McDermott isn't going anywhere....

[Victory Formation]

28 minutes ago, teef said:

well...that was kind of my point.  the bills could have taken the 5th year option, but then what?  consistently franchise him, get ready for a hold out, and still overpay for his production?  the same people complaining the bills let sammy go are the same ones who would be screaming that we paid too much.  when watkins was here, i really just assumed that the lack of production was due to bad qb play.  when his time came, why in the world wouldn't he have tested FA,(unless the bills held him hostage)?  obviously someone was willing to over pay, and no way would the bills have matched it.  nor should they have apparently.  at very least the bills got a 2nd out of him, but i'm not happy sammy isn't on the team either.  

 

there is something up with him though.  he's since played for two top end qbs, and just hasn't shown the production.  no way sammy is worth what he's getting paid now.  maybe that changes, but i doubt it.  at least he was paid.

but what after the 5th year?

Sammy's best years were in Buffalo. Isn't that ironic? We're supposed to be the place where WRs go to die. Two 1,000 yard seasons back to back and then a down year. My point is, if we kept it inhouse there'd be no bidding war and the free market couldn't drive up his value. No doubt he'd be making less than 16m here.

[teef]

15 minutes ago, NewDayBills said:

Sammy's best years were in Buffalo. Isn't that ironic? We're supposed to be the place where WRs go to die. Two 1,000 yard seasons back to back and then a down year. My point is, if we kept it inhouse there'd be no bidding war and the free market couldn't drive up his value. No doubt he'd be making less than 16m here.

that is really crazy if you think about it.  i guess my view point is why wouldn't have sammy tested fa?  i sure would have.  it would be his first opportunity to get that big payday, and you have to maximize that.  maybe i'm putting too much of my own opinions into this, but with that contract, go for the gusto.  i can't imagine buffalo would have come close to the most competitive contract, (which is also an assumption on my part).  

[Victory Formation]

4 minutes ago, teef said:

that is really crazy if you think about it.  i guess my view point is why wouldn't have sammy tested fa?  i sure would have.  it would be his first opportunity to get that big payday, and you have to maximize that.  maybe i'm putting too much of my own opinions into this, but with that contract, go for the gusto.  i can't imagine buffalo would have come close to the most competitive contract, (which is also an assumption on my part).  

Could be. Could also be worried about an injury. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

[Alphadawg7]

On 11/5/2018 at 10:02 PM, Dadonkadonk said:

You realize this is year 2 of this regime?  And the team is getting worse not better.  

Tell me how this is any different than Rex?  Rex destroyed a top 5 defense. McD destroyed a top 10 offense.  Rex's team played undisciplined.  McD's team is 3rd highest in penalties and 2nd highest in penalty yards.  Special teams suck despite all the roster spots dedicated to them.  Rex ran an antiquated defense. McD signed a multi-million dollar fullback.  

I'm done with both Beane and McDermott.  

 

Wrong, year 1.  Beane has been here for one draft

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

On 11/13/2018 at 10:13 AM, teef said:

yet you complain that the bills overpaid for star.

 

and the chiefs didn't slightly over pay for sammy.  they way overpaid for him.  16 mill a year to be the 3rd wr is nuts.  they'll come to that conclusion too.

 

He sort of having a good year but not 16 million. Might get 1000 yards.  Look at Julio Jones only 2 tds this but over 1000 yards. TD stat doesn't mean everything in a way.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

3 hours ago, NewDayBills said:

For one year. His 5th year option would be substantially lower.

 

pretty sure it was around $13.5 mil, but allegedly not considered because of injury questions...safe to say that was the same reason (injury concerns) to make Cordy expendable to move up....and now the guy has started every game for the Bengals.....dice role or bad judgment...yet we sign Murphy (coming off ACL AND PED suspension) as well as "Halftime" Davis coming off injury with no problem.....go figure......

[John from Riverside]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Wrong, year 1.  Beane has been here for one draft

It is interesting the way this works with fans.....he has either been here one or two years depending on whether it fits their narrative

 

I think he has been here for 1 draft....but had input with McD in the previous draft based on how Carolina wanted our 1st two draft picks........which appear to now be panning out

[Nihilarian]

How did this thread digress into a thread about Beane? The man did wonders getting rid of a bunch of over priced players that were killing the cap.

