ChasBB

What I like about Ruff is that he changes with the game and is creative. He has become a master of his trade over the years by being open to new concepts much in the same way Bilichick constantly seeks new concepts and approaches. That says a lot about him. He also knows how to get the most out of the talent that he has on his team.

Agree. Bills need to find a guy who WANTS this job. It's a great gig. Will probably be a huge pay raise for whoever takes it. I want a hungry coach is isn't afraid to take this chance. It's definitely a challenge given the ownership situation, but I want a guy in there who is not afraid of that challenge. Cowher wants guaranteed success and that just can't happen -- ANYWHERE.

I predict Jones gets rid of Wade. I'm surprised he has stayed with him as long as he has given he is not known to be a very patient person.

Well, the coach didn't miss 3 field goals, so I don't question the SD coaching in this game.

The Jets looked pretty solid today. I honestly thought the Chargers would handle them, but now that the Jets are advancing I think they will give the Colts a very hard time. They'll have extra incentive (like they need any more) -- all this week they'll hear, "but you only beat their backups to ruin their undefeated season". So, I expect the Jets to come out with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. The Colts had better bring their 'A' game because if they don't they won't win.

Thanks to those that enjoyed it. Sometimes, just gotta have fun with all this negativity flying around the board.

Yeah, tell me about it. I know. Hey, with any luck, maybe "The Onion" will take notice. But I doubt it.

1/16/2010 Sour Grapes by the Bills Front Office? In an apparent effort to save face after their unsuccessful effort to attract candidates for their head coaching vacancy, the Buffalo Bills' front office have withdrawn their head coaching vacancy today. "A coaching staff is really a luxury in today's NFL", CEO Russ Brandon was quoted as saying. Many in NFL circles say that this action by the Buffalo Bills is nothing more than sour grapes after a thoroughly embarrassing search for a new head coach produced only a single official interview. Brandon insisted that this was not the case and said, "The fans have only liked only two, or perhaps three, of the fifteen different coaches this organization has ever had over the years, so the percentages just don't look good that we can find a coach that the fans will embrace". However, a cursory review of the Bills' recent efforts to hire a new head man suggest otherwise. Several qualified candidates have declined to even speak with the Bills. The only one who has officially interviewed for the position admitted that is was only for the practice. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier admitted that his interviewing skills were a bit rusty and that he used the opportunity to prepare for when a better opportunity comes along. Frazier laughed and said "Hell no, I wouldn't really consider coaching the Bills. I was merely honing my salesmanship skills for when a more desirable vacancy comes along." It has been widely speculated that the Buffalo Bills have been hotly pursuing former Steelers coach and current CBS analyst, Bill Cowher with one or perhaps even two stealth meetings supposedly taking place. However, Cowher has denied even speaking with the Bills. "I'm very happy as an analyst for CBS right now" Cowher said. However, unnamed sources close to Cowher quoted him as saying "I wouldn't touch that vacancy with a ten-foot pole." It has also been speculated that Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm as also being sought after by the Buffalo Bills. After losing the divisional playoff round to the Saints, Grimm was asked if the Buffalo job was now on his radar. Grimm said, "Are you kidding me? I'd retire before working for that _______ (Ralph Wilson)." Given economic times as they are, one would think someone would jump at the opportunity to sign a multi-million dollar contract with the Buffalo Bills. However, as another rumored candidate (Jets' offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer) recently shared, "Why commit career suicide? It's far better to hold out for a role where one has a prayer of success. I'd rather flip hamburgers or bag groceries before making my good name synonymous with failure." In an unprecedented move, newly-hired general manager Buddy Nix said that the team's offensive and defensive captains will take on the coaching responsibilities during the 2010 season. Prior to announcing this move, in a final, desperate attempt to bring in a coach, several local high school coaches rebuffed the Bills' attempts to discuss the open position. One of the local high school coaches, on the condition of anonymity said, "This is where I live. This is where my family lives. This is where my children go to school. I'd have to depart from here out of sheer embarrassment after a single season." Even though the Bills' offer represented a generous 17,500% pay increase for him, he said he just couldn't put his family through the torture. EDIT -- this all in fun. I actually believe the Bills will find a VERY qualified candidate and that Buddy Nix is doing this correctly and taking his time. Just having some fun with this is all.

What are you talking about?! Ralph never said that. In fact, if you watch the press conference when Buddy was hired, Ralph said he didn't care about hiring a big name. Yes, part of what you say is accurate -- he wants someone with a successful track record and preferably some HC experience, but he was quite explicit in that it did NOT need to be a "big name".

I think that is an honorable thing to do if in fact Grimm wants to wait until the playoffs are over before interviewing with the Bills. I really believe that all coordinators for playoff teams should be off limits until their teams are eliminated. Grimm is doing the honorable thing by staying 100% focused on the Cardinals playoff success right now. It doesn't mean he doesn't want the Bills job. It just means that the Bills are going to have to wait to speak with him and this is as it should be.

Hey, I could not agree more. I've "adopted" the SEC because I am a Buffalo transplant to Florida, but these rates are just sad, sad, sad. It's all about the revenue the football program generates for the school. All of these schools ignore the fact that education should come first. However, with all the money that flows in from sports, it's easy to see how/why they turn a blind eye to these sad graduation rates. But it's not just the SEC. I think all major programs have issues in this regard. I do give Florida a little more credit than some of the other SEC schools as there has always been more of a culture that stresses academic results a little more than the other guys (and this is proven out by the stats you list above), but they still need to be much better than this. There's no good reason that graduation rates should not be close to 100%. Our entire culture is so wrapped up in sports that it has lost sight of more important things.

