BillsVet

I found it interesting that Modrak is being taken into the inner-circle. (I wonder if that means, "thank you sir may I have another" with RW administering the blows) I maintain that DJ had an overwhelming hand in who this team drafted. Taking 7 DB's with 26 picks clinched it for me. If it's true Modrak will have some power, I think it's a swipe more at DJ's personnel moves and even Brandon for being inexperienced. The personnel on this team isn't any better than it was in 2006. (Cue Dean)

Buffalo's payroll, if we're lucky, will be middle of the road this season. Suggs and Peppers, if they hit the open market, will command at least 8M+ per. Neither is coming to Buffalo, because RW knows that spending doesn't equate to winning either. His last two major investments of Dockery and Walker are failed attempts to buy an OL. I agree with BN in Houston. RW is content and will not make another major investment into this team. When people reach old age, their take on the world changes. By no means do I think RW is ready to depart, but he's not the same person he was when Wade was fired. He's accepted his place, made peace with the NFL, and moved on. He'll ride out the string with what he has and nothing more. There is no hope right now. The players would have to be so good to overcome a HC who single-handedly loses games. The only way I think it could improve is if the QB is allowed to make calls for himself. Same on defense. Because the HC, OC, and DC are so inept that they can't be counted on to do anything other than screw it all up.

I would agree and cite another example of his mindset. Apparently, RW negotiated the contract with DJ. OK whatever. But his unwillingness to pay coaches is well-known and not going to change. Ever. We're not sure what DJ is making, but I'm sure it's not in the top half of the NFL. As far as the front office, there won't be any changes as SB pointed out. Ralph knows the going rate for solid NFL GM's is high, and so he divides that responsibility among Brandon, Modrak, and Guy, with help from Overdorf. He cut his costs by promoting them and not having to hire a GM. We're just steering the ship straight until it eventually sinks. When fans don't return this coming year like they did in 08, the team will blame the economy without any admission that the product is so poor most fans have stepped away. GG's column, IMO, is what a lot of fans are thinking. Having been at each home game this year, the fans are just fed up-old and new. The decision to keep DJ will put many over the edge.

1. The Peters thing was handled poorly-on both ends. It didn't help that marketing guy RB was up against a savvy player agent. 2. Mitchell, Stroud, and Johnson were decent to good signings. 3. Turkey Schonert had been in the NFL as a QB coach for years. It's ironic that he wasn't good enough before to get an OC job, but now he is. He was under DJ's thumb and I don't think he knew what to do when the initial plan didn't work. 4. They should have let JPL go, and find a veteran QB. 5. To be fair to their top pick in 08, there weren't a host of options for DE at 11. Harvey had been taken. 6. The DJ extension was directly negotiated by Ralph. That's a 90 year old man making decisions which not surprisingly did not work out. I believe it was the decision to re-up DJ that forced RW's hand to retain him. Again, Ralph is the problem. No decent GM will ever work for this franchise again. Ralph has basically made it clear he is the one making decisions and I would not be surprised if Brandon leaves for greener pastures. No one can work for RW, and he pushes people out the door. Unless of course your name is Jeff Littman, chief bean counter.

Miami used to be a joke. Now they're a legit NFL franchise because they completely gutted their front office. There are four organizations I would consider minor league outfits: Detroit, Cincinnati, Buffalo, and Saint Louis. Oakland isn't included because they at least spend money. KC and CLE at least will to hire a GM. San Fran has a coach. Buffalo, Detroit, Cincinnait, and St. Louis could begin the NFL minor league if they wanted.

For Buffalo to go 7-9 against their 08 schedule is terrible. Or as Charles Barkley would say, "terbl."

