Nanker Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 1. They didn't win enough games 2. They didn't have enough talent to win games 3. They lost more games than they could have and still been in the playoffs
Dean Cain Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Not finding a QB who can lead and win games with his arm. Â Being a bottom 1/3 spender in relation to salary cap ceiling. Â Having coaches who aren't capable of beating quality teams / coaches on the road. Â Not stopping the run. We've been terrible in this regard.
FluffHead Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Really can't believe people are ignoring Billy Buffalo
CountryCletus Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Quite simply, they don't spend the money on resigning the talent they have, and have built a model whereby rookies "replace" veterans that the front office deems expendable.  Go position by position, and you can find great former Bills all around the league.  At running back, Lynch would look pretty good as the one or 2 back, no? At qb--even Fitzpatrick would be better than Thad and Tuel. O line? I'd like to have Peters and Levitre back. Wideouts? We just traded away Stevie Johnson, our best wideout of the last half decade... for peanuts.  Go through the D: Linebacker: Poz Secondary: Winfield, Greer, Byrd D Line: No one yet, but we've started warming the hot plate on Dareus already  And the one common theme about all of these guys, is that the front office has duped the fans (by way of leaks to the media) to think that all of those players are replaceable, or not worth the money theyre asking for. It's the same story every time one of them leaves: Byrd didn't want to be here, Lynch didn't want to be here, etc. etc. etc. But as an organization, the Bills have created a place where good players feel that they won't get paid, and they're not welcome.  Players talk...and the word around the league is the Bills are a farm team. Cultivate your talents there on your rookie deal then leave for a big pay day elsewhere.  And we're perpetually under the cap.  I agree... We let a lot of talent walk, but at the same time, because of the salary cap, it's impossible to retain all your "home grown" talent. Look at the deals these players sign when they leave... There just isn't enough room to keep them all.  I think the primary reason is QB play... With our current roster, a top 15 QB would take this team to the playoffs- I have no doubt about it!
May Day 10 Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 3 reasons.....poor front office....bad coaching hires.....no QB.
thebandit27 Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Really can't believe people are ignoring Billy Buffalo  This reeks of a thread idea: "I can't believe the lack of respect for Billy Buffalo"
Luxy312 Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 People love to cite the money argument, but it is simply a fallacy. The new CBA requires every team in the NFL to average 89% spending of the cap for 2013-2016. That means if the average cap is $160 million that they must spend a minimum of $142.4 million. Could they be on the low end? Sure, but it's not as low as people make it out to be. BTW, in 2017, that requirement jumps from 89% to 95% for the four years following. I.e. there really isn't all that big of a difference between those spending at the top and those at the bottom. The range is a lot tighter than it was under the old CBA, that's for sure.
OldNMBillsFan Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 The fans are too impatient with new coaches. Fans scream for a new coach after a couple of losing seasons. They think there is an abundant supply of quality NFL coaches wanting to come to Buffalo. A revolving door in coaches has resulted in constant change in Offensive and Defensive schemes. The players never become experts of the playbook. Since Wade Phillips left, there has been 6 head coaches. I would like to see Marrone given at least 5 years. Â The bills have not had a strong group of players that hated losing. Jim Kelly once said, you would have never known that the team just lost on Sunday, by the way the locker room atmosphere was on Monday. ( I think this is changing and it starts with Marrone) Â Bad Drafting by the Bills. (Again, I think this has changed too. I really like the last 2 drafts)
Dean Cain Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Not finding a QB who can lead and win games with his arm. Â Being a bottom 1/3 spender in relation to salary cap ceiling. Â Having coaches who aren't capable of beating quality teams / coaches on the road. Â Not stopping the run. We've been terrible in this regard.
thebandit27 Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Not finding a QB who can lead and win games with his arm. Â Being a bottom 1/3 spender in relation to salary cap ceiling. Â Having coaches who aren't capable of beating quality teams / coaches on the road. Â Not stopping the run. We've been terrible in this regard. Not finding a QB who can lead and win games with his arm. Â Being a bottom 1/3 spender in relation to salary cap ceiling. Â Having coaches who aren't capable of beating quality teams / coaches on the road. Â Not stopping the run. We've been terrible in this regard. Â Get the papers get the papers
Gugny Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Different reasons for different years. When we had a great D, we had crappy QBs. With Fitz - present, we've had crappy D and capable offenses. Sprinkle in some bad head coaches, bad coordinators and a few ridiculous injury bugs ... you got yourself a playoff drought.
Beerstm Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Simple. The Bills haven't been to the playoff because they #1 Haven't won enough games. They haven't won games because they have settled for #2 poor or inexperienced coaching. In reality, coaching wasn't all to blame due to the #3 lack of talent on the Bills roster. With that being said, any team that constantly fielded a NFL team with poor coaching and week talent ultimately has a #4 Weak front office.
Dragonborn10 Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 If you don't have a franchise QB or aging HOF players it is hard use up all of your salary cap. Money has never been an issue in the salary cap era.
Dragonborn10 Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Different reasons for different years. When we had a great D, we had crappy QBs. With Fitz - present, we've had crappy D and capable offenses. Sprinkle in some bad head coaches, bad coordinators and a few ridiculous injury bugs ... you got yourself a playoff drought. And the same owner the entire time...
Boatdrinks Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 This is quite simple, and it ISN'T because they don't spend money resigning their own players( they do and they spend plenty, more than some teams that have won far more games. No team can keep every player, and the Steelers and Pats are notorious for replacing guys when they become expendable ie too expensive). Reason 1) the Bills have not had a top QB since maybe one half of a season with Drew Bledsoe. They waited far too long to draft one, and happen to reside in the AFC east with Brady. Starting out each season assigned to the Wildcard road is a big disadvantage for a playoff berth. 2. Lack of a top head coach. The unstable ownership situation since the late Ralph Wilson hit about age 80 kept high profile candidates away. 3. Too many poor drafts. The Bills have very few of their own 1st round picks on the team from the last 8 or 9 drafts. Many were busts or just not good enough to live up to their draft billing and walked when FA came around (Whitner for example. Decent player , but should have been available in round two, round one should have been Ngata or Cutler. ) this has lead to a dearth of star players on the roster that were drafted by the Bills. The nucleus of any winner; it's just cost prohibitive to build a team out of FA's. Hopefully this gets turned around. Letting Byrd go was a good non- resign. You don't break the bank for a FS. Or a guard for that matter. The Bills need more (homegrown) star players to break through to the playoffs. They seem to be on the right path. Many of their games are close and they just need a few plays here and there to earn victory. Star players are usually that difference, especially at QB.
PromoTheRobot Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Anyone the Bills let walk was the best player ever. Anyone we sign sucks eggs. We also never sign anyone in free agency...except when we do.
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