Tom Donahoe is an excellent GM

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Yeah, their QB situation is just wonderful, isn't it? And man, those players on that team are CLASSY! ONly a few of them are associated with murder and drugs.

 

Give me a break.

458734[/snapback]

 

'Zackly.

 

Newsome is OVER-RATED.

[DeeRay]

If Teflon Tom is the best the bills can do, then it's sad. Perhaps Ralph likes puppets. Afterall, Ralph did fire the best GM the Bills ever had... and the only one with any balls whatsoever... Mr. Polian.

 

There were guys out ther like Vin Ceratto, Phil Savage, Randy Mueller that would have done as good or better than Teflon. But then again... would Ralph butt out or even keep a good GM?

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

If Teflon Tom is the best the bills can do, then it's sad.  Perhaps Ralph likes puppets.  Afterall, Ralph did fire the best GM the Bills ever had... and the only one with any balls whatsoever... Mr. Polian.

 

There were guys out ther like Vin Ceratto, Phil Savage, Randy Mueller that would have done as good or better than Teflon.  But then again... would Ralph butt out or even keep a good GM?

458755[/snapback]

 

Yeah, Vinny Ceratto has done such a masterful job in Washington. Randy Mueller? Give me an ever-loving break.

[e-dog]

I disagree about the Schobel deal. DEs and LTs command HUGE bucks. AS makes considerably less than Winstrom. Wouldn't you say that they are at least very comparible?

458726[/snapback]

Yes they are comparable. both are average and Winstrom is way over paid.

AS is not a big time pass rusher. He does well against average/below average o-tackles and becomes non existent in some games.

[Adam]

Hiring GW and Gilbride was all but inexcusable. I also think that you are off on the MW pick when taking into account that he is paid as if he is a great left tackle, rather than the fairly good RT that he is. Probowl? This is his 4th year. Wishful thinking perhaps?

As for JP over Bledsoe, we shall see.

Other than this, I agree that he has made some very good moves.

458712[/snapback]

 

As much as Gilbride was maligned here, our offense did get off to a good start under his direction. Look at what happened when the last OC under Levy ended up w/the Jets (his name escapes me). If you have a good OL and a good QB, it changes a lot of things.

 

I think Donahoe has assembled a good group, things just haven't cometogether yet.

[Kelly the Dog]

'Zackly.

 

Newsome is OVER-RATED.

458753[/snapback]

Perhaps, but when you're GM, all of your decisions must be brilliant at the time of the move, have immediate perfect results, and look great in retrospect. All players and positions must be all-pros, or working as the best cohesive unit in the league based on stats, but none of them can be overpaid, although they have to be signed early before they hit free agency. You have to be dead on in your choices of coaches, out of all the great coaches that don't happen to have coaching jobs, and you cannot overstep your job title and be a Hitler because you're an ego-maniac, although if anything happens to go wrong it's your duty to jump in and make the tough, perfect decisions because the buck stops here.

[krazykat]

The whinning, complaining and complains about I am fed up with not making the playoffs, and his personnel moves suck, and he is an idiot and is ruining the team.

 

Be patient and let this team develop instead of your constant whining and bitching because frankly I am getting fed up reading it from you bandwagon losers.

458703[/snapback]

Hmmm!

 

OK Mrs. Donahoe. Thanks for supporting your man.

[krazykat]

Tom Donahoe is an excellent GM, Name someone better

458703[/snapback]

 

This is an assumption that we're supposed to accept as fact. Why? Because you say so?

 

Allow me to counter:

 

Donahoe sucks as a GM, name someone better.

 

Hell, I'd rather have any one of half of our season ticket holders be the GM.

[In space no one can hear]

Yeah, their QB situation is just wonderful, isn't it? And man, those players on that team are CLASSY! ONly a few of them are associated with murder and drugs.

 

Give me a break.

458734[/snapback]

 

So you rate a GM by the use of one draft pick??

How about using criteria like getting to the playoffs(sorry Donahoe) or actually winning a Super Bowl?

Or criteria like getting maximum value out of the majority of draft picks?

 

Look at Baltimores number one round draft picks...it reads like a pro-bowl roster..

