WIDE LEFT

Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but is it too much to expect that the WNY media at least have an informed opinion? In warning the Bills to be wary of signing Maclin, Bucky Gleason purports to hold them to their word to avoid "splash" signings. I would hardly regard Maclin to be a splash signing, but I believe the Bills front office promised only to acquire free agents to increase the talent level and competition level of the overall team. But that's at least arguable. What's laughable is Gleason's assertion that the Bills should assume that Andy Reid had "his reasons" for releasing Maclin. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the situation knows the reason - the Chiefs are cash strapped and didn't even have enough cap room to sign their draft choices. They thought the world of Maclin as a teammate and competitor. Just didn't have the cap room to keep him. How does a sportswriter not know this? How about spending two minutes researching a topic before you write a "power take", which includes a shot at the Bills front office. Force of habit I guess.

I believe it was Stephenson who was responsible for hiring Polian to begin with. Actually had to sneaki the hiring of Polian in actually, as Ralph Wilson, ever the cheapskate, so no need for a director of pro personnel.

Not all that jacked up - just pointing out his complete lack of insight. Where do find him to be insightful when it comes to the NFL? He never played or coached the game, he does not review and break down game film, and worst of all he has been too lazy to ever develop a source who does these things or has that expertise. As a result, his opinions are no more insightful than the average fan. "Being around a long time" means nothing; your average joe at the local bar has been around a long time too and has seen as many Bills games as Jerry. He has no insight because ha has no sources. Thus you get Sullivan "insight" like blasting Bills for even considering giving Gilmore a big contract, something according to him the Pats would never do. Great insight there, great sources there.

Heads Jerry wins, tails I am the idiot. You are right - the world according to Jerry, always changing. Tough to keep up

Excellent week for the always so insightful Jerry Sullivan. He advocated cutting Tyrod Taylor, and replacing him by "drafting a quarterback". As if the Bills or any other team can just snap their fingers and magically a franchise QB will happen to be available in this or most any draft year. Perhaps Jerry should put aside his hero worship of the Patriots organization and take a hard look at the Patriots success rate has been in drafting QBs. They have drafted a lot of QBs since stumbling into the lucky lottery ticket named Brady in the SIXTH round. All of their choices have failed, and Jimmy G is no sure thing either. So if his genius organization has failed miserably in identifying and drafting a franchise QB, what does that say about his solution that the Bills should simply "draft a franchise QB". It's not that easy for the Bills or any team, including the Pats. Speaking of Jerry's hero worship of the Pats, it was just two weeks ago that Jerry berated the Bills organization for even considering lavishing a big contract on Gilmore - something, according to Jerry, the Patriots would never do. He further whined about why the Bills don't follow Pats model in refusing to give out big contracts to guys like Gilmore. But of course with Jerry S it's always heads I win, tails the Bills are stupid. So next year, if Gilmore has a great year, Jerry will write column explaining why Bill B. was such a genius in stealing Gilmore from the Bills

The WNY media has to rank among the worst. Many, especially those employed by the Buffalo News, have been calling for Ryan to be fired most of the year. They have, at various times, called Ryan a buffoon, a liar, a total incompetent etc etc. They are now hysterical over the fact that Whaley won't hold a press conference THIS week, ( he has one scheduled for this coming Monday) to explain to them why Ryan was fired; something they have themselves been calling for all year. Whaley is not going to trash Ryan (as the media has). And some of the very good reasons for his dismissal are detailed in the national media, specifically today's MMQBSI. And I will detail a few here: His defense is a complete, dysfunctional train wreck. That was Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus anchoring the middle versus Miami center KRAIG URBICK for christ sakes. Steamrolled for the umpteenth time this season. His defense has been getting worse as the season progressed. But that's not why he should have been fired. Ryan had complete disdain for analytics. After all these years of coaching in the NFL he didn't have a clue about in game management/strategy. Last years debacle in Kansas City, ie his failure to challenge calls, revealed that he had a primitive and totally inadequate system for review challenges, this after all his prior NFL experience. After the game he vowed to fix it. After the loss. But Sunday's game said it all. Coaching for a potential playoff spot, and his job, he turned in an in game coaching disaster of historic proportions. Did he get anything right? Could not call a time out in time to properly set his defense for tying field goal kick. Ten guys on the field then too. Ended regulation time with three timeouts in his pocket. Completely unaware that a tie eliminates playoff chance; and even if he was aware, would have still made the disastrous decision to punt. Etc etc. Dysfunction squared. Clear as a bell he had to go. All that NFL head coaching experience and he turns in a coaching performance like that? He demonstrates that he just doesn't get it, and never will. And I don't need Whaley to conduct two separate press conferences in the space of six days to explain the obvious. One presser will do. It was all on display last Sunday anyway.