VOR, you've ignored a few things, because you're too busy finding excuses for Miami. Other moves Parcells made: 1. Hiring Tony Sparano. He outcoached DJ on two occasions, although he's in his first season and DJ was in his eighth full. 2. Improving the OL: Parcells signed G Justin Smiley, drafted Jake Long, (which moved Vernon Carey to RT) drafted G Donald Thomas, and already had C Samson Satele. 3. Changed the defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4, which had the effect of making supposed over the hill LB Joey Porter a sack machine again. That move allowed Matt Roth to play a simlar role. 4. Trading for Anthony Fasano, and re-signing both Greg Camarillo and Ricky Williams. All three played an important role in that offense, by giving the offense options. 5. Hiring Pasqualoni and Henning as experienced coordinators to make the transition for Sparano. Those guys aren't the highest caliber coordinators, but they devised schemes (The Wildcat) to make that team maximize their talent. Parcells very presence made everyone realize they were not going to be babied. BP made a point of letting people know if they slacked off they were gone. It's one of the reasons Ernest Wilford didn't play much. Sure, Pennington was a reason for success. But, he wasn't worth 10 wins all by himself. The Miami Dolphins have less talent than the Buffalo Bills, but they had good coaching and didn't turn the ball over. Both teams had low penalties, but it was Miami that had clear leadership. EDIT: Miami has a better front office, better coaching, and better overall leadership. They also happen to have a bettter owner.

No one in their right mind expected the Dolphins to make the playoffs. But they were going to turn it around no matter what. And when you have a front office that has competent and legitimate personnel people, combined with a no-nonsense HC, you'll have success. Parcells was an investment in the franchise. Paying him 3M per sounds like a lot, but Miami now has at least the foundation to win for a long time. Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano learned from Parcells, and the balance of power may be shifting in the AFCE. NE will always be there, NYJ have some issues, but the Bills are and will be the worst team in the AFCE next season with DJ and RB running the show.

From Tim Graham's blog for today regarding the Dolfelons: Dolphins owner Huizenga, desperate to revitalize his team even though he was about to sell it, reached out to Parcells to run his faltering front office. Huizenga is a fan's dream. He recognizes when the organization isn't working, doesn't hesitate to spend whatever it takes and readily admits he doesn't know enough about football to meddle. Buffalo Bills fans who scanned that sentence just had pangs of wanderlust. Huizenga, before selling off a large stake in his beloved Dolphins and their stadium, made what could be remembered as the greatest decision of his tenure when he convinced Parcells to come out of retirement. Huizenga gave Parcells a four-year, $12 million contract and carte blanche over football operations. "It cost us $27 million to fire all the coaches," Huizenga noted after Sunday's victory at the Meadowlands. The owner, who will retain only five percent of the Dolphins once the sale is finalized, had endured Dave Wannstedt, Jim Bates, Nick Saban and Cameron since Jimmy Johnson left in 1999. The smile and bewildered expression on Huizenga's face indicated Sunday's accomplishment was worth the cost. "I thought if we did 8-8 this year, we would have done well," Huizenga said. "I was trying to be realistic. This is unbelievable." An owner on the verge of selling the team still in it to win it.

The Bills MO these past few seasons has been to shed good players and then keep on the treadmill by replacing them with draft picks. Letting Fletcher and Clements go forced us to draft Posluszny and McKelvin. Releasing Milloy meant drafting Whitner, at least according to DJ, who ultimately decided in that first draft. Someone will inevtiably pipe in and talk about the cap, and how those players cost money, but when you draft for need every season, you'll never get talented enough across the board. Sad thing is, the Bills have been in rebuild mode for three seasons with DJ, and their final record isn't any better. Trading Peters for picks would be just like the typical third rate front office Buffalo has.

Ralph is a glutton for figureheads. First Levy, now Russell. As long as they do what he says, they'll be at the top. Of course, doesn't the president oversee the COO? Oh wait, that's Ralphie too. "Russ, get me some Depends! Right now!! Jerry Sullivan is skewering me again!"

To draft 7 DB's out of 26 picks and use 2 out of 4 first rounders on DB's is why I think DJ was deciding. Sure, they'll say it's "consensus" but with few legitimately successful NFL personnel people, DJ has the run on the draft. Now that the talent level isn't much better with DJ, RW believes getting Modrak into the inner circle to overrule or at least match DJ is the answer. Hence, the story about Modrak liking Cutler in 05. Even so, is Russ going to tell DJ what to do? Guy, Modrak, and their people make recommendations, but cannot decide. Meanwhile, Linda Bogged down can do whatever she wants. Including crying to the best modern day GM, and a future HOFer because he didn't do what she wanted him to. Evaluating talent is what this team hasn't done well since Butler walked out the door. Even though Butler wasn't as good as Polian, God rest his soul, he was an improvement over having the marketing guy. A third rate organization with third rate talent and third rate talent evaluators.

