How Much is Russ Brandon to Blame for Bills' Current Plight?

[GA BILLS FAN]

WOW ! I can't believe so many on this board are defending Brandon. Let's start with a simple question: "what's your definition of success in the NFL?". Mine is simple, WINNING. On that dimension, every person associated with this franchise over the past 15 years has failed and the accountability for that failure only increases as their positions ascend organizationally and no person other than Ralph himself has held a more prominent role over a longer period than Brandon. Second, he is responsible for one of the worst football decisions of this decade when he agreed to extend the Toronto series. I don't blame him for the creating the series originally, I, in fact, applaud the ingenuity and the risk he took to see if it was possible to enhance the revenues of this team without hurting it on the field. But, when it was clear this series was hurting the chance of this team winning football games, why would you extend it ? That to me speaks to the biggest issue with Brandon, he focuses on the profit/loss and not winning. Thirdly, he has been in "complete charge" for the past year and is sitting on almost $20M in cap space in 2013 while moving $10M in Fitz's dead money to 2014 and refuses to extend or restructure the contracts of players to provide this organization with the maximum financial flexibility in 2014 and 2015. Fourth, he is not a marketing genius, what he is at his core is a guy who is selling FEAR to the WNY fans. His veiled threat after the Bills-Falcons game on WGR was appalling. Saying that Bills fans couldn't sell out most of this season's games and putting more "inventory" into WNY could prove to be troublesome was an embarrassment to this community. A marketing genius would first and foremost insist on having a good product, win some games and seats will be sold. Lastly, to those who defend Brandon, please hold him and this team to a higher standard. It's easy to fall into the trap he sets to sell "hope" and how hard he works and how much he wants to win. Watch his actions and ignore his rhetoric, as long as this guy is in charge, this team will need a miracle to win consistently. It hurts as a Bills fans to watch this franchise suffer this long and put one of the folks responsible for that suffering in charge of the team. For those defending Brandon, name ONE thing he has done during his career with the Bills that has resulted in the team WINNING on the field, you can't, because this franchise hasn't won since he's been associated with it.

Edited December 21, 2013 by TXBILLSFAN

[Sisyphean Bills]

They also traded a 2011 3rd round pick to San Diego for Charlie Whitehurst.

 

Flynn wasn't a retread by any means.....he was the top FA QB on the market.......a young backup who had some great performances against Detroit and in a Monday night game against NE.

 

All those guys got a short leash.........Hasselbeck was in the mix as well. They weren't willing to settle for mediocrity.

 

Someone else astutely mentioned that the last time the Bills did something like that they drafted Todd Collins in the second round, traded for Billy Joe Hobert and then traded for Rob Johnson and signed Flutie in a short period of time.

 

Then followed that up with 21 wins the next two seasons.

 

Not one of the guys the Seahawks picked up had a record of failure and injury like Kevin Kolb, and before Kolb the Bills had spent 2+ years effectively sitting on their hands (who can seriously think Vince Young was ever pushing for the starting job?) because they knew they could turn Fitzpatrick, another career loser, into a winner. More ironically, some think Kevin Kolb was destined to be the Bills starter this year, if not for his soft melon.

 

PS: Is it really kudos and back-slaps worthy to have traded for TJax? Despite a career stat line that is not all that much different than Fitzpatrick, TJax never even wore the Bills uniform to a game.

[DFITZ1]

If Brandon is not the guy, then who do we get, and will they come to Buffalo? Unlike the 90's, Buffalo is not a prime destination for an NFL exec up and coming or existing star, only wannabees.

[BADOLBILZ]

Not one of the guys the Seahawks picked up had a record of failure and injury like Kevin Kolb, and before Kolb the Bills had spent 2+ years effectively sitting on their hands (who can seriously think Vince Young was ever pushing for the starting job?) because they knew they could turn Fitzpatrick, another career loser, into a winner. More ironically, some think Kevin Kolb was destined to be the Bills starter this year, if not for his soft melon.

 

PS: Is it really kudos and back-slaps worthy to have traded for TJax? Despite a career stat line that is not all that much different than Fitzpatrick, TJax never even wore the Bills uniform to a game.

 

TJax was cold product when the Bills acquired him, so no. He had gotten his chance in Seattle.......after plenty of seasoning in Minnesota.......and had proven himself a career backup.

