Voice of the Eagles Merrill Reese: the word is Bills are close to finalizing deal with Zach Ertz

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

2 hours ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

I agree and based upon what came out of OTAs and minicamp - the Bills are working on in-breaking routes and throws toward the middle of the field.  - those are throws Josh has been more hesitant to make (they got him in trouble as a rookie - especially against NE).  Those would include using the TE and RB as a safety valve - I would think.

 

Also please do not think that I hate Ertz because I think he would be the best TE the Bills have, but I think with Josh Allen as he is wired - you could give him Travis Kelce as a TE and our crappy 2018 WRs and he would still use the WRs at about a 5:1 rate compared to a HOF level TE - it is not hating on Josh as he is elite, but he is just wired to make plays and so far in his career from college on - WRs make plays.  TEs move chains and are critical inside the 5 yard line, but between the 10’s - the WRs is where the money is at.

 

Just curious as to where or how you saw video of what was done in mini camp?  Was there detailed columns or video posted someplace?  I'm not a big X and O's guy so if there were links here to the video or some in depth technical column, likely I'd have skipped looking at that anyway.

 

 

2 hours ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Honestly depending on pre-season - my guess would be Brenda takes the place of Yeldon and most weeks is sat.  The only difference is if Kumerow beats out Jones as a gunner and then Jones is cut.

 

I would expect 3 RBs active each week.

 

I also would not be surprised (depending on the Ertz situation) if Knox, Hollister, and Sweeney are the only active TEs with Hollister taking Gilliam’s ST role.

 

I do wonder if that will be different this year and go with 3 true RB's and either Jones or a Kumerow more as a ST guy.  Would seem to make more sense to have Kumerow in that role as could also fill role as extra WR  if needed as we appear to be more of a passing team than running.  Maybe instead of 3rd QB will go go with extra RB being active as Berida does provide a different role with speed.

 

 

2 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I personally like Kumerow and wouldn't mind if that happens.  He gives us that big WR redzone target and I think has sure hands.  

I hope Breida isn't sat just because I think we need that speed.  Teams that were aggressive coming after us up front, having Breida on a screen pass could be deadly.  Singletary let us down last year twice with drops.  The AZ game he would have walked into the endzone....and of course the AFCCG.  I think McDermott doesn't forget that.

 

 

Tony Gonzalez is 45 years old lol. 

This guy has been leading the parade of fill in the blank hate for whatever reason.

 

I fixed your post for you!

[fergie's ire]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

20 pages!!!  We did it everyone!!!!

Time to dig up a new Ertz rumor and get a new Ertz thread started?

[Blainorama5]

1 minute ago, fergie's ire said:

Time to dig up a new Ertz rumor and get a new Ertz thread started?

Don't be that guy.  😉

55 minutes ago, Draconator said:

Until Ertz is traded to Buffalo or any other team, this is what Ertz twitter talk has become for me...

 

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I'll still participate. I like pain.

Well frankly, it's all we have at the moment.  Beating the Ertz horse into b&w is still more compelling than trying to figure out who will make the team because they can play special teams.... 😜

[Doctor Duck]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

20 pages!!!  We did it everyone!!!!

When, oh when will we see the white smoke coming from the Tight End University Chapel??

[Putin]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

20 pages!!!  We did it everyone!!!!

20 pages that’s weak the goal was 50 I know we can do this. !!!

[Buffalo Boy]

Have we signed Ertz yet ?

[Rochesterfan]

21 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Just curious as to where or how you saw video of what was done in mini camp?  Was there detailed columns or video posted someplace?  I'm not a big X and O's guy so if there were links here to the video or some in depth technical column, likely I'd have skipped looking at that anyway.

 

 

 

I do wonder if that will be different this year and go with 3 true RB's and either Jones or a Kumerow more as a ST guy.  Would seem to make more sense to have Kumerow in that role as could also fill role as extra WR  if needed as we appear to be more of a passing team than running.  Maybe instead of 3rd QB will go go with extra RB being active as Berida does provide a different role with speed.

 

 

 

I fixed your post for you!

 

Right after camp and when they were showing the videos from OTA’s - may still be in the OTA thread - They talked about spending a lot of time working on in breaking routes toward the middle of the field.

