Dan Orlovsky Praises McDermott, Comments on Josh Allen Criticism (Analytics Twitter?)

[BADOLBILZ]

23 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I don't think Lynn has done jack in terms of changing the Chargers' culture. Or their record for that matter. They are the same bunch of talented underachievers they've ever been. 

 

Reid, like it or not, is 100% an elite offensive coach. I firmly believe Mahomes without Reid isn't as successful (like if he had been drafted by Buffalo)...and Mahomes w/out Reid, Hill, and Kelce is definitely not as successful imo. 

 

They won 9 games combined in 2015-2016.........and won 21 games the first two years under Lynn.    So basically you don't follow the league very closely and just have an opinion you formed a long time ago.

 

And no.......Reid has not always been an elite offensive coach.   He had one season in KC where none of his WR's caught a TD pass.   Zero.   He's a good head coach but the secret is that most of his success has been with defense first teams.   And the Bills had weapons too.   McBeane let them go. 

 

[GoBills808]

6 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

They won 9 games combined in 2015-2016.........and won 21 games the first two years under Lynn.    So basically you don't follow the league very closely and just have an opinion you formed a long time ago.

 

And no.......Reid has not always been an elite offensive coach.   He had one season in KC where none of his WR's caught a TD pass.   Zero.   He's a good head coach but the secret is that most of his success has been with defense first teams.   And the Bills had weapons too.   McBeane let them go. 

 

Why only 2015-16? Because those were McCoy's worst years and they fit your theory? 

 

As far as Reid goes, he basically turned Alex Smith into a different person. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

On 12/19/2019 at 3:24 AM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I couldn't disagree more about the perspective..........the situation was perfect for what McD wanted to do.    There is a difference.

 

They could have hired a quality HC/man in Anthony Lynn and drafted Mahomes or Watson and kept Gilmore, Watkins, Woods  etc.. and very easily become a perennial contender.   The roster was primed for adding on to and the narrative that guys they let go were all team cancers is BS.   Lotta' SB and championship game appearances from those dudes.  Teams like the Eagles and Rams and Seahawks and Falcons have reached SB's and won a couple with setups that would have been more like what Lynn would have likely put together.    Most teams are set up like that.

 

What McD is doing here is something that doesn't work in very many places.    Most owners don't agree to let their HC/GM create the largest amount of dead money EVER generated in one season like The Pegs allowed with McD.  Some people grossly take for granted the authority a couple guys who had never proven anything were given here.   Time will tell if it yields championship football but it won't be because of any limitations imposed on the HC.   

 

Sad. Truly sad. If you think this could have been done any other way, you're blind.

52 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I don't think Lynn has done jack in terms of changing the Chargers' culture. Or their record for that matter. They are the same bunch of talented underachievers they've ever been. 

 

Reid, like it or not, is 100% an elite offensive coach. I firmly believe Mahomes without Reid isn't as successful (like if he had been drafted by Buffalo)...and Mahomes w/out Reid, Hill, and Kelce is definitely not as successful imo. 

 

?

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Sad. Truly sad. If you think this could have been done any other way, you're blind.

I find it very telling that he's convinced the unproven hypothetical he's floating would have worked, but is skeptical about the current approach that actually is.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, GoBills808 said:

I find it very telling that he's convinced the unproven hypothetical he's floating would have worked, but is skeptical about the current approach that actually is.

 

He's got a serious blind spot because he's invested a lot in his little narrative.

[Warcodered]

6 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

He's got a serious blind spot because he's invested a lot in his little narrative.

I just don't get it. The Bills are going to their second playoff game in 3 years, but they could of done it different, WHO CARES!!

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, Warcodered said:

I just don't get it. The Bills are going to their second playoff game in 3 years, but they could of done it different, WHO CARES!!

 

Dude is the board's OG Nancy. Thus the screen name.

[Phil The Thrill]

On 12/19/2019 at 3:24 AM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I couldn't disagree more about the perspective..........the situation was perfect for what McD wanted to do.    There is a difference.