 

Sammy Watkins is still making me laugh about how teams look at his potential. Buffalo did that with no elite QB to even throw to him and the guy was almost always injured in one way or another. Two firsts and a fourth for a decoy. Guess what, big surprise he is currently injured.  

 

Beane did a masterful job in obtaining that #7 overall pick for Josh Allen when the majority of the board wanted the Bills to give up the farm, their two firsts in 2018 and a 2019 first to move up to the #2 spot to draft Josh Rosen. Beane isn't going anywhere! 

 

 

OTOH, with McD a lot will depend on how the offense performs over the next six games regardless of the starting QB. Starting Josh Allen will give them an excuse for losing and it shouldn't! In the 7 loses the Bills haven't had a run game mostly because when this team gets behind in points the game plan goes pass happy no matter who the QB is behind center.

 

In the 3 wins this year the Bills have had a dominate run game and got the ball to McCoy/the RBs. In the 7 losses they didn't run the ball well and went pass happy instead. This was most alarming with Allen and Peterman starting because they are so inexperienced they need a run game to support them.

 

In those 7 losses some Bills fans stated that the offensive players were "historically bad" and yet against the Jets these same players looked brilliant. The line blocked well and gave Barkley time to throw, McCoy lanes to run. The receivers besides KB caught and fought for the ball and looked brilliant. Both Zay Jones and Robert Foster had almost 200 yards receiving. So, it isn't the players after all. It was the OC asking the inexperienced QBs to do things they couldn't do in forcing them to carry the entire offense. 

 

We will see if things change for the next six games. 

 

 

 

 

[ROCBillsBeliever]

On 11/6/2018 at 3:27 AM, RosenNOTchosen1 said:

McDumbass has shown he is clueless on the offensive side of the ball. 

 

It's time to move to on from him and bring in an offensive mind, so the defense can crumble over the next two years, and we can retool our team to fit the new coach's philosophy, and spend another two years spinning our tires. 

 

There, I finished your sentence for you. I like this game. Want to play some more?

On 11/6/2018 at 1:02 AM, Dadonkadonk said:

You realize this is year 2 of this regime?  And the team is getting worse not better.  

Tell me how this is any different than Rex?  Rex destroyed a top 5 defense. McD destroyed a #16 ranked.  Rex's team played undisciplined.  McD's team is 3rd highest in penalties and 2nd highest in penalty yards.  Special teams suck despite all the roster spots dedicated to them.  Rex ran an antiquated defense. McD signed a multi-million dollar fullback.  

I'm done with this message board. I'll go whine somewhere else.  

 

There, I fixed it for you. I'm enjoying this game. I'll miss playing with you.

 

NFL Team Total Offense Statistics - 2016

 

Statistics: Total | Downs | Passing | Rushing | Receiving | Returning | Kicking | Punting | Defense | Give/Take
Season:  Select One2018 Regular Season2017 Regular Season2016 Regular Season2015 Regular Season2014 Regular Season2013 Regular Season2012 Regular Season2011 Regular Season2010 Regular Season2009 Regular Season2008 Regular Season2007 Regular Season2006 Regular Season2005 Regular Season2004 Regular Season2003 Regular Season2002 Regular Season2017 Postseason2016 Postseason2015 Postseason2014 Postseason2013 Postseason2012 Postseason2011 Postseason2010 Postseason2009 Postseason2008 Postseason2007 Postseason2006 Postseason2005 Postseason2004 Postseason2003 Postseason2002 Postseason
League:  NFCAFCNFL
Offense | Defense

