BillsVet

It's hard not to be extremely bitter if you care about wins and losses if you've been paying attention for the past 15 years. The changes made over the past few years haven't been enough, and that includes the owner. If they're serious about winning, it'll take more than a new coaching staff and high priced players. If not, these types of losses will continue because when you dig down in the organization, there's plenty of dysfunction remaining. Stop, you're offending me by naming a columnist who offends me.

Welcome to the dark side FiC Lol

Ignoring the obvious doesn't make you more of a fan though. Fandom boils down to ego. You're a fan of a team, in this case the Bills. And if they lose or make bad decisions, you're not thrilled because you've been touting them for years without any results. So, to protect your ego (the team) you shout down anyone who isn't like you even if factually you're dead wrong. It's been the hallmark of Bills football for years now: beat up on bad to mediocre teams and lose to the good ones. That hasn't changed so far this season. I guess that makes me a hater, so cue that crowd.

I suppose if you repeat a lie long enough it becomes true or so the saying goes. You mention players, but fail to highlight that the Rex signing had people excited as well. Being a player in UFA with TPegs' money in contrast to previous years should not be downplayed either. There were other seasons when fans bought 55k+ season tickets. 2009 when RW had Russ sign TO. Or 2008 when it seemed they'd actually get beyond 7-9 but neither year matched the hype. Compare those seasons to 2010 when Nix and Chan were all who'd work here. That was a low point in team history. The thread is titled, "2015 Fall Guy" and there is no connotation of anything about "15" years here. I'm not sure why you're inferring that the point is the duration for not making the playoffs.

Nice straw man argument. Who's stating that here? The current administration has some holdovers from the Nix years. Let's not muddy the waters and claim that the people who couldn't get it right from 2010 through 2012 are completely different than the 2013-forward years. And I don't think anyone's talking 2000-2009 anymore. That's ancient history, albeit bad history. This is plain and simple the re-writing of recent history. 60k ST's sold is not the result of "casual" fans just buying into hype. Fans had an expectation of excellence with a more proven HC, improvements at RB, TE, the return of the defense, et al. They bought tickets expecting to win. Maybe you didn't to fit the narrative you're now trying to establish, but this was no "casual" fan thing.

Was it expected when Rex was signed that they'd be average? When McCoy, Clay, and Hughes were acquired/re-signed did fans think that they'd be average? Did 60k ST's get sold thinking the team was average? Most likely not. No playoffs = failure. And they don't have the 6th spot. KC holds the tiebreaker. Per ESPN, Kansas City "Wins tie break over Buffalo and Houston based on best win percentage in conference games."

Saving cap space helped get John Idzik fired with NYJ not long ago. Some teams, NE for example, make moves that seem heartless and cold. Yet, it's that mindset that needs to happen to clear space for the important positions. It's amazing that the Bills continue to spend huge resources such as high picks and cap space on the WR and RB positions year after year. Yet, it doesn't get them closer to making the playoffs. If a guy like Brees has gas in the tank you find a way to acquire him on a rental the way Arizona did with Carson Palmer or Denver with Peyton Manning. Players careers are being wasted while the Bills fumble around trying to get a QB. Acquiring a veteran would sure make guys like Sammy, Robert Woods, and Charles Clay happy. They're watching their careers suffer because the starting QB can't read a defense and/or the staff doesn't trust him to make throws downfield other than the sideline.

Buffalo has almost nothing invested in Taylor financially. If they're not looking QB in 2016 then it's more of the same: Decide on one guy and then go with him until it's clear he can't play either because someone's ego or job status is at stake or due to sheer laziness. Meanwhile, seasons are wasted waiting for one guy who doesn't materialize. The Bills spent multiple seasons hoping Trent, Fitz, and Manuel would be the guy. Meanwhile, there was no long term option behind them to develop into a starter. Competition at QB is not a bad thing. Unless of course the GM is hanging his hat on his 1st round pick.

Why should it be free? The NFL's content is going to cost something and ultimately that money is paid out equally among each of the 32 franchises. This in large part allows teams like Buffalo to remain competitive by getting a 200M+ check every year.

The last few weeks have seen both Charles Clay and Robert Woods get less looks. Much of that is due to Taylor being predominantly a one-read QB at this point in his career. And the first guy he looks at when dropping back is Watkins. Most QB's don't go through progressions early in their career and that's on display. Fortunately, Tyrod seems better able to avoid bad decisions than Buffalo's 2013 first round pick who just couldn't develop. Guys like Woods and Clay need to become more involved when teams (NE on MNF) try to take Watkins away. I hope the coaching staff recognizes that running the ball and throwing to Sammy won't get you very far.

You have to wonder whether the Bills were afraid to take certain positions early. After Mike Williams in '02, they didn't take another OT in the first or second until Glenn in 2012. Heck, at QB they didn't take one in the 1st or 2nd after Losman in '04 until EJ in 2013. 10 draft gaps at those positions is astounding given how teams win in the NFL today. Were they afraid to fail and "found" other positions to address or just that inept so as to not address the position at all? And this occurred over the course of multiple GM's and HC's so it's not like one mindset was in play here. It makes sense they'd avoid the big money positions. Knowing what we know now about how the Bills operated financially it's wouldn't be out of the question to think this was a strategy.

First, it's great having you back Bill. Your post-game thoughts are not replaceable. As for McCoy, running for 112 against that defense is impressive. Wilkerson, Leonard Williams, and Sheldon Richardson may be the scariest DL in the NFL and that includes Buffalo's. Clearly the difference maker Rex envisioned when they made the move and while I know he'll get taken down for losses, he's a guy defenses have to account for. I am beginning to come around on this thought that Taylor is their guy going forward, provided he remains healthy of course. He doesn't turn it over, has good accuracy on short to intermediate routes and can make the deep throw. If Sammy doesn't mistime his jump on that first possession, Tyrod is 18-27 for 200+ yards. Tyrod seems to process and adapt to the game. I know he's not reading the entire field, but I think he has the aptitude to do that, whereas it was clear EJ wasn't able to do that. No dig on EJ, just that NFL QB's have a ceiling and Tyrod hasn't reached his.