 

They could have hired a quality HC/man in Anthony Lynn and drafted Mahomes or Watson and kept Gilmore, Watkins, Woods  etc.. and very easily become a perennial contender.   The roster was primed for adding on to and the narrative that guys they let go were all team cancers is BS.   Lotta' SB and championship game appearances from those dudes.  Teams like the Eagles and Rams and Seahawks and Falcons have reached SB's and won a couple with setups that would have been more like what Lynn would have likely put together.    Most teams are set up like that.

 

What McD is doing here is something that doesn't work in very many places.    Most owners don't agree to let their HC/GM create the largest amount of dead money EVER generated in one season like The Pegs allowed with McD.  Some people grossly take for granted the authority a couple guys who had never proven anything were given here.   Time will tell if it yields championship football but it won't be because of any limitations imposed on the HC.   

This is not a very good take.  Lynn was handed a contender in SD and look how he did this season.  He’s on the chopping block and the team has underperformed.  So much for your “quality HC.”

 

The rest is textbook “Bills fan revisionist history.”  Sammy Watkins is somehow a Hall of Fame WR is some people’s eyes
 

Edited December 20, 2019 by Phil The Thrill

[Hapless Bills Fan]

On 12/18/2019 at 12:47 PM, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

On 12/18/2019 at 11:16 AM, Phil The Thrill said:

 “Patriots are going to give him shots down field and if he hits them, And chooses to just throw them rather than inaim them I think he amped about them feel sometimes. “

 

What’s this supposed to say/mean? 

 

I think it's missing a word.  He's talking about Josh using his upper body and his arm strength to throw the football rather than using proper footwork to pass the deep shots.

I think (passing vs throwing is the way it's been framed here, throwing vs aiming is another terminology)

[Phil The Thrill]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I think it's missing a word.  He's talking about Josh using his upper body and his arm strength to throw the football rather than using proper footwork to pass the deep shots.

I think (passing vs throwing is the way it's been framed here, throwing vs aiming is another terminology)

Listen to the interview.  Dan is saying that he needs to “throw” the ball rather than “aim” it.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Just now, Phil The Thrill said:

Listen to the interview.  Dan is saying that he needs to “throw” the ball rather than “aim” it.

 

Yes exactly.  People like @Buffalo716 and I believe Jim Kubiak (QB guru and writer at TBN) phrase it as "passing" vs "throwing"

Orlovsky is using "throwing" vs "aiming". 

 

Same meaning, different set of words.

[Phil The Thrill]

1 minute ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Yes exactly.  People like @Buffalo716 and I believe Jim Kubiak (QB guru and writer at TBN) phrase it as "passing" vs "throwing"

Orlovsky is using "throwing" vs "aiming". 

 

Same meaning, different set of words.

cool... I didn’t understand what he meant 

[GoBills808]

29 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

He's got a serious blind spot because he's invested a lot in his little narrative.

Should have figured when he tried to add three years of Lynn’s record against only two of McCoy’s worst to make a point...yeah I can see that.

 

Also saying Reid isn’t an offensive powerhouse is just out to lunch. There were multiple NFL jets parked on standby in PHL the day he got fired.

[GunnerBill]

40 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Sad. Truly sad. If you think this could have been done any other way, you're blind.

 

See I think that is unfair. It could have been done another way. They were options. Would they have worked? Who knows. But surely all that is relevant is the Bills went all in, from ownership down, on the approach that they did take and so far it is definitely working.  

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

See I think that is unfair. It could have been done another way. They were options. Would they have worked? Who knows. But surely all that is relevant is the Bills went all in, from ownership down, on the approach that they did take and so far it is definitely working.  

 

What he's advocatung a CONTINUATION of prior methods. I contend that the whole thing needed burned down. 

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Joe in Winslow said:

 

What he's advocatung a CONTINUATION of prior methods. I contend that the whole thing needed burned down. 

 

I favoured a more radical tear down too. But I do think there were other ways they could have gone. 

[GoBills808]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

I favoured a more radical tear down too. But I do think there were other ways they could have gone. 

