2015 Bills: Go Rex Go

[kelpapa]

The Bills can't stop taking penalties via Deadspin.
 
It has a great tweet in it that says "The Bills have a combined 13 unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct or taunting penalties. No other team has more than 6 such flags." From @mikerodak

 

[Stitch01]

I kind of would, I don't remember that at all.  There was certainly discussions over whether to sign Flacco, but Im pretty sure the discussion expanded the range of available quarterbacks beyond Flacco and Tyrod Taylor although Im sure the other choices were terrible too.
 
Sort of a weird discussion as Taylor wasn't good yesterday, but it certainly wasn't a case where the rest of the team played well except for the quarterback.  They committed a million penalties, ran the ball poorly, and played mediocre defense.

 

[tims4wins]

Yeah I think I was on the "don't sign Flacco and totally rebuild" bandwagon - which would have been impossible PR-wise for Ozzie coming off the Super Bowl. But my opinion had literally zero to do with Tyrod Taylor. I was just of the belief that it was going to be hard for them to be contenders again soon and that paying Flacco elite money wasn't a good strategy. Clearly I was wrong since they came pretty close to beating the Pats last year, depleted secondary and all.

 

[DJnVa]

Here's the Flacco thread:
 
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/76513-joe-flacco-20-million-dollar-man/
 
 
And here's the Ranking the QBs thread:
 
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/86018-ranking-the-qb-situations/
 
Search away.

 

[Stitch01]

Maybe my search is broken, but the only mention of Tyrod Taylor I found in those threads was made by....well me, and it was questioning whether he'd be worse than Brandon Weeden if he had to play.  He isn't.
 
Oh well.  Back to discussing the caricature that Rex has become.  I bet the Giants last week when Rex started talking about the Patriots again, no idea if that's sound NFL handicapping strategy but it appears to have paid off.  Too bad he can't reel it in a little bit because this Bills team has the pieces to be the team (and until yesterday had played like) the team Rex had always wanted the Jets to be.  He seems to have bought a little bit too much into his own hype at this point, and its showing up on the field.

 

[amarshal2]

I switched my winner in pick 'em to the Giants after Rex started talking.  Though, considering I also picked Jax and Minny but didn't pick Chi or Stl I'm not sure it's evidence of a well-reasoned decision.
 
The best part about all this is how Rex doubles down all the time and shows how resistant he is to change.  That part of me that enjoys laughing at Rex's gladtime follies wants him to have a reckoning about all the ways in which he sucks and wants it to happen right now -- but the far smarter part of me -- the part that didn't celebrate when he was fired as HC of the NYJ -- knows it's best if that reckoning never happens (or at least waits until retirement).

 

[Shelterdog]

Do you really want me to go back and find posts arguing that they should have let Flacco go and rode Tyrod Taylor?  Because I certainly can find them.  Who posted that is pretty much irrelevant.
 
EDIT.  In any case, the point of this ultimately is not about Flacco and the Ravens.  It's about obstacles facing the Bills and Jets and the wonderful notion about QBs being fungible that surfaced circa 2012.  And that argument absolutely was made -- plug and play from the systems now predominant in college.

 
Well in that case you're right and somebody somewhere who thinks QBing skill doesn't matter is wrong.  I think it's fair to say that we all agree that that position is, and was, wrong.  I award 2 points to Gryffindor..

 

[Reverend]

I think the Tyrod Taylor is a red herring with respect to what dcmissle was trying to get at--or what I think he was trying to get at.
 
For 20+ years now, we've been told that some new athletic variant of the QB is going to revolutionize the league. I remember this back to Kordell "Don't call me Slash" Stewart. And yes, the athleticism is attractive to watch and is seductive. But what has come to dominate even more, as has been recently re-discovered by commentators on the league?

Quick release, largely based on disciplined practice and book study.
 
It's kinda funny, and, in a world where people like to make sports into morality plays, there's probably actually a lesson here.
 

