BillsVet

The NFLPA got a sweetheart deal when Gene Upshaw basically told Tagliabue take it or leave it back in 2006. And now the owners are saying that deal hurts their ability to make money. Go figure. The owners may not want to, but they may need to reveal how much they're making. It's leaked out GB and some small markets aren't even making 5% of their team's total value. De Smith can't back down from that awesome deal, because doing so would irrevocably hurt his repuation.

You think a guy with more than 4 years of NFL service runs as fast as he did four years ago? Donte may have straight-line speed, but he takes bad angles, is washed out in the box, and is nicked up more frequently than he was in 06-07. I didn't see a whole lot of DW today, and he's behind Byrd, Scott, and Wilson in the depth chart if he survives next season.

Then why do the Bills insist on starting Fred Jackson and giving him 33 carries in the season finale? Lynch apparently bulked up, and his quickness isn't what it used to be. Additionally, he hesitates behind the LOS and isn't decisive as opposed to FJ and doesn't catch the ball as well. Lynch's run-in's with the law don't help his case, nor does his salary.

Sullivan probably talks to Wilson more than most media personalities do. RW's is not ultra-accessible regardless. And for the record, does anyone think Brandon is accessible? I for one do not, as it seems no local or national media type has had a soundbyte from Mr. Smithers. The last we heard him was after the Cleveland debacle. The man didn't even speak at his promotion/Nix' elevation to GM PC.

So, we don't like that Sullivan complains about the team? All of his pieces aren't hatchet jobs, but pardon the man for seeing that the team is in poor shape. It's ironic how fans are shouted down when they begin to "hate" on a player for various reasons. I've read it as "running" a player out of town. Now, posters are complaining about a newspaper columnist who isn't infatuated with the current state of the Bills? This is surreal...a stinking newspaper columnist.

Congratulations.

I think Whitner is released this offseason, given his contract and few contributions. We're in a different era with there being no cap in 2010 w/o a new CBA, and players like DW will suffer because of it. But, with Lynch not being the starter anymore, what's that say about Levy's draft? They get worse with every game played. With four first day picks, he's come away with one starter: Posluszny. That's not good enough in a small market, which must get no fewer than 2-3 long term (4 or more years) starters. Buffalo blew 3 1sts in two years. Ouch.

Evidently not. It will be like Judge Smails finding a caddy in his house times 12,000

Nix reports to Mr. Smithers who reports to Mr. Burns. Watching that PC, I thought RW may have mentioned some 50s and 60s stars a la Burns in the famous Simpsons episode, Homer at the Bat. Seriously, there hasn't been a house cleaning yet and the anticipated moves are just that.

I know someone mentioned it before, but Billick has a book that came out a few months back, More Than A Game. Clearly, he didn't author each and every word, but it's interesting to read the observations of a HC who's been out of the league for two seasons now. Billick does talk about failing to find a QB (which BTW is an organizational failure, not simply a HC's doing) and the fact that Baltimore allocated significant resources, particularly cap dollars, to their defense. Yeah, the guy's arrogant and he has his faults. But there's not a lot inspiring out there with experience besides the name Cowher. It seems like the more anyone delves into deciding on a HC, the more people find wrong with each candidate.

I think it was that noted philosopher Bum Phillips who once said, “There are two types of coaches, them that have just been fired and them that are going to be fired.” How many coaches actually retire as HC's? Not many, because the bad to average ones eventually just aren't hired anymore. Whomever the Bills hire will be either an assistant or someone who's been fired.

Certainly each team features a slightly different management structure. Polian is the team president and oversees more than most in Indianapolis. A team like the Chiefs has Pioli as GM with Denny Thum the team president overseeing all non-football operations. Pioli makes the football decision and huddles with Clark Hunt. Here in Buffalo, Nix will report to Brandon, who will then go to RW. The question is how much control does Nix have over football operations. Brandon's elevation to CEO, which I think can be equated to team president (i.e. day to day ops), means he's overseeing football and business subjects. My opinion is Brandon's background means showing a profit is the more critical objective. That said, there's a lot that remains to be seen. But each team has a management structure that is built on the owner's management style.

But even if Nix gets to put his list together, we all know it has to run through Brandon before getting to Wilson. At some point, football decisions will reach Brandon's desk for his decision. And that's the part worrisome to most people: Smithers' mentality is dollars and Nix has been charged with rebuilding a winner. Brandon's been around for a long time, and has Wilson's confidence. His mere presence in reporting to RW is something Nix will have to negotiate in his new role. It comes down to how much influence Nix will have, or whether as TD said, there will be "limitations."