Exactly why would Anthony Lynn have Mahomes, Watkins, and Woods @ 10-4 right now? Reid has Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Kelce and they're only 10-4. I mean Lynn has Rivers, Gordon, Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and they're 5-9 ffs

 

The whole concept is complete fabrication and not even that interesting a hypothetical tbh

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, GoBills808 said:

Exactly why would Anthony Lynn have Mahomes, Watkins, and Woods @ 10-4 right now? Reid has Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Kelce and they're only 10-4. I mean Lynn has Rivers, Gordon, Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and they're 5-9 ffs

 

The whole concept is complete fabrication and not even that interesting a hypothetical tbh

 

But they both outperformed Buffalo significantly last year. I don't think looking at one year records is actually that illuminating in this conversation. I disagree on it not being an interesting hypothetical. I think it is. But it is hard to criticise the Bills approach when the evidence suggests that the plan is very much working. There is always more than one way to skin a cat.

[GoBills808]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

But they both outperformed Buffalo significantly last year. I don't think looking at one year records is actually that illuminating in this conversation. I disagree on it not being an interesting hypothetical. I think it is. But it is hard to criticise the Bills approach when the evidence suggests that the plan is very much working. There is always more than one way to skin a cat.

I dunno if you guys are just trolling or whatever but come on...it is WAY more illuminating to look at this year than last year, considering last year was ALWAYS going to be the down year for Buffalo as a result of the rebuild. Looking @this year is absolutely a better means of evaluating than last year, wtf this thread is so full of holes the arguments are falling out lmao

[RocCityRoller]

On 12/18/2019 at 3:31 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I don't know if "the perfect coach for this team" really says anything because he rebuilt the team to fit his plan.    

 

I think the most important thing is he's in the perfect situation for what HE wants to do.    

 

Bill Parcells used to say that Buffalo was a perfect place to be a football coach.............and I think he had in mind exactly what McDermott is doing.

 

It's a market with a fan base/community where the team is immensely valued but also very few distractions for players and has a small and easily manipulated media.

 

NOW add in an ownership group that demands little input into the football ops and is willing to spend a ton of money to give you what you want and you basically have all the tools to succeed.

 

Now if you don't take a holistic view as a football coach...........then maybe a lot of the advantages gained by being in Buffalo turn into negatives.

 

Great post. This is a terrific place to be a football coach, or a football player for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

Less distraction and chance to get into trouble than say Miami, NYC, LA.

 

A place where football is loved and ingrained in the community. A small enough community where a good gesture will be recognized and not lost in the local media.

 

As this team rebuilds a winning culture (yes the 1960's some of the 1980s and the 1990s was a winning culture), players will notice.

[GunnerBill]

36 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I dunno if you guys are just trolling or whatever but come on...it is WAY more illuminating to look at this year than last year, considering last year was ALWAYS going to be the down year for Buffalo as a result of the rebuild. Looking @this year is absolutely a better means of evaluating than last year, wtf this thread is so full of holes the arguments are falling out lmao

 

I didn't say that and you know full well I didn't. I said looking at any single year is not illuminating. 

 

I don't actually know why people are so determined to pretend that the route McDermott and Beane went was the only viable option. I'd have thought they take much more credit from a position that admits there were a number of choices and they have chosen one that has worked out for them. I wanted a rebuild. I support the choice they made. But it was a choice. 

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Yes exactly.  People like @Buffalo716 and I believe Jim Kubiak (QB guru and writer at TBN) phrase it as "passing" vs "throwing"

Orlovsky is using "throwing" vs "aiming". 

 

Same meaning, different set of words.

Yea he's using different words for the same meaning

 

Some say throwing vs aiming

 

Others say passing vs throwing

[GoBills808]

3 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I didn't say that and you know full well I didn't. I said looking at any single year is not illuminating. 

 

I don't actually know why people are so determined to pretend that the route McDermott and Beane went was the only viable option. I'd have thought they take much more credit from a position that admits there were a number of choices and they have chosen one that has worked out for them. I wanted a rebuild. I support the choice they made. But it was a choice. 

I brought up this year because, well...this is the one we're in. It's a lot less controversial a year than last year for comparison's sake. So I agree that a single year is not particularly illuminating vis a vis McDermott/Lynn/Reid and their teams/offenses/QBs etc, but last year is FAR less illuminating than this year for a number of reasons.

