Bills Mailbag: One word to describe the season thus far
The Bills are back from their bye week. You’re full of turkey sandwiches. It’s a great time to relax on the couch with the latest Bills Mailbag.
The Bills are back from their bye week. You’re full of turkey sandwiches. It’s a great time to relax on the couch with the latest Bills Mailbag. Here it is …
Brenda Alesii asks: Dictionary.com has named "demure" the 2024 word of the year. If you had to describe the Bills season so far in one word, what would it be?
Jay: As my editor would tell you, Brenda, limiting my word count is all but impossible. So I’ll give you two: Pleasantly surprising. I had the Bills pegged as a 10- or 11-win team coming into the year. They have completely exceeded my expectations to this point. The credit for that is wide spread. Josh Allen has been phenomenal, both on the field and as the unquestioned leader of the franchise. This might be Sean McDermott’s best coaching job, which is saying a lot given the run of success he’s had. The defense hasn’t missed a beat, despite injuries and significant roster turnover. The Bills are squarely in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Coming into the season, anyone would have signed up for that coming out of the bye week.
Quarterback Josh Allen has led the Buffalo Bills to a 9-2 record through their first 11 games of the 2024 season. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
John asks: I heard this week that Mitch Trubisky was chosen as backup quarterback again because Josh Allen is comfortable with him in the quarterback room and being able to bounce ideas and concerns off him. I sure hope it doesn’t come down to actually needing Trubisky to play, as there should be a better choice in place in my opinion. It seems like too much emphasis has been on keeping Allen comfortable. It’s a bad decision not to be as prepared as possible for the most important position on a football team.
Jay: Respectfully, I’ll disagree, John. Keep in mind, the Bills had very limited cap space this season. So even if you wanted them to sign the best backup possible, that would have been very challenging given the money they had to spend under the cap. I understand the concern about Trubisky, but honestly, the Bills are cooked if Allen gets hurt. That would be true with pretty much any backup quarterback. That is not to say they should ignore the position, but Trubisky is a former No. 2 overall draft pick. They could do worse as a backup. As for keeping Allen comfortable, that is very important. You want to give him all the support necessary and possible. That includes having a backup that he feels good communicating with during the week and on the sideline during games. I view that as a positive, not a negative.
Gary asks: During every NFL game, the announcers always talk about their personal meetings with the key players of each team, and (always) how delightful those players were. My question is, how exactly do these meetings work? Does the media get to request certain players, or does the team dictate who's available? What day do they take place and how long are they? Are the announcers limited as far as what they can ask?
Jay: Those are referred to as production meetings, and they take place a day or two before the game. The broadcast crew calling the game meets with the coach and/or key players and, traditionally, the league has expected that those interview subjects will be more forthcoming than they might otherwise be with other media members, be it locally or nationally. The thinking is that will aid the broadcasters in calling the games. I have not taken part in those meetings, since I’m not involved in the production of the game, but it is safe to assume the networks can make requests for players. There are no limits on what can be asked, to my knowledge, although coaches can use their own discretion in what they answer.
Gerry in Lewiston asks: The week of rest has got to help the Bills. Do you think Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper will see the field together? What’s your gut feeling on what position will be a need pick for the Bills in the draft, and where will Juan Soto land?
Jay: Let’s start with the last question first … Soto would look great with the Red Sox! Admittedly, that’s a selfish prediction, but it’s time for John Henry to start spending. My realistic prediction is that he returns to the Yankees (boo!). As for the Bills’ draft needs, a lot of that is dependent on what happens in free agency. Does Amari Cooper return? If not, wide receiver again could be a big need. If he does, I see defensive line being a priority. It’s likely that Von Miller is released after this year for cap savings, so another edge rusher or a run-stuffer to one day replace DaQuan Jones would be high on my priority list. As for Cooper and Keon Coleman seeing the field together, I expect that will be the case. The Bills’ best offense, in my mind, has Khalil Shakir, Cooper and Coleman on the field with running back James Cook and tight end Dalton Kincaid as the skill-position weapons for quarterback Josh Allen. One encouraging thing for the Bills is that group really hasn’t been together on the field very much. The team has six games left in the regular season to really fine tune the offense for the playoffs.
Ed Helinski asks: Whether it’s parity, good coaching or plain dumb luck, it’s difficult to go on a long winning streak in the NFL. Last season, the Bills went on a six-game run and had an eight-game streak in 2022. With that being said, what’s the longest winning streak in team history? Might it have occurred during the AFL glory years, the 1990s or the Sean McDermott era?
