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I am not real sure about how much Marv Levy had to do with building the Superbowl teams, but I know he was clearly credited with making the decision to daraft Shane Conlan and sign Steve Tasker off waivers. He was also credited with fighting hard to draft Thurman Thomas. I am really hoping that at least one sports reporter covering the Bills will be ringing Bill Polian's phone off the hook, trying to get a glimmer of how much input Levy really had in the draft "war room," during free agency, in trades, etc. A little Marv history I dug up with Google... When Levy first became an NFL head coach in 1978, the first player he drafted for Kansas City was defensive end Art Still. That went well. From Marv's Hall of Fame bio: The year after drafting Thurman, Levy found himself in disagreement with Norm Pollum, the Bills' national scout and former Director of Player Personnel. Pollum, for whom Marv had great respect, was urging him to take a defensive end. However, Levy questioned the player's character. As the draft approached, Levy and Pollom engaged in a discussion that lasted five hours. Finally Pollom turned to Marv and stated, "If you take this guy, Marv, he'll end up in the Pro Bowl!" Levy responded, "I want a guy who'll end up in the Super Bowl." And with that, the Bills selected Levy's choice of Penn State linebacker Shane Conlan, who went on to play in three Super Bowls. I remember the following quote from the first day of every training camp: "The first thing I did when we got to training camp," Levy always said, "was to tell them it was a new season and to forget everything that happened the year before." -- That's what we need. "Everyone wants to win. The special person has the will to prepare to win." "What you do should speak so loudly that no one can hear what you say." "Adversity is an opportunity for heroism." "Expect rejection but expect more to overcome it." "Gentlemen, where would you rather be than right here right now?"

I could see Jimbo do it now that Hunter has gone on to a better place. R.I.P.

why the Packers before the Bills?

Two big reasons that are enough alone to warrant firing Mularkey: * I cannot recall ONE adjustment made at halftime or during a game this season that worked! Not one. * Mularkey made at least two dozen questionable play calls this year that went bad. I understand the "if only it had worked" argument, but when pretty much every call goes bad -- the coach needs to change the way he does business. He didn't change, so Ralph Wilson should be making the change. Two big reasons that are enough alone to warrant firing Donahoe: * Gregg Williams (especially allowing his to keep Killdrive) * Mularkey (I think the draft/free agent pick-ups many here complain about should be pinned on Mularkey, as I believe TD asked MM what he needed, and I believe TD delivered those needs, but MM couldn't hold up his end)

These questions are just part of the reason MM must go.

...in order of what I think would be most attractive to head coaching canidates. 1. Kansas City – Decent all-around team. Very good run offense and an improving defense. The Chiefs just missed the playoffs and seems to be the only team with a head coaching vacancy that could be considered a Super Bowl contender next year. 2. St. Louis – The Rams had virtually no playmakers on defense. In fact, the D sucked. I doubt it can be completely fixed in one offseason, but, on the other hand, the team has a serviceable QB, an outstanding, young running back and an above average receiving corps. I believe that with the right philosophy (read: not a West Coast offense), this is the second most likely team on this list to find its way into the postseason next year. 3. Buffalo (hoping this becomes an opening) – The Bills have a solid mix of young talent and veteran experience. The problems are specific enough that a good showing in free agency and the draft very well could fill a majority of the holes that allowed the ship to sink this season. Depth on both lines will likely continue to be an issue next year, so an incoming coach will be betting a lot of his starters staying healthy. The big problem here is that we fans are understandably growing impatient – we need a playoff team sooner than later. Of course, the past two head coaches. 4. Houston – OK, fans will be patient, to an extent. The Texans will likely walk away from New York City April 29 with Reggie Bush. The players are convinced talent wasn't the problem and that the new coach can make a quick impression by getting off to a fast start next season – I agree, and I expect many candidates will, too. 5. Minnesota – A new owner, an ill-fated boat party, trading away Randy Moss, and now rumors that Dante Culpepper will be sent packing. The Vikings need a cop as much as they need a coach. This is a team that can win, but too many questions still and will loom next year. The one plus is that the new owner is showing he’ll spend the dough necessary to win, and the defense’s retooling is going well and will likely continue this offseason. 6. Green Bay – Farve will likely retire, so the new coach inherits a team without experience under center. Yes, the Packers were big time victims of injuries this year, but the team has many needs that will take at least a few years to meet. Sherman is leaving some big shoes to fill, and that fan base truly expects to win every year. The next coach will have a short leash from the get go. 7. Oakland – The Raiders may have the players and fan base to rank higher on this list, but who wants to work for Al Davis? He is too erratic to attract decent candidates. It took him weeks just to get Norv Turner to take the job two years ago, and I think he’ll have an even more difficult time this year. Throw in the fact that the new coach will have to deal with Moss on a daily basis, oh, and the team has one huge question mark at QB. 8. New Orleans – A team in disarray. Everything is up in the air, and it is going to be nearly impossible to assemble a successful team until questions about ownership, practice locations, game locations and stadium needs are all answered. Yes, they have the number two pick, Leinart might want no part of the Saints, and could manipulate the club's draft strategy like Eli Manning did with the Chargers. 9. Detroit – The Lions aren’t in that bad of shape, but the incoming coach will likely be the outgoing coach when GM Matt Millen gets the boot.

