BillsfaninFl

This just in: Ralph doesn't give a flying f*** about fan frustration until around April. Between January and April a modest investment will be made in jorneymen free agents, along with the usual hype about draftees. Just enough will be spent to sucker enough fans to buy tickets. These, and the others who buy their tickets thinking it will keep the Bills in Buffalo, will fill Ralph's piggy bank nicely and another year of just enough "hope" will start. Then in November, we will all be saying "we were fleeced again." The only good new is that "misery loves company" and there are a lot of us.

Don't look now, but we ARE starting the young guys. It's just that there are so many of them that they can't all play at once.

You got that right. Can you think of an example of an absentee owner who cared about his property or product (other than to make a profit from it)? There can't be very many of them. But Ralph sends his best from Detroit.

Belicheat's arrogant and disasterous decision was the highlight of my weekend. Just when I thought I would be depressed all Monday, the sun came out from behind the clouds (which is hard to do that late in the evening) the birds were singing and the pain from the Bills loss was gone. For a moment, I wondered if this was real or if I had fallen asleep on the couch. But the remote fell on the floor, so I knew it had really happened.

Great analysis. There is no doubt that this was a post that was thought through at length and is interesting to ponder. While I don't share your opinions on everyone, I respect your conclusions. Observing the number of players who have left the Bills and are playing well on other teams, it's hard for me to accept that there is not a lot of talent among those who remain in Buffalo. I keep coming back to the conclusion that many of our players are being mishandled (regarding development or the way they are used on the field). Think about teams that have made extreme turnarounds from one year to the next. There have been several during the last decade. While they may have experienced coaching changes and a dozen player changes, there were few mass exoduses. Players that seemed inadequate suddenly looked much better after the other changes around them. I continue to believe (and hope) that a modest number of changes is all that is required. However, how do you cut or trade an owner?

Hey, don't pick on OJ. Even while in jail he is searching for the real killer.

As with any job applicant, a candidate for head coach must have a combination of abilities. While no one is perfect, all coaches are stronger in some areas than others. It might be evaluating player talent, helping players to develop, calling offensive or defensive plays, building a game strategy, motivating players, game clock management, hiring assistant coaches that have strengths in his areas of weakness, etc. A number of recent posts have asked who would be the best HC for the Bills. But few responses have indicated what comparative strengths make their choices good candidates. Hiring a big name HC doesn't automatically mean success unless his strengths will be deciding factors. So who do you believe would be good for Buffalo and WHY?

Do you actually believe that GMs alone decide on draft picks? Coaches get a very large vote on who will be picked and therefore share in the credit or blame for a team's competitiveness during their tenure. If there is an exception, it is in Oakland, where a coach is not given much power at all. As I said, I believe Gruden is a good coach, but not among the elite. No argument about Polian. He is one of the best. Ralph's greatest sin may be in dumping him.

That's funny... but sad.

This question has been raised before, not too long ago. Recently, I have been as critical as anyone about the Bills administration, but I cannot imagine hoping the team will lose any game. You can be an unhappy fan, but no fan wants their team to lose.

Doug used to come over to my place for breakfast. Well, actually, he wasn't there in person. It was just his photo on my box of cereal.

Gee. Does that mean that the Bills have to score 9 points to beat them? The NFL is so unfair.

It's too bad they don't use a point system like hockey, with the additional change that you can earn points by being tied or ahead at the half. Our defense would have been responsible for a number of "wins or ties" this year. Please don't do the hot asphalt thing. It doesn't go well with chicken wings.

Come on! Even Jauron doesn't believe the Bills have a snowball's chance in hell to make it to 8 and 8.

Right on. 10 reasons why Vick would not do well in Buffalo: 1. He has been out of the NFL for two years and has not really returned to his former abilities. (That's why Phiadelphia has played him so little.) 2. He's a little older now and has not been able to keep in the condition required to "not lose a step." 3. through 10. He would be in the Bills organization. He would therefore be coached poorly, not used to showcase his abilities, etc. (This applies whether DJ is still here or has been replaced by the next bargain basement staff.)

Carucci must have come home to visit family in Buffalo. He feels the community's pain and is wishing something good will happen.

Some excellent points. My comments are: Wilson blew it when he hired Donahoe, and since then has become the east coast version of Al Davis. Owners highly involved in their teams tend to ruin their teams. It's time to hire a top pro football administration that has the power to make the moves they know will build a winner. If this is done, the rest will take care of itself. Good coaches, talent scouts, trainers, players and a winning attitude will be part of the future.

I don't understand why people are high on Gruden. I believe he is a good coach, but not among the best. He inherited a super team built and trained by Tony Dungy and company. They were already a top contender when Gruden walked in the door. But look at the decline in the years that followed, leading to his being fired. In the meantime, Tony went over to the Colts and built and trained another top contender.

Exactly. The only HC job worse than being in Buffalo is Oakland. We will get an assistant coach for low money and some people will be saying "bring back Jauron." (It hurts me just thinking about that.)

Right on. Hey guys, stop with the morality stuff. This is about the business of football. Mike Vick would be a bad choice for any rationale except to fill the stands. Now that Ralph knows the fans can be kept on board by signing one big name, he will do it again.

The following things will occur next year that will catapault the Bills into the playoffs. I know this because I consulted with my crystal (left) ball. 1. Negotiations between the players union and the owners will get so ugly that the union will strike. 2. Owners will bring in scabs to play the games. 3. Since both the union and owners do not recognize the names of any member of the Bills, this allows Ralph to sneak in with his regular roster, making the Bills more competitive. 4. To keep the fans from rioting, the owners will allow half the teams participate in the playoffs. Thus enabling the Bills to sneak in with our standard 7 - 9 record. 5. Even though we lose to Oakland in the first playoff game, there is a huge parade in downtown Buffalo, featuring the one additional player who was added... and helped us make it to the playoffs: Vinny Testaverde. Did I miss anything?

At least Herm would occasionally have something interesting to say in post-game interviews.

Huge potential? Surely you don't think T.O. will be a Bill next year. And what could change on this team to exploit his ability this year? Please note #3 on the list of sure things below: 1. death 2. taxes 3. T.O. gone after this year. 4. Bills draft at least two more DBs again. 5. Ralph rescinds "cash to the cap" policy in favor of "cash to less than the cap."

What makes you think being Bills GM would be more money than Jaws is making now as a network analyst? If you had a steady gig that made you a well-paid celebrity, would you want to chuck it for a brief stint as a GM for an owner that keeps one hand tied behind your back?

Okay, the first two are safe bets, but Jauron not wearing sunglasses? They make him almost look as if he has a clue.