Possible McKenzie Replacement Bills sign Deonte Harty (formally Deonte Harris)

[MarkyMannn]

58 minutes ago, Einstein said:

Wow. Some of the Saints fans (his former team) are obliterating this signing.

 

 

Here are the comments from the 

 

"Already missed 23 games in 4 years due to injury and 3 to suspension. Not to mention the 9 fumbles in the games he did play. Buffalo did us a favor, we will break a table for em." - 44slayer

 

9 fumbles on 64 touches. Geez.....

 

Edit. 79 touches. 64 passing, 15 rushing. But still

Edited March 15, 2023 by MarkyMannn

[ngbills]

Just now, Warriorspikes51 said:

& prior to that? What did they miss since 2017? like a combined 3 games? 

Yeah but this how injuries typically work. When guys start getting banged up in their 30’s it generally gets worse not better. I love Hyde and Poyer as a tandem. It’s just at this point you need solid back ups. We don’t have anyone I trust on this roster and I can’t bank on them playing every week. 

Just now, MarkyMannn said:

9 fumbles on 64 touches. Geez.....

So confused by this move. 

[chongli]

3 hours ago, PetermansRedemption said:

So did he change his last name? I’m confused by the Harris Harty thing. 

 

Didn't read this entire thread, so someone may have already posted, but I found this:

 

https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/25/saints-deonte-harris-name-change-deonte-harty-nfl/

 

"Deonte Harris changes his legal name to honor his stepfather

 

New Orleans Saints All-Pro returns specialist Deonte Harris gave his stepfather a great Christmas gift on Saturday, announcing from his official Instagram account that he has legally changed his name to Deonte Harty. A sergeant in the Baltimore Police Department, Marlon Harty has been in Deonte’s life since he was 7 years old. Now he’s making a permanent move to honor someone who’s had a profound impact on him."

[newcam2012]

11 minutes ago, Jerboski said:

Seems like we overpaid from my view 

Seems like a big reach for speed. 

 

I don't get the pick up when the Bills have Hines as their special team returner. 

 

This guy can't stay healthy either at 5'6" 170. 

 

What a head scratcher pick and not exactly cheap either. 

[JohnBonhamRocks]

16 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Him and Hyde will miss games next year. And only have a couple years left. We need depth. 

Sure we need depth. Benford and a draft pick.

[FLFan]

4 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Maybe over a 3 course lunch.  There's not much to see.  He's had under 100 targets and had 2 seasons of single digit snap counts, max coming in at 36% once. 

 

I think some of the criticism may be related to the question of: is this guy better than McKenzie, who would play for a fraction of this guy will cost, or if he's just another receiver decision that doesn't work out (like Sanders, Crowder, Duke Williams, Foster, Andre Holmes, Beasley 2.0, "Smoke" 2.0....).

Yes, there is not much on the record to digest in evaluating this move for fans.  Personally, that is why i tend to trust to people who do this for a living and despite the girlish hysteria around here, have done it pretty damn well, as opposed to completely uninformed fan opinion from this board or any other.  The Bills needed upgrades at WR and this looks like an upgrade to me.  If it spells the end of MacKenzie on the Bills I am thrilled.  I have seen quite enough of him.  He is overpaid at any price, but particularly the $ 2.5 m he will be paid this year.  This guy will count another $1 m or so against the cap this year, which will be a bargain if he can actually play to his speed and hang on to the damn ball.  Well worth a shot in my opinion.  I hope the cut “Lil Dirty” today and spend that money on another useful player to fill one of our many other holes.   

[PBF81]

7 minutes ago, In Summary said:

You cannot question the commitment of the 90's Bills to OL.  

 

Or the DL and Front 7.   Smith, Hanson, Wright, Talley, Biscuit.  

 

That's much of my point here, almost all of our units were better back then.  Without any hesitation whatsoever, I'd swap out our OL, RBs, DL, LBs, even WRs.  

