AP John Wawrow interview with Terry Pegula

[Wayne Arnold]

 

Fired another HC

 

Probably will let their starting QB go, and their #1 backup.

 

7-9

 

Defense worse then a year ago

 

Yes, it's all in my mind....

 

It's obvious Rex's scheme on D was holding the entire team back. I don't consider losing Rex Ryan a reason to think things are only going to get worse.

 

Taylor isn't going anywhere. If he does then I'll join you.

[May Day 10]

 

Fired another HC

 

Probably will let their starting QB go, and their #1 backup.

 

7-9

 

Defense worse then a year ago

 

 

Yes, it's all in my mind....

 

 

They are close...

 

but if they do take a step back, it will be the players adjusting to scheme, the X coach in X years, the coaching staff getting 'their guys'.... then in 2018 it will continue to sputter and we will hear how we have had x coaches in x years and we need to finally realize full continuity. In 2019, the wheels will fall off, it will be obviously going nowhere, fans will be again at the breaking point. Lynn will be fired, as will Whaley. All the current problems get assigned to them. At that point, Brandon and Pegula will promote "the real brains" in player prognosticating: Jim Monos. They will hire some garbage barge coach because the job is undesirable and nobody worth anything wants to put their career on the line for this. In 2020, it will be the players adjusting to scheme, the X coach in X years, the coaching staff getting 'their guys'.... then in 2021 it will continue to sputter and we will hear how we have had x coaches in x years and we need to finally realize full continuity. In 2022, the wheels will fall off, it will be obviously going nowhere, fans will be again at the breaking point.

 

we are talking self-driving air propelled personal vehicles before this thing gets on track

Edited January 3, 2017 by May Day 10

[Peter]

 

 

Please don't count me among the group promoting Schwartz. The only comparison I've ever made comes right from Rex when he said the #4 defense had been a disappointment and that we needed to be #1. He did say that. You do remember that right?

 

In your humble opinion did we have the best defense in the NFL in either of the last two years? Because that was the standard by which Rex said we needed to be judged.

 

Rex sux all on his own without being compared to Bowles, Schwartz, the era gone by when his scheme actually worked, or anything else.

 

He is a great dude and it would have been AWESOME to see him win here but he was terrible. How many good teams did we beat while he was here? Maybe 3 wins total if you give major benefit of the doubt...in two years.

 

 

Plus sometimes we only played with 10 players when the other teams were using 11. Imagine if we used 11.

 

 

No, what my point says is that over two years with the Bills, Rex coached them to 2 wins over teams with winning records, and one of those is an iffy win at best. It means his teams tended to mentally melt down and make mental errors continually throughout the 2 years, especially when put under pressure by better teams. And yes, Bills teams have done that for 17 straight years, does not mean we should accept it any more now with Rex as coach as we did with Chan, Dick, Doug etc. The Bills can and should be better at coach.

 

To say the exact same personnel and conditions and schedule will exist next year so you can judge side by side is "simplistic" .

 

 

 

OMG you've become fully myopic, Peter. This is nuts.

 

 

 

Peter, with respect, I think now you are going off a bit. I see considerations to injuries and suspensions, and Whaley and everyone else say "we weren't good enough".

The thing with Rex is that under him, there was a certain lack of discipline to the players, stupid penalties, and game management issues. They were there last year, new assistants were hired, they were still there this year.

Rex questioned about Jerry Hughes headbutting a Dolphins coach "not a big deal".

 

Now you're translating this into people thinking "we apparently should be competing for superbowls" without Rex and calling that "a very simple point" "easy to understand"?

 

SMH.

 

How about this: our offense, with our QB, was 6th in the league for scoring points (which wins games) as of week 16 and finished 10th. Our defense, which was 4th in the league in 2014, finished 16th. Last year we were 12th on Offense (improved from 18th) and 16th on Defense. That's consistent, and consistently mediocre.

 

Rex was hired to improve the team and especially the D. He didn't. That's a simple point, easy to understand.

 

 

I've read most of this thread and you are repeatedly defending Rex based on these stats. But the primary issue I think you're overlooking is that you're assuming Rex was fired based on the performance of the Defense alone.

