JohnC

I really believe there is another element to the story. Rex wanted out. He was in over his head and the ship was not simply slowly sinking it was rapidly plunging toward the bottom. He insisted that his NFL history demonstrated that he knew what he was doing on the defensive side of the ball. The reality of his claim to fame on his favored side of the ball that he couldn't cloud was that his defenses were dismally failing. Anyone who watched him at his last couple of post game press conferences saw that this once ebullient and confident man was now depressed and at a loss for words. It was apparent to me that he lost his desire to coach. Bringing in his sloppy looking brother to teach his perplexing system demonstrated that he was no longer interested in getting down and dirty to coach players. He was so out of touch with his players that he even wasn't aware that Clay was not making the trip to Oakland because of a maternity situation. That's ridiculous! The bottom line is that Rex was a coach who clung to his outdated scheme in an environment of constantly changing NFL offenses. He lacked the discipline and the attention to detail to survive in this grinding profession. The happiest person on the line with Pegula when he was fired was Rex. A man who was fatigued and befuddled before the phone call was ecstatic, energized and liberated to do whatever he wanted to do with his time after the call. In the right circumstances failing can result in having a good outcome. For him it worked out well.

Miserable basturds who complain find it arousing. Why resort to pills when being in a state of aggravation can bring oneself into a state of erotica? Bad food can be an aphrodisiac for those who are perpetually disgruntled. Didn't they teach you that in street sex class 101? Get with it!

For the same reason why people go to the same restaurant over and over and always complain about the food.

And maybe if he wasn't under siege so much he could get a better view of what's down the field. I don't disagree with you that his ability to go through progressions and his pocket presence is not at an elite level. But having some weaknesses doesn't mean that he doesn't have strengths. If you strengthen what is around him it will also elevate his game. For example, Goodwin is a terrific track man but as a receiver he is atrocious. Add another quality receiver and the receiving corps will be respectable.

You shouldn't give him too much public credit. He already has an inflated view of himself. Some would call it Trumpian. He, Kelly the Hound and plenty others have been making similar points. Most often when you have deficiencies the repercussions reverberate throughout the unit. What good coaches and GMs do is assess the strengths and weaknesses of their roster and then work to accentuate the strengths and minimize the weaknesses. Good coaches adjust their schemes and strategies to the players they have to work with. Let's move forward with TT instead of moving back to then move forward to get back to where you started. By getting him some help his strengths will be magnified and his liabilities will be limited.

Your 100% agreement for this week has been busted. I've dramatically changed my position on our qb situation. (see the Kyle Posey: Debunking---topic #156 post of mine) You and I agree on the scenario with a slight variation for the owner firing Rex. I do agree with you that the owner didn't want to be the type of owner with a reputation for quickly pulling the plug although his inclination was to get rid of this fool. The primary disqualifying issue for the owner wasn't so much not getting into the playoffs as it was the manner in which the defense declined. It was in a state of chaos and confusion. No amount of Rex Bullshiiit could hide the trainwreck the owners were seeing with their own eyes. You've got to give Rex credit. He left two franchises in consecutive order in shambles and came out being a wealthy man with a future leisurely schedule. Sometimes the double hustle does work!

I'm making a change on my view on the TT issue. After listening to the radio of an Irish analyst with a heavy accent who was in the process of evaluating the qbs in the league he started with his analysis of TT. He felt that this organization would be utterly foolish to allow him to leave. His reasoning is that the flaws in the personnel on offense are not adequately factored when judging his performance. He pointed out that our line's pass blocking is below par and the receiver corps is mediocre. He added that although he has a tendency to periodically bounce passes that overall he is a fairly accurate passer. His recommendation is to add some better receivers to his arsenal and improve the pass blocking so that he would be in a better position to succeed. In fact this particular analyst felt that TT is better than Cousins. I don't agree with that assessment but TT does avoid the rush better and he is more of a threat to run thus opening up the field. In my prior near sighted assessment of TT I searched too deeply for his flaws without being fair in accounting for the limitations of the roster he has to contend with. Now I am going to be more vigorous in advocating in getting him another talented receiver to go along with Watkins and Clay. In other words put him in a better position to succeed. We now have a new HC and a fresh start. With a few smart and caculated additions this team should be in a better position to succeed. The fans deserve it. Let's go for it.

