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Rex's defense requires a David Harris or Ray Lewis type of football intelligent player making the calls. Bart Scott benefitted from playing alongside both men. Harris and Lewis were always on the field, rarely injured. Absent Aaron Williams, the Bills did not have this person.

In baseball it's happened quite a few times, most notably Billy Martin. In football, probably most recent case is Art Shell and the Raiders. Fired in 1989, rehired in 2006. Much like Coughlin wanting to be coach and not the GM, I doubt Phillips wants to be a head coach. I think Elway has an ego and thinks everyone can be replaced besides him so it wouldn't surprise me to see Phillips get a better deal elsewhere.

I don't think Coughlin wants full control of the football team. He wants to coach one and I don't think for very long either. Maybe 2-3 years. I think he's motivated to prove the New York Giants wrong and show that he can still coach and win. Buffalo is an attractive spot because the coach who puts Buffalo into the playoffs is easily a Coach of the Year candidate and it is a hell of a capstone to his legacy. Buffalo in the playoffs on top of his work in Jacksonville and in New York makes him a first ballot hall of fame coach. If you want a challenge as a head coach, there is no bigger of a challenge than the one in Orchard Park, NY. Part of me is concerned by that because if he's on a personal mission to prove "his" way still works, that's what Ryan was - on a mission to prove something to the Jets and it was not successful. The Bills have to decide on whether the Coughlin way has a place in the 2017 NFL. Part of me sees it as a positive - He's been successful everywhere, he's taken the time to reflect (unlike Ryan) and he's motivated. He hates being fired.

I agree. I'd add that I think that when it comes to ownership, this falls on Kim, not Terry. If you're to believe the narrative, Kim is the shotcaller. IMO, she strikes me as a person who's comfortable with being the owner so long as there are softball questions and press junkets with nice photos but relies heavily on Brandon/Whaley for the football "details." A problem occurs when relatively straightforward situations (like explaining why you fired an under-performing coach or why you don't want to risk $30 million dollars) spiral out of her control due to the substantial professional shortcomings of both men. I think the behavior of the press is a manifestation of the weak leadership. You have no owner or GM who's out there explaining what happened and telling it how it is. Instead, they throw a woefully unprepared for the moment Anthony Lynn out there and you get a lot of inconsistent stories. If Whaley can't do it and Brandon doesn't want to do it - they should hire a Press Secretary just like the White House does and have him or her be the "face".

I don't think there is any grand conspiracy or some elaborate grand strategy. I think you have a lot of people in the front office who go by the "well that's not in my job description...I'm not going out there". That's Russ Brandon. A GM who's more comfortable hiding in the office because conveying information in the spotlight of the press requires public speaking skills and confidence in those skills. You have an owner, Kim Pegula, who IMO enjoys being the owner so long as it remains softball questions and press junkets with nice photos. Otherwise she defers to the two gentlemen above because they are "football people" and when all else fails, Terry Pegula steps in to add a fourth cook in the kitchen. I have little doubt in my mind that Lynn was out there because there was a vacuum of leadership. Whaley should have been out there, to take charge of the press conference and lead in to Lynn. Hell, Kim Pegula should been out there. She's the boss. They don't have to defend their decisions but explain them. "Hey we let Rex go because he wasn't meeting our expectations." It's good to have high expectations. "Hey, we aren't playing Tyrod because an injury in the last game of a season where we're not eliminated form the playoffs benefits neither player nor team going into 2017. It's good to be smart about $30 million dollars.

I agree with Sully on his take. This was an opportunity for Whaley to demonstrate some leadership and be there at the press conference, explain the Taylor issue, take the hard questions and act as the lead in to Lynn - a guy who's been the head coach for all of ten minutes. Leaders don't hide in the office. One of the reasons the Bills have a reputation for being a sloppy organization is that whether it's the Pegulas, Brandon or Whaley, the four of them become downright invisible when they have to face any sort of criticism or remotely tough questioning. It's football we're talking about. Not brain surgery. Not a Mars mission.

I don't understand why people buy those things. I don't understand the appeal.

