Paying the Wrong People

[wagne591]

I for one thought Beane was doing a good job in the beginning of his tenure but not so much as of late.  Here is my list of why Beane screwed up and why both he and McD need to go.

1.  Both are great coaches/GM but as time goes by so does your window of opportunity.  As McD said after the Texans game about this roster, he said that while he “loves these players,” he admitted the team doesn’t have what he considers a “super-Bowl-caliber” roster. That is on Beane and paying all the wrong players. I mean look at the guys he signed this year alone:

 Bosa DE (was killing it but we all knew he would get hurt eventually and miss some games, which he is at the most crucial part of our schedule)

 Palmer WR (signed a three year deal and was the forth/fifth receiver with the chargers so far he has played 8 games and has 18 catches for 272 yards 0 TDs)

 Hoecht DE great signing for the game and a half he played was impressed but was suspended the first six games played a little in Carolina and was killing it against KC then got hurt and is out for the season.

  Ogunjobi DT suspended first six games now playing but probably our worst DT on the roster. 

 

Honorable mention Curtis Samuels last year 14 games (only started 2) for 31 catches 253 yards 1 TD; 2025 6 games 0 starts 7 catches 81 yards 1 TD.  and we gave that guy $24M for 3 years.  

  

2.  Signing the guys he drafted instead of signing players that will help.  

Here is a list of players Beane Drafted then signed to big contracts:

 Josh Allen - Franchise QB drafted 2018 (best move Beane ever did)

 James Cook - RB drafted 2022 (great move but almost lost him to free agency because Beane didn't want to pay him)

 Khalil Shakir - WR, drafted 2022 (average WR probably paid too much for him 5yr $56M)

 Christian Benford - CB, drafted 2022 (probably paid him market value 6yr $69M)

 Greg Rousseau - DE, drafted 2021 (overpaid for a 5 sack a year guy who never got better, 4yr $80M)

 Terrel Bernard - LB, drafted 2022 (overpaid, 4yr $42M)

 

IMO only 2 of these contracts make sense (Allen, Cook); I can live with 2 (Shakir, Benford); and two I could have done without and used that money somewhere else (Rousseau, Bernard).  Bernard is small and gets washed out of a lot run plays, Shaq Thompson makes our Defense way better for only 1.25 million this year.  He is bigger stronger and better against the run which forces team to play into our strengths (pass defense).  Maybe Bernard will be better in the Malino role but Bernard is hurt a lot also just like Milano.  Rousseau is getting paid an average of 20M a year and Bosa is getting paid 12.6M this year and has already proven to be a way better pass rusher then Greg.  Greg is in his fifth year and has played in 74 games and has 28 career sacks (not cutting it).  For example, Jaelan Phillips drafted right before Greg played in 59 career games and has 27 career sacks.  You don't sign a guy because you like him you sign him because he is a good football player.  We need to get back to that.    

 

3. Bringing back dead weight over and over again.

  Retreads 

  Philips, Lawson, White, Davis, Jackson, Poyer, Spector, Broeker (all dead weight if you ask me) when we had guys like Tim Settle (DT Texans now), Puna Ford (DT Seahawks now) both did nothing in Buffalo after signing free agent contracts never got a chance if you ask me and are now killing it with their new organizations.  

 

4. McD hiring from within all the time instead of going outside the organization.

  Coach McD always hires from within (Brady and Badich) IMO we were better with Daboll and Frazier on the staff running their respective units.  It makes me wonder why Daboll and McD had a rocky relationship, and Frazier was fired.  I believe McD was responsible for the whole 13 seconds debacle when he played the analytics instead of going with his gut and kicking it inbounds.  I want to believe that Frazier was telling him to kick it in bounds to kill some time and when McD's plan backfired he fired Frazier.  When Frazier was running the D the opposing team always seemed to have a good opening drive but then Frazier made adjustments, with Badich running the D the opposing team has a good first half and some of the games get away from us, but after the half when the game is already lost he makes adjustments).  For example the Atlanta game right before the half with under 2 minutes the Falcons drove right down the field to get into FG range which was almost a TD, and the Texans game right after the Bills scored to get some momentum the Texans went right down the field and scored a TD right before the half. both unacceptable.  

 

5. What is up with all these injuries, I know it happens around the league but dam.

 Our training staff sucks, or our coaches are being over-protective.  