Net Total Yards Leaders

RK	TEAM	YDS	YDS/G	PASS	P YDS/G	RUSH	R YDS/G	PTS	PTS/G
1	New Orleans	6816	426.0	5074	317.1	1742	108.9	469	29.3
2	Atlanta	6653	415.8	4725	295.3	1928	120.5	540	33.8
3	Washington	6454	403.4	4758	297.4	1696	106.0	396	24.8
4	New England	6180	386.3	4308	269.3	1872	117.0	441	27.6
5	Dallas	6027	376.7	3631	226.9	2396	149.8	421	26.3
6	Oakland	5973	373.3	4051	253.2	1922	120.1	416	26.0
7	Pittsburgh	5962	372.6	4202	262.6	1760	110.0	399	24.9
8	Green Bay	5900	368.8	4199	262.4	1701	106.3	432	27.0
9	Arizona	5868	366.8	4136	258.5	1732	108.3	418	26.1
10	Indianapolis	5830	364.4	4202	262.6	1628	101.8	411	25.7
11	Tennessee	5728	358.0	3541	221.3	2187	136.7	381	23.8
12	Seattle	5715	357.2	4124	257.8	1591	99.4	354	22.1
13	Cincinnati	5711	356.9	3942	246.4	1769	110.6	325	20.3
14	LA Chargers	5708	356.8	4198	262.4	1510	94.4	410	25.6
15	Chicago	5704	356.5	3969	248.1	1735	108.4	279	17.4
16	Buffalo	5666	354.1	3036	189.8	2630	164.4	399	24.9
17	Baltimore	5563	347.7	4100	256.3	1463	91.4	343	21.4
18	Tampa Bay	5542	346.4	3926	245.4	1616	101.0	354	22.1
19	Carolina	5499	343.7	3685	230.3	1814	113.4	369	23.1
20	Kansas City	5488	343.0	3740	233.8	1748	109.3	389	24.3
21	Detroit	5421	338.8	4111	256.9	1310	81.9	346	21.6
22	Philadelphia	5398	337.4	3585	224.1	1813	113.3	367	22.9
23	Jacksonville	5359	334.9	3728	233.0	1631	101.9	318	19.9
24	Miami	5324	332.8	3500	218.8	1824	114.0	363	22.7
25	NY Giants	5291	330.7	3879	242.4	1412	88.3	310	19.4
26	NY Jets	5268	329.3	3466	216.6	1802	112.6	275	17.2
27	Denver	5169	323.1	3685	230.3	1484	92.8	333	20.8
28	Minnesota	5041	315.1	3836	239.8	1205	75.3	327	20.4
29	Houston	5035	314.7	3176	198.5	1859	116.2	279	17.4
30	Cleveland	4976	311.0	3264	204.0	1712	107.0	264	16.5
31	San Francisco	4930	308.1	2911	181.9	2019	126.2	309	19.3
32	LA Rams	4203	262.7	2951	184.4	1252	78.3	224	14.0

 

[Thurman#1]

On 11/14/2018 at 9:11 PM, ScottLaw said:

Where did I say they are keeping Robert Woods, Gilmore, and Goodwin? Or even Tyrod? 

 

I have said all along they didnt need to rid themselves of some YOUNG, good NFL players because they were in "cap hell" like everyone suggests. It didn't need to be ALL OR NOTHING. They could've kept Watkins, Glenn, and Darues and still been in good shape with the salary cap and most of all, A BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM. Especially offensively. 

 

They could've still grabbed a QB(completely ignoring the fact that they avoided taking one when Watson and Mahomes fell to them the year before) by trading future UNKNOWN assets instead of trading proving commodities in the league already. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You didn't say they were keeping Woods, Gilmore, Goodwin or Tyrod.

 

But if you think they weren't then you're missing the point. They wouldn't have kept Dareus and the others unless they were reloading instead of rebuilding. And if they were reloading they'd have had to try to keep as much talent as possible, precisely including the guys I mentioned. If you didn't get that, it's exactly because ... well, you didn't get it.

 

And yes, they could have been a better football team ... this year. They might easily have won an extra two or three games and ended up winning six or seven ... at the cost of continual suckage into the future. Sure, they could have traded hope for the future for less immediate suckage. 

 

THANK ... GOD ... THEY ... DIDN"T!! This way they got Allen and hope for the future.

 

Yeah, they could have continued in a crappy cap situation, traded away their next year's first and more ... to stick with a lineup you appear to think was talented ... a lineup that managed to get us seven wins with all the "proven commodities in the league" that they had. What they had there was seven-win talent.

 

On 11/15/2018 at 2:28 PM, Nihilarian said:

 

OTOH, with McD a lot will depend on how the offense performs over the next twenty-odd games regardless of the starting QB.

 

We will see if things change for the next six games. 

 

 

 

Corrected things for you.

 

The Pegulas knew how awful this offense would be. Not precisely how awful, but they knew it would be very bad. To be honest, pretty much everyone except a small coterie of Kool-Aid abusing Bills fans did too, just by looking at the roster. The Pegulas knew they signed on for a rebuild.  So did anyone with much sense. You're fantasizing here. Get used to McDermott for at absolute minimum another year.

