GA BILLS FAN

Mel Kiper also revised his post-draft grade on the Bills from C- to B. He said it would have been higher had EJ performed better and not missed 6 games.

Not to defend "Fear of Losing" -- but, I think the comment was intended as, "just the Bills luck, something good happens (we hire Pettine)and next thing you know something bad follows (we lose him after a year)" -- i.e. one step forward -- one step back

Done deal per Mary Kay Cabot quoting source on Cleveland.com ---

Don Banks SI posted his yearly draft do over column. I find these more interesting than a lot of mock drafts. He still has the Bills taking Manuel 16th overall, but has Cleveland taking Kiko 6th overall. I wonder if Pettine made that pick ? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20140123/nfl-draft-2013-redo-sheldon-richardson/?eref=sihp

Now this from Mary Kay "Another source told http://cleveland.com : Seahawks DC Quinn hasn't been eliminated as a #Browns candidate yet. (could change in a minute)" -- this is getting ridiculous

True, but here we sit hitting F5 looking for any morsel of information as soon as possible. We hate, but we also love.

Imbedded sarcasm in my thoughts on Pettine -- I do wish him well. And, I do agree that he exposed a lot of the potential of this team's D. I only hope the Browns late decision doesn't limit Marrone/Whaley too much on getting a better replacement !

What ? Does that mean it's not a done deal with Pettine ?

Bad day for Bills franchise. In the words of Kevin O'Leary (self-proclaimed Mr. Wonderful on Shark Tank) -- "Pettine, you are dead to me" -- GO BILLS !! Come on Marrone, find another (better) Pettine !!

I agree. At some point (I think it's today after his 3rd interview), Pettine needs to tell Browns, it's go or no go. You are right, he start to look desperate and plays the part of a fool, especially with these new rumors that Browns are talking to McDaniels again.

Agree --- if Pettine stays and he is the coach a lot of us expect him to be, I'd expect the defense to be consensus Top 10 in the NFL ---

I cast my vote for Pettine, my reasons have been well documented in the Pettine to Cleveland thread --- I'll just reiterate ONE. The goal of this franchise should be to win the SuperBowl or at least contend for it year in and year out. With the financial limitations Brandon places on the football people (Tor series and not spending to cap), we need to find exceptional talent. While I think Marrone could be a good coach, I think Pettine could be a great one. In other words, Pettine has a higher upside than Marrone and right now, we need to find GREAT not GOOD.

Hire a REAL marketing genius to fully develop the value of this franchise --- take a look at Green Bay and the amount of money that franchise generates ---- this FO thinks small --- renovating the Ralph is a classic think small idea --- the Bills have the potential to generate a lot more money than they are right now ---- as for the crux of your question, it is a legitimate issue --- even if Buffalo fully develops their potential revenue, they'll never have the population and income of larger cities, but the also won't have the same cost issues --- but in the end, teams can make more money in larger cities --- what Buffalo needs is an owner who wants to win first, and pocket some money second ---- it's not up to me to tell Ralph how to spend his money, he clearly wants to hold onto it until he leaves this world --- but, if I were him, and I had a franchise that I bought for $25,000 and is now worth close to $1B --- I'd be okay losing some money to get the best coaches, scouts, front office people and I'd spend to the cap ---- in other words, this city might need an owner with deep pockets and the desire to win above all else ----

+1, you spend to cap, whether that plan includes Byrd is not as important to me as seeing a commitment from this FO to do what is necessary to win -- if they don't resign Byrd, but extend Glenn, add a FA LG and WR etc. it would pass mustard.

