Dr. Who

Yes, I agree they need more than that, but a national reporter might pay less attention to the roster. In a very vague manner, fella like Rapaport could think of Hopkins as a closer type addition for one of the top teams. I don't believe he's that for anyone, actually, though maybe you make a case for the Chiefs, I dunno.

This link is on page 135, good Lord this is a long thread. https://sports.yahoo.com/hefty-price-cardinals-reportedly-want-192451574.html

No one is paying that price. No one should want the Bills to pay anywhere near that price. Somewhere upthread, well somewhere, the report of the initial asking price is posted.

A little harder for the skeptics to paint this as a mirage speculated on the basis of IG posts and pseudo-NFL Insiders on Twitter.

Lions sent two early seconds and an early third to move up to 12 in the first round. Vikings sent a mid second round pick back as well. Helps if you have draft capital to work with, but that was not a terrible price to get him. I'm going to stick with ornery. And yes, the contemporary American reading level is probably fifth grade in 1960. Writing is abysmal. Very few read genuine literature or think complex, nuanced thoughts. It's easy enough to be a curmudgeon and point out the foibles of humanity. I am a misanthrope myself and much prefer the company of my cats to humankind, but a little tolerance and humor is also helpful. Some folks are obnoxious and invite ridicule, but otherwise the kindness of compassion is not expensive.

Well, if you don't suffer fools gladly, a sports' message board is a fine place to be exasperated.

Yep, it's a prudential calculation. I wanted to trade up for Jameson Williams in the last draft. Would have brought in a young WR with star potential. Now we are looking at a subpar draft at the position. If you think it's important to upgrade WR2, Hopkins is now a consideration. If you think it's not that pressing a matter, one is less inclined to bargain. I am somewhere between your view and those who want to throw around a first or second, but it's a risk and an expensive one so not a great situation.

I think Sanders has the highest upside. Bills should be in on him or Simpson.

You're kinda ornery, aren't ya?

I understand about the salary issue. Just a few posts above, I pointed that out to the fella I was conversing with. Even taking that into consideration, I don't think a fifth alone gets it done. If AZ is posturing to want something akin to what CMC cost the 49ers (a ridiculous proposition), I don't see them scaling back that far. So, Hopkins and his salary altogether may only be worth a fifth, but I don't see AZ taking that return, even if they become more reasonable.

If that's their price point, they don't really want him.

It would help if they hit more often on premium draft picks. It would be great to bring in a young wr2 with room to develop into a wr1. No one is against that. Problem is this is a weak draft for wr and there probably won't be that player at 27. Folks think we need an upgrade now to match the best competition in a run for a SB. That's why players like Hopkins and OBJ are in the discussion. Everyone would prefer a younger, cost-controlled option, but that has to be attainable to actually be an option.

They may want AZ to retain some salary. It's not a simple negotiation.

You may be right. What I see is an increasingly competitive AFC. Our division is tough. The Jets D is good and if they get Rodgers, they should be more competitive than last year when they already gave us problems. The Phins have a lot of talent, though ultimately, Josh Allen remains the best qb and that normally is the trump card. I think the Bengals and Chiefs are slightly ahead of us. The Chiefs suffered some free agent losses, but Mahomes, Kelce, and Andy Reid are cheat codes on offense in a league that favors offense. Cincy in the short term at least has two number one wrs and solid coaching. I think we need an early oline pick, I'd prefer RT so we are not counting on a rebound year from Brown (great if if happens), a better WR2, and TE2 to make 12 personnel a real option. I would make offense the priority this offseason. I expect defense will get the bulk of the early picks. I'm not sold on our coaches. Too many failures in the post-season. You might have Marty Schottenheimer or Marvin Lewis. But not sold does not mean I think they can't do it. They might, but for me it's an open question. There is not enough history of success to vanquish uncertainty. And Dorsey needs a leap year of growth. The numbers were not terrible, but he did not utilize the talent sufficiently. Some of that is injuries and a porous oline, but not all of it.

The folks who are against it point not so much to draft compensation as the long-term implications of acquiring his enormous contract. The Cardinals are trading him (if they are) to get rid of it, and so are not inclined apparently to absorb much of his salary. There are also those who point to his age and recent injury history and wonder how much availability you are actually looking at as well as the possibility his production may drop significantly considering his age. None of those concerns are irrational. I am still on the side of gambling on DHop if a reasonable deal can be made. The newbie AZ GM may not be willing to play ball.

I often agree with you. I like your fundamental optimism, but I do not believe that most of those with more negative views believe we are not good. I think the consensus is we are not good enough, which is different. There is concern that the draft will largely be devoted to the D and needed upgrades on offense are going to be confined to later draft picks and the modest, albeit possibly astute signings we already know about.

I think this analysis is accurate. It doesn't look probable right now that the Bills are likely to acquire Hopkins or OBJ. They are supposedly high on the new FA acquisitions, neither of which screams even potential #2. Unlikely a draft pick will fall to 27 that will fulfill that role. There's a fair crowd that is now going with we were victims of bad breaks, injury, whatnot last year, so the chances of a SB are in reality unchanged and running it back is not a bad proposal. I think there still needs to be investment in oline and upgrade at wr2, te2. I expect a good chance 2 of the 3 day one and two picks go for the D again (LB, DL).

A pithy and profound definition of marriage.

It was just a joke. See, it's supposed to be at Mahomes' expense . . .

You want Josh to run like a little girl?

I don't know what is going on with the emojis. I've seen quite a few that are blocks or ovals and the like.

I'm guessing that was a rhetorical question with an implied answer.

And a D- for Darnell Washington. I like both the early picks, would really help the oline.

Possible.

Yes, I heard that. Beane just mentioned OBJ at the owner's meetings as if it were still a possibility which is why I included him.