Using very high draft picks for guys like this, then later giving big money to him, is a recipe for disaster. Zero character, total loser. When Brett Farve lost his father, he dedicated his season to him. When Marcel's half brother died, the big M took his entire 2nd season off. Multiple suspensions, often out of shape, loser squared. His performance today was typical of the absolute loser he is. Needing him to come up big, he takes the day off. He was manhandled today, often in one on one situations. It's so hard to root for this team, and it's made much harder when their "star" players are so lacking in character.

Often shake my head at the critics of Whaley. The WNY media hyperanalyzes each draft choice, and any failed pick gets Whaley a heap of criticism. For example, the clueless brothers, Jerry Sullivan & Bucky Gleason, neither of whom has ever developed a source with NFL knowledge/insider. Why bother, when it's just so much easier to shoot from the hip with their uninformed opinions, based on their "extensive" experience in the pro football world. Does anybody think either of these two clowns has ever reviewed even one game tape. Or developed a knowledgeable source who can review/analyze game tape? The answer is no, and the consequence is that their opinions are no more informed than any drunk sitting at any bar in WNY. The difference is they have a forum. It's the only difference The proper way to evaluate Whaley is not to compare him to perfection, but rather compare his drafts to the other NFL teams drafts. Hey go ahead and compare his drafts to Hall of Fame GM Polian drafts. Whaley compares well. And don't forget, as his critics so often do, his trades and veteran acquisitions. It's almost as if the Jerry Hughes trade never happened, he just sort of showed up here, if you listen to his critics, who conveniently ignore all this. And my favorite, often repeated by two lazy nitwits on WGR, one of whom believes he is a bulldog of sorts, whining about the trade up to get Watkins. You would think Whaley gave up the entire future of the franchise by giving up first round pick (19th overall) in the following year. But they can never tell you who that future hall of fame player was that the Bills missed out on by giving up that 19th pick. Go ahead, look at that draft and tell me what player available there could have turned this franchise around. I guarantee that your Bulldog was to lazy to even research that. Hey it's easier to just go on the air and shoot from the uninformed hip. BTW - if you do find such a player, what's the guarantee the Bills would have picked him. A reasonable evaluation of Whaley reveals a GM doing an excellent job, when compared to his peers.

Yea by the time that happens Brady will be gone, and Bill B will fade into the mediocrity he was before he stumbled into the lottery ticket that Brady became.

Today's result is inevitable based on the NFL as it exists in 2016. A decade long run of the NFL making rules change favoring the passing game at the expense of running game/defense will always favor a passing team. The only exception is a team that maintains defensive excellence year after year. Analytics tells us that is very rare - only Seattle this decade, with Denver on the way. The Bills, like the vast majority of NFL teams, cannot establish defensive dominance on a consistent basis. As such, their run first, ball possession offense is a recipe for mediocrity. Shady will have a great year, the Bills, as they have done for last several years, will be in the top tier of running offenses. And they will be mediocre. You simply cannot have multiple rule changes favoring the passing game, and continue to think running the ball is the way to win. Unless you have a world class defense. We don't have one, and neither do most teams. Rex is a dinosaur, and cannot succeed in today's NFL. Sad but true.