 

Rex was a HC. Schwartz is a DC. Two completely different jobs with different responsibilities, demands, and performance measures. The Bills, as a team, were disorganized and undisciplined. The team's record did not improve at all, but more so, neither did the individual attitudes, performances, or apparent understanding of what they needed to do. Add to that the poor game plans, the poor game day management, and probably discord behind the scenes (i.e. private meeting with the owner that gets you fired). That's just a few of the reasons a HC gets fired before his contract is up.

 

Had the Bills won 10games, I'm sure a lot of stuff gets washed away. But, when you're not winning and you're dealing with all that disorganization? Something has to give. By all accounts, Rex was given all he asked for in terms of coaches, players, and control. And the result was not a better team. If anything, this team seems less cohesive than when St. Doug left!

 

And lastly, I don't think anyone thinks that ...just plug in a new HC and we're Super Bowl bound. And few have complete faith in Whaley to get it right. But, Pegula is giving him the reigns, it appears. If he doesn't, guess who's gone next? And it doesn't seem like Pegula is going to give him 3-5 years to see. So the pressure is on him to deliver. All any of us can do.. Is hope he does. Just like we all hoped Rex would deliver. But I will applaud our owners for recognizing that the current direction wasn't the right one and making a decision based on that, and not on how much money they were about to lose.

 

I appreciate all of the responses. I am back at work today after spending at least two days on this board going back and forth on these issues with many of you guys.

 

Simply stated, we disagree on Rex and whether he is being judged fairly. The people who are anti Rex seem to post most often and I have responded when I have had time (and in some case, when I did not have time).

 

I would just refer you guys to my prior posts on the subject where I have not been shy about expressing my views. I appreciate those that have taken these seriously and in the spirit with which they were written.

 

Whether you agree with me or not, my views in a nutshell for the reasons I previously have stated in multiple posts:

 

1) I do not think Rex was fairly treated (depth of injuries, suspensions, QB play, etc.);

 

2) I do believe that Doug Whaley undermined the coach (and the team) for the reasons previously stated;

 

3) I have lost confidence in Doug Whaley as a General Manager even though I previously defended him and did not like how much we gave up for Sammy or where we chose EJ in the draft (realizing there is debate about this issue) and now being reminded that Fred Jackson said that Doug was the only person in the organization who was not honest with him; I think Doug Whaley is a pretty good evaluator of college football players, but I currently do not see him as a leader or someone on whom a hot coaching candidate will want his success to depend;

 

4) I believe that we are likely to get a new head coach who is not in demand etc. unless the Pegulas make some changes and/or overpay. As others around the country have pointed out, the Bills job appears to be the least desirable opening. I find that depressing especially in comparison to Jacksonville;

 

5) I love the Pegulas and forever will be thankful for what they have done with the Bills, Sabres, and Buffalo -- even though I disagree with this decision and think that they are listening to the wrong guy;

 

6) As someone else said, this is porn for guys like Sullen, Bucky, Mike H. and certain other Buffalo media. I have little respect for them and I think Sullen and Bucky's personal enmity toward Terry and Kim Pegula undermines many of the points that they try to make. I do not take either seriously. Nevertheless, yesterday was a cluster f*&k and a sad day for the Buffalo Bills.

 

I hope I am wrong about a lot of things. I hope that:

 

1) Doug Whaley grows into being a General Manager and a leader of this football team;

 

2) Whaley did not undermine the former coach with ownership and leaks to the media;

 

3) Whaley does not undermine the future coach;

 

4) The Bills are as close as Whaley says;

 

5) The Bills are able to hire an outstanding coach;

 

6) Some of the guys on defense are not as (how shall we say) mentally challenged or lazy as some seem to be:

 

7) Buffalo Bills defenders learn how to tackle between now and next season;

 

8) Next year, we are not talking about 18 years and counting . . . .

 

Go Bills!

 

Happy New Year to each of you.

[What a Tuel]

 

There are people who posted incessantly and started multiple anti Rex threads.

 

Yes, they got what they wanted. Rex is gone. The scapegoat is gone and already under the bus.

 

Doug is the last man standing on the football side.

 

God speed Doug. We shall see whether you have the same fate as Darcy after Lindy was fired.

 

That is one of the reasons why I point out that PFF rates the Eagles defensive starters above the Bills players. I would not bring up Schwartz but for the fact that his name is incessantly brought up here by others.

 

I will agree with you on this. The media and fans are systematic in moving from one "ultimate reason" for the failure of the team to the next. Ultimately they want to "clean house" because they think it is a cure-all, but for now they are just happy getting whoever is in their crosshairs fired.

