thewildrabbit

Thought they already did that with the trade for Williams. Others can stop fretting over the Bills drafting an OT with that #9 pick, as this team has shown they prefer dumpster diving for other teams rejects for the line. Like they did when they signed another Williams for 5.5 mill guaranteed.

Now I gotta wonder if Tampa will draft Mike Evans, as they have no other WR besides Vincent Jackson

Couldn't land the Gang banger DeSean, or the 9 time arrested Britt, and since they already jettisoned the legally challenged Da'Rick. The Bills were in fact determined to land a troubled WR. ...could this be the end of days for Stevie J, so the team can save money by dumping a (albeit no longer really good) proven player?... or will Williams brother simply stab Marrone ?.. could then SJ end up in NE, Miami, Jets to screw over his former team...stay tuned

AJ won't be there in the third tho, perhaps Mettenberger or Murry might be, JMO

Both teams were playing in older, outdated stadiums in LA, and got sweetheart deals on new stadiums from their new cities as I recall. The Rams had to share the Anaheim stadium with the Angels, and that stadium is really not suited for a football team. The Raiders moved into the 70+ year old LA Coliseum which holds 100k seats, and Al Davis was complaining that he couldn't sell the stadium out. Usually about 20k short every game. Plus, he wanted club seating, and skyboxes which the commission wouldn't supply. There is a reason as to why that city doesn't currently have an NFL team. Both those old stadiums are still there, and both suck. If the city or some entity ever decides to build a new state of the art football stadium, then they might just attract an NFL team. JMO Anyway, here is hoping the Bills stay in Buffalo

I don't dislike Marrone, Whaley, or Brandon. i just dislike the clear, constant mistakes I keep seeing every year, and last year with all the new faces was no exception. My take is Marrone was brought in specifically because of his background with the offense, with the O line, and with developing QB's like Brees while at NO, and Nassib at Syracuse. Then if you see what happened with that line last season you simply can't come away feeling that the line indeed got better because of Marrone. When in fact every player regressed except Cordy Glenn, and I attribute some of that success to how poorly the rest of the line played. Meaning that the other players were so bad that the LT was never the real focal point of the opposing pass rush. This Marrone being thought of as an O line guru is eerily similar to thinking that Chan Gailey was a QB guru when in fact he was anything but that, and chose to put all his effort into a broken QB. I can only think that Marrone must feel he can resurrect Chris Williams into the player he once was, as in back when he was considered a #1 pick. Last year he graded 74th out of 81 OG's, and 76th at pass blocking. Otherwise, I have no idea what this FO can be thinking when they pay a player who should be a backup, 5.5 mill guaranteed. Makes no sense to me, unless of course the plan is to fail again this year. IMHO, EJ would be the man if given a three to five second window to make plays...instead of the two to three second window he had last season. I can tell you right now how it will end should that line stay the same. BTW, Dick Jauron was very highly thought of throughout the league as one of the hardest working coaches in the league. Now, if the man only had the brains to match that work ethic, and he had hired a decent NFL experienced OC.

I recall that when Marv Levy was asked who made the draft selections. He then stated that he left it up to the consensus, and later added that usually meant that Dick Jauron made the selections. It does seem rather far fetched to me that the director of football operations was promoted to chief executive officer without having his hand deeply involved in the football side of operations. That someone has had the job of overseeing the entire football side of things for that long, and the team continues to lose. Then gets promoted to CEO of the entire org after seven losing seasons. I don't believe I've ever seen anyone get promoted to the CEO position after so many years of failure....unless of course the owners definition of failure is different then the fans definition. Anyway, from my perspective the very same mindset that has plagued this team for so many years still has a hold on it. Bottom line here is I think Brandon is making a huge mistake in thinking he will land another job as CEO with another team or company after all this losing. There is a perfect window of opportunity to turn this thing around by changing the philosophy on how to build a winning team. This idea that the team can win with sub par players on either line is moronic. The Bills FO should take a long hard look at the Seahawks, Pete Carroll on how to build a winning team. That is of course, if they honestly want a winning team.

So, exactly who made the decisions on draft day, on free agent signings? The scouting people or the director of football operations? Did i say Ray Guy, I did didn't I

While I agree with the "I think that they did a pretty miserable job of assembling talent in that period." statement. While Modrak was the VP of college scouting, chief scout, Ray Guy was the VP of pro personnel, also in charge of the free agent scouting. Those two didn't make the final decisions on things like who gets drafted. However, I don't agree that Brandon is not accountable! Wasn't Brandon named director of football operations right next to Marv Levy in 2006? Then when Marv retired, Russ Brandon took over as de facto GM. Although his title didn't change, his share of the responsibility certainly did change in my view. Since Marv Levy stepped down, the name of the game has been shifting the blame around so nobody outside the org knows who to blame. I think it falls right on Brandon because the very same things that have been happening for the last decade are still happening. Stupidity seems to reign with no accountability for three years.

