BillsVet

That easy schedule was supposed to provide the highway to the playoffs for this team. And, they were playing 5 games against rookie QB's. Next year's schedule definitely looks harder on paper.

Rinehart simply does not have the agility to play LG. He's a plodding type who would be best served in a reserve role IMO.

Pioli's father in-law picked a franchise LT in 2008 and that hasn't worked as well as the team who picked a QB 2 spots later.

Not at all. And it would easily trump the retaining of Jauron at the end of 2008 or hiring Nix/Gailey at the end of 2009. Both huge letdowns and nothing would surprise me now

Nix is the highest guy on the football side of the house and hired Gailey, permitted the hiring of Wannstedt, has drafted poorly, and not been good in UFA aside from Williams. To allow a guy like that back, who, as Don Banks pointed out, is desperate for a QB is not a good strategy. They need an infusion of new management, but all it seems the Bills is re-arrange the deck chairs. The last 3 GM's demonstrate that. Per Schopp yesterday, Nix was re-scheduled for Wednesday. Presumably this was to allow time for the after-season review, but it's anyone's guess at this point. Even Don Banks admitted no one in league circles knows just what RW thinks. Nix will never learn to shut his mouth and project more subterfuge than talk about what he's going to do. Had he taken a QB in 2011 when the options were good (yeah that's hindsight) he wouldn't be in the precarious position of needing one for 2013. No one ever said Nix has to tell the whole truth about his intentions, even in the wake of another disaster of a season.

Very possible scenario. I do not, for one minute, believe Chan gets the ax on Monday as some believe. The Bills inner-circle conducts a post-season meeting that will determine the course they chart for 2013 with regard to team management. It could last a day or more. I also don't see anyone from outside OBD stepping up to the GM job if Nix is let go. For all this talk about David Caldwell, I don't think the idea was anything other than to make Whaley GM. Despite all this, a new GM doesn't necessarily mean Gailey departs either. Littmann and Brandon could make the case Nix has wasted RW's money and he is the culprit to the team failing to reach the playoffs.

Was that all Chan or could it have been a decision made with Nix. Pure speculation, but I've often wondered why the Bills used so many resources, both in the draft and in free agency, toward trying to stock a 3-4 and then 4-3 defense. Perhaps one or both thought this was more important and Gailey being the offensive minded HC, they agreed to work around their QB. Regardless, whatever plan was made between the GM and HC was inherently flawed, not forward looking, and unsuccessful.

Banks report reminds me of the story Peter King wrote in advance of the 2011 draft when he could not report on anything he'd heard out of OBD. Other teams were putting out info, whether true or not, about their intentions. The Bills meanwhile, remained a black hole of information. I guess no team goes under the radar like the Bills, which ironically or not, resembles their ownership situation. Hopefully Brandon gets his way to clean house, because otherwise if he's not who's running the show beside the treasurer?

Tell me who wanted Aaron Williams? The Steelers presumably had a need at CB late in the 2011 first round and skipped over him in favor of a 5 Tech DE. The Patriots chose Ras-I Dowling the pick before who is a huge bust. I'd say those teams draft well over the long haul and went away from A. Williams so what does that tell you? And what does it tell you that the scouting report on him was a lack of hip flexibility and better suited to safety? That was widely known, but apparently Nix was smarter. Furthermore, I focused on only 2nd and 3rd round picks given that guys after about round 5 are bonuses if they work out. And if the Bills were developing the talent you say they are, why do their backups struggle playing other team's versions during pre-season play? They haven't done much of anything in the pre-season in the 3 years Gailey and Nix have been there. They have not built depth in many places on this team. An old HC once said that potential means you ain't done anything yet. I'm not judging the 2012 draft yet, only 2010 and 2011 given that those players have 3 and 2 years in the league respectively. Typically major progression is made by those years, which I don't see.

If both Nix and Gailey return in 2013 it signals that Brandon isn't being given the responsibility commensurate with the CEO job. Season ticket sales were slumping before the Mario signing and only hit 44k this year despite being around 55k in 2008-09. Both of these guys returning means his job is infinitely harder and gate revenue will suffer tremendously.

