Hopkins released by Arizona (7/16: signed by Titans)

[Thurman#1]

1 minute ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

considering the Bills are heavily interested and the player has openly expressed his love for the QB and franchise multiple times, I’d say there’s a real chance the front office finds a way. Especially if Josh Allen requests it…..and he very well could have given Hopkins comments on him and them following each other on social media

 

 

Well, let's agree to disagree.

 

I promise one thing, though. 

 

If we do sign him, there'll be another guy this fanbase just has to have, and they'll say we can just kick the cans down the road. If we sign him, there'll be another. It never stops.

 

ALWAYS another shiny object.

[Warriorspikes51]

2 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Totally agree, they won't break the bank for him and not pay him more than Diggs who would throw a fit

 

seriously? Diggs would be celebrating! No one else on this team scares defenses. It would mean more single coverage for him

1 minute ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Well, let's agree to disagree.

 

I promise one thing, though. 

 

If we do sign him, there'll be another guy this fanbase just has to have, and they'll say we can just kick the cans down the road. If we sign him, there'll be another. It never stops.

 

ALWAYS another shiny object.

we just want a Championship….

[Mike in Horseheads]

2 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

seriously? Diggs would be celebrating! No one else on this team scares defenses. It would mean more single coverage for him

[Thurman#1]

5 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

we just want a Championship….

 

 

Not me. I also want a chance at many. 

 

Surely his being cut makes it more possible, since we don't have to trade anything. 

 

But I think anyone who thinks Hopkins is going to give us a one-year cheapish deal is kidding themselves. I'd love to see it happen, but I think that likelihood approaches zero.

 

See ya on the boards.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by Thurman#1

[QCity]

13 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

The Rams added OBJ. The Eagles added AJ Brown. The Chiefs added Kadarius Toney. Every one of these additions ultimately changed the fortune of their team. IMO you're living in the past if you don't think adding a top tier WR can push a team over the hump. The Bills did it just 3 years ago and it revolutionized our offense.

 

Yeah, that's what got KC over the top. Kadarius Toney.

[SCBills]

15 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Well, let's agree to disagree.

 

I promise one thing, though. 

 

If we do sign him, there'll be another guy this fanbase just has to have, and they'll say we can just kick the cans down the road. If we sign him, there'll be another. It never stops.

 

ALWAYS another shiny object.

KC has to make decisions on how much to pay Kelce and Jones soon

 

CIN has to figure out what to do with an owner who struggles with liquidity and Burrow, Chase and Higgins all coming due

 

NYJ are kicking a ton of cap into future years with the Rodgers deal

 

MIA is doing the same with future cap and they gave up quite a bit of draft capital in the process 

 

BAL just signed OBJ to 4 void years to get him under the cap 

 

BUF isn’t exactly alone in having tough cap ramifications to deal with in the future.  I’d say KC has probably handled theirs the best of the bunch, but even they have two big ticket items coming up to take into account. 
 

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by SCBills

[FluffHead]

3 minutes ago, QCity said:

 

Yeah, that's what got KC over the top. Kadarius Toney.

He certainly made a big play in the big game at a big time 

[Warriorspikes51]

4 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Not me. I also want a chance at many. 

 

Surely his being cut makes it more possible, since we don't have to trade anything. 

 

But I think anyone who thinks Hopkins is going to give us a one-year cheapish deal is kidding themselves. I'd love to see it happen, but I think that likelihood approaches zero.

 

See ya on the boards.

 

 

cheapish deal no? Doable yes. 

[GoBills808]

5 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Not me. I also want a chance at many. 

 

Surely his being cut makes it more possible, since we don't have to trade anything. 

 

But I think anyone who thinks Hopkins is going to give us a one-year cheapish deal is kidding themselves. I'd love to see it happen, but I think that likelihood approaches zero.

 

See ya on the boards.

 

 

This roster as currently constructed has been to exactly zero Super Bowls. In fact they haven't even gotten close

 

[90sBills]

7 minutes ago, QCity said:

 

Yeah, that's what got KC over the top. Kadarius Toney.