 

DBs are probably a wash as is TE.  Special teams were great back then, we don't have a Tasker on the team now.  

 

There are some other years since then that overall had better units too, OLs with Glenn, Wood, Levitre, I'd trade in a moment.  Some of our D backfields were better as a unit as well.  Same for our LBs, RBs for sure, and even WRs at times.  Gailey and Williams probably had the best, but they didn't have Allen.  

 

That's what Allen means to this team.  Put him on some of those overall better teams back then and IMO we wouldn't be talking about winning our first Championship anymore.  

 

Go BILLS!!!  

 

 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

If he was great he’d be a prime time player.

 

He’s a fringe NFL player because his size limits him.

 

Its delusional to think he comes here and becomes a Tyreek Hill kind of playmaker. 
 

Until further notice he’s in the pile of James Cook, Nyheim Hines, Isaiah McKenzie, guys that supposedly have the ability to take dump offs to the house, but the Bills in reality DON’T do that on offense. 
 

 

[Bray Wyatt]

14 minutes ago, MarkyMannn said:

9 fumbles on 64 touches. Geez.....

 

Edit. 79 touches. 64 passing, 15 rushing. But still

 

His fumbles were all due to muffed kicks, not when he was receiving or running the ball out of the backfield

[GreggTX]

Wake me up when we sign a good football player. Well, it's still early, but other teams are signing the good OL FA's and we're just signing backups so far. We'll just have to wait, I guess.

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, FLFan said:

Yes, there is not much on the record to digest in evaluating this move for fans.  Personally, that is why i tend to trust to people who do this for a living and despite the girlish hysteria around here, have done it pretty damn well, as opposed to completely uninformed fan opinion from this board or any other.  The Bills needed upgrades at WR and this looks like an upgrade to me.  If it spells the end of MacKenzie on the Bills I am thrilled.  I have seen quite enough of him.  He is overpaid at any price, but particularly the $ 2.5 m he will be paid this year.  This guy will count another $1 m or so against the cap this year, which will be a bargain if he can actually play to his speed and hang on to the damn ball.  Well worth a shot in my opinion.  I hope the cut “Lil Dirty” today and spend that money on another useful player to fill one of our many other holes.   

 

 

The point is that all of the guys I listed sure seemed like upgrades to McBeane when they signed them.

 

I get fans being down on McKenzie because of drops.  But he is a significant part of the Offense.  They would throw that away for a guy who for 4 years can hardly see the field:  he doesn't score, he doesn't get many 1st downs.  He's a sometimes return man.  The Bills already are paying Hines for this. 

[OldTimer1960]

8 minutes ago, PBF81 said:

 

Or the DL and Front 7.   Smith, Hanson, Wright, Talley, Biscuit.  

 

That's much of my point here, almost all of our units were better back then.  Without any hesitation whatsoever, I'd swap out our OL, RBs, DL, LBs, even WRs.  

 

DBs are probably a wash as is TE.  Special teams were great back then, we don't have a Tasker on the team now.  

 

There are some other years since then that overall had better units too, OLs with Glenn, Wood, Levitre, I'd trade in a moment.  Some of our D backfields were better as a unit as well.  Same for our LBs, RBs for sure, and even WRs at times.  Gailey and Williams probably had the best, but they didn't have Allen.  

 

That's what Allen means to this team.  Put him on some of those overall better teams back then and IMO we wouldn't be talking about winning our first Championship anymore.  

 

Go BILLS!!!  

 

 

Well, the salary cap started in 1994, that might have something to do with your observation that the Bills were better back then.

[GreggTX]

27 minutes ago, Jerboski said:

Seems like we overpaid from my view 

 

We overpaid McGovern too and by a LOT. Why are we throwing so much money at backups? I'm starting to have serious doubts about Beane's talent evaluation.

 

[OldTimer1960]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

The point is that all of the guys I listed sure seemed like upgrades to McBeane when they signed them.

