Orton's Arm Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 I know it isn't popular opinion around here, but I really believe this playoff drought would not be going on 14 years had Donohoe not been fired. He wasn't perfect, and a bit of a control freak, I know...but they were a lot closer to being a playoff team when he left than they had been...up til now! I disagree. Look at his first round picks: Nate Clements. Result: played well for the Bills, especially in his contract year. Left a year after his rookie contract ended. Didn't set the world on fire after the 49ers overpaid for him. Mike Williams. Result: Bust. Drew Bledsoe (trade). Result: had eight spectacular games as a Bill. During his remaining 2.5 years, he failed to match the numbers Trent Edwards would later put up. (Which is really sad.) Was released at the end of his third year. Willis McGahee. Result: Was a reasonably good RB for the Bills. Was traded away for two third round picks. Lee Evans (13th overall). Result: a good #2 WR/deep burner, who didn't have what it took to be a #1 guy. J.P. Losman. Result: Bust. None of his first round picks turned into solid, long-term answers at their respective positions. The same could also be said about any player he drafted in rounds 2 - 7 not named Aaron Schobel. During his last year as GM, the Bills went 5-11. Not only were we 5-11, but it was an aging team. Some of its best talent including guys like Troy Vincent, Lawyer Milloy, and London Fletcher. That team had no quarterback, no offensive line, no receivers except Lee Evans, no tight end, not much on the defensive line except Aaron Schobel, and an aging linebacker corps. The secondary consisted of a mix of older players, or guys like Nate Clements who had one foot out the door.
GunnerBill Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Agreed. Marv, Brandon, and Nix is about as rough of an era as I can recall. Here are the low-lights: 1) Coaching Hires-- Jauron, Fewell, Gailey 2) 1st Round Picks-- Whitner, McCargo, Maybin 3) Wins in each season-- 7, 7, 7, 4, 6, 6, 6 4) Other-- Toronto series They didn't hire Fewell though did they? He was interim.
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 They didn't hire Fewell though did they? He was interim. Correct. I guess you could say they promoted or appointed him. He actually didn't do a terrible job, though the ship had already sunk.
GunnerBill Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 They had to give it to someone.... We had sacked the OC before a game was played..... there wasn't much alternative.... A certain Nathaniel Hackett was on the staff
K-9 Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 I know it isn't popular opinion around here, but I really believe this playoff drought would not be going on 14 years had Donohoe not been fired. He wasn't perfect, and a bit of a control freak, I know...but they were a lot closer to being a playoff team when he left than they had been...up til now! I disagree. Donohoe completely undermined his coaching staff by insisting they start a woefully not ready JP Losman on the heels of releasing Bledsoe who had the unquestioned support of every veteran on that team. He couldn't have screwed the pooch more. GO BILLS!!!
Ted William's frozen head Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Lot of bitterness at the end, including on the stadium sign bans, etc. In hindsight, he gave us our best shot. He just screwed up his coaching hire. Whitey ran the Bills into the ground. Spare us the rose colored revisionism.
todd Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 There's actually 4 big lies, "Yes, you are the biggest I've ever had!" The three biggest lies: The check's in the mail. Of course I'll respect you in the morning. Give us 5 years and then you will really love it.
The Wiz Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I'm sure he loved the move that Whaley made. Guy had a hard-on for WR's.
jr1 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I loved hearing him try to keep his cool during calls on his radio show
RuntheDamnBall Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Horrible HC choices defined his tenure.
Kelly the Dog Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I disagree. Donohoe completely undermined his coaching staff by insisting they start a woefully not ready JP Losman on the heels of releasing Bledsoe who had the unquestioned support of every veteran on that team. He couldn't have screwed the pooch more. GO BILLS!!! I'm not sure about that. I remember thinking that Losman may not be ready but Bledsoe was pretty well shot. Meaning he was a 8-8, 9-7 type QB. Hell, Losman was almost as good on a crappier team (offensively for sure) than Bledsoe had. And that seemed to be proven the rest of Drew's career. That's not to say he couldn't put a game or two together where he looked like his old self. But he didn't look like he was going to be a playoff QB anymore. That Dallas team had some really good players offensively and he was just okay.
billsfan89 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Donahoe was a weird GM, for every good move he made (London, Spikes, Peerless Price trade, Clements, Schobel, and Adams) he made 2 bad ones (Letting Pat Williams go, Losman trade, drafting Willis, Mike Williams pick, both of his coaching hires, ignoring the offensive line when you had a pocket passer, and Josh Reed among others). He made lots of both types of moves, more bad than good for sure. Only thing I liked about his tenure was that he was able to bring good free agents to the team something that wasn't done from 2006 till the Mario signing.
