Kirby Jackson

Ha ha, I think I said something to the tune of “I’m more qualified than she was. I was half-joking but I did take some heat. FWIW, it was probably true but there were 30+ people in the building way more qualified than me. That was kind of the point. If you were to rank those 100+ employees in terms of “who is most qualified to lead this” she wouldn’t crack the top 50. Terry wouldn’t either. Now, that’s changed some because there are a bunch of years of experience there. There are still probably 10 or so people though, that they employ (or at least did) better suited to run the show. Those are the people that they should be embracing and looking towards instead of alienating.

That’s just the number that I’ve seen on social media. As I said, I haven’t read the article. The Bills and Sabres are totally different business models. You need to look at each team as 2 sides. There is a business operations side and a team operations side. There is little to no crossover. Beane and McDermott run the football operations side for the Bills. Botterill and Krueger run the hockey operations. The business operations staffs are probably about 100 deep. I think that’s about what we were as an NBA team. Typically NBA, MLB, and NHL are a little heavier staffed because there are elements of local broadcast that don’t exist in the NFL. There are also many more games so ticket sales are a bigger piece of the revenue pie. Kim runs the business side. She’s ultimately responsible for those 100+ employees and 10 or so different departments. That’s kind of how this thing got sideways. What background and qualifications did she have to oversee a $41M ticketing department? What about negotiating a new media deal? What is her background in selling advertising and sponsorship? You see where I’m going with this. There are a zillion, seasoned sports executives with the education and experience to take this on. She is not one of them. The Pegula’s have a right to put whomever they want in whatever role that they want but shouldn’t be surprised when it inevitably fails. It is not complicated to turn the ship around. The problem is that the captain of the ship needs to realize that it is better in someone else’s hands. That’s the tricky part. The best thing that Terry and Kim could do is to go find an elite executive, throw a bunch of money at them and give them full autonomy. I don’t think that’s likely to happen but that’s the answer.

The solution is to hire the right people, give them the resources and get out of the way. Also, I’m seeing that they are losing $40M-$50M on the Sabres? I haven’t read the article but if that’s true it’s a MASSIVE indictment on them. I worked for a team that finished with one of the worst records in the league, had just traded away the greatest player in franchise history and was owned by the NBA. We sold more new season tickets BEFORE the lottery was completed than any team in the league. It was about having a plan and executing it. Anyone that says, “winning is all that matters” has absolutely ZERO clue what it takes to be successful. You build elite staffs so that you are insulated as best as you can be from team performance. That’s what the Bills have done for 25+ years. That’s why Russ Brandon was good at his job. They were a successful operation regardless of the record. Of course it is easier in football but that’s why I used my own experience. It can be done but you need the right people steering the ship. Obviously Botterill is a nightmare but so is Kim. Go get a real GM to run hockey operations and go get a real president to sit over PSE and/or the Sabres. There are a zillion people more qualified to do the job. She had some of them there!! Dave Wheat should have been given total autonomy to run those operations after RB left. That would have been the best move. Empower the right people and get the hell out of the way!!

They hired McDermott and Beane and gave them power. They got it right after Marrone, Rex, Whaley, etc... The Bills are in fine shape now but they made multiple missteps to get there. If the right people are in charge things work fine. The less involved the Pegula’s are in the day-to-day the better. Hire the right people, give them the resources that they need and get out of the way.

I’m trying to stay out of the conversation because I haven’t read the article yet. With that being said, I’ve heard a lot of this sentiment prior to this meeting in January. We are all grateful that the Pegulas saved the teams and have invested in WNY. They also, aren’t good at running pro sports franchises. Both of those things are true.

Yes

I think he’s a good player but a strange fit for us.

So it’s going to be Edwards and Edwards-Helaire? Are there any other Edwards’ in the draft? If so, we should just cancel future polls and assign them to the Bills.

This locker room isn’t that fragile. They tried to trade for Antonio Brown!!! If Fournette comes in and is a TOTAL disaster you cut him. That may happen with the late round picks this years anyways. It’s time for the Bills to push their chips in. When a championship window is open you need to take advantage.

Edwards got my vote mostly because I think that he’s the best player on that list. I might have voted for Alex Highsmith if he was listed.

If you have a choice between a motivated, hungry young guy and a guy coming off 1,152 yards rushing and 76 catches you’d take the motivated hungry guy? I just don’t get that mentality. If we are talking about using a 5th round pick on Fournette or on a 5th round RB there’s no question IMO. You get the guy that you know can play. The goal is to win games not have a bunch of guys that we want to have a beer with. If that’s the real cost for Fournette this is an EASY decision.

What if you have a bunch of friends that are? Is it okay to care then?

The answer right now is Josh. The answer could be Darnold or the Dolphins pick.

It just feels like Dugger/Chinn.

My dad SWEARS by this Bill. I wasn’t alive then but he always says that Bert Jones is the best pure passer that he’s ever seen.

Agreed, I think that this is key on the heels of Detroit talking trade. This is the Giants trying to tell Miami or anyone behind Miami that there could be 3 QBs gone in the first 4 picks. Move up or risk missing out

This may be my favorite one yet!! Got great value across the board. This would be the best case scenario for the Bills. Basically, the guys that I wanted all slipped a round. There are always a bunch of guys that go a round or 2 after they should. It’s just not always the guys that you want to draft. 54: R2P22 S ANTOINE WINFIELD MINNESOTA 86: R3P22 RB J.K. DOBBINS OHIO STATE 128: R4P22 EDGE JONATHAN GREENARD FLORIDA 167: R5P21 RB ANTONIO GIBSON MEMPHIS 188: R6P9 WR JAUAN JENNINGS TENNESSEE 207: R6P28 OT JACK DRISCOLL AUBURN 239: R7P25 CB JAVELIN GUIDRY UTAH

Jordan is my favorite athlete ever (and it really isn’t close). The 90’s Bulls and 90’s Bills made me the sports fan that I am. I’ve been looking forward to this forever!!

I’m not sure I’ve seen one person have ANYONE ranked over Chase Young. There’s a difference between the big board and the draft. Most teams will take the QB grades closely first. Most teams aren’t the Browns ?.

Gunner LOVED Watson and was right

@GunnerBill quick question and it’s okay to say “I don’t know yet.” Do you have Fields and/or Lawrence ahead of all of these guys? It feels like they are certainly considered better prospects from a talent/health standpoint but just wondering.

I don’t disagree at all. I actually agree 100%. With the first 2 picks I’d prefer guys that, at worst, can play. That’s part of the reason that I’m anti-Okwara. I was just saying, that I could see the justification and gamble. This is especially true with Beane’s willingness to gamble. I’m generally like that but don’t feel that’s appropriate in the Bills current situation.

FWIW, there is chatter on the old inter-webs that Gibson is going to go a lot higher than people are expecting. He may not have a position but he’s an explosive playmaker. As crazy as it may sound the Bills could be in position to take a “luxury pick” like this. They do not have many needs.