Could John Brown be Released Next Off-Season?

[ChevyVanMiller]

On 12/10/2020 at 9:08 AM, Halloween Land said:

Looking at his 2021 salary from Spotrac.com, releasing Brown would save $8.15 million from the cap and only $1.6 million in dead cap. He is a great player to have but with Gabriel Davis playing well and Brown dealing with injuries this year, I can see him being released. What do you guys think? 

You can’t release the guy that came back for the last two games of the season, lead the team in receiving yards in the post season and caught the game-winning TD in the Super Bowl. How can you even pose such a question?

 

Oh nuts, I keep forgetting that I’m not supposed to divulge anything when I use the machine to traverse the time/space continuum. My bad, please look this way.

[below]

They could have saved similar money this year by cutting Murphy and they did not.

 

The cap situation isn't bad. They can free up enough money by restructuring a few contracts and releasing less-critical players.

 

Brown is a very good WR and well worth his salary. No chance they cut him.

[pigpen65]

Brown is awesome, and he's a big piece of the best recieving corps Buffalo had had since Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. It would be a terrible desicion to lose him. Theres lots of other places to save money if the need arrises, way before Brown.

Edited December 12, 2020 by pigpen65

[SCBills]

26 minutes ago, pigpen65 said:

Brown is awesome, and he's a big piece of the best recieving corps Buffalo had had since Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. It would be a terrible desicion to lose him. Theres lots of other places to save money if the need arrises, way before Brown.

I think it’s only a question due to the same reason Milano is a question.... availability.  
 

Brown hasn’t been active/not hobbled since Week 3.  
 

I’m thinking we let Murphy/Kroft/Norman walk and then cut one of Butler/Jefferson to free up money with Star coming back.   Then I think we’ll re-sign Feliciano and Williams to keep the OL in tact.  That “could”, depending on the cap, leave a decision between Milano and Brown.  If it doesn’t - great! - but if it does.. would we rather sign Milano and potentially draft a Rd 1/2 speed WR or keep Brown and potentially draft a Rd 1/2 LB?  

[Hampton Josh fan]

Smoke is a great receiver for the vertical pass game and has good chemistry with JA. With him on the field with  Diggs, that's a lethal tandem. He played through a tough high ankle sprain until he couldn't go any longer. This makes a case for keeping him going forward. Why dump this talented receiver after he put Josh on the map in 2019 along with Beasley and that confidence laid the groundwork for the offense we're seeing now.

 

[BADOLBILZ]

5 minutes ago, Hampton Josh fan said:

Smoke is a great receiver for the vertical pass game and has good chemistry with JA. With him on the field with  Diggs, that's a lethal tandem. He played through a tough high ankle sprain until he couldn't go any longer. This makes a case for keeping him going forward. Why dump this talented receiver after he put Josh on the map in 2019 along with Beasley and that confidence laid the groundwork for the offense we're seeing now.

 

 

 

I think he was helped off the field after the high ankle sprain and never returned..........was put on IR a week later.    But he was nagged by a bunch of injuries all season and favoring them might very well have caused the high ankle sprain.   I agree he is very important to what they do.......I really hope they do not release him.   Would love to see he and Diggs healthy together for a full season because I really think his deep speed opens things up for Diggs.    When he's not in there Diggs gets turned into a dink and dunk option.    When Brown is on the field suddenly Diggs' routes are ran out past the sticks instead of in front of them.

 

[klos63]

Extend him, lower his cap hit and keep him 2 more seasons.

[Hampton Josh fan]

34 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I think he was helped off the field after the high ankle sprain and never returned..........was put on IR a week later.    But he was nagged by a bunch of injuries all season and favoring them might very well have caused the high ankle sprain.   I agree he is very important to what they do.......I really hope they do not release him.   Would love to see he and Diggs healthy together for a full season because I really think his deep speed opens things up for Diggs.    When he's not in there Diggs gets turned into a dink and dunk option.    When Brown is on the field suddenly Diggs' routes are ran out past the sticks instead of in front of them.

 

Agree with that and he's a team guy that never complains about getting more throws and always has positive body language  He's a keeper if he can stay on the field. 

[BBills88]

I hope is not, he is still effective within the scheme of the offense.

[YattaOkasan]

On 12/11/2020 at 7:53 AM, BarleyNY said:

You can’t really restructure the last year of a contract.  You can extend it and lower the first year cap hit or you can ask a player to take a cut, but that’s about it except for cutting/trading the player.  The only possibility - and I’ve never seen this done on a one year deal or know if the league would approve it - would be to add voidable years to the current one year deal and pay out most of the salary as a signing bonus.  That would just kick some of the cap hit to next season while paying him the same.  I’d think him playing out his deal or an extension would be more likely. 