You are over-thinking the situation to the extent that it borders a conspiracy. With respect to the Rex firing I don't doubt that Rex initiated the phone call and asked if it was true that the owner was considering firing him he should do it before the final game. You are making it seem that it forced the owner to do something that he didn't want to do. That in my opinion is a wrong interpretation of the situation. Rex isn't usually the smartest person in the room, unless he is in the room with his brother. But he isn't so stupid that he doesn't know how the business he is in works. The reality is that Rex knew that there was substance to the swirling rumors that he was going to be fired soon after the season. It's understandable that he didn't want to face the NY media and the media in general before and after the game dealing with the questions pertaining to his coaching demise. Let's look at this issue from Pegula's perspective. He is the owner who watches the games. He sees a defense led by a self-proclaimed defensive guru being shredded. He sees a team with a high payroll for players and coaches playing with a lack of intelligence and discipline. The longer Rex coached this team the more chaotic and ineptly it performed. The remedy is simple for the owner: Get rid of the fool that I mistakenly hired. After every season there is an organizational meeting to review the status of the team and the performance of the staff. It's not difficult to conclude that Rex was going to be fired for cause i.e. hideous incompetence. The issue of Whaley's authority on whether it diminishing or not with the new HCing hire is a manufactured issue not grounded on the reality of how Whaley and this franchise functions. Whaley is not a dictatorial GM who foists his decisions on people. His approach to managing is emphasizing collaboration. Let's look at how he treated Rex? He gave him everything he needed to succeed. He dedicated a draft and free agency to bring in his kind of players. Whatever staff Rex wanted (including his sloppy brother) who added another layer of confusion and incompetency to the mix the braggart HC got. My central point is that there is no authority issue between the GM and HC because this GM is one of the most accommodating bosses in the league. There is no need for a HC to demand an expansion of his responsibilities/authority because it isn't an issue. The issue of job security for Whaley is the same as it is for all GMs. If you don't win at a satisfactory level that meets the owners' expectations you will be gone. The belief that Whaley will be gone in the next 8 weeks or so is ridiculous.

If you and others keep talking about drafting DBs in the first round NYC Bill is going to put a contract on you all. You have been forewarned. While at Carolina McDermott saw the impact on his defense when he lost a premier CB in Josh Norman. I wouldn't be surprised if he vigorously lobbied Whaley to do everything in his means to retain Gilmore. To add a twist to the Gilmore issue Carolina would be very interested in his services and Gilmore would be pleased that it is closer to home and a warmer climate. I have always been very partial towards Gilmore. He has played one of the most challenging positions at a high level. I consider him to be a top tier qb. The tepid response towards him by the hometown crowd has me baffled.

What happened to "Never Give Up"? He was our resident inside source. Did he just give up?

You are astute and perspicacious.

My position on the draft with respect to the first round selection has been frequently stated. So there is no need to repeat it. When all is said and done if the Bills select a good player who can immediately be slotted I won't be overly disappointed. I wouldn't even have an aversion to trading down and getting additional picks. But I would be irritated if the team we exchanged with selects a qb that we could have taken. The Whitner fiasco was not just a bad selection it was an odd selection. Declining to select Ngata who was then selected by Baltimore was to me infuriating. Those types of mistakes are made when combine performances and scheme considerations are overly weighted instead of general talent.

When you are left handed there is a tendency to get things backward. I shouldn't be scorned----I should be coddled.

I disagree with you that Cleveland will trade their top pick for the simple reason that they will be in position to select from a small collection of premier defensive players. Cleveland already has a boatload of picks and now it is time that those picks get turned into actual players. I strenuously disagree with many smart members on this board who advocate selecting a high quality DB to fill a major need, especially at safety. In the grand scheme of things it will have a negligible impact whereas getting a good qb prospect on the roster, even if the player doesn't immediately play, can have an immense impact on the franchise. Those ardent fans who advocate for the selection of a DB in the first round must then surely be comfortable with the Jauron/Levy drafting of Whitner with their first round pick. Because it is akin to doing something just as wasteful and inconsequential. How does one get away from this perpetual cycle of futility? Simple: Do things differently! This patchwork mentality imbued in the front office and fandom has allowed this bedraggled franchise to remain bedraggled. Using the first round pick on a qb gives you the best chance to get a better prospect. That doesn't mean that you can't use your other picks and free agency to address the long list of needs that exists.

The same way we got along with scoring prodigies Adam Luke and Cody Hodgson!

You bring up an interesting point with your apt description of Eichel. With a player such as Eichel there is a dynamism to his game that compels you to watch him. The speed, power, laser shot are clearly beyond the norm. Kane to a certain extent falls into that dynamic category. However, the beauty to Smart Sam and O'Reilly's games has less to do with their dynamism and more to do with their instincts and feel for the game. Their ability to space the ice (like point guards in basketball) is uncanny. You simply can't teach that. I have been a strong advocate for Evander Kane. But I'm well aware that he will never have the ability to think the game to the supernatural level of players such as Reinhert and O'Reilly. Gems such as Reinhert and O'Reilly should be appreciated less over their stats and more about the beauty/sophistication of their play.