 

The Seahawks failed miserably with the Whitehurst trade, Flynn signing and their initial gamble on TJax but they took nothing for granted and kept trying and fortune rewarded them. It should serve as encouragement for the Bills to keep trying.

[May Day 10]

If Brandon is not the guy, then who do we get, and will they come to Buffalo? Unlike the 90's, Buffalo is not a prime destination for an NFL exec up and coming or existing star, only wannabees.

 

and thats only because ownership and upper management. Nothing to do with the stadium, people, or franchise history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, Brandon will be the last President and CEO under Wilson barring some sort crazy legal trouble or a tragedy or anything like that.

Edited December 21, 2013 by May Day 10

[DFITZ1]

Agreed, or locale for that matter. If the organization has personnel with a commitment and a history of winning, the right people will knock each other out trying to join team or staff. Now it seems more are turning us down than in past decades.

[thewildrabbit]

If Brandon is not the guy, then who do we get, and will they come to Buffalo? Unlike the 90's, Buffalo is not a prime destination for an NFL exec up and coming or existing star, only wannabees.

We won't get anybody.

 

Ralph Wilson will choose who he wants to run his team. He must trust Brandon immensely to give him the keys to his kingdom. Although, that won't save Brandon if he fails to build a winner and the fans stop buying season tickets, JMO

[GA BILLS FAN]

We won't get anybody.

 

Ralph Wilson will choose who he wants to run his team. He must trust Brandon immensely to give him the keys to his kingdom. Although, that won't save Brandon if he fails to build a winner and the fans stop buying season tickets, JMO

We are stuck with Brandon as long as Ralph is the owner. What fans can do is ACT --- write letters to Brandon and others in Buffalo front offices and ask them the tough questions -- we as fans want a WINNING first philosophy --- put pressure on the media and sponsors to hold the organization accountable to their supposed stated goal (winning) and the actions they take (Toronto series, underspent CAP) --- and stop going to games until they win --- I know it's hard to get over the FEAR factor of losing the team if attendance truly drops, but that's the only way to send the message --- Whaley, the coaches and players are giving it 100% to win -- Brandon must do the same for it to work ---

[Kirby Jackson]

This is a conversation that I don't feel totally comfortable commenting on because of the relationships that I have at OBD. I will say that Russ is very good at what he does and has a great deal of respect across the league and within other sports as well. He is viewed as someone that has maximized the situation and in many ways is the person responsible for the team still being in WNY. The regionalization was a necessity whether we want to admit it or not. I really don't mean to come across as condescending but if you do not respect the job that he has done then you really do not understand the position. Since he has won the Littman power struggle the organization is in a much better place IMO. I would comfortably say that Russ is in the top 25 or so team presidents in all sports.

[GA BILLS FAN]

This is a conversation that I don't feel totally comfortable commenting on because of the relationships that I have at OBD. I will say that Russ is very good at what he does and has a great deal of respect across the league and within other sports as well. He is viewed as someone that has maximized the situation and in many ways is the person responsible for the team still being in WNY. The regionalization was a necessity whether we want to admit it or not. I really don't mean to come across as condescending but if you do not respect the job that he has done then you really do not understand the position. Since he has won the Littman power struggle the organization is in a much better place IMO. I would comfortably say that Russ is in the top 25 or so team presidents in all sports.

Top 25 ? . . . how is that possible when this franchise hasn't been in a playoff game in 15 years, what measurement criteria are you using, nice guy ? ability to get people to buy tickets to a losing team ? ability to get money to upgrade a stadium that is completely obsolete instead of investing in new stadium ? . . . . . I don't know Russ, but my measurement criteria is simple, has he created an organizational culture that wins. Answer NO.

[May Day 10]

What road results them moving from WNY since Brandon arrived and/or assumed his power role post Donahoe?

 

By negotiating a relatively short-term lease that will make it enticing for an out of town interest to relocate the team?

[Kirby Jackson]

 

Top 25 ? . . . how is that possible when this franchise hasn't been in a playoff game in 15 years, what measurement criteria are you using, nice guy ? ability to get people to buy tickets to a losing team ? ability to get money to upgrade a stadium that is completely obsolete instead of investing in new stadium ? . . . . . I don't know Russ, but my measurement criteria is simple, has he created an organizational culture that wins. Answer NO.

