oldmanfan

Dude. You're in Buffalo. Get a beef on weck. Or go to Ted's and get hot dogs. Or wings. A deli sandwich?

You have it backwards. The guys you mention plus guys like Jordan or Bird were immensely talented but bought into the team culture. Bought in so much they led others into buying in. Brady does that now.

Developed it as leader as one of the leaders of my current organization and others. As one of a group of leaders, led by a CEO who gets it. You're right that it develops, butbbecausevthe leaders of the organization are committed to its growth. Why is it no one yet can give me an example of a successful organization without a successful culture? Successful coaches set up cultures that allow for certain behaviors. Your first 5 names are all guys that were controversial but gave their all in terms of play on the field. McD and others can live with that. It's when they underperform and refuse to be motivated like Dareus where you have problems. And even the good guys like the first 5 get let go when they become too estranged from culture. You are making the same mistake others made with his quote. Culture and talent are not mutually exclusive.

And the culture he established allowed him to explain to the team that decision, explain why he did so, admit it was a wrong decision, go back to Tyrod. And make the playoffs. Leaders define the culture for their organization. Successful organizations have leaders that live that culture and hold employees to it. Poor leaders do not; they expect employees to be accountable to the culture while violating it themselves. Such organizations have problems because employees can see their leaders do not believe their own words. Seen it happen on more than one occasion.

I'm one who has lived it and developed it. Your statement indicates you don't have a clue. Instead of blowing hot air, answer the one question I have posed: name one successful organization that does not have a successful culture.

It's me who said the stuff about culture. And you're nuts. Culture defines who you are as a company. No one yet in this board has been able to identify a successful company that does not care about culture. Do you recall the pictures of McD one on one with Dareus on the practice field in preseason? Spending time with him one on one? Don't give me this crap that he went out of his way to alienate him. McD wants players focused on their job. Dareus wasn't. Your highest paid guy on your team can't be that guy. If you are a Parcells you can treat a Lawrence Taylor differently because Taylor was completely there when the bell rang. Dareus wasn't. Woods left as a free agent; he was not "shipped out".

Interesting thoughts here

Leaders define the culture. Employees decide to embrace the culture or not. Those who don't leave. Those who do stay. They tried to get Dareus on board. From Marrone through McD ever coach did, and he kept fighting it. Maybe Coughlin and Marrone (on his second tour of duty with Dareus) finally got it through his head that you either buy in and straighten up or your career is over.

I am still somewhat mystified why we don't have a more veteran QB backing him up or playing right now. But looking ta things in total, I believed as did management that McCarron would be that veteran bridge guy who would take snaps while Allen got ready. So let's say he did, or if now we brought in a Landry or Moore or somebody. We could still be 1-3 or even 0-4. And all we'd be doing right now anyway is calling for them to start Allen. So ultimately it probably doesn't mean more than a few games he would not have played. In the final analysis that probably doesn't matter much to our opinions.

What are you trying to say about him being the anti- McD? You think McVay hasn't established a culture for his team? I highly doubt that. As for fans worrying about their cap situation and lack of picks, the've gone all in on winning this year or next year. Then their team will get broken up, when they have to pay Goff and others. And we'll see what happens to them then. I liked Sammy, wish he were still here. But not at 15 million a year. He's done nothing to support that. And with the Chiefs in 4 games so far he has 14 catches for 176 yards and 1 TD. That's just not enough production to merit the huge contract.

Six of one and half dozen of the other with respect to him playing or not. But I do wish there was a veteran around for him to bounce ideas off of and get input from.

McVay built such a great bridge with Sammy they kept him for one year and weren't interested in resigning him. Dareus has like 9 tackles in 4 games this year. Gordon has played one game in NE and that means Belichick has built a bridge? Watch that"bridge" crumble if and when Gordon screws up again. Oh, and Milano? Defensive player of the week two weeks ago. I think a lot of teams would be happy to have him. Finally, cap space. They made a commitment to get out from under contracts that were weighing down the team. Dareus being the prime example. You don't give a huge contract to a guy half assing it through games.

