ColdBlueNorth

I got beat up so bad when I posted that I did not like the Maybin pick and jokingly called him "Maybe" because his stats were not consistent in college. With his size he was a reach, and on top of that he held out for more money. A few folks really wanted us to take Orakpo - as of now, looks like they were spot on. Since it is interesting to look back on predictions and such by our accumulated brain trust of posters.... here is where we fade back in time to the pick and the post.... http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/index.php?...6&hl=Maybin

I have high-hopes for Spiller too - he has some of the intangibles that the Titan Chis Johnson had coming into the league (elusiveness, power, and lots of speed). Sounds like he has his head on straight and for a rookie these days that is saying something.

Left Tackle is certainly a question mark and going with a luxury pick at #1 will either show the talent evaluation skills of this staff or a continuation of bad decisions that have plagued us for the past decade. They did pick up a solid blocking veteran tight end that can help on that side. I am really curious about the middle of the line - Wood was solid before his injury and Levitre appeared to get stronger or just better with his technique as the year progressed. I remember Andy getting too high out of his break and being bull-rushed into the pocket early in the year. There is potential here, even if we fans are the only ones that can see it.

He played 5 games at LT because of the injury to Gaither. He was actually pretty nimble for such a big guy, I kind've thought he would struggle more than he did. He looked good, but Baltimore does like him on the right as a mauler for their run game so I understood the move back when Gaither was his linemate got healthy.

DeHaven is a good ST coach. Back then he was working with some pretty low-end draft talent and aging stars because the Bills were doing their best to hold onto the old-guard. I believe that the Hawks finished in the middle of the pack on Special Teams, but a lot can factor into it. I would think that he would jump at the opportunity to coach a unit that has finished #1 (3-times the last 5 years).

Jauron wasn't a sexy hire. But wait, that argument leads us to conclude.... No one is asking for a sexy hire, we were promised a proven HC that could turn the franchise around. What we got was a guy that could not turn Georgia Tech around. Good grief... there is no silver lining behind this cloud unless assistant coaches that are better than Gailey fall in our laps, or aliens switch his brain with one from a competent NFL coach.

true that.

The story did not say that Nix was uncomfortable with Marty, it said that Ralph was. What Ralph wants goes I guess.

I am officially on that bandwagon now Promo - unfortunately. It was nice when I believed that Ralph was simply disinterested and dysfunctional... now I realize that he is a meddling, dysfunctional, source of this team's demise. Crappers... maybe when he passes away his wife will sell the team to the Kelly-consortium.

It tells me that Nix wanted Marty and the antiquated, xenophobic, control-freak, sphincter of an owner squashed the idea. The report, if true, does not say that Nix was not comfortable with Marty, it said that Ralph wasn't. Nix is a good friend of Marty. Marty knows enough about football and the league to stand up to Ralph and/or Russ if they go in a bad direction. Ralph likes spineless yes-men.

THUD!!! Seriously? WTF have we ever done to you Ralph to deserve your destructive meddling? tor⋅ture  /ˈtɔrtʃər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [tawr-cher] Show IPA noun, verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing. Use torture in a Sentence See images of torture noun 1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty. 2. a method of inflicting such pain. 3. Often, tortures. the pain or suffering caused or undergone. 4. extreme anguish of body or mind; agony. 5. a cause of severe pain or anguish.

The owner of the Vikes "Zygi" is not exactly known for being a big spender and since Denny Green was let go they have had some truely underwelming coaches in both Mike Tice and Brad Childress; however the Viking organization has done one thing very well and that is drafting and acquiring free agent talent. They have also had quite a few more playoff opportunities than the Bills so they must be doing something right. They built a team from the ground up, plugged in a few holes with some solid free agents and draft picks, but were missing a QB that could take them to the next level. Not wanting to wait for Tarvaris to develope while the team aged around him they went after Favre. That looks like it is working for them. So the biggest difference between these two clubs that I can see since I have lived out here for quite a while is evaluating and acquiring talent - both free agent and draft. And where we have a history of letting quality players walk who would have stayed with our franchise for reasonable raises, the Vikes have a history of signing our quality players for the salaries they deserve. Perhaps perspective coaches are most turned off from the likely scenario of developing key players that can take this team to the next level only to watch the ownership let them walk.

At least there is a chance for a better team - unlike the Jauron era where we knew we would suck. Nix will get it done... have faith.

Give em a shot... a little love from North of the Border may just be what we need:)

I am not as worried as I was at the beginning of the season, when I felt we were just wasting time with the Jauron extension and that the team was doomed this year - turned out to be true. At least there will be change, and I do think that Nix has one of the coordinators in mind of the teams that are actually deeper into the playoffs, but that is no secret. Still too early to panic, but how bad can Ralph be... I mean with likes of Jerry Jones, Snyder, Adams, and Kraft out there I would think that there is some kind of meglomaniac test that all these owners have to pass to join the club.

