BillsVet

The options are a guy who's never been more than a third stringer and another one who was essentially available for 2+ months this season until Buffalo signed him. Either way, Perry is screwed.

I'll give RW some credit for hiring a real GM in 01. Good initiative, bad judgment on TD. But he followed that bad decision up with having Levy and Brandon as top football man, both of whom relied on Guy and Modrak for personnel advice. It's no surprise they haven't figured out who can coach and play QB. And then hoping DJ would mentor a QB was another laughable assumption, given that he'd never found a decent QB in years. For the life of me, I can't understand why RW is cheap when it comes to front office management. They're responsible for finding the players that make the big bucks, particularly the top draft picks and big money UFA's that have busted.

There aren't a whole lot of guys who'll command 10M per, and if it's true Shanahan is going to Washington or elsewhere, only Cowher remains. The bigger issue is the unattractiveness of the franchise and both HC and GM jobs. The roster is nearly bereft of talent, the owner is 91 and his team's future is very uncertain, not to mention they've sold a home game to a non-NFL market that may or may not support the team. Established types who may command 10M per aren't attracted to complete rebuilding projects. This is why Buffalo will struggle to find someone, anyone. The Bills are only a half-step above the Raiders as a dysfunctional NFL franchise.

He's the most conspicuous absentee in recent weeks, perhaps months. But what does he say when Whitner gets cut in February?

The NFL off-season will be interesting, perhaps more so than previous years given the CBA situation. Or it could be completely boring if teams aren't tendering those guys in their 4th and 5th seasons as RFA's. The owners may choose to collectively spend less, retain bad coaches, and cut player salary in preparation for a lockout in 2011. Either way, the Bills had better come up with something because I don't think enough fans believe in their BS. They wore out their trust with the fans this season.

Don't know if you heard Bullfrog and Thurman this morning. TT said that for an 8th overall pick four seasons into his career (and I'm paraphrasing) he should be in a Pro Bowl or 2. It was interesting, but he mentioned DW doesn't really have a position, given that Wilson and Scott are SS types and of course Byrd will be the FS. DW ain't a Mike Williams caliber bust, but he's never done enough to justify being a top 10 pick. I, too see him released in the off-season. It frees up money to address positions that matter more than DB's.

I can't believe I thought Dick Jauron was a good Head Coach. Never should have listened to him.

If this teams sees the light AND someone of experience is willing to work for meddlesome Ralph and treasurer Jeff, the new GM is not retaining Perry Fewell. I can't recall a new GM keeping the old HC, unless of course you count Marv Levy having no issue with Mularkey before the latter resigned. Without a complete overhaul in the front office, the team will ride the wave between mediocrity and awful. They've successfully kept people interested with gimmick moves while avoiding the real changes this team desperately needed in the wake of TD's demise. RW's advanced age is holding this team back by not making long term decisions.

If ever there was a time to beat NE this decade, today was it. The Patsies were missing two starting OL and two starting DL, not to mention being winless on the road this season. Buffalo happened to be the remedy for what NE couldn't do many teams before today's game. I will say that I cheered the Maybin pick when it was made in April. Looking back, my judgment was poor, because Maybin was more of a project than I realized. I thought Orakpo was too stiff, but he's been anything but this season. Someone made a point on a post-game show that the Bills should have simply taken the best LB on the board to play strong-side OLB rather than have another guy at DE. We can debate the mistakes and errors, but IMO a third of the roster is not worthy of being back next season.

Drafted: Whitner, Youboty, Simpson, Wendling, McKelvin, Corner, Cox, Byrd, C. Harris, Lankster UFA's: Bowen, K. Thomas, J. Webster, W. James, Florence All this for a team that inherited Clements, Greer, McGee, Leonhard, and G. Wilson. Picks were: 2 firsts, 1 second, and 1 third. That's a lot for a team that can't stop the run, run block, or score points. Dick Levy at their finest.

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.