[Reed83HOF]

 

I will agree with you on this. The media and fans are systematic in moving from one "ultimate reason" for the failure of the team to the next. Ultimately they want to "clean house" because they think it is a cure-all, but for now they are just happy getting whoever is in their crosshairs fired.

 

The big thing is to fully hit the reset button and clean out the stench. Find and hire an experienced football person who can create the vision and find the right people to execute said vision. Evaluate the entire operation and make the changes necessary to create a coherent and functioning organizational structure.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

The big thing is to fully hit the reset button and clean out the stench. Find and hire an experienced football person who can create the vision and find the right people to execute said vision. Evaluate the entire operation and make the changes necessary to create a coherent and functioning organizational structure.

 

TBH, I would like to see this. But it isn't going to happen with an 8-8 team (which is essentially what we've been for the last 3 years).

And I'm not sure the Pegulas are at the point where they want to hire a football guy, a Coughlin or whomever, and honestly turn over the keys. I think they're still enjoying playing with their new shiny.

[WotAGuy]

I am back at work today

Back at work, as in, Rex's PR person? Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

I do appreciate you keeping things civil and being respectful in your responses. It's tough to toe the line when people are attacking your opinions, and you did it with class, I'll say that for you.

[Augie]

Back at work, as in, Rex's PR person? Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

I do appreciate you keeping things civil and being respectful in your responses. It's tough to toe the line when people are attacking your opinions, and you did it with class, I'll say that for you.

Amen, I wish it would rub off on some others.

[Peter]

Back at work, as in, Rex's PR person? Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

I do appreciate you keeping things civil and being respectful in your responses. It's tough to toe the line when people are attacking your opinions, and you did it with class, I'll say that for you.

 

Thank you.

 

I appreciate it.

 

Happy New Year.

[Saxum]

Two reasons. One he works for a national publication not a local paper. Two, and more importantly, he works for the Associated Press. He's a reporter only, so he goes by the old fashioned rules of straight reporting. His job is not to offer opinions in his articles, just to report facts and attribute quotes. The TBN guys and Rochester guys and others offer their opinions as well as report stories.

 

The BN and Rochester D&C guys are more columnists than reporters although Sully will state so.

Pegula and Whaley watch every game side by side in the owner's box. Draw your own conclusions on those conversations.

 

The phone call between Rex and Pegula that culminated in him no longer being the coach happened without whaley's involvement. Whaley was a peer of Rex. Pegula says they "mutually agreed to part ways." Then he told Whaley. Whaley didn't say he wasn't surprised. He said he wasn't told why. Because he already knew.

 

Anyone who has had a peer fired at their place of employment can relate to this.

 

Disagree it was "mutually agreed". When it is mutually agreed you do not get unemployment or in this case golden parachute.

Well yeah.

 

Because JW doesn't write opinion pieces.......he only reports.

 

I've said this a few times now but i think some of you out of towners don't realize that the local teams boxing out the media just does more harm to the teams by creating disinterest.

 

No what creates disinterest is treating them as reporters - treat them as opposition press if you must but not give them any access required for opposition press. Does the National Inquirer and other tabloid writers get to go to press events?

There is a whole generation of people now who do not associate themselves with the Bills........kid's shun losers......which is why kids don't notice you and Greggy.

 

So #BADOL is invisible to kids - good to know he cannot corrupt minors with his tailgate debauchery.

That you're sticking to a bad take shouldn't surprise anyone. After all, Shady's due to start his second career in radio any day now. You said so yourself.

When does the Shady and #BADOL radio show start since the Insider (aka the enema) has the insider info?

[Malazan]

So Rex was the worst possible hire ever...then he was a terrible coach who couldn't coach defense...and now he's a brilliant genius and the Bills will rue the day that they let him go?

 

I didn't like the Rex hire. He hasn't won in a long time. I don't like letting a coach go after two years either.

 

The whole change in narrative though is pretty crazy.

[Peter]

So Rex was the worst possible hire ever...then he was a terrible coach who couldn't coach defense...and now he's a brilliant genius and the Bills will rue the day that they let him go?

 

I didn't like the Rex hire. He hasn't won in a long time. I don't like letting a coach go after two years either.

 

The whole change in narrative though is pretty crazy.

 

Indeed.

[YoloinOhio]

 

The BN and Rochester D&C guys are more columnists than reporters although Sully will state so.

