T'official 2014-15 NFL thread

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Obviously for some reason Marrone didn't believe in the kicker. The question I have is how attractive is the Bills job? Sure there's plenty of talent, but no QB & no 1st round pick. I know this might sound ridiculous, but I think the Bills should attempt to do the Bears a favor & acquire Cutler. He shouldn't cost that much because of his contract & the fact he seems to have worn out his welcome in the Windy City.

The kicking thing is odd, because the kicker gave Marrone no reason to doubt him. He hit at 90% on the year and 75% from 50+ (Gostkowski is the all-time leader in this category at 76.5% career), including a 58 yard game winner in week 5.

I guess that just illustrates the point that I was trying to make though that Marrone was completely out there sometimes. It's one thing when you've got a guy that can't hit anything (like every Detroit kicker this year), but with a guy who's been money all season.

I don't think they go after Cutler, as least from a trade perspective. Lots of rumblings that the Bears might cut him and take their salary cap lumps. I could see the Bills being willing to take him on only if they could put together a package wherein they also get the Bears 1st rounder. Given the shape that Chicago is in, I don't see them being willing to part with a 1st under any circumstance.

I see them as more likely to after a guy like Sam Bradford in UFA. Obviously a HUGE risk coming off back-to-back season ending knee injuries and wasn't living up to the hype before that anyhow, but could be a cheap option to fill in for 2-3 seasons until they can get someone new in the draft.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Sammy Watkins will likely develop into a fine player but I still find it baffling that the Bills traded up. In hindsight seeing how the other rookie WRs panned out it looks even worse. Just a bad move for a team that wasn't quite there. That's the type of move you make when all you need is an impact player to get over the hump.

I thought it was a bad move at the time even. Well, once I heard the price tag at least, since it was initially reported as just the 1st and 4th in the same draft and not the 2015 1st on top of it all.

I think Watkins will be good, but there wasn't a single player in that draft who was so far above everyone else at his position based on projections at the time - with the possible exception of Khalil Mack - that giving up an extra 1st made sense, IMO.

They went all in last year though and as you say they weren't a true contender.

 

[dare2be]

As a Steelers fan, this is my perspective: Mike Wallace was an unknown, made some noise as a rookie, then Ben turned him into a deep threat. That made him expensive, Steelers let him go, and are able to find suitable replacements pretty easily, and not in the first round.

Ben didn't turn Wallace into a deep threat. Wallace was a deep threat because of his speed, and only his speed. The rest of his receiver credentials were sub-par (route running, hands). Ben did make him expensive enough to let him walk, thankfully.

 

[Cobiemonster]

WRs are sooooo easy to find, comparatively speaking. How many receivers in the league are absolute game changers on their own accord? Maybe one, in Megatron? And that's a solid MAYBE. Larry Fitzgerald is the prime example here. He's one of the most purely talented receivers in the league, and his talent has been mostly wasted in Arizona. Meanwhile, teams with high end QBs don't really NEED elite receivers, because even competent ones who can run a route will be successful with a good QB. As a Steelers fan, this is my perspective: Mike Wallace was an unknown, made some noise as a rookie, then Ben turned him into a deep threat. That made him expensive, Steelers let him go, and are able to find suitable replacements pretty easily, and not in the first round. There is always a ton of WR talent in the draft, you just need to look a bit harder sometimes. I'm pretty dang happy with Martavis Bryant, Sammy Watkins running mate at Clemson. Again: you need a QB to rationalize taking a WR that high. So basically, IMO, the first round is for high impact players, and I just don't think WR affect the game enough to warrant that.

My thoughts:

They could have gotten a WR with their first pick instead of trading up

Also, I don't blame them one bit for making the trade - yeah, they gave up their first rounder for this upcoming draft but at least they didn't trade up to get a QB in this previous draft - that would have been even more damaging considering the QB's drafted didn't do shit besides Teddy - Sammy Watkins is a great young talent and I'm not sure the Bills would have made the playoffs this season regardless of whether they traded up or not - they did everything possible with the team they had there and Sammy Watkins had some really good games - it takes years to build a team when you've been garbage for the last decade plus - maybe they find a gem of a QB with a later pick this upcoming draft, it's happened for teams before(Russell Wilson)

 

[dash]

Ravens lookin' good up 28-14 in the 3rd quarter...

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Razzle dazzle from the Pats... this is a great game.

 

[dash]

Razzle dazzle from the Pats... this is a great game.

What a great play call, Kenny. Tie game.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

That sound you just heard was probably 43's Facebook feed blowing up.

 

[dash]

Wow, and that looked like a fumble by Flacco - Huge defensive holding penalty.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Wow, and that looked like a fumble by Flacco - Huge defensive holding penalty.

At least it was a legit penalty. It would suck to see a great playoff game sullied by terrible reffing.

 

[dash]

NE this half - 0 rushes, 19 passes.

 

[dash]

That call will be reversed, Ben Vereen had a knee down before the ball was ripped out.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

That call will be reversed, Ben Vereen had a knee down before the ball was ripped out.

And a forearm too, IMO.

<Kenny waits patiently for the call t be confirmed>

 

[elocomotive]

That call will be reversed, Ben Vereen had a knee down before the ball was ripped out.

Yeah, both knees and an elbow down when it came out. Pretty embarrassing they couldn't get that one right on the field in the first place.

 

[dash]

The first rushing play of the 2nd half for NE is a QB sneak by Brady for a first down.

 

[dash]

Brady just surpassed some guy named Joe Montana for most playoff TD passes...

 

[dash]

We're in for an exciting finish after that 4th down conversion...

 

[elocomotive]

Uh.... sure, Kape Upton... I'll be your hero.

 

[dash]

Oh Joe, not a good throw.

 

[elocomotive]