Pass the Pipe

Gentlemen (using the term loosely): To be clear, I am very confident in my capabilities and observations regarding this team and my previous posting track record speaks for itself. Also, I actually enjoy the insults and emotional outbursts in reaction to my objective observations as I look at this place somewhat through the lens of a science experiment on the human psyche. Back to the business at hand, I have no issue with Marv Levy professionally and personally, but his performance as a General Manager was nothing short of abysmal and he should be held accountable for it! If I recall correctly, he was somewhat in disagreement with the current direction of the team according to an article in a Syracuse paper, which is egotistical to say the least. My main points of contention are that this reclamation project could have been further along with more aggressiveness in the free agent market and a selection of Brian Buluga vs. CJ Spiller, but make no mistake I am on board and satisfied with the progress of the team. Also, Chan Gailey is without question the best thing that has happen to this team in the last ten years and he deserves a pay upgrade immediately; I greatly thank Cowher and Shanahan respectively for not taking the job, but everybody has to agree Shanahan certainly knows what he is doing! Lastly, great point by the poster indicating that the secondary benefited immensely last year from the weak run defense. The secondary and lack of pass rush will have nowhere to hide on Sunday, this is not a below average quarterback and three back-ups in the receiving core, give the points and take the Pats!

Like many of you I am satisfied with this team’s direction and growth over the last 18 games under the Gailey/Nix regime, but I wouldn’t characterize my state as euphoric, intoxicated, or oblivious like too many of you including Sullivan. A cold dose of reality will sweep over the emotional fan base with the arrival of Brady and company on Sunday; my estimate is around 2:15 PM EST, almost like the Aztecan calendar. Still too many holes and too little time removed from the Marv Levy/Tom Modrak administration. Concerns that I have: • A woeful pass rush; was Modrak very influential in last year’s draft class as limited gems have materialized from that pool of selections as well, especially Troupe and Carrington; • Staying with the pass rush, I believe it is confirmed, Merriman certainly has lost multiple steps, not just the proverbial “step!” I like the emotion, brute strength, and determination, but his explosiveness is clearly lacking, just maybe it can be blamed on game conditioning, which truly has no similarities with a martial arts studio/training regime. • Even I was fooled with the depth of this secondary as there is none. Frankly, I would bench McKelvin and start Aaron Williams, it can’t be any worse. Also, for the life of me, I can’t understand how management didn’t make a play for Brandon Meriweather, he certainly has experience with both the Patriots and Jets and would the drop off from George Wilson really be that far? • The Andre Davis signing is, well, just that a signing; Sheppard has made enough plays on special teams to deserve a chance to displace this free agent bust. I love the kid’s intensity; • We don’t have enough speed at the wide out position; we really need some explosiveness at that position, including the tight end, and no I am not lamenting on the Lee Evans trade, which I totally supported and was unquestionably the correct move; lastly • For everything great about Fitzpatrick, he is still inaccurate and his arm lacks zip. Let’s face it, competent secondary play by the Raiders yesterday would have resulted in two or three picks and fans headed to the exits early in the forth. I am hoping for Titans/Ravens type shocker on Sunday, but I just don’t see it. Hopefully it is tight and not the classic NE vs. Bills blowout that we have all become accustom to.

the Buffalo Bills select: Patrick Peterson, cornerback LSU! I am surprised this is not getting more run, best player in the draft, large body of work, special team sensation, Terrence McGee wrong side of 30, Drayton Florence walk away FA, Youboty FA, McKelvin not a lock down corner & turnover specialist, and management seems to love their young defensive linemen drafted last year? I heard Buddy mention deep deep linemen/pass rushing depth in the draft. I almost think this is a lock.

This is the end Beautiful friend This is the end My only friend, the end Of our elaborate plans, the end Of everything that stands, the end No safety or surprise, the end I'll never look into your eyes...again Can you picture what will be So limitless and free Desperately in need...of some...stranger's hand In a...desperate land Lost in a Roman...wilderness of pain And all the children are insane All the children are insane Waiting for the summer rain, yeah There's danger on the edge of town Ride the King's highway, baby Weird scenes inside the gold mine Ride the highway west, baby Ride the snake, ride the snake To the lake, the ancient lake, baby The snake is long, seven miles Ride the snake...he's old, and his skin is cold The west is the best The west is the best Get here, and we'll do the rest The blue bus is callin' us The blue bus is callin' us Driver, where you taken' us The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on He took a face from the ancient gallery And he walked on down the hall He went into the room where his sister lived, and...then he Paid a visit to his brother, and then he He walked on down the hall, and And he came to a door...and he looked inside Father, yes son, I want to kill you Mother...I want to...!@#$ you C'mon baby, take a chance with us C'mon baby, take a chance with us C'mon baby, take a chance with us And meet me at the back of the blue bus Doin' a blue rock On a blue bus Doin' a blue rock C'mon, yeah Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill This is the end Beautiful friend This is the end My only friend, the end It hurts to set you free But you'll never follow me The end of laughter and soft lies The end of nights we tried to die This is the end The Doors