Jay: If we’re not counting the playoffs, the 1963-64 Bills won 11 straight games, winning the final two games of the 1963 regular season and then starting the 1964 season 9-0. If we include the playoffs, then the 1964 team’s 9-0 start to the season is the longest streak in team history. The longest win streak during the Super Bowl era was by the 1990 Bills, who had an eight-game streak during the regular season. The Bills have had two eight-game win streaks, including the postseason, under McDermott, in both 2020 and 2022.
Bill Kelley asks: The news that the Bills are selling a minority interest in the team is interesting. I have worried about the Bills leaving Western New York for most of my life. What does a minority interest give you? A portion of the profits? First chance to buy a controlling interest if the Pegulas decide to sell? A 10% discount at the Bills Store? Preferred parking? I feel like if I don’t buy any of the overpriced concessions for the rest of the year, I might have enough money to make a bid.
Jay: Good luck on your purchase, Bill. If you do one day take over the team, just remember who answered all those mailbag questions for you. Seriously, though, minority ownership does provide exactly what you said – a share of the profits, which in the NFL world, are abundant. The question of whether minority ownership would provide the first chance to purchase controlling interest in the team is a good one, but Terry Pegula has not indicated that one way or the other. For Pegula, selling off a share of the team allows him to raise money at a time when the estimated cost of the new stadium continues to rise. Pegula, remember, is on the hook for any overages.
Mike Scully asks: I have to believe that Stefon Diggs may be feeling a bit irritated that the Bills are sitting pretty at 9-2 with him and Gabe Davis no longer in our receiving corps. While I fully acknowledge and am grateful to Diggs for his stellar play and contributions during his four seasons with us, isn't it a classic case of addition by subtraction with him and his drama issues gone?
Jay: It’s a fair question. The answer depends on just how much you believe those “drama issues” impacted the locker room behind the scenes. Since we’ve never received – and likely never will – a real in-depth answer on that, we’re left to form our own opinions. “Addition by subtraction” feels a little strong for my liking, but we can safely say the Bills don’t miss Diggs. Forget the off-the-field stuff for a second and think back to the second half of last season. Shakir was the team's more productive wide receiver. I have no doubt a divorce was best for both sides, but the reason for that extends beyond just “drama issues.” Moving on from him looks more like making a decision a year too soon rather than a year too late.
John G. asks: The UFL announced they are looking to expand and put teams in new geographic areas. What do you think the chances are Buffalo would be a city chosen for this? Obviously not the NFL, but sort of a minor league version. I think there could be enough support to have this league be successful here. Your thoughts?
Jay: My first thought was that Buffalo is a proven football town, so it could work, but after mulling it over for a bit, I’m skeptical. Look at the attendance for University at Buffalo football games or Bisons games. Those examples make it apparent to me that Buffalo is a major professional sports town. It will be interesting to see whether the UFL expands to cities with a bigger population base or focuses its efforts on smaller cities with a football history, like Buffalo.
Jeff in Florida asks: After watching Browns-Steelers in Cleveland in a pre-December game, how can any fan, owner, player, or TV viewer want to play in any outdoor stadium on the Great Lakes that does not have a roof? The game Thursday was a joke. The snow in the second half made it a crap shoot. The Bills lost the playoff game two years ago, in my opinion, to the second-half snow fall. The Bills, after reports this week, have seen the new stadium being over 50% of the initial cost estimate. The Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City added a roof seven years after construction, admitting its mistake. It’s a joke if the powers that be do not add a roof now during construction or become the laughingstock of the USA/NFL in our lifetime!
Jay: Leave it to the guy from Florida to complain about a snow game! Just kidding, Jeff. You’re preaching to the choir here. I was in favor of a dome. I was also in favor of putting the stadium downtown. My opinion on the matter, unfortunately, was never sought by Pegula. He owns the team. He gets to do what he wants. That’s one of the many benefits that come with being a billionaire. Pegula doesn’t want a dome. He doesn’t want to pay for a dome. Therefore, there will be no dome. I’d stop short of saying that will make the new Bills’ stadium the laughingstock of the USA – I can think of another reason for that to be the case – but it’s a reasonable position to think that the new stadium should have a roof. That ship has sailed, though.
Todd from Wilson asks: According to Spotrac, the contract for Josh Allen is valued at slightly over $258 million, while Patrick Mahomes has a contract valued at $450M. Sooner or later, the Bills will have to pay Allen what he is worth. Are there any NFL rules that prevent a player from being both a coach and a player? Perhaps give Allen a new contract at $10 million, and a $490 million contract as a coach, wink, wink. That would sure save on the salary cap.
Jay: As you know, Todd, we love outside-the-box ideas in the mailbag. Unfortunately, this one is not allowed by collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players, for the very reason you mentioned – it would be a circumvention of the salary cap. Rats.
Thank you for all the questions this week! As a reminder, they can be submitted via email to jskurski@buffnews.com or by X to @JaySkurski.
