Dan

Now that's more like it.

Surely there's a few more old guys that retired years ago and have zero interest to get back into coaching that we can dredge up. I'm not at all impressed with that list, the OP needs to do better than that.

Just curious. I'm assuming it's over since I can't make picks, but wanted to verify. And for the record... if it is over, I didn't lose, I just ran out of football games to pick.

But then again, some of us kill so many brain cells along the way that we actually did know more when we were 21. Oh, if only I knew now what I knew then, what a simpler life this could be again.

I know this is a little off topic because I'm not mentioning "Stripes" or "Fletch" to add to the must see list, because I don't want to insult some kid that obviously has no social life apart from the nerds he hangs out with and don't realize that GPAs are not given as percentiles, so before I digress, let me say to the OP... I think too many people get hung up on the perceptions of reality. You say that your biggest fear is that we gete another hot coordinator and, therefore, undergo 3 more years of sucking. But, why? The reality is that the Ravens, the Falcons, the Steelers, the Cardinals, the Saints, even the Jets and Miami now, all have first time HCs that were previously hot coordinators. So, why is it a foregone conclusion that a hot coordinator will fail here? You believe, as many do, that we absolutely have to have a proven commodity to be good again. But, do you realize that the Redskins tried that with Gibbs and it got them no where. So the perception doesn't always lead to the reality. You view the owner as meddlesome, because so many people around here tout it as though they know Ralph personally. But, do you think he's any more involved in the team's daily activities than Jones, Snyder, Kraft, Davis, or any jsut about any other owner. How many times do you see Ralph on the sidelines during games? How many times have you see Ralph interviewed saying this coach or that player has to do something? The truth of the matter is, yes, Ralph has input on who is hired/fired/played. But, so does every owner in the league. And there's absolutely zero evidence that Ralph is any more or less involved than any other owner out there. So, again, the perception doesn't always lead to the reality. We put ourselves through the emotional roller coaster of hope-reality-despair each year because we're fans. It's as simple as that. Sure you could go find another team, but you and I both know you'll never be as emotionally invested in that team as you are the Bills. It's both a blessing and a curse. But, just think about it, things are always darkest jut before the light. The Bills aren't as bad as many on this board and in the national media perceive. Yes the Raiders have been in the Superbowl this past decade, but then they followed that with 7(?) consecutive 10+ loss seasons. Yes, the Cowboys are in the playoffs, but the reality is they've won just has many playoffs games as the Bills since 1996. Yes, the Redskins just hired Shanny and will once again be talked about to make the Super Bowl, but the reality is they were talked about just as highly last year and they finished with a worse record than the horrible Bills. And we oould go on. Again, the perception is that all these teams are so much better, but the reality is they're not really all that much better, if at all. Yes, it's tough being a Bills fan. Believe me, we all know. But, being a Bills fan is more than watching a team. It's more than cheering for a winner. It's about being part of something that's bigger and greater than all of us. It's about being part of this community; it's about holding onto your dreams; it's about who you are as a person. And deep down, without the Bills there is no football, there is no reason to watch this game. So, enjoy the moments, dare to dream, and bleed Bills blue (whatever shade that is anyway). Why? Because there is no other way.

What's really bad about the Seatle FO is that they gave Mora just 1 year to do something with the team before dumping him and going with the next big thing.

That was the part of the article that really stood out to me. It definitely sounds like Cowher is a little cold in his response and it's left the Bills wondering if he wants to be there and do they want a coach that may not be excited to be there.

I like it! That should have been the Billboard that's going up: Cowher... you have to come now. We already named the team after you. Go Bills!

Thanks. It's good to see sanity amidst the sea of irrationality. I especially like the bolded one.

Reed has definitely earned a HOF induction. Here's to hoping it's sooner rather than later, although this is a tough class with a couple of first ballot shoe-ins.

We all go on baseless rants that the Bills are a joke and Ralph is too cheap to hire anyone good. The HC search was all just a farce to try and sell tickets. Nothing will ever change because Ralph is the Ralph for Ralph's Ralph, Ralph. Haven't you been paying attention for the last few years?

We should have hired a HC 2 weeks ago and signed FAs last week. What I wanna know is why aren't we even trying to draft anyone yet? They haven't even talked to draft picks, they haven't broght anyone in for workouts, nothing. This franchise is a joke!! OTAs should start Monday and we're not even prepared.

Funny, but a day and a half ago when is tweating account was first posted, he had about 20 something followers. Just now, he has 205.

Probably most interesting thing about this news is that just a day ago, every one of the talking heads on ESPN and NFL Network said Mangini would be fired. Now, they're all saying they're "shocked" by thiss news. So, if they were all so wrong about this and didn't see it coming, is there a chance they're just as wrong about the Bills and Cowher?

I'd call the league offices first. Tell them we were cheating. Pay the $500,000 fee, and have them burn all game footage. Otherwise, we're screwed when the new guy watches any film of those guys in action.

I'd drop my offer by $3mill/yr and tell him take it or call Oakland.

It does seem like every door that opens up for Cowherb gets slammed shut pretty quick. I half expect CBS to lose their contract with the NFL tomorrow.

Hell, I'd take Todd Collins over anyone we had this year. But that doesn't mean he's the second coming of Matt Ryan either.

Sorry, let me clarify... how many teams that are currently looking for a new head coach are also on the cusp of winning. People keep saying Buffalo is in such terrible shape; we need all new everything. But, wouldn't Cowher come into almost any of the teams that are looking for a new HC and want to pretty much change everything? Is Carolina's QB situation that much better than ours, for ex? Every teeam has it's weaknesses and strengths and any team looking for a new HC currently have more weaknesses than strengths.

Seriously, though, how many teams that are replacing coaches have great teams on the cusp of winning?

Sooooo... you're saying you couldn't get tickets. Seriously, people have labeled Green Day as punk for years and I've always wondered why. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks they're quite the opposite of punk.

Best thing about New Orleans... you don't have to know anything. Just walk and within a block you'll have your choice of bars to walk into. Step in... if you don't like it, pick up your beer and walk to the next one. Repeat until you find a bar you like or you can't walk any more. Get off Bourbon St. if you want some really great bars. Last time I was there, we found some great!! bars in the Washington Square area. For food: you have to go to Mother's for lunch. Seems to always be a wait, but it's more than worth it. The best cooking you can imagine at very good prices. Get the bread pudding there and you'll never taste bread pudding again! For a nice dinner, a little pricier but not terrible, and a little quieter: a great spot is the Pelican Club. Both are close by you and within easy walking distance.

Very good point. And how often have teams really gotten good, and stayed good, that bring in the top FAs every year? Like I say, I wanted Shanny. His teams always seemed well coached, but he certainly seems to be bringing a lot of question marks with him as well. Hopefully, the Skins will tank for a few years and we can feel like the Bills lucked out for once. What's curious about Cowher is... no one has really commented on exactly how much control he wants. You gotta assume its alot, but is it Parcells/Shanny level of control?

Another thing I wonder about... what's the budget for the rest of the coaching staff? If you pay Cowher $7-$10/yr, what does that leave for all his assistant coaches? Could that be a sticking point, as well? I haven't heard any names thrown out with Cowher (other than Lebeau).

Nope, no Insider access. Yes, it seems Cowher and TD had all sorts of issues in Pitt. It's something I've wondered, many of the reasons people say he'd be a great fit here are because of the similarities with his positions in Pittsburgh. But, maybe those are exctly the concerns Cowher has? Maybe he'd like something very different from what he had?