They wouldn’t have won the SB without his punt return. 

[Mike in Horseheads]

2 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

This roster as currently constructed has been to exactly zero Super Bowls. In fact they haven't even gotten close

 

13 seconds

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

13 seconds

from the AFCCG

[Alphadawg7]

17 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

13 seconds

That wasn’t close, that was a loss in round 2 and would have had to play Cincy still who we have not looked against yet.  

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

56 minutes ago, FluffHead said:

He certainly made a big play in the big game at a big time 

 

Are you talking about the TD? Didn't Sky Moore make the exact same catch on the same route for a TD on the next series? I think that is proof that the Chiefs could have put any receiver out there and gotten the exact same result. 

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

But a team paying a signing bonus and the way the amortization works is a near-exact match to how credit cards work. You borrow the money? You have to account for it. Borrow enough money from future years and you'll destroy your freedom to spend in those future years.

 

The Saints did it every year until Drew Brees retired and then they took their medicine. It was never a problem for them in their elite QB window. Beane himself did it when he took over the Bills, spent 1-2 seasons tearing the roster down and getting the cap into good shape. This is a billion dollar operation with a cash-rich owner... they will figure it out. You're correct that some day we will need to account for previous spending but that day is much further into the future than you make it out to be.

 

The reality is that most teams only have about 5 players that really belong in the "core" of the team. The rest are guys that spend no more than 2-3 years on the team or guys on rookie deals. So spending future cap space on Hopkins is not going to drastically change the fundamental structure of the team. At worst it will merely push out some of those 2nd and 3rd tier guys that aren't in the long-term plans anyways. The core will remain.

 

For example by adding Hopkins I think it becomes almost impossible to extend Ed Oliver or Gabe Davis next year no matter how well they play. But neither of these players appear to be in our long-term plans regardless. They are caught in the same position that Edmunds was in last year. When you're paying a QB you can't pay above market value for average or lower production which is exactly what guys like Edmunds and Davis and Oliver end up securing in free agency. A player like Hopkins on the contrary is not easily replaceable and has legitimate season-changing production. Pushing out some of our roster's middle class in exchange for an upper class player is a net positive. That's the "poison pill" you're worried about.

[BillsShredder83]

6 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

My personal opinion after watching football for 40 years, Wide Receivers are never the missing piece and do not put teams over the top in winning championships.  All the wr trades and big signings through the years and very few have resulted in championships.  

 

High end wr who were released traded and never won a championship

 

Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter, Joey Galloway, Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, andre rison, Roy Williams, etc. etc.

 

Its usually the guys in the trenches who make the biggest differences and the WR are usually home grown on the championship teams.  I would be really careful about giving money to an older wr who is expecting to come in and automatically win just because.  Teams with those types of guys always seemingly get beat in the playoffs.  

we already have what we have. we invested heavily in the OL. kromer can work well with the room he has.... its not hard to look at our specific situation and see how hed put us over the top

 

if we were a team that didnt have diggs, sure signing him would be like the signings above... but a retooled OL, power and speed 1-2 punch RBs, knox should be able to run more routes, kincaid is going to draw a nickle corner or lb... upgrade to hopkins, and we get a major jump at the #2 spot, and a major bump at #3 with where gabe belongs. i dont care about any of the situations before. the effect he would have for the players already on the field is unmeasurable. diggs will run hog f**** wild

 

those situations are not this situation

6 hours ago, Herb Nightly said:

If Bills DO sign Hopkins: how many victories will he add? 1 or 2 or more?

One of my biggest concerns has been the lack of depth behind Diggs. 

Hopkins could keep the offense going if Diggs misses any games.

in the playoffs

[BillsShredder83]

5 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

this isn't the time of year to make those signings obviously.  

 

My point is that you cant put the organization in a bad position going forward to fit a large salary for a wr who looks to be on the decline and has had some issues.  Also these types of guys always think they are coming is as hero's and just expect to win...when it doesn't happen they are not good locker room guys.

