2003Contenders

All of the above. The thing that I've noticed is that you just don't see our WRs getting much separation. That has been the case for years now. I tend to agree that the play calling and designed routes certainly need to improve. However, the receivers all need to do a better job of running the proper routes and making the necessary adjustments. Meanwhile, Trent needs to do a better job anticipating his throws and throwing the ball BEFORE the receiver comes out of his break. He needs to have greater confidence that his receivers will be where they need to be; the receivers need to instill that confidence by ALWAYS running the route the right way.

Have you come across reports that I haven't regarding the specifics of Jauron's contract extension? Remember, he reportedly signed the extension when the team was 5-1 and his name was being mentioned as a possible Head Coach of the Year candidate. I would suspect that he is now being paid the going rate for head coaches in the league -- and eating his contract would have cost significantly more than the $4.5 M you suggest. Not to mention, whatever amount it would have cost for his replacement and entire new staff.

With 2010 being a potentially uncapped year and severe restrictions placed on teams for how they can prorate signing bonuses in 2009, it makes smart business sense to go back to school until the CBA situation is worked out.

I agree that those are pretty realistic. Although, I have a feeling that Brown will re-sign with the Ravens.

I would love for one of the top 2-3 DEs in this year's draft to fall to us at 11. However, if that doesn't happen, then I do NOT believe that we can afford to reach for another DE just because he plays a position of need. This team has far too many decent-to-good players and few (if any) stud players. I would be willing to draft a player at virtually any position (except for maybe RB) if I thought he had the chance to be a true difference-maker.

T.O. is fast running out of opportunities, given his age and track record of being a poor teammate. However, he has actually shown that he will usually behave himself the first season with a team -- even in Philly and Dallas. Assuming that he is let go and assuming that there isn't much interest in him, I don't see the downside in signing him to a one-year veteran minimum contract (possibly with incentives). Yes, he has a tendency to drop passes and he's slid a little in recent years, but opponents still MUST account for him on every play. Imagine how that would finally free up Lee, not to mention open up the running game.

Or, how about if we brought in a DC and OC that were as good at coaching up their units as Bobby April is with his?

Remember also that Fine missed the first few weeks of the season with an injury.

Isn't Boldin a free agent?

Since I firmly believe that the team's greatest need is at OLB/DE, provided we bring in a major upgrade at DE, I can live with bringing Crowell back at OLB.

Actually he does have one of the strongest arms in the NFL. He CAN throw the ball with a lot of zip. You are, however, quite right about his over-long delivery, which when coupled with his lack of mobility, make him a sitting duck in the pocket. I would say that he is a cross between Bledsoe and Cunningham WITHOUT Cunningham's legs, of course. Still, not a bad option at all as a backup.

I think the point is well taken that this team clearly lacks depth. By the end of the season, for example, the Bills were down to bare bones at LB. However, the article fails to address the key that it also matters WHICH starters are injured. Is it any coincidence that the pass rush eroded when Schobel, the best pass rusher by far, was sidelined?