That's the follow up question that was never asked of Whaley, and should have been asked, even though it wouldn't have been answered --- when Whaley says things like that, it's always in context of the budget they have for players and more specifically positions on the team --- in Whaley's mind, he knows how far they are willing to go -- he also knows how much Byrd man wants -- another good question would have been "Doug, you must know by now how much money Byrd wants, does your statement mean you are prepared to meet his demands or are you confident you will have a meeting of the minds and get a contract done" --- in reality, Whaley already knows the answer because he already knows Byrd's number and his own --- he just won't ever tell the rest of us ---

I'm sure Brandon (before him Wilson) sets a budget each year on what team can spend in "cash" and "to cap" -- if Brandon truly is CEO of organization that would be his responsibility. Overdorf, I believe would then try and maximize the effectiveness of the spend against player objectives set by Whaley. My issue is that the number that is set is more than likely based on the team showing a certain level of profit and that number happens to be BELOW the cap. That, to me, is the biggest liability Brandon is giving his football guy. So, in simple terms, the Bills GM goes shopping with $100 to buy his team and most of the other GM's go shopping with $120. Not a recipe for success, long term and on a consistent basis, as is seen in the record over the past 15 years.

--- yep, figured I had at least one of those coming my way . . . .

wise guy

I did realize AVP was RB coach, that's been posted several times before my post --- I also know how coaching staffs work, especially position coaches, it's always collaborative and AVP is rounding out his resume by being a RB coach to be able to get an OC job someday --- as for hating on the Bills and my thoughts on their FO -- I detest Brandon, I make no bones about that. The proverbial **** flows downhill and the stench he creates is toxic throughout this organization. I've said on other threads, he's asking Whaley, Marrone, Pettine and Hackett to win with one hand tied behind their backs, so I qualify and delay judgment on our GM and our coaches because I know they are part of an organization that puts profit ahead of winning. So, do I hate on the Bills, NEVER. Do I hate on Brandon, absolutely.

I think they all collaborated and took notes except Driesbach Not sure how you draw that conclusion from me liking Pettine and thinking Marrone is average ? The only Bills that I would put under the "bad" column in FO are the top 3 clowns (Brandon, Littman and Overdorf). I actually think Whaley is "good" and like I said, I think Marrone is "average". So, try not to read between the lines. Oh, and BTW, the fact I like AVP and believe he and Hackett are a push, would suggest I like Hackett, which I do. I think Hackett will grow into the job, I think he's a bit raw right now, however.

I said AVP made Flynn look good --- hardly a silly comment --- GB offense played well with best QB down -- that positive spotlight shines on all the offensive coaches --- second, I don't hate Marrone, never said that --- I actually like Hackett --- I think he had a tough year with inconsistent QB play and weak O-line --- my issue with the Marrone/Pettine deal is this -- it seems clear that the vast majority of Bills fans, media and other NFL teams, think a lot of Pettine --- we all on this thread are fighting, hoping, maybe praying that he stays, even one more year --- wouldn't it be ironic for this franchise, that hasn't had a great coach since Levy (and some people will argue Levy wasn't great) -- to finally have a great HC on our staff, and he gets away --- I fully admitted the first time I posted this scenario (Pettine gets promoted and Marrone gets fired) that it will never happen for a variety or reasons --- it was intended to be a thought provoking discussion ----

I think it's mostly due to Lacy, but if you recall, GB wasn't happy with how Lacy looked in OTA's and mini-camps. Someone helped turn him around quickly. In addition, if you recall Lacy was also hurt for a few weeks early in the year. As for the Rodgers injury impact, that tends to hurt running games because teams know the offense wants to run the ball and tend to key on that. Offense also had injuries to Cobb and Finley. Bottom line, GB offensive staff had a very good year, if ya'll want to say AVP was sleeping during it, so be it.

Your right, coaches NEVER collaborate, I'm sure in the offensive meetings AVP would excuse himself whenever QB topics came up --- oh, and BTW, GB had their best running offense in more than a decade -- so, please spare me the AVP hate

AVP vs. Hackett ? --- I'd call it a push --- might even give edge to AVP, he sure made Matt Flynn viable for a few starts and knows the Packer offense

Does that make Pettine "six pack ugly" or worse ?