 

1996 Jonathan Ogden

1997 Peter Boulware

1998 Duane Starks

1999 Chris McCalister

2000 Jamal Lewis

2001 Todd Heap

2002 Ed Reed

2003 Terrel Suggs/Boller

2004 none

2005 Mark Clayton

 

Thats a pretty good track record to start.

As far as obtaining players being classy......if that is your main criteria for rating a General Manager....maybe shoud go on Martha Stewart's The Apprentice with the other ladies. I prefer The Donald Trump approach.

[Tcali]

I am going to vent my frustations for all of the individuals on this board who think they have any knowledge of football, whether it be at the level of a dedicated Bills fan or someone who has somne level of league wide knowledge.

 

I have read post after post on this board decrying the efforts of Tom Donahoe's performance as the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills. 

 

The whinning, complaining and complains about I am fed up with not making the playoffs, and his personnel moves suck, and he is an idiot and is ruining the team.

 

People, please get your heads out of your collective a__ses.  Look at the roster that was inherited after the 2000 season.  Look at the salary cap mess that this team was in.  I have seen complaint after complaint that the teams record is 27-40 in his tenure.

 

In his first draft, TD trades down, picks up Nate Clements, gets an extra 2nd round pick for Travis Henry who gives the Bills two really good years after an average season, and now we get an additional 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft after dumping the druggie on the fading Titans.  Also, we did also get Aaron Schoebel who is an excellent DE on this years team and who is also signed to a long term deal.  Lastly, he drafted Jonas Jennings who is now gone, but will be worth a compensatory pick in the 2006 draft.

 

Well, first of all you can toss the 3-13 record in his first year.  That was the remnants of the late John Butler's spend all the cap money on aging veterans with diminishing skills and pay the rest to QB's who were to short or too disinterested (Flutie/Johnson).  With the high pick in that draft we get Mike Williams who to date has been good but not great, but has been developing and will be a pro bowl player in the next couple of seasons.  Later in that draft TD drafts Terrance McGee who is a pro bowl return specialist and developing as an excellent CB.

 

So, we move to year two, team gets Bledsoe, which energizes the fan base increases revenue, allowing the Bills to have the revenue to bring in quality free agent upgrades to improve the defense.  Also at the end of this year, TD makes the ultimite gamble and lets the Falcons throw stupid money at Peerless Price and we then turn around and use that money to add Takeo Spikes and use the draft choice to draft Willis McGahee, how does that move look now Donahoe haters?

 

Now in the long term Bledsoe needed more protection and the offensive line constructed has not been able to get that job done.  This is an area that TD has not addressed sufficently and I will concede that point.  The patchwork effort has led to a lack of cohesion and there is a need to use draft picks to boost this part of our team.

 

Lastly, this team may be one year away from being a significant player in the AFC East for the rest of this decade and it is in part to the excellent work done by TD and the efforts of the players on this roster and the additions that will be made in the future.

 

I know many of you on this board do not remember or are too young and immature to think backs of the teams under Bill Pollian that went 2-14, 4-12 and 4-12 before maturing into the team that won the AFC East from 1988 to 1991 and went to four straight Super Bowls.

 

Be patient and let this team develop instead of your constant whining and bitching because frankly I am getting fed up reading it from you bandwagon losers.

 

Go ahead and argue with me on what I have written, but I guarantee you that any point you bring up will not be supported by facts which I will prove out in my response, so fire away all TD bashers, as I am ready for you.

458703[/snapback]

But he still has to win to prove himself. A bunch of smart moves doesnt necessarily=success. Is he a 'finisher'???..can he close the deal??--or are we gonna be mired in 'potential' for years and years and years. YES--he has made a lot of good moves--but those moves have still resulted in an unbalanced/disjointed team depending on a rookie QB ,an O line which is average at best..and now a defense which cant stop the run......5 years--TICK TICK TICK TICK

[krazykat]

It's funny how Donahoe's an "excellent GM" in spite of the fact that the team sucks and has one of the worst records of all teams in the league during his tenure, but that he's excellent.

 

And what patience are you talking about? Are we to be patient until when, 2015?

 

How about wake me up when we have a good team.

[Tcali]

Yes they are comparable. both are average and Winstrom is way over paid.

AS is not a big time pass rusher. He does well against average/below average o-tackles and becomes non existent in some games.