 

[soxfan121]

Flacco's will be a ho hum contract as more QB signings occur and the cap goes up.

 
Flacco's cap hit in 2016 is $28.5M (with $25M in dead money). In 2017 is rises to $31.1M ($15.3M dead) and in 2018 is $24.75M. 

IOW, he will be signing another extension guaranteeing him in the neighborhood of $70M guaranteed. Or they'll pay him nearly $30M next year to pay him $15M to not play for them in 2017. 

Either way, it's not a ho-hum contract. It is an abject disaster that could be seen coming a mile away.

 

[jsinger121]

 

Mike Rodak ‏@mikerodak  20m20 minutes ago
Bills GM Doug Whaley just told @WGR550 that Bills RB Karlos Williams sustained a concussion vs. Giants. Status uncertain for TEN.


 
 

 

[jsinger121]

 

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet  3m3 minutes ago
Trent Richardson is working out for the #Bills today, source said. Two key injuries necessitated it

 
 
lol

 

[DJnVa]

They apparently signed Dan Herron instead of Richardson per reports.

 

[singaporesoxfan]

Nice for a team trying to be run-first to work out RBs from the pedigreed Colts running back stable.

 

[E5 Yaz]

So, the Bills think Beckham was acting like a bully ...

 

[Shelterdog]

I think the Tyrod Taylor is a red herring with respect to what dcmissle was trying to get at--or what I think he was trying to get at.
 
For 20+ years now, we've been told that some new athletic variant of the QB is going to revolutionize the league. I remember this back to Kordell "Don't call me Slash" Stewart. And yes, the athleticism is attractive to watch and is seductive. But what has come to dominate even more, as has been recently re-discovered by commentators on the league?

Quick release, largely based on disciplined practice and book study.
 
It's kinda funny, and, in a world where people like to make sports into morality plays, there's probably actually a lesson here.
 

 
I agree with essentially everything you're saying.Hell, a lot of Patriots fans that I knew were clamoring to replace Bledsoe with a college star drafted in the late rounds already on the roster--Michael Bishop--because of his athletic ability.  If the crux of the discussion is whether athletic ability is overrated for quarterbacks then for all means we should say that instead of mocking unnamed people who may or may not have even existed.
 
EDIT: 
 
Anyhow as it relates to the bills I think we're seeing that a team built with a QB who hasn't yet emerged as a great decision maker and with a crappy line is just going to be a crappy team on offense no matter how many big name skill position players it has. 

 

[Reverend]

"Take THAT hypothetical guy!!" - Homer Simpson

 

[pappymojo]

Nice for a team trying to be run-first to work out RBs from the pedigreed Colts running back stable.

Well, I for one am glad to have Dion Lewis on the Patriots. I see no reason to avoid a running back from the Colts.

 

[DJnVa]

It was only a week, their stink didn't get a hold on him.

 

[loshjott]

I think the Tyrod Taylor is a red herring with respect to what dcmissle was trying to get at--or what I think he was trying to get at.
 
For 20+ years now, we've been told that some new athletic variant of the QB is going to revolutionize the league. I remember this back to Kordell "Don't call me Slash" Stewart. And yes, the athleticism is attractive to watch and is seductive. But what has come to dominate even more, as has been recently re-discovered by commentators on the league?

Quick release, largely based on disciplined practice and book study.
 
It's kinda funny, and, in a world where people like to make sports into morality plays, there's probably actually a lesson here.
 

I remember it with Randall Cunningham.
 

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

I remember it with Randall Cunningham.

My favorite non patriot growing up. The year he took the Vikings to the NFC championship game was pretty special.

 

[bakahump]

Cunningham was Awesome....especially when paired with that eagles Defense.
 
Had he a few more offensive weapons then just Byers and Jackson (TE) they may have made it through the Dallas/Washington/NYG Deathmatch that was the NFC East.