 

 

Disagree it was "mutually agreed". When it is mutually agreed you do not get unemployment or in this case golden parachute.

 

 

No what creates disinterest is treating them as reporters - treat them as opposition press if you must but not give them any access required for opposition press. Does the National Inquirer and other tabloid writers get to go to press events?

 

 

So #BADOL is invisible to kids - good to know he cannot corrupt minors with his tailgate debauchery.

 

When does the Shady and #BADOL radio show start since the Insider (aka the enema) has the insider info?

"mutually agreed to part ways" are the words from Pegula's press release, not my interpretation. What do you disagree with?

[Delete This Account]

since my name happens to be on this one, i'll chime in.

 

i did ask the first question to Whaley in regards to the team seeming to be in a state of dysfunction.

 

it's clear Whaley either wasn't prepared to provide answers or was busy sticking to a script or was merely not interested in providing anything of merit to the discussion that he helped prompt with his lengthy silence.

 

it wasn't a good look.and it didn't sound any better.

 

i'm well aware some Bills executives were not happy with how that went down with Whaley saying he's speaking for ownership and then making everyone in the operation look bad.

 

that it took the Bills to resort to getting Terry and Kim to explain a thing or five does not reflect well on Whaley. he was supposed to help by start putting out the fire, not add more kindling to it.

 

it became imperative for the owners to speak. and i know a lot of people are glad they finally did.

 

whether i was "used" or not, i can't judge that. all i know is that i sent a text to both Terry and Kim and Terry responded within 15 minutes.

 

the fact is, some clarity was required, and finally provided.

 

jw

[PromoTheRobot]

since my name happens to be on this one, i'll chime in.

 

i did ask the first question to Whaley in regards to the team seeming to be in a state of dysfunction.

 

it's clear Whaley either wasn't prepared to provide answers or was busy sticking to a script or was merely not interested in providing anything of merit to the discussion that he helped prompt with his lengthy silence.

 

it wasn't a good look.and it didn't sound any better.

 

i'm well aware some Bills executives were not happy with how that went down with Whaley saying he's speaking for ownership and then making everyone in the operation look bad.

 

that it took the Bills to resort to getting Terry and Kim to explain a thing or five does not reflect well on Whaley. he was supposed to help by start putting out the fire, not add more kindling to it.

 

it became imperative for the owners to speak. and i know a lot of people are glad they finally did.

 

whether i was "used" or not, i can't judge that. all i know is that i sent a text to both Terry and Kim and Terry responded within 15 minutes.

 

the fact is, some clarity was required, and finally provided.

 

jw

I'm curious. We're you the only local media member to ask the Pegulas for an interview or the only request they honored?

[Delete This Account]

and sorry, i have no new insight on the state of the coaching search.

i've been stuck in front of this computer all day dealing with my bills wrapup and a few features from the Centennial Classic over the weekend.

I pitched to go to Toronto in November fully not expecting a coaching change to happen.

guess i misjudged the franchise.

 

and for those wondering, i was on board with two options:

keeping Rex, Doug and Tyrod

not keeping Rex, Doug and Tyrod.

 

jw

I'm curious. We're you the only local media member to ask the Pegulas for an interview or the only request they honored?

couldn't tell you. i texted Terry and Kim within 10 minutes of the news conference being over fully not expecting a response.

 

jw

[John from Riverside]

since my name happens to be on this one, i'll chime in.

 

i did ask the first question to Whaley in regards to the team seeming to be in a state of dysfunction.

 

it's clear Whaley either wasn't prepared to provide answers or was busy sticking to a script or was merely not interested in providing anything of merit to the discussion that he helped prompt with his lengthy silence.

 

it wasn't a good look.and it didn't sound any better.

 

i'm well aware some Bills executives were not happy with how that went down with Whaley saying he's speaking for ownership and then making everyone in the operation look bad.

 

that it took the Bills to resort to getting Terry and Kim to explain a thing or five does not reflect well on Whaley. he was supposed to help by start putting out the fire, not add more kindling to it.

 

it became imperative for the owners to speak. and i know a lot of people are glad they finally did.

 

whether i was "used" or not, i can't judge that. all i know is that i sent a text to both Terry and Kim and Terry responded within 15 minutes.

 

the fact is, some clarity was required, and finally provided.

 

jw

John frankly im just glad that you have the pegulas confidence enough that you were able to get the follow up with them......

