Darius Slay claimed on waivers by Buffalo

[Albany,n.y.]

1 hour ago, Maynard said:

So what’s ol’ Slay up to these days? 

Playing Madden with him on the Eagles.  

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

WEO, I don't totally disagree with you.

 

I think the inability of the receivers to get open most times (definitely not all) and the progressions Brady wants Allen to go through have had an detrimental affect* on his sack numbers, as well.

 

 

(* Yes, people, I am using it correctly.)

 

 

The WRs last year were that much better at getting separation?  Which ones?

[JP51]

On 12/6/2025 at 3:26 PM, HOUSE said:

I completely understand how Slay would pick the warmer weather in Philadelphia over Buffalo

The guy should sell used cars and give up football..

and clearly needing warmer weather than Philly, he moved to the Port St.  Pittsburgh Keys.... sounds like a dude who is pouting and ready to pull a Vonte Davis... 

[Einstein's Dog]

On 12/6/2025 at 3:26 PM, HOUSE said:

I completely understand how Slay would pick the warmer weather in Philadelphia over Buffalo

The guy should sell used cars and give up football..

I would hope the league gives out a penalty to Philly (+maybe Rosenhaus).  What a joke of an excuse.  

 

What they did is not what the waiver process is about.  You are not supposed to be able to slide out of one team over to a contender of your choice because that other team has a need.  No one (outside of Slay/Rosen) want the process to work that way.

 

The fact that their little stunt cost the Bills roster moves should be relevant to the penalty assessed.  I am hoping the Bills are processing this complaint through the league channels.

[Paup 1995MVP]

On 12/6/2025 at 3:55 PM, Tanoros said:

Has the O-line performed worse this year than last? Yes, it has. That’s not a revelation, it’s a reality across several areas of the offense. But even with regression from last year’s elite standards, the Bills’ O-line is still performing at a top-tier level relative to the rest of the NFL. That part hasn’t changed.

 

I want to remind you why I originally responded: you said, “When the O-line is healthy they are bad at pass protection.” That was a bold claim, and it simply wasn’t supported by any available data. Since then you’ve shifted the goalposts to, “Well, the O-line isn’t as good as last year,” which is true, but irrelevant to your original statement. The discussion wasn’t about this year vs last year. It was about whether this line is “bad” at pass protection. The evidence says it isn’t.

 

And if we’re talking about the passing offense struggling this season, the O-line is one of the last places to look. There are multiple, far more plausible reasons:

• Joe Brady’s inconsistency

• lack of top-end receivers

• missing Kincaid and Palmer

• Beane’s overall WR room construction

• and yes, Allen himself at times

 

It’s not a mystery the pass game hasn’t reached expectations. But reaching for the O-line, one of the clear strengths of the roster, as the culprit simply doesn’t make sense. If anything, the O-line (in both run blocking and pass protection), Cook, and Allen (to be clear, Allen has had his moments which is why I noted him above too) have been the stabilizing forces of the offense while everything around them has fluctuated.

 

At this point, it’s fair to simply acknowledge that your original claim,  that the O-line is bad at pass protection when healthy,  was inaccurate. That’s why I responded in the first place: because it was an extreme statement that didn’t align with anything objective. Frustration with the broader offense is understandable, but attributing that frustration to the one unit that consistently grades near the top of the league is not.

 

We can disagree on interpretations, but we can’t ignore what the data shows. And the data has not supported your position from the start.

The O line was lousy in pass protection against the Texans.  But that was also because our receivers could not get any separation whatsoever, and the play calling and scheme that game was also bad.  Overall, the O line is hardly the problem with the passing game.  (Vandemark played lousy at RT last week, causing Josh to get out of the pocket on several occasions.  But he is a back up.  And nothing to write home about as far as back ups are concerned anyways.)  The problem with the passin game is  that our WR's are just not very good.  And the route combinations we run are not deep enough, and do nothing to help get our receivers open.

 

You can still have a pretty strong passing game, and a mediocre to poor O line.  Look at Tampa last night.  Baker was getting pressured a lot, and took several sacks, but also hit a lot of passes down the field, because he has good receivers who can get open based on skill and scheme.(Evans, Godwin, Ebuka and McMillan)

 

When healthy our O line is top 5 in the league when you combine pass protection and run blocking, which we are excellent at.

[dollars 2 donuts]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

The WRs last year were that much better at getting separation?  Which ones?

 

 

Yeah, I didn't bring that up.  You just did.

 

I also didn't say I was fully on board with you.  

 

I just stand by what I posted and what I mean for this year.

 

I don't need something to be so different from year to year to give a reason of why it is different from last year as opposed to now.  

 

It just is different...and he is, and I think it is a combination of both things I brought up.

 

These are humans, not computers.  It isn't always going to be the same just because it looks sort of the same.

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by dollars 2 donuts

[Mr. WEO]

13 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

Yeah, I didn't bring that up.  You just did.

 

I also didn't say I was fully on board with you.  

 

I just stand by what I posted and what I mean for this year.

 

I don't need something to be so different from year to year to give a reason of why it is different from last year as opposed to now.  

