Red Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I agree with everything you said in number 2......As for number 1, I listen to Tony Kornheiser every day, and I now know way more about the Redskins than I ever thought I would. Your answer nails it and it is the way it should be, but it doesn't answer how they could fire/hire on the same day and supposedly comply with the Rooney Rule......I thought that was going to hang us up until after the season was over, when I want to pull the trigger now as the Skins did. I could not agree more with you on the trigger part. There is an article in today's Buff News from Allen Wilson- that Shanahan is now in talks with the Redskins for the coaching position (even though Zorn is still the head coach at the moment), and that when Shanahan talked with the Bills it was UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT (BRUCE) ALLEN WOULD BE PART OF THE DEAL. Now, that was MY Christmas wish list. A competent, proven GM with a talented head coach. Bruce Allen going to the 'Skins hurt me, as I really wanted him in Buffalo. Brandon was supposed to have an 'in'. Apparently, that 'in' was not enough, because as soon as the Redskins post was available he was hired an hour later. Since Allen was not currently on a team, it would not mean the Redskins violated any league tampering rules. However, as you suggest it also implies that the two parties (Redskins and Allen) had talked before. And I will tell you- as much as I now hate Holmgren for his arrogance towards coaching the Bills, he was absolutely right when he blasted the Redskins for how they handled Zorn when they brought in Sherm Lewis. Zorn, if he was smart, would resign. First Lewis strips him of his play-calling, now Shanahan is in talks about coaching the SKins WHILE ZORN IS STILL THE COACH! Talk about classless! And I am starting to get a little jittery about any future Bills moves. Allowing Allen to go the Skins, and not being more proactive in signing him WHEN HE WAS AVAILABLE, reeks of conflict of interest. Ralph talks tough, and allows Brandon to conduct the search. From where I sit, and with Allen and now possibly Shanahan going to the Redskins, Brandon is obviously not working hard enough at this point. I'm worried that the Bills are being too casual about all of this, when they really need to be extremely aggressive. We NEED a competent and proven front office. This week, one major possibility came off of the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 not meaning to be too much of a pedant, but don't forget the first to fly the coup (and the only one to come back to father Bill) -- Bob Ferguson. I remember him. Where is Ferguson these days? I thought he went way of Arizona... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I could not agree more with you on the trigger part. There is an article in today's Buff News from Allen Wilson- that Shanahan is now in talks with the Redskins for the coaching position (even though Zorn is still the head coach at the moment), and that when Shanahan talked with the Bills it was UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT (BRUCE) ALLEN WOULD BE PART OF THE DEAL. Now, that was MY Christmas wish list. A competent, proven GM with a talented head coach. Bruce Allen going to the 'Skins hurt me, as I really wanted him in Buffalo. Brandon was supposed to have an 'in'. Apparently, that 'in' was not enough, because as soon as the Redskins post was available he was hired an hour later. Since Allen was not currently on a team, it would not mean the Redskins violated any league tampering rules. However, as you suggest it also implies that the two parties (Redskins and Allen) had talked before. And I will tell you- as much as I now hate Holmgren for his arrogance towards coaching the Bills, he was absolutely right when he blasted the Redskins for how they handled Zorn when they brought in Sherm Lewis. Zorn, if he was smart, would resign. First Lewis strips him of his play-calling, now Shanahan is in talks about coaching the SKins WHILE ZORN IS STILL THE COACH! Talk about classless! And I am starting to get a little jittery about any future Bills moves. Allowing Allen to go the Skins, and not being more proactive in signing him WHEN HE WAS AVAILABLE, reeks of conflict of interest. Ralph talks tough, and allows Brandon to conduct the search. From where I sit, and with Allen and now possibly Shanahan going to the Redskins, Brandon is obviously not working hard enough at this point. I'm worried that the Bills are being too casual about all of this, when they really need to be extremely aggressive. We NEED a competent and proven front office. This week, one major possibility came off of the market. Fair enough, Red. But did you expect that the Bills were equipped with sufficient clout, connections, and money to really make a big haul? I was very skeptical at best. I hope I'm wrong. But I think it's more likely that a lot of people like yourself are going to be disappointed, disillusioned, and cynical when the smoke clears. I hope I'm wrong and the one who is pleasantly surprised. But among dozens of other factors, asking Brandon to hire his replacement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I can remember a story about a HC candidate who was thinking of interviewing for the HC job in Buffalo. He met with Bill Walsh who, "told me a few things about Buffalo" and he decided to say, "No thanks". This happened in the 70s. Holmgren is a Walsh disciple, so there you have it - he'd never come here. Never. I think Walsh heard what he heard from Chuck Knox. We're better off without 'em. I used to respect Holmgren. His disdain is not based on any facts; for Cleveland is less of a thriving metropolis than Buffalo. I'm starting to get concerned, however, that the Bills are allowing coaching and GM candidates to slip through their fingers like sand in your hand. If this happens, and we come out of this with the same front office structure, then it will, IMO, prove that Brandon is working to save his own skin and not seeing the bigger picture of creating a truly competitive and viable NFL franchise with the Buffalo Bills. It would also suggest that Wilson is closer to the mental state of Al Davis than any of us could fathom. I promise not to jump to conclusions, but this waiting is killing me. Why wait until the end of the season when 2-5 other clubs will be also conducting coaching and GM searches? Why force us into a situation where we have to bid for services of a few against possibly teams with bigger payrolls than ours? True, there is a flood of candidates this year compared to years past, but there are only so many to go around. I sincerely hope that we are not sitting around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Fair enough, Red. But did you expect that the Bills were equipped with sufficient clout, connections, and money to really make a big haul? I was very skeptical at best. I hope I'm wrong. But I think it's more likely that a lot of people like yourself are going to be disappointed, disillusioned, and cynical when the smoke clears. I hope I'm wrong and the one who is pleasantly surprised. But among dozens of other factors, asking Brandon to hire his replacement? Right. That is my fear too, bud. IF, we come out of this offseason with Modrak and Guy still on the team, and 'Barnum & Bailey' Brandon still calling the shots, it will PROVE conflict of interest having someone find their own replacement, and it will also allude to the sorry mental state of Wilson as he allows those WITH AN INTEREST IN THE POSITION to find their own replacement. If this front office is still intact next season, I think I may be done following the Bills, or any team for that matter. Who knows, I might fall in love with my (now) home team Washington Redskins. I hope that I'm wrong... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts