May Day 10

I think people underestimate the value woods brought for the offense. Its a sneaky-bad loss

I will concede that he did very well on his pro scouting side... Draft was bad, including unadvisable trade-ups. Bad at contracts. Bad about coaches... both selecting and working with. Now, we can play the game the bills have cursed us with for about 12 years and try to figure out whose fault was each decision. Whether it was whaley or the collaboration machine, it matters not. This team's management has been their biggest problem. Even if they suddenly granted whaley top authority, too much baggage, 7 years, working with the "collaborators". Also, whaley, with his laid back kick the feet up on the desk, poor public speaking makes me believe he isnt the greatest choice for steering the ship.... much like tim murray, for different traits. The clean break was necessary for the bills to redefine themselves as a team serious about competing, not preserving decision making for a few front office personnel At least now, the bills' game of creating fog around all the football decisions is over. If this rebuild falls on its face, we know it is beane/mcdermott and they can be replaced.

I think the whaley "era" is muddy. To me, it was one general era of levy-brandon-nix-whaley. It was all a series of resignations, management take one step to the left, and repackage it, while outsourcing blame. The team used heavy collaborating between brandon, nix, whaley, overdorf, wilson until late 00s, etc... they were always acting as if the bills were only one or two pieces away... when the team would have numerous ailments such as coaching, depth, qb, secondary, o-line, etc... Now we are seeing real, centralized football management. They are ripping the bandaid off. It stings, but they are building their program, which takes time. Im not worried about average age. That can and will be undone in one off-season. Many picks and possibly a qb in the 2018 draft... some growth next year and more 2019 picks and new-found cap space. A lot rests on the scouts and talent evaluators

No. He was garbage

I think this is accurate with a % of people, but extremely unfair to throw it out there in an argument. There have been times in the past 17 years this type of criticism has been thrown my way because I have been negative. The problem is... the entire essence of this franchise is negative. This is a team who hasn't won a playoff game for nearly a quarter-century. If they miss the playoffs this season, it will be the 5th longest drought in NFL history and it can buy tobacco products and also participate in consensual sex in every US state. For years, it was obvious they were in the same doomed cycle. It wasn't just hoping/betting to be proven right on a message board. It has been miserable. You also have to take into account, people who are conditioned to assume that every decision the team makes will be proven to be wrong. This does have a different feel and not the same MO. It makes me hopeful they have finally joined the 2000s NFL. Itll take a couple years, but I am hopeful

It was different in that case. Regier actually started the rebuild... and was doing kind of marvelously at it. He purged the roster, the team had accumulated a ton of draft picks and prospects. The fans strongly distrusted WHAT Regier would do with the assets and there was a pretty clear revolt that forced Pegula's hand. 17 years of the guy had worn everyone thin. Murray was supposed to be some sort of savant as far as identifying talent. With all those assets, he failed to bring in much. A number of guys he once scouted that he overpaid for (Kane, Bogosian, Lehner, etc)... He traded a ton of picks for questionable returns, such as 2-2nd round picks and Brayden McNabb (who was a good prospect at the time) for Fasching and Deslauriers. A 3rd for Veseys rights, 1st for Lehner, and so on... By the end of this season, with the Sabres had taken a step back, and Rochester being awful yet again... it was pretty clear that Murray had messed things up pretty badly and things had stalled out. I also feel pretty confident, watching his demeanor.... that he is not a good high-level manager at all.

Yes it is. A lot of it is self-inflicted. Chan Gailey, for instance, was not a serious hire. I cant speak to the pre-polian days, but post-Donahoe, the power structure of this team has been designed in a way to completely undermine the head coach and GM (and I know Donahoe battled these forces throughout his tenure). We have had patsies like Levy, Brandon, Nix, and Whaley who were fine with capitulating to the real decision makers in Wilson, Littman, Brandon, and Overdorf. By extension the coach gets damaged clay to work with.... and as a result, finding serious candidates to take the position is likely a challenge.... if they even bothered to try. This is new, and refreshing. It appears we have the football-leadership centralized solely on a head coach and GM, who apparently have been given the green light to take a sledgehammer to the program, even if wins will take a back seat for a year or two. I expect 4-5 wins this season, but havent been this optimistic about the Bills in maybe 15 years

They have had a long time run of awful hires. The only two gms/coaches who have achieved equal level employment post bills... are the two guys who voluntarily walked away