 

[twothousandone]

Quick release, largely based on disciplined practice and book study.[/size][/font][/color][/background]

You mean like Dan Marino? He had a very quick release, and he threw a lot of touchdowns in his career.

 

[E5 Yaz]

McCoy out another 3-4 weeks

 

[Saints Rest]

Cunningham was Awesome....especially when paired with that eagles Defense.
 
Had he a few more offensive weapons then just Byers and Jackson (TE) they may have made it through the Dallas/Washington/NYG Deathmatch that was the NFC East.

One of my favorite NFL plays of all-time (Non-Patriot division) was when Carl Banks broke thru on Cunningham rolling out and hit him square on the thighs.  Cunningham somehow bounced backward with his feet knocked about 2 yards back, kept his knees and elbows off the ground, stood up, and fired a TD pass with another Giant right in his face..  

 

[Gorton Fisherman]

Really looking forward to the two-pronged Boom-Boobie rushing attack.

 

[reggiecleveland]

 
I agree with essentially everything you're saying.Hell, a lot of Patriots fans that I knew were clamoring to replace Bledsoe with a college star drafted in the late rounds already on the roster--Michael Bishop-. 

He was terrible for my CFL team. All tools no toolbox

 

[crystalline]

I think the Tyrod Taylor is a red herring with respect to what dcmissle was trying to get at--or what I think he was trying to get at.
 
For 20+ years now, we've been told that some new athletic variant of the QB is going to revolutionize the league. I remember this back to Kordell "Don't call me Slash" Stewart. And yes, the athleticism is attractive to watch and is seductive. But what has come to dominate even more, as has been recently re-discovered by commentators on the league?

Quick release, largely based on disciplined practice and book study.
 
It's kinda funny, and, in a world where people like to make sports into morality plays, there's probably actually a lesson here.
 

Half of the continued dominance of the pocket passer is pocket passer skills, but half of it is durability. If you turn your QB into an RB you get RGIII and a bunch of shredded joints.

That's the converse morality play where the NFL crushes all it surveys except pampered QBs.

 

[Van Everyman]

So basically when Rex said he wanted his team to be a bully, he meant a team that beats up on the weak, the vulnerable and the defenseless.

Got it, Rex.

 

[soxhop411]

Mike Rodak ‏@mikerodak  21h21 hours ago
Rex Ryan gives players wristbands as reminder to keep cool after penalties, then snaps his after Bills' first flag: http://es.pn/1ZsNasP 
 
Mike Rodak ‏@mikerodak  3h3 hours ago
Rex Ryan: "Let's just say we had two more unsportsmanlike [conduct] penalties. Do we win the game? I don't think so." Says Bills kept cool.

 

[OCST]

Wait, I thought the penalties didn't matter, or something?

 

[theapportioner]

Mike Rodak ‏@mikerodak  21h21 hours ago
Rex Ryan gives players wristbands as reminder to keep cool after penalties, then snaps his after Bills' first flag: http://es.pn/1ZsNasP 

 
It'd be cooler if he brought back the snap bracelet.

 

[troparra]

Wait, I thought the penalties didn't matter, or something?

They don't matter when they lose and everybody questions his leadership. When they win, they do matter because he can take credit.

 

[soxhop411]

Vic Carucci ‏@viccarucci  8m8 minutes ago
#NFL source: "Apparently Tyrod Taylor is hurt pretty bad." #Bills checked passport status of potential QB additions for Week 7 Lodon trip.
 
 
Vic Carucci ‏@viccarucci  60m60 minutes ago
#Bills sign QB Josh Johnson. Release K Billy Cundiff.

 

[Silverdude2167]

How much would it suck to be a free agent QB and you don't get signed cause you do not have a valid passport.
 
Also Josh Johnson is making out due to all these potential QB injuries.

 

[BroodsSexton]

Yeah, is it really plausible that the NFL can't get one of its quarterbacks a valid passport on a few days' notice?

