Cusp players get to decide

This is pretty far-fetched for a guy like Hardy, who hasn’t proven jack crap at this level. A veteran that’s actually accomplished something? I might listen to that.

why would he tarnish his image in the eyes of the other teams. my guess is since he has had sports hernia surgery in the offseason that he had issues with conditioning as the layoff from surgeries such as those is 6 weeks.

this is the NFL.. you never know whats going to happen when you leave one team.

Just my opinion. It would make more sense if he had one year of NFL experience as a quality wide out. Hardy has had none. Most are in it for the money and glory in hopes of getting more money. Hardy was a second round pick but was also like the fifth WR taken that year. Guessing on the fifth. I would be more concerned with his desire to be a good WR. Reputations travel with players from team to team. I seriously doubt his work ethic supports this claim where his injury history does support it. Thus meaning minimum based contract in the near future for any team. Similar to Chad Jackson.

If Hardy get’s cut from the Bills (who have no proven #2 receiver or QB) that’s basically saying you can’t play anywhere. If you can’t make a wide open roster where you’re competing vs several rookies for the 4th or 5th spot at WR, I think your reputation would be more or less irreparable. Gailey recently said his first impression of the guy was that he was “average” as well.

There’s no way someone as unproven as Hardy would try to get cut for a contract elsewhere. Other coaches would not sign someone who cannot beat players for a backup spot who were taken 5 rounds after him (Stevie J.) or a slew of rookies all taken in later rounds than himself or undrafted (Easley, Roosevelt et al.)

is not exactly an endorsement.

If the player is only on the cusp of making the Bills roster, how is he going to get anything even resembling playing time on a good team?

Hardy is an intriguing example though. I agree with everybody else that it’s a little too conspiracy theory that a young player would want to get cut to land in a better situation, but it does make you think. Even though Hardy can’t realistically put up great numbers here, I’d have to think that 10-20 catches and a TD or two in a rotation at WR is more than he can put up on any other team, especially if he’s joining that team after the season starts. He’s only in Buffalo for two more years and I think he’s far more likely to put himself in position to land a contract where he wants if he sticks it out here than trying to find a team mid season that will give him any playing time over that same time period.

I think it is more likely that the Bills ended up missing when they drafted him then you’re conspiracy. Last nights practice notes showed even when the Bills go to 4 wide Hardy isn’t apart of the first offense. I think he might have the physical skills to play, and he shows that on occasion, but I don’t think he has the mental make up to be consistent enough.

keysh, good post. Out of the box, but still interesting. I don’t give Hardy enough credit to think he could execute such a plan, but I also don’t think he would make much noise on a passing team. The reason is something I disagree with that I saw you mention 4 times now. Speed.

He may have run a 4.47 at one point, but I don’t think that # translates to game speed for James. He has looked slow on every play I’ve seen him play for Buffalo. He has yet to find a way to separate fro the defender. Untill he proves otherwise, he’s very limited in what he offers to a roster

I think he’s an asset, though, with the constantly talked about (and rarely seen) red zone advantage he could have. I do see him picked up by another team if he’s cut by Buffalo. I’d like the Bills to retain him for those situations, but it might be a tough roster spot to spend on a running team.

he has no power over anyone.

Ok, the Hardy argument is ridiculous. If you wanted to make it for Youboty or another DB I might buy it but.

Hardy had an early round contract so he’s paid ok.
He has produced nothing as of yet.
There is probably NO other team (ok maybe the rams) with more opportunity for a WR to grab playing time than the bills right now.

I bet it happens, but Hardy is a terrible example

Not impossible, but improbable.

I’ve heard this story a million times, don’t know if it’s true…gary anderson the long-time, many time pro-bowl kicker for the steelers used to be a Bill, i guess. the story goes that he was tampered with; that is the stealers told him to miss and then they would sign him to their winning organization., anyone else hear of this?

GO BILLS!

Hardy has proven nothing, but he’s prone to injury. He has nothing to gain to try to be cut.

Some players do this all the time. They don’t like where they’re drafted, don’t get used properly and then find a way to get off the team. Star players do it all the time in the form of a hold out, why the heck wouldn’t cusp players do it to simply get cut and seek employment elsewhere?

Sure it’s a risky proposition, there is no guarantee that they would get signed to another team, but it does happen.