Whether you like/agree with these extensions (Shakir/Bernard/Rousseau/Ferguson) or not…

[eball]

…it is once again very nice to see and be a fan of a professionally run organization.  Beane is getting all of his ducks in a row before the start of FA negotiations and the draft so he knows exactly what he’s working with, and he and his staff can focus their efforts on the next steps.

 

It’s great to know we have a team with a plan — even if that plan isn’t exactly what some of us would come up with ourselves.

 

[custcarcen]

  On 3/8/2025 at 8:53 PM, eball said:

…it is once again very nice to see and be a fan of a professionally run organization.  Beane is getting all of his ducks in a row before the start of FA negotiations and the draft so he knows exactly what he’s working with, and he and his staff can focus their efforts on the next steps.

 

It’s great to know we have a team with a plan — even if that plan isn’t exactly what some of us would come up with ourselves.

 

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And an owner that is willing to pay these guys upfront with cash now to allow BBB to get the job done.

[H2o]

Remember when we had to overpay for the Derrick Dockery's and Robert Royal's of the world? When we were talking up Keith Ellison and CJ Ah You? Thinking Shawn Merriman was our savior? 

[BuffaloBillyG]

For me, I liked 3 out of the four so far. But I want to see how it all plays out before judging how the rest of their plan unfolds. There are definitely layers to what an NFL front office does 

[VW82]

I agree with OPer from the standpoint that we can take more swings early in the draft knowing we don't need to draft for need, except perhaps at 1T. The core group is locked up. 

 

Further to above, I feel like Beane has done a better job with upside picks in the first few rounds than need/depth picks where we've swung and missed badly a few times. Perhaps that alone is worth the cost of the paying home grown, non-star players. 

Edited March 8 by VW82

[Augie]

I was hoping to see what a poll might look like. 😂 

 

I don’t know enough about market value by position, but I trust them with all this. I’m glad we are drafting, developing and rewarding our own good players. I just hope it pans out and the deals look fair because this is a gamble like everything else. Fortunately, I don’t fear that we have any Dareus types getting new deals. 

[billsfan89]

Good teams retain their own because you get a better deal negotiating against a player whose still under contract for another year (thus you are likely to take a lower deal to avoid getting hurt and tanking your value). The Bills are also not only getting these guys long term locked up on good value but they are also sending a positive message to the locker room that if you produce you will get taken care of.

[GunnerBill]

  On 3/8/2025 at 9:40 PM, billsfan89 said:

Good teams retain their own because you get a better deal negotiating against a player whose still under contract for another year (thus you are likely to take a lower deal to avoid getting hurt and tanking your value). The Bills are also not only getting these guys long term locked up on good value but they are also sending a positive message to the locker room that if you produce you will get taken care of.

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Yea that last point is a good one that I confess I am sometimes guilty of missing. Part of the Bills culture is do the right thing, earn it on the field, be a good pro and get your rewards. And that matters. And is likely why they can win 13 games in a re-set season. I want more elite talent, but it is fair to point out the importance for a team like Buffalo of that messaging to players and agents around the league. We are not Philly or Dallas or LA or one of the Jersey teams with NYC on the doorstep. We have show we are a desirable location.

[chris heff]

  On 3/8/2025 at 9:21 PM, BuffaloBillyG said:

For me, I liked 3 out of the four so far. But I want to see how it all plays out before judging how the rest of their plan unfolds. There are definitely layers to what an NFL front office does 

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What do have against Reid?

[NewEra]

Love Shakir’s and Rousseau’s contracts. Happy to have our long snapper back too.

 

Bernard’s- meh, it’s ok.  Was hoping for 8-9m a year.  He wasn’t great last season and injuries are a HUUUUUUUGE concern going forward.   Not a fan of play callers on the field being small and injury prone.  When injured, we lose our starting Mike AND the guy that makes the adjustments.  I figured he was a LOCK to be resigned because McD loves him-  I just don’t know how this is going to work out.  He was much better in 23 than he was in 24.  

[Dablitzkrieg]

And yet half of this board want the coach and gm fired

[ColoradoBills]

  On 3/8/2025 at 11:58 PM, NewEra said:

Love Shakir’s and Rousseau’s contracts. Happy to have our long snapper back too.

 

Bernard’s- meh, it’s ok.  Was hoping for 8-9m a year.  He wasn’t great last season and injuries are a HUUUUUUUGE concern going forward.   Not a fan of play callers on the field being small and injury prone.  When injured, we lose our starting Mike AND the guy that makes the adjustments.  I figured he was a LOCK to be resigned because McD loves him-  I just don’t know how this is going to work out.  He was much better in 23 than he was in 24.  

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It's $25M guaranteed.  I think Beane can get out of it after the 2nd year of the extension if need be.

[NewEra]

  On 3/9/2025 at 12:11 AM, ColoradoBills said:

 

It's $25M guaranteed.  I think Beane can get out of it after the 2nd year of the extension if need be.

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Yeah I know.  That’s what makes it ok.  If it were more I would dislike it

[BillsFan130]

  On 3/9/2025 at 12:11 AM, ColoradoBills said:

 

It's $25M guaranteed.  I think Beane can get out of it after the 2nd year of the extension if need be.

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Ya it sounds like it's basically a 2 year 25 million dollar deal . And then play it by ear after that 

[NewEra]

  On 3/9/2025 at 12:22 AM, BillsFan130 said:

Ya it sounds like it's basically a 2 year 25 million dollar deal . And then play it by ear after that 

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Definitely what it is.  I just don’t think his play last season warrants that much money.  He was good in a handful of games and average to below average the rest imo

[ColoradoBills]

  On 3/9/2025 at 12:22 AM, BillsFan130 said:

Ya it sounds like it's basically a 2 year 25 million dollar deal . And then play it by ear after that 

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What I am seeing is a lot of Beane's recent contracts are like this.

 

Take Spencer Brown.  Even after the 2026 salary guarantees that kick in next week, he still could dump the contract next year for $10M.

I'm just hoping he hits on a good percentage of these the way he did Spencer's.

 

[BobbyC81]

I think it would be fun to be able to make these decisions with someone else’s money.

[SoonerBillsFan]

  On 3/8/2025 at 8:53 PM, eball said:

…it is once again very nice to see and be a fan of a professionally run organization.  Beane is getting all of his ducks in a row before the start of FA negotiations and the draft so he knows exactly what he’s working with, and he and his staff can focus their efforts on the next steps.

 

It’s great to know we have a team with a plan — even if that plan isn’t exactly what some of us would come up with ourselves.

 

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I'm happy with what has been done so far.

 

It doesn't detract from what we need to do.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

  On 3/8/2025 at 9:16 PM, H2o said:

Remember when we had to overpay for the Derrick Dockery's and Robert Royal's of the world? When we were talking up Keith Ellison and CJ Ah You? Thinking Shawn Merriman was our savior? 

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Dockery couldn’t blockery 

[Wizard]

Shakir-A

Rousseau-B

Bernard-C+

Ferguson-B