I think it’s extensions for brown and Morse.  Make their salaries into a signing bonuses and give them a smaller salary on the extra year. Brown is not gonna get 9 mil with another team. Offer him 8 mil as a signing bonus and make his 2021 salary vet minimum with a 2022 salary of 5-6 mil. He would be under contact for 13-14mil for two years which is a bit of an overlay but works with cap things well (4mil in savings for 2021)

[biggerdaddynj]

3 hours ago, Hampton Josh fan said:

Smoke is a great receiver for the vertical pass game and has good chemistry with JA. With him on the field with  Diggs, that's a lethal tandem. He played through a tough high ankle sprain until he couldn't go any longer. This makes a case for keeping him going forward. Why dump this talented receiver after he put Josh on the map in 2019 along with Beasley and that confidence laid the groundwork for the offense we're seeing now.

 

Agreed—Smoke is vertical which helps in multiple ways.  And, Davis appears to have the potential to develop into the big bodied WR we’ve needed for years (we need at least one WR who can go up and get the ball when he’s covered and use his size to body up the mostly smaller CBs).  Two different roles (add Diggs and Cole and Josh has four varieties of WRs to choose from—think that’s been a big part in Josh’s development).  

Edited December 13, 2020 by biggerdaddynj

[Hampton Josh fan]

4 minutes ago, biggerdaddynj said:

Agreed—Smoke is vertical which helps in multiple ways.  And, Davis appears to have the potential to develop into the big bodied WR we’ve needed for years (we need at least one WR who can go up and get the ball when he’s covered and use his size to body up the mostly smaller CBs).  Two different roles (add Diggs and Cole and Josh has four varieties of WRs to choose from—think that’s been a big part in Josh’s development).  

Sometimes you stand pat with superior skill players that just fit perfectly with the  scheme that supports the talent of a physical freak that trusts all of his options. Your point about Davis being the big high point , red zone threat that we've been desperate for, is a good one. If we can run block for Motor and Moss, setting up Josh to just stand in and pick out wide open crossers, this can be as prolific an offense as any in the NFL.

 

 

[machine gun kelly]

We don’t know where we are year with Davis and Hodgins.  Davis has been a fourth WR, and done well.  That is very different than a #2.  These coaches and Mgmt will know to keep Diggs, Brown and Beasely.  Brown and Beasely are 30 and 31.  I know Brown is up after next year, and Beasely has one beyond that.  To get top flight WR’s at $9 mil, and $7.25 mil. Is another great deal for Beane.  Even Diggs who leads the league in receptions and targets, even with his escalation of his current contract (notice I said escalation as we didn’t increase his salary, we just moved it up for him) we still had a deal in our WR corps.

 

Davis and Hodgins could be our future, or not.  Drafting for even a HOF GM like Polian and Wolf believe they only hit around 57-58% lifetime for them.  I’m encouraged so don’t get me wrong, but I’m not giving up a fantastic tool for us in Brown.  If he gets extended as suggested for two years, that’s fine, and Beasely won’t be here after his contract.  Just roll with what you have and take you’re time developing the big guys.  They might end up #2 and #3 down the road, and Bills fans would be happy.  Keep McKenzie around as long as he remains this quick.  His speed will fade in a couple of years, but is a very valuable asset right now.  Don’t mess with what brought you here.  We, I can’t believe I’m saying it because it hasn’t been since the Kelly years are a high powered offense based on a very dynamic passing offense.  I would never give up Brown as of now.  Why?  Because he’s hurt.

[ColoradoBills]

4 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

We don’t know where we are year with Davis and Hodgins.  Davis has been a fourth WR, and done well.  That is very different than a #2.  These coaches and Mgmt will know to keep Diggs, Brown and Beasely.  Brown and Beasely are 30 and 31.  I know Brown is up after next year, and Beasely has one beyond that.  To get top flight WR’s at $9 mil, and $7.25 mil. Is another great deal for Beane.  Even Diggs who leads the league in receptions and targets, even with his escalation of his current contract (notice I said escalation as we didn’t increase his salary, we just moved it up for him) we still had a deal in our WR corps.

