Beef Jerky Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 I really, really like Terry and Kim as humans. They're not like Dan Snyder or Jerry Jones, who may be the Antichrist. But man, they seem to be in wayyyyy over their heads as owners. You act like they took great franchises and ruined them... They took horrible franchises and are trying to turn them into something, that isn't easy or everyone could do it.
Nihilarian Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 Not that we need to get into it for the 8,000,000th time but his job isn't dependent on team record. He is in charge of revenue. He runs the business end which is comprised of ticket sales, sponsorship, broadcasting, community relations and stadium operations (think that is everything there). If those areas are functioning well he is succeeding at his job. They have done well in those areas. If the team goes 16-0 but revenues start to fall he will be in jeopardy of losing his job. It's important that we understand what people do. In terms of Murray and Bylsma they didn't do a good job. Murray had a lot of assets and it hasn't turned into results. Bylsma was a mistake from the beginning. His relationship with Eichel ensured that he would be gone. While we all know what Russ Brandon's technical job responsibilities entail, we also know he is involved in activities that aren't in his job description. Such as being on the phone to players in the Buffalo Bills cut room meeting! Among other things. We are also aware that he has had great influence over these new owners various issues. Such as telling Terry Pegula to not let Rex Ryan leave the building after the last Ryan interview. It's my contention that Brandon is the one who talked Terry Pegula into thinking he had the wherewithal to make the final decision on who to hire as head coach of the Buffalo Bills because he told Terry would know who to hire after interviewing all the candidates. Shades of Ralph Wilson all over again! Terry Pegula was going to hire a football czar after he bought the team and was in talks with Bill Polian. For whatever reason, this czar hire never happened and my take is we have Brandon to thank for it. Mostly because should the team hire that senior NFL adviser/czar it will leave Brandon on the outside of the football operations looking in and he has long been involved in that entire process since being defacto GM after Marv retired. How many other owners do you see in the scouting process in taking with college quarterbacks before the draft? Like he didn't learn a lesson by being BSed by Rex Ryan in that interview. I've been saying it for years now that this team is desperate for an experienced team president of football operations! A man that knows how to build a winning NFL franchise and find that elusive franchise QB. Roll out the Brinks truck to Hire Ted Thompson away from Green Bay and promote him to that position of team president.
Mike in Horseheads Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 You act like they took great franchises and ruined them... They took horrible franchises and are trying to turn them into something, that isn't easy or everyone could do it. Exactly! They had big dreams and are finding out dreams don't get it done. I still believe they have the best interests of both teams in mind despite the drivel from TBN
In space no one can hear Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 Agreed Gabriel was the worst. I know a few people in the Bears organization and they considered him to be a clown.Never took any responsibility for his poor decisions and was disliked by coaches and players alike.
Kirby Jackson Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 Anyone who thinks he's just the ticket sales and marketing guy is fooling themselves. Again, I have been a vocal advocate of the situation but it isn't because that's what I think is happening. There is a huge misconception here and amongst Bills fans as to what he does. A part of it is that people don't understand the makeup of a sports organization and a part is they are always looking to hold someone accountable. It isn't "ticket sales" it is revenue generation and community relations. The ticket end is a drop in the bucket. If the Bills sold zero tickets they would be very profitable. Russ Brandon is responsible for all things money related except what comes from the league. In that case he has been involved in the CBA negotiations as well. If you don't like the deal with the county, the New Era name, your seat relocation, your broken seat back, long entrance lines, ticket prices, etc.... that falls under his umbrella. If you don't like the team record that is someone else. I guess that I will bow out on this now but I'm exhausted from being a broken record on this board.
oldmanfan Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 With respect to this idea of a czar of overall President, etc. for each team, I wonder about the potential value. What would a GMs job be? For example, if Patty had stuck around, what exactly would a GM like Murray had done? Would he truly have been able to decide on draft picks, etc. or would he not have control of that? I'd ask the same thing about the Jaguars this coming season, with Coughlin. Does Marrone (a control freak) have any say in personnel? What will their GM actually do there? I have been part of organizations that have too little effective management and where the head person (akin to the Pegulas) make decisions they are not informed enough to make, and I've been part of organizations where there are too many senior management people butting heads and as a result nothing gets accomplished. To me for both the Sabres and Bills they need one guy that has the final say on how the team is put together and functions, and then whichever that is (HC or GM), has to have the other guy as a complimentary guy that is insynchrony with the style of play , etc. You might want to hire a consultant, veteran guy to find those folks, but having a permanent czar like figure to me adds an additional layer of management that may only muddy the waters. With respect to Brandon when you go downtown to enjoy the frozen Four in a few years you can thank him in part for that.