Blah, blah, blah. How many times does it have to be said they planned to clear cap space and they're doing it quickly? You don't like it. Too bad. Dareus has like 8 tackles in 4 games this year, played like crap with us last year despite the biggest contract, so they got rid of him. You don't like it. Too bad. Yes it was their choice to clear space. Which left them less to pursue FAs. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing. It is what it is.

Got ya

If you're going to Paris with a significant other and tell her you want to watch football, that would pretty much define the term justifiable homicide.

True. I am optimistic about the draft. They got some good young talent last year(assuming McD called the shots) and this past spring. As for free agents I expect they won't spend a boatload of cash on one guy but get several solid players. I want to see O line prioritized. And get a good WR.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I know what happened in our organization and how that cultural shift set into play a number of strategic changes that have improved our market share. And I think you can walk into any successful organization and ask them about culture and they will be able to clearly define it for their organization and how it dtives success. Actually, someone should have asked McD that yesterday. Yeah, I could agree there.

They didn't have a ton of $$ in free agency. Recall they got gashed in the run game last year so they tried to shore that up. Having Richie lose it really hurt. And why Groy fell apart remains a mystery. I anticipate heavy emphasis on the offense next offseason. If not I will be quite critical.

I was hoping another playoff spot, assuming McCarron would be QB. When he got traded I thought probably 6-10 and get the young guys going.

McD and Beane told Terry this was necessary. It was part of their plan. We'll see over the next few years if they are successful with their plan. Everyone on this board should hope they are.

Sorry but you're wrong again. A non-profit health care organization first of all. Second our culture is simple: it's about the patient. We pursue a ton of strategies such as smiling when with patients, making sure they can get into a doc's office with 24 hours, many others. But every single strategy is influenced by having a culture where the needs of the patient are placed first. You bring up the Rams. Is their success culture or strategy? And why do they have to be mutually exclusive?

No it's not. It was a deliberate cultural shift. Our culture now centers or one thing: it's all about the patient. And that dictates strategies. Like expecting our employees to smile with patients and their families. We may define things differently, but to get back to the team it's still simple. When you are the leader of the team one of your jobs is to set the culture of the team and hold folks to that.

I feel sorry for Dareus and hope he finally straightens out. But do you recall when he missed the bus (bus, plane) for the preseason game? McD didn't ignore it, came down on him, but I also remember the pictures of him on the practice field with Dareus one on one. He tried to reach the kid, but reaching him meant (I think) that he had to buy into the culture. And he wouldn't or couldn't . I hope for his sake Marrone gets him to. I agree about Hogan and Gilmore; those were financial decisions vs. culture.

I work in health care. We had a new CEO come in several years ago, and what he did was change the culture. His message was simple: it's about the patient. Everything our organization does, from hiring to food service to whatever, is based on being focused on patients. Not what's convenient for us, or what we might like. I was given the role of explaining this change in focus to nursing staff. One of our expectations under that culture is we smile to patients and their families. One nurse told me: I don't smile. I told her: you need to decide if you want to be part of our organization. Very talented at nursing duties, but terrible at adapting to the new culture. Lot of folks left, but a lot of talented folks joined because they want to be part of that culture. We now are the market leader in many areas. How does that relate to McD? Simple. He is defining the culture of the Buffalo Bills. His message I think is equally clear: it's about football, plain and simple. You don't think guys like Dareus were told this is how it is in JVille? Or the guys in NE by Brady and Belichick?

You are confusing talentvand culture again. I have never said you don't need talent. Neither did McD although people keep trying to say he did. Talent wedded to a solid culture makes teams and organizations successful. The three guys I mentioned are the types that worked hardest in practice. They challenged their teammates to do the same and accepted no less than that. That is how culture can make organizations successful. I disagree. Culture is the expectations you place on the employees of a company. It's you DNA and that DNA influences all you do from there. Mission and vision statements define culture in my view (and where I work), and directly affect strategic decisions. I invite you to visit any successful company and ask them if culture isn't real. I think they will tell you that you are mistaken.