Archives for January 4, 2017

'It's smart, critical decision-making – the kind that doesn't produce results overnight – and not the organizational flowchart on a wall inside the team's headquarters, that will get the Bills back to contention.'

'Assurances aside, an overwhelming sense of skepticism prevails over a franchise with a spotty drafting history, continued uncertainty at quarterback, and a general manager who had difficulty explaining his exact role during a 40-minute end-of-season news conference on Monday.'

'Reich, 55, received high marks this season for his work with Philadelphia rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. He spent the previous two seasons as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers.'

'Reich is credited, along with Pederson and QB coach John DeFilippo, with helping to get Carson Wentz ready on very short notice this season.'

'The playoff drought is a drag on all the team's fans, but especially young fans such as Dagonese who have experienced nothing but stagnation and futility in their lifetime when it comes to the Bills. The team's failure to crack the AFC's six-team playoff field from 2000 through 2016 has created a cynicism among the Bills' youngest generation of fans, which could become an increasing problem in coming years since no end of the drought is in sight.'

'It’s hard to believe his statements to be true, though, when Whaley was in the dark on Ryan’s firing and interim coach Anthony Lynn didn’t make the call to bench quarterback Tyrod Taylor for Week 17. Both of those developments should be concerning for everyone involved.'

'After the events of last week and especially after Whaley’s press conference on Monday, it’s never been more obvious that the Bills—who haven’t been to the postseason since the end of the 1999 season and have finished above .500 only twice over the past 17 seasons—need an organizational plan, a blueprint, of how they will seek to become a winning franchise. They’ve shown no indications that they have one.'

''For the second consecutive season, Buffalo had three rushers with over 500 yards. It is the first time the Bills have accomplished that in franchise history and the first time it has happened for any team in the NFL in back-to-back seasons since Detroit in 1971 and 1972. LeSean McCoy led the team with 1,267 followed by 580 for Tyrod Taylor and a career-high 577 yards for Mike Gillislee.'

'“Back then, we’d have to talk to the Pegulas, but we decided, as a group, that we would make it a committee approach and they would have the final say,” Whaley said. “This time the ownership has faith in me and I have faith in myself. We’ll see where it goes. And I understand the gravity of the situation and I understand that it’s falling square on my shoulders and I accept the challenge.”'