I'm reading Brian Billick's latest book, More than A Game, and he admits that's true. However, an owner isn't the person who understands what a coach does, and if he hires a GM to hire the coach, should take the GM's advice. Of course there are financial considerations, but overall the owner cannot micromanage the decision.

We know Smithers, even as COO/GM, could not fire the HC. And that was 6 weeks ago. Now, a "real football" GM is introduced and there's still talk that RW has say on the HC? I won't believe there's a shake-up coming until some moves are made, like getting rid of Modrak, Guy, and Overdorf. They need to slam the door on the TD years and trust someone they hire to get it right this time.

It's a total rebuild. Team's aren't built around the skill positions. That may be cliche, but this is a defense yielding 160 yards plus per game rushing. Sure there's some talent in the secondary, but that's not as key as a pass rush and stout DT's. The LB corps is comprised of 2 players, one of whom is on IR and has been for some time. Any "name" HC does not want a rebuild and given the money it will take to sign them, must produce results right away. For this reason, I don't see Cowher going to Buffalo.

I'm guessing intuition. Rivera's interviewed for four HC jobs: Arizona, Pittsburgh, Dallas and San Diego since 2006.

Nix said early in the PC that his hiring was a whirlwind thing. He did not expect, upon being hired last year, to be the GM. They did not hire him with the intent of making him a General Manager, it came about within the past week.

I'll believe it when I see it. It's been 30 years since RW when with the big name HC.

And your point exactly is what?

There were no other outside the organization candidates considered. We know this because none were interviewed and the NFL regular season hasn't yet concluded. It doesn't matter if they had a list. Nix said this was a whirlwind thing, which I'm guessing started within the past week and grew. They made their decision in the past 10 days, which leaves little time. There is no question they had no intention of going outside the organization.

19 Days of posting and you've diagnosed the ills of TBD? Sure, why not. BTW, I'll name 20 GM's: Tannenbaum (NYJ), Ireland (MIA), Newsome (BAL), M. Brown (CIN), Colbert (PIT), Polian (IND), Xanders (DEN), Smith (SD) Pioli (KC), Davis (OAK), J. Reese (NYG) Reid/Heckert (PHI), Allen (WAS), Jones (DAL), Angelo (CHI) Mayhew (DET), Spielman (MIN), Thompson (GB), Dimitroff (ATL), Hurney (CAR), Devaney (STL), and F. Reese/Belichick (NE) off the top of my head.

I always like to talk about promotions in any arena based on something I learned in the Army: individuals are promoted not for what they've done, but because they demonstrate the potential to lead at higher levels. I have no doubt that Nix is a capable talent evaluator as a scout and personnel director, but it's a huge leap from that level to NFL GM. For the record, Polian became a GM in his mid 40s. He was promoted by RW, who was also quite a bit younger and I'd argue had more of his faculties back then. That was a case, in RW's words, of getting lucky because BP knew how to do it 24 years ago. Your point in comparing BP to BN is a poor attempt at conflating the argument.

There's no need to be sarcastic here. But I will say I gained a lot of insight into what it means to be a real NFL GM by reading, The GM by Tom Callahan. It profiles former GM Ernie Accorsi's 2006 Giants season and I highly recommend it. Furthermore, each team has a general hierarchy in place. There's the Pro Personnel Department and College Scouting Department. The GM oversees those along with managing the salary cap, negotiating contracts, and hiring a head coach. During the season, there are player transactions that must be made, in addition to the off-season when an evaluation of UFA's/RFA's, a team's own players, and available college players takes place. On draft day, the GM runs the draft room and has built a cohesive strategy of how he wants the football team to be. This is something he develops with his HC, and personnel directors. Last but not least, the GM has a final say on the roster going into the regular season. He must have a close relationship with the HC, but still be able to evaluate as the season progresses. It is an extremely busy job and not one for the faint of heart. I have doubts on whether someone at age 70 who's never undertaken such a massive responsibility is cut out for it. Nix wants a HC with experience, but he himself hasn't had any as a GM.

There is a difference between being a talent evaluator or working as a General Manager. Scouts are talent evaluators. And to a higher level, so are Directors of Pro Personnel and College Scouting. Do you have any idea what a GM is responsible for? It's more than just scouting I can tell you that.