 

Oh, and the idea that this all depends on the offense is actually  nutty. It's code language for "I hate McDermott." Fine, hate him, but don't let your hate blind you to reason. When it finally does come time to rate him, a year or two from now, on current results after the rebuild starts to rebuild, he absolutely won't be evaluated on the offense. He is the head coach. He will be evaluated on the entire team.

 

Which right now is not just an awful offense. It also contains an excellent defense. He'd be evaluated on BOTH of those and the STs besides. That will happen once the inevitably horrible first couple of rebuild years passes.

 

Edited November 16, 2018 by Thurman#1

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

On 11/14/2018 at 1:31 PM, NewDayBills said:

In @ScottLaw defense though, had we kept Sammy he wouldn't have got this much money. I truly believe that. Pick up his 5th year option, franchise him if you have to and work out a deal.

1) you think Sam-me plays a tag 

2) is a guy that’s 32 nd in the league and third on his team despite running with a top 5 offense worth Tag money? 

[Nihilarian]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

Corrected things for you.

 

The Pegulas knew how awful this offense is. To be honest, pretty much everyone except a small coterie of Kool-Aid worshipping Bills fans did too. The Pegulas knew they signed on for a rebuild.  So did anyone with much sense. You're fantasizing here. Get used to McDermott for at absolute minimum another year.

 

Oh, and the idea that this all depends on the offense is actually  nutty. It's code language for "I hate McDermott." Fine, hate him, but don't let your hate blind you to reason. When it finally does come time to rate him, a year or two from now, on current results after the rebuild starts to rebuild, he absolutely won't be evaluated on the offense. He is the head coach. He will be evaluated on the entire team.

 

Which right now is not just an awful offense. It also contains an excellent defense.

 

Talk about Nutty? Where do you get off in thinking that you know what these owners are thinking? If anyone is fantasizing here it's you!  The only poster speaking in code is you...which is code for being such a defender of the coaches that you delude yourself into thinking that you know what others are thinking.

 

Both McD and Beane have stated that this wasn't supposed to be a rebuild year! I have links for this and you keep stating the opposite and yet are presupposing at this because the season went south. You have no actual facts and just suppose that is what was supposed to happen because of the 3-7 season.

 

When the Buffalo Bills got the lead over the Jets this last game you didn't see McD pull any players or sit anyone. Because that is what would have happened if they actually wanted to tank! They got the lead and worked it just like they would have done in each and every game if they could have!  They have wanted to win each and every game all season and it went south due to their incompetence. 

 

I can tell you this. If Beane and McD knew then (2018 draft)what they know now, they would have altered their draft plans and drafted a center to replace Woods in the 2018 NFL draft. They might have found the money to bring in a quality replacement for Incognito and they sure as hell would have brought in a veteran QB from day one if they had the insight to know how bad Peterman would be. Like I said, coaching incompetence. 

 

Look at all the mistakes with the different WRs they keep brining in, signing and then letting go. 

 

I honestly like McD and think he is a good HC to a point. He simply doesn't know jack about the offensive side of the ball and it looks like Beane might have some issues too. I highly doubt any other NFL experienced quality GM/HC would have gone into this season the way this GM/HC went into the season with those scrubs on the offensive line, no veteran QB. Especially knowing that they are protecting a very inexperienced QB and a rookie QB. This is what happens when you have a rookie GM and 2nd year HC still learning their jobs. 

 

Lastly, when the team gets blownout in half their games like this team did this season...the defense doesn't look so excellent to my eyes. 

 

 

P.S. My take on the Pegula's is that they really want a winning NFL team in Buffalo and this 3-7 season with all these blowout losses could be having a very disparaging effect. The next six games could be very important in determining what happens at the end of the season for this regime.

My opinion!   I already know yours... deluded nutty code talker. 

Edited November 16, 2018 by Nihilarian

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, Nihilarian said:

Talk about Nutty? Where do you get off in thinking that you know what these owners are thinking? If anyone is fantasizing here it's you!  The only poster speaking in code is you...which is code for being such a defender of the coaches that you delude yourself into thinking that you know what others are thinking.

 

Both McD and Beane have stated that this wasn't supposed to be a rebuild year! I have links for this and you keep stating the opposite and yet are presupposing at this because the season went south. You have no actual facts and just suppose that is what was supposed to happen because of the 3-7 season.

