Dawgg

I didn't say it was an "either or," I said it was both. In 2006 4 of the final 6 games were at home for the first time in the team's 47 year history -- a virtual death sentence when the team isn't competitive. Thanks to Schumer's lobbying, the NFL has made efforts to give the Bills fewer home games late in the year. In the home games they do have, they try to make sure that the opponents are good draws. It shows in the schedule the past 2 years. The fact still rings true: Marv is not responsible for "brining back the fans." Fact of the matter is Marv was overmatched as a GM and as a talent evaluator (his horrific 2006 draft and subsequent free agent signings speak volumes). If you're trying to give him credit for filling the seats, you're really stretching it. Carry on

Wow. This is great news. Buddy Nix was the man when he was in Buffalo!!!!

The problem the Bills had with their schedule was that the December games in 2006 weren't particularly good draws. Teams like Tennessee and San Diego aren't big draws. Going into December, the Bills had almost 10,000 unsold seats for those games. Note that Marv was very much at the helm during this time, fresh off leading one of the worst Buffalo Bills drafts in recent memory. I guess I misspoke... what I "should" have said was that the Bills' schedule was adjusted to (a) reduce the number of home games in December and (b) ensure that the crappy draws happen earlier in the season. Nevertheless, ganesh's notion that Marv was responsible for bringing back the crowds remains a stretch. In 2007, December home games were against Miami (which usually sells out) and the Giants (a big draw). In 2008, one of the home games was moved to Toronto (against Miami) and the other was the New England Patriots (always a big draw). This was no coincidence.

In 2006, the 12/24 game was blacked out because it didn't sell out (note: Marv was GM during this time). So they didn't sell out every game under Marv. Also note that this game was blacked out despite its importance. It was hardly meaningless, as the Bills were still fighting for a playoff berth, thus making the notion that Marv "brought back the fans" absurd. The following season, Chuck Schumer lobbied to have the schedule adjusted.

If you'll recall, the NFL also did the Bills a big favor by making most of their home games earlier in the year. In prior years, the Bills had to sell December home games in the freezing cold that had little meaning. If you want to give Marv credit for bringing back the crowd, let's also give him credit for inventing electricity.

You should really consider looking up your facts before you post.

I saw what I needed to see from Trent in the games at Jacksonville and against San Diego at home. Trent has a ton of stuff to work on -- his downfield vision, skittishness in the pocket, checking down too fast... but I think he has all the tools to step up his game. He's bright, knows how to manage a game and he also is extremely accurate. What he needs is good coaching, more playing time, and a better running game. I think he has the capability to be a top 15 QB in the NFL.

I think it was more than just Kollar who were involved in the evaluation of McCargo. I'll buy what you say about Kollar since you saw him up close in St. Louis. Having said that, McCargo just wasn't a good fit with this team from the get-go. Injuries didn't help his cause, but even when healthy, he had difficulty staying motivated, as evidenced by the team fining him for showing up out of shape. I'm sure this is one the Bills would love to have back... it's probably best for both sides to move on. They have soured on him, he has soured on the team.

If only this were true...

I was just pointing out the flaw in your comparison between: (a) Signing Kelsay and (b) Passing on Ngata. Seems like it's you who has the Ngata crusade and not me. The Whitner selection, albeit awful, hardly doomed the franchise. Teams miss on draft picks every year. Problem is, the ineptitude of the front office didn't end there. A series of boneheaded moves by the front office (Whitner, McCargo, Royal, Kelsay, Dockery, Triplett, etc...) DID doom the franchise. Blame Jauron all you want (and he deserves plenty) but the front office is even more to blame.

Only that it isn't hindsight. Many objective posters questioned those moves as they happened. The hilarity is you trying to compare strategic decisions in the draft vs. strategic decisions in free agency. The fact that you equate the two speaks volumes.

McCargo simply was overrated by the Bills' front office, who traded 2 high picks to get him. Couple that with his terrible work ethic and you have a body of work that the Bills were desperate to ship out of town. Bill Kollar is one of the most respected DL coaches in the league. If you think he's responsible for McCargo being a bust, I want whatever you're smoking down there in St. Louis!

