GG

There is zero evidence to suggest that this is redux of Levy/Jauron, which was hoisted by an irate Wilson who felt duped by Donahoe. If anything, this situation is a lot closer to Donahoe/Williams, but why bring that up when you can build a strawman?

Good luck with cataclysmic global warming coming. It's a conspiracy I tell you

I can see how someone may confuse a well regarded assistant GM for a successful franchise with 15+ yrs of experience, including filling in as GM - for a septuagenarian former coach who's never had a front office job in his career. I can see how someone can confuse a senile skinflint who needed the persuasion of his marketing GM to land one big contract a year to boost ticket sales with an owner of an open checkbook. I can see how somebody can take the "build through the draft" comment and only apply it only to Jauron, when every other organization says the same thing. Because the similarities of the two situations are so so similar, I need to dust off my McCargo jersey for old times sake.

Say what? You're a pro at this by now

You have to excuse Scotty. He clings to the fantasy that Pegulas first game was when they bought the Bills. Despite being season ticket holders in the 90s, owning a sports agency and plowing tens of millions of dollars into Penn State program.

Germans didn't stand up to Nazis because they were more afraid of the Communists. The rational people here recognize history and say that both sides need to go away. When are you going to renounce an ideology that has a 100 million body count?

I think it has something to do with Jauron being reincarnated as McDermott.

Yes, that's exactly the same situation as Charlottesville.

Based on this description, how is it not both sides at fault?

I see that nuance isn't your strong suit. Nobody is saying that Sammy doesn't have talent. Nobody is saying that players thought he was a cancer. But the general reaction from the team has been, "Nice guy. So long. Next man up." That doesn't sound like a team that's lost a critical cog. It also mirrors most of the players' and coaches commentary about building the team for the future and getting the right chemistry mix. Plus, there's no way, no how that McDermott makes that decision on his own after only two months on the job. You honestly believe that the same Pegulas who struck down Whaley's initial attempt to cut Freddie in his twilight would be so cavalier as to give McDermott carte blanche to cut ties with its premier player in his prime? That's why there's probably more to the story than a simple money saving exercise.

Do you think Pegulas let McDermott and lame duck Whaley make that critical decision on their own? Am I'm the one who's reaching? Pegulas were far more involved than Beane, because Beane wasn't on the team when they declined the 5th year option. That's when they probably decided to move on. That's why they've been far more active than usual to bring in quality veteran WR help. Look at the players' reaction when Chip gutted the Eagles roster. Who was the loudest mouth? What has that mouth said about the Watkins trade?

There's a huge difference between saying they like the player and going on a twitter tirade blasting management for gutting the roster, like people are doing here. If this was only about the money, I'd guess that more players would be outspoken because they know they won't get their money in Buffalo anyway. Of course that's 180 polar opposite of Pegula's fiscal management. Please tell me when he didn't pay top dollar to a player that he wanted to keep.

That is not correct. That money was already paid in prior years. Bills only owed him $650K in salary. Dead cap is an accounting term that lets teams spread out bonuses over the term of the contract as opposed to getting the cap hit in the year the big cash is paid.

Why is it hard to believe that the decision may have been something other than on-field ability and cash? Very few people are disputing Sammy's talent. But does the fact that no player has spoken out negatively about the trade provide some indication that very few people at OBD are upset? We're going on day 5 after the trade. If this trade was as controversial in the locker room as it is on the forums, surely somebody would have sent an angry tweet or 20 by now. But there's nothing. Not by the players publicly, quietly, or even by the usual back channels through the agents to ESPN or PFT. Reminds me of the Richie story in Miami, where everyone immediately crucified him, except his teammates.

The 5th year option is not a reasonable cost for a top 5 draft pick. The only thing it does is lock the player to the team for another year. If the team is dead set on keeping the player, they try to extend the contract as soon as possible. Players prefer the option to be picked up because they get paid a lot in yr 5, and then get the long term deal the year after.

Is this a serious response? Did Beane just leave from elementary school and Uncle Terry gave him a sweet job?

The only thing the option would do is tie him up for another year at $13 mil. That's bad cap management if your intention is to keep the player. It's not about the money with Sammy. For whatever reason, they no longer wanted him on the team.

I think someone needs a refresher course on caponomics. Bills are done paying Sammy. The only thing is left is the accrued dead cap hit from signing and roster bonuses already paid out.

Pegula has never been shy to pay up for talent that his GMs recommend. McD and Beane have certainly not ignored the receiving position this offseason. So to me, it's silly to think that they dumped Watkins on whim. There must be something else behind the story.

It's becoming more clear that money wasn't going to be an issue, even though Beane rationalized it as one of the reasons. For whatever reason, Pegulas didn't want Sammy on their team going forward.

Please point to the conservatives here who embrace the alt-right. You may not have been around here a year ago, but the only proudly alt-right banner waving moron was banned from this site.

And Ralph Wilson is already in the HoF.

Don't worry, Trump will come up with something when he realizes that CNN didn't spend the last 24 hours covering him.

At least I'm consistent in my arguments. Since my memory is slipping in advanced age, maybe you can refresh me who the "old" poster was that was throwing cold water on the draft day trade that brought Watkins here in the first place? Fuzzy memory recalls a week long harangue that trading away that much value and taking a WR that high without a QB in place was a monumental waste. The logic was to move earth & mountains to get the QB first and then build the supporting cast, because that franchise QB will be on the roster 15+ years and you can always backfill talent around him. You know, kind of like Steelers and Giants have been doing, which covers up a lot of other personnel mistakes. So now we have a new staff which appears to take steps to build a proper foundation for the team, knowing that the QB position is still in flux. Yet suddenly your tenor changes, and you're perfectly fine to commit $100 million to a position that's useless until the QB is set. Why? Because you can declare that you were right all along. That's the main reason people rag on you.

He was their most durable WR, especially considering OBJ's and Cruz's injuries. How many people would have predicted Sterling Shepard's production in August 2016?