 

Davis and Hodgins could be our future, or not.  Drafting for even a HOF GM like Polian and Wolf believe they only hit around 57-58% lifetime for them.  I’m encouraged so don’t get me wrong, but I’m not giving up a fantastic tool for us in Brown.  If he gets extended as suggested for two years, that’s fine, and Beasely won’t be here after his contract.  Just roll with what you have and take you’re time developing the big guys.  They might end up #2 and #3 down the road, and Bills fans would be happy.  Keep McKenzie around as long as he remains this quick.  His speed will fade in a couple of years, but is a very valuable asset right now.  Don’t mess with what brought you here.  We, I can’t believe I’m saying it because it hasn’t been since the Kelly years are a high powered offense based on a very dynamic passing offense.  I would never give up Brown as of now.  Why?  Because he’s hurt.

 

Yep.  His leg will mend.  He's not a horse.

[GreggTX]

I doubt it. Bad move to let a quality WR go. If Knox continues to struggle, I can see us playing a lot of 4 WR sets in '21.

[GreggTX]

10 hours ago, SCBills said:

I think it’s only a question due to the same reason Milano is a question.... availability.  
 

Brown hasn’t been active/not hobbled since Week 3.  
 

I’m thinking we let Murphy/Kroft/Norman walk and then cut one of Butler/Jefferson to free up money with Star coming back.   Then I think we’ll re-sign Feliciano and Williams to keep the OL in tact.  That “could”, depending on the cap, leave a decision between Milano and Brown.  If it doesn’t - great! - but if it does.. would we rather sign Milano and potentially draft a Rd 1/2 speed WR or keep Brown and potentially draft a Rd 1/2 LB?  

I agree on Murphy and Norman. Kroft and Feliciano are fine as backups. I hope we keep Williams and sign/draft a G to push Ford. I don't much care if Lotulelei comes back or not. He is costing us way more than he's worth.

Edited December 13, 2020 by GreggTX

[Sharky7337]

12 hours ago, pigpen65 said:

Brown is awesome, and he's a big piece of the best recieving corps Buffalo had had since Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. It would be a terrible desicion to lose him. Theres lots of other places to save money if the need arrises, way before Brown.

In 2002 moulds and price both had 1200 yards josh Reed was the number 3 so i might say since then.

 

Edited December 13, 2020 by Sharky7337

[machine gun kelly]

5 hours ago, GreggTX said:

I agree on Murphy and Norman. Kroft and Feliciano are fine as backups. I hope we keep Williams and sign/draft a G to push Ford. I don't much care if Lotulelei comes back or not. He is costing us way more than he's worth.

Feliciano a back up?  Ford will be fortunate to start.  Boettger looks great and has been developed by this staff for two years.  Our O Line gave Allen so much time last week against a top 5 defense all year in SF.  The week before we ran for over 200 yards.  I completely understand Kroft, Murphy, Norman, and possible one of the defensive lineman.

[BarleyNY]

16 hours ago, YattaOkasan said:

I think it’s extensions for brown and Morse.  Make their salaries into a signing bonuses and give them a smaller salary on the extra year. Brown is not gonna get 9 mil with another team. Offer him 8 mil as a signing bonus and make his 2021 salary vet minimum with a 2022 salary of 5-6 mil. He would be under contact for 13-14mil for two years which is a bit of an overlay but works with cap things well (4mil in savings for 2021)

If Brown were to be extended I see it similarly.  He’s a speed WR who is 30 now so inking him to a new contract that - however long it is on paper - is really a 2 year deal makes a lot of sense.  I could see that happening and it would be a good move if the money is right.  I’d be good with that or having him play out his last season. 

 

Morse is not getting a real extension though.  He’s got two years left on his contract after this one, he will be 30 at the end of it and he’s already had 5 known concussions.  The only exception would be if the Bills restructured and/or extended his contract to lower his compensation and/or to move some of 2021’s cap hit out.  But that would not be done with the intention of keeping him around longer.  His current contract is so front loaded that his new money ($7.6M & $8.5M) is not has significant as his overall AAV numbers ($11.1M) are.  That might keep him here another season or two.  But his concussion risk is now high enough that I could see the Bills moving on as early as this offseason.  If not, then next.  If I’m Beane that’s what I’d do.

Edited December 13, 2020 by BarleyNY

[YattaOkasan]

13 hours ago, GreggTX said:

I agree on Murphy and Norman. Kroft and Feliciano are fine as backups. I hope we keep Williams and sign/draft a G to push Ford. I don't much care if Lotulelei comes back or not. He is costing us way more than he's worth.

You should care if Star comes back because he has like 0 cap savings if we cut him or he retired. And we would still need to replace him.