 

It just is different...and he is, and I think it is a combination of both things I brought up.

 

These are humans, not computers.  It isn't always going to be the same just because it looks sort of the same.

 

 

 

You mentioned the inability of the WRs to get open (ie separation).  Others have also brought up the WRs as a reason the numbers are starkly different from last year.  But the WRs aren't materially different from last year, so it's not clear how this would now be a significant factor as to why Josh's sack and pressure numbers are up, despite him having career highs in accuracy (bad throw %, on target% and drop%).  

 

I agree sacks are the result of several variables, but the difference in this year's WR performance and last year's doesn't seem to be a significant one.

[Alphadawg7]

Wait - this thread still continues without any new news on it?  Lol 

 

I mean this story really isn't even a big deal.  These guys take a beating to play this game and more so as their bodies age.  At 34, rich, successful, with a ring the motivation to play has to come from somewhere.  So moving to a team midseason where you don't know the playbook, aren't familiar with the defense, have no connections, etc may not be worth everything he has to put in to play at a level he expects of himself.  No surprise at all that he would really only want to go some place familiar or retire.

 

So who really cares about this.  If I was in his shoes I would probably feel the same way to be honest.  To be away from his family too, man you need to really want to do this still and be some place that you want to be at this stage in his career.  

[dollars 2 donuts]

42 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

You mentioned the inability of the WRs to get open (ie separation).  Others have also brought up the WRs as a reason the numbers are starkly different from last year.  But the WRs aren't materially different from last year, so it's not clear how this would now be a significant factor as to why Josh's sack and pressure numbers are up, despite him having career highs in accuracy (bad throw %, on target% and drop%).  

 

I agree sacks are the result of several variables, but the difference in this year's WR performance and last year's doesn't seem to be a significant one.

 

 

Respectfully, WEO, (and I am not trying to be a jerk, standoffish or play with words) because the receivers are close to the same doesn't mean it, or they, are the same as they were last year.

 

As I stated earlier, but more specifically now, as Josh sits entrenched in 2 years of Brady I think he goes through things differently, or locks in to a certain way of thinking, when he is back there which wasn't necessarily the case earlier in his career.  I also think the same receivers are a little different, as are the way defenses play against them

 

Full well I 100% admit I have NOTHING to back this up.  It is just the smell test associated with it.

 

We can analyze numbers, which we do all the time.  However, it is harder to analyze people.  

 

I do put some of this on Josh, whose pluses absolutely dwarf the issue.  

 

However, that doesn't mean it is not going on.

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by dollars 2 donuts

[Einstein's Dog]

13 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Wait - this thread still continues without any new news on it?  Lol 

 

I mean this story really isn't even a big deal.  These guys take a beating to play this game and more so as their bodies age.  At 34, rich, successful, with a ring the motivation to play has to come from somewhere.  So moving to a team midseason where you don't know the playbook, aren't familiar with the defense, have no connections, etc may not be worth everything he has to put in to play at a level he expects of himself.  No surprise at all that he would really only want to go some place familiar or retire.

 

So who really cares about this.  If I was in his shoes I would probably feel the same way to be honest.  To be away from his family too, man you need to really want to do this still and be some place that you want to be at this stage in his career.  

If he didn't want to play he could have just retired. 

 

But no, he thought he could get the same amount of money playing in a place where he preferred to go.  And Rosenhaus arranged it.  When it didn't go as planned, Slay quit.  Pretty cut and dry tampering if you ask me.

  

Hell, people here were upset Beane didn't go and talk to find out if Slay would play here - which is not the way this is supposed to work.

 

Do you think it would be alright if Cincy now waived Flacco because they had assurances that the Chargers would pick up his contract?

[DC Greg]

32 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Wait - this thread still continues without any new news on it?  Lol 

 

I mean this story really isn't even a big deal.  These guys take a beating to play this game and more so as their bodies age.  At 34, rich, successful, with a ring the motivation to play has to come from somewhere.  So moving to a team midseason where you don't know the playbook, aren't familiar with the defense, have no connections, etc may not be worth everything he has to put in to play at a level he expects of himself.  No surprise at all that he would really only want to go some place familiar or retire.

 

So who really cares about this.  If I was in his shoes I would probably feel the same way to be honest.  To be away from his family too, man you need to really want to do this still and be some place that you want to be at this stage in his career.  

 

The "big deal" about this is that we lost Ingram for no reason because of it.

[thenorthremembers]

35 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Wait - this thread still continues without any new news on it?  Lol 

 

I mean this story really isn't even a big deal.  These guys take a beating to play this game and more so as their bodies age.  At 34, rich, successful, with a ring the motivation to play has to come from somewhere.  So moving to a team midseason where you don't know the playbook, aren't familiar with the defense, have no connections, etc may not be worth everything he has to put in to play at a level he expects of himself.  No surprise at all that he would really only want to go some place familiar or retire.

 

So who really cares about this.  If I was in his shoes I would probably feel the same way to be honest.  To be away from his family too, man you need to really want to do this still and be some place that you want to be at this stage in his career.  