 

That is the reputation tht he has amongst other high level sports executives. His job as the president is about maximizing revenues -period. That is what he gets paid to do. Their sponsorship revenue is near the middle of the league with zero Fortune 500 companies in WNY. The regionalization has allowed them to tap into the wealth of both Rochester and Toronto which has been crucial for sponsorship revenue. The stadium is not a very good revenue generating stadium (at all) but they have managed a pretty solid lease as well (which he is responsible for). In addition, he has hired what most of us believe to be a pretty competent staff. This is the 1st year that he hasn't had to answer to Littman (not Ralph who hasn't been intimately involved in years).

 

Despite what some here believe he has a really strong reputation in pro sports.

 

 

Top 25 ? . . . how is that possible when this franchise hasn't been in a playoff game in 15 years, what measurement criteria are you using, nice guy ? ability to get people to buy tickets to a losing team ? ability to get money to upgrade a stadium that is completely obsolete instead of investing in new stadium ? . . . . . I don't know Russ, but my measurement criteria is simple, has he created an organizational culture that wins. Answer NO.

 

That is the reputation tht he has amongst other high level sports executives. His job as the president is about maximizing revenues -period. That is what he gets paid to do. Their sponsorship revenue is near the middle of the league with zero Fortune 500 companies in WNY. The regionalization has allowed them to tap into the wealth of both Rochester and Toronto which has been crucial for sponsorship revenue. The stadium is not a very good revenue generating stadium (at all) but they have managed a pretty solid lease as well (which he is responsible for). In addition, he has hired what most of us believe to be a pretty competent staff. This is the 1st year that he hasn't had to answer to Littman (not Ralph who hasn't been intimately involved in years).

 

Despite what some here believe he has a really strong reputation in pro sports.

 

What road results them moving from WNY since Brandon arrived and/or assumed his power role post Donahoe?

 

By negotiating a relatively short-term lease that will make it enticing for an out of town interest to relocate the team?

 

Again, he works for RWS enterprises. His job is to make as much $ for his boss as possible. He has negotiated a lease that allows the sale to make substantially more $ for him.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Kirby Jackson

[Sisyphean Bills]

That is the reputation tht he has amongst other high level sports executives. His job as the president is about maximizing revenues -period. That is what he gets paid to do. Their sponsorship revenue is near the middle of the league with zero Fortune 500 companies in WNY. The regionalization has allowed them to tap into the wealth of both Rochester and Toronto which has been crucial for sponsorship revenue. The stadium is not a very good revenue generating stadium (at all) but they have managed a pretty solid lease as well (which he is responsible for). In addition, he has hired what most of us believe to be a pretty competent staff. This is the 1st year that he hasn't had to answer to Littman (not Ralph who hasn't been intimately involved in years).

 

Despite what some here believe he has a really strong reputation in pro sports.

 

Again, he works for RWS enterprises. His job is to make as much $ for his boss as possible. He has negotiated a lease that allows the sale to make substantially more $ for him.

 

The problem with your logic is that he could have made Ralph even more money by building a championship caliber organization and building a nationally-backed brand. Not talking about doing it. Actually doing it.

 

If you assume that the Bills just simply have to suck by definition, be the farm team that plays the patsy year-in and year-out, then, yes, bleeding every stone and forwarding the cash to Detroit has been a hugely successful strategy. But, I doubt Brandon himself fails to see the defeatism.

[Kirby Jackson]

 

 

The problem with your logic is that he could have made Ralph even more money by building a championship caliber organization and building a nationally-backed brand. Not talking about doing it. Actually doing it.

 

If you assume that the Bills just simply have to suck by definition, be the farm team that plays the patsy year-in and year-out, then, yes, bleeding every stone and forwarding the cash to Detroit has been a hugely successful strategy. But, I doubt Brandon himself fails to see the defeatism.

 

My post is based primarily on my 8 years of working in pro sports. I know what the job entails probably better than most here. I have worked with probably 60 team presidents (including Russ). He is strong at the job.

[BADOLBILZ]

The problem with your logic is that he could have made Ralph even more money by building a championship caliber organization and building a nationally-backed brand. Not talking about doing it. Actually doing it.

 

If you assume that the Bills just simply have to suck by definition, be the farm team that plays the patsy year-in and year-out, then, yes, bleeding every stone and forwarding the cash to Detroit has been a hugely successful strategy. But, I doubt Brandon himself fails to see the defeatism.