 

When the Buffalo Bills got the lead over the Jets this last game you didn't see McD pull any players or sit anyone. Because that is what would have happened if they actually wanted to tank! They got the lead and worked it just like they would have done in each and every game if they could have!  They have wanted to win each and every game all season and it went south due to their incompetence. 

 

I can tell you this. If Beane and McD knew then (2018 draft)what they know now, they would have altered their draft plans and drafted a center to replace Woods in the 2018 NFL draft. They might have found the money to bring in a quality replacement for Incognito and they sure as hell would have brought in a veteran QB from day one if they had the insight to know how bad Peterman would be. Like I said, coaching incompetence. 

 

Look at all the mistakes with the different WRs they keep brining in, signing and then letting go. 

 

I honestly like McD and think he is a good HC to a point. He simply doesn't know jack about the offensive side of the ball and it looks like Beane might have some issues too. I highly doubt any other NFL experienced quality GM/HC would have gone into this season the way this GM/HC went into the season with those scrubs on the offensive line, no veteran QB. Especially knowing that they are protecting a very inexperienced QB and a rookie QB. This is what happens when you have a rookie GM and 2nd year HC still learning their jobs. 

 

Lastly, when the team gets blownout in half their games like this team did this season...the defense doesn't look so excellent to my eyes. 

 

 

P.S. My take on the Pegula's is that they really want a winning NFL team in Buffalo and this 3-7 season with all these blowout losses could be having a very disparaging effect. The next six games could be very important in determining what happens at the end of the season for this regime.

My opinion!   I already know yours... deluded nutty code talker. 

 

 

I get off knowing what the owners were thinking the same way I get off knowing that when the barometer suddenly drops and dark cumulonimbus clouds roll in and I hear thunder and see lightning and the forecast is for a storm and rain starts to fall that I know a storm is coming.

 

You have links saying this isn't a rebuild year? Great, let's see 'em. Not links using the word "tank," though. They've said they're not tanking but tanking is not the same as rebuilding. There is no such thing in football as tanking, really, it's a hockey and basketball word. But fine, let's see these links saying it's not a rebuild.

 

Of course the Pegulas want a winning NFL team. Duh!! But they hired a coach who committed to a rebuild. It wasn't a surprise. The coaches were on record during the job interview as saying that their goal was a long-term goal ... to become a team that could consistently be competitive for a championship ... not a short-term goal. They were also on record in the job interview as saying they knew the cap was in horrible shape and they would get it in great shape by the end of this season. 

 

When a coach and GM say that in an interview you either prepare for a rebuild, including a season or two of horribleness ... or you hire someone else who will reload. The Pegulas hired McDermott and Beane.

 

You may not have known this year would be horrible. The Pegulas did, as did nearly every pundit out there. They want a winning team. They understood that the winning would not come early.

 

And if the defense doesn't look really good in your eyes ... wow, my bad. Why am I spending time talking to you? My fault. You want to kid yourself that McDermott is gone, that's your right.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Thurman#1

[Thurman#1]

On 11/15/2018 at 3:52 AM, NewDayBills said:

For one year. His 5th year option would be substantially lower.

 

 

Would've been $13.924 mill. Top ten picks get the transition tender

 

Is that substantially lower than $16 mill or just a bit lower?

 

$14 mill for a guy who had averaged around 800 yards a year in his first three years and around 700 a year in his first four years (assuming he hit the same level with in 2017 with Tyrod throwing to him as he did with Goff throwing to him). Does a team trying desperately to clear cap make that commitment?  Particularly when they also want to put together enough draft capital to be able to get their franchise guy in a QB-rich draft?

 

Obviously not.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Thurman#1

[Victory Formation]

3 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Would've been $13.924 mill. Top ten picks get the transition tender

 

Is that substantially lower than $16 mill or just a bit lower?

 

$14 mill for a guy who had averaged around 800 yards a year in his first three years and around 700 a year in his first four years (assuming he hit the same level with in 2017 with Tyrod throwing to him as he did with Goff throwing to him). Does a team trying desperately to clear cap make that commitment?  Particularly when they also want to put together enough draft capital to be able to get their franchise guy in a QB-rich draft?

 

Obviously not.

Last time you quoted me you were a total dick unprovoked. Don't quote me. I hold grudges.

6 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

1) you think Sam-me plays a tag 

2) is a guy that’s 32 nd in the league and third on his team despite running with a top 5 offense worth Tag money? 

