dubs

Here's some tips: 1) Be extreme as possible…I can't overstate this 2) Claim you know when players will not succeed (which is almost always) 3) Want to get rid of EJ, CJ, SJ, Marrone, Hackett, Whaley, Brandon, insert any player here... 4) Get "peter panned" at least once 5) Choose up sides in the Flutie/Johnson debate 6) Have a plan for how to keep the Bills in Buffalo or be sure they will leave in 7 years 7) Drink often

It's a win/win for people to be so quick to form a negative opinion. If EJ (or Marrone) turns out to be terrible, then they can say, "I told you 2 years ago he was going to suck, look at how smart I am!!" If EJ (or Marrone) improve and get this team where we want it to be, then everyone is happy and no one will remember who said these guys would never be good. The bottom line is that no one knows how EJ, Marrone, Hackett, or anyone else will end up. There's been good moments and bad moments, EXACTLY what you would expect from guys getting their first gigs in the NFL. They were not drafted/hired because they were expected to make the playoffs or win the super bowl this year. They were hired because they have the potential to be very good and turn this loser aircraft carrier around.

Read the earlier posts that got to that point. People were calling for Marrone to be fired because of this year's performance. Saying that he's a terrible coach and the fact that we went 6 - 10 proved that. What Sage aptly pointed out and you seemed to miss is that there are other coaches, such as the one considered the best in the league in his time, who started his career off terribly. In fact, he had one winning season in his first 6 years in the league and his first two with each of his teams he went 5 - 11. The discussion had nothing to do with Ralph Wilson or any of the years prior to Marrone got here, get with it man.

Ok, I think you are in the minority then in attributing his entire success to Tom Brady.

Let's be fair. I think Brady was a huge factor in Bill's success, but he had to have the sack to keep Brady in there when Bledsoe was healthy. He's also learned to be a better coach. They went 11-5 when Brady was out for the season. So you have to give him his due credit, the guy can coach.

You are absolutely correct. Any season prior to this season means absolutely nothing in evaluating the current decision makers in the front office. That is unless you are evaluating Ralph Wilson, Bills Fans, or Rich Stadium, because that's the only thing that's been constant over that time.

I love this analogy. Take it a step further, The Genius Hoodie's first 6 years as a head coach: 1991 - Cleveland: 6 - 10 1992 - Cleveland: 7 - 9 1993 - Cleveland: 7 - 9 1994 - Cleveland: 11 - 5 1995 - Cleveland: 5 - 11 2000 - New England: 5 - 11 Total W-L record, 36 - 55 Great Analogy!

Really???? We don't want Marcel? Guy is an animal. Best lineman we have, by far. I know he missed three quarters in the last two games because of being late to meetings. That sucks and he needs to shape up, but come on. How many meetings have you been late to? Wanting to get rid of the best or second best player on your team is outrageous.

You might be right! I guess what I am saying is that I would love for the Bills to take a crack at getting him. Not necessarily saying that it's would happen, but I think it's a major hole that could be solved (if he stayed healthy, etc…) for Buffalo. I do think folks on this board overplay the "he wouldn't want to play in Buffalo" aspect. First, the guys only spend about 6 months out of the year here. Second, dollars talk more than anything else when it comes to these decisions. Agents have significant influence on the players and they want to get the max amount for their players as possible. Winning is a close second, which Buffalo is clearly deficient at. Third is the metro area, but I think it's a very distant third. There are always exceptions and the Carolina as Nicks's hometown aspect would definitely fit in that category. Good insight!

He stinks when he's hurt, he's super productive when he's healthy. He's also only 25 years old. Two years he's had over 1000 yards. One year he had 11 TDs. I think he's a risk, certainly. Otherwise he might not be available.

I think that would be a mistake. I mean, I like Nix even though I still have nightmares of him getting demolished all day in the BCS title game last year. It's just that I don't think it's that important of a need for us.

I don't necessarily disagree, I just don't think it's that high of a priority. This is such a passing league now, that stopping the run is less important that having a good pass defense. Here's some stats to consider: Top 5 Rush Defenses in 2013 as measured by yards per carry: 1) Jets 2) Arizona 3) St. Louis 4) Philly 5) Baltimore Only 1 playoff team there. Now, top 5 Passing Defenses as rated by Opposing QB Rating: 1) Seattle 2) Cincy 3) Buffalo 4) San Fran 5) Miami Three playoff teams there. I think the defense is in good shape, but definitely need to improve in all areas (to your point). Adding depth at D Tackle is never a bad thing.