458762[/snapback]

You forgot to mention AS's 'motor'.....its always chuggin'

[jahnyc]

By the fifth year (even the fourth year) of TD's reign, the Bills should be in the playoffs. If not, criticism is more than justified.

 

You can't argue that the guy is a great gm until we start making the playoffs on a consistent basis.

[marck]

Dan,

 

Great response, 27-40. You need to qualify the points as to why the team went 27-40, not just use the numbers.

 

Try making some reasons and justifications and then generate an actual intelligent response.

 

 

Not only did you spell the name wrong you gave him the wrong title.  He's not GM, he's VP of Player Personnel, effectively the same role as John Guy on the Bills...

 

Anyway, let me answer on behalf of everyone else here:

27-40

longest playoff drought in almost 20 years.

458716[/snapback]

[In space no one can hear]

Name someone better?

 

What's his name again??

 

Oh Yeah...Bill Polian.

[Mark VI]

Hell, I'd rather have any one of half of our season ticket holders be the GM.

458791[/snapback]

 

I'm running on 5C. Pull the lever.

[marck]

Hi Bill,

 

Guess that 6-10 team last year was better then the 9-7 Bills. Also, would you like to have your offense built around Drew Deadslow, Terry 9she) Glenn and Keyshawn (Just shut your damm mouth) Johnson. That's the future of that team.

 

Also, what has Parcells ever won without Bill Bellichek.

 

Answer me that hot shot!!

 

 

Bill Parcells.

458717[/snapback]

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Hi Bill,

 

Guess that 6-10 team last year was better then the 9-7 Bills.  Also, would you like to have your offense built around Drew Deadslow, Terry 9she) Glenn and Keyshawn (Just shut your damm mouth) Johnson.  That's the future of that team.

 

Also, what has Parcells ever won without Bill Bellichek.

 

Answer me that hot shot!!

458818[/snapback]

 

YEAH!

 

Dude, you're on fire!

[dave mcbride]

I am going to vent my frustations for all of the individuals on this board who think they have any knowledge of football, whether it be at the level of a dedicated Bills fan or someone who has somne level of league wide knowledge.

 

I have read post after post on this board decrying the efforts of Tom Donahoe's performance as the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills. 

 

The whinning, complaining and complains about I am fed up with not making the playoffs, and his personnel moves suck, and he is an idiot and is ruining the team.

 

People, please get your heads out of your collective a__ses.  Look at the roster that was inherited after the 2000 season.  Look at the salary cap mess that this team was in.  I have seen complaint after complaint that the teams record is 27-40 in his tenure.

 

In his first draft, TD trades down, picks up Nate Clements, gets an extra 2nd round pick for Travis Henry who gives the Bills two really good years after an average season, and now we get an additional 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft after dumping the druggie on the fading Titans.  Also, we did also get Aaron Schoebel who is an excellent DE on this years team and who is also signed to a long term deal.  Lastly, he drafted Jonas Jennings who is now gone, but will be worth a compensatory pick in the 2006 draft.

 

Well, first of all you can toss the 3-13 record in his first year.  That was the remnants of the late John Butler's spend all the cap money on aging veterans with diminishing skills and pay the rest to QB's who were to short or too disinterested (Flutie/Johnson).  With the high pick in that draft we get Mike Williams who to date has been good but not great, but has been developing and will be a pro bowl player in the next couple of seasons.  Later in that draft TD drafts Terrance McGee who is a pro bowl return specialist and developing as an excellent CB.

 

So, we move to year two, team gets Bledsoe, which energizes the fan base increases revenue, allowing the Bills to have the revenue to bring in quality free agent upgrades to improve the defense.  Also at the end of this year, TD makes the ultimite gamble and lets the Falcons throw stupid money at Peerless Price and we then turn around and use that money to add Takeo Spikes and use the draft choice to draft Willis McGahee, how does that move look now Donahoe haters?

 

Now in the long term Bledsoe needed more protection and the offensive line constructed has not been able to get that job done.  This is an area that TD has not addressed sufficently and I will concede that point.  The patchwork effort has led to a lack of cohesion and there is a need to use draft picks to boost this part of our team.