 

on the flip side of that, he is the type of wr buffalo does not have, he is big and makes catches in difficult positions at odd angles and in traffic.  

 

I just personally think making adjustments to contracts to squeeze in 15+ million for a wr at his age is not a smart move.  It is a win now at all costs move however and if they feel they only have 1 or 2 more seasons with this group before they have to make some sort of major changes to the roster or staff I could sort of understand.

 

I think he ends up in baltimore and I kind of want that to happen so I can watch the ravens meltdown late in the year with a bunch of guys who seem only motivated by money.

where was the decline? having a killer season with 3rd string guys (3rd string on ARZ let alone)? dudes dominant, 100% prime plug n play for 2-3yrs. dunno we can keep him that long but PLENTY of tread on the tires, go watch the film

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Just wanting to win one now is your choice. Again, I totally disagree. Give me an exciting 15 years where we have a great chance. If that happens, we likely win one, maybe two or three or more. I totally disagree, but if that's your opinion, fine.

 

But yeah, personal finances are for the long-term. 

 

Thing is, so is football when you've a got a QB as young and terrific as Josh Allen.

 

And again, Beane does not agree with you. 

$5m dead in 2024 and 2025 is going to ruin us? Losing out on a Bates type player is our death knell?  STOP

[Alphadawg7]

50 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

The Saints did it every year until Drew Brees retired and then they took their medicine. It was never a problem for them in their elite QB window. Beane himself did it when he took over the Bills, spent 1-2 seasons tearing the roster down and getting the cap into good shape. This is a billion dollar operation with a cash-rich owner... they will figure it out. You're correct that some day we will need to account for previous spending but that day is much further into the future than you make it out to be.

 

The reality is that most teams only have about 5 players that really belong in the "core" of the team. The rest are guys that spend no more than 2-3 years on the team or guys on rookie deals. So spending future cap space on Hopkins is not going to drastically change the fundamental structure of the team. At worst it will merely push out some of those 2nd and 3rd tier guys that aren't in the long-term plans anyways. The core will remain.

 

For example by adding Hopkins I think it becomes almost impossible to extend Ed Oliver or Gabe Davis next year no matter how well they play. But neither of these players appear to be in our long-term plans regardless. They are caught in the same position that Edmunds was in last year. When you're paying a QB you can't pay above market value for average or lower production which is exactly what guys like Edmunds and Davis and Oliver end up securing in free agency. A player like Hopkins on the contrary is not easily replaceable and has legitimate season-changing production. Pushing out some of our roster's middle class in exchange for an upper class player is a net positive. That's the "poison pill" you're worried about.

Very well said, couldn’t agree more

[Chandler#81]

10 hours ago, NewEra said:

You never stop regurgitating the same things over and over and over and over and over and over in every thread.  
 

Hobbies are nice

Can we cut him? PLEASE??🙏

5 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

As I've said in another thread, it's great to want him here and figure out ways it could be done. But just because fans are comfortable with doing certain things and see a possible way to do it, doesn't mean Beane will be comfortable doing it and sees things the same way.

Thanks Dad.

🤦‍♂️

[Chandler#81]

5 hours ago, arcadia bob said:

Do know if he is still his agent,,,,Sorry if true i was told the wrong intel but I trust this guy maybe he's wrong

The article says he hired his lawyer -which could mean his BM. You still may be correct, imo.

Agent/BM/Lawyer? Gobbledegook jargon. The guy is his representative.

[Chandler#81]

5 hours ago, Fan in Chicago said:

I absolutely  loved this.  Let's make this happen.  Idc about mortgaging the future.  Make this our year,  go all in

I completely agree. After seeing ZERO League champions since we shut out the Chargers in back to back AFL championships, I want/need/can’t die until we win a Vince Lombardi Trophy. If it means the team completely dissolves immediately following the Downtown Super Bowl Parade, oh well🤷‍♂️ We’ll own a Lombardi and every member of the team and staff will never pay for another drink again.

