Bills GM Beane sees progress, plans to make it continue

Brandon Beane simply can’t watch.

With the sting of his crew’s crushing playoff exit nonetheless recent in his thoughts, Buffalo basic supervisor Beane has been unable to muster the power to re-watch the Payments’ divisional spherical loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

“I haven’t slept a lot,” Beane stated. “So I’ve thought of it loads. I can’t watch it proper now.”

As upset as Beane is, he nonetheless believes his crew has taken a step in the best path. Talking at his end-of-season press convention Wednesday, Beane notes the Payments have moved ahead after coming 13 seconds wanting making a second consecutive journey to the AFC championship sport.

The Payments fell to the Chiefs, 42-36 in additional time.

“There’s nothing I can inform you that’s going to repair it. We have now to be taught from it,” Beane stated. “I really consider if we performed them 10 occasions, it’s in all probability 5-5. And that’s my coronary heart of hearts. They could suppose completely different, that’s how I see it. If we had simply completed that sport the way in which we all know how, we’re not sitting right here proper now, we’re making ready for one more one.

“I believe we took some steps in the best path, although we didn’t make it so far as we did a 12 months in the past.”

The largest motive for optimism in Buffalo stays quarterback Josh Allen. In proving his breakout marketing campaign final season was no fluke, Allen completed his postseason in prolific vogue. The younger passer was primarily flawless in placing collectively back-to-back record-breaking performances. In opposition to New England and Kansas Metropolis, Allen mixed for 637 yards passing, 9 touchdowns and no interceptions.

These standout performances got here after the Payments made Allen one of many highest paid gamers within the league earlier than the beginning of the common season.

“I do love the man, I’ll begin there,” Payments coach Sean McDermott stated. “And now he’s answered all these questions, proper? I’m extraordinarily pleased with what he’s been ready to do that previous season and simply his progress through the years. Simply because you've gotten the man on one hand doesn’t imply that you simply’re going to get there, proper? However having that man is difficult to seek out. A variety of GMs, a number of groups that search excessive or low for ‘that man.’ And I consider with no shadow of a doubt we've that participant, that particular person. In order that’s good to know. And now we've to proceed to maneuver strategically round him to additional our crew shifting ahead.”

With an eye fixed on the crew’s long-term viability underneath the wage cap, Beane stated he doesn't count on the Payments to be huge spenders in free company. He's, nevertheless, seeking to retain a few of Buffalo’s free brokers and goal particular areas of want. The majority of Buffalo’s upcoming free brokers are on the defensive aspect with cornerback Levi Wallace, finish Jerry Hughes and sort out Harrison Phillips set to hit free company.

“We now have paid Josh. Which is sweet, as a result of I do know what his quantity is on the books for the upcoming years and we are able to simply construct round it,” Beane stated. “(The wage cap) is just not going to be excellent for us, however it’s going to be higher. We’ll must make some strikes, however I wouldn’t see us being huge spenders or something like that. However we’ll positively look to fill some spots from the surface in addition to retain a few of our guys.”

Beane stated he anticipates large receiver Cole Beasley to return in 2022. Beasley got here underneath fireplace for his outbursts towards vaccines and the league’s COVID-19 insurance policies however remained a weapon for the Payments on the sector. He completed the season with 82 receptions, tying his profession finest from final season. Beasley is getting into the ultimate 12 months of a four-year deal he signed with Buffalo in 2019.

Beane additionally stated he wish to see a change in postseason additional time guidelines. The Payments misplaced to the Chiefs after Kansas Metropolis scored on the primary possession, and Allen and the Payments’ offense by no means received the chance to reply.

“On the finish of the day, we misplaced the sport the opposite evening,” Beane stated. “However after all we might’ve beloved to, I believe the TV viewers would’ve beloved to, have seen Josh and our offense get it again. I'd positively like to see it introduced again to the desk. I’m not saying I've the precise thought, however I believe there’s some methods to do it.”

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