That's an excellent point about the four who gathered to review the season in Detroit this week. I didn't get to see much of the 02-05 Bills because I was in the military, but it's amazing to read from fans both young and not as young how they are tired of this. I have to respect those who've followed this team before the SB years, because it was lean in the 70s, then between Know and about 88. And it seems like more of them are saying enough is enough.

DJ has the ultimate in job security: no one who knows football and has the authority to can his butt. Angelo knew DJ was a failure, as you point out, and probably knew he'd eventually send him packing. I'd take Jim Mora just for the tirades. At least the losses would be more entertaining.

The 2009 Buffalo Bills: Obviously we'd like to be 16-0. Just don't ask us what we'll end up. The 2009 Buffalo Bills: Keeping Dick Jauron and Turk Schonert off the unemployment lines since 2006.

No one has wanted DJ as a HC since about 2001. Even then, you know Jerry Angelo wanted him gone. It would take five years before the Bears organization decided to rid themselves of DJ. It was reported RW personally negotiated the contract with DJ or his people. If that's the case, why even have a front office? Ralph thinks he can do it all himself, at 90 years of age.

Brandon will have plenty of opportunities. He marketed this team from 98 through at least this season. And quite successfully I might add, given the lack of success. He would have plenty of people looking for a marketing guy who has been in the black hole of franchises. Think about what he could do with an average and major league team.

Ah, the irony. Can I use the term, "irony" here? I've seen Chris leave the pressbox after games finish, and I have to believe he knows the crap he writes is propaganda. Still, when you keep a guy with a career 57-77 record and have to pass him off as legit, you gotta find something to write about. Go after public whipping boy Wade, who BTW led us to the playoffs 2 out of 3 seasons.

9-7 didn't even come close to cutting it in the AFCE this year. You may not recall, but NE went 11-5 and missed the playoffs. 9-7 didn't cut it in the NFCE, or NFCS. This division and conference mandate you be exceptional, not average to make the playoffs. What high standards we have these days. Let's hope to have barely a winning record, and cross our fingers. DJ is the definition of mediocre. And mediocre is the most he can ever produce.

Khalif Barnes is one of the worst LOT's in the NFL. Replacing a traded Peters with him is like keeping Dick Jauron as HC: asinine.

DJ has had, since he was hired, plenty of control over personnel on this team. He advised Marv from 06-07. And did the same with Brandon this year. I think the trade-off for DJ was giving up some personnel control to Tom Modrak. The funny thing is, there is no one we can hold accountable for any move. Modrak, and Guy simply supply information. We don't know the real decision makers, whoever they are. If it's true that Brandon fancies himself as a legitimate NFL GM, it's laughable, but fitting for this minor league franchise.

What wasn't mentioned is that those four seasons were Fisher's first four as a NFL HC. DJ's been a NFL HC now for eight complete seasons, and coached 5 games in Detroit. That said, he's shown no improvement as a HC. At least Fisher learned from his mistakes. DJ is not smart enough to.

More than a year ago, someone posted their take on RW, based on Ralph's similarities to his dad. People like RW who grew up during the depression, fought in WWII have a different take on the world. They've experienced different moments. Still, the poster pointed out that RW has been spoiled from the beginning. IIRC, his father Ralph Sr was a wealthy man or became wealthy when RW was young. RW the man is an enigma. Loved by some, hated by others. Having the team his is gift and curse to the region.

I remember when the "Bickering Bills" couldn't stop sniping at each other. I remember Kelly separating his should at Indy in 89 and thinking how bad it was that Buffalo was a soap opera. It's not good to hear many players saying they love DJ. I wish they would go into Bickering Bills mode, but it won't happen. Someone has to publicly question this franchise, as bad as it might seem.

The Buffalo Bills: We're a better investment than with Bernard Madoff!