Coach Tuesday Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Berchtold may set up press conferences but he doesn't tell Marrone what to say, does he? Apparently he does - or at least tells him what he can't say - hence the "Information Director" nickname... That's my take. If there is anything Russ hates it is bad PR. I sense some changes coming, whether they sign Byrd or tag him. I think they'll let Whaley negotiate the contracts and will give Marrone a new training staff. Russ has no loyalty to those guys, right? Nor should he if they aren't producing. He'll change their responsibilities, but not fire, Overdorf, Littman. If they want to leave because of it, go right ahead. No idea about Berchtold.If he doesn't like being called an SID, he can leave too. Why do you sense changes coming? The "board room" isn't going to fire itself - the implication of Graham's report is that Brandon does not have the authority or clout to make these changes. It's far more depressing than I could have imagined...
YoloinOhio Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Apparently he does - or at least tells him what he can't say - hence the "Information Director" nickname... Yes, that is how it works at colleges anyway. The SID gives the injury info to the media, maybe it was different than what he was hearing from the trainers.
NoSaint Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 I agree but you're taking it one step too far - the leak more likely came from those within OBD who are hoping to sign Byrd, as opposed to Byrd's agent. fair enough. i guess, im hoping that its spurred by a motivated agent that might be helping along a story of common discontent, and not an office so split that they are seeking out reporters. Why do you sense changes coming? The "board room" isn't going to fire itself - the implication of Graham's report is that Brandon does not have the authority or clout to make these changes. It's far more depressing than I could have imagined... i think thats what im hoping isnt the case. if true, very depressing.
Beerball Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Apparently he does - or at least tells him what he can't say - hence the "Information Director" nickname... I don't buy it. But, back to the big picture... This isn't a 3 headed monster. Berchtold is at best an afterthought. Handle the other 2 and leave the toady alone, he doesn't matter.
section122 Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 And this is what I am talking about. When you hire tired old hands like Jauron and Gailey they take what you give them and are just glad to have the job. Whaley and Marrone aren't spent yet. It's about time somebody they hired had the balls to let it be known that they weren't willing to go down in flames with bad decisions from Ralph's inner circle just to get a chance to stay in the game for another season. This is a direct slap in the face to all of the people who claimed that great change had been made within the organization. You were wrong. When the coach and GM have to float their gripe into the local media......whom they rarely share anything with.....you know that they feel their lack of power within the organization is a problem. It is so weird that we can read the same piece and come away with 2 completely different takes. To me this says that those people are right. Instead of just going with it as we have seen Jauron and Gailey do, they are directly questioning and challenging it. You even say as much in your first paragraph. I agree completely that these guys are the problem. Littman and Overdorf have been around for a looooonnng time and had success 20+ years ago in a non salary cap era. The only thing they have been successful at lately is lining Ralph's pockets. Marrone and Whaley are actually interested in winning and that does not coincide with the make as much money as possible ideology that has been par for the course for quite some time here.
YoloinOhio Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 It is so weird that we can read the same piece and come away with 2 completely different takes. To me this says that those people are right. Instead of just going with it as we have seen Jauron and Gailey do, they are directly questioning and challenging it. You even say as much in your first paragraph. I agree completely that these guys are the problem. Littman and Overdorf have been around for a looooonnng time and had success 20+ years ago in a non salary cap era. The only thing they have been successful at lately is lining Ralph's pockets. Marrone and Whaley are actually interested in winning and that does not coincide with the make as much money as possible ideology that has been par for the course for quite some time here. I agree
Sisyphean Bills Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 No, that's not what Graham is referencing. He specifically mentions 2 instances, Mario's foot and Manuel's knee. How is Berchtold responsible for Marrone botching these interviews? Berchtold may set up press conferences but he doesn't tell Marrone what to say, does he? I gather that is exactly the inference we are to make. If Marrone is told he is not supposed to answer questions about X and Y, then he is asked those questions, he has to dance around them. Then, when the truth comes out anyway, he looks like a clown. Thus enmity arises between him and the SID, who reports to ?
Coach Tuesday Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 It is so weird that we can read the same piece and come away with 2 completely different takes. To me this says that those people are right. Instead of just going with it as we have seen Jauron and Gailey do, they are directly questioning and challenging it. You even say as much in your first paragraph. I agree completely that these guys are the problem. Littman and Overdorf have been around for a looooonnng time and had success 20+ years ago in a non salary cap era. The only thing they have been successful at lately is lining Ralph's pockets. Marrone and Whaley are actually interested in winning and that does not coincide with the make as much money as possible ideology that has been par for the course for quite some time here. I think you two are talking past each other, because you seem to be agreeing, not disagreeing. Littman and Overdorf are the problem; Whaley and Marrone are right in calling them out. The sad reality is that Whaley and Marrone are not in control of the team; Littman and Overdorf are... that is what was supposed to have changed when Brandon took the reigns. They made a big show of it - how Brandon was now Ralph, and everyone would report up to him. Clearly that was not done, and we're back where we were before that dog-and-pony show. It's a joke, and it rests with the owner, who is a greedy jerk.