Goodness, Jim Overdorf can only negotiate one contract at a time people. He's on Christmas vacation right now, but he'll be back after the season is over. Add to that the Bills just re-signed free agent to be Kraig Urbik to a long term deal. I mean, how much is enough for Bills fans?

Ironic that you mention luck because that's what RW referenced in a press conference he gave to introduce Nix 3 year ago. Now, I realize that yes, luck is involved, but it's nothing you fall back on. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/31/highlights-from-nixs-press-conference/ Finally, Bills owner Ralph Wilson seemed to appeal for a change in mojo in Buffalo: “Number one, we’ve got be lucky,” Wilson said. “That’s my philosophy. That’s with anything you’re doing.”

You forgot Aaron Williams, Torrell Troup, Alex Carrington, and Kelvin Sheppard. All 2nd or 3rd round picks, none of which are above average starters. Carrington gets rotational time and blocks kicks, but none of the other 3 play a majority of snaps. And in the case of the IR'd Troup, if he comes back, he's behind the aforementioned Carrington along with K. Williams and Dareus at DT. You've got to pull starters from the 2nd and 3rd and Nix hasn't done enough of it in only his first two drafts. Glenn may be the exception but it's too early to tell. Regardless, they're not getting value to fill holes let alone build depth.

"This is what's great about sports. This is what the greatest thing about sports is. You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win, and I don't care if you don't have any wins. You go play to win. When you start tellin' me it doesn't matter, then retire. Get out! 'Cause it matters." -Herm Edwards

Frazier made the right decision...same can be said for all those coaches who declined interviews seeing as how Nix could not implement nor develop a rebuilding strategy.

The pre-season potential top 5 defense should have more starters just based on reputation. More evidence of another failed rebuild by Nix.

All the Broncos had to do was hire John Elway and they've made the playoffs 2 years running. Well, that and signing Peyton Manning who is having another excellent season. Elway is EVP of Football Ops in Denver, not the de facto GM. Still, Pat Bowlen made that move in the wake of Josh McDaniels's 2 terrible seasons.

There may be a few who make the Pro Bowl. The All Pro list is another story. Then again, when you're good at RB, G, and S it's hard to field a winner. Those are easier positions to draft and of the three best players (Levitre, Byrd, and Spiller) only one was taken by the current regime. Other than that, their drafts and UDFA/street FA's have been replacement level types. Not exactly how you go from 6-10 to the playoffs.

Does this mean Nix won't accept a demotion to National Scout?

Chan did say they were better, but didn't have any evidence to support this assertion. This is going to be one interesting off-season.

I don't think Nix knew how badly the Bills were thought of in NFL circles until he went looking for a HC. I think much of Chan's hiring had to do with Buffalo remaining, at the time, the last team in the NFL without a HC. There weren't many vacancies that off-season, but candidates wanted nothing to do with the Bills. Still, you're not going to attract coaches who other teams compete for until the ownership situation is sorted out. Many have said that before, but it bears repeating given that new ownership typically obtains their own people. And when you include the GM job, it's apparent the current and previous hires are all unwanted commodities in the NFL.

Not only this, but conducting a HC search like the one that ultimately hired Chan was a huge embarrassment. Nix was turned down repeatedly and they had trouble even getting interviews for the job. No way do they want to open themselves up to that situation again.

A guy like Gruden wants a QB before he comes to town, not just a choice to make, (EDIT: unless there's a top QB prospect coming out and the team is able to get that player). And David Shaw just re-signed with Stanford. This is sounding more and more like the Shanahan thing after DJ was fired. Just not realistic, and if true, reminds me of what happened to Sparano in 2011 with Jim Harbaugh.

And then he is a day late and a a dollar short on the next pass. Next play he'll tackle the guy after he catches a TD.

Vince Lombardi Jr. is available and only 65, so he'd fit right in.