 

It sets a terrible precedence.  Rules are in place for a reason.  When people start to circumvent them, then you get an entire league of players wondering who the rules apply to or not.

 

The last thing you want is players having so much power that they force themsleves onto teams they'd prefer to play for in the middle of the season.   The Browns wouldn't have a roster.

[Kelly to Allen]

34 minutes ago, DC Greg said:

 

The "big deal" about this is that we lost Ingram for no reason because of it.

 

I don't think Ingram matters man. He's just not a real answer at cb. 

 

But I understand your point 

Edited 1 hour ago by Kelly to Allen

[Charles Romes]

Wonder if there is anything stopping us from restructuring Slay and others to give Slay a big pile of cash in order to encourage him to join the team. He’s probably a better option than any street free agent at this point, and with Benford out again we are approaching a situation similar to the AFCCG. 

[Ralonzo]

8 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

Wonder if there is anything stopping us from restructuring Slay and others to give Slay a big pile of cash in order to encourage him to join the team. 

 

Oh HELL no. What kind of precedent does THAT set?

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Wait - this thread still continues without any new news on it?  Lol 

 

I mean this story really isn't even a big deal.  These guys take a beating to play this game and more so as their bodies age.  At 34, rich, successful, with a ring the motivation to play has to come from somewhere.  So moving to a team midseason where you don't know the playbook, aren't familiar with the defense, have no connections, etc may not be worth everything he has to put in to play at a level he expects of himself.  No surprise at all that he would really only want to go some place familiar or retire.

 

So who really cares about this.  If I was in his shoes I would probably feel the same way to be honest.  To be away from his family too, man you need to really want to do this still and be some place that you want to be at this stage in his career.  

I think it has new life because of Benford's toe. Bills will be down to just two boundary CBs if Benford can't play. Ingram was not good but he at least knew the defense. Slay was a veteran who could have come in and played if needed.

 

[Pete]

4 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I think it has new life because of Benford's toe. Bills will be down to just two boundary CBs if Benford can't play. Ingram was not good but he at least knew the defense. Slay was a veteran who could have come in and played if needed.

 

And not having Ingram.  Bills are already down 1 DB

[atlbillsfan1975]

5 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I think it has new life because of Benford's toe. Bills will be down to just two boundary CBs if Benford can't play. Ingram was not good but he at least knew the defense. Slay was a veteran who could have come in and played if needed.

 

Not good is being kind. He was brutal. He played a ton of ST’s and McD maybe liked his work ethic. 

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, thenorthremembers said:

 

It sets a terrible precedence.  Rules are in place for a reason.  When people start to circumvent them, then you get an entire league of players wondering who the rules apply to or not.

 

The last thing you want is players having so much power that they force themsleves onto teams they'd prefer to play for in the middle of the season.   The Browns wouldn't have a roster.

 

What rules did he violate?  He was released, doesn't want to play for the team who picked him up, so he is not.  No rules violated

1 hour ago, DC Greg said:

 

The "big deal" about this is that we lost Ingram for no reason because of it.

 

But that is the risk you take when you claim a guy off waivers.  Same risk any one takes.  When the guy is on waivers, there is a reason.  It is not Slay's fault at 34 he doesn't want to start over mid season some place he doesn't know when he neither needs the money or the ring.  

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, Einstein's Dog said:

If he didn't want to play he could have just retired. 

 

But no, he thought he could get the same amount of money playing in a place where he preferred to go.  And Rosenhaus arranged it.  When it didn't go as planned, Slay quit.  Pretty cut and dry tampering if you ask me.

  

Hell, people here were upset Beane didn't go and talk to find out if Slay would play here - which is not the way this is supposed to work.

 

Do you think it would be alright if Cincy now waived Flacco because they had assurances that the Chargers would pick up his contract?

 

Slay can do whatever he wants.  He knew that any team could claim him on waivers when he asked for his release from the Steelers just like he knew that if he cleared waivers he could go to Philly.  He decided to flip that coin hoping his age and down year would maybe allow him to slip through waivers.  And it didn't so he was prepared to retire rather than report if that happened.

 

That is his full right as a player to do that.  If you want to mad at someone, be mad at the system.  But if you change the system then you allow players to manipulate it by informing teams not to claim him or he will retire rather than report so he can clear and go where he wants.  I mean every player would say that so they could pick their next destination if they know they have options.  

 

So it has to be this way - every team KNOWS this when they claim a player.  For Slay, his preference was finish the season out in Philly or just retire rather than stay in Pitt or go someplace else late in the season.  People need to get over it.

 

One thing I would say though is that the NFL needs to change the rules to where the team can get back their player if the claimed player refuses to report in the first 24 hours.  So Ingram should have to wait 24 hours before his official release to first confirm the claimed player is reporting.  And if that player chooses NOT to report, then the team keeps the player they were going to release AND also still holds the RIGHTS to the claimed player.  And if that player later decides to report, the team then has 24 hours to either accept them onto the roster and then release someone, or waive the rights and player all together officially making them a FA if the team no longer wants them.

 

That should be the rule and NONE of this would ever happen.