 

Lastly, this team may be one year away from being a significant player in the AFC East for the rest of this decade and it is in part to the excellent work done by TD and the efforts of the players on this roster and the additions that will be made in the future.

 

I know many of you on this board do not remember or are too young and immature to think backs of the teams under Bill Pollian that went 2-14, 4-12 and 4-12 before maturing into the team that won the AFC East from 1988 to 1991 and went to four straight Super Bowls.

 

Be patient and let this team develop instead of your constant whining and bitching because frankly I am getting fed up reading it from you bandwagon losers.

 

Go ahead and argue with me on what I have written, but I guarantee you that any point you bring up will not be supported by facts which I will prove out in my response, so fire away all TD bashers, as I am ready for you.

458703[/snapback]

 

there are some good points here, but there are some problems with your argument as well. the so-called salary cap mess that he inherited was largely a myth, created in part by dumping guys that gregg williams didn't want and thereby accelerating their bonus numbers into 2001. i will also argue to my dying day that a flutie-led team in 2001 would have produced at least 6 victories. you may sneer at such a small prize, but my view is this: i find it physically painful to view a 3-13 season. the following year they went 8-8, and it was fun -- games actually meant something. sure they didn't go anywhere, but at least they were an entertaining unit. and football, believe it or not, is entertainment: nothing more, nothing less. of course, i don't blame the decision to go with johnson all on donohoe. he rightly gave the coach authority, and williams -- a really lousy head coach in retrospect -- made the wrong decision. lest you argue that johnson was the right decision, let me ask you this: who is still in the league? flutie or johnson? and for which organization is flutie playing for? flutie didn't have a great year in 2001 with SD, but raising that issue also raises the issue of his poor receiving corps. he had a great rapport with moulds and price, and made them look fantastic in the games he played in in 2000. as for the players let go before the 2001 season - holocek, henry jones, and especially ted washington (what a horrible move that was) -- if they had been on that team, you can bet the record would have been better. did they do that well elsewhere? except for washington, no, but i betcha that if they had stayed in buffalo, their performances would have been just fine given their leadership of the team. again, these were gregg williams' choices too, and he was a guy who pushed a scheme instead of building a scheme around the players he had. but donohoe did hire williams.

 

the other inarguable issue with donohoe is his qb history. o'donnell was actually an ok player, but he got booted out after 95 when donohoe made no effort to resign him. the other qbs taken by him under his watch were stewart and jim miller (who donohoe was a bigtime champion of). in buffalo, he (and williams, tis true) chose the execrable johnson. he followed that with DB, probably the definition of a big talent mediocrity. we'll see with losman, of course, but donohoe's history at the position isn't all that great.

 

he is *very* good at certain things: finding great linebackers, productive if not great defensive linemen, secondary guys who can tackle and cover, and bruising running backs. i'll also say that he's good at finding coaches, notwithstanding the williams debacle. cowher is basically a legend at this point, and i really like mularkey. he is also good at placing a dollar value on players -- he doesn't overpay them, but pays the guys who perform fairly. hence, you don't see a lot of holdouts. my one problem with this, though, is that you sometimes have to overpay to remain decent. he should have kept woodson in pitt (he says today that not keeping him was one of his biggest regrets), and this season may show that he perhaps should have overpaid for pat williams since there was no effective plan to replace him. finally, he's good at trading. indeed there are few better. i'm shocked that he got a third for a middling back like henry, and even more shocked that he did so given the substance abuse record (although my guess is that 75% of the players have one strike against them). he made a fantastic trade for bettis, and the swapping of firsts with tampa in 2001 was a fantastic move. hell, i even like the denney trade -- finding a serviceable d-line rotation guy in the low 60s is nothing to sneeze at.

 

my point is that he does a lot of things well and other things not so well. he's not a god, and he's not a joke. what he does have to do, though, is oversee a team in buffalo that actually makes the playoffs.

[gantrules]

Lastly, this team may be one year away from being a significant player in the AFC East for the rest of this decade and it is in part to the excellent work done by TD and the efforts of the players on this roster and the additions that will be made in the future.

-------------------------------------

 

This team has been "one player away" since 2002. I still have my 2003 paper that says the Bills had the talent to go to the SB that year. Too bad they didn't have the coaches to do it.

 

I enjoy watching the Bills play but it's always the same old story....