I accept your olive branch! The truth hurts, but at least you can deal with the problem once it is acknowledged. As long as Ralph Wilson is around there is NO HOPE!!!!

You are exactly the problem my friend.

In complete agreement, class act and an excellent player. I salute Hargrove and Williams as well. Williams certainly can talk the talk, and now he walks the walk.

Two weeks into his regime and he has already contradicted half of his statements in the initial press conference; what is wrong with challenging that fact?

The Bill-ievers have truly lost their collective minds thinking, for some unknown reason, we occupy a higher echelon than the Oakland Raiders, a team that has won Super Bowls, I emphasize won, and/or has made deep runs into the playoffs every decade dating back to the ‘60s. And, I am not even considering the almost universal allure of the silver and black, they probably sell Marcus Allen jerseys in the Republic of Congo? Let’s compare that to O.J. Simpson’s 2000 yd. season, I am reaching on this one, the Bermuda Triangle days, and the truly glorious Super Bowl years, if anybody has seen the movie Perfect Storm, the Bills history of success reminds me of the short fleeting moment when the destitute boat and crew had some hope, otherwise known as the eye of an hurricane, another PTP perfect analogy. An organization that couldn’t or can’t beat a divisional rival for almost a decade straight twice (i.e. Dolphins and Patroits), and, based on my calculations, using 16 teams in the conference and 6 annual playoff participants, randomly speaking there is about a 1% chance of not making the playoffs over the course of 10 years; Bob Barker, please show what Mr. Wilson has won behind door number three for that dubious feat! Recall Mora’s infamous “playoffs” rant and you’ll visualize what PTP is going through reading that the Bills are better than anybody claims! 4 straight, bickering bills, music city miracle, Flutie vs. Johnson, Mulurkey resignation, firing Polan, lost helmets, wide right, car chases around the LA freeway system, smoking pot and carrying unregistered guns, stealing $20, sounds like the penthouse to me? As predicted, the bi-polar majority on this board has returned in full faith fashion, supporting another incompetent move, the second in two weeks, according to my, typically very accurate, perceptions. I can’t imagine a worse January for an organization, be honest, how many would have dreamt of a Nix and Gailey combination; how many Netjet miles and dollars were wasted in this comprehensive search for the “fresh eyes?” These two clowns could have been hired with a placement ad in the Buffalo News. I can hardly wait to free agency and the draft. Lastly, I salute Jerry Sullivan for having the balls to challenge this joke of an organization and to call them as he sees them.

In all honesty, their regime seems a hell of a lot better than what is going on currently and that is really saying something. TD could bring in a free agent or two and I'll take the blow-horn mentality of Greggo over the cupcake they are about to bring in. Frankly, I prefer to have Greggo in a second tour of duty then any of the current frontrunners in this deathmarch of a coaching search.

Remember vasoline is not an option with these guys at OBD

If it is going to be Fantasy Island day on the board, why don’t we recruit the infamous landscaping company that worked on Leodis McKelvin’s home to pay a visit to Brian Schottenheimer’s pad?

I thank your grandfather too for defending our Constitution, especially the First Amendment that you appear to not fully comprehend. My ancestors discovered this country, thus I am not quite sure what that entitles me to in your psychological prism? The simpleton response is well within the majority views for this internet community, this giving you an emotional rush to chase a dissident like me off of your beloved turf. The issue nonconformist like Kiper and me have had all long is the real reason for this organization’s prolonged suffering, the unwavering financial support provided by individuals such as yourself (I assume the few hundred dollars you referenced means tickets or zubas/Maybin jersey type purchases)? Because, like you, surprisingly enough, I am a fan of this team, except I have an expectation for a normal distribution in the performance of the franchise over time as oppose to permanently residing in the wrong tail of the curve in this case. Whether or not our non-conventional hypothesis is proven correct, remains to be seen, but it is extremely fascinating for discerning fans like Kiper and me to watch fundamentalist such as yourself continue to dive-bomb your emotional and financial planes for the good of the cause, in this case, to maintain a mere semblance of an NFL “football” franchise in Upstate New York. I guess similar parallels can be drawn to the almost universal human appeal of tragedies, hence the Kamikaze analogy my friend. By the way, read the daily headlines and you'll see that the Bills are exactly being the Bills!