Ha, well maybe I am in fact a casual college football fan! I do stand by what I said about 2007, however. Any of the top 5 teams in the SEC during the 2006 football season would have taken care of Ohio State in the National Championship game. No, it's not necessarily like this every year, but as STLBILLS says, usually there are SEVERAL ranked teams in the SEC and this is the norm and not the exception. I grew up in Buffalo and honestly pro football was all that mattered to me growing up. However, having been in Gainesville area for nearly past 20 years now, one cannot help but be drawn into the college football scene. Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, and perhaps even Tennessee would have taken Ohio State in the 2007 bowl game. Would this happen EVERY year? No, not necessarily, but that year, probably yes.

It's simple. The SEC is a superior conference. Witness Florida's 41-14 victory over "number 1" Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship game. The truth is, ANY of the top five teams in the SEC that year would have easily handled Ohio State, but Florida just so happened to get the honor.

That's the truth. Let's face it -- the average fan know THIS about Cowher: 1. He's great on TV -- a likable guy. 2. He's enthusiastic -- appears to be a good motivator 3. He's had success -- very nice winning percentage and one Super Bowl ring The average fan really knows nothing more than this when it comes right down to it. We don't REALLY know what kind of coach he is. Clearly, he's very good because his winning percentage does not lie, but honestly we don't really know the guy other than what we see on TV or read about him. We just have to trust Buddy and Russ that they learned what they needed to learn about him during their stealth interview(s). We just don't know what was said.

You are probably correct about the Kelly connection. If so, Kelly needs to back away and let Buddy Nix complete the process. Buddy Nix has played a supporting role most of his career. Any lack of experience can only mean lack of experience in being THE guy. Nix is probably not a "natural leader" type of person and so he's never been promoted to the top spot before. He's the guy that REALLY knows what to do and makes OTHER people above him look good while not getting the credit. Some people go through their entire careers like this -- the know what they are doing, but perhaps don't outwardly appear to be confident in themselves (or are just very content to take a back seat role) and so they never reach the top spot. But that doesn't mean guys like this can't succeed being the top guy. Let Nix grow into this new role a bit and he'll be just fine.

+1 Ravens fans couldn't wait to run the guy out of town. I don't think we want this guy.

http://www.eastaurora.org/article.aspx?artno=1237 A couple of brief excerpts from above link (bold face added): "The message to me was that R&R are getting internal pressure to make Cowher the offer he can't refuse." "Privately they are also concerned that Brandon and new GM Buddy Nix may not have the experience needed to be able to recognize the potential of a coordinator or college coach with no head coaching experience." This makes no sense. Internal pressure? From WHO? Russ & Buddy ARE the main internal guys. There is no one else INTERNAL who really matters regarding this decision. And Buddy Nix's 50+ years of being in-and-around football suddenly does not matter? You maybe could make that argument about Russ, but no way you can make that argument about Buddy. He may be new to the HC interviewing process (at the NFL level), but I totally trust Buddy. He's got the experience necessary to make a good HC decision and he does NOT need any "internal pressure" to make one. If he is getting pressure, then he just needs to stay the course, conduct all the interviews and get the right guy. We need to get off this Cowher or nothing mentality. He's ONE guy. He's had some success and he'd be a great candidate, but he is NOT the ONLY guy. I want to see the Bills conduct an extensive search and interview as many qualified candidates as possible like Russ Grimm, for example, and others. Buddy is the guy. Let the man do his job for cryin' out loud. He doesn't need pressure within the organization to make any decisions.

It may all be anecdotal evidence of how he will do, but the comments of others who have worked with him and/or know him are VERY telling. I'm liking Grimm more and more. Hope he gives Buffalo a good interview and makes Buddy & Russ take notice.

I would prefer an organization structure where BOTH Buddy and Russ report TO RALPH. I don't think Buddy should have to report to Russ.

Interesting comment from a Jets fan: "I'm a Jet fan, but I will say this. At least the Bills play IN my home state! Not to worry, Lil' Schott is a good O coordinator, but he isn't even ready for the big show yet, so this was a break for the Bills. Rex Ryan took over offensive play mix up, limiting Sanchez to 20 throws per game and less, and that helped the Jets turn things around. Lil' Schott would be still calling Sanchez over the middle, for 30 attempts per game, that's how wise he is. Buffalo dodged one here. Why doesn't Wilson jsut put up some bigger bucks to get a Cowher or a Gruden, or a Billick? I always root for the Bills, come rain or shine (or snow), unless they're playing the Jets. Billick would be a good fit in Buffalo, build another Defensive machine." http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-j...p&type=lgns

+1

Please fix topic line. You are stating this as fact when it is only conjecture by some.

Tipster, you mentioned Falling Down earlier. Some of my favorite scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM8qT9Xop5k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gUkWkAazXQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA0nM8l8onE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCLU4dqx_Is Great film!!

I try to remind myself that no matter how bad things seem, they can ALWAYS be worse. You can take ANY crappy situation and think of ways it could be worse. True, it's not incredibly satisfying and won't make you feel THAT much better, but it may help a little bit when feeling a strong dose of self pity. Try to remind yourself of the good things you DO have in your life and start from there.

Agree. It's not like our defensive front was the Steel Curtain or anything like that, but he sure did run all over our defense easily. He also has a handy consultant who will help him for free -- his Dad! I like this choice as much as any. Edit -- but I'd still prefer Marty as HC if that can happen. Also, I don't think you can say B. Schot is better than Cowher, but he is just an unknown. He could one day with some consistent success make that claim perhaps, but not now.