 

I get fans being down on McKenzie because of drops.  But he is a significant part of the Offense.  They would throw that away for a guy who for 4 years can hardly see the field:  he doesn't score, he doesn't get many 1st downs.  He's a sometimes return man.  The Bills already are paying Hines for this. 

He caught 36 passes for 15.8 yard average in 2021 before being injured for most of last season.

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, OldTimer1960 said:

He caught 36 passes for 15.8 yard average in 2021 before being injured for most of last season.

 

yes

[NewEra]

11 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

If he was great he’d be a prime time player.

 

He’s a fringe NFL player because his size limits him.

 

Its delusional to think he comes here and becomes a Tyreek Hill kind of playmaker.

 

Until further notice he’s in the pile of James Cook, Nyheim Hines, Isaiah McKenzie, guys that supposedly have the ability to take dump offs to the house, but the Bills in reality DON’T do that on offense. 
 

 

Who are the delusional that are predicting he becomes a Tyreek Hill type of playmaker?

[ColoradoBills]

31 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

Am I right to feel that Harty is an attempt to upgrade on McKenzie at four, with Diggs, a newcomer and Davis above him? Cut McKenzie and there’s very little cap hit either.

 

He has pace and he seems to be pretty reliable with his hands which is a plus. The Saints fans don’t seem overly upset with his departure because of his injury record. Him staying healthy will be key as we have been able to call on McKenzie, more often than not.

 

Shakir is going to get a ton of snaps with the 1's this camp.  It will be a competition for the top 4 once my expected rookie gets drafted.

[Success]

19 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

Seems like a big reach for speed. 

 

I don't get the pick up when the Bills have Hines as their special team returner. 

 

This guy can't stay healthy either at 5'6" 170. 

 

What a head scratcher pick and not exactly cheap either. 

 

The injuries are mostly hammy - not size related.

 

And "speed" is no small thing.  We haven't had a guy who can truly stretch the field.

 

[PBF81]

5 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Well, the salary cap started in 1994, that might have something to do with your observation that the Bills were better back then.

 

OK, then default to my comments about the team under Williams & Gailey, and frankly many others for certain units of the team.  Don't leapfrog them.  

[John from Riverside]

4 minutes ago, GreggTX said:

27 minutes ago, Jerboski said:

Seems like we overpaid from my view 

 

We overpaid McGovern too and by a LOT. Why are we throwing so much money at backups? I'm starting to have serious doubts about Beane's talent evaluation.

 

Lol
McGovern got what $7 million whenever the going rate for starting guards was 10?

 

If they plan on starting him, they did not overpay

[Warriorspikes51]

35 minutes ago, Jerboski said:

Seems like we overpaid from my view 

 

already reported he had lots of interest from other teams.

[John from Riverside]

3 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Who are the delusional that are predicting he becomes a Tyreek Hill type of playmaker?

I swear to God, some of these people have voices in their head that tell them things who equivalent of this guy Tyreek Hill

[Royale with Cheese]

6 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

The point is that all of the guys I listed sure seemed like upgrades to McBeane when they signed them.

 

I get fans being down on McKenzie because of drops.  But he is a significant part of the Offense.  They would throw that away for a guy who for 4 years can hardly see the field:  he doesn't score, he doesn't get many 1st downs.  He's a sometimes return man.  The Bills already are paying Hines for this. 

 

He's not.  He was supposed to be but he wasn't.  I wanted him to be that guy.

[NewEra]

52 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

He's so bad he had to change his name...

 

13.5/2 for a guy with 64 catches in 4 seasons. 

 

Wizardry!

It’s 2-9.5-  if he hits the incentives to make 13.5, he will likely be worthy of the contract.  If he doesn’t- we can cut him after the season with not much dead cap.  Business as usual.  
 

it’s a one year roll of the dice in an offseason where there are very few good WR options to choose from.  I’d rather roll the dice on a one year salary midget then using a 1-3 rd pick on an unproven midget.  
 