BmarvB Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 They're swinging the axe and breaking out the broom. Will the Sabres make the playoffs before the Bills??? Stay tuned for the next new hirings
ALF Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 I can't believe TM was fired at such a critical time. Expansion draft , regular draft , wheeling and dealing trades to be made
Kirby Jackson Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) While we all know what Russ Brandon's technical job responsibilities entail, we also know he is involved in activities that aren't in his job description. Such as being on the phone to players in the Buffalo Bills cut room meeting! Among other things. We are also aware that he has had great influence over these new owners various issues. Such as telling Terry Pegula to not let Rex Ryan leave the building after the last Ryan interview. It's my contention that Brandon is the one who talked Terry Pegula into thinking he had the wherewithal to make the final decision on who to hire as head coach of the Buffalo Bills because he told Terry would know who to hire after interviewing all the candidates. Shades of Ralph Wilson all over again! Terry Pegula was going to hire a football czar after he bought the team and was in talks with Bill Polian. For whatever reason, this czar hire never happened and my take is we have Brandon to thank for it. Mostly because should the team hire that senior NFL adviser/czar it will leave Brandon on the outside of the football operations looking in and he has long been involved in that entire process since being defacto GM after Marv retired. How many other owners do you see in the scouting process in taking with college quarterbacks before the draft? Like he didn't learn a lesson by being BSed by Rex Ryan in that interview. I've been saying it for years now that this team is desperate for an experienced team president of football operations! A man that knows how to build a winning NFL franchise and find that elusive franchise QB. Roll out the Brinks truck to Hire Ted Thompson away from Green Bay and promote him to that position of team president. Jim Overforf is on the phone too. They act at the direction of the football people. If you find that appalling you should see the people that are on the phone as the draft winds down. You'd be appalled. A lot of this, and other speculation just isn't reality. The notion that he is sabotaging job candidates is preposterous. He is a trusted confidant because he has made a lot of money for the Pegulas and Wilsons. His operation is very buttoned up. I don't know how else to say it other than I have seen a bunch and most don't compare to the Bills. He would have the opportunity as a team president very shortly after leaving the Bills and Sabres if he were ever let go. I know no one wants to hear that but it is the truth. Edited April 20, 2017 by Kirby Jackson
NoSaint Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 Entirely agree, but let me ask you this - How Bills-y would it be to do something like that? the definition of bills-y. and unfortunately, its exactly the type of thing we are going to be wondering about if he does get the axe in the short term future. frankly, if the owners and GM disagreed on coach and the GM lost, he shouldve been gone at that point and if it was tenuous enough that within 3 months a struggle emerged between coach/gm and gm loses his job, the gm shouldve been gone in january. short of whaley picking up a bad drug habit in april, id be unhappy with keeping him if the ice was so thin in january... IF he actually gets fired. huge IF there but... I know no one wants to hear that but it is the truth. to be fair, a lot of our regulars hear and believe it fully.... but there sure are some real vocal skeptics.
Formerly Allan in MD Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 New owners with no previous experience with pro sports franchises frequently understand they need to bring in experienced, top level advisors or franchise overseers from the get go. Some go that route while others, such as Dan Snyder, feel they know it all and will thus be able to run the whole show. Then there are others, such as the Pegulas, who either don't consciously subscribe to either approach and apparently just choose to wing it. The ones who succeed generally subscribe to the initial approach. It's never to late Mr. and Mrs. P.
JM2009 Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 While we all know what Russ Brandon's technical job responsibilities entail, we also know he is involved in activities that aren't in his job description. Such as being on the phone to players in the Buffalo Bills cut room meeting! Among other things. We are also aware that he has had great influence over these new owners various issues. Such as telling Terry Pegula to not let Rex Ryan leave the building after the last Ryan interview. It's my contention that Brandon is the one who talked Terry Pegula into thinking he had the wherewithal to make the final decision on who to hire as head coach of the Buffalo Bills because he told Terry would know who to hire after interviewing all the candidates. Shades of Ralph Wilson all over again! Terry Pegula was going to hire a football czar after he bought the team and was in talks with Bill Polian. For whatever reason, this czar hire never happened and my take is we have Brandon to thank for it. Mostly because should the team hire that senior NFL adviser/czar it will leave Brandon on the outside of the football operations looking in and he has long been involved in that entire process since being defacto GM after Marv retired. How many other owners do you see in the scouting process in taking with college quarterbacks before the draft? Like he didn't learn a lesson by being BSed by Rex Ryan in that interview. I've been saying it for years now that this team is desperate for an experienced team president of football operations! A man that knows how to build a winning NFL franchise and find that elusive franchise QB. Roll out the Brinks truck to Hire Ted Thompson away from Green Bay and promote him to that position of team president. Good post.
White Linen Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 i don't know much about hockey but they hired the coach that was riding the coat tails of the best hockey player on the planet (Crosby). This outcome is not a surprise. And Tim Murray sounds like an idiot every time they interview him. They were collecting picks like Cleveland but then they were spending them foolishly. A 1st rounder for a very average goalie and a 3rd rounder just to be able to negotiate with a player that doesn't want to play for you a few weeks before he becomes a free agent. Now that Cleveland has LeBron, Buffalo is by far the biggest trainwreck sports town there is You're right - you don't know much about hockey.
Mr. WEO Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 You act like they took great franchises and ruined them... They took horrible franchises and are trying to turn them into something, that isn't easy or everyone could do it. You left out the part where having 2+ billion to blow on pro sports franchises might be a barrier to "everyone" doing it...
without a drought Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 So will it be playoffs or bust for the next GM and coach, what do they get, a year.
White Linen Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 New owners with no previous experience with pro sports franchises frequently understand they need to bring in experienced, top level advisors or franchise overseers from the get go. Some go that route while others, such as Dan Snyder, feel they know it all and will thus be able to run the whole show. Then there are others, such as the Pegulas, who either don't consciously subscribe to either approach and apparently just choose to wing it. The ones who succeed generally subscribe to the initial approach. It's never to late Mr. and Mrs. P. Care to name these new owners that have turned over control to top level advisors and franchise overseers? In both sports, please.
Mike in Horseheads Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 You're right - you don't know much about hockey.
Dr. Who Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 I can't believe TM was fired at such a critical time. Expansion draft , regular draft , wheeling and dealing trades to be made Timing is terrible and any deals TM had negotiated with Vegas are obviously gone.
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted April 20, 2017 Posted April 20, 2017 ...as another poster suggested, would you bring in the Lombardi-Sutter tandem?.......
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