KISS does accurately describe the Philips/Schwartz philosophy.

There are basically two types of defensive philosophies in the NFL - Wade Philips/Jim Schwartz defenses are short on disguise and emphasize simplicity so that their players can execute without having to think too much. Easier for QB to dissect. Then there is the Rex Ryan/Mangini style, emphasizing post snap disguise/complexity. Tougher on QB to dissect, but requiring more thought/execution from D players. But a look at today's game and recent games demonstrates that Rex's defensive schemes are not confusing opposing QBs. So we are getting the worst of both worlds, a defense that confuses its own players more than it does opposing QBs. Exactly what Russel Wilson said when evaluating Bills defense. Rex has much to answer for. His schemes appear to be obsolete. How often did Carr look confused today?

Thanks to all for the suggestions - Busby's sounds great, and the 20 mile drive there is no problem. It's the drive back that's the issue, especially if it's a close game. I hesitate to even relate as to how many beers I had during that last Cincinnati drive

Just a reup here in case anybody out there has some info?

Will be in Hermosa Beach area for a while and am asking here about bars where I can watch Bills game. I am aware of the locator, and the Bills backer bar in Santa Monica. Was actually looking for a place less crowded and closer, even if it's just a sports bar that shows all NFL games. Help anyone? And for So Cal Bills backers, how crowded and crazy does your Santa Monica bar get?

Gee last time I checked the NFL was far and away the most popular sport in America. By light years. And we are lucky to be only one of 32 cities in the entire US with an NFL franchise. So how is that reflected on WGR, the flagship station of the Bills? Well from 10 till noon today we had a talk show devoted exclusively to the very very mediocre Sabres. Jim Rome from noon to 3. At three pm Snoop and the Puppy dog come on and talk exclusively about the Sabres for the first hour and a half. Four and half consecutive hours devoted to a mediocre franchise in the NHL in October! While we are in the heart of the NFL season. My theory is they do this because the 3:00 pm guys are uncomfortable with the NFL, because they know so little about football and have never bothered to develop a source (ex coach, executive) to help them along. Snoopy and his puppy dog have seriously suggested on several occasions that the Bills draft a QB in every one of the 7 rounds of the NFL draft. Seriously. I guess if thats the level of your football knowledge, you probably should stick to the NHL, even if its October, 70 degrees and your hockey team sucks. I know, I know - don't listen to them.

I was of course completely overstating the case when titling this post as completely blaming the coaches. I like this coaching staff and think the Bills are lucky to have them. My main point was that when Manuel went down, our defensive strategy should have changed to slow the game down and limit Tuel's time on the field. With a seven point lead playing two safeties deep to take away the long ball, and forcing Browns to rely on short passing game to move the ball (and eat up the clock). Instead we give up two long passes and in a blink of an eye the game is tied and Tuel is back on the field. The defensive call left Aaron Williams all alone, with no safety help, on the Browns # 1 receiver. I have less of a problem with that call if our offense had not lost its number one receiver and QB. I just thought the defensive strategy did not change one iota, despite the radical changes that took place during the game. And after all it was this coaching staff who determined that Aaron Williams was more suited for the safety position than cornerback, then leave him out there with zero safety help.

Marrone failed to challenge an obvious fumble; then later challenges a play that can't be challenged. Nice. Pettine, knowing that we have a back up QB in, allows Browns to travel 75 yards in 4 plays. Leaves Williams alone on Browns best receiver; Williams who 2 weeks ago was a safety. Nice. This was the worst performance of a coaching staff I have ever seen. Is it asking too much for Marrone, with his 7 figure salary, to actually know what the NFL challenge rules are. And Pettine needs to figure out a defense that can stop a third and 18, since our first line offense can't seem to pick up a third and 3.

