BuffaloPride Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 Talked to a guy who works for the Bills today. Told me Jim Kelly will be getting a prominent front office position after the season finale. He believes they are laying the groundwork for a transfer of ownership. Asked about the rumors regarding Jon Gruden . He said he hasn't heard anything .
JoeF Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 (edited) I know the Bills can't continue to live in the past and that this move will be criticized as trying to spray febreze on this turd of a franchise, but I would support this move. Jim would bring an attitude of both accountability and winning that the team sorely lacks. He understands that games are won Monday to Saturday with study and hard work rather than just winging it on Sunday. He learned this the hard way from 1987-1990 and then reaped the benefits of this the next 5 years. While individuals on the current team get the importance of preparation, its not the whole team. The disclpline and work ethic to win doesn't permeate all 53 on the roster -- and it must to be able to win. For all the talk of hard work and being close -- this team doesn't have a winning attitude and focus. Jim would help like Elway helped the Broncos. Elway's work in Denver helped attract Peyton Manning -- Jim's work here will help build a winning culture that hasn't existed since Wade Phillips, John Butler (God rest his soul) and AJ Smith left. Again--its a move that appears cosmetic but I believe it will help. I posted earlier in the year about giving this regime a pass for this year--I was hoping that the second half of the schedule would end like the season began last year. Instead I have seen a team fall apart -- there is no excuse and changes should be made. This one would be positive. Edited December 26, 2012 by JoeF
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 If his new position placed him above Russ Brandon, I'd be all for it.
JoeF Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 (edited) If his new position placed him above Russ Brandon, I'd be all for it. The only position that would do this is to give Jim a small equity stake in the franchise and name him chairman...I am all for that. Mr. Wilson becomes chair-emeritus. Jim's role is two-fold--First, with Littman, sifting through the groups who want to buy the franchise post Mr. Wilson's death and working with the NFL office to provide the best ownership group for the franchise to remain in Buffalo; Second, find the Bills a franchise QB. Send him on the road scouting -- have him lead the process. Other than that-- he becomes the ass-kicker when things aren't going well on the football side and the glad hander when things are going well. Edited December 26, 2012 by JoeF
Mr. WEO Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 Kelly's going to bring "accountability", eh? Anyway, Jim's a great guy but this, if true, sounds like an awkward and desperate move by the Bills. Jim isn't John Elway, let's just say. If they give him some PR position, fine. But does anyone really want to go from the current crew of (awful) decision makers to a guy who is an icon, not a creator of a football organization?
CodeMonkey Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 (edited) I smell Brandon all over this little gem if it ends up being true. Season ticket sales go up after the team takes a major dump for the 13th consecutive season, and the third under the current GM/HC regime. Well played Mr. Smithers, well played. Edited December 26, 2012 by CodeMonkey
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 Kelly's going to bring "accountability", eh? Anyway, Jim's a great guy but this, if true, sounds like an awkward and desperate move by the Bills. Jim isn't John Elway, let's just say. If they give him some PR position, fine. But does anyone really want to go from the current crew of (awful) decision makers to a guy who is an icon, not a creator of a football organization? IMO, Kelly doesn't seem to me to have the credentials to bring success to the organization. He hasn't paid his dues in terms of working in an NFL front office for one thing and he doesn't have experience at the highest levels of business either (Elway is pretty successful away from the NFL I believe). That said, we don't really know how he would do and it's certainly hard to believe that he'd do worse than Russ Brandon who is the Bills current CEO. He brings some positives which we all admire which may or may not translate into success as an NFL exec. But if Kelly's role was an ownership type thing where he has the ability to assemble a strong front office, we would judge it by who he is able to hire.
Joe W Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 Kelly's main business credential is he's a great dental implant spokesman. I'll believe this rumour when our owner jeff Lippman announces it.
LabattBlue Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 IMO, Kelly doesn't seem to me to have the credentials to bring success to the organization. He hasn't paid his dues in terms of working in an NFL front office for one thing and he doesn't have experience at the highest levels of business either (Elway is pretty successful away from the NFL I believe). ^^^ This. Anything more than a figurehead type of position, and as I've stated before, I'd be worried about Kelly becoming the next Larry Quinn. For those not in Buffalo or who don't follow the Sabres, Quinn went from being a construction manager on the arena project, to a meddling FO wannabe, to being given a minority stake in the franchise, to cashing in that stake and walking away a wealthy man. Be scared Bills fans of any Kelly appointment. Be very scared.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 I think the particular dynamic that would be important in this hypothetical is what his relation to Russ Brandon would be. Is it possible that Brandon would be ousted?
JoeF Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 I understand the critcism and skepticism. Its yet another attempt to again spray febreze on this turd. The goal is two-fold -- make the franchise attractive to a buyer who will keep it in Buffalo -- Jim is one of the best assets the Bills have to do this. Second is to find a franchise QB -- that we haven't had for now almost 20 freaking years. There is some crazy logic to having the last guy who held the role help find one..
BuffaloPride Posted December 26, 2012 Author Posted December 26, 2012 I think the particular dynamic that would be important in this hypothetical is what his relation to Russ Brandon would be. Is it possible that Brandon would be ousted? I asked him this and he said he doesn't believe so.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 I think the particular dynamic that would be important in this hypothetical is what his relation to Russ Brandon would be. Is it possible that Brandon would be ousted? I asked him this and he said he doesn't believe so. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Maddog69 Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 I wonder if Nix and crew will all be canned and Jimbo will be brought in as a consultant to help Russ/Ralph hire a new person to run the football side of the business. Jim might be able to persuade higher profile candidates to interview for the job than Russ could on his own.
kasper13 Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 It's always all criticism & skepticism no matter what. What exactly do they have to do? What would make all the bitchers happy?
Rubes Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 If nothing else, I've had a few good chuckles out of this thread. I'll have to remember the Febreze metaphor.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 It's always all criticism & skepticism no matter what. What exactly do they have to do? What would make all the bitchers happy? That's weird. On the grand scale I thought this discussion was fair and civilized. Sorry dude.
section122 Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 I think this may explain the Thurman tweet. I can't say I'm Ecstatic but I'm happy about this move. Getting Kelly into the front office can only help if/when he has an ownership group ready to buy. Let's hope we can pinpoint this move as THE move that got the Bills turned around!
JoeF Posted December 26, 2012 Posted December 26, 2012 If nothing else, I've had a few good chuckles out of this thread. I'll have to remember the Febreze metaphor. deep down it still smells the same Rubes......unless of course you flush the turd -- but not sure what flushing looks like in this case.....
Recommended Posts