jahnyc

I would like to know our plan for the oline and dt, which may be the weakest in the entire NFL at this point (Williams and Adams cut, Teague, Edwards, and Bannon are free agents and both units were poor last year even with these players). I know that it is very early, but I had hoped tht the Bills would be really agressive right from the start. Have any visits been announced?

Too many holes to fill in one offseason. Not enough cap room. Even if the CBA is extended, it will be difficult competing for free agents since many teams are significantly under the cap. It is depressing to be making these types of cuts after a poor season.

In addition, to the obvious (poor coaching and mediocre drafting), a couple of things (some of which are obivious as well). 1. Failure to find a quality qb since Jim Kelly. A number one and four for RJ, a number one for DB and a number one, a second and a four for JP (altough we received a number one back so the Bills could draft JP). No diamonds in the rough drafted in later rounds either. 2. Failure during the TD era to find value priced free agents that turn out to be quality or excellent players. 3. The MW pick. He was a very high pick and cost the team in terms of cap space available to fill other needs.

I agree, and that is where I was going with this question. With limited resources, it would be disappointing to use resources on an established free agent wide receiver instead of the o-line or the defense.

If Moulds is waived (and I hope he is not), then do the Bills need to pick up a WR in free agency or via the draft? It seems unbelievable to me, but Reed is a free agent and Aiken does not seem to be of starting caliber. That leaves Lee Evans and Parrish. I don't think Parrish is more than a number three WR, so does this mean we need to find a starting WR this year? We are in this situation notwithstanding that the Bills used a first round pick, two second round picks and a fourth round pick on WRs in the last four years.

It does seem that Pittsburgh's offense improved after MM departed, but the play of Ben R. may also be a factor. Another odd thing about TD was some of the Pittsburgh related stuff. I remember reading that TD moved up ahead of Pittsburgh to draft Denney on draft day because someone in the Pittsburgh draft room told him that the Steelers were going to draft him. On the other hand, if TD had been able to retain LeBeau as a coach for the Bills, maybe our defense would have been even better (and would not have stunk this past year).

I believe that we are fortunate that MM is no longer coach of the Bills. I don't think he has the right mix of qualities to succeed as a hc, at least not in Buffalo. Picking fights with veteran players (Moulds, Adams, Shaw), questionning the efforts of others (McGahee), blaming and firing defensive coaches for talking behind his back/under cutting him with the players, getting rid of a top strength and conditioning coach and replacing him with his own less-qualified guy, never being straight about who is starting (QB) and who is injured (or generally forthcoming about anything), rasing family concerns, and, most importantly, failing to make adjustments during a game, all suggest to me that he was in over his head as hc of the Bills. With regard to TD, I appreciated his efforts, his contributions to the community and how he tried to excite the fans with his free agent acquisitions, trades and drafts. I believe he was a very hard worker and wanted success for the Buffalo Bills more than almost anyone else. Unfortunately for all of us he did not produce, in significant part due to his poor choices for hc (twice). I think TD was too cold, and never embraced our past successes since they were not his own. TD also seemed to have pretty thin skin. I am still surprised at his comments about Blesdoe during this past season or the information that was put out about McKinney. Most of all, I would really like to understand why the o-line was not adressed in a more systematic way or why they thought JP was ready to start in the NFL.

Another weird/embarassing item.

I have not seen any updates, but you would think that some of the local writers would have had some info in the Sunday sports about the DC position.

I agree that we have no idea why Bates turned down the position, if that is the case. But I hope it was not because of money. Bates provided a certain level of comfort to me that the Bills defense really could improve from last year. I have no idea if Jerry Grey was a good or bad DC, but I was looking forward to having an experienced DC with a proven track record of success. The other guys the Bills seem to be considering do not.

I agree. I think C. Weiss would have been a difference maker and could have had great success with the Bills. I recall reading recently that the reason Weiss was not hired may have been related to his health. I think I read it on ESPN.

The Bills routinely pay their players and free agents millions of dollars each year in bonuses. Paying Bates a few hundred thousand dollars a year more than they would like represents the cost of a top notch DC and the new realities in the NFL. I don't like Snyder, but paying for top coaching is a smart investment. In two years, Bates' salary requirements will seem more than reasonable. From all accounts, Bates is a difference maker. I am sorry, but Lynn or the guy from the Bears do not have his experience or track record with successful defenses. I also don't want to hear that this means that DJ will be running the defense. Our head coach needs coordinators that he can trust and delegate to, so he can focus on his own responsibilities, which are numerous.