I know I'm in the minority on this one, as I think the Bills really really need to solidify more then just RT on that O line. Think about the current O line going full bore against the Bills D line, and what the end result would be...exactly. I see three positions that need upgrading, and some solid depth behind the starters. Rather then some random waiver wire pickups who may or may not be able to be an adequate backup. I wouldn't be upset if the Bills drafted Taylor Lewan and had him play RT. To me it would be such a benefit to be able to replace the LT without much drop off should a serious injury occur to Glenn. Then the prospect of having a solid RT to protect that side should opposing teams choose to move their best pass rushers from left side to right side would be huge upgrade. However, i would rather see the Bills trade back to around 15-17 and draft OT Zack Martin who can play any position on that line. Meanwhile picking up an extra second round pick with that trade. Then drafting TE A Seferian-Jenkins or TE Troy Niklas. Then with the second, second round pick draft OG Gabe Jackson, or David Yankey. Doing this would really help build a better line to protect all those second year QB's

Hi Kirby If GM put out a bad product, then people would stop buying their cars, and then ultimately they would go out of business. The Buffalo Bills have put a bad product on the field for fourteen years and are still making a good profit for the one owner. Russ Brandon & Buffalo Bills philosophy.... How to win big by losing cheaply http://espn.go.com/e...eap-paying-wins Great article on how losing so much has kept the Bills in the green. "In the NFL structure, a cheap team that loses might have more profits than an expensive team that wins. Victory is nice, to be sure, but losing cheap can be remunerative." My favorite part, "money that is not spent on players goes into the pockets of the owner and his relatives." There is real, hard reason as to why the team loses every year. Bring in 100 million dollar DE to sell tickets. We need a LT, but a star RB will sell tickets. Bring in TO to sell tickets. Sok guys, keep defending the man who sucks you into buying season tickets every year... all the while knowing the team isn't going anywhere. Its all a charade, a blatant pretense, deception....something so full of pretense as to be a travesty.

You started this conversation with some questions along with some exuberance about the new coaching staff changes, as a result I merely gave my opinion. If you want to feel good about the upcoming season, then go right ahead.

I look at things as a realist, and my optimism went out the window with last years mistakes. You mean HC Doug Marrone the supposed O line guru? The ex NFL O linemen, ex NFL O line coach, ex NFL OC for the Saints. The same guy that was "hands on" the practice field last off season coaching up the replacement players for Andy Levitre. The two players that were outright cut by week six. Then the rest of the players on that line all regressed in their play from the 2012 season, save LT Glenn. You mean Nathaniel Hackett, the guy who called more running plays then anyone else in the league? Kinda sad that 71% were up the middle behind Eric Wood because the rest can't run block to save their lives, or so it appeared. As for the O line, did you happen to read over my previous posts, as I answered this in previous posts in this thread.

I just don't see what you see, in what is going to turn this team into a good offense with just some new assistant coaches. Is Jim Hostler going to suit up and block for EJ? Are these new assistants going to making the decisions on further free agents or on draft day? Free agents, Anthony Dixon was brought in because of his play on special teams -Keith Rivers special teams and run stopping- CB Corey Graham special teams play- Brandon Spikes- a 2 down run stopping specialist. So because HC Marrone refuses to replace his good friend the special teams coach, who stunk it up badly last year, as the Bills went from 9th to 30th on special teams. Then the Bills defense also was 30th against the run last season is the reason for the 2 down LBer. The biggest disappointment in free agency signing (to me) this off season was a former #1, pick 14 Chris Williams by the Bears at OT in 2008. This signing was called a head scratcher by some. Called a bit surprising by others with 5.5 million guaranteed . Williams is someone who is one of those guys we heard Buddy Nix has an answer for if they don't get the job done at tackle. He was moved inside to OG, couldn't get it done there either, so the Bears outright cut him. Picked up by the Rams and graded as their worst player on the line last year. This signing literally reeks of the likes of Cornell Green / Colin Brown, and I can only wonder if he too will be cut by week six. Just for debate, I do think Schwartz took the Buffalo job for the very same reason Pettine took the job. Nine of eleven starters are all first and second round draft picks. A 100 million dollar DE, along with arguably the very best D line in the league, two first round CB's. The #2 team in sacks last year. The #1 team in the NFL in tackles. The #4 team in the NFL against the pass. The defense is loaded with talent and any defensive coach in the league would jump at the chance to coach them. Schwartz will more then likely use the Bills as a jumping off point just like Pettine, or perhaps take over should Marrone really fall on his face. I still see no offense again this year simply because that line isn't going to properly protect any of those 2nd year QB's. Will the Bills be able to beat a few bad teams this year like they did last year, probably. Will they be able to beat the good teams, doubtful. I'm actually Zack Martin, and hoping the Bills trade back while picking up and extra 2nd rounder. Then draft me at #16, so I won't have to play for those smelly fish. Meanwhile, in the second round then be able to grab TE Troy Niklas (my teammate) Plus, with the extra second pick either OT Morgan Moses, Tiny Richardson, Gabe Jackson or Cyril Richardson. I'll be fine at RT or at OG. In fact, I can play any position on that line.

