BillsVet

I'm sorry to phrase it this way, but do you even know what the heck you're talking about? The Dolphins hired Parcells, who found OL and DL, then signed a QB who didn't make mistakes. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, had depth in the front 7, had big play WR's, and hired a DC who made them 3-4. The Bengals were missing Carson Palmer in 08, found a running game this year, and have some players on defense like Domata Peko, Maualuga, and Keith Rivers to go along with Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall. All of these teams have foundation at QB and DL. Only the Packers need serious help on the OL. Buffalo has none of those three items. Buffalo does not have a QB, nor a solid front 7 defensively. They have absolutely ZERO NFL OT's on the roster now, save for perhaps the injury-prone Brad Butler who's more suited to G.

You're dealing in extremes, which is par for the course on this board. The Lions, Rams, Browns, Chiefs, Raiders, and Buccaneers are not even close to be a .500 team right now. Buffalo is devoid of NFL talent at QB, OT, and at OLB. No one they put on the field at those positions should be on the field next season for this team or any other.

When Dick Jauron is running the show, DB's are the greatest defense against a passing game. Unfortunately, that strategy is flawed in so many ways. Why not go pass rush first and then look for DB's when you've got a front 7? DJ ran those 06-08 drafts and decided, because there was no de facto GM. Oh, wait, there were building "consensus." I forgot that. Then, on offense, draft WR's and RB's without an OL. That's why this team is going to be rebuilding again, which is something we can only hope for. They may go the gimmick route again in hopes of selling tickets, otherwise known as the real goal.

It's the freaking NFL for goodness sake. There are probably 7 good teams in the league, the rest are garbage or average. Tell me, what is the combined record of the team's Buffalo's beaten? I'll do it for you: TB 2-12 NYJ 7-7 CAR 5-8 MIA 7-7 KC 3-11 24-45 combined. That's how you win 5 games in 14, because there will typically be a few teams worse than you are.

Big boys know that winning football comes from having people in charge that are actually experienced in finding real football players. This idea that the Bills can compete in the NFL with non-football people running the show is what's laughable and sad all at the same time. Today's game and this season is the culmination of 4 years Levy/Brandon and the final 2 years of TD totally sucking. For every one good decision they've made, there are 2 that stink. Reality is 7 years in 10 with a losing record. Reality is rebuilding-AGAIN in 2010.

For all the hype out there about the draft, most rookies do not make an impact. UFA will be interesting this coming year if there's no CBA signed, meaning there will be no salary cap or floor. To me, if the team does not completely clean house in the front office, find a new HC, and begin addressing the DL and OT positions, there's nothing left to talk about. For years the Bills have relied on hype to sell their product, which was sold as "up and coming." They've over-promised and under delivered for so long that hype won't work anymore. Now, they can't make short term moves, market those, and hope fans show. This off-season is put up or shut-up. If they don't begin making long term decisions in the front office, nothing else matters.

I like the part about Cable saying Walker weighed too much. In April, the Bills pronounced him a LT and put him on notice he'd be expected the play the position. In July, he showed up to camp just as overweight as he'd ever been. I'd think a professional athlete could motivate themselves into dropping weight. Apparently LW didn't. Walker's major issue, one which prevented him from playing OT well, was a lack of lateral mobility. Now that LW is older, the move to guard is an attempt to mask this shortcoming. I don't understand why it was evident in early 2007 that LW wasn't good, but it was Levy, Jauron, and Guy making the decisions after all.

The word has spread about this franchise, which is something that would never be reported. Wilson's ways have caught up to him, and I'm sure the uncertain future of the franchise combined with giving away a home game don't help in the recruitment process either. You've got Polian and Smith working for other organizations, and I'm sure in league circles RW's management style aren't conducive or attractive to top candidates. And so we'll end up with no change or third rate options. JMO.

I get the Kiper thing, he's been working the draft since the early eighties (84 I believe), but he's been analyzing prospects before. McShay has been thrust upon us as some "expert" for the past few years, and I've never thought he was credible. For my money, Mike Mayock is the best draft expert in the business.

For a second there I thought you were talking about Eddie Robinson!

Holmgren excelled as a HC in GB, but before then as an OC with SF. Subsequently, he yielded GM authority over to Tim Ruskell who recently resigned in SEA. While it's no guarantee he will put a winner on the field, he's got an idea of how to do it based on 20+ years of NFL coaching. The "football czar" role is increasingly more popular. They're not a figurehead, but someone who establishes a vision for the team and hires people who obtain players and other managers to put it into place.

Brandon seems to be around only when things are going well, i.e. the off-season. He's front and center when TO, Stroud, or K. Mitchell come to terms. Counter that with his (lack of) appearances during the Bills latest lost season. He's a real "nowhere man." Unless he's restricted by Ralph and Littman, what's holding him back? That is, aside from his brief comment after the embarrassing loss to Cleveland at home two months ago. For a man who's supposed to be the GM, fans should expect more. Not necessarily apologizing for the season, but putting a face on this organization. Because lately, we don't know who's running this thing and it's garbage like airbrushing the team photo that make me wonder if it's amateur hour for this team.