We could have used that pick on one of Ottawa's elite prospects. The problem with the Lehner deal was not his acquisition it was the cost (as you noted). He was a goalie that the Sen's were looking to replace. He also was hurt so that should have diminished his value. This is a conjecture on my part but because he is so big and plays a position that calls for lightening quick responses it makes him prone to being injured. In the comparison between Nielsson and Lehner it seems to me that Nielsson is quicker and more composed. When lumbering Lehner goes down he stays down. However, having two quality goalies is certainly an asset and a good thing. In my judgment Lehner is not better or worse than Nielsson or even Chad Johnson. So why pay a premium price? If you have doubts on whether is a full time goaltender yet he plays well when guarding the net there is a simple solution: Rotate the goaltenders, even if the rotation is not evenly split. As I said in another post it is an asset to have two solid goaltenders and nothing to lament about. Lehner was an intriguing goalie prospect because of his size. But the Sens had a surplus of goaltenders and were moving on from the injured Lehner. The pick that was used for him could have been used for one of the elite prospects that Ottawa has in its pipeline. For the most part the questions regarding the goalie deal has to do with the cost and not the talent. That is a very valid criticism. You can see him start to ooze with confidence. His ice intelligence and instincts are magnificent.

Cutler in Buffalo is a mismatch made in hell. The people will hate him and his odd duck detached personality. He is one guy I hope doesn't materialize.

No doubt both the GM and McDermott each expressed their views on the qbing situation and the direction each of them envisioned. It's going to be intriguing to see whether TT is in Whaley/McDermott's plans or what direction this organization takes regarding the qb situation for the short and long term. As it stands I just don't know what Whaley is thinking or whether the new coach and he already have a plan in mind to move forward.

It was the two miserable losses to Boston and to a couple of the lesser teams that got this team angry with itself. After those games the team came together and played with more energy and focus against the higher quality teams such as the Rangers, Chicago and even Winnipeg which was on a good run. So now the team is on a mini-good run. The vicissitudes of a long season can be baffling. Hockey is such an effort sport. Sometimes when you expect energy it isn't there and sometimes when you don't expect energy it is there. That's where leadership in the room becomes a factor. If they only gained three or four more points from OT/SO the Sabres would be right in the mix.

Accountability and a attention to detail. The antithesis of the Rex style of coaching.

If the Skins can't sign Cousins and we do will we have to give up two first round picks for the signing? I still think that Cousins will re-sign with the Skins but he and his agent are making it clear that he is not giving anyone a discount for his services. There are rumblings that the Washington organization won't be afraid to let him go because they will get a generous return from him and are willing to go with McCoy for the short run.

More invigorating weather!

Nilsson looked really good in this game. He was efficient and calm reacting to shots. He should be the first star. I thought Reinhart and O'Reilly played really well. For those advocating for Kane to be exposed in the expansion draft I say heck no. Getting rid of a scorer on a team that is lacking scorers makes no sense. The Jack outburst was the point that this team changed its course. The team is on a good run of garnering points and inching up the ladder.

With the exception of special talent prospects like Peyton and Luck you never know for sure whether good college qb prospects will play well in the pro game. They are different games. The overwhelming majority of the college passing systems is first read and minimal progression reads. The traits that you do have the ability to assess when evaluating college players are their accuracy, touch, arm strength and to a limited degree their feel for the pocket and how they react to pressure. Another key in evaluating prospects is considering their mechanics. It's my belief (for the most part) as demonstrated by the EJ saga that if you don't have good mechanics in college you are going to struggle making it in the pros. That's not an absolute rule but a strong probable rule. The Brian Brohm and Colt McCoy examples you cited were two smart college qbs who didn't have adequate enough arm strength to allow them to succeed in the pro game where you have to make tight and hard throws in small windows. While Brohm is a clear bust McCoy is a good backup who is carving out a lengthy and lucrative career. Is he capable of taking a step up and progressing to a starter status? Probably not because of his physical limitations. Is he a better qb than an EJ caliber qb? I would say yes because he can make the reads and is accurate with his short throws but is clearly limited in the lengthier throws. The Bills have not had a franchise qb since Jim Kelly left the scene two decades or so again. That is an argument that promotes continuously trying in your pursuit of position that is the key to success for a franchise.