Kiper, Great post again as you present a perplexing question, how can a manager or leader of an organization create this type of fervor or emotion towards a mundane capitalistic task? There is absolutely no monetary value at stake with this laughing stock of an organization, yet these people embody the spirit of the Japanese Kamakizi division so revered during WWII. Your analogy to the dying dog on the vet's table was a good one, the news out of New York today was last kidney shutting down. Best Regards

Out of curiosity, is anybody concerned that the same decision makers currently carrying out the HC search still have not fired Tom Modrak and John Guy? It is beyond me how these two have escaped the guillotine? As Lynch works his way to a one year suspension, and in the process adding another high first round bust to Modrak’s already dubious record, I just can’t see how this guy is surviving within the organization. The Maybin pick alone is worthy of a pick-slip; probably another hurdle to landing a legitimate coach.

I guess the same logic must apply to Cowher then?

I disagree. He has lurked around the football side of things for some time now and he hasn't made a positive difference. Typically people that make positive contributions or add value to organizations get promoted. Brandon is nothing more than a RW yes man. Also, this team has always made money because of the fanatical fan base, which is the problem I have been arguing all along, stop buying tickets and this thing will correct itself fast!

A lot of these moves you mentioned were self-inflicted, like I said, the worst organization in football. They seem to lead the league ever year in IR numbers and I don't think it is bad luck.

Go see how many categories where the Bills are ranked in the 30s, a bunch!

Bend over and grab your collective ankles because the big one is coming commando style from OBD within the next week or two. I have a feeling last week was only a tea-bagging with the Nix hiring compared to what is going to happen next. I can not believe the constituents of this destitute organization keep on digging even though rock bottom has been hit a long time ago. Forget the pipe dream of Cowher or Billick, it will never happen. Does anybody realize Shanahan took a three million dollar pay cut per year ($15 mil over 5 yrs) to join Snyder’s Third Reich (Buffalo’s supposed $10 mil. per yr. offer)? Let’s see, a jackass of an owner, the Modrak and Guy comedy act, a Billy Mays clone as CEO, a 70 year wildcard as the “football man,” a dilapidated stadium, a roster that would be challenged in the Big East Conference, no nationally televised games, daily headlines from liquored up billionaires claiming they are going to buy your team, 7 home games a season, and nowhere for the wife to spend money or get a tan and we wonder why Brandon and company are always flying to interview the candidate instead of the other way around? I can careless about the ESPN Power ratings because this is the worst team in the NFL and statistics prove it. Brandon has been part of the hiring of Jauron, has not made one playoff appearance, traded a now three time Pro Bowl 27 year-old left tackle away, drafted Aaron Maybin (honestly, the worst pick I can ever recall), signed free agents like Fowler, Dockery, and Walker, supervised other horrid drafts like Ellis/Whitner/Lynch/Hardy, led the league more than once in IR fatalities, and what does Wilson do, promotes the man! This is like promoting the skipper of the Exxon Valdez to Admiral of the U.S. Navy or replacing the Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, with the CEO of GM or Chrysler. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised given this is the same guy that fired Polan, Butler, and A.J. Smith (one is dead, RIP, the other two are permanent fixtures in the January football sweepstakes)? I see many of you have bought into Buddy’s gee I am an old football guy routine. I, on the other hand, am very concerned with what I have seen and heard so far: fires entire staff with no head coach nailed down (maybe Brandon thinks he can rehire them on the cheap like Gibran Hamden??), apparently was present when the Maybin card was sent up to commissioner Goodell (probably had a senior moment given he is six years short of the average male life expectancy in the U.S.) (I do give him credit for at least trying to distance himself from that move), and says at his presser he needs an experienced coach to turn this thing around, however his first two interviews are anything but experienced and both are Tampa 2 guys, which isn’t exactly cold weather power football? Are people starting to get my drift that another OBD circle jerk is about to be sprung? The only billboard we should be posting is begging Ed Roski Jr. to take this dead carcass off of the great city of Buffalo’s hands. I recommend the air traffic controller wannabe on this site change his focus to u-haul vans headed to LA for which we should be celebrating!

