BillsVet

To RW, it is about making money. One could deduce that after the Toronto series was announced, resulting in 78M of revenue over 5 seasons. RW responded that this arrangement and cash flow would not result in more spent on players. I think the Bills are looking for any way to retain DJ, avoid paying his buyout, and then simply putting the PR machine into overdrive to sell the team for 09. IMO, they'll figure out something to explain why DJ will remain and he'll be the coach next season. The fact they're even contemplating DJ's return is sad. Most NFL franchises wouldn't hesitate to let go of such a poor coach.

Not sure after 8 full seasons in the NFL that the light is going to go on for DJ. Coaches who make bad decisions as DJ has for these past few seasons aren't going to get better. I don't expect a HC to be perfect, but he's done things that make you scratch your head. Burning 2 TO's against SD in 12/06. Allowing a sideline pass on MNF vs Dallas last season. The roll-out pass with a QB who can't feel pressure in NY this month. The list goes on and on and on. I'd feel more comfortable replacing him, but given RW's stranglehold on all decisions, it's unlikely they'd find someone willing to work in the organization. Still, DJ needs to go.

There are plenty of TSW posters who've come to the realization that RW is the reason this franchise hasn't succeeded. He has a tendency to shed his most talented people, namely Saban, Knox, and Polian. None of those men were ever adequately replaced, and I suspect few successful front office types would ever want to work for RW. It seems that RW is content to keep the front office intact as long as he can make some money. Talk of getting Modrak into the "inner circle" seems to confirm that no changes will be made, despite the same lineup in the front office since TD took over in 01. If no significant changes are made this off-season, I think plenty of fans will see that RW isn't serious about winning football anymore.

Our best DE is a 2nd rounder. Schobel has been a good player, and wasn't a first rounder. There are plenty of good DE's, if you do the homework, who've gone in the second and beyond. I'm talking about Umenyiora, Tuck, Vanden Bosch, Mathis from Indy, Dockett, La Boy, Jared Allen, etc. As BADOL has pointed out, sometimes it's better to find a DE in the second who is hungrier for success. Many first rounders don't cut it, because they've gotten by on talent alone in the college ranks.

Butch Davis was an abject failure in Cleveland. Just look at their drafts while he was there. Jim Fassel won't even get a job in the NFL next season. Although, that might make him qualified to come here, as our current retread coach wasn't even wanted, yet got the job.

IMO, the front office has done a fine job of creating an atmosphere that makes it hard to blame one guy. When TD ran the show, he got the blame for not getting it done. And rightfully so. When Marv entered and abdicated responsibilities to Guy, Modrak, and Jauron, the picture got murky about who should receive blame for picks and FA signings. Now, with Brandon heading things up, we still don't know who's responsible for what. Either way, both TD and the current regime have failed. Unless they totally clean house, put RB back to being the business guy, and hire new personnel execs, this team is on the path to nowhere.

Mack may be gone late in the first. Arizona is in desperate need of a center. Orakpo seems to be a workout warrior akin to a Gholston. Shaughnessy could be gone in the second. DE is an important position, but not the only need on this team. I'd look for one in the second round, when guys like Connor Barwin, Jerry Hughes, and Shaughnessy will be available.

Good short read there. I don't believe Buffalo is interested in any of them because their owner seems intent on not changing. It'd be nice to have a new fresh face in Buffalo who can improve the morale of a once proud franchise from sinking any further. Regardless, there are some names of people that could help the Bills improve. Pioli may be on the move, after seeing his understudy Dimitroff produce a near miracle in ATL.

I don't know of an OT that lasted beyond 35, let alone at a high level. Outside of QB's, K's, and P's, most NFL players aren't playing after 35.

Harbaugh did a lot of research to make that statement: he looked at the coaching matchup.

This team needs to stop using the draft to replace good players they allow to walk out the door. I can't remember the last time Buffalo could go BPA in the draft, although the cap makes it hard. Still, it seems the Bills are constantly drafting for need with their top picks, and foregoing a better player(s) because they've forced themselves to take a need. Keeping Greer would be a better use of their cap dollars, and I agree John Guy isn't going to unearth talent from another team. I'd much rather have a known commodity in Greer than an unknown Guy tries to sell the team. Rebuilding this team will be going into year 4, and until they start re-signing their own and drafting better, we'll be on the treadmill to nowhere.

GB had no intention of re-signing Corey Williams last off-season. But they knew he'd command some attention on the UFA market. They ended up getting a 2nd from CLE for him. I'm not saying Greer is to the CB position that Williams was as a DL. But there are so many clubs in need of a proven NFL CB. That will inflate his value, and it's an opportunity for the Bills to get something for him.

Everette Brown seems suited to play the RDE position on this team, which should be nailed down for Schobel next season. He doesn't seem big enough to play LDE. That could change if the HC is fired. Caldwell also seems like a C probably best for a strictly zone blocking scheme. Not sure he'd be better than Max Unger. Coffman seems like a guy who can stretch the middle of the field, but his thing will be what Rucker's was last season-the ability to play in a non-spread offense.

You severely underestimate the UFA market which increasingly has fewer decent players on it. As the cap rises, teams can pay more to retain their players. For those teams that notoriously draft poorly, they'll always be looking for the quick fix to make up for their inept drafting. Greer will command Corey Webster type money, as Chris Brown mentioned the latter in his recent blog post. Most people haven't heard of Webster, but he got 43.5M with 20M guaranteed. I'm sure Pro Personnel scouts know Greer, especially with 2 INT's returned for TD this year. His durability won't be as big a concern, especially with the cap rising reportedly another 4-5M this offseason. EDIT: STL, CLE, DET, SEA, NO, and KC all have huge needs at CB. Greer will have suitors with or without the tag.