GET IT DONE!

[newcam2012]

3 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

The Saints did it every year until Drew Brees retired and then they took their medicine. It was never a problem for them in their elite QB window. Beane himself did it when he took over the Bills, spent 1-2 seasons tearing the roster down and getting the cap into good shape. This is a billion dollar operation with a cash-rich owner... they will figure it out. You're correct that some day we will need to account for previous spending but that day is much further into the future than you make it out to be.

 

The reality is that most teams only have about 5 players that really belong in the "core" of the team. The rest are guys that spend no more than 2-3 years on the team or guys on rookie deals. So spending future cap space on Hopkins is not going to drastically change the fundamental structure of the team. At worst it will merely push out some of those 2nd and 3rd tier guys that aren't in the long-term plans anyways. The core will remain.

 

For example by adding Hopkins I think it becomes almost impossible to extend Ed Oliver or Gabe Davis next year no matter how well they play. But neither of these players appear to be in our long-term plans regardless. They are caught in the same position that Edmunds was in last year. When you're paying a QB you can't pay above market value for average or lower production which is exactly what guys like Edmunds and Davis and Oliver end up securing in free agency. A player like Hopkins on the contrary is not easily replaceable and has legitimate season-changing production. Pushing out some of our roster's middle class in exchange for an upper class player is a net positive. That's the "poison pill" you're worried about.

Fantastic post!

[TAinLack.]

2 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

I completely agree. After seeing ZERO League champions since we shut out the Chargers in back to back AFL championships, I want/need/can’t die until we win a Vince Lombardi Trophy. If it means the team completely dissolves immediately following the Downtown Super Bowl Parade, oh well🤷‍♂️ We’ll own a Lombardi and every member of the team and staff will never pay for another drink again.

GET IT DONE!

Yup, "Just Once In My Life" please!!!

[BarleyNY]

9 hours ago, BLizzyMeock said:

Pretty sure you are wrong.... Dead money for the NFL salary cap is guaranteed cash and bonuses for a player who no longer is on that particular team. The dead money comes from what the player was owed before the team decided to move on

 

Hopkins has no guaranteed money left on his contract. The dead money on Hopkins’ deal that AZ has to account for is due to money (signing bonuses) already paid to him but not accounted for on their cap. It has no bearing on any future contracts. 

[frostbitmic]

Bills can pay him minimum and we fans can open a Go Fund Me page and pay him ourselves.

 

Now for another episode of bad ideas at 7 AM.

[eball]

I was not a fan of trading for him, but now that he is a FA it changes the story.  It’s all about what $$$ he wants.  If he wants top-15 WR money or a long term deal it won’t happen.  If he will accept a deal like OBJ just signed it could work.

 

[DJB]

I don’t believe this but we are all clamouring for info

Edited May 27, 2023 by DJB

[Jrb1979]

In other news Kyle Okposo just re-signed with the Sabres and they also signed one of their top prospect defenseman. 

 

It's crazy to me that those two things happened and all the Buffalo sports media can talk about is Hopkins at a restaurant. 

[MasterStrategist]

6 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

The Saints did it every year until Drew Brees retired and then they took their medicine. It was never a problem for them in their elite QB window. Beane himself did it when he took over the Bills, spent 1-2 seasons tearing the roster down and getting the cap into good shape. This is a billion dollar operation with a cash-rich owner... they will figure it out. You're correct that some day we will need to account for previous spending but that day is much further into the future than you make it out to be.

 

The reality is that most teams only have about 5 players that really belong in the "core" of the team. The rest are guys that spend no more than 2-3 years on the team or guys on rookie deals. So spending future cap space on Hopkins is not going to drastically change the fundamental structure of the team. At worst it will merely push out some of those 2nd and 3rd tier guys that aren't in the long-term plans anyways. The core will remain.

