want a QB, they are for sure not trading down - so then we can guess 3 are gone by #4. Then the question is - will Cleveland want to drop to 12 and lose out on the best Non-QB on their board? Probably not. So now you are looking at #5. I really think the Broncos are planning on keeping their Pick either for a top QB prospect or to improve the roster. I really think it comes down not to how much it would take, but that these teams really have to solidify their own teams. It isn't like some powerhouse is sitting at the top of the draft with no real needs who doesn't mind trading back 5-10 spots. Everyone needs a star for their team. I think our targets for a trade are most likely San Francisco & Oakland to get in front of Miami - and to protect ourselves from someone else trying to pass both us AND Miami. I just hope it won't cost the farm getting there. Things I highly suspect with the Giants - I bet they go after Dez and cut ties with OBJ via trade. Dez will give them a great deal because he gets to stay in the NFCE and stick it to the Cowboys, and the Giants will cut ties with OBJ who carries a lot of baggage. I'm sure this affects how they draft etc. Agreed. I think this is a great crop of "decent" QBs, not necessarily franchise QBs. I could totally be wrong on this, but I do not see a class of QBs like 1983 ever again - 3 HOF QBs in one draft. Just not very likely to be repeated - even in a pass happy league. EDIT - hehe, your autocorrect busts me up. Drop Pigs....

I think if they do an extension with any sort of bonus - that is amortized into this year too. But I am no CBA expert.

I think you have to play it by ear. We don't have cap room to go extending him right now. If he plays lights out this season, it's a gamble but we have cap room next year. If he has another injury plagued year - maybe you just let him walk. I would not do any sort of extension right now.

I think they could almost equally all be busts - when you factor in when they are going to be selected. Draft grades on every one of these guys is much lower than when they are going to be picked because SO many teams are in need of a QB. So, there are going to be a lot of reaches - and that is going to make the bust potential high. That's why I'm more about picking Jackson/Rudolph using one of our picks - without having to trade the farm. If 6 QBs go in the top 11 picks - we are going to have someone great fall to us. I think this fan/media frenzy may actually play out differently on day 1. It is quite possible these GMs are all going to sober up and they will realize they can't reach for these guys if they want to keep their job. Although - it is much easier for them to use THEIR pick to take a flier on a QB than it is for teams like us to blow up draft capital we worked hard to stockpile. The Jets way overpaid to get to #3, from #6. That is what started this madness. I get they did it because they were worried we'd move to 3 - but they hurt themselves if their QB is not a Franchise QB.

I'm all in on playing it by ear - and not worrying about the GIants/Jets - targeting a spot further down (4th-11th). I am not willing to mortgage the future to the Giants for a marginally better prospect - to me the drop off is not as precipitous as the frenzy suggests. Looking at all of the prospects - there is no sure thing according to anyone, there are 6 good prospects who all have about the same odds to be a bust or a HOF QB.

The thread that won't die... unless it falls off the edge of the board forever - like the mythical ends of the Earth.

Regardless of anything else - you have to improve your team, not worry about sabotaging someone else's draft board. If trading down gets you the right picks - you trade back. If you are just trying to outthink NE, forget about it. We have no idea who they REALLY want.

I like where you're going - but I think you have to add maybe Jackson or Rudolph at 12 as stupid as that sounds. Because if there is a run on QBs, there will be a trade up by someone between 13-21 to grab those guys. I would not move up to #2 because the cost is just so much when we need more and Rosen to me is not worth 2 more picks than what it would take to get to 5-8. I like what they did on GMFB this morning - proposing moving up from 12 to 9 using Benjamin and #53. Seems like a lot, but in reality I think that would be good for both sides. That was with Mayfield/Rosen on the board at 9 and gets rid of Benjamin who couldn't stay on the field. I somehow doubt they will move him, but stranger things have happened this season.

While not great - probably better than it will be without Incognito and Wood. I don't mind losing Cordy as much BECAUSE of what Dawkins was able to do, but we have less depth with losing Cordy. If instead we lost Mills & Vlad, it would be the opposite story. Just this amateur observers opinion based on what I see/hear/read.