Flip Johnson

Yes. Additionally, it seems like some guys that talk a lot are well-suited to be DCs (Mike Zimmer, Gregg Williams, Rex Ryan, hopefully Schwartz) as opposed to HCs where their candor can get them in trouble.

Actually, only every other NFL team.

I don't know who that is, but I hope he has a killer interview. Honestly, I would take a NE win on Sunday if it means the Denver OC is free and available on Monday. I am hoping that Cleveland is just marking time until additional coordinators become available on Monday.

Only two teams have worse odds.

Providing this is not guaranteed money it makes sense to go to camp with an experienced punter, even if the plan is to replace him with a young leg.

I think this is the year … but if it does not happen this year I'm going to be concerned.

Philbin staying on is likely good news for Buffalo. When an owner deliberates on the pros/cons of "continuity" versus "starting over" the hard to swallow truth is that the current guy probably can't get it done. That was Chan Gailey after 2011 and it is likely Joe Philbin after 2013.

I Haha … I am not a Crossman apologist, just someone who wants evidence to the contrary before dismissing Marrone's viewpoint. It seems to me that the Levy era Bills as well as the Bobby April units were drafting and developing players for their special teams contributions. Maybe Hogan, Moats, Wingo, Summers, Bradham, etc. are poorly coached - or maybe they aren't good special teamers and we need better ones. Football Outsiders rated the Bills with the #4 defense, #25 offense, and #30 special teams. We need drastic improvement in this area - I am just not convinced that this all falls on the coach. And no, this is not a Ronnie Jones situation. His 2000 squad was the worst special teams unit in the history of organized professional football.

Before everyone summarily dismisses the "core" concept I think it should be discussed and evaluated. Who are these talented, underachieving STers that Crossman is unable to coach and motivate? Easley was great this year - he is a great athlete and a physical specimen who could be a high level WR if he could actually catch and get open. Because he can't, we have a great athlete playing balls out on ST to maintain his livelihood. Other than Easley, who do we have that should be a great STer? Does anyone other than Garrett Sanborn have a track record of being an effective STer? McKelvin had a huge drop off, but it cannot be easy to be in pass coverage every down, then run down the field to catch and return a punt. He was barely getting on the field for anything but PRs for much of 2012.

I am taking Marrone's evaluation that they need to build a better ST core at face value. Marrone is coming off a 6-10 season. While he was not expected to make the playoffs this past year, he is going to face raised expectations to do that in 2014. I would guess that he has, at most, two season to make this a playoff team. Without success, Marrone will likely be coaching college football again. I don't think that loyalty to Crossman would be enough motivation for him to keep someone who he doesn't think is doing an adequate job.

Well said. NE did most of their damage without Dareus. Even if the film is now out on how to neutralize Kiko, I don't think most teams have the athletic ability of the NE offensive line. They get to the second level fast. It appeared to me that Kiko may have worn down over the course of the season. If that did happen it is understandable. I'm expecting the addition of another playmaking LB to really help him, along with another year of experience.

The Bills went 4-3 in Buffalo against these opponents this year. NE (12-4) CAR (12-4) BALT (8-8) CINCI (11-5) KC (11-5) JETS (8-8) MIA (8-8) They did not play a bad team - or a bad game - in Buffalo. If not for Jeff Tuel they would have gone 5-2 at home. Looking at the likes of Minnesota, Cleveland, and San Diego coming to town, this team will go at least 6-1 at the Ralph next year.

We are assuming that Chris Brown ever has inside information. That is a leap. Spiller and SJ have been disappointing (although injuries and poor QB play have contributed to both situations) but I don't know of any compelling reason to move on. Neither would command a high pick, nor are their current deals unfriendly. There is no indication that Stevie is actually a malcontent, just a colorful character. Releasing Nick Barnett would have been termed a "surprise" by Chris Brown. I'm not expecting anything earthshaking.

I like Maycock. And as I said, I'm generally fine with Rosenthal. But nfl.com is not stacked with people I'd call good "writers" - the site props up the league and Rosenthal is paid to have opinions not to write good sentences.

First of all, there is no "quality writing" at nfl.com. Rosenthal is not much of a writer. But if you listen to his podcast, he often picks the Bills - he is wise to the Bills' defensive prowess and home field success and knows that they are often undeserving underdogs at home. The nfl.com guys have been strangely negative about Manuel all year considering the love they have often given to Glennon and Geno Smith. I would give EJ an "incomplete" for this year - he needs significant development AND improved health. The Bills ARE in a tough spot because they don't have sufficient evidence to make a good evaluation of where they're at. If the Jets and Bucs are smart they know enough to realize they aren't going anywhere with their rookie QBs.

The "something to play for" motivation is overstated. Professionals in all sports play for money. There are very few players in the NFL that can afford to show themselves on film not playing hard. If you look around the league teams like Atlanta, Washington, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville are all still "playing hard." The Bills will not be lacking motivation on Sunday.

This team is better. If you remove QB and account for existing injuries, the Bills have more overall talent than New England right now. I don't know if Buffalo will win next week but I know that they will be physical and that Brady will get hit. We need to raise the level at QB to become a consistent winner - everyone knows that. But this team is better than in years past and they are not far away.

Are we expecting the Bills to dress 4 TEs?

EJ's progress is not connected with Marrone's vocabulary. Nor is there a correlation between winning and entertaining press conferences.

Spiller is a high end talent that never complains and has played hurt all season. As for the "Hackett needs to learn from Gailey's scheme" crowd, it's hard to overstate how ridiculous that is. Gailey tailored an offense to Fitzpatrick's strengths - short throws and quick decision making. The Bills played most of 2012 in a spread offense and a healthy Spiller was lethal in that context (it also helped to have Levitre). I don't think any reasonable person thinks that E.J. should be operating primarily in 4 or 5 WR sets. More power sets (and the need for additional pass blocking) has made Hackett need to rely on FJ more. As E.J. progresses in 2014 I believe we'll see a correlation in Spiller's production.

27 points and 370 yards! What incompetence!

The necessary wk. 15 wins are not cumulatively probable, but they are individually probable. A Bills fan is rooting for favorites this week. Let's beat the Jags and move this thing to wk. 16

1. Resign Byrd 2. Strengthen O-Line - I believe Glenn and Wood will be the only two returning starts in '14. The Bills will develop an interior lineman in-house, but I believe they will replace Legursky, Urbik, and Pears with the combination of a draft pick, a free agent signing, and an in-house project like Unga. 3. Keep SJ and add a big WR 4. Starting linebacker That is all. We are going to sink or swim with Manuel and the Marrone-Hackett-Pettine combination.

The Bills are not going to pay Cutler $15 - $18M a year after watching their first round draft pick play 11 1/2 games. Not happening.

This is a statement of opinion, not fact. "Dividends' is very subjective. Trestman, McCoy, and Arians are working with veteran QBs - Cutler, Rivers, and Palmer respectively. Trestman's team was 10-6 last year and had a strong defense. They will do well to get to 10 wins last year and now have a terrible defense and a good offense. Marrone, Bradley, and Chudzinski all inherited open-ended QB situations. Marrone is a step ahead of those guys in that he has identified his guy and will sink or swim. Bradley and Chud made the mistake (in conjunction with their GMs of course) that there was hope for Gabbert or Weeden. They will be drafting in year two. Props to Chip Kelly - no question. He did inherit a very talented offensive squad but he has made Foles a highly efficient QB.