Just some random thoughts... 1. In a way, Ralph is fighting a battle on two fronts. The first is against the NFLPA and their intent on maximizing player payroll -- and the second is against the large market owners in the NFL and their intent on not having to share revenue. The previous CBA only guaranteed the players a percentage of the shared revenue (TV contract, ticket sales, NFL merchandise), which didn't hamper the smaller market teams. The new CBA guarantees the players a roughly 60% share of TOTAL revenue. That is no big deal for the larger market teams that command a bigger percentage of the total league revenue. In fact, that percentage is estimated to be less than 40% of the total operating income of a team like Dallas or Washington. Meanwhile, it figures to be more like 70-80% of a smaller market team like Buffalo. Any small business owner knows that you are not going to stay in business long if you spend that much on primary labor, which doesn't even count other forms of labor (coaching staff, front office, admins, etc.) That's why ol' Ralph was one of only two owners smart enough to vote against this horrid CBA that Tagliabu shoved down their throats on his way out the door. 2. To help qualm this imbalance, that CBA allowed for additional revenue sharing -- but the smaller market teams had to promise to do more of their part to help generate more of their own revenue. I am sure that the Jerry Joneses, Dan Snyders and Robert Krafts of the world are very upset with Ralph for NOT selling naming rights to the stadium. Some of these owners probably are doing what they can to try to force the team to move to a larger market. I believe whole heartedly that Toronto deal had NOTHING whatsoever to do with a potential move there -- and much more to do with Ralph's attempt to abide by the new CBA and generate additional revenue. In a way, it was somewhat of a genius move because -- not only did it generate a sizable amount of additional revenue, but it also proved that our Northern neighbors wouldn't be as supportive of an NFL franchise as some thought. No one is seriously talking about the Bills moving to Toronto, since the Miami "home" game. 3. Yes, Ralph does have an agenda. Ralph has shown that he is willing to spend money, when the ROI is worth it. Obviously after crying poverty, he can't afford to blow his cover by throwing out huge sums of cash to top notch free agents or in-demand coaches/front office personnel. That is also why Dick Jauron will be with us for another year. Firing him after he signed a (purported) 3-year extension would have cost Ralph probably $6-9 M, plus the cost of hiring a new head coach (and staff). We may not like that decision, but it was probably a no-brain business decision. It is hard to suggest that a good business decision is a "cheap" one. There probably would not have been much upside to bringing in a new coach this year, either. 2008 was disappointing, but with what looks to be a difficult 2009 schedule on the horizon, it really is hard to imagine any new coach leading the team to a record much better than 7-9. Thus, if the team struggles again in 2009 -- it would make more sense to fire Jauron then. 4. I think that the league is filled with different types of owners. There are those that are great money men, have a passion for winning -- and know a thing or two about the game of football. Jerry Jones falls into that category. So did Al Davis before he went plum loco. Then there are owners like Dan Snyder that are great with money, have a passion for winning -- but don't know the first thing about football. The problem for Snyder is that he THINKS he knows about football. There are, of course, the owners like Kraft who know that they don't know, which is why they hire the best front office people around. I think Ralph somewhat falls into this category as well -- although he has a tendency to meddle. I fear, also, that his commitment to making money also supersedes his passion for winning. He is, after all, a businessman first -- and a football fan second.

How many games did KC win with him?

I love Bruce and he is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer. But part of me would love to see him get snubbed this year -- just so we could all hear the self serving #78 spend all year whining about it.

Modrak is a pretty straight shooter. You can usually tell from his pre-daft comments which players he advocates. This year, I thought he clearly had his eye on McKelvin from day one, suggesting that he was definitely a top 10 player. Last year he also couldn't say enough great things about Lynch -- almost to the point where some folks thought he was just blowing smoke. I never got the impression that he was especially high on Whitner, JP or Willis. In fact, the year that the Bills took McGahee, he seemed to be all over Rasheen Mathis. I get the impression that DJ identifies the positions (along priority lines) that need upgrading. Modrak provides his list of such players that could potentially fill the voids and assigns a grade to each player. Then, round by round, the FO reaches a consensus on who they want to draft.

Agreed no defensive scheme will succeed if the front 7 can't get pressure on the QB.

A bit unfair, I think. Manning does have a ring, after all. As for the playoff record, I can think of at least two of those losses that fell on the shoulders of a gutless Vanderjagt. When he left the field on Saturday night, the Colts were ahead. Blame the defense for letting the Chargers tie it and for the penalties in overtime. You could also blame the refs if you think the penalties were unjustified.

I don't think so. In fact, history has gone on to show that Collins is exactly what the Bills thought he would be: a career journeyman backup. Mind you, there is a spot for a guy like that in the league, which explains why he is still in the league after 14 years.

OK, I'll bite. Pollyanna time... 1. Free agency. Before declaring 2009 a lost season, let's at least wait and see what the team does in free agency and (to a lesser extent) the draft. A few prudent moves here and there to improve the pass rush, the interior of the offensive line and the TE position could go a long way toward helping this team win a few extra games. The team is in great shape against the cap -- and the decision to retain Jauron saved Wilson millions. There is no reason he shouldn't be willing to pay top dollar for quality free agents. 2. With all of the doom and gloom about how poorly the team played in the division, how about the fact that they actually went 7-3 outside the division? Also, all of those division losses were winnable, as were 2 of the three out-of-division losses. The only game in which they got soundly beat this year was the Arizona game. Yes, I know a loss is a loss, and it doesn't matter whether it was by 1 point or 20 points. My point just is that it would NOT take a significant amount of upgrading to modify the outcome of many of those losses. Another stat of note: .500 on the road. That is a reasonable goal to shoot for every year. It's hard to fathom the team winning only 3 games at home again next season 3. Maybe Jauron just had a bad year? I honestly thought he did a decent enough job the first two years here. The bad coaching decisions are inexcusable, but I don't remember him being so guilty of these types of gaffes in 2006 and 2007. He sure seemed smarter when the team was 5-1 before Trent's mid-season slump. I am sure that he will continue to be out-coached by the likes of Bellichick, but who isn't? 4. The team is a VERY young team. Perhaps the time is ripe for many of the young, core players to grow up. Moreover, wouldn't it be nice if we could get through a season reasonably unscathed by injuries? I wonder how much better the defense would have been with a healthy Crowell and Schobel? Miami probably loses down in Miami if McGee is healthy. If JP Losman had never set foot on the field this year, there is a good chance that we would have won 2-3 more games. Yes, injuries are a part of the game, but it sure does seem like the Bills have had more than their share the past 2 seasons. 5. We get a last place schedule! That only potentially helps in 2 games, but 2 games can make all the difference in the world. 6. The schedule looks really tough, but who's to say how good any of these teams will be?