I’m confidant that we’ll draft a bigger WR to add to the unit.  If we don’t, I’ll think it’s a mistake not adding one. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Who are the delusional that are predicting he becomes a Tyreek Hill type of playmaker?

I knew that would fire people up.

 

Nobody is saying he is Tyreek Hill.

 

But I listened to Sal Capaccio and Joe D and Jeremy White do their best to hype this up, as he is a Swiss Army knife kind of player.

Joe D said something like this is a player that the Chiefs would maximize.

 

He’s not.

 

He has 700 career receiving yards.

 

Like the one Saints poster said, small school guys who are fast but small are a dime a dozen.

 

The Bills couldn’t figure out how to get James Cook or Hines or McKenzie consistent touches in the pass game. I am highly skeptical he catches any meaningful volume of passes for this team. 
 

He’s proven that he is a borderline NFL player/practice squader.

[NewEra]

3 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

I swear to God, some of these people have voices in their head that tell them things who equivalent of this guy Tyreek Hill

the whiners and the cryers like to pretend and put words in others’ people mouths.  

[PBF81]

7 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Well, the salary cap started in 1994, that might have something to do with your observation that the Bills were better back then.

 

This is a good exercise to do, I'd run it if I thought it would generate fruitful discussion here, but I don't think it would.  

 

Write down the secondary of every team since 2000, the first year we missed the playoffs during our drought.  

 

Do the same for LBs, RBs, WRs, DBs, OL & DL.

 

Then compare them.  I think you'd be quite surprised how what we have today generally does not match up as well, again, generally.  

 

I'll do it if you want to discuss.  I just don't want to spend the time and get slammed about Beane by everyone out of the gate.  

 

But think about it, if that's true, why are we so good, at least during the regular season?  How good would we have been had we had the QBs that those coaches had?   Conversely, how good would their teams have been with Allen in them?  

 

 

[Mr. WEO]

4 minutes ago, NewEra said:

It’s 2-9.5-  if he hits the incentives to make 13.5, he will likely be worthy of the contract.  If he doesn’t- we can cut him after the season with not much dead cap.  Business as usual.  
 

it’s a one year roll of the dice in an offseason where there are very few good WR options to choose from.  I’d rather roll the dice on a one year salary midget then using a 1-3 rd pick on an unproven midget.  
 

I’m confidant that we’ll draft a bigger WR to add to the unit.  If we don’t, I’ll think it’s a mistake not adding one. 

 

I think it would be better to stick with the current midget. 

[MrEpsYtown]

Very interesting article and breakdown here: 

 

https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/3/15/23641315/contract-details-for-buffalo-bills-2023-signing-wr-deonte-harty-harris-salary-cap-new-orleans-saints

[NewEra]

Just now, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I knew that would fire people up.

 

Nobody is saying he is Tyreek Hill.

 

But I listened to Sal Capaccio and Joe D and Jeremy White do their best to hype this up, as he is a Swiss Army knife kind of player.

Joe D said something like this is a player that the Chiefs would maximize.

 

He’s not.

 

He has 700 career receiving yards.

 

Like the one Saints poster said, small school guys who are fast but small are a dime a dozen.

 

The Bills couldn’t figure out how to get James Cook or Hines or McKenzie consistent touches in the pass game. I am highly skeptical he catches any meaningful volume of passes for this team. 
 

He’s proven that he is a borderline NFL player/practice squader.

You knew it would fire people up because it’s a trash comment and has no relevance, because no one compared him to Hill.

 

it’s on Dorsey (and Allen) to use him properly.  I don’t think that has anything to do with the player.

 

it can be a 1 year 5M contract.  Could it be an overpay? Sure.  I’m not saying he’s a sure thing. If he was, he’d cost a lot more than what we’re paying him.  We’re paying for his potential, clearly.  If it doesn’t work out…. Beane poorly allocated 5M while trying to add speed.  