 

Last year they spent a lot of time working timing on out breaking routes.  Josh even said in one of his interviews that the in breaking routes were one of his off season focus.  
 

 

 

I believe the RB and WR decision will come down to a few special teams things.  I think if McKenzie (McKittrick for laughs) wins the return job - both punt and kickoff - then that opens up a WR spot that someone like Kumerow could fill - which may allow them to get rid of Jones and have the 3 RBs active.  
 

It will also depend on TE and other RBs like Williams because if we trade for Ertz - you now potentially have 4 TEs minimum to keep on the roster and if Williams looks good at RB - he might push one of the other RBs down and therefore force other decisions.  All I know for certain is we have about 60-65 legitimate NFL caliber players and we are going to be cutting or trading guys that will make other rosters.  Our O-Line is about 11 players deep and a few like the rookies aren’t ready, but will need to make the team.  The DLine is the same way.  The WR room has Hodgkins, Kumerow, Stevenson- all sitting on the bubble and all have a legitimate place on a roster.  
 

I think the final 53 will (as usual) have a strong special teams flare, but I could also see a few young guys make the roster and push a few former key special teams guys off the roster.  Jones/Gilliam - I am looking at you - they might have to sacrifice some ST experience to keep some youth and talent.

[NobesBLO13]

6 hours ago, 4merper4mer said:

He changed his name to Phil and hid out for a while.  Then his head got squished.

You’re forgetting before that he changed his name to Frankie and moved to Vegas. Ended up working with a short guy named Nickie. But things went south, as they do, and ended up giving him the Mark Maguire treatment with aluminum bats. Yes…bats.

[The Wiz]

17 hours ago, DJB said:

 

 

Let's never let this die lol

Only 23 hours left. 

 

Beane sleeping behind the wheel. 

[Draconator]

6 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

Only 23 hours left. 

 

Beane sleeping behind the wheel. 

He's waiting until The Midnight Hour. 

 

We haven't seen any Beane After Dark (tm) action in a while. 

[Blainorama5]

Have we signed Ertz yet?

 

Just working towards that 50 pg goal....

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

At this point, can anyone confirm Reese's information was relayed by Dunkirk Don? 🤨🤔

Edited July 2, 2021 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[YoloinOhio]

New fantasy football team name: Diggs til it Ertz

[aristocrat]

this has to be the most complicated trade i have ever seen.

[Einstein's Dog]

2 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

this has to be the most complicated trade i have ever seen.

It's not the trade, it's the compensation.  

[Boxcar]

I just don't understand why the Bills would trade anything, period. The Eagles have zero leverage and will be forced to cut him. Seems at this point that they are either holding on out of spite or stupidity. Roseman is an idiot who is trying to get water from a stone.

[billsfan89]

4 minutes ago, Boxcar said:

I just don't understand why the Bills would trade anything, period. The Eagles have zero leverage and will be forced to cut him. Seems at this point that they are either holding on out of spite or stupidity. Roseman is an idiot who is trying to get water from a stone.

The only leverage is another team offering a better pick but I can’t imagine the market is all that hot. The Eagles are just making themselves look bad holding a player hostage for no reason.

[Milanos Milano]

2 hours ago, eball said:

In a sleeveless mini dress. 

[Boxcar]

7 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

The only leverage is another team offering a better pick but I can’t imagine the market is all that hot. The Eagles are just making themselves look bad holding a player hostage for no reason.

If that were the case it would've happened already. Teams would want to incorporate Ertz asap. This is a bad look for the Eagles. You don't treat one of your team's all time greats this way.

[BADOLBILZ]

17 minutes ago, Boxcar said:

If that were the case it would've happened already. Teams would want to incorporate Ertz asap. This is a bad look for the Eagles. You don't treat one of your team's all time greats this way.

 

 

If they think he has value in trade then I don't blame them at all.

 

My opinion is that his $8.5M salary is more than he would get on an awful open market for players........and that........combined with the awful season he had and his advancing age.......negates that trade value entirely.

 

But it only takes one team to see it otherwise.

 

They don't owe him his release and Howie Roseman just got them a SB trophy a few seasons back so I certainly wouldn't scrutinize Beane for tryna' get something for a fan-fave former stud TE if his stewardship had put a Lombardi in the trophy case at OBD.   