Right, who considers him among the best owners? The same guys who repeatedly refrain from voting him into Canton? I just don't get it ... does he not realize that he cannot take his money with him.

Hats off to Dan Synder. For all the crap he has deservingly been pelted with the past several years, he did right this time. He is an owner and a fan. If I had the money, I would certainly pay to have the best coaches available. If Ralph keeps MM, IMHO, he doing so only because it is the cheaper way. If Ralph REALLY wanted to win the big one before his final timeout, he'd realize that he cannot take his cash with him -- and bring in the best coaches money can buy.

I'm a fan of drafting Ngata, but I would take Super Mario first. If we are lucky enough to have Mario fall to us, which I don't expect to happen, I would take him and then make sure we got Gabe Watson in the 2nd round, even if that meant making a trade. Getting both those guys to our defense would big a huge deal. The run defense would be back and we'd have a very good pass rush. Get 'er done, TM!

Form that article: That seems to go with with ESPN is reporting...RW intended to keep MM, but the meetings today didn't go well, and he may now be fired.

I've seen ESPN quote the D&C before. The D&C often beats the Buff Snooze on breaking Bills news.

OK, but when he puts that wieght on he is going to slow down and get hurt. It seems like a no brainer to me as long as Hawk and Mario are off the board. Who ends up with Gabe Watson? I'd like the see the Bills take him -- even if they get Ngata in the first.

If Marv was just the fortunate benifactor of a great GM, then Pioli is just the fortunate benifactor of a great coach.

He leave the contract legally (without the Bills owing any type of compensation) if the Bills named him team president. This is because of the league's rule that a person can leave a team for a higher position.

So, can Marv deal with the salary cap? A lot of people doubted Joe Gibbs could do -- and the Deadskins are playing next weekend.

The quote I brought up had nothing to do with the Bills contacting Marv. It had Marv clearly saying he would be interested in coming back into the NFL only as a head coach.

How difficult would it be for Marv to pull Marchibroda out of the radio booth in Indy?

I've estimated Modark is about 65 (based on when he first graduated from college). Wilson is 87. Levy is 80. So, that comibined age would be about 232. That's an average age of 77.3. Of course, that is a LOT life of experience.

Of course, this post is based on the reports that Marv is coming back to the organization in one form or another.

In fact, on th Jime Rome show less than 13 months ago he replied to Rome when asked if he wanted to coach in the NFL again: "I'll give a straight-forward, honest answer: Yes. It would have to be a head coaching job, none of this consultant stuff, but if it (an offer came), I would certainly listen very keenly.'' Just a quote I thought worthy of revisiting... Personally, I don't want to see an 80-year-old as the head coach...but, it may be in the works. We could do worse, that's for sure.

OK, so the questions becomes does Gray want Reggie Bush, or is he going to go after Brick, or even A.J. Hawk?

Something seemed a little off with Ngata last night. But the real issue I'm worried about is that he showed a complete lack of knowledge of how to protect himself on the play he was injured. DT in the NFL see rollups like like several times a game. Anyone just prancing around like he was without a sense of awareness is never going to last half a season in the NFL. I'm sure that is coachable, but I would have like to seen he already learned that. All that said, I hope his lack-luster performance last night allows him to slip down to us.

Yeah, they'll move, but they'll know we Western New Yorkers don't tolerate losing.

You mean you don't feel like TD is playing mind games with you by extending Crowell?

I'm all for sticking it to TD right now, but I'm not sure what your gripe is right now. I think benching JP (if he is healthy enought play Sunday) is huge mistake, but I think resigning Crowell is a no-brainer -- not a mindless move, and I don't believe it has anything to do with trying to win over fans.