Archives for December 2008

‘Jauron said he has not spoken to management about his future and has received no assurances that he would be returning for a fourth season. Still, he was under the impression he would be back until he’s told otherwise. His current contract expires after the season. For two months, citing team policy, he has refused to say whether he was given an extension.’

‘Simply put, it seems quite logical that owner Ralph Wilson and Jauron came to an agreement back in October when the Bills were riding high at 5-1, and they were just waiting for the right moment to make the announcement. Only the right moment never came as the team’s collapse began shortly thereafter and the free fall still hasn’t stopped.’

‘I’m with you in that I had already drawn the conclusion that Jauron can’t coach and Losman can’t play. I’m not ready to give up on Peters, but Abram Elam did blitz from Peters’ side on the fateful sack/forced fumble/touchdown that gave the Jets their victory. What a disaster. It was simply amazing to me that Jauron could call that rollout pass, knowing who was going to be the player trying to throw the ball.’

‘The only plus for the Buffalo Bills in the belated confirmation of coach Dick Jauron’s three-year contract extension through 2011 is that it isn’t as damaging now as it would be at the height of season-ticket renewal season. Fresh optimism fuels ticket sales. Stale coaches do not.’

‘”It’s very disappointing. After the first couple games, I thought we were going to the Super Bowl,” he said. “I blame it on the coach, bad coaching. Next year, we need to get a quarterback and get somebody who can protect him. The offensive line is the heaviest, but apparently not athletic enough.”‘

‘Disappointment has turned to outrage among Buffalo Bills fans amid reports that head coach Dick Jauron has signed a three-year extension.’

‘Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre represent three of the biggest names in the NFL and perhaps three of the greatest quarterbacks to have played the game. And all three are scheduled to visit the Buffalo Bills with their teams in 2009. Will one of those games be in Toronto?’

‘Starting QB Trent Edwards has a nagging groin injury, and Losman has been lackluster as Edwards’ replacement in two starts. Losman has thrown four interceptions – and just one touchdown – and has been sacked seven times in those two games.’

‘Jauron’s reasoning behind the play selection – that even an incomplete pass would not hurt since the clock would have stopped anyway at the two-minute warning – could have been considered sound … if not for the fact the Jets couldn’t stop Buffalo’s running attack.’

‘Losman’s future with the Bills was cemented last season. In his third year as a starter, he failed to elevate his game and lost the starting job to then-rookie Trent Edwards. Playing in place of the injured Edwards the last two weeks, there is now a question about whether Losman has played himself right out of the league.’

‘Dick Jauron said the rollout pass play that resulted in Losman’s fumble was his call. Whether it was or not — Turk Schonert said Jauron called it, too — it was a horrible decision, it cost the Bills the game, and it should cost Jauron his job. Maybe with Trent Edwards you make that call, but not with Losman, who does not feel pass rush pressure and is indecisive.’

‘”We ran the ball well. That was good to see,” offensive coordinator Turk Schonert said. “I kind of challenged our guys this week about the run game. Some guys were clamoring for the run last week. I showed them we didn’t run the ball last week. We were sputtering running the ball. I kind of said, ‘Show me. You want to run the ball? We’ll run the ball,’ and we did. We ran it as good as anybody’s run it against this team.”‘

‘No, I am among the few who don’t think Jauron is to blame for everything that has gone wrong, and there has been improvement, although very slow, since his arrival. The players play hard for him, and even privately feel they can win with him. Do they have enough mental toughness? They showed a lot of that in the Jets game, but it may be too little too late.’

‘Few plays in the Bills’ 49-year history – the “Music City Miracle” excepted – will be more remembered for all the wrong reasons.’

‘Memo to self: If my team is averaging SIX YARDS per rush and trying to hold a 27-24 lead with two minutes to play and a bootleg pass is called on 2nd-and-5 from our own 27 you ahhh, oh yeah, that’s right … fire the coach.’