 

[crystalline]

Passports can be gotten same day in NYC, Boston, Philly. It's probably more a question of "do we need to take this guy to Boston/NY before we go to London"?

 

[steveluck7]

How much would it suck to be a free agent QB and you don't get signed cause you do not have a valid passport.
 

Even if it spared you from having to live in Buffalo for a period of time?
 
Also, what are the odds that Rex bitches that New England is the only AFC East team not playing a game in London this season?

 

[Investor 11]

Yeah, is it really plausible that the NFL can't get one of its quarterbacks a valid passport on a few days' notice?

 
 
The bigger issue may be the Visa, since he is going over there to participate in a sporting event he most likely can't use the Visa Waiver exemption. And, since he was signed to the Jets squad earlier in the year he probably obtained the requisite Visa already. I still think Department of State could have expedited the process but this could be a safety valve for now.

 

[Corsi]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora  4m4 minutes ago
Tyrod Taylor could miss multiple games with an MCL sprain suffered on a horse-collar tackle Sun. Bills will prepare EJ Manuel to start Sun..

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Man, tough break for BUF. I might even feel bad for them if they had someone other than Rex as their coach.

 

[DavidTai]

Eh, they had a solid backup plan. They traded their backup to the Cowboys.

Maybe the pick's worth it, maybe not, but egh.

 

[BaseballJones]

Can't imagine a Pats' player saying this....
 
"I need the ball at least 10 times -- I need 10 targets -- and l'll be fine with however many yards I get," Watkins told the newspaper. "And that's what I addressed in talking with my agent. We reached out to a couple people and tried to pull some string like, 'Hey, I need my targets. You came up to draft me and I'm not getting targets -- that's a problem.'
 
"'You're making me look bad, and you're making yourself look bad. Why not make both of us look good?'"
"In the two games before Watkins' injury, quarterback Tyrod Taylortargeted him 10 times, tied with Percy Harvin and Charles Clay as the most on the team. Watkins, however, wants more looks.
"For a guy you go up in the draft to take as your No. 1 receiver, you would love those 15 targets that Julio [Jones] gets, those 20 targets that Odell [Beckham Jr.] gets," he told the newspaper. "Of course I'd have 100 yards every game and a TD, if I'm getting 20 targets."
Added Watkins: "That's what I get mad at: when I don't get looked at. I can look at film, and his eyes go straight that way and I'm not getting looked at, at all. That's when I get frustrated. When I have one-on-one coverage, go to me. I don't care what's going on over there. I don't care if he's open. When I get one-on-one, just target me."
 
From:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13896976/sammy-watkins-tells-buffalo-bills-making-look-bad-lack-targets

 

[NortheasternPJ]

A wide receiver thinks he's always open? BREAKING NEWS!
 
Sorry, not always open, just 90% of the time. What a shock.

 

[PayrodsFirstClutchHit]

Maybe Rex can bring back Tebow for a reunion tour. He can keep him stapled to the bench while an even worse QB loses game after game.
 
It will be just like the good ole days. 

 

[jsinger121]

That's translation for get me out of Buffalo.

 

[BaseballJones]

A wide receiver thinks he's always open? BREAKING NEWS!
 
Sorry, not always open, just 90% of the time. What a shock.

 
What kills me about that is that he says even if his teammate is OPEN, throw it to me just....because.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

My favorite is the Bills D who was self proclaimed to be one of the best defenses in NFL History, over the 85 Bears and 00 Ravens etc. are 18th in yards allowed and 13th in points allowed. 
 
That includes them playing the Dolphins and Titans. P-U.

 

[Gash Prex]

Definately a good idea to handle this through your agent - I'm sure the quarterback really appreciates that

 

[DanoooME]

Good to see Percy Harvin's influence helping out another team.

 

[Tony C]

Fish rots from the head. Not original, but just sayin'.....