 

And as for the bolded...who is saying that? All I've seen from people supportive of the rebuild is that it appears to have worked, not that it was the only way to go about it. The guy who was adamant that keeping Lynn and drafting Mahomes to go along with Sammy Watkins was somehow the superior option.

[FireChans]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I didn't say that and you know full well I didn't. I said looking at any single year is not illuminating. 

 

I don't actually know why people are so determined to pretend that the route McDermott and Beane went was the only viable option. I'd have thought they take much more credit from a position that admits there were a number of choices and they have chosen one that has worked out for them. I wanted a rebuild. I support the choice they made. But it was a choice. 

Not to mention, it’s not as though EVERY decision Beane and McD did was in effort to tear everything down. 

 

They kept TT. They could have easily walked away in 2017 and gone full rebuild and gotten a top 5 pick. They traded for KB midway through the season. They could have rolled with Jordan Matthews and Zay that year. They absorbed Dareus’ Hit and immediately threw $10M at Star.

 

Sure, they planned on growing pains and a down year in 2018. But not every decision was made by that aim. With hindsight, they would have been better paying Woods than trading for KB, trading for Matthews or drafting Zay. They made some decisions for now and some decisions for the future. We are in a good spot, but every single decision wasn’t made “to be crappy in 17/2018 and be good in 19.”

[Hapless Bills Fan]

23 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I brought up this year because, well...this is the one we're in. It's a lot less controversial a year than last year for comparison's sake. So I agree that a single year is not particularly illuminating vis a vis McDermott/Lynn/Reid and their teams/offenses/QBs etc, but last year is FAR less illuminating than this year for a number of reasons.

 

And as for the bolded...who is saying that? All I've seen from people supportive of the rebuild is that it appears to have worked, not that it was the only way to go about it. The guy who was adamant that keeping Lynn and drafting Mahomes to go along with Sammy Watkins was somehow the superior option.

 

To be fair, last year when the cap cupboard was bare, there were a goodly number of people here who did insist that McDermott and Beane had no choice but to blow things up.  And those (like myself) who argued that the cap situation was a self-induced wound and that we had alternatives at several points took a lot of flak for that.

[Magox]

Of course it wasn’t the ONLY alternative but it was the one they chose because they wanted to build it their way with their players with their culture.

 

They did it THEIR way and their way has shown to be a really really good way.   
 

In regards to this cap talk that it was self-induced is shallow.   It’s shallow because it lacks complete and total context.  Technically it was self-induced in some manners because they did shed players that contributed to dead cap weight, but the players they shed were players they didn’t want. 
 

For whatever reason some of you are having a very hard time understanding that basic concept.   THEY DID NOT WANT THOSE GUYS.

 

 

They wanted to save the money and get draft choices in return and bring in players that they wanted to build this team with.

Edited December 21, 2019 by Magox

[FireChans]

58 minutes ago, Magox said:

Of course it wasn’t the ONLY alternative but it was the one they chose because they wanted to build it their way with their players with their culture.

 

They did it THEIR way and their way has shown to be a really really good way.   
 

In regards to this cap talk that it was self-induced is shallow.   It’s shallow because it lacks complete and total context.  Technically it was self-induced in some manners because they did shed players that contributed to dead cap weight, but the players they shed were players they didn’t want. 
 

For whatever reason some of you are having a very hard time understanding that basic concept.   THEY DID NOT WANT THOSE GUYS.

 

 

They wanted to save the money and get draft choices in return and bring in players that they wanted to build this team with.

Is that why they traded for Jordan Matthews (cut), KB (cut)? Is that why they traded Dareus, (accelerating his hit) and then turning around and giving Star $40M to replace him?

 

You can’t say these moves were to shed salary and get draft picks when they did never did both.

[BADOLBILZ]

4 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

Why only 2015-16? Because those were McCoy's worst years and they fit your theory? 

 

As far as Reid goes, he basically turned Alex Smith into a different person. 

 

I picked 2015-2016 because those were the two years prior to Lynn going there?   I mean, wtf kinda' question is that?