Maybe EJ just needed another bye week. His bruised ego probably isn't 100% recovered from the Jacksonville game yet.

I guess if this team had a playoff appearance and demonstrated success then my criticism at "more than 90% of his or her contributions and posts" would be unwarranted. You've been on this board long enough to know there are numerous solid posters who no longer post because the crowd predominantly goes one way and does not tolerate dissenting views. In no way is that being constructive. People have the right to express their views without fear of retaliation. If you don't like what I say ignore me. But attacks on character through name-calling such as "hater" is not constructive. It is what people who cannot develop a cogent argument do to stifle debate. Uses of the term "hater" to silence criticism is not constructive, doesn't add to the debate, and ultimately turns people off. You should know that.

Given the lineage, Whaley has never been someone who uses UFA. The fact that Buffalo decided to sign/trade for some big money players like McCoy, Harvin, and Clay tells me Rex had some power upon taking over. And Whaley, in true political fashion, deferred to the HC to show he could work with a HC he didn't hire. But given how much he pushed for Manuel during the HC interviews, it seems plausible that he wasn't in the camp to trade for Cassel or sign Taylor. It's kinda like deducing the 2013 draft was more Whaley's because they traded down, something Buddy Nix refused to and didn't do from 2010-12. I doubt Nix suddenly changed his tune and draft strategy.

I remember years ago when certain posters announced that you couldn't judge a draft pick until they'd been in the league 2-3 years. The same holds true for GMs and probably HC's. Where this mindset comes from that if something good happens, as in a win over the Dolphins, it suddenly means the GM and/or HC are geniuses is beyond me. I guess it's the instant gratification crowd who don't have the patience to evaluate an executive or player over the long haul, which is more than 1 game. As for the term "hater" is it possible to have a contrary opinion where debate is permitted rather than one side resorting to name-calling?

It's an OL in flux save for Wood, who's been extended recently. Glenn and Incognito are UFAs after this season and barring a minor miracle won't be able to retain them both.

The moves for Harvin and McCoy are proof that, while Rex has an idea of what types of players he needs, someone needs to be minding the personnel store. Whaley was in a weird situation and I think wanted to defer to TPegs hire at HC. Having the GM and HC report independent of each other isn't unique. But both guys need to be on the same page.

To quote the Caliendo John Gruden, "talk to me about Teddy Bridgewater...man." Or, Drew Brees, taken in round 2 and 32nd overall in 2001.

Two questions remain: 1. Will the Bills be in QB purgatory and out of position to take a top prospect? 2. Will Doug Whaley make it to the 2016 Draft with this franchise?

Conflating the argument to say they're the same is absurd and "Paid patriotism" seems about right. If the Army, Marines, Navy, or Air Force run a recruiting ad on television I think everyone understands they're paying for that. But a sports team hosting a contingent of uniformed or former military doesn't give the appearance of an attempt to recruit at all.

Do you think a GM in most likely the final year of his contract tells his new boss the owner (who would offer an extension if warranted) that he shouldn't hire the HC? Ralph hired HC's so why wouldn TPegs/KPegs? I swear Rod Serling had this thread and others in mind when he created the Twilight Zone television show. The Bills are 18-21 under Whaley, roster talent or not. And he's not a Pegula hire either.

Whaley was re-signed in Feruary 2013 when he was Assistant GM. It can be deduced that this contract extension was not merely to serve as Assistant GM. And if that isn't the case, wouldn't it make sense a professional sports team would have a plan on replacing their then 73 year old GM? And if that's the case, wouldn't it make sense the personnel decisions were predominantly made by the incoming as opposed to outgoing GM? And would a professional sports team permit the outgoing guy to have so much influence on the incoming guy's tenure? At worst, it was a joint decision, albeit one made when the incoming guy scouted Manuel heavily and admitted as much. Or you can revert to homerism which is bereft of all logic and critical thinking skills. No, Ozzie Newsome selected Flacco in 2008 and before then acquired a QB who held the position from 06-07 when it was clear Boller was not capable after 2005. Ozzie Newsome then, as GM, won a SB with that 1st round QB a few season later. Keep conflating the argument though.

Manuel is Whaley's signature move and will be for the rest of his career, unless he hits on a QB in Buffalo or does so with another organization. The trade for Watkins was big, but QB picks define a legacy.

When Cassel hands the worst defense in the league 21 points on a neutral field then maybe Doug Failey will be vindicated. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/23116871/whaley-brings-steelers-ways-to-buffalo-banks-on-top-pick-manuel I found this article from summer 2013 very interesting. Specifically: Whaley: "Look at teams like Pittsburgh, Green Bay, the Giants," Whaley said. "They mostly are homegrown. That's the philosophy I was brought up in, and I subscribe to it wholeheartedly. Obviously we made a big push with Mario, and that's one of those things where we had a chance and decided to go for it. But most likely from now on it's going to be more building through the draft, re-signing our own guys, and if we do free agency, it's going to be some guys that have real value." Or this from Jason LaCanfora: "While Whaley's ascent to the GM title was long in the works, going back to before Marrone was hired in January, it became official in May." How can anyone deduce that Manuel was not a Whaley pick and the recent free agent splurge was initiated by Rex is beyond me. Add it up and this is a franchise with an uncertain football organization chart and some people who will be held accountable.