Bills Fan in MD

I'm fine with it as well. The FO clearly views this as addition by subtraction, which is a legitimate position for them to take. And they'll eventually be proven either right or wrong. That, plus some cap relief, are the keys to the deal. The draft pick was a throw in, which was probably as good as they were going to get for a lazy, out of shape player who is one positive test away from a 10 game suspension.

Does he lose a season for the next positive test, or is that not how it works?

Marshawn is in town in just over three weeks.

I think it's now fair to say that the new guys know what they're doing.

How can a team that's missed the playoffs for the last 17 years be relevant enough to be in the top ten most disliked teams?

Me neither. I can't believe I actually fell for his act at one point. I got so pumped up after his initial press conference, and it was all downhill from there.

The 1991 opener against the Dolphins is tops on my list.

So no present, no (immediate) future, and a past that consists of a 17 year playoff drought. Such is the life of a Bills fan.

So do the people taking pleasure in him being cut think that he sucks on purpose?

Boldin's been one of the true good guys in the league for more than a decade. The Bills shouldn't stand in the way of letting him go out with a contender for the sake of what we all know is going to be another lost season. That said, they should get SOMETHING from NE to allow this to happen, so long as they don't make a ridiculous demand. If NE wants him, a sixth rounder doesn't seem crazy.

Why? If they're going to tank, they should go all in. Being better than the Jets just increases the likliehood that the best QB is off the board before the Bills draft in '18. And if they have a chance to do something this year (i.e., no tank), just being better than the Jets isn't going to cut it.

Kizer is starting for the Browns because their other options are horrendous. He may or may not be the long-term answer for them, but we're a long way from getting to that point.

This is absurd. Seventeen years of futility doesn't seem possible, even if you tried to do it on purpose. I'm obviously hopeful that McBeane can turn things around in time, and I'm willing to give them the time since there really is no other option. That said, no fan base should ever have to go through this.

If Boldin gets into the Hall of Fame, he should go in as a Bill.

I bet T.O. is still willing to play.

Watkins' 2016 season was close to a complete washout. If he rebounded this year, he was as good as gone. And if he struggles and/or gets hurt in 2017, he would have continued being a drag on the roster. I agree that it's going to suck if he suddenly has a breakout year with the Rams, but I'm not sure how losing him constitutes blowing up the team.

Thanks. This is really informative. The whole concept of switching teams is a foreign concept for me. I grew up a Bills fan, and can't imagine myself ever rooting for another team. I live in the DC area now, and the only team I've been able to adopt is the Wizards.

Serious question - who are Rams fans these days? People who followed them in St. Louis and didn't boycott when they moved? People who liked them when they were in L.A. the first time and patient until they came home? People who in L.A. who became fans a year ago? I'm not questioning whether these reactions are legitimate, I just don't know who uses a Rams message board.

I've had this same fear since McDermott was hired. Most people see Gregg Williams now as a bozo who encourages dirty play, but he was once considered to be one of the brightest young defensive minds of the game. Everyone now remembers the 2000-01 Ravens as a historically great defense, but the Titans actually led the league in total defense (under Greggo). I really do think that McDermott is legit, but I think it's entirely fair to worry about this exact scenario.

Solid play up and down the roster, with the one exception being QB, which ultimately leads to another failed season.

I would never bet against this team's ability to be positively mediocre.

Barry Sanders at 8 is absurd. I used to go out of my way in the early 90s to watch him play on TV. Hell, I don't think I've watched a full Thanksgiving Day Lions game since he retired. I haven't been able to say that about any football player since that time. There have certainly been great RBs in subsequent years, but there's never been anyone as elusive as Sanders.

I'm building an eternal flame in its honor as we speak.

Yep, I totally get that when looking at things logically. That said, logic is hard to come by as a fan of this team!

After 24 hours of reflection, I don't think the Bills lost much by not getting Maclin, especially at the money the Ravens signed him to (including the two year commitment). I think what's bugging me, and likely most everyone else on the board, is that it feels like the Bills are always being slighted in the FA market. I know it's not a real thing (i.e., they typically get players who they are willing to pay the most for), but after almost two decades of being irrelevant any slight hurts.