 

6. What happened to the players being the best version of themselves (remember when JA17 first got here and that was one of the things that lured people in).  Now it feels like it is not that anymore and it is do what I say and like it and smile.  No top end WR free agent is going to want to come here to run block all the time because that is not what they want to do.  They want the ball to make plays not to block.  

[Draconator]

ok

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

It's the New York State taxes, and the weather, I tells ya! 🙁

[Kaenon]

I hope you feel better after typing that all up!

[finn]

3 minutes ago, wagne591 said:

No top end WR free agent is going to want to come here to run block all the time because that is not what they want to do.  They want the ball to make plays not to block.  

They might realize the Bills wide receivers mostly block because it's pretty much all they're capable of doing. You don't use a hammer as a screwdriver unless you have to. 

[BearNorth]

2 minutes ago, finn said:

They might realize the Bills wide receivers mostly block because it's pretty much all they're capable of doing. You don't use a hammer as a screwdriver unless you have to. 

I actually have a hammer that has screwdrivers that store in the hollow handle.  Got it for Christmas one year.

[Marcus Aurelius]

9 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

It's the New York State taxes, and the weather, I tells ya! 🙁

No Palm Trees  ...

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 minute ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

No Palm Trees  ...

Sabres and Bills GMs just love clouding the issues, don't they?!  Adams and Beane should form a 'soft shoe song and dance' act. 🤨

[DrDawkinstein]

10 minutes ago, wagne591 said:

 Khalil Shakir - WR, drafted 2022 (average WR probably paid too much for him 5yr $56M)

 Christian Benford - CB, drafted 2022 (probably paid him market value 6yr $69M)

 Greg Rousseau - DE, drafted 2021 (overpaid for a 5 sack a year guy who never got better, 4yr $80M)

 Terrel Bernard - LB, drafted 2022 (overpaid, 4yr $42M)

 

 

 

I understand the arguments made against these contracts, even back at the time of signing before the benefit of hindsight.

 

However... what else was Beane supposed to do. Besides maybe "draft better", which even then could be argued since that list has a couple of 5th rounders and a 3rd rounder that turned into starters. 

 

We couldnt let that core walk. Sure they arent All-Pros like we'd all love them to be, but for as disappointing as some of them have been, letting them walk and creating even more holes would have been worse.

 

I dont think drafting or re-signing any of these guys is the issue, as much as not drafting other talent to go around them

 

Better DL drafting would make Rousseau and Bernard, and probably even Benford, look better.

Better WR drafting would make Shakir better by not being the main focus as a small slot receiver.

[MPL]

If you’re going to analyze player contracts, you really should include 3-5 accurate player/contract comparisons for each contract. 

[Rubes]

20 minutes ago, BearNorth said:

I actually have a hammer that has screwdrivers that store in the hollow handle.  Got it for Christmas one year.

 

Does it also play WR?

 

[Psautcsk]

29 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

It's the New York State taxes, and the weather, I tells ya! 🙁

Lack of Palm trees.

[HOUSE]

I got $40 for shoveling one 40 foot driveway this morning

I do a ***** job too

[Augie]

We should be more like the Bengals. They went to a Super Bowl a few years ago, remember? 

 

26 minutes ago, wagne591 said:

 

 Rousseau is getting paid an average of 20M a year and Bosa is getting paid 12.6M this year and has already proven to be a way better pass rusher then Greg.  Greg is in his fifth year and has played in 74 games and has 28 career sacks (not cutting it).  For example, Jaelan Phillips drafted right before Greg played in 59 career games and has 27 career sacks.  You don't sign a guy because you like him you sign him because he is a good football player.  We need to get back to that.    

 

 

 

Instead of blaming the FO for the Rousseau contract, maybe you should praise the incredible Bosa contract? This seems to indicate a predisposition. 

 

Yes, Groot makes $20AAV, but the top DE’s all make at least double that, in the $40-45Mil AAV range. He’s not a speedy, bendy edge rusher, piling up sacks. That’s not what he does, and that’s not how he’s paid, so I’m fine with the deal. Saying it’s not as good as the Bosa deal is silly and fails to give credit for the STEAL that was the Bosa signing. The Big Picture is helpful for perspective when viewing these deals. Bosa might be one of the very best signings in the entire NFL last offseason. 

 

And cherrypicking examples with the benefit of hindsight is so worn out here…..

[Tanoros]

49 minutes ago, wagne591 said:

I for one thought Beane was doing a good job in the beginning of his tenure but not so much as of late.  Here is my list of why Beane screwed up and why both he and McD need to go.