 

 

My post is based primarily on my 8 years of working in pro sports. I know what the job entails probably better than most here. I have worked with probably 60 team presidents (including Russ). He is strong at the job.

 

Russ says the brand he is in charge of is tarnished.

 

I don't question that he helps the team make more money than having a career football scout like John Butler in charge or having a 90 year old owner calling those shots........but financially, the shield leads the way.

 

Companies want to be affiliated with the NFL. The Bills specifically? Not so much.

 

Maximizing that revenue required putting some good teams on the field and they haven't been able to do it.

[Kirby Jackson]

 

 

 

 

 

Russ says the brand he is in charge of is tarnished.

 

I don't question that he helps the team make more money than having a career football scout like John Butler in charge or having a 90 year old owner calling those shots........but financially, the shield leads the way.

 

Companies want to be affiliated with the NFL. The Bills specifically? Not so much.

 

Maximizing that revenue required putting some good teams on the field and they haven't been able to do it.

 

His job is to hire a staff to build the team as the president. The president is responsible for revenues not personnel. Now that he is free of Littman I think that he has hired a competent staff. Time will tell.

[Sisyphean Bills]

His job is to hire a staff to build the team as the president. The president is responsible for revenues not personnel.

These two sentences are contradictory.

 

Now that he is free of Littman I think that he has hired a competent staff. Time will tell.

 

Jeffrey Littmann is still CFO.

 

But, yes, time will tell if it is premature to crown Brandon as one of the best CEOs in all of sports or not.

[Kirby Jackson]

 

These two sentences are contradictory.

 

 

 

Jeffrey Littmann is still CFO.

 

But, yes, time will tell if it is premature to crown Brandon as one of the best CEOs in all of sports or not.

 

He is responsible to hire the staff to build the roster. He has not had autonomy until this season (because of Littman not Ralph). Littman previously had to sign off on all decisions (and he is the worst).

 

My statement on where Russ ranks is based on the perception of his peers. The fact that his team is in the middle of league in sponsorship revenue in Buffalo is impressive.

 

Time will certainly tell on this staff and ultimately his legacy.

[Dibs]

What is aggressive is that they didn't sit and wait. How much time passed between Jackson (didn't they also trade for a SD backup?), Flynn and Wilson? Were they bashful about letting a vet go (Jackson), or did they roll the dice with 2 very inexperienced guys? Did they go with the safer of those two options (Flynn) or did they quickly realize that Wilson was the guy?

 

That's aggressiveness. Roll the dice knowing that you'll hit few and miss many. Buffalo will be unwilling to do that based on everything we know about the team.

 

I think that you(and several posters after your post) are looking at things through brown coloured glasses.

 

The Bills were aggressive this off season in regards to QB. We determined that Fitz wasn't the answer, we aggressively went after Alex Smith, we brought in the best FA QB(of a very poor pool) and we spent a 1st round pick on the best(in the Bills eyes) QB in the draft.

 

The Seahawks were aggressive at not wanting to spend too much in finding their future QB. In effect, they were less aggressive than what the Bills have been in the past where we spent 3 1st rounders(Bledsoe, JP, Johnson) and a 3rd(Edwards)......and most people view our past desires for obtaining a Franchise QB to be quite minimal.

 

The Seahawks essentially went down a similar road to what the Bills have done in the past. Trading for QBs who have no chance to become stars(deluded perhaps as we were with Johnson over one good game)......and spending minimal draft picks on the position.

 

Had the situations been reversed and we lucked out with Edwards, and Wilson bombed out, it wouldn't change the facts that neither team aggressively tried to obtain their all important Franchise QB......though perhaps people would be shaking their heads and rolling their eyes at the Seahawks at this point and applauding the Bills.

 

Pure and simple, they got lucky......very lucky.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Dibs

[Buffaloed in Pa]

Give him a chance now. Give Marrone a chance. Give Buddy Hackett a chance. Give E.J. a chance. One year with this bunch and everybody ,is a ball baby again. It`s Russ first year with control. Give this crew a few more years and then start your whining. Yeah Belicheat and Cowher were great during their early years too. Cry baby cry. It will all change soon when Ralph passes,so deal with it for a little while.