Chandler#81 Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I know, it's called Lucas Oil Stadium. But you'd be hard pressed to convince me they'd be opening this state-of-the-art, retractable roof venue w/HD scoreboards and an awaiting Super Bowl were it not for the incredibly successful performance of their GM, Bill Polian. The 5-time (& counting) NFL Exec-o-the-year's dossier is still a work in progress, though it already identifies him as the Paul Brown of this era, regarding player assessment. 'His' Bills teams of the late 80's/early 90's may well have been the best assembly of full team talent ever amassed. Even as free agency crept in, he was still drafting Phil Hansens' and Henry Jones' at the bottom of the draft. Firery and bombastic, he rarely minces words. Ralph Wilson's legacy of ego clashes -think Knox and SabanI & II- never hurt worse than jettisoning 'Buffalo-Bill'. In all instances where Ralph 'excused' these malcontents, the Bills quickly plummetted to the league cellar -though it took a bit longer for the post-Polian Bills to realize a 3 win season..For all Ralph Wilson has done for Buffalo, his petty ego trips are a testament to the teams' checkered past. I can just picture Polian gabbing jockularly about Ralph at league owners meetings.. Who else could have changed Robert Irsay's rightful image of a bumbling, incompetent buffoon into the NFL model? The current stability of that franchise and the fabulous new stadium is a sole tribute to 'the One who got away'.. We miss you, Buffalo-Bill! Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMan Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I know, it's called Lucas Oil Stadium. But you'd be hard pressed to convince me they'd be opening this state-of-the-art, retractable roof venue w/HD scoreboards and an awaiting Super Bowl were it not for the incredibly successful performance of their GM, Bill Polian. The 5-time (& counting) NFL Exec-o-the-year's dossier is still a work in progress, though it already identifies him as the Paul Brown of this era, regarding player assessment. 'His' Bills teams of the late 80's/early 90's may well have been the best assembly of full team talent ever amassed. Even as free agency crept in, he was still drafting Phil Hansens' and Henry Jones' at the bottom of the draft. Firery and bombastic, he rarely minces words. Ralph Wilson's legacy of ego clashes -think Knox and SabanI & II- never hurt worse than jettisoning 'Buffalo-Bill'. In all instances where Ralph 'excused' these malcontents, the Bills quickly plummetted to the league cellar -though it took a bit longer for the post-Polian Bills to realize a 3 win season..For all Ralph Wilson has done for Buffalo, his petty ego trips are a testament to the teams' checkered past. I can just picture Polian gabbing jockularly about Ralph at league owners meetings.. Who else could have changed Robert Irsay's rightful image of a bumbling, incompetent buffoon into the NFL model? The current stability of that franchise and the fabulous new stadium is a sole tribute to 'the One who got away'.. We miss you, Buffalo-Bill! Thoughts? Couldn't have said it better. From a business standpoint, Wilson has been a correct side of things where the league as whole is concerned. I only wish some of his decisions concerning his own team where as well thought out. In a previous thread, someone else listed some of his screwups. Missing from the list was his decision to play R Johnson against the Titans in the famous playoff loss of 2000. Would it have been a different outcome with Flutie? Nobody can say for sure, but his track record was certainly better than Johnson's. I would have had to play the odds and left the guy in there who started and won most of the games that got you to the playoffs. Polian getting away was by far the worst mistake. On the other hand, give credit where it's due. Old Ralph has done everything possible to keep the beloved Bills in WNY. That alone should trump all the lousy decisions. At least we still have a chance for OUR team to win a superbowl. And anyway, at least we're not the Lions or Cardinals. Could be worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Thoughts? I wonder how many rpm's Paul Brown is doing these days in his grave, with sonny boy Mike (owner, Prez, and GM) collecting one winning season and one playoff game since he took over in 1991. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I wonder where polian would be if the Colts would have drafted Ryan Leaf instead of Peyton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartshan-83 Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I wonder where polian would be if the Colts would have drafted Ryan Leaf instead of Peyton? Isn't that kind of the point? That didn't happen because Polian made the correct choice (like he has done for decades). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 ...Who else could have changed Robert Irsay's rightful image of a bumbling, incompetent buffoon into the NFL model? The current stability of that franchise and the fabulous new stadium is a sole tribute to 'the One who got away'.. We miss you, Buffalo-Bill! Thoughts? Did ROBERT Irsay hire Polian, or was it his son/successor/current owner JIM Irsay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 Polian getting away was by far the worst mistake. On the other hand, give credit where it's due. Old Ralph has done everything possible to keep the beloved Bills in WNY. That alone should trump all the lousy decisions. At least we still have a chance for OUR team to win a superbowl. And anyway, at least we're not the Lions or Cardinals. Could be worse. Amen, and thank you Ralph for choosing Buffalo over Miami. I didn't mean to make the thread as negative towards RW as it came out. Only trumpeting the exploits of 'Carrottop', albeit forlorned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Did ROBERT Irsay hire Polian, or was it his son/successor/current owner JIM Irsay? Jim hired him. 'Ol Robert had a lot of the same qualities as Ralph when it comes to having input on coaching/personnel decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST MODE BABY! Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Check out some of the awesome seats: http://cmsimg.indystar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/...AR&MaxW=320 Thanks Bill Polian. (BTW, this part of my post is a joke, just so there's no confusion) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsVet Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Did ROBERT Irsay hire Polian, or was it his son/successor/current owner JIM Irsay? Regardless of which Irsay hired Polian, neither one has harbored the animosity that Ralph held against BP. If only Littman hadn't carried more favor with RW than he should have. I don't think there's a better GM/President in the league than Polian. He succeeded before and after the cap has been in effect. No executive type can demonstrate anything close to that. Of late, he's set his sights on the out of control rookie first round salaries and appears to be the one pushing Goodell the hardest on this issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Cat Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Check out some of the awesome seats: http://cmsimg.indystar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/...AR&MaxW=320 Thanks Bill Polian. This baffles me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 If only Littman hadn't carried more favor with RW than he should have. Bill has never "won brownie points for his temper or his tact" and I think he'd tell you today his temper got the best of him in his dealings with Littmann (and Ralph's daughter, Linda). C'est la vie... (Fun with Google...Ralph loses another one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykat Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I know, it's called Lucas Oil Stadium. But you'd be hard pressed to convince me they'd be opening this state-of-the-art, retractable roof venue w/HD scoreboards and an awaiting Super Bowl were it not for the incredibly successful performance of their GM, Bill Polian. The 5-time (& counting) NFL Exec-o-the-year's dossier is still a work in progress, though it already identifies him as the Paul Brown of this era, regarding player assessment. 'His' Bills teams of the late 80's/early 90's may well have been the best assembly of full team talent ever amassed. Even as free agency crept in, he was still drafting Phil Hansens' and Henry Jones' at the bottom of the draft. Firery and bombastic, he rarely minces words. Ralph Wilson's legacy of ego clashes -think Knox and SabanI & II- never hurt worse than jettisoning 'Buffalo-Bill'. In all instances where Ralph 'excused' these malcontents, the Bills quickly plummetted to the league cellar -though it took a bit longer for the post-Polian Bills to realize a 3 win season..For all Ralph Wilson has done for Buffalo, his petty ego trips are a testament to the teams' checkered past. I can just picture Polian gabbing jockularly about Ralph at league owners meetings.. Who else could have changed Robert Irsay's rightful image of a bumbling, incompetent buffoon into the NFL model? The current stability of that franchise and the fabulous new stadium is a sole tribute to 'the One who got away'.. We miss you, Buffalo-Bill! Thoughts? Spot on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOKBILLS Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Check out some of the awesome seats: http://cmsimg.indystar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/...AR&MaxW=320 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Regardless of which Irsay hired Polian, neither one has harbored the animosity that Ralph held against BP. If only Littman hadn't carried more favor with RW than he should have. I don't think there's a better GM/President in the league than Polian. He succeeded before and after the cap has been in effect. No executive type can demonstrate anything close to that. Of late, he's set his sights on the out of control rookie first round salaries and appears to be the one pushing Goodell the hardest on this issue. ROBERT Irsay, the original owner, would NEVER have hired BP in the first place. He was one of the most meddlesome owners in the history of the league. He'd call the coach from his suite to call plays, or demand someone be benched, etc, in the middle of a game. His son JIM (the current owner) used to have to go around apologizing to players, coaches, administrators, etc, for his Dad's erratic behavior (he once fired a coach after a pre-season game loss). Jim Irsay is the exact opposite of his Dad. Also, curious as to whether anyone remembers why Carolina let BP go? He certainly was successful there as well (NFC Championship game in just the 2nd year of the franchise). Must have been more to that story. BP is a genius when it comes to evaluating talent - he just lacks some "people skills". He's got the perfect setup in Indianapolis - ego-less owner AND coach, who know what they have in BP, and are content to let him "buy the groceries". He never would have been able to co-exist with an owner like Jerry Jones, or coaches like Bill Parcells, Bill Cowher, Belicheat, etc. And maybe BP has "grown up" (matured) since his stint in Buffalo, and learned some things from his experiences in Buffalo and Carolina. Who knows? But I certainly wouldn't blame his leaving entirely on RW - just as Butler's leaving wasn't totally in Ralph's control, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwws9999 Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 The Polian, Knox, and Saban debacles are why Ralp Wilson should never get in the hall of fame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Philster Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Polian made the correct choice (like he has done for decades). except when it came to acting like an adult when dealing with someone else within the organization, who just happened to be the boss's daughter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkie Gerzowski Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 happened to be the boss's daughter the tranny? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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