 

Speaking of which Alex Smith was 19-5 in his last two seasons in San Francisco.    Reid didn't make him into a game manager.......he was already that guy.   Do you watch the NFL?   Alex Smith had a 70% completion percentage and 104 QB rating in his last year with the Niners.   Would you take a second to fact check  your takes?

Edited December 21, 2019 by Hapless Bills Fan
inappropriate language

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Magox said:

Of course it wasn’t the ONLY alternative but it was the one they chose because they wanted to build it their way with their players with their culture.

 

So far we're good.  100% agreement.

 

1 hour ago, Magox said:

In regards to this cap talk that it was self-induced is shallow.   It’s shallow because it lacks complete and total context.  Technically it was self-induced in some manners because they did shed players that contributed to dead cap weight, but the players they shed were players they didn’t want. 

For whatever reason some of you are having a very hard time understanding that basic concept.   THEY DID NOT WANT THOSE GUYS.

 

This, on the other hand, is Wide Right, Wide Left, and short of the mark.

 

The cap talk was a self-induced wound.  Period.  The context of why Beane and McDermott chose that path (didn't want those players, wanted to accelerate the cap hit) is irrelevant to that point.  They chose to shed those players at a time when we would absorb a massive cap hit for it.  No one has any trouble understanding what you're SHOUTING ABOUT IN ALL CAPS, but the fact is, they chose to go about shedding players they didn't want in a way and on a timeline that generated massive dead cap. 

 

The fact that they had alternatives, and chose to do it because for (*reasons*) they thought it was best, is the very essence of considering something "self-induced"

 

 

[GoBills808]

11 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

I picked 2015-2016 because those were the two years prior to Lynn going there?   I mean, wtf kinda' question is that?

 

Speaking of which Alex Smith was 19-5 in his last two seasons in San Francisco.    Reid didn't make him into a game manager.......he was already that guy.   Do you watch the NFL?   Alex Smith had a 70% completion percentage and 104 QB rating in his last year with the Niners.   Would you take a second to fact check  your takes?

Lmao @this. Go look at Smith in San Francisco vs KC efficiency statistics. It’s not even a comparison. Better yet, go actually watch those games instead of quoting completion% and QB rating. Joking w this 

 

The Lynn thing...no idea why but if you wanna carry that cross be my guest. He was handed a talented underperforming roster and hasn’t done anything really spectacular with it. Won one wildcard game...congrats I guess.

[GoBills808]

8 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

So far we're good.  100% agreement.

 

 

This, on the other hand, is Wide Right, Wide Left, and short of the mark.

 

The cap talk was a self-induced wound.  Period.  The context of why Beane and McDermott chose that path (didn't want those players, wanted to accelerate the cap hit) is irrelevant to that point.  They chose to shed those players at a time when we would absorb a massive cap hit for it.  No one has any trouble understanding what you're SHOUTING ABOUT IN ALL CAPS, but the fact is, they chose to go about shedding players they didn't want in a way and on a timeline that generated massive dead cap. 

 

The fact that they had alternatives, and chose to do it because for (*reasons*) they thought it was best, is the very essence of considering something "self-induced"

 

 

His point is calling something self induced connotes an unnecessary infliction of pain, and if you believe (like this FO did) that building a team around paying guys like Dareus, Watkins, and Gilmore was not the best way to go about it...’self-induced’ is interchangeable w/ ‘unavoidable’ which imo is a better representation of their motives. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

His point is calling something self induced connotes an unnecessary infliction of pain, and if you believe (like this FO did) that building a team around paying guys like Dareus, Watkins, and Gilmore was not the best way to go about it...’self-induced’ is interchangeable w/ ‘unavoidable’ which imo is a better representation of their motives. 

 

OK - that's not my connotation of self-induced - if I cut my finger, it's a self-induced wound whether it's intentional and unnecessary or not.

 

I think it's clear they did what they felt was best for their plan, it just comes back to there were other ways to handle it.

 

Gilmore, BTW, left after his option year in 2016.  They had a choice as to whether or not they made a bid to re-sign him, but he isn't part of the "self induced wound/cap hit" conversation.

