Dan

Some good points. But, the question is... why are we 6-6, this year? Are we really truly worse off or are we just struggling due to some young players and coaches. I think we can place the blame in many places this season. But, we can certainly attribute several losses to the poor play of our young QB, bad head coaching, poor play calling by a rookie OC, and defensive lapses. Does that make us a bad team, worse off than we were 5 years ago or are we a just young team struggling to find our identity? Perhaps interesting to see a new thread with that as an initial poll.

Agree? I think not. We all know full well the earth isn't due to explode for another 4 years and 2 weeks (give or take a few hours). Most were critical of MM quitting? That implies a majority. As I recall, the majority were upset he wasn't fired and breathed a huge sigh of relief when he quit. I think the team and fanbase had had enough of MM and the way he lost the team. Maybe I'm wrong in my recollection, but I need to see some sort of evidence that the majority of people wanted MM to stay on and continue coaching the Bills. Furthermore, there may be a sense by some that this team is not on the rise, but certainly not by all. TD had 5 years to do something. It was very apparent after 5 years that the team was not moving forward, but was in fact declining. I don't recall anyone, anyone, that wanted him around any longer. Nor do I know of anyone that thinks, 3 years later, that maybe we should have stayed with him. Please, point out those opinions. Jauron may not be the coach to get us to the playoffs and may very well be fired at the end of the year, but there's little doubt that the team needed a new direction 3 years ago. Perhaps you, and a few others, don't like the direction the team has taken. But, I'd contend that although not all decisions by the FO have been good, some certainly have. To imply that Marv set up a dysfunctional FO and undermined the team's chance for success is something we'll never agree on.

Glad you agree.

Exactly. So it's highly likely that Marv wanted to replace Mularkey, but Ralph wouldn't let him fire him. So, Marv decided upon plan B - put him in a situation that he knows Mularkey doesn't (or won't) like; therefore, he quits. Of course, Marv isn't going to talk bad about him publicly; he'd say nothing but good things because Marv's a class guy. I'm not saying this did happen. I'm just suggesting its a possibility.

I didn't mean to imply that he told Mularkey exactly how to do his job. However, it's entirely possible that he came in and said we're going to cut alot of these guys and draft young guys that have more upside; and we'd like to install a different defense. That's not an egomaniac, that's just coming in and changing things up. I also never called Levy a liar. I simply said he may have allowed Mularkey to save face. It's called tact. No need to call a guy out, blame the team's failure on him, then fire him.

See, there's the beauty of being a fan. We don't really know what happened nor what was discussed. Perhaps Marv talked Mularkey and said we'd like you to stay on while we blow up the whole team, draft new players and install new these schemes. To which, he said thanks, but no thanks. Of course, there's also the possibility that Marv, in an effort to allow Mularkey to save some face and said you can resign or be fired - your choice. Being the respectable guy Marv is, he talked very highly of Mularkey publicly - oh he's great, we want him to stay, yada yada - but in reality they were moving on behind the scenes.

No doubt. This is what.. his 5th or 6th "career" game?

Excellent!

Maybe that would make him a natural fit for Shotgun Turk's offense?

A few years ago, no bonuses was announced prior to the year end party. A good friend of mine was pissed and decided that year he was going to "drink his bonus". After several nice bottles of wine, a bottle of some really expensive scotch (bought specifically for the company president), and multiple shots of whatever he could get his hands on; we all agreed he had. Needless to say the next day we literally thought he was dead. It really wasn't a great idea, but man we got some great stories from that night. Amazingly, he didn't get fired.

It's because TD's boy, JP, is starting.

Agreed. It would be a good problem to have. Typically, I think you go with the hot hand. So, I can see your point about it depending upon how we win - because of JP or because of the defense. Of course, some people think the QB's play somehow effects the defense's play; but lets not worry about that till the post game. It will be interesting to see Jauron squirm with the answer, though. I really hope JP proves everyone wrong and earns Offensive Player of the week Honors.

Here's to you.

Wonder if anyone in Tennessee would disagree with that?

But there's the question.... if JP wins this Sunday, should he/does he start against the Jets?

No biggie. You know it's gotten bad when we're all talkin Flutie again.

That is my single biggest concern with replacing Jauron. There's no guarantee that they'll bring in anyone worth a dang to replace him. It can get worse... a lot worse.

I don't like it. Not nearly miserable enough. I say we win the next three to be 9-6. All we have to do is beat NE* and have Baltimore lose and we're the #6 seed. They flex our game to the late game. We all watch the Jags beat Baltimore. Our guys take the field only needing to beat NE* at home. We start good, but blow it in the 3rd quarter. The Pats* finally seal the game with an 80 yard TD screen pass to some scrub in the 4th quarter after Jauron punts from our 40 yard line on 4and2 (Moorman puts it in the endzone). During the offseason Jauron's extension is announced as you described.

Sorry what 2 years did he do that? I know he led us to the playoffs in '98 and lost in the wildcard game. But, he didn't start that season as the Bills' starter. He game in mid season for Johnson, as I recall. 1999 was the first time he started the season as a starter and got his team to the playoffs and should have started in the playoffs (IMO). I recalled a quote at the time where he said that was his dream come true, that 99 season - that's what I was referring to (however, I could be wrong my memory has been known to suck). What other season did he take a team to the playoffs?

Not to mention he got us to the playoffs. I agree, I never got it either. The guy played his ass off to get us into the playoffs, does that, realizes his dream of playing for an NFL team in the playoffs is at hand - then gets benched and we lose. And we want to blame him for being pissed. Imagine that. I liked Flutie, still do. But, then again, I tend to cheer for whoever the Bills put on the field. I'm a homer like that. Of course, some people just like to B word.

True. Trent may be hurt, but is he hurt so much that he can't start? Yeah this is just me wasting thoughts, but it'll get more intriguing if JP somehow manages to play well in a Bills win this weekend. Too bad he didn't want to stay.

Good point. If the Bills finish 7-9, or even 8-8, this year; it's going to take more than a tweak here or there to convince fans that the team is making the right moves to get over that hump.

Sometimes, yes. As I just said in the other reply, I think it depends upon who they'd bring in. I'm not attempting to dredge up any QB debate, I'm merely suggesting that Jauron could be acting out of desperation? Yes, he knows what he has in JP. But he also knows Trent has been in a real funk lately. He doesn't have time to let Trent play himself out of it. He needs to win now and he's desperate. I could be full of it, I don't know. Just something to think about.

I really hope you're right. I think you are. But, I'm just not sure. Sometimes these guys looks great, but then you see some really bad for stretches. I guess it comes down to who they'd bring in. Yeah Miami and Atlanta did it this year, but what about KC? It all comes down to who they bring in, IMO. And that, perhaps, is what concerns me most. When was the last time they brought in quality at any coaching position?

I think we all know the Chroise would part the Dome bringing forth a snowy death spiral of touchdown bombs in a smashing defeat of the fish. So, please, leave him out of this pseudo QB debate.