A couple discussions about this topic or similar going on right now, here were my thoughts from another one: Here's my offseason checklist: Bills Free Agents (all predicated on each player agreeing to these things): 1) Re-sign Byrd. It's a must. He's a stud and a top-3 FS in the league, so pay him like one. 2) Re-sign Carrington for a low guarantee, incentive laden deal. 3) Chandler, eh..whatever. If he dies, he dies. Positions to fill in free-agency: 1) Bring in a Guard. Doesn't have to be an All-Pro, but someone who's average or slightly better. Just better than what we have. 2) Target Hakeem Nicks if he becomes available. He's young, productive, and exactly what Buffalo needs in terms of size. He's been hurt, but we have to take some risks. 3) Bring in a linebacker for depth. 4) Possibly a veteran QB backup. I think Thad is ok and wouldn't be disgusted if they went into the season with him as backup, but there's room for improvement. Draft: 1) Gotta focus on offense, early. I think we need another big WR, no matter what we do in FA. Not sure if I like the guys at the top of the first round for that, but in the first few rounds try and get a big WR. 2) Also in Round 2 or 3 target a high-upside QB. If Mettenberger or someone like that falls in Round 2 or 3 to Buffalo, he'd be a good insurance policy for EJ. 3) Get some Oline depth in Rounds 3 - 5. (not all the rounds, just get a guy somewhere in there).

Here's my offseason checklist: Bills Free Agents (all predicated on each player agreeing to these things): 1) Re-sign Byrd. It's a must. He's a stud and a top-3 FS in the league, so pay him like one. 2) Re-sign Carrington for a low guarantee, incentive laden deal. 3) Chandler, eh..whatever. If he dies, he dies. Positions to fill in free-agency: 1) Bring in a Guard. Doesn't have to be an All-Pro, but someone who's average or slightly better. Just better than what we have. 2) Target Hakeem Nicks if he becomes available. He's young, productive, and exactly what Buffalo needs in terms of size. He's been hurt, but we have to take some risks. 3) Bring in a linebacker for depth. 4) Possibly a veteran QB backup. I think Thad is ok and wouldn't be disgusted if they went into the season with him as backup, but there's room for improvement. Draft: 1) Gotta focus on offense, early. I think we need another big WR, no matter what we do in FA. Not sure if I like the guys at the top of the first round for that, but in the first few rounds try and get a big WR. 2) Also in Round 2 or 3 target a high-upside QB. If Mettenberger or someone like that falls in Round 2 or 3 to Buffalo, he'd be a good insurance policy for EJ. 3) Get some Oline depth in Rounds 3 - 5. (not all the rounds, just get a guy somewhere in there).

Marrone sucks, right? I mean he came into an ideal situation and screwed it up. Buffalo has an elite QB, years of great drafts that have built depth, great playmakers on the outside and a TE who's a matchup nightmare for defenses. He came into a situation where winning was the norm, a perennial playoff team. The coordinators basically were head coaches in waiting. Our GM has been around the block and has brought in quality free agents for years. Basically all he had to do was just get out of the way and he couldn't even do that. What a buffoon.

Well, watching the Pats lose again in the playoffs will be fun. That team is gross.

Gross offensive game. Gross

Odds on a Pi here on 3rd and 34?

WTF? Refs are terrible. Pats don't need any help. What a joke Here come the makeup calls

I actually think this is as easy as you could hope for. AFC West and NFC North are arguably two of the worst divisions in the NFL. None of those teams scare me.

The difference with this team from last years isn't necessarily on the stat sheet and on-field outcomes. On offense, that's largely been neutral (huge improvement on defense). The difference is that rather than the outcomes and performance being brought through players and coaches that largely were at their ceilings (Fitz, Gailey, Stevie), we have players that are presumably at the beginning of their learning curves. In other words, the potential for improvement is much greater with this team than others. It's reasonable to expect EJ, Glenn, CJ, Woods and Goodwin to take big steps next year. I'd also expect to see improvements from Hackett and Marrone. Last years team was totally different. Gailey, Fizt, and Stevie, the three most impt people in the 2012 offense, were not going to markedly improve. So, I'm hopeful for next year. Comparing last years offense to this years is like comparing a high school runner to an adult runner that have the same 40 times. The HS runner is going to get faster, the adult runner is at their ceiling.

Being a good coordinator and a good head coach require totally different skill sets. The road to unemployment is littered with former coordinators who thought they'd be a good head coach. Also this idea is a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson absurdity scale.

You know who really regressed in the NFL this year, Aaron Rogers. Guy is just terrible. Can't help your team with a sling on your arm.

What are you talking about?? "Ms. Phoenix, what you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul" Honestly though, anyone who can't see this team as drastically different than the previous 13 years is just either letting years of frustration cloud their judgement or chronically negative. Prior to the beginning of the year, almost all of us would have expected a year that resembled almost exactly what happened. Ups and Downs, erratic rookie QB, no playoffs, but positive signs to next year.

Didn't Buffalo just beat a playoff bound team 19-0? You'd think from this board we were 0-15 and just got blasted again. People here are so delusional. For the first time in decades, Buffalo is finally making some good decisions at key places. We had a great 2013 draft. Anyone with any football knowledge would have expected this season to pretty much play out as it did, and that's a good thing. The team is improving, the QB position is improving, the head coach is improving. We are in the best position heading into the offseason as we've been in decades. Give it a rest negators...Rome wasn't built in a day.