Very vocal last week, defending their hero, good old Stevie. So how did our highest paid receiver respond today, in a very big game. One catch for one yard. A dropped pass that became an interception. And yet another studio penalty, holding when the play was 5 yards past him. Lets hear now from the Stevie groupies, who were so vocal last week, about their hero and his pathetic performance this week.

The Rhodes scholar will point out that Stevie is judged via the criteria of being ( and signing a contract as) a number one receiver. And it's very true he does get open; but that's half the battle. You also have to catch it, and make catches at critical times. That's the standard for a # 1 receiver. But what we see are dropped passes at critical times and stupid penalties at bad times. Over and over again. Hey genius, wasn't this guy benched last year after yet another stupid penalty. But with his history of big drops and stupid penalties, we are 3 games into the 2013 and he has already produced a huge dropped pass and yet another stupid penalty. It's too bad that you are offended when someone points out repetitive and dumb mistakes that never seem to end. So put aside your hero worship and accept the fact that at this level and for this type of money this particular player should be held accountable for his inability to avoid the big drop and/or the stupid penalty.

Lost in the shuffle of Jets game was yet another selfish, unforgivable blunder by good old Stevie Johnson. Failing yet again to learn from the recent and the not so recent past, produced this Stevie gem; at a very critical point in the 4th quarter of Jets game, a Jets penalty which would have given the Bills a big first down was wiped out by a Stevie special, a taunting penalty which negated the Jets penalty and put the Bills in a terrible position. A later Jets penalty kept this drive alive, and took the spotlight off yet another Stevie special, but it does not change the fact that our high paid veteran big mouth continues his loser ways. Stevie Johnson represents much of the problem with this team; he is a joke. And the jokes on us.

A shout out to Chicago Bills backers bar Lincoln Station. A weekend trip to Chicago ended with a visit to Lincoln Station, where a very large and very loud crowd made a Bills loss a bit more bearable. Great bar, great crowd, cheap beer. Very good stuff.

Well I guess it's so very obvious to you, but not to Marrone or Hackett.

Conventional wisdom is that the team that wins the turnover battle wins the game; and statistics bear this out. So the Bills lose two games this season despite winning the turnover battle in each game. So what's going on? Well what you usually see in games where a team wins the turnover battle but loses the game is that the team employs an ultra conservative offensive game plan. The Bills in the Dick Jauron era were famous for this, winning the turnover battle but losing games, or winning the turnover battle by a wide margin but just squeaking out a win. Of course Jauron set offensive football back about 3 decades, with his god awful conservative, simpleton offenses. OC Hackett is guilty here. Jets ( and Pats) stacked the box and dared the Bills to throw, but OC Hackett wasted way too many offensive downs by running the ball into the teeth of the defense, very predictably on first and second down. Wasted opportunity after opportunity. And I love the often articulated (but very wrong) strategy that you have to establish the run to set up the passing game. It rests on the idea that with the defense playing up to defend the run, the passing game opens up. But the Jets (and soon the rest of the league) is already playing run first with their defenders up, so why are we running into the teeth of that. If the defense is playing run first, why do we continue to run first? It's a recipe for failure, and even winning the turnover battle cannot overcome this flawed offensive game plan.

I mean, sometimes you have to ask yourself where the Bills find theses guys. Lee Smith, for example. A tight end whose only job is to block. Doesn't play that much, isn't asked to catch passes. Finally gets in the game, and what does this guy do - he commits a holding penalty, wiping out a long CJ run. Just block, that's all you are asked to do, and you are not asked that often. And Fullback Frank, also not asked to play or do much, commits the dumbest penalty of the year, holding on a 4th and 15 punt. Talk about creative. He then goes on to completely whiff on his blocking assignment, causing the EJ fumble. Aaron Williams personal foul was dumb as well, but at least he was flying around the field, making plays It's frightening how close these dumb penalties came to costing us this game.