Fan in Chicago

The thought of taking on a Jax back-up as our starter gives me the shudders.

Best under pressure ? Ignoring Hasselbeck and Plummer (both not tested in playoff pressure), I give the edge to Delhomme simply because he has been to the SB and played well against NE (under pressure). Ben R has proven it in one game against the Colts.

Random thought - I wonder if there is some way to calculate what percent of fired head coaches have won the SB for their subsequent teams ? We are in a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. On one hand you can ask for previous head coaching experience and end up with any number of fired HCs as candidates. On the other hand we can hire a co-ordinator and run the risk of having yet another disaster on our hands.

Olin Kreutz (Center) was Chicago's Rd 3 pick in the 1998 draft and has been doing very well.

Wish we could talk Mike Ditka (despite his latest HC job) or Jimmy Johnson (despite his spiky hair-do and general feeling of resentment on this board) out of retirement.

I would like to think this is for the DC position - ya I know that is not the case as we don't have a HC yet. Guess the top brass is just bringing in all available coaches with HC experience. Slim pickings ...

As well as Carolina played against Chicago, I think they do not have the number of weapons required to win the big one. I was mightily surprised that Steve Smith was left in single coverage so much. I am not sure Carolina will do so well offensively if a team contains Smith (note I did not say shutdown Smith 'cos that appears very difficult). Overall, I think the Seahawks appear to have the best balance on both sides of the ball to win it. However, my thoughts are only after seeing the playoff games so it is unclear if this last weekends games were won on talent+consistency or a group adrenaline rush. My personal order of probability= Seattle, Denver, Pittsburgh and Carolina.

That is exactly why I advocate keeping EM & MW (after negotiations) and NC. We cannot run every above average player out of town hoping to find a better replacement.

That was good ! Thanx for the late evening laugh.

Yep, like the national experts who predicted a mediocre season from Buffalo and who got slammed on this board for not giving us enough respect.

My definition, should anyone care, would be both of them hanged from the top of the Statue of Liberty.

Umm.. the resignation did happen yesterday.

Entertaining ? Like seeing a major disaster will hold your attention but can hardly be classified as entertaining unless you are the sicko types. I am beyond disgusted with whatever has been going on. How many times are we fans going to get this flurry of activity in the off-season with promises of a brighter future ? If we continue to keep cleaning out the house, we will never have a home. I am at a point where I really think the best for the franchise would be if someone bought it from RW. I am not referring to age, but simply to the fact that he just does not have a grip on matters any more. Once a strategic decision is charted, an organization must take actions to continue down that road even if some sections are not the most optimal. If we keep changing personnel, how can you have any stability to implement a plan ? While I was ecstatic that TD was gone, MM's resignation seems to have officially put me over the edge. Sure in two weeks time, I will still be supporting the Bills but at a reconciled lower level of mediocrity as a benchmark.

How many times have I heard that over the past 5-6 years ?

I work in Chicago and my boss is in Houston. She is one of the most gadget-savvy person I have met but I can still say with conviction that things would go a lot smoother if the two of us were co-located.

I agree. Before we let EM go, we better have signed someone who is tall, tough and with good hands. Evans can take care of the speed and maybe Parrish will emerge in his second year.

If that is your criteria, I must say we are in the opposite state of mind. I don't sense too much jubilation on either this board or the Buffalo media. Most are negative and others are cautiously optimistic.

You don't expand on the subject line of the post. How exactly is this similar to the RJ and DB eras ?

I recall being a puppetmaster was the reason Pittsburgh canned him in favor of Bill Cowher. Now only if things turn out as well for us as they did for Pittsburgh after TD's departure ...

I third it All in favor say 'aye'.

Isn't that exactly what a GM is supposed to do ? As with corporations, the best CEO is not the best CFO, COO etc. He is best at keeping things in check, setting strategy, motivating his minions and providing a great PR face. Same thing goes with the Presidency of the country. And contrary to several opinions on this board, I do see these developments as a significant change - firing of a GM and impending firing of the OC, DC, strength coach. A majority on this board are baying for everyone's blood save Bobby April's. There has to be some continuity and I see these steps as those in the right direction. The only way to blow it is by hiring a crappy OC and DC. For that we all have to reserve judgment.

Except JP will be a 3rd year player and there is no history to say that ML has been unkind to them. Also, RW has said the GM will not look over MM's shoulder. So there ! I think JP and EM are going nowhere.

No you don't

Shameless bump to remind posters not to bash every media source before things become a certainty.

I usually agree with you but this is one of those times I don't. I really don't think this is a move to placate the angry fans. As is obvious, RW had 3/4th of one foot in the grave 5 years back and hoped that TD would build a SB-worthy team. Given that RW's other foot is wandering towards the proverbial grave, he was in no mood to give TD any more time. He is a business man, agreed, but after having made a bunch of money and close to the end, every man thinks of leaving behind a legacy. I bet there is nothing more RW would value right now than a SB appearance or victory. After all, RW is a fan of his own team also. Unlike the rest of us who can only B word and whine, he can hold his minions accountable and do something about it.