BillnutinHouston

We are all thinking about the facts as they exist today, but Cowher is picky and I'm sure will hold out as long as he can. He's drooling over a Dallas loss tomorrow. Envision this one: You are Jerry Jones. Your division rival just landed a new, rock star coach. It's Saturday night and you just lost in the Wild Card round. Your coach is Wade "no charisma" Phillips, and your QB is entering his prime. Are you telling me you wouldn't IMMEDIATELY go after a Bill Cowher? If you can't envision that scenario, you better believe Cowher can. Go Cowboys!

Agreed, very remote theory. Got another theory that fits what we know?

Nope. If the Cowboys get booted in the Wild Card game, Dallas is looking like a pretty sweet option.

Thinking further on a passage from jw's article tonight. Follow me here: "Declining to place a timetable on the search, Wilson said 'we don't want to rush into hiring a coach just to be hiring somebody quick.' He then added: 'We don't want to hire a coach with a splashy name.'" By definition, entering into talks with Cowher totally invalidates the literal meaning of Ralph's statement that "We don't want to hire a coach with a splashy name." Obviously, the Cowher name IS splashy and they DO want him. What Ralph was really trying to say is, "we don't want to RUSH into hiring a coach with a splashy name." - Thus, trying to buy LOTS of time by creating the illusion that the Bills could be really beating the bushes, big time, in this search. In this game of chicken, Ralph isn't granting an interview because he's bored - he does it to put out the desired message and gain some benefit out of it. So the SOLE reason for Ralph granting an interview today, was to put the idea out there that this could take a long, long time. I think he's trying to buy someone some time. For what purpose....... Here's a theory - what if the Bills and Cowher have completed all the necessary groundwork to reach a tentative agreement that says, IF no other more appealing vacancy opens by X date, then Cowher and the Bills have a done deal. However, if another more attractive team comes along before X date, Cowher is free to sign with that team by X date and in that event, the tentative Cowher-Bills deal is automatically invalidated. Admittedly, if the Bills consented to something like this, they have knowingly set themselves up as the ultimate "fat girl/safety net". But think about it. If Ralph has decided to go "all in" for Cowher in one last attempt to literally "go out in a blaze of glory", AS IN, MAKE COWHER HIS PARTING GIFT TO THE FANS, how could Ralph possibly make his HC vacancy more attractive to Cowher at this stage, than to grant him the ultimate latitude. By allowing Cowher the option of finding another, more attractive place to land if one opens up within a timeframe that still will allow the Bills to continue the search with minimal competition for HC vacancies, then the Bills have absolutely leveraged their current situation to the max in order to land the one guy they really covet. Crazy theory maybe, but it fits Ralph's supposed burning commitment to winning, Cowher's desire to coach this year but yet to find the best possible situation, Cowher's continued lack of a clear response back to the Bills, and Ralph's attempt to buy time with today's interview. Flame away, all.

Fixed it for ya. Note - this rule does not apply to GM's.

Ralph has complete control over when he gives interviews. So why did he choose to speak now? In my opinion his conversation with JW was a complete stalling action. Stalling could be determined to be necessary for several possible reasons:: - to throw a small bone to the fans while we wait going into the weekend - to give Cowher time to release the info in a way that assists his current employer, or fulfills his contract (someone mentioned that he could have a nondisclosure clause limiting his abiity to discuss his status while the season is in progress - to confirm the Bills interest in Cowher in order to limit other candidates' negotiating leverage - other ?

OUCH

I agree totally. If they land Cowher, it means way more than a HC. It will be tangible proof that Ralph now understands and has fully committed to building a championship team in Buffalo. Landing Cowher will be nice, but seeing THAT commitment will be huge!

I agree that some aspects of this frenzy have been positive, but overall I have to say I am stunned by how so many posters react to the various media articles. Don't mean to sound like a snob but the fact is that many people either can't read, or are completely unable to decipher nuances of the english language. And unfortunately, when emotions run high, the IQ level plummets dramatically. Seriously, it makes me fear for the future of this democracy - to think these people are actually allowed to vote, is very scary to me.

Simon = Cowher's cupid

It's OK, we'll survive the damage.

Don't know much of anything about Harbaugh, but I don't see this as Nix's type of hire. Lots of upside but also the jump from college to pros represents a big risk. I posted another thread earlier stating I see Nix as a low-risk kind of guy. I may be off base but I think Nix is convinced that a proven commodity is what's needed to turn this around.

Here's what I envision going down: Brandon and Cowher have come to terms on salary, length of contract, coaching budget, and player budget. Ownership succession plan is explained, and Cowher is satisfied. Then out comes Cowher with the words that make the Bills brain trust hearts' sink - Cowher says "I need new uniforms". Brandon says, "No, not that. I thought we almost had this thing done. That's too bad." "OK, well, we're prepared to walk" says Brandon matter of factly, as the Bills brain trust quietly pack up their briefcases and head outside to the turboprop.

Highly doubt that they could keep a decision under wraps for more than a day.

Thought you were going to say, "...when the team's fans get down on it for what MIGHT happen, before they even know what's happening."

I'll start. The next coach of the Bills will be: Bill Cowher.

I may be breaking state law by posting this, but I think it will be Bama 24 Texas 20

Touche!

Agree on both counts. I think they went big game hunting, with Shanahan and Cowher at the top of the list. It jives with Nix's statement at his presser (which was very unique in my recollection) that the coaching search is like drafting, where you put your choices on the board and target #1 until he's no longer an option, then go to #2, etc. Shanahan was known to have wanted near full control so if you're big game hunting you DON'T fill the GM job until you have to cross Shanahan off the list. Next to Cowher, who reportedly requires less direct personnel say. And as you say, within days after visiting with Cowher, Nix gets promoted, meaning whoever they were targeting would not require full control. And Cowher has yet to come out and distance himself from the Bills job, in fact just yesterday Carucci was quoted as saying the Bills hard sell on Cowher IS ONGOING. BY DEFINITION THIS MEANS HE HASN'T SAID NO. This could fall in either direction still, but I stand by my belief that as of today the Bills are still hunting big game and taking steps in the right order to make the spot as attractive as possible to their targets. Assuming that their initial decision to go "big game hunting" was the right move, I have no complaints with the tactics they are using to date.

Trying to entice Cowher to come to Buffalo by touting TSW regulars as ideal matches for Cowher's daughter = overplaying your hand, big time. You always try to negotiate from a position of STRENGTH.

Another card falls in our favor. Has there ever been a case where so many variables outside of the Bills' control have fallen into place the way we would want? Look at the coaching decisions made by the Bucs, Browns, Panthers, Texans, Titans, Bears, Seahawks (I think)... It's almost like, fate.

I really hated the Maybin pick. I think Buddy's point is, a pick like that will either make you look really smart or really dumb. We know what the early indication is. Even the reporter who recently interviewed him seemed to be taken aback about how seemingly unaware he is of how disappointed most fans are about his performance so far.

The article was old but I personally hadn't seen the video before. Was interesting that Schefter said Ralph is willing to spend whatever it takes. That was new to me.