Classic.

Don't take it personal bud - you have been around waay to long for that. Perhaps you know a thing or two more about Russ Brandon's role in the organization that most do. I readily admit that I do not, but our coaching search has turned into quite a laughing stock on most sports stations and websites - it is a bit embarrassing. I said it before, I will say it again. I knew what Dick Jauron could accomplish and had zero hope of any success for the team. I am still excited that there will be a new start at OBD. At least it is change, and change means at the bare minimum an opportunity for things to get better. Chaos breeds opportunity.

Although there is certainly some self-interest on the players side in regards to free agency, I do not believe that the NFL does act anything like a single business entity although they do have some business interests and revenues that they share. It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court rules on this. Neither side is hurting and it is the fans that get jobbed in the end by hold-outs, black outs, union strikes, higher prices, or simply being held hostage year after year by threats of relocating.

I think you are spot on in this assessment. I can only base my own opinion on the various articles and quotes I have heard, but Ralph has certainly circled the wagons to the point of being downright xenophobic. I think that happens with age as well, often folks get less and less trusting of those they do not know and at the same time their circle of known commodities dwindles and ages beyond effectiveness. PTR's protests aside, it is apparent that Russ Brandon has some sway over Ralph or he would not have enjoyed a rise from marketing, to GM, and then to not only survive the latest organizational enema, but rise to CEO. If anyone can convince Ralphy to do the right thing he is in a position to do so. If he cannot, or is complicate in the last few years of terrible draft and personnel decisions then he should have been flushed with the rest of the crew to usher in needed change. If he is merely a guy trying to keep the wheels from falling off the wagon then I wish him better success than he has had to date, and better luck bringing in folks that Ralph does not "know".

Actually.... quite funny I think for the last few years they have just propped Moore up on the sidelines and Peyton has been running the show. "Here Tom, just hold these papers like this".

So basically we are looking for a coach who has the balls and moxy to take this team to the next level? Can all these candidates be that scared of the bar that Jauron set over his tenure? If that is the case who wants those skirt-wearing Mary's to coach our team? I am not panicking as some folks seem to think - not really in my nature, but I always thought Ralph's reputation was mostly rumor... not so sure about that anymore if thats the thing thats scaring candidates away. Maybe Russ Brandon will write his memoirs exposing the dirt at OBD someday. You know, like those folks who served in the White House with Bush when his regime came to and end. I might even read something like that - the drama that unfolded before the Maybin selection... They'll find someone, and most folks will not be happy with the selection.

I felt the same way with B Shotty, although their team is in the playoffs his playcalling against the Bills left a bit to be desired. When your running back is running all over us, you drop Sanchez back and pass into the teeth of our defense - the secondary... not smart much:). Not sure if that says anything more about the Jets or more about how weak the AFC East was this year. Just getting a bit embarrassing when the available coaches with HC experience quickly turn down the team, and now coordinators are not even coming in to hear what the Bills front office is willing to offer. The reputation of OBD front office and owner must be just great... in coaching circles (sarcasm there - just to head off the flaming from those looking for a quick fix to their abuse needs)

True that... the sky is falling is running rampant. I was really only trying to understand his role in the organization better. If Ralph is truely the only issue at OBD, then god-speed him along the way so we can usher in a new golden age for the Bills franchise. Every once and a while there are posts that appear to shed some light on the inner-workings of OBD through a variety of nameless sources. I guess I am like everyone else just scouring the board to learn what I can. It also is apparent that when folks get stressed out we turn on our own pretty quickly. I usually look forward to Promo's post just in deference to the Rocket Ship 7 reference alone, and I know he has been posting for a very long time. Perspective and reality dictates that we realize that as fans we are merely a flea on the a$$ (sorry Scott) of the elephant trying to steer it by screaming and yanking hairs. What will be will be, but I will still root for this team because I am probably as neurotic and pathetic as the rest of you. We are all mad because we realize that Ralph realizes this and laughs his way to the bank on our loyalty dime.

I thought that Kelly and other team media representatives said that the plan for succession was in place - must not be a very convincing plan.

Yeah... I've been around for that. I followed that statement you highlighted with the following: "That being said, I would not be so naive as to think that I know what motivates Ralph in particular. Dick said he could correct things and Ralph gave him free reign even though the signs of disaster were evident to even the most casual observers. It was not until another crotchety old rival from the NFL owner's Country Club gave him the finger that he actually cared enough to blow the mess up." I know that sniping is a regular past time here, but I am really just looking for some new material.