Punch

I understand not wanting to wade into twitter fulltime--- but the "horse crap" was reported on twitter by the likes of Adam Schefter (ESPN), Jason LaCanfora (NFL Network), Alex Marvez (Fox Sports), etc.

As much as I'm wary of Russ for various reasons, this may be a positive--- no more meddling or influence from Littman/Ralph. It's been reported several times that Russ has been held back from making bigger personnel moves. So long as the football guys continue to make football decisions.

He's not "owner", but Ralph has passed the torch to Russ in terms if running the entire organization, with no oversight.

Same here. Maybe Nix remaining and reporting to Brandon will be a temporary setup as they look to name a new GM. Some sort of process in that vein may be the best case scenario.

If this is what Bulldog is referring to, then it's definitely not mindblowing, it's almost obvious at this point--- though he's right that I might not like it.

You left out the part about how much he likes the coaching staff.

I didn't suggest the Bills "owe" anything to the media, but they have a mutually beneficial working relationship that is hopelessly intertwined with one another. It is common professional courtesy, and if it weren't so common, I don't think these particular reporters would have expected what amounts to a simple "heads up". I'm not sure what your rant is about concerning "credibility" or media idolatry. It's not relevant to anything I posted.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter Syracuse HC Doug Marrone is scheduled to interview this week for Cleveland Browns' HC and also will interview for Buffalo Bills' HC.

I wouldn't be surprised if the only question with the brass right now regarding the GM position is whether to promote Whaley to the top job, not necessarily to fire and replace Nix with an outside candidate. Tim Graham tweeted earlier that his gut feeling is that Nix will remain with the organization in some capacity but step aside as GM. Many of us have expected this all along.

Jay Glazer ‏@JayGlazer Jags owner Shad Khan today, under the radar, interviewed ATL Personnel Director Dave Caldwell for their GM job. Already had the interview!

That would be fine, but then why let the media folks hang out to dry all day for nothing? Of course, it could have been nothing more than a few cranky reporters tired of sitting around and making a mountain out of a molehill to Schopp. I guess I just don't trust Ralph's Brandon/Littman/Whomever Circle of Trust to handle things correctly. (The news release not referring to the coaching staff was a bit weak, though.)

There were reporters hanging out at OBD all day in the event Buddy or Russ made themselves available, or there was breaking news or a presser of some kind--- according to WGR, many of these reporters were annoyed that the Bills never informed them if there was any reason for them to stay. It smacks slightly of organizational dysfunction. Add the fact that the Bills official news release only mentions Gailey, and then Scott Berchtold had to ask Gailey to mention (in his brief comments to the media) that the entire coaching staff was also relieved of their duties, and it's a bit embarrassing. Obviously, everything's happening pretty quickly, but it doesn't exactly seem like anyone is minding the store.

I remember a statistic from last season along the lines of Jacobs being among the worst short yardage backs in the NFL, and Ahmad Bradshaw being among the best--- which of course runs conpletely contrary to how they were perceived and generally utilized. I believe it was referenced during the Giants-Bills game where Bradshaw had 3 short TD runs.

If it was only a "rumor that people decided they wanted to believe" then it was a rumor spread by ESPN and NFL Network--- from an 11/22/09 Tim Graham AFC East blog titled Report: Wilson ready to spend $10M: NFL Network reporter Jason LaCanfora shared what he was hearing about the Buffalo Bills' coaching search on "NFL Gameday Morning." "Bills owner Ralph Wilson is willing to spend upwards of $10 million to land the right person. Mike Shanahan is at the top of their list. They’re going to talk to him first. They also have an interest in Bill Cowher." http://espn.go.com/b...to-spend-10-mil

Didn't they offer Shanahan $10 million/year and basically any GM duties he wanted? They were willing to pay Shanny, Gruden or Cowher whatever they wanted. The money wasn't the problem then, and it likely isn't now.

How strange is it that he has the same specific foot injury on the other foot? Weird, and disheartening.

Did you hear that on-air? He seems like a stand up guy, and I would hope that if the Bills gave him a competitve offer he'd accept it. After last season's excellent string of re-signings, it'd be a shame to lose Levitre. As always, a pending free agent suggesting they'll see what offers they can recieve on the open market is a bargaining tool--- I think Stevie said the same thing last year.

You were right the 1st time--- although Kelly played 2 seasons for the Gamblers, he was on the Trump owned NY/NJ Generels when the USFL folded (the 2 franchises merged together). He never played a down for them because the season was canceled. I have a Sports Illustrated with Kelly on the cover holding a Generels helmet. He and Doug Flutie were actually teammates, albeit briefly.

Hey, that's an excellent guess which fits the criteria! If true, it'd be great news.

Didn't the Colts' backup coach also beat the Packers? This is not a defense of Chan, BTW.

Alternatively, we can look at it as a purging cleanse.

This. This was acknowledged by the NFL to it's team's officials. The rules changes were made due to this transgression. No other NFL team has had the audacity to attempt anything remotely similar. Don't forget Scott Pioli.

The "CBS Sports" link is an unnamed blogger--- the blog is only hosted on CBSSports.com much in the same way that you or I could start a blog at bleacherreport.com. A Patriots fan writing a blog deriding the Spygate controversy means jack squat. Jimmy Johnson's comments in the Boston Herald link underscore what many here and elsewhere have said: it isn't really about the signal stealing only, which has indeed been a common practice throughout the years. Complaints from NFL teams regarding the numerous helmet radio shenanigans led to rules changes, to name one major example.

Via http://www.billsdaily.com/articles/1998/statement.html: Here's Bills Owner Ralph Wilson's complete statement regarding the $50,000 fine handed down by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: "On December 2nd I received a fax from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue informing me the Bills are being fined $50,000 for criticism on my part of officiating in the last moments of our game with New England. I described two calls, back-to-back, as probably the worst I have witnessed in the 60 years I have watched pro football. Those two calls cost the Bills a very important game, one in which our team fought back very courageously from a substantial deficit. Society today is more enlightened. Fair comment and criticism are rampant. The entire media as a unit is frank and the millions watching a game are frank. But the Commissioner lecturing to me as if I were a novice, instead of one who has been involved in football infinitely longer than he has, contends that criticizing a call has 'destructive and corrosive effects on the game.' What is more destructive and corrosive -- errant calls in front of millions of viewers or my statements of opinion? People all over the country registered shock at the way the officials, however honorable their purpose, took the game away from us. Even the league has admitted to us that the calls near the conclusion of the game were incorrect. On Monday morning, the Commissioner can sermonize on destruction and corrosion, but he has never experienced the pain of blowing a crucial game due to officiating. I have yet to decide whether I will pay or challenge the fine. But, at 80, I do know I don't need pompous lectures from the Commissioner and I feel that the $50,000 is not only unwarranted, but punitive in nature. The next time he may ask me to sit in the corner."

What about Gilmore?