You would think that if NF is truly a dump, that the land would come cheap. Buy it all up, and then tear all it down to rebuild a state of the art complex that would be a super bowl draw.

Exactly! Can't say it any plainer for the Brandon drum beaters I'll never forget PTR's utter disbelief back in 2010 when supposed QB guru Chan Gailey fell on his face so hard his first year at 4-12. How on gods green earth could anyone be worse then Mr 7-9, Dick Jauron? This, after new GM Buddy Nix told the world "You're going to think I'm crazy, but we're not that far away" You know what, he was absolutely correct with that statement. The problem was... he made all the wrong moves, with his HC hiring, the players he brought in, the players he drafted. All this, after he gloated he chose to get some sleep when free agency opened that year. He then made the wrong decision on a FA right tackle. Holy crap could that 2010 draft have been any worse? Drafting a RB when the team was desperate for a LT, and then drafting a DT at #2 when TE Gronk was there, or OT Zane Beadles was there. It went on and on.... three years and flush! Fast forward to today, and what do you get when you hire a mediocre college coach with a bunch of inexperienced assistants. Answer, another mediocre season, or worse! Yea, i suppose 6-10 is worse then 7-9. The only really good hire was DC Mike Pettine, and every Bills fan knew the defense was going to improve greatly with someone who knew what to do with all that talent. Sadly, Pettine only used the Buffalo Bills as a stepping stone, and bailed at the first opportunity that showed itself. In all probability this very same thing is going to happen again with Schwartz. People are forgetting that Whaley made the exact same stupid mistakes with the O line in OG's Colin Brown, Sam Young that Nix made back in 2010 with Cornell Green. A player paid 2 mill per to start at RT who was subsequently benched and then cut after week six. Same as Brown, Young both cut after week six. Then the QB situation was also a fiasco in 2010 with the chosen starter cut after three games. This time around the team chose not to keep a viable veteran QB on the active roster, and went with three rookies. How on earth do these highly paid professionals make such incompetent decisions? Now we Bills fans get to watch a few years of young Bills QB's getting knocked all over until they their lose their confidence, and become another JP or TE. Oh that's right I forgot, they sucked from the start. Tell me seriously, would the current Bills O line stand a chance against the current Bills D line? Not in my view, not even close. How would that Bills defense look going full tilt against the Bills offense with all those 2nd year QB's? Annihilation, complete obliteration? Until those two line are capable of competing on an equal basis, then the most important position on the field will always be in constant jeopardy. Six different regime changes the last 14 years, seven head coaches, and no better then 8-8 since 2000. Last year 6-10 under another new regime with some of the same, lame stupid mistakes we have all endured over, and over...so whats really changed? Like I said, just because Brandon & co hired some new people in various positions. Doesn't mean those new people know what they are doing, all it means is they are new.

Looking at the history of the draft with this team, and knowing that almost everything drafted past the third round is a long shot to even become a starter. Even then, I can't think of any third rounders that have made any kind of impact the last decade as a long term starter. So, basically the Bills have two rounds to get it right on whomever they draft. You and I both know this team isn't about to draft an OG or an OT with the #9 or #41 picks. The team simply has to many holes to fill on offense to build a viable top performing team with only two picks. So, the end result is three young second year QB's all trying to learn, and develop while running for their lives. How has that same type of scenario worked out over the last 14 years? Like I said, the old thinking that permeates this franchise still hasn't changed. The best part of that is when all his lackeys also get the boot. Lastly, just because Brandon & co hired some new people in various positions. Doesn't mean those new people know what they are doing, all it means is they are new.

Nothing has really changed, the old thinking that permeates this franchise still hasn't changed. I don't hate the man, as I see things he is just doing what Mr Wilson asked of him, his job. Now he is going to be doing the same things for the Wilson family. My thinking is that while Brandon might be a good guy, and the type that others really like...that doesn't win many football games, as Chan Gailey found out. What wins championships is people with true football acumen, along with the knowledge of what it encompasses to build a championship team. All this hodgepodge hiring of "maybe" this guy has it, or perhaps this guy has been around the league long enough, simply isn't getting it done. I could wait until after the draft to start my seasonal pissing into the wind against the perennial optimists. However, with that FA Williams signing I just don't see anything changing much, even with the draft. Lots of people see this team as being "close". I don't, not on offense.