K-9 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I'm not sure about that. I remember thinking that Losman may not be ready but Bledsoe was pretty well shot. Meaning he was a 8-8, 9-7 type QB. Hell, Losman was almost as good on a crappier team (offensively for sure) than Bledsoe had. And that seemed to be proven the rest of Drew's career. That's not to say he couldn't put a game or two together where he looked like his old self. But he didn't look like he was going to be a playoff QB anymore. That Dallas team had some really good players offensively and he was just okay. Bledsoe definitely regressed, but he still owned that lockerroom and it pissed off the veteran leadership when they released him. He hadn't regressed to the point that veteran leadership thought an untested, unpopular 2nd year QB should just be handed the reigns without doing anything to prove he was any better than Bledsoe previously. It was unanimous among the vets on that team, especially Vincent and Milloy. But just from a football perspective it made little sense. JP wasn't near ready and he was forced into the lineup way too soon. GO BILLS!!!
Kelly the Dog Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Bledsoe definitely regressed, but he still owned that lockerroom and it pissed off the veteran leadership when they released him. He hadn't regressed to the point that veteran leadership thought an untested, unpopular 2nd year QB should just be handed the reigns without doing anything to prove he was any better than Bledsoe previously. It was unanimous among the vets on that team, especially Vincent and Milloy. But just from a football perspective it made little sense. JP wasn't near ready and he was forced into the lineup way too soon. GO BILLS!!! Yeah. I agree. And it's a lot easier to agree in retrospect. I remember thinking it's not going to be easy for the Losman, or Bledsoe, or the team, if they just hand the team to Losman and Bledsoe is just sitting there stewing. But Losman was clearly not ready. And he may not have endeared himself to the team as a rookie. But Vincent was the ass for taking him out and injuring him.
BillsVet Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Yes. But his tenure had at least a couple high points. Marv, Brandon (as GM) and Nix can't really say the same. Whaley? We'll see. Donahoe had major faults and made several poor decisions. But at least the organization had a legitimate sense as if they were competing. Hiring Marv, promoting a guy with no personnel experience in Brandon, and promoting Nix from within came off as amateur hour at OBD. None of those guys were worthy of being NFL GM's.
Charles Romes Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 He acquired spikes and fletcher who were still in the league 10 years after cycling out of buffalo.
LabattBlue Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 One of the HoF TSW threads... http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/23265-donahoe-is-the-son-of-satan/page__hl__satan
Jauronimo Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Good fit. He's the devil, and Philly fans basically act like they're possessed by demons... I heard antichrist. Also, drinks babies' blood. Which makes him pretty mild by Iggles fan standards.
chris heff Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I disagree. Look at his first round picks: Nate Clements. Result: played well for the Bills, especially in his contract year. Left a year after his rookie contract ended. Didn't set the world on fire after the 49ers overpaid for him. Mike Williams. Result: Bust. Drew Bledsoe (trade). Result: had eight spectacular games as a Bill. During his remaining 2.5 years, he failed to match the numbers Trent Edwards would later put up. (Which is really sad.) Was released at the end of his third year. Willis McGahee. Result: Was a reasonably good RB for the Bills. Was traded away for two third round picks. Lee Evans (13th overall). Result: a good #2 WR/deep burner, who didn't have what it took to be a #1 guy. J.P. Losman. Result: Bust. None of his first round picks turned into solid, long-term answers at their respective positions. The same could also be said about any player he drafted in rounds 2 - 7 not named Aaron Schobel. During his last year as GM, the Bills went 5-11. Not only were we 5-11, but it was an aging team. Some of its best talent including guys like Troy Vincent, Lawyer Milloy, and London Fletcher. That team had no quarterback, no offensive line, no receivers except Lee Evans, no tight end, not much on the defensive line except Aaron Schobel, and an aging linebacker corps. The secondary consisted of a mix of older players, or guys like Nate Clements who had one foot out the door. Add in the coaching hires and chastising the fans for him having to fire Williams and it may just make him the worst. He is the reason for the mess this team has been in since. Ralph gave him more control than anyone had ever had. Donohoe is why Ralph brought Marv back and then Nix.
Buffalo_Stampede Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Getting Bledsoe was a mistake. A fatal mistake. Cutting him even worse mistake.
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