 

Roseman is just trying to make his team better...........I don't think he has asked or Ertz has offered money back after his very poor season last year.........this is logical, standard business, IMO.

 

Best case scenario for us Bills fans........they cut him and the Bills sign him as a UFA for A LOT less.

 

 

[Patrick Duffy]

16 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

Best case scenario for us Bills fans........they cut him and the Bills sign him as a UFA for A LOT less

Less likely Bills get him then though since he could go anywhere

[Einstein's Dog]

9 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

My opinion is that his $8.5M salary is more than he would get on an awful open market for players........and that........combined with the awful season he had and his advancing age.......negates that trade value entirely.

 

Best case scenario for us Bills fans........they cut him and the Bills sign him as a UFA for A LOT less.

 

 

I think salary opinion is a big issue.  Pegging the market value of Ertz is no easy task.  $8.5M seems reasonable to me.  J Smith just got $12.5 and Pitts $8.

 

I'm afraid if they cut Ertz the Bills won't survive the bidding war (see JJ Watt).  AZ and TN have dogmeat for TEs and money to spend.

 

Best case scenario for me is, Ertz to the Bills for a 7th and either Addison or Butler (then the Bills can go after Nelson).

[Patrick Duffy]

8 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

I think salary opinion is a big issue.  Pegging the market value of Ertz is no easy task.  $8.5M seems reasonable to me.  J Smith just got $12.5 and Pitts $8.

 

I'm afraid if they cut Ertz the Bills won't survive the bidding war (see JJ Watt).  AZ and TN have dogmeat for TEs and money to spend.

 

Best case scenario for me is, Ertz to the Bills for a 7th and either Addison or Butler (then the Bills can go after Nelson).

That would be great for Bills. I assume they want more than a 7th though.

[Rochesterfan]

23 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

I think salary opinion is a big issue.  Pegging the market value of Ertz is no easy task.  $8.5M seems reasonable to me.  J Smith just got $12.5 and Pitts $8.

 

I'm afraid if they cut Ertz the Bills won't survive the bidding war (see JJ Watt).  AZ and TN have dogmeat for TEs and money to spend.

 

Best case scenario for me is, Ertz to the Bills for a 7th and either Addison or Butler (then the Bills can go after Nelson).

 

13 minutes ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

That would be great for Bills. I assume they want more than a 7th though.

 

Agreed - especially if we are including Addison/Butler or asking them to retain salary.  In any of those cases - I am assuming Philadelphia would be looking for a significantly higher pick.

 

@Einstein's Dog - I guess my question would be if AZ and TN have money and would out bid the Bills - why wouldn’t they be in on a trade - especially TN.  If they are interested - they should be able to offer a similar pick - that most likely is lower in the round and not ask for Philadelphia to retain salary.  
 

If he is cut - Ertz gets his choice and could go to whatever team for whatever money - the Bills would have a better shot as we are contenders.  If it was strictly money - then I don’t want him - I want a guy who is willing to give his all to win - not because of a little more money with a worse team and QB. 
 

I do not hear rumors of any team (except the Bills) trying to trade for him - and I think most of the trade rumors are pure garbage.  I think the Bills tried to get him and when Philadelphia didn’t do it early - they moved on and will revisit once he is cut.  Many teams with space can make a much more attractive package in a trade than Buffalo - Buffalo has a bigger advantage in FA - at least based upon what I see.

Edited July 2, 2021 by Rochesterfan

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

New fantasy football team name: Diggs til it Ertz

Can't Knox that. 

[BADOLBILZ]

29 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

I think salary opinion is a big issue.  Pegging the market value of Ertz is no easy task.  $8.5M seems reasonable to me.  J Smith just got $12.5 and Pitts $8.

 

I'm afraid if they cut Ertz the Bills won't survive the bidding war (see JJ Watt).  AZ and TN have dogmeat for TEs and money to spend.

 

Best case scenario for me is, Ertz to the Bills for a 7th and either Addison or Butler (then the Bills can go after Nelson).

 

 

Yeah me citing "salary" was a poor choice of words......the actual issue is the cap hit.

 

Jonnu Smith signed a free agent deal that would average $12.5M (if he saw all of it)............but his cap hit in the distressed cap year of 2021 is a mere $5.6M.

 

Paying Ertz $3M more than Jonnu in 2021 isn't something many teams would do.......they appear to be going in different directions in their careers.

 

So you could "try" to re-structure Ertz......but he is a free agent next year.........he would have little incentive to sign a cheap extension to help out your cap.

 

If you trade for him you are probably using all of that $8.5M in cap space on him for just one season..........why should he take a pay cut in a scenario where he is traded and doesn't get to test the market?

 

I suppose it's possible but I also don't really see the Eagles taking on the salary of Addison or Butler in exchange for a 7th round pick.........the Eagles had the 3rd most sacks in the NFL in 2020.........DL is a strength.......they don't have a need to take on one of the Bills bad contracts there.    

 

A good portion of the reasoning to move Ertz is just to save cap room.

 

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by BADOLBILZ

[Patrick Duffy]

6 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

I do not hear rumors of any team (except the Bills) trying to trade for him

That's true, but a few will for sure pop up if he's cut. Also agree with you that there's nothing to the trade talks. 

[Draconator]

1 minute ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

Also agree with you that there's nothing to the trade talks. 

[4merper4mer]

5 hours ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

Is your opinion about him strictly because of the down season he and the whole Eagles team had last season? I assume it is since it's basically the only bad season he has had. Are you purposely not taking the horrible play of Wentz into account? I mean a pass catcher can only do so much when the one throwing the ball is playing so bad.

 

 

Did Wentz injure him, cause him to take so long to recover, ask him to go through the motions upon his return or jinx the connection with Hurts?  

[BADOLBILZ]

8 minutes ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

That's true, but a few will for sure pop up if he's cut. Also agree with you that there's nothing to the trade talks. 

 

 

Agreed, for $3.5M in 2021 I'd think he'd have multiple suitors that aren't remotely interested in trading for him for $8.5M.

[Putin]

3 hours ago, Buffalo Boy said:

Have we signed Ertz yet ?

Not yet check back when we get to page 36 

[US Egg]

.....maybe by then?

[Patrick Duffy]

38 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

Did Wentz injure him, cause him to take so long to recover, ask him to go through the motions upon his return or jinx the connection with Hurts?  

Wentz being awful at QB which is a big factor in how the WR/TE's impact throughout the season goes whether good of bad has nothing to do with the 1 down year? Also because he got injured and took too long to recover is why you say he sucks?

 

Doesn't make much sense to me

 

[section122]

I had a thought today....

 

I wonder if all of these ertz rumors are just a way to flush out the front office people with loose lips.  There were a ton of really negative stories last year from inside the eagles building.  I'm sure Pederson contributed his fair share but certainly was not alone.

 

Probably not but just something I came up with trying to figure out why this keeps popping up randomly.

[transplantbillsfan]

Trade prospects must be slowing down. This thread has fallen to the middle of page one...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Putin]

Man this deal is taking long time to get finalized .

Edited July 3, 2021 by Putin

[billsfan89]

I really wonder what the Eagles end game here is, they have to cut or trade him and by early July it isn’t likely they will see a big time shake up in the trade market. Just collect your pick and move on.

[Just Jack]

On 7/1/2021 at 8:50 PM, DJB said:

 

 

Let's never let this die lol

 

Less than 24 hours to go....

 

EDIT: Seems I made a mistake, I thought it said 1:18PM.  So that now makes it.... less than 2 hours left to finish the trade, as of the time I'm editing my post (11:57 PM 7-2-2021)

Edited July 3, 2021 by Just Jack

[4merper4mer]

33 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

I really wonder what the Eagles end game here is, they have to cut or trade him and by early July it isn’t likely they will see a big time shake up in the trade market. Just collect your pick and move on.

That is a little weird but it is probably because no one wants him.  That’s not a comment on his playing ability as much as it is his salary.  The Eagles probably don’t want to eat any of it but no team in their right mind is shelling out 8.5 for him.

[Cotton Fitzsimmons]

15 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

Can't Knox that. 

Come on McBeane… make it Ertz so good! 
Sometimes Knox don’t catch like he should.

Make it Ertz so good!

Edited July 3, 2021 by Cotton Fitzsimmons