I haven't listened to this, but it sounds like an interesting loophole. As said in the last thread i didn't think Jonathan was eligible because he technically hadn't come through the IPP but I'm not certain about it.
One other point though. Toohill is the #6 EDGE on the roster not including Jonathan. That does seem excessive even for a team that employs a lot of rotation...
Edge players are good ST players to have as well. They can block like extra TEs on punts and cover those punts, they are fast enough to play kickoff (especially now), and they can block on kickoffs too. And they are good for punt block and FG/XP blocks.
Mind you, Im not 100% negative about it. I am hopeful things can stay afloat, they can stick the landing, and the next 7 or so years with Josh Allen can bring more championship opportunity. I do like Brandon Beane for the most part, and like McDermott, although he has a stubborn side that makes me nervous.
However, the voice on the other side...
I see the horribly inept Pegula has been as a steward of the Sabres franchise. He has tendencies and preferences that contradict winning (likes "authenticity", values some sort of honesty, the "communication" buzzword). I believe he likes management who treats him like an equal and will entertain (and even act on) his ideas. I have always felt that Bills fans should enjoy it now, because dark times are ahead with this guy. If/when he has his Linda Bogdan moment with Beane/McDermott, we could be in the dark ages for awhile
The Bills had lightning in a bottle all at once. A very athletically gifted, young QB (on a entry deal), and other high-end players and leaders on both sides of the ball: Diggs, Hyde, Poyer, Morse, Edmunds, White, Beazley, etc. as well as other role players who were glue like Lee Smith. Don't forget Brown and Emmanuel Sanders too. So many of them are gone now. They still have a couple in Dawkins, Milano (injured), maybe Oliver, and maybe Gilliam.
I also believe that Brian Daboll and how the offense was run had a lot to do with their success. I subscribe to the theory that things got icey between Daboll and McDermott, and it would have split anyway. Brady now seems like he was more ball-control, run-run-pass like McDermott probably prefers.
I look at the roster now, and outside of QB, it looks worse than most drought-era teams. I look at the athletes most other AFC competitors have amassed, compared to the Bills and it appears like we are seriously out-manned. Fans and media also seem to be putting too much expectation on Dalton Kincaid right now.
And I also wonder if we are going to see a decline in Josh Allen from this point on. He has taken a lot of hits. You can't help but wonder/fear if his passing abilities will sustain enough once his ability to escape, run, and take hits starts to go away, and he will have an arc similar to Cam Newton. You look at the clown car of a receiver room and there is not much support there.
If you put Allen on some of the Jauron, Gailey, Marrone, or Ryan teams, they'd make the playoffs. Edwards got hurt and for as much as we love Fitzpatrick, he was inconsistent.
Look at the 2007 Bills. Lots of close scores. Allen turns that 7-9 team into a wild card team. Lynch, Jackson, Lee Evans, Schobel, McGee, Jason Peters, and Kyle Williams were on that team.
2008 Bills Had those same players plus Posluszny and Stroud. That team started 4-0 before Edwards got hurt. Allen takes that 7-9 team into the playoffs as well.
The 2011 Gailey Bills started 5-2 with some big early season wins. Fitzpatrick was inconsistent and crashed after the 23-0 win over Washington. They went 6-10 but 5 of those games were really tight. That team had Jackson, Spiller, Stevie Johnson, Byrd, Dareus, Kelsay, and Aaron Williams.
2012 was similar, and they added Mario Williams and Gilmore. Spiller had a huge year. Borderline playoff team with Allen.
2013 under Marrone featured a defense with three linemen who had 10 sacks (Williams, Hughes, Williams). The defense was really good. But with EJ Manuel under center, they couldn't score. 4 games were tight and Allen would've made a difference between 6-10 and 10-6.
2014 under Marrone should've been a playoff team. Orton to Watkins was amazing. 4 tight games where Allen instead of Orton, and they win. Watkins and Woods along with Chandler and Hogan as receivers, and the latter two caught a lot of footballs. 3 players on the defense with 10 or more sacks (Hughes, Mario Williams, Dareus) plus Kyle Williams, Gilmore, etc.
Ryan went 8-8 with Taylor, who was good but not great. McCoy was on that team offensively, along with Watkins and Woods. Defense was good but had not made the adjustment from 4-3 to 3-4 yet. 4 tight losses that year, where Allen would've made an impact.
Ryan and Lynn in 2016 went 7-9. 5 tight losses. Defense was better. Allen makes a big difference that year.
TL;DR. The reason you have a QB like Allen is that sometimes the difference between 6-10 and 10-6 isn't the roster. It's the QB. Many of the drought era teams could've made the playoffs with Allen, or really any other franchise QB, under center. It's why you work so hard to get that guy.
