8-8 Forever?

So many things work against the success of this franchise. 1) Loyal, but poor, absentee owner who might pretty much be out of it -- discourages top management talent from coming 2) poor location -- today's rock star "skill-position" pro athlete doesn't want to live in "Akron, Ohio" during the best days of their career - lets face it, for a young sharp person at the top of their game (whatever it may be) , WNY has very little to offer 3) worn down, old stadium and facilities -- players would rather be in great facilities - the Ralph is ancient 4) Revenue potential is capped -- the operations do not generate nearly what better positioned franchises earn on non - gate receipts, limiting what can be spent on coaches, facilities, scouting . Just seems to me that the franchise can be competitive absolutely, but not terribly successful unless it drafts incredibly well and catches lightning in a bottle as in and around the SB years. Other than that stretch, the team has only been competitive. When 31 other options exists for players and coaches, how does this franchise attract the best talent?

The Polian firing was probably it, as Polian probably could have rebuilt the team after the Kelly era ended. The transition would have been made via the draft. Gimmick signings of guys like rob johnson and flutie would have been replaced by good drafting and less flashing FA signings. Polian's firing was the beginning of the franchise's "death period", and the JAX playoff loss was the end of that beginning. From '96 on, Bills have been essentially headless at QB and relatively ineffective in the front office. The WNY area being unattractive as a place to live added to it, and 15 years of bad drafting and no free agents have brought us to where we are today... absolutely nowhere and completely out of the NFL conversation. Sad but true. Need to lose out and draft a QB.

FItz = Hasselbeck. absolutely. that is a good thing

Yep that is probably the way it will go. Our #1 draft pick instant millionaires become some other team's situational stars at the league minimum.

Fan support is only there when the team is competitive. Half this years home games are not even close to being sellouts. Where are the fans? Look at history. Lots of blackouts in WNY. Gate revenue for a game at the Ralph is the lowest in the league. The other owners, who get half of that, are not happy about that i can assure you. They will support any move out of the beat up, low revenue RWS. Only an "angel" who is willing to take a huge financial hit to keep the team at "rock pile II" will outbid all others who want to move it. Television and luxury suite revenue is where it's at in the NFL. Ticket revenue is in third place, best case.

We get a miracle pick off Jason Avants foot to beat Eagles, we get a truly miracle pick six off Dareus' f ing head to beat Pats when Fred miraculously is down at the one instead of leaving Brady 2 minutes to come back and win the game. We miraculously got John Beck instead of Grossman v then-screwed up and decimated Redskins and won that one. Should have been 3-4 going into the first Jets game by rights. We all got fooled again, just like 2008. Actually 2011 will be turning out worse than 2008, which no one thought possible. They will lose out now. Amazing. from 5-2 to 5-11. Looks like another NFL first for the Bills. I doubt any team in history has done that.

Come on man, it's Buffalo, NY we are talking about here. "if the shoe fits, wear it"

Agreed. Just keep things the way they are. No top GM or coach or FA is coming here until long term ownership is in place. Why take a job when your boss is one stopped 90-something heartbeat away from getting replaced. Everyone in the league knows the Bills are a place where your career goes to die.

When he sells the team, the team is probably gone. No sane business guy pays $800m for a business and tries to make a return on this investment in WNY. So choose your poison. These Bills or no Bills. Even if they sell to someone who keeps the team here, no top FAs or coaches want to be in f ing buffalo, ny , with its high taxes , crap weather and dull nightlife (unless you are a college kid). So take it for what it is and be glad you have it. I think Gailey is the answer because he can work with just about any kind of talent.

Why would a top coach or top FA come to the Bills when the next owner will clean house and start over anyway? Answer, they won't, so its Chan, Buddy and the draft until Ralph is gone. Of course, when Ralph is gone, so is the team. Sucks to be a Bills fan.

Let it go.

Top FAs don't want to be with this franchise. Top draft choices get the heck out as soon as they can. The place is poison. When ownership and therefore the entire FO/coaching staff basically hang on each Ralph Wilson heartbeat, who would want to go work for someone who could be replaced anytime. Then schemes change and the whole thing starts over again. People like security. they want to know what they are getting. In the Bills, a top coach or player just does not know what they are getting. The team could easily relocate the season after Ralph dies. To another country potentially. If you were a player or a coach at the top of your game, would YOU want to join that franchise ? When 5 others will take you? Answer is no. So this team will be built on the draft, where the rookies are forced to play for the team for at least 5 years. So draft well Bills, that is your only hope.

Maybin is a situational pass rusher. That is it. Jets got him cheap, so that works. He never should have been drafted in the first 4 rounds, but he was. By Jauron. Let it go.

That is what pro athletes do. Smart. Merriman did it to.

I like what Chan and Nix are doing. Its tough when you lose a lot of key guys (McGee, Wood, Jackson, Bell/Hairston, Easley/Parrish/Jones) when your depth is still not set. If these guys can stay healthy next year and draft another 4 starters as they did this year, we will be just fine.

This is a pretty good point. Mix in another OC with Chan still the HC .. that makes sense to me.. who is a candidate from the Chan tree who has been in the league long enough to know you have to run the ball to succeed in the NFL?

The teams with the most injuries suffer the most, usually, so this has been another tough year. If they can find four more starters in the coming draft they may start to turn it around. Only through the draft can the team improve. No top tier coaches or players will be coming to this franchise until long term ownership and direction is in place. The Bills unfortunately are still a place you either start your career or end it.

Not sure what we have right now. I hope the loss of Fred and Eric Wood and Easley and Parrish and Evans and Jones has made a difference. Not completely sure about Fitz.. whatever. the draft will be interesting. We still have 4 rookies starting on defense and that is scary.

That play reminded me of Fred's fumble against the Jets. Completely changed the game .

Probably so. I don't see the team staying. Just doesn't make any sense to me, unless Ralph locks the franchise into a 10 year, huge lease on the Ralph that is not cancelable upon his death.. something that would run counter to his "sell to the highest bidder" statements

Yep. Don't know if the Bad Bills or the Good Bills show up this week.

no

+1. Let it go. this kid is going to be great.

Weather is a big variable, as well. Most over 50 just say.. um.. no. Add the potential for really cold weather to the drunks and general mayhem and most just leave it to the 20-somethings

simple. nfc west vs abc east. college teams could beat nfc west teams