Not only that, but when he HAD to throw in the 4th quarter against the Pats in Week 17 INTO the wind, I actually thought he displayed some pretty decent arm strength. I really do NOT know where all of this concern about his arm strength comes from. He has demonstrated that he can throw every NFL pass, including the deep out which REQUIRES the most arm strength. He does have a tendency to check down, but I think part of that is because of the nature of the offense -- and part of it is his comfort level in taking the more sure thing rather than gambling for a big play.

2006 was certainly a turbulent year for Jimbo. He struggled through the season to the point of losing the one thing that most separated him from everyone else: his swagger. I'll never forget the horrible game he had against the Steelers on Monday night, where he threw 3 or 4 interceptions, you could really see the confidence slipping away. The following week in practice he hurt his hamstring -- and Collins took over. Playing in workmanlike fashion in a Just-Don't-Lose-the-Game way, Collins led the team in victories over the defending champion Cowboys and Colts. When Kelly got his mojo back a couple of weeks later, the sports shows were going crazy suggesting that it was time for him to step aside for Collins. It got to the point where Marv actually had to come out and give Jim his vote of confidence. Once he got back on the field, he seemed to get back in a groove. Looking back, the whole season came down to the second game against New England in Foxboro. A win there would have meant a division sweep, the division title and a playoff bye. However, with about 2:00 left to play and the Bills just down by 3, Jim threw a pass that was intercepted by a young Willie McGinnist and returned for a TD. The team responded with a Hail Mary TD, but the two-score deficit was too much to overcome in such a short period of time. The Patriots went on to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, while the Bills had to fight for their lives to squeak into the playoffs. That was in Week 17 when they faced the Chiefs -- with the winner moving forward as a Wild Card and the loser staying home. The offense struggled mightily in the first half. Then, at halftime, Jim Jeffcoat grabbed Jim (who was fighting through the Flu) by the collar and reminded him that his mother, who had passed away in the off-season, was looking down at him from heaven. Jim responded with a spirited 2nd half performance, and the Bills beat the Chiefs convincingly. I'll always remember that game more than the "I am Batman" game against the Jags the following week. (In Jim's defense, his Bills had 27 points on the board, and the Jags did not take the lead until AFTER he left the game.) Jim Kelly retired at the perfect time. His heart was still in it, but physically he had taken such a beating over the years and father time had caught up to him. The surrounding cast was on a steep decline as well -- and the offensive line's downward spiral was already underway. In fact, I think there is a good chance that Kelly may have been SERIOUSLY injured had he tried to come back and play again for the Bills in 2007. He was an unrestricted free agent -- and his brother served as his agent. Probably not the best arrangement. In Pittsburgh, Neil O'Donnell had flown the coup, embezzling millions from the Jets. There was talk that Jim would wind up replacing him in Pittsburgh, but I don't think they were willing to give him a long term contract like he wanted, and the specter of coming off the field for Kordell Stewart in key situations didn't sit too well with him. So he and Ralph mutually agreed on a win-win situation, whereby Kelly would walk away in exchange for a couple $ million. He's been a fine ambassador for the Bills ever since.

I hear ya. Also, let's hope that Ralph and the front office use the money wisely that was saved by NOT firing Jauron. Eating the supposed 3-year deal would have probably cost somewhere between $6-9 M, plus the additional $2-3M it would have cost for the new coach in 2009. That's $8-12 M that can be spent on improving the team via free agency. If the FO uses that kind of money to improve the glaring needs in the pass rush and pass catching TE departments, I can live with Jauron returning.

Donte Whitner

Not sure what to make of this. Personally I think that Modrak is a pretty good personnel man. I happen to believe that some of the missed opportunities in various drafts came more as a result of his having been over-ruled by one person or another.