Well, he grew up a Bills fan and he produced while here. His production after Buffalo matters not.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

25 minutes ago, NewDayBills said:

Last time you quoted me you were a total dick unprovoked. Don't quote me. I hold grudges.

Well, he grew up a Bills fan and he produced while here. His production after Buffalo matters not.

 

He’s average/middling.  

 

Bills aren’t in position to pay elite money for average.

 

Or to put it differently they shouldn’t pay#1 money to The former Rams and current Chiefs #3.

 

[Victory Formation]

8 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

 

He’s average/middling.  

 

Bills aren’t in position to pay elite money for average.

 

Or to put it differently they shouldn’t pay#1 money to The former Rams and current Chiefs #3.

 

Well we seemed to do just that for Kelvin Benjamin. I'm not saying you're wrong, I can definitely pickup what you're laying down but who's to say he wouldn't have done better here? And who's to say Sammy doesn't rebound? There is a chance that happens. And we will probably overpay an average WR in free agency, you'll see.

[Thurman#1]

On 11/16/2018 at 11:40 PM, ScottLaw said:

What? 

 

Have some perspective. It didn't need to be all or nothing. Your missing my point. Those young, established players were under control of the franchise for the next 2 to 4 years. Woods, Gilmore, Goodwin were not. 

 

Why would they continue to suck with those players on the roster? Again, the problem with the Bills when McBeane took over was the COACHING WAS A DISASTER, not the roster. You point to the lineup that got us "7 wins." Give me a break. Rex and his fat brother were the main reason that lineup underachieved. Just about any astute Bills fan knew this. 

 

They couldve still got their QB without trading players to get it. You act as if the only way for them to get him was to do what they did. 

 

Sounds like you are just making excuses for the regime. What they are doing may or may not work out, but they are essentially counting on one offseason to turn it around. They could've made this a lot easier on themselves and the franchise. 

 

How the ***** do you know what the Pegulas were thinking? You continue to state things as if they are facts. You have no idea. 

 

 

Scott, yeah it absolutely did need to be all or nothing. Rebuild or don't.

 

And if you don't rebuild, you reload and work for getting as good as you can as quickly as you can. 

 

"Why would they continue to suck with those players on the roster"? Are you really asking that? You need to ask why a team that went 7-9 would suck when keeping the same personnel? Good grief, Charlie Brown! Because when they had those players they sucked. The coaching wasn't good but a lot of the reason they sucked is because they didn't do a good job with personnel. They had a below-average passing offence and that was going to continue. That a team whose most expensive defensive contract belonged to Dareus, a guy who averaged 7.25 sacks a year before signing that contract and has eight sacks in the almost four years since signing the contract. Dareus looked like a guy you could build around, a really good run stopper who could rush the passer and has since developed into a really good run stopper being paid $16 mill a year. Outside of the guys the Bills kept, like Hughes and Kyle Williams, there simply wasn't a ton of quality on that roster. The guys traded away and cut have mostly not done all that well, though Woods and Gilmore are two real exceptions.

 

They weren't a good roster, they were a decent roster. An overpaid decent roster.

 

And if you're going to tell me what I'm "acting like," get it right. I'm not "acting as if the only way for them to get [a QB] was to do what they did." There were a million ways to get a QB. Keep Tyrod for instance. Or bring Fitz back. So cut the crap, I'm not acting as if they had no choices. I'm pointing out that this was by far the most likely way they had when looking ahead. They had the #22 draft pick and they got up to #7 by trading away assets Glenn and Watkins and their 2018 #2, which is the kind of thing rebuilding teams do. Without trading those two, they don't get from #22 to #7 without trading the 2018 #22 and almost certainly the 2019 1st and a bunch more, probably the 2nd in one of those years. Which would then leave their reload draft virtually toothless and they would again be in cap trouble next year so they couldn't count on bringing in talent that way either. A terrific blueprint for a longer continuation of Buffalo mediocrity on into the future.

 

And you can kid yourself that we don't know what they were thinking, but we do. They hired guys who were promising a major salary cap slashing to get it in shape by the end of this year. Within weeks of seeing how McDermott worked they hoisted him up and over Whaley, the one guy left that they still trusted at that point. They love these two, despite the promises of pain. They have a history of understanding and tolerating rebuilds with the Sabres. After the rebuild is over, you'd better start to show results. But they understand rebuilding. After this one is over, the pressure will then be on.