Jerry Jabber Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 This is disheartening to hear as the culture at OBD has not changed. Then again, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised as Littmann, Overdorf, and Berchtold have been part of the problem in Buffalo for years. Russ Brandon is supposed to be the man in completely in charge at OBD, but it doesn’t appear that way as Whaley and Marrone keep running into roadblocks with the front office. I hate to say it, but I don’t think anything will change until the Bills have a new owner and the three stooges “Littmann, Overdorf, and Berchtold” are gone.
PromoTheRobot Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Yes, there's always hope... hope that new ownership will be here soon. Yes, there are billionaires lining up to keep the Bills in Buffalo.
YoloinOhio Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 I don't buy it. But, back to the big picture... This isn't a 3 headed monster. Berchtold is at best an afterthought. Handle the other 2 and leave the toady alone, he doesn't matter. Yes, the SID or whatever he is, is the least of their issues.
Sisyphean Bills Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 It is so weird that we can read the same piece and come away with 2 completely different takes. To me this says that those people are right. Instead of just going with it as we have seen Jauron and Gailey do, they are directly questioning and challenging it. You even say as much in your first paragraph. I agree completely that these guys are the problem. Littman and Overdorf have been around for a looooonnng time and had success 20+ years ago in a non salary cap era. The only thing they have been successful at lately is lining Ralph's pockets. Marrone and Whaley are actually interested in winning and that does not coincide with the make as much money as possible ideology that has been par for the course for quite some time here. Looking at the same coin from two sides. There was obviously change in middle-management. There has also been little substantive change on the "lifer" side of the equation and, according to this report, the real power structure. So both are true.
YoloinOhio Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 I think you two are talking past each other, because you seem to be agreeing, not disagreeing. Littman and Overdorf are the problem; Whaley and Marrone are right in calling them out. The sad reality is that Whaley and Marrone are not in control of the team; Littman and Overdorf are... that is what was supposed to have changed when Brandon took the reigns. They made a big show of it - how Brandon was now Ralph, and everyone would report up to him. Clearly that was not done, and we're back where we were before that dog-and-pony show. It's a joke, and it rests with the owner, who is a greedy jerk. I think it is probably somewhere in the middle. Brandon does have control, but he hasn't made all the changes yet that the coach and GM want. Whether he will or not - we will see.
section122 Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Looking at the same coin from two sides. There was obviously change in middle-management. There has also been little substantive change on the "lifer" side of the equation and, according to this report, the real power structure. So both are true. Yeah that makes some sense. Hopefully we see the change that many of us have been asking(begging?) for years to happen. It will be a good day when these guys are no longer making decisions for the Bills. Marrone and Whaley seem like a team that can change the Bills course around and get it back on the right track (read winning) but if they are hamstrung they will become 2 more people that will believe and have evidence of - don't go to Buffalo, you can't win there.
The Big Cat Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 No, that's not what Graham is referencing. He specifically mentions 2 instances, Mario's foot and Manuel's knee. How is Berchtold responsible for Marrone botching these interviews? Berchtold may set up press conferences but he doesn't tell Marrone what to say, does he? Yes, he does. And he tells the reporters what to ask. I don't buy it. But, back to the big picture... This isn't a 3 headed monster. Berchtold is at best an afterthought. Handle the other 2 and leave the toady alone, he doesn't matter. I'm not trying to persuade you here, I'm just flat out telling you how it is. I know the guy who does his job for the Bears.
Beerball Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 I gather that is exactly the inference we are to make. If Marrone is told he is not supposed to answer questions about X and Y, then he is asked those questions, he has to dance around them. Then, when the truth comes out anyway, he looks like a clown. Thus enmity arises between him and the SID, who reports to ? So, he would be told to say that he's 110% certain that Manuel would play the final game of the season?
Sisyphean Bills Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 Yes, he does. And he tells the reporters what to ask. The awkwardness coming from him not writing the reporters' articles for them.
The Big Cat Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 And I agree, SID is the least of their worries, but for HIM to get revealed by a major local reporter is indicative of some level of mutiny. You best believe Timmah called him before this story printed So, he would be told to say that he's 110% certain that Manuel would play the final game of the season? Yes!
Sisyphean Bills Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 So, he would be told to say that he's 110% certain that Manuel would play the final game of the season? Well, I was talking to the inference. Do the specifics all add up neatly? Maybe not. But, Marrone might get a bogus update or three before going in the room.
Beerball Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 (edited) I'm not trying to persuade you here, I'm just flat out telling you how it is. I know the guy who does his job for the Bears. My point is, in the big picture Berchtold doesn't matter. The other 2 are a problem and they have been for a very long time. I liken Berchtold to a pimple on the ass. It may bother you a bit, but you can live with it. The other 2 are cancer (IMO). Edit...if it helps Brandon to "save" Berchtold while cutting the other 2...then I'm all for it. Edited February 24, 2014 by Beerball
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