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

OK - that's not my connotation of self-induced - if I cut my finger, it's a self-induced wound whether it's intentional and unnecessary or not.

 

I think it's clear they did what they felt was best for their plan, it just comes back to there were other ways to handle it.

 

Gilmore, BTW, left after his option year in 2016.  They had a choice as to whether or not they made a bid to re-sign him, but he isn't part of the "self induced wound/cap hit" conversation.

It’s more like if you had to cut off your arm to free yourself from getting crushed by a rock: would you still call that a self induced injury?

[BADOLBILZ]

5 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

Lmao @this. Go look at Smith in San Francisco vs KC efficiency statistics. It’s not even a comparison. Better yet, go actually watch those games instead of quoting completion% and QB rating. Joking w this 

 

The Lynn thing...no idea why but if you wanna carry that cross be my guest. He was handed a talented underperforming roster and hasn’t done anything really spectacular with it. Won one wildcard game...congrats I guess.

 

 

Smith had 70% completion percentage 8 ypa and a 104 QB rating in his last year in SF...........he was already good..........Reid didn't change him into "a totally different person".

 

That's literally  the most "efficient" season of his career.

 

5 years into his KC career he had similar efficiency over more games and more pass attempts but the previous 4 years in KC he averaged about 65% completion and a low 90's QBR.......and the next year he had a relatively sharp decline in efficiency.    He was what he was when Reid got him.  

 

Like I said.........you just don't follow the NFL closely enough and you won't fact check your dubious opinions.

[GoBills808]

3 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Smith had 70% completion percentage 8 ypa and a 104 QB rating in his last year in SF...........he was already good..........Reid didn't change him into "a totally different person".

 

That's literally  the most "efficient" season of his career.

 

5 years into his KC career he had similar efficiency over more games and more pass attempts but the previous 4 years in KC he averaged about 65% completion and a low 90's QBR.......and the next year he had a relatively sharp decline in efficiency.    He was what he was when Reid got him.  

 

Like I said.........you just don't follow the NFL closely enough and you won't fact check your dubious opinions.

Absolutely one of the most ridiculous tales I’ve seen, you either have never watched Alex Smith play football before or just trolling for fun

[BADOLBILZ]

6 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

Absolutely one of the most ridiculous tales I’ve seen, you either have never watched Alex Smith play football before or just trolling for fun

 

 

I saw him put up over 600 yards of offense on the Bills in San Fran once...........worst defensive performance in team history.    But he wasn't any good then, right?

[GoBills808]

Alex Smith w/49ers- 59.3% comp, 81/63 TD/INT, 5.01 ANY/A, 178.5 ypg, 79.1 qb rating

 

Alex Smith w/Reid- 65.1% comp, 102/33 Td/INT, 6.52 ANY/A, 232 ypg, 94.8 qb rating

 

 

 

yeah Andy Reid didn't help Smith at ALL lmao

[GoBills808]

Deleted

Edited December 21, 2019 by GoBills808

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

It’s more like if you had to cut off your arm to free yourself from getting crushed by a rock: would you still call that a self induced injury?

 

Yes, I would actually, but I'd also call it a very poor analogy to cutting or trading a highly-paid player one no longer wants and taking a massive cap hit that year.

If you've been dumb enough to pull an Aron Ralston, you may literally have no alternative but do it or die. 

 

Can we agree that Beane and McDermott literally did have other alternatives?

[GoBills808]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Yes, I would actually, but I'd also call it a very poor analogy to cutting or trading a highly-paid player one no longer wants and taking a massive cap hit that year.

If you've been dumb enough to pull an Aron Ralston, you may literally have no alternative but do it or die. 

 

Can we agree that Beane and McDermott literally did have other alternatives?

I don’t disagree with that. I mean, there are a lot of things they could have done differently. But to rebuild it from the ground up they needed to drop the guys who weren’t part of the future and that meant dead cap, pretty cut and dry if you ask me.

 

These guys took risks. They bet on themselves and left zero doubt as to who was to blame if it fell apart. I give them a lot of credit. And as someone who has an understanding about how hard that kind of work is, I don’t see much value in fantasizing about what ifs.