1.  Both are great coaches/GM but as time goes by so does your window of opportunity.  As McD said after the Texans game about this roster, he said that while he “loves these players,” he admitted the team doesn’t have what he considers a “super-Bowl-caliber” roster. That is on Beane and paying all the wrong players. I mean look at the guys he signed this year alone:

 Bosa DE (was killing it but we all knew he would get hurt eventually and miss some games, which he is at the most crucial part of our schedule)

 Palmer WR (signed a three year deal and was the forth/fifth receiver with the chargers so far he has played 8 games and has 18 catches for 272 yards 0 TDs)

 Hoecht DE great signing for the game and a half he played was impressed but was suspended the first six games played a little in Carolina and was killing it against KC then got hurt and is out for the season.

  Ogunjobi DT suspended first six games now playing but probably our worst DT on the roster. 

 

Honorable mention Curtis Samuels last year 14 games (only started 2) for 31 catches 253 yards 1 TD; 2025 6 games 0 starts 7 catches 81 yards 1 TD.  and we gave that guy $24M for 3 years.  

  

2.  Signing the guys he drafted instead of signing players that will help.  

Here is a list of players Beane Drafted then signed to big contracts:

 Josh Allen - Franchise QB drafted 2018 (best move Beane ever did)

 James Cook - RB drafted 2022 (great move but almost lost him to free agency because Beane didn't want to pay him)

 Khalil Shakir - WR, drafted 2022 (average WR probably paid too much for him 5yr $56M)

 Christian Benford - CB, drafted 2022 (probably paid him market value 6yr $69M)

 Greg Rousseau - DE, drafted 2021 (overpaid for a 5 sack a year guy who never got better, 4yr $80M)

 Terrel Bernard - LB, drafted 2022 (overpaid, 4yr $42M)

 

IMO only 2 of these contracts make sense (Allen, Cook); I can live with 2 (Shakir, Benford); and two I could have done without and used that money somewhere else (Rousseau, Bernard).  Bernard is small and gets washed out of a lot run plays, Shaq Thompson makes our Defense way better for only 1.25 million this year.  He is bigger stronger and better against the run which forces team to play into our strengths (pass defense).  Maybe Bernard will be better in the Malino role but Bernard is hurt a lot also just like Milano.  Rousseau is getting paid an average of 20M a year and Bosa is getting paid 12.6M this year and has already proven to be a way better pass rusher then Greg.  Greg is in his fifth year and has played in 74 games and has 28 career sacks (not cutting it).  For example, Jaelan Phillips drafted right before Greg played in 59 career games and has 27 career sacks.  You don't sign a guy because you like him you sign him because he is a good football player.  We need to get back to that.    

 

3. Bringing back dead weight over and over again.

  Retreads 

  Philips, Lawson, White, Davis, Jackson, Poyer, Spector, Broeker (all dead weight if you ask me) when we had guys like Tim Settle (DT Texans now), Puna Ford (DT Seahawks now) both did nothing in Buffalo after signing free agent contracts never got a chance if you ask me and are now killing it with their new organizations.  

 

4. McD hiring from within all the time instead of going outside the organization.

  Coach McD always hires from within (Brady and Badich) IMO we were better with Daboll and Frazier on the staff running their respective units.  It makes me wonder why Daboll and McD had a rocky relationship, and Frazier was fired.  I believe McD was responsible for the whole 13 seconds debacle when he played the analytics instead of going with his gut and kicking it inbounds.  I want to believe that Frazier was telling him to kick it in bounds to kill some time and when McD's plan backfired he fired Frazier.  When Frazier was running the D the opposing team always seemed to have a good opening drive but then Frazier made adjustments, with Badich running the D the opposing team has a good first half and some of the games get away from us, but after the half when the game is already lost he makes adjustments).  For example the Atlanta game right before the half with under 2 minutes the Falcons drove right down the field to get into FG range which was almost a TD, and the Texans game right after the Bills scored to get some momentum the Texans went right down the field and scored a TD right before the half. both unacceptable.  

 

5. What is up with all these injuries, I know it happens around the league but dam.

 Our training staff sucks, or our coaches are being over-protective.  

 

6. What happened to the players being the best version of themselves (remember when JA17 first got here and that was one of the things that lured people in).  Now it feels like it is not that anymore and it is do what I say and like it and smile.  No top end WR free agent is going to want to come here to run block all the time because that is not what they want to do.  They want the ball to make plays not to block.  