To those that think this franchise is going to suddenly change its course because the owner has passed, they need to think again. Brandon still has 100% obligation to the Wilson family and will steer the ship on the exact same course it has been on over the past decade. Its profits first, and keep the ship afloat. Should the team manage to win some games along the way...that's fine. Brandon's job as I see it is to find ways to keep the stadium filled, and keep everything in order the same as its always been. In my view the only way this franchise really changes to any degree is when new ownership takes control. With that, I'm hoping new ownership sweeps the losing culture out, from the ball boys to the very top.

Donald Trump...

From rotoworld "Indiana WR Cody Latimer is also in the house at One Bills Drive. Each team is allotted 30 pre-draft visits. WGR 550 Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia considers Niklas to "definitely" be a fit for the Bills and could see the team targeting the tight end with its second-round pick. Niklas tips the scales at 6-foot-6 1/2 and 270 pounds and is arguably the top all-around, complete tight end in the draft." http://www.rotoworld.com/sports/nfl/football?r=1&rw=1 good stuff

Naa, not yet. They are playing each other to see which will blink first on the money. DeSean just got a big contract and he was saying he wanted more to the Redskins. The guy is a memememememe type player. As for Britt, he signed with the Rams

The Bills had an owner who's primary concern was keeping the Bills in Buffalo, and in order to keep the stadium filled he needed to discount the seat prices.The Bills currently have some of the cheapest NFL seats in the league, if not the cheapest. New ownership is going to look at that and think even if the stadium sells out every game I can still make more money elsewhere by raising the seat prices to the norm. While I love what Mr Wilson did in keeping the Bills in Buffalo, and making as certain as he could that they would stay in Buffalo at least seven more years. I'm not sold on how this team is currently going about building a winning team. So far I haven't seen any real change in the philosophy of building a dominate D line with 100 million dollar players vs trying to band-aid the O line with sub par players. They let their best pass blocker leave in free agency last year and replaced him with utter garbage players The Bills have only two decent starters on that line, and no real solid depth. The most important position on the field is the QB, and the Bills don't appear to be overly concerned with protecting him very well. The coaching was very suspect last season, the play calls, the scheme. The outright moronic decisions on who they replaced Levitre with, and no vet back up QB. 6-10 SSDY. Winning cures everything! If the team was winning then they could raise ticket prices. In order to make this team more lucrative and allow the new owners to keep the team in Buffalo. The FO needs to rethink the current process of building a playoff team. JMO

What is wrong with some of you? Until I see progress in terms of wins...its the same ole, lame ole Bills we have known for 14 years. It is my belief that Russ Brandon has been in control of the football side of the team as de facto GM since Marv Levy retired. How else could he ascend to the highest position of authority on the team if he had no dealings other then marketing. Then was given complete control of the entire team as CEO sometime last year. So, I see Brandon in being control of the football side since the end of the 2007 season. Even if that is not the case, and you want to believe he is only responsible for the last season. Still 6-10. When I see other teams with new head coaches and staffs make the playoffs or at least have a winning season. 4-12 *Chip Kelly -Philly to 10-6 playoffs with the backup QB 5-11 *Bruce Arians-Arizona to 10-6 brings in a vet QB, and missed the playoffs because in the same division with Seattle & San Fran 2-14 *Andy Reid -KC 11-5 brings in a vet QB, and playoffs 7-9 *Mike McCoy -San Diego 9-7 stabilizes the O line, and resurrected a QB most had given up on, result playoffs 10-6 Marc Trestman -Chicago 8-8, with the starting QB hurt a lot, gets to a decent record with the backup QB 6-10 Doug Marrone- Buffalo 6-10 5-11 Rob Chudzinski 4-12 fired* 2-14 Gus Bradley 4-12 at least they won 2 more games. So, out of eight new head coaches four really improved their respective teams, and the other half not very good. Its my take that the Bills could have finished with a much better record had they found a decent veteran QB, and replaced LG Levitre properly. This year they find another dumpster player to fill in at LG. Bringing in a 100 million dollar DE, and 5 cent O linemen doesn't win many games in my view. Bottom line, until this team has a winning season I'm not going to give the marketing man and props for filling the stadium. I wanna see wins. This is my opinion, and not going to debate it.

The Colts knew what they had in Luck, and wouldn't have traded him for 4 first round picks. The Bills have had their shots over the last few years, or perhaps Nix preferred to roll the dice, and hope someone like Cam Newton falls to him. OTOH, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, Andy Dalton were all available, and Nix didn't think they were worthy....yet he pulls the trigger on EJ. Anyway, more about the Texans trading out of #1 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24504817/report-texans-trying-hard-to-trade-first-overall-draft-pick