A likely scenario. Wilson's 90, doesn't want to make radical changes at this late juncture in his life and therefore ownership of the franchise. Even if Modrak is on par with Parcells, Pioli, and other good front office execs, it can never make up for the inept gameday decisions this coach has made in his career. Have to agree with SB here about the power residing in the hands of the marketing and finance guys. Along with the PR guys, those areas seem to be the most important and carry the most weight in all decisions. When personnel (amateur scouting and pro) are on-par with counting the money and propagandizing the team, this team will move forward.

Uneventful Christmas?

With Jabari Greer due to hit free agency this off-season, Buffalo will face a question about whom to retain at CB. Both Youboty and Greer are up after 09, meaning they'll have some decisions to make at the position. The reality is Buffalo cannot keep Greer and McGee, with McKelvin in the mix. Either JG or TM will go, and I suspect it will be Greer because his contract is up now. That said, franchise him and get a pick instead of letting him walk out the door. While he's not the name that Clements was after 06, JG will get significant attention on the UFA market. If the Bills have learned anything, they'll franchise Greer with the sole intent of trading him. I highly doubt they'll get stuck with a franchise tender as too many teams like CLE, STL, DET, and others need a NFL ready CB. Picking up a 3rd gives this team options in the draft and sets them up to move around if necessary. Then again, it's the Buffalo front office, where amateur scouting VPs aren't in the "inner circle."

Sullivan does one thing that annoys the perpetual optimists: he tells it like it is. Disagree with him or not, Buffalo has had no measure of success since 1999. And with RW possibly keeping the HC and front office intact, there should be rampant demand for changes. Sullivan is demanding there be changes, and asks questions most of us wouldn't have the audacity to ask. So go ahead, hate him for being an op-ed columnist. The BN loves when you do. Let's be clear about something. Of the 31 franchises in operation since 1999, 29 of them have made the playoffs. And as we all know, only the Lions and Bills have not. If you're OK with that, you hate Sullivan.

Even if Modrak becomes GM without the title (which I doubt) the likelihood that DJ is fired is zero. I cannot see RW elevating a guy who's been with the team since 2001 getting rid of their hand-picked coach. Levy came in and kept things the same. Overdorf, Guy, and Modrak all stayed which indicated to me that Levy was a short timer, especially with him being over 80. There are no major changes coming. No GM, no new HC, and the same collection of decision makers. EDIT: This is similar to 2000 when Jerry Angelo arrived after DJ's second season in Chicago. Angelo took control over personnel from DJ, who never saw eye to eye with the former. I'm sure much of it had to do with DJ's lackluster record in 99 and 00. The

Agree wholeheartedly here. If Buffalo made 35M in 07, with Toronto and the high season ticket sales this year will undoubtedly put that in the 42-45M territory. Bad teams have bad owners. And by bad, I'm talking about the refusal to change when things go bad. You have the Colts, Pats, Giants, and Steelers of the world who go to the playoffs nearly every season. And then you have the Lions, Bills, Bengals, Raiders, et al who never do. It's no coincidence that those four teams have arguably the worst four owners in the sport. If Ralph chooses to keep his front office and coaches similar to 08, I think it finally bites him in the behind. No way are season tickets sales going to be near 08 levels, given the economy and sad state of the franchise. I hope fans finally start voting with their checkbooks.

You're including the choices made by Randy Mueller and Bill Parcells to demonstrate a single point is ridiculous. Parcells entrance brought with it a completely different mindset. I seriously doubt that Parcells would have drafted a WR ninth overall. Hence, why Randy Mueller was fired by BP shortly after the (EDIT: latter) took over football operations. Parcells drafted Henne, but he used his first two picks on a LOT and DE in Long and Merling last season before taking a QB. The recipe for success is finding a competent football mind with a clear vision and understanding of what makes people tick. Tom Dimitroff has done the same thing in Atlanta. Both found QB's (with Ryan outplaying expectations) and put an OL in front of them. Most importantly, both Parcells and Dimitroff have instilled a winning atmosphere in areas where that attitude hasn't existed in quite some time.

The secret to being an effective small market is having the best scouts, along with Pro Personnel and Amateur Scouting directors. Plenty of smaller market teams make do with less. Check the Forbes report, and you'll see that Indy had less revenue in 08 than Buffalo. Ironically, their success (7 straight seasons with 10 or more wins) shows small market teams can win. Sure they built a stadium, but as some on this board have pointed out, it was a cumulative effort in that part of Indiana among counties. It helps they have the best modern era GM helping.

Rookies learning the C2 take time. That goes for each position, particularly LB's who drop into zone coverage. I think Posluszny will improve in his second full season. But it is concerning he hasn't developed quicker. Drafting a center is ridiculous. There are other center's available this year, namely Unger, Luigs, and Mack. I wouldn't be surprised if C was addressed in FA or the 2nd round.

The greatest disappointment was depending on a rookie to help an offense ranked near the bottom of the league. That might have been acceptable, but no decent TE was added to the roster either. Not adding a pass-catching TE was another shortcoming last off-season, because they had too many holes like DT, OLB, WR, and TE. This coming off-season the Bills still have huge holes, namely at C, TE, DE, DT, OLB, S, and perhaps RT. Every year there are so many areas to address, and 2009 looks no different.

Where's your top 25 list of GM's? That was conspicuously absent. When Marv coached this team to success in 2006, those were, err, he was GM. Nice try.