It is a little disconcerting that a guy he worked with in Detroit would not accept a position with the Bills and others well known candidates have accepted positions. How should we take Henderson potentially choosing the Lions over the Bills? Not sure if there are some problems here or at least some perception issues after the firing of TD and resignation of MM.

The Bills may retain Grey? Is this possible?

I gave TD the benefit of the doubt for the first couple of years. But now with Marv (with no GM experience) and RW as our decision makers, the last thing we needed as fans was a move that would create new doubt in our collective minds. The current structure, RW's age, MM resigning (and not getting paid out on his contract), Modrak in Florida, RW in Detroit and Marv in Chigcago has created an unstable and weird situation. From the perspective of the franchise, we really needed TD to be successful. He was not, and now there are significant consequences.

Who knows how this will turn out, but I note the following: 1. Many Packer fans seem to still like and respect Sherman. On this board, many such posts to this effect were made. I noted almost no support for Jauron from any fans of the Bears or Bills fans living in Chicago. 2. Sherman head to head against Jauron was 7-1. 3. I think most fans are bitterly disappointed. After a very crappy time under TD and the bizarre resignation of MM, we needed more than the hiring of Jauron. 4. Stop with the comparisons to Belichick. I know that with Cleveland his record was well under .500. This does not mean that Jauron will have success because BB did with his second opportunity to be head coach. 5. How is Jauron going to attract quality assistant coaches and free agents? I don't see it.

I had a feeling that it was going to be Jauron when RW drove him to the airport after his interview. I also recall hearing that RW liked Jauron when the Bills last interviewd head coaches (and ended up with MM).

I have no problem with posters claiming to have inside contacts and information, but the problem with Soprano was that he posted so many times and with such certainty. This poster should be banned.

Disappointing in a number of ways. First, many seemed to believe that Sherman was the better candidate. I also excited about the possibility of Bates as def. coordinator. Second, I was upset when TD picked MM because of the so called "Pittsburgh" connection. I did not think that MM was the best candidate at the time, but I thought he got the job because TD was comfortable with him. We passed on Weiss, Crennel and others. Now it seems that Marv and RW are making the same mistake. Sherman has an excellent track record and playoff appearances. Jauron does not, other than one season and one playoff appearance. Are the players, possible free agents and fans going to view this as a franchise that is making a commitment to winning? I don't believe so. Finally, I am incredibly annoyed at all of the poster with so called inside information. Some of these people should be banned from the board if the Jauron hire is true.

Another interesting part of the story is the MM fired the defensive staff before walking away. I wonder if some of the assistant coaches would have otherwise stayed, assuming that the next HC and defensive coordinator were interested in retaining them. Unfortunate that MM had the opportunity to fire them and not the next HC.

In his Notebook, Pete Prisco indicates that MM had problems with his defensive staff and they second guessed him with the players. Sorry cannot link, but see cbssportsline.com. If true, I think MM's departure is a very good thing for team. MM had problems with his defensive staff, problems with veterans, problems with his own offensive coordinator, family issues, etc. A clean start was necessary because there is no way that MM could have been successful under these circumstances. It sounds like he had lost his team and his staff. I am pleased that the Bills are looking primarily at coaches with experience as head coaches. We need some maturity and experience with our next head coach.

I would expect that a trustee/executor of RW's estate would have a fiduciary obligation to get maximum value for the sale of the Bills. I read an article some time ago where RW stated that it would violate law to include a provision in his will that the Bills be sold to an owner who would agree to keep the team in Buffalo. Does anyone recall this or know if this is true? I agree that even if a local person does not purchase the Bills, it still would be possible that an owner living in another city would purchase the Bills and keep them in Buffalo. In any event, we will need strong support from the NFL, NY state (senators and governor) and local officials to make sure that the Bills stay in New York after RW is no longer the owner of the Bills.

But where are all the candidates? All we are hearing is Jauron and Sherman. If this is the case, then the Bills have their mind made up. Maybe RW wanted Jauron the last time and TD talked him out of it. I have a feeling that no one else is being considered.

Yes, I agree. Very strange. Particularly since the first candidate interviewed is not drawing interest from any other team. Why no interest in some of the other candidates for other head coaching positions (i.e., Linnehan, Grimm, Al Saunders)? I am surprised that we did not interview Payton or try to interview Mangini. The only two names that seem to be on the Bills' list are Jauron and Sherman. I really would like to hear some new names.

I would have been okay with Payton. He seems to be very well thought of and is a "fresh" face.