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

14 minutes ago, GreggTX said:

27 minutes ago, Jerboski said:

Seems like we overpaid from my view 

 

We overpaid McGovern too and by a LOT. Why are we throwing so much money at backups? I'm starting to have serious doubts about Beane's talent evaluation.

 

 

It's about finding FA with upside rather than Roger Saffold and Star Ukelele

 

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

I think it would be better to stick with the current midget. 

I like Dirty….. but I’m over it.  If we keep him, so be it.  I’m a big fan of what this kid can do, especially in our offense.  I’ve seen what dirty can do in our O and I think Harty is better.  

[freddyjj]

1 hour ago, Chaos said:

He had two receptions last year.  Is he a special teams guy only?

I believe he was only active for 4 of their first 5 games and then was put on IR with a Turf Toe injury for balance of the year.

https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/saints-place-deonte-harty-on-injured-reserve-during-a-flurry-of-saturday-transactions/article_dfa77f98-4bf8-11ed-bba0-6745bde1bc86.html

[Mr. WEO]

6 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

He's not.  He was supposed to be but he wasn't.  I wanted him to be that guy.

 

how is he not? He's 3rd  of WR and 4th overall in yards, had 5 TDs total, caught 65% of his passes (with the drops).  That's a chunk for WR3

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I like Dirty….. but I’m over it.  If we keep him, so be it.  I’m a big fan of what this kid can do, especially in our offense.  I’ve seen what dirty can do in our O and I think Harty is better.  

 

 i hear you, but when/how did you become a big fan of this obscure player?  About 9 am?

[Straight Hucklebuck]

15 minutes ago, NewEra said:

the whiners and the cryers like to pretend and put words in others’ people mouths.  

Same goes for the Bills truthers

[freddyjj]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I like Dirty….. but I’m over it.  If we keep him, so be it.  I’m a big fan of what this kid can do, especially in our offense.  I’ve seen what dirty can do in our O and I think Harty is better.  

Agreed as Harty's 2021 Highlights show him running digs, curls, Go routes and deep skinny posts that McKenzie doesn't.  Also have to believe with Gates' and McGovern's mobility we will see more WR screens using Harty as Saints used him for that too.  Also can run that little touch pass out of shotgun where WR comes across formation.  

 

So guessing Hines will do KO returns and Harty will be PR.

[gobills404]

1 hour ago, Airseven said:

 

You can't reason with the fluff fans. Everything is gold until it isn't.

You also can’t reason with grumpy old crybabies that have to give a negative opinion on everything 🤷‍♂️

[TheyCallMeAndy]

I could’ve swore he was a 4.35 guy, but he actually ran a 4.48

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, PBF81 said:

 

I read up in the thread someone said that Harty's a slot WR.  Not true?  

 

I'll be honest, I don't know much about him, but what's down isn't in the least impressive.  

 

If he's not slot, like Hodgins, then I see him getting even fewer targets.  

 

We'll see.  Again, the overreactions here to a guy that hasn't even average 20 ypg in three-plus seasons is ridiculous.  

 

We need a slot WR more than anything.  People were talking about Harty replacing McKenzie.  Not true?  I'm just going by what people have said, here, in this thread.  I don't see him being anymore than a 5WR, and that's a lot of bucks for that.  

 

What is a an indisputable fact is that Harty/Harris, whatever, was on a team entirely bereft of #1 caliber WRs.  If he were that good, I suspect he'd have done better.  

 

 

🤡 thanks for outing yourself. Gotta love the combo of ignorance and arrogance. Dunno anything about the signing, unsure what position he even plays, but youre smarter than Buffalo and all the other teams that were trying to sign.  Its shocking, but not every great player was drafted in the 1st rd, had gaudy stats early, or became stars on their first team.  Yet every year teams take chances on young players with boom potential, and every year teams are rewarded for it

[ngbills]

7 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I could’ve swore he was a 4.35 guy, but he actually ran a 4.48

So it’s even worse? Small, 4.48 guy, with injury history, limited numbers in a pass happy offense that gets creative, and we pay guaranteed money.