Dr. Who

Oh, I'm certain he will be given every opportunity to fail upwards. It's the Sabres' way under present ownership. I was really just saying UPL is not a tradeable commodity given his contract. Levi may end up being an AHL star that can't make the jump. Aside from a twenty game stretch when UPL played well, he's been a subpar goalie, and KA rewarded him with a big contract. I have more hope in the alternatives, but that isn't saying much.

Be very surprising if someone wants him with that contract. I'm rather skeptical anyone would take him if you waved him.

The problem is that Pegula is unlikely to get rid of McDermott and Beane, even if the season implodes into a fiasco. In addition, his prior moves with the Bills and his entire tenure as owner of the Sabres is nothing short of utterly disheartening. Is the man capable of a wise decision, or did he just luck into competency with his football team? Regardless, the further question is whether McDermott is ever going to genuinely move off his tired scheme? Beane has fed draft pick after draft pick and the bulk of free agency into trying to invigorate the defense, and it is perpetual no dice. (The answer to the rhetorical question is certainly "no." The Process has its limits.) On the other side of the ball, Brady is showing himself to be a mediocre OC, not utterly incompetent, but not particularly creative and given to mind-numbing decisions that seem lacking in situational awareness. Some folks are convinced he wouldn't even use a superior WR if he had one. Well, you'll never have to find out unless Beane changes his ways significantly. Anyway, I suppose I'm not sure it matters where the 2026 first rounder ends up being if the aforementioned issues remain in place. And even if the team repeats its usual run to the #2 or #3 seed, it won't touch the underlying weaknesses. It's going to be a damn shame if the likely best QB in franchise history is destined for a Philip Rivers career. I was optimistic that was not a danger; now I'm not so sure.

The way they're burning through Josh Allen's prime with boneheaded and arrogant management of the WR room is the kind of thing that folks will look back on in despair if they don't course correct in a major way.

We just spent the bulk of the most recent draft and free agency on the idea of improving the defense. It might be the system as well as lack of talent, but aside from that, the inability to stress the opposing defense because of what should be by now the obvious limitations of the existing receivers are having a negative effect at multiple levels. It's causing Josh Allen to regress to hero ball tendencies, it's not opening up the middle ot the field for the routes our OC prefers, and it's allowing the opposing D to bring more blitzes that stress the oline, because they have no fear of explosive plays. In short, it absolutely makes sense to be taking about a receiver, though unfortunately the available talent is likely very slim.

You can kind of be forgiven for forgettng what that's like.

Do you think he is available?

The question is whether that language is posturing that could result in maximum trade value, or the plausible reality that they are going to keep a core piece for their rebuild and risk the injury factor. I don't know, but we are in a tight spot with few options.

If only we could play Ottawa every game.

It didn't need to be hindsight. Lots of folks were talking about the WR room before, during, and after the draft, and quite a few were keen on acquiring Metcalf. Then when Beane put almost all his chips on improving the D, many of those who wanted to spend more resources on the wideouts said fine, but no more excuses. The D has to take a big step up. And here we are.

It was just a joke.

Alas, violence begets violence. It's about as old a truism as Beane has no idea how to draft a boundary receiver.

Look, fella, you're one of the posters I like, but we're doing doom and despair now . . .

You absolutely cannot trust him to make that decision. It's an entirely depressing situation.

I think he was pressing for sure, but who is he supposed to throw the ball to? As Ron Jaworski used to say, qb is a dependent position. They're not getting separation and Josh is getting beat up.

It's worked so well for the Sabres.

The only way this team wins is by basically not turning it over and getting timely take aways. All that expenditure on defense, and it is still a small, bend, don't break, prone to injuries, sieve against the run, embarrassment. The system seems tired and exposed. And Beane was very wrong about the WR room, which has no depth, and no number one. Josh is getting beat up now, too. There needs to be some easy buttons, and we don't have the talent to provide them.

You outta write a book.

Or maybe go ahead by one.

Somebody get them jobs in Kansas City.

All that emphasis on complementary football and investment in free agency and the draft titled towards supplementing the D. What would accountability existentially mean? I think there was hope some real creativity and change would be introduced to his system this off-season. They brought in some coaches supposedly capable of offering a different perspective. Has there been any appreciable change? And while it's not unreasonable to hope that with the return of Ed and Milano, the incorporation of suspended players, and maybe development of rookies, things will get better, it still seems that too many parts have to function well at a sophisticated level. Unless the front four can consistently apply pressure, this isn't going to be the fierce counterpart to the offense that folks are looking for.

Ravens Chiefs.

Metcalf on this team definitely stresses the opposing D much more than what we have now.

After that, it will be gratuitous calls for the Kansas City Chiefs.