Archives for January 2017

'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.”'

'As Whaley evaded most of the questions and gave himself plausible deniability for anything that would reflect poorly on his performance, I almost felt sorry for him … almost.'

'Whaley tried very hard to distance himself from any direct tie to Ryan's 31 regular-season games as the Bills' coach. Two of his more stunning revelations were that he "wasn't privy" to the reason ownership fired Ryan on Jan. 27 and that Ryan, on his way out the door, recommended the choice of Anthony Lynn as interim head coach.'

'Trying to make sense of it all? Join the club.'

'Whaley then stuck with the hot hand and used the word a sixth time later in regard team president Russ Brandon. Here's a look at all six uses.'

'"Everybody is on the same page," Pegula said. "We're busy busting our asses."'

'From the distance at which I sit it looks like right now the #Bills could give any franchise in sports a run for their money in dysfunction.'

'Welcome to the abyss, the new bottom. Wilson could be bumbling and petty, but you could always count on him to show up and take the heat. On Monday, Kim and Terry Pegula took the cowards' way out, sending out Whaley to lie through his teeth about last week's firing of head coach Rex Ryan.'

'But the capper was Monday afternoon, when the Pegulas hid away and sent their GM out to lie, dodge the tough questions and generally embarrass the organization – and by extension, the entire city.'

'I mean, you are what your record says you are. We’re 7-9. Anything that encompasses the football operation falls on my shoulders and I take full responsibility. We have to get better in every aspect of it.'

'"I didn't have the time to do that. So I was just always either getting popped up or hurt, injured here, never had an offseason. I think that's one of the biggest things. You've got to have a nice offseason and get as much work in as you can."'

'"I've got to weigh all my decisions. I've got to see how it plays out, what comes. I mean, there's so much that goes into it: team, money, quarterback, everything plays into it."'