 

For example by adding Hopkins I think it becomes almost impossible to extend Ed Oliver or Gabe Davis next year no matter how well they play. But neither of these players appear to be in our long-term plans regardless. They are caught in the same position that Edmunds was in last year. When you're paying a QB you can't pay above market value for average or lower production which is exactly what guys like Edmunds and Davis and Oliver end up securing in free agency. A player like Hopkins on the contrary is not easily replaceable and has legitimate season-changing production. Pushing out some of our roster's middle class in exchange for an upper class player is a net positive. That's the "poison pill" you're worried about.

For every "Saints" situation, you have the Steelers, Chiefs, Packers, etc.  Id list NE but theyre a different breed with the GOAT and best coach.

 

Teams that didn't mortgage their future, won at least 1 title and had competitive teams year in and year out.  Btw, how many titles did the Saints win?

 

You can disagree with Beanes philosophy, but he said his 1st press conference that he intends to have 1 eye in the now and 1 toward the future.  Building a consistently competitive team.

 

Hitting on the draft is critical, and being smart with his spending.  That's been his focus.  

 

Oliver and Davis could very well be in our plans beyond this season. Beane has stated that, unprompted, but obviously the price has to match the value.  

 

 

[FluffHead]

6 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

Are you talking about the TD? Didn't Sky Moore make the exact same catch on the same route for a TD on the next series? I think that is proof that the Chiefs could have put any receiver out there and gotten the exact same result. 

No. Talking about the punt return that essentially ended the game 

[DJB]

 

[SoCal Deek]

47 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

In other news Kyle Okposo just re-signed with the Sabres and they also signed one of their top prospect defenseman. 

 

It's crazy to me that those two things happened and all the Buffalo sports media can talk about is Hopkins at a restaurant. 

Sadly, the Sabres have beaten me into a position of perpetual apathy. Is Okposo that big of a story? I’d liken that to the Bills re-signing a veteran special teams gunner. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by SoCal Deek

[transient]

23 minutes ago, DJB said:

 

It’s the zubaz… the pattern on the pants is flattering on the crotchal region… it’s reported why Bills mafia wears them. 

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, eball said:

I was not a fan of trading for him, but now that he is a FA it changes the story.  It’s all about what $$$ he wants.  If he wants top-15 WR money or a long term deal it won’t happen.  If he will accept a deal like OBJ just signed it could work.

 

 

Agreed on the money. That’ll be interesting. I wonder what Hopkins was asking for from teams wanting to trade for him. His contract would’ve been tough to fit into any decent team’s cap. Was he asking for a bump up? Would he have played for the same money with a restructure? Was he looking for additional years or guarantees? I expect him to go to the highest bidder among playoff caliber teams. With the highest bidder being the best combo of guaranteed money and expected income. I don’t know where this will land, but I think it’ll take a payout of at least $30M over two years - with most/all of that guaranteed - just to get his agent talking. Structure would make it look like a bigger deal to spread out the cap hits though. 

 

Signing Hopkins isn’t without risks.  His age and PED suspension are both concerning. But it’s probably a risk worth taking for the Bills and this regime. Beane and McDermott likely have two seasons to show progress and earn extensions so Hopkins would fit in to that very nicely. Time for them to push in all their chips. 

[MikePJ76]

7 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

The Rams added OBJ. The Eagles added AJ Brown. The Chiefs added Kadarius Toney. Every one of these additions ultimately changed the fortune of their team. IMO you're living in the past if you don't think adding a top tier WR can push a team over the hump. The Bills did it just 3 years ago and it revolutionized our offense.

I am not living in the past.  I am pretty factually stating these big wr trades and signings rarely lead to a championship.  Its almost always the play of the team in the trenches improving.  You win up front.  

 

OBJ was not some amazing addition that made the rams unstoppable.  It was stafford.  They had the defense and the running game.  Same thing with the AJ Brown addition.  The eagles had the best offensive line in the league and their defensive line was pretty fantastic also.   