I agree that "rock star" HC's are no guarantee of success. I'd like to get an offensive minded coach who has the ability to find a DC who can stop people with a tough defense that reflects some toughness and size. I also reserve the right to complain about what is wrong with the franchise, all the while offering some solutions to reversing their course. You don't lose 10 years running unless you're ignoring the essentials: QB, OL, and DL. What are your answers to the Bills current woes and coach search? Personally, I'd like to see a consultant used to head a search for a GM. OR, Russ can find a GM who is tasked with hiring the next coach. Then, draft heavy OT, DT, and DE unless a QB is available. But just don't give me the same song and dance in 2010. If I hear the word continuity, that's it.

Can Incognito play LT? Because this team doesn't have one of those. I'd be all for moving Wood to center if he can come back full strength, keep Levitre at guard and if Incognito takes some anger management, keep him at RG. They still need 2 OT's, what with Butler being hurt each year he's been in the NFL.

I think what's funny is you vouch for this team as if they're well on their way to success. No one said anything about Miami being great aside from you. My point seems to be lost: Miami is a better franchise, and beating them doesn't change that. I hate the other AFCE teams as much as the next guy, but Buffalo has a complete rebuild staring them dead in the face. Parcells is regarded as someone who wins. He's built or helped build 4 franchises, the latest of which had almost nothing before he arived. Cleveland stinks right now, but then again so did Miami in 2007. And yet he we are two years later with Miami in the thick of a playoff race and Buffalo stumbling to a (and you might not remember this) 10th straight non-playoff season and 7th year this decade with a losing record.

Miami became legit in late 2006 when Bill Parcells was hired (cue the skewering of BP) and cleaned house. Two years after going 1-15, they're a combined 18-11 and look like they've got a QB. BP's track record speaks for itself, and he knows how to build franchises. Holmgren does as well, given that he's taken two clubs to the SB, beating BP in one of them. Hiring one good management type is how it's done. As in, find one solid GM who can evaluate talent and find other talented people.

If Mike Holmgren takes the job in Cleveland, they become a legitimate franchise again. Many fans assume RW can waive some money around and attract a coach and/or GM with ease like MH. Unfortunately, it's my feeling that RW has no contacts in the league, and the individuals who used to work for RW and now working elsewhere-Polian, Smith, et al-have put the word out about working for RW. Buffalo's only shot is to hire up and comers who are willing to work for a meddlesome owner that permits his treasurer to dictate moves. That narrows down the choices, no matter what anyone says.

Teams with credible front office management, particularly at GM, draft for it. Teams that formerly coached by Dick Jauron without a real GM believe otherwise.

These are merely names who could be candidates for the GM position. To my knowledge, no interviews have been scheduled, nor is there an official meeting save for Shanahan thus far. Last year people suggested Gabriel when it became obvious the team was in the tank. He never received an interview. That's no knock on Gabriel, but the team needs to make the first move. Unless of course it's done via the Jim Fassel method of writing a letter asking for a job.

I think most fans on TBD cannot understand what management is, because they don't manage anything or anyone beside themselves. It's why they can't understand why bad decisions beget more bad decisions. Peters wasn't the greatest guy in the world, but his departure has produced a domino effect that rippled through the entire OL. And the team as a whole is paying for it. Next month, the Bills have yet another opportunity to correct their management structure. They can choose to make the hard right decision or continue along the path of making easy wrong decisions. There is no quick fix to building a better team.

They don't sell out because by this time of the year hope has been erased. But, they sold all of their home games out last season and had 56k+ season tickets. Eventually, promising hope means you've got to deliver. When you don't, prepare for problems. Besides, winter weather and the Christmas season didn't hurt back in the early nineties.

Henry made it back with the Bengals because he'd cleaned his life up after so many issues. He's was a fine WR when he had his mind straigh, and if people can't be forgiven, then what else is there?

It's football character...get it right! Football character means guys who can be learned up bout football. Now, does Russ get to take a picture with the guy?

The Bills are taking every short-term measure to avoid bottoming out. A 26-35 record in four seasons of rebuilding means we're good enough to beat bad teams, but unable to win when it matters. Most fans want to see the team win, and I subscribe to the theory that a higher draft pick doesn't guarantee success next season. But the question remains: Try to be mediocre (which is what we're doing) OR bottom out and start over. Neither is fun, but only the latter might provide substantial change for the benefit of future Bills teams. At the least, there's no doubt the NFL product is as watered down this year as any previous season.

Zeke's back in the league after a near 40 year retirement? I knew the NFL was watered down, but not this bad. Who's next, Sonny Jurgensen?