His biggest fault was not Jauron. It was re-signing Kelsay to a monster contract, signing Dockery to a monster deal, and re-signing an aging Schobel when he had 3 years left on his deal. The total value of those contracts is almost $150M. Don't blame Ralph because he clearly showed a willingness to spend money. The problem is that the personnel department failed to use those resources wisely. Jauron wasn't a great head coaching hire, but I'm sick and tired of fans going after the head coach every 2 years. The constant in all this ineptitude has been the front office: Overdorf, Modrak, Guy, etc... the blame falls squarely on them. IN the 2 years Marv was at the helm, he had final say on all personnel decisions and I'm sorry to say the buck stops there. Yes, I'm sure the poor decisions in free agency and the draft have very little to do with the on-field performance of the Bills. It's all Jauron. Get your facts straight. Marv never said they favored Cutler at that spot. He simply stated that if they were to choose a QB at that spot, they would have chosen Jay Cutler. The front office had no intention of picking a quarterback, as they were still ready to give JP Losman one last chance to secure the job. And even if you were right in your assertion and Jauron was responsible for the Whitner pick, it still falls on Marv because he had final say on all personnel decisions. Standing back and watching your team pick an overrated safety at #8 does not make a good GM, no matter how you spin it. I'll certainly agree that Modrak, Overdorf and Guy consistently get a free pass. Doesn't change the fact that the personnel decisions in those 2 years were, for the most part, illadvised. Yes, so crappy players getting cut for marginally better players is a sign of progress??? Like Dwayne Wright losing his job to Xavier Omon? Your standards are awfully low... and I think that about sums it up.

If that was the "only" personnel blunder of the Levy era, the Bills would be a playoff contender. However, due to the litany of mistakes, both in the draft and in free agency, we are where we are today. If that's not enough context for you, how about: 7-9 7-9 7-9

Nah... it was you who consistently hurled insults at objective posters who dared question Marv's moves at the time. Now that you've been proven wrong you still hang onto the misguided notion that we're "way" better off than we were before Marv came on — a laughable one at best. The Trent Edwards selection was a stroke of genius, I will give him that.

Marv brought in Fowler and signed him to a 3 year deal. That has to count against him. In addition, Dockery is not nearly as good as his contract indicates. He is paid like Steve Hutchinson but is not even a top 20 guard in the NFL. 2006 draft: Whitner - Hardly a success, given where he was picked. He played poorly last year, but I'll say this pick is neutral for arguments sake. McCargo - failure. Don't need to say more than that. Youboty - neutral. He should be considered a failure given his lack of production but he has potential. Simpson - failure. Buried on the depth chart. Butler - success. Kyle Williams - success. Keith Ellison - neutral. Terrance Pennington - neutral.

In your warped view of the world, yes. In reality, Marv screwed up pretty badly. Rebuilding the o-line as the best since our Super Bowl year? So you're essentially saying that the line is better than awful -- hardly high praise. Anyone can go out and spend $100M to bring in lineman. That doesn't take skill, nor does it take foresight. The question is how did Marv spend those dollars: spending $100M on Dockery and Walker was just plain stupid.

I don't take issue with what you say BB. He crossed the line? Sure. Players cross the line all the time and often times in a way far worse than Boldin. There are posters calling him an "****" and declaring that he should be inactivated. That's a bit harsh all things considered.

Don't argue with these folks, as they have been bred for mediocrity... while other teams are winning and improving themselves, the Bills are a laughingstock of the league. Let them ridicule players who have proven themselves in the league and who are passionate about helping their teams... they get what they deserve: perennial losers like Robert Royal, John McCargo, and Chris Kelsay.

It's football, not your local Sunday church choir. The coaches aren't dumb enough to bench one of the game's best receivers for a sideline spat. Appears that you differ with their opinion. Fair enough... but it's a fairly idealistic (and unrealistic) stance to take in an emotionally charged game like football.

You aight bro?

I just think that a guy like him deserves to blow up once in a while. Was his timing a bit off? Sure it was, and that's the coach's job to manage the situation. Considering the Chad Johnsons (and Donte Whitners) of the world who talk a big game but don't produce on the field, a guy like Boldin is a refreshing change.

The guy wanted to be on the field and deservedly so. He has only proven himself as one of the best WR's in the game over the past 5 years, is a 3x Pro Bowler and has double-digit TDs despite missing 4 games. Excuse him for being passionate and wanting to help his team win. You can have a "good soldier" like Chris Kelsay... I'd take this guy on my team any day.

Check your facts. Boldin has 3 years remaining on his deal.

This post is like the annual "New England is going to suck next year" posts. The Giants have the best offensive line in the game and one of the best rushing offenses. They have a QB who has won big games and a very good head coach. They also have a stable of pass rushers, with Osi Umenyora returning next season. The Giants will be just fine.