 

This whole thing....jesus

[Reed83HOF]

and sorry, i have no new insight on the state of the coaching search.

i've been stuck in front of this computer all day dealing with my bills wrapup and a few features from the Centennial Classic over the weekend.

I pitched to go to Toronto in November fully not expecting a coaching change to happen.

guess i misjudged the franchise.

 

and for those wondering, i was on board with two options:

keeping Rex, Doug and Tyrod

not keeping Rex, Doug and Tyrod.

 

jw

couldn't tell you. i texted Terry and Kim within 10 minutes of the news conference being over fully not expecting a response.

 

jw

Thank you for everything John...

 

This team...sigh

[Delete This Account]

The issue here doesn't seem to be the facts as I see them, the real issue creating this story is two-fold:

 

1- Ownership really doesn't give a damn about the media so Whaley blows off questions with canned deflections, these have become so ridiculous that he says with a straight face that he has no opinion on Rex's firing. IMO Pegula gave Wawrow that interview to support Whaley, who he send out to take the flak as a good underling. This really wouldn't be an issue if we had a winning franchise. Belichick and Parcells before him routinely rip on reporters who ask stupid questions, no one called this dysfunctional or irresponsible because the teams were winning. Once Parcells stopped winning, the media got a foothold to tear him down.

 

2- The media in general believes they have a "right" to question everyone on everything. Any time an athlete tells a reporter to screw off there are 20 articles on PFT talking about how that player has a "responsibility" to talk to the media. I call BS. Reporters live in a 24 hour news cycle and now believe part of their job is to create drama to justify their jobs. I keep hearing over and over how they are flabbergasted that the coach reports to the owner and not to the GM. Guess what, like Yorke just said in SF, owners don't get removed. If someone wants to pay billions of dollars for a team, it's their prerogative to run that team however they want. If things work out, then the owners will make money and the fans will be happy. If things don't work out then the owners will not make money and changes will have to be made. What is the point in complaining about the hierarchy of the organization? That the coach and GM both report to the owner is not news, Rex laid that out last year. Why does the media make this such a big deal now? Why did we get treated to a 40 minute discussion about the hierarchy of decision-making instead of asking about what is happening going forward. I'll tell you why, it's because they needed gotcha quotes and they new any football-related questions would just get the same canned answers. When reporters are tweeting that they are glad Dennis Thurman is leaving because he was a boring interview, it's clear the reporters aren't interested in football, they just want people who can generate content and sell a story. How is it that the same people who were calling for Rex's head a week ago can now ask questions about not having continuity with a straight face?

 

i raised the question of continuity on several occasions before Whaley's news conference, including once or twice in a few stories i wrote.

so, when the chance presented itself, i was the one who raised the issue over continuity with Whaley. and yes, i did so with a straight face.

 

sorry for spoiling your narrative. you seemed to be on a good roll there.

 

 

jw

[purple haze]

What a mess.

 

The owner fires the HC and doesn't let the GM have a say in the matter...so he is left in the wind to explain to the media

 

The GM benches the starting QB and doesn't give a reason to the HC... so he is left in the wind to explain to explain to the media

 

 

I have doubts about any solid head coaching prospect or coaching assistant wanting to be involved in this mess of a front office.

 

Yep, Terry says the team isn't far off... which is exactly what Buddy said in taking over the team in 2010! In Buddy's first year as GM the Bills went 4-12. Meanwhile, between then and now the 49ers hire Harbaugh and go to a SB only to fall to 2-14 from listening to a stupid GM.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the press game. It's a lot of junior high he said she said not type stuff. No one at the press conference is calling a play come September and no one who they hire as coach is worrying himself about public relations capabilities of the team. If they come in for an interview that narrative can be put to rest easily. They will have the access TBN isn't getting.

 

What these candidates will also know is that the Pegula's paid Rex very well, gave him the huge coaching staff he wanted and paid all of those assistants and had a GM who got players Rex felt he needed. The coach was supported by the organization. Rex did not deliver on his end, in fact taking his unit backward, but it was not because the owner/front office did not provide resources. Let the media talk about that while they talk about press conferences and press releases.

 

The Bills are bad at press conferences. The Pegula's got taken in by Rex. The fact Whaley is still there tells me the Pegula's did make the call on Rex. This next coach is all Whaley's to sink or swim with.

Edited January 4, 2017 by purple haze