 

Adding toney to this kind of odd. He is not the caliber of player any of these guys are and the chiefs would have won last year with any number of guys playing his spot.  They also are not paying him a fortune nor did they give up big draft capital for him.  

 

No matter what happens to me if the bills take the next step it is going to be because of the offensive line play was better, they run the ball more traditionally and are able to execute in the redzone because of it better.  Having a healthy defense and then some plain old fashion luck that every champion has.   

 

there is also the situation here with diggs.  There is only one ball and with kincaid and some other new wr to work with if the ball is not going his way enough and you lose a few tight games he is going to make things uncomfortable for everyone and draw a lot of attention.  The last thing Josh Allen needs is diggs and hopkins blaming Josh Allen for losing the way all these egomaniac wr do. 

 

If Brian Daboll was still here I would be more inclined to want them to go do this because I know he can handle all the personalities and would effectively use everyone within the offense.  He was the best coach on the staff.  I am not so sure the current staff can handle all these personalities.  The last thing any team wants to be doing during a season is fighting itself all year.  

 

So again I think they have enough on offense to win, if the line is as improved as it seems it can be I think the backs, tight ends and wide receivers here now are good enough to win each week.

[Jrb1979]

18 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Sadly, the Sabres have beaten me into a position of perpetual apathy. Is Okposo that big of a story? I’d liken that to the Bills re-signing a veteran special teams gunner. 

It's not a huge story but it is an actual signing. My point was that the Sabres did something, you have the NhL playoffs going on and MLB going. In Buffalo the biggest sports media story is about a football player at a restaurant in Buffalo. 

[Htt2821]

42 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

For every "Saints" situation, you have the Steelers, Chiefs, Packers, etc.  Id list NE but theyre a different breed with the GOAT and best coach.

 

Teams that didn't mortgage their future, won at least 1 title and had competitive teams year in and year out.  Btw, how many titles did the Saints win?

 

You can disagree with Beanes philosophy, but he said his 1st press conference that he intends to have 1 eye in the now and 1 toward the future.  Building a consistently competitive team.

 

Hitting on the draft is critical, and being smart with his spending.  That's been his focus.  

 

Oliver and Davis could very well be in our plans beyond this season. Beane has stated that, unprompted, but obviously the price has to match the value.  

 

 

They won 1 SB, which is the goal and I want. 

[MikePJ76]

8 hours ago, SACTOBILLSFAN said:

Mike watches football and thinks it’s the 80s. There’s a reason WRs are now the most sought after recruits (outside of OTs due to scarcity) in college and why their price tags are skyrocketing in the NFL. 

I am well aware of what decade it is and where the nfl is at.

 

Until I see proof that adding veteran star wr is the key move in winning championships I am going to continue to be skeptical.  I do not care what era of football you are talking about its almost always about the quarterback and the offensive and defensive lines.  Buffalo has one of the best wr in the league in Diggs.  I just don't see signing hopkins as the thing that puts them over the top.

 

Like I said before in another post though,  he has the skillset that the bills do not have.  Big Bodied, great hands, tough catch guy with a huge radius.  He can make all the amazing plays and if you put the ball on him or near him he is catching it.  So if they do sign him and he and diggs can be comfortable with each player getting different amounts of targets each week and share the spotlight it could be the leagues most dangerous duo.

 

It just seems to me that the offseason hype that comes with this move never actually materializes into on field results.  Time and time again big time wr have moved and it just fizzles out or comes up just short like owens in philly and moss in new england.  

 

I just want them to win.

[Shemp]

There are things I'm concerned about if the Bills get Hopkins. How many ways can you split the rock? The Bills already have Diggs, Davis, Shakir, Sherfield, Hardy, Shorter, Knox, Kincaid, Cook, Harris, Hines, Murray and more, not to mention Allen who likes to hang onto the ball. Will Diggs be P-Oed that the Bills would be getting someone who might take away from his touches? It would be an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side, but wouldn't the Bills be better off to invest more on the defense, which have been gashed by the elite teams?