is repeating the same actions over and over again and expecting a different outcome, which is entirely applicable to the true bill-ievers, half-brains, and, yes, Tim Graham, the ESPN Blogger that shows up at this urinal regularly for his periodic rub and tug free of charge from the natives. What I saw Sunday night cannot be dismissed as a pre-season game, no game planning, or some other form of denial for sweeping another putrid performance under the Two Bills Drive carpet. Yes, it was another sh*t storm that is part of a 10 year run of futility complements of the newly minted Hall Famer, Mr. Ralph Wilson. The game could have easily been number 17 of the 2008 campaign; jail breaks up the middle of the o-line, undersized slow defensive ends stoned at the line of scrimmage, Lynch averaging 2 yards a carry, Ellison being Ellison, and opponents converting a high percentage of third and longs. Oh, I forgot, the gift wrapping looked sharp in the silver anniversary threads, but once the box was opened it was the same pile of sh*t; some very fine business schools call that marketing; which I believe is the formal education of our stellar GM (please correct me if I am wrong on this one). Same coach, same management team, same college scouts, same owner, and practically the same roster and many of you, as validated through your posts, and sucks to-be-you season ticket purchases, are expecting a different outcome, pure “insanity” I tell you! Lord knows I have tried to shed light on the problems and people like Jerry Sullivan regularly steal my content, but take it for what its worth: 1.) Modrak is simply the most pathetic talent evaluator I have ever seen. Trading proven players away to give this guy additional draft picks is like giving a stripper more 20s, at the end of the night you’re left with an empty wallet, your right or left hand, and a roll of toilet paper. Add Leodis McKelvin to the list of Buffalo Bills first round busts; the guy is horrible. He must feel like a turkey around the middle of October as the world will watch pilgrim Brady carve him to pieces. Don’t hold your collective breathes for Maybin either as he will make Erik Flowers look like Bruce Smith. One year undersized wonder is holding out for a monster contract, is he kidding he was drafted by Modrak? Then again, all his leverage will be gone once he makes it to NFL game film (see JP Losman). 2.) Is the prized free agent center really white and did he really play for Carolina last year because he sure looked like Marvin Fowler with a case of Michael Jackson’s weird skin disease? 3.) The other day Bela-cheatkicka** picked up a pro bowl pass rusher for a 3rd and 4th next year; if the “marketing guy” didn’t have is head up his a** we could have gotten the same player because a 3rd and 4th for Modrak is like walk-on free agents for anybody else. Hell, I would have given the Raiders our entire 2008 draft class as well as the picks. 4.) Nobody fool themselves, Aaron Schobel is toast. It was evident even before last season. His quickness is gone. 5.) Everybody including Tim Graham please stop referring to Lee Evans as some super talent waiting to explode. He is a very poor man’s Cliff Branch, a stop and go, post pattern route runner with no ability to find seams, break tackles, or in other words, move the chains, a one trick pony. In five minutes TO showed why he is TO, by far the best talent this team has had in over a decade. Watching TO light-up Edwards and Jauron on the sidelines will be the highlight of this season. 6.) Many of you supported the Peters trade; what did “short-arms” Wilson really save a whole $30 million or so in guaranteed money? When one considers the money pissed away on the likes of Kelsey, Denny, Kyle Williams, Whitner, the entire 2008 draft class, free agents like Fowler/Royal/Dockery, what are we talking about, a deckchair off of the Titanic? Trading a two-time Pro Bowl “left tackle” at 26 years of age so that we can draft a couple more useless corner backs and you people are stampeding to the ticket window to catch this circus? I hope the inheritors of the Wilson Family Trust remember to send out the thank you notes. It is a crime you guys can’t get a tax deduction for your charitable contributions!! I can go on and on, but I frankly have had enough. Honestly, I have canceled my NFL Ticket and I have re-routed my home opener weekend to a golf destination because it simply makes no sense to watch this nonsense anymore. God bless and Good luck, The Pipe!!! Leadership of this website please allow me the decency of having this as my last post; I am giving you complete and total permission to terminate my membership.

Grammar expert, it is "our." and not "our". Your Pioli comment explains everything.

According to the Buffalo News I am not off the mark.

VJ, I agree with you a 100% on this one. To think about what Levy and company had to say about London Fletcher making tackles 8 yards down field makes me laugh.

Soprano, I agree with you on this one. My sources have also confirmed that Jauron is toast.