I appreciate the detail you put into this, and honestly, I agree with several of the broader concerns, especially around the direction of Beane’s roster-building in recent years. But I think a few key areas need more context.

 

Rousseau, for example, gets criticized heavily for sack totals, but he is one of the best run defenders and edge setters in the league. That’s not a small thing. He plays a different role than a pure pass rusher like Jaelan Phillips. And Phillips, for all of his talent, has a long injury history, which you also point out as a negative for other players. It’s tough to have it both ways. Rousseau may not be elite at one thing, but he provides consistent, high-volume, high-floor defensive play that fits how this defense operates. But yes, we do need an elite pass rusher and Beane has tried his Von, who looked good until he was injured, and again with Bosa who has looked great. 

 

As for the receiver contracts, I completely agree with you on overpaying free agent WRs. That’s exactly why teams with sustained success focus on drafting and developing receivers. If you lose them later, you get compensatory picks. If they hit, you get cheap production. This is probably one of the biggest areas where Beane drifted off course: too much emphasis on the defensive line and not enough investment in young receiver talent.

 

Where I’d push back a bit is on the “dead weight” comment.

Most of those players, Lawson, Jackson, Broeker, Spector, and others, are inexpensive depth pieces who know the system and can fill emergency roles when injuries hit. Every good team does this. It’s not poor roster building; it’s practical roster management. And in many cases, those signings actually help. Poyer this year is a clear example.

 

I also fully agree with you about hiring from outside the organization.

Promoting Brady and Babich made sense at the time, but the Bills are at the point where bringing in top external coaching talent should be a priority. This staff could benefit from fresh voices and new ideas, especially on offense.

 

Regarding Frazier, though, none of us really know what happened. A lot of theories get repeated as if they’re fact, but unless someone was in the building, it’s all speculation. The same goes for the 13 seconds situation and whether McDermott overruled anything. Without details, it’s tough to draw clear conclusions.

 

On injuries, I’m not sure it’s a training staff issue.

The team has just been hit extremely hard the past few years with freak injuries, Achilles tears, pec tears, fractures, and so on. Losing Hoecht and Oliver alone dramatically changes the defense. Add in Milano, Phillips, Benford, and others, and it becomes clear that some of this is simply bad luck.

 

Overall, I do agree with your main point: the early part of Beane’s tenure was strong, and the recent years have been more uneven. But I think the picture is more nuanced. There have been misses, but also strengths, and some issues (like injuries and scheme-specific roles) get placed solely on him even when they’re not entirely within his control.

 

In my view, Beane built a high-floor team that consistently competes, but the roster has plateaued in part because he hasn’t hit enough home runs at premium positions like WR and EDGE in recent drafts. That, more than anything, is where the criticism is fair.

 

I genuinely respect the thought you put into your post. I just think the truth sits somewhere between “Beane is elite” and “Beane should be fired,” and the real conversation is about recalibrating the approach going forward, not erasing what has worked.

[Epstein's Mother]

13 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

I got $40 for shoveling one 40 foot driveway this morning

I do a ***** job too

 

Wait, let me guess... was it Beane's driveway?

[finn]

50 minutes ago, BearNorth said:

I actually have a hammer that has screwdrivers that store in the hollow handle.  Got it for Christmas one year.

Who gave it to you? That's the key question. 😉

[BuffaloBillyG]

Congratulations. You hit almost every square in the "I really am just regurgitating what other people say and have no idea what I'm actually referring to" bingo board. 

 

Really a spectacular job!

[SoonerBillsFan]

Here is where I'm at.  Beane has to go. He cant evaluate WR for ****, nor truly can he evaluate DL or DB.  I, and others,  lost a lot of respect for him going on the radio with his little rant.  Fans from other teams have asked me about that.

 

As for the rest, I dont like Brady period,we will have to see in that. 

 

I keep McDermott awhile longer to see how the offense and his defense does if we can sign the RIGHT FA's and draft well.   What does his defense look like with real talent?  What does Bradys playcalling look like with adding 2 good WR's. Or more?

 

This message lies with Brandon Beane,until he is gone I don't think we can make a true determination on anyone else.

 

Just my 2 cents

[HOUSE]

9 minutes ago, Epstein's Mother said:

 

Wait, let me guess... was it Beane's driveway?

No, he has a service with two men dressed as Santa Claus,  no *****