I think a special teams coach is the way to go. I also don't think coordinators generally, will make a lateral move just because. For example, unless Pederson gets fired in Philadelphia, why would Schwartz leave Philadelphia for Buffalo for the same job he's already had? HC: Jerry Rosburg (Current Special Teams/Assistant Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens) DC: Greg Schiano (4-3 defense, current Ohio State DC and Asst. Coach - better coordinator than head coach) OC: Rick Dennison (Denver Broncos OC - his strategy relies on having a robust running game, something that lacks in Denver but I do think he'll fall on the sword if they miss the playoffs)

I think he's a brilliant coordinator but I worry that he's been sheltered up there in New England having the same job for the same boss for so many years. He's never experienced losing either - having joined the Patriots in the year they won the Super Bowl. He's only ever worked in the winning, well-oiled machine of the Patriots. The spotlight and amount of work that goes into being a head coach on his own, on top of all the Buffalo dynamic is a big ask.

This game is going to be like the Pro Bowl. There will be little effort by either defense and both teams will run up and down the field. Why bother? Both teams have waived their respective white flags and the Jets quit playing three games ago.

"The punt" sealed his fate if it wasn't sealed already. There was a sense of finality with that play. I don't believe Rex was the one that called for the punt. I think that was Lynn. Unfortunately, that put the game in the hands of Thurman who's always been a bozo in my book who benefits from being protected by a loyal Ryan despite his numerous failures.

His personnel decisions in Philly is what got him fired. In KC, John Dorsey makes those decisions and all Andy has to do is coach.

A football intelligent safety regardless if Aaron is back in 2017. Can't have enough blue chip playmakers at that position. IMO, it's more important than cornerback.

"The Punt" is a watershed event. There was a sense of finality in that moment.

Whaley is an ok GM. Not great. Not terrible. He builds an 8-8 or 9-7 team. An ok team. Unfortunately, being ok isn't good enough in Buffalo where the drought looms large. You need to be on a John Butler level to get over that hump.

That's my point. The "record" isn't the be all, end all of evaluating performance. Keeping Ryan simply because he's gone 17-15 isn't enough of a reason for me personally.

Marty Schottenheimer was fired after going 14-2 in the 2006 season. Think about that. 14-2. That season was after 2004 and 2005 campaigns where he went 12-4 and 9-7 respectively. Rex going 17-15 is not all that remarkable.

I don't think a new coach needs three years to win. The Bills aren't a Chip Kelly apocalypse of odd-fitting personnel. I don't like Coughlin for head coach. Much like Ryan, I don't think his on-field strategy and approach evolved as the game evolved. Further, IMO, he is on a mission to prove the Giants wrong and show the world that his system can still win. Much like our current coach. As they say, you should never make a decision when you're angry.

I voted to fire him. I think what you see is what you get and it is not enough. Two years is enough time IMO. His body of work has had no pause, no break. I think his lack of taking a year off to reflect hasn't made him a better leader and coach.

Lots of coaches across the major sports leagues have been fired after having successful seasons record wise. In the NFL, Tony Dungy, Marty Schottenheimer and Hue Jackson come to mind. Hell, Schottenheimer went 14-2 and still got fired.

It'd be fitting that not only do the Bills make the playoffs but then go out and win the Wild Card game - with a coach, front office and QB the majority of the fan base don't want around next year. That'd be some spectacular irony. IMO, the help that the Bills need isn't completely mission impossible. None of those games are on the level of asking the Jags to beat the Patriots in snowy Foxboro absurdity.

#1 is right on the money. The Patriots "way" is whatever way works from year to year, game to game. There is no "system".

He needs to get in better NFL football shape, something a full offseason-camp should help with going forward.

There would be a big bidding war for his services. Further, the Bills would be up against some dome teams and warm weather teams. The coaching carousel could be big this year with some wild cards thrown in. What if Arians retires? What if the Colts fire Pagano to take a run at Payton? What if the Eagles have seen enough of Pederson?

No. Darkest days were the days after the Music City Miracle. The decisions made by the franchise after that game served as the ignition point for nearly two decades without playoffs. I bet that would be a riveting documentary to watch.