wiskibreth

Right, because every team has starter-quality LT's waiting around as backups... And I believe they did draft a Tackle this year. Yeah, they did let crazy-man Kouandjio go, but... you know... he's crazy. OL will be fine. Folks act like if someone gets hurt they'll only be fielding 4 dudes.

Tyrod was supposed to have a WR, TE, RB "camp" in Atlanta during the off-season. Wonder if that ever happened?.. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/07/14/pft-preseason-power-rankings-no-23-buffalo-bills/

He should live out the rest of his life as a pariah. Never interviewed, never recognized. No interest whatsoever. Hope he dies a miserable old lonely man.

Honest question. Do scouts really work under contract? Or are they simply employees? Would seem to me that a lower level scout or area/regional scout could up and quit and move to a different team whenever he/she wanted. Granted, they probably wouldn't do that without getting something extra for it, like higher pay or better assignment, but could a team really "block" that person from making their own decision?

I'd like to see him fired just so people would quit talking about him like he makes any difference whatsoever. Yeah, he's made and influenced some bad football decisions in his 20 years with the Bills. Virtually anyone else in his position would undoubtedly have made similar errors, maybe even worse so.

^^this Every year his cap hit be comes less and less of an impact on the relative, and ever increasing salary cap. If he produces, he should stay.

I don't think what people are understanding is that McDermott isn't being given overriding power, or making a power grab. He's simply doing the things he needs to do to keep the ball rolling. I give him tons of credit for making it known to the Pegula's that he and Doug clearly aren't on the same page, they don't share football philosophies, and by in large, they can't build a TEAM together. The Pegula's like his vision more and here we are. I think it's a little ironic that Doug probably "picked" McDermott for the HC candidate, like he would have "picked" a player, only to have it bite him in the behind because he didn't do his complete homework to know if they shared the same philosophies on building a football team. I think when all the dust settles, we'll end up with two guys with equal "power" reporting to the Pegula's in complete partnership. -which is what they've wanted all along, but didn't know how to get there. McDermott turned on some lights. I think this part of the article speaks the lowdest to me, and where the Pegula's want to be: "In football, a successful partnership between the head coach and GM starts with a philosophical connection. I was a more effective personnel man working for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick; we share the same vision for what it takes to win in the NFL. When I wasn’t with Bill, I was horrible working with … I’ll leave out the name, as it pains me to even remember. The cohesiveness between coach and GM is vital to an organization. Pete Carroll found it with John Schneider in Seattle, Ted Thompson found it with Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, and the Steelers have always had it with whoever is their GM — in this case, Kevin Colbert — and their head coach, Mike Tomlin."

I just realized the Bills actually released him... and all this time I though he had decided to "retire". I guess not. For some reason I thought they still controlled his rights. Hope he's getting good medical advise, because he's taking a real risk with the rest of his life. Two season-ending neck injuries sould make me think thrice and then a fourth time before donning an NFL football helmet again.

That's not necessarily true. Common direction can be shared between individuals where there doesn't need to be a "tie-breaker" one level above. Steelers employed this dynamic between Cowher and Colbert in Pittsburgh(even though Colbert wasn't technically GM at the time, but closest to one they had), and the way Pat Kirwan tells it, the Rooney's refused to intervene and insisted they work it out until they reach consensus. And while Cowher was great coach in his time, he wasn't tremendously experienced when he landed that gig. The direct report approach can also lead to resentment and dissension just as easily as it can lead to success. The boss can be wrong.

Well, he said in the article that as a coach he initially didn't get involved much in player personnel or the draft until after he coached at USC where he had to become more intimate with player selection. He then brought that aspect back tot he pros. Yeah, he was an experienced coach, but he wasn't an experienced personnel guy. I think its more about the symbiotic and respectful relationship of the GM and coach working together making decisions in unison based on a common philosophy is what's important. Not who has the power or final say.

I don't understand why everyone is so caught up in "who has the power"? This article about the dynamic in Seattle, and I don't see any reason why it cant be successful in Bufflao as long as McDermott and (whoever) can strike the same kind of successful relationship. Schneider was hired after Carroll, and I'm certain Carroll was given the opportunity to voice his opinion on who the GM would be. It's a good read. http://www.espn.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/18960/why-the-pete-carroll-john-schneider-relationship-has-served-the-seahawks-well

I feel like he's not even tradeable right now. What team is going to give up compensation, let alone a 1st for a 1 year injured question mark? Yeah, the talent's there, but if you can't use it, it's worthless.

It was the proper move. Nobody knows the extent of his injuries better than the Bills medical staff, and maybe they're erring on the side of caution (i mean, look at the Shaq misread). Guaranteeing the guy $13M for 2018 now would have been a big gamble and IMO a mistake. The franchise tag is there for 2018 of you want to keep him and work out a long-term deal or trade. This decision today in no way indicates that they're losing his talent. - unless of course he gets hurt again. And if he does, he'll need to take whatever he can get and prove he can stay healthy and perform at an elite level for a complete season before he gets a big payday.

to quote the late great George Carlin... "Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Sorry if already posted... Bills ask for permission to interview Beane http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/05/01/bills-ask-for-permission-to-interview-brandon-beane/

Yes, I'm well aware how major corporations are run. That's why I tend to believe Russ doesn't have as much "involvement" in football operations as many here believe he does.

Thansk for the clarification on that. I would conclude that being the head of all organizations leads to a diluted level of influence in daily operations of each overall. Point being, level of influence is relative. I would grant that his influence weighs more in the Pegula's minds than my examples, but I seriously doubt Russ's inputs become the sole basis for the Pegula's decisions. After all, Russ hired/promoted Whaley, did he not? I doubt he would have recommended his dismissal.

Recognizing deficiencies and making corrections is not dysfunction. People might question the timing of such decisions, but realizing changes need to be made and having the guts to make them is a good thing.

I get it. Some will never be happy until he's completely out of the picture; rational thought or not. Think about it... Everyone Terry and Kim talk to have "influence"; children, friends, business associates, etc. Should they be totally sequestered?

Give me two talented football players and I'm choosing the one with the higher character 100% of the time over the dude who has behavioral issues and a history of poor decision making -even if his tape might look a little better. It's not about MBA's and Valedictorians. It's about high character which are exemplified by those achievements; dedication and commitment.

Russ is the President of Pegula Sports Entertainment. Its a holding company which owns the Bills, Sabers, Bandits and Americans. Each team has it's own independent operating hierarchy and Russ oversees them all. It's a big job and he's pretty far removed to day to day operating decisions of just the Bills. He's not making football decisions of any kind at this point -he doesn't have time to.

171 and 195

it was more than an epidemic. it was a plague.

Except you don't split the TE's wide. You line them up close, show run. Motion the flexed guy on the left and jam up Ealey on the way by to give MIlls a chance on the right. Get a LBs on one of those monster TEs and that's a mismatch and that's a long play.

but that means I'd need to stay up real late to see who the pick was...