That isnt the problem... ugh. Can you imagine being locked into levy/jauron or nix/gailey for 10 years? The people who have been running the ship here have been nonsense. Was any administration here on the verge of any breakthrough? I dont think mcdermott and beane have a much different look than in the past... coming from me, that is a lot. I have hated pretty much every major move this team has made for more than a decade

Accumulating is a good first step though, and not one the Bills have had the stomach to make in a long, long time. The Bills have acted like a "contender" (for the last wild card spot) perpetually. As a result, they take the future for granted and almost never have the depth. Now if they havent formed a competent scouting team and fail to build a roster, then it will be for not and we will continue to be at square one. And yes, Beane and McD will have to answer.... The Sabres did an amazing job at accumulating.... mainly under Regier. Murray donked off way too many picks like they were burning a hole in his pocket. The step back this season, along with Rochester being inexplicably barren for a team who once had a wealth of picks and prospects.... it was pretty clear he had failed. Badly.

I like the trade. I am all for getting picks. It is frustrating though, and I understand the negativity reflex A real indictment on Whaley. Its a wonder why this guy got so much praise amongst Bills fans. He stunk and I dont see him getting another GM gig any time soon.

Basically, trying to jump in and just read about Kodi is going to seem overwhelming and impossible. Just jump in, get a fire stick or other receiver... and follow a youtube video (make sure it is recent and has a lot of views). The step-by-step is a pretty easy recipe to follow and get you into a place where you can comfortably recall a ton of movies and TV shows. Then work out from there. I have found that sports has a long way to go for the most part.... I think. Seems very tough to find streams, let alone decent-quality ones

This. I really doubt he puts that much thought into things.

Ralph's last stretch did set the team back. They essentially shielded the team from outside influence for a decade. The results speak. The drought is no fluke.

The guy is a child.

I agree. Kyle, probably nothing. Tyrod, we will see the first injury to a contending team's QB. Probably the same with McCoy. These guys aren't burning a hole in my pocket or anything. I think overall, the Bills have adopted a 'rebuild' mentality.

I would say the Titans have done things pretty well so far. Let's take the word 'tank' out of the conversation. The team needs to look to the future. Of course they should and will try to win every game.... realism about the present needs to be embraced by management. Everything should be done with 2019 and beyond in mind. Does McCoy, Kyle, and Tyrod etc help you become the best team you can in 2019 (with salary structure in mind)? If not, get what you can for them. Keep trading down and accumulating picks. For way too long this team has been stuck in 'now', patching up a flawed ship. The suck for Luck thing is strange. That was a flawed team that was kept afloat by the fact that Peyton Manning is a robot. They were an aged/aging team who did not properly retool and continues to do so.

I think there is just too much content out there. It is overwhelming, and I do not see what this will cover that isnt covered in the local media, national media, and various message boards and social media and such. As far as WGR... I agree it needs changes... but I think the hosts are not the problem (although I think the Bulldog should go). The management/program directors are the true problem. The content on the shows is so bland and unimaginative, it is mind-numbing. Let's do multiple months worth of shows where we talk about tyrod taylor's future... Bulldog, you take the popular position, Schopp, you take the unpopular position and defend it. Take the same bank of 25 callers as you did yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, etc.... I would be mad by now if I were a host. People wont accept it, but for a local guy, Schopp is actually very talented for the radio. Has a good voice for it, and can keep a show moving, even solo. It is very hard to do, and the masters.... like Jim Rome or Colin Cowherd (whether you like them or not) really stand out. He has mind numbing boring topics... nonstop Bills and Sabres, who have been dull teams for an eternity. Listen to Schopp talk something else, baseball, or trying to think outside the box and he is very good. "The Hobby" was very well done. Bulldog just yells and plays aloof fan too much and too loudly. The act is old as is that high pitched voice he uses to show he is 'frustrated' Jeremy White is very good, especially for a younger guy. I think he gives a fresh, from out of town approach. Sometimes he gets on a hill and wont budge from it at all, even if he is wrong, but it is all good. For some reason, they make Howard Simon play the part of goofy know-nothing 'old guy'. No idea why. Sometimes he screws up and shows he is smarter but has to retreat back to character. The same format, carbon copy shows for more than a decade. Start other features, cover other sports. I dont know.

He actually said that the "2014 class" will change all that, meaning him, OBjr, etc... on their next deals. Now of course the CBA structure doesn't allow for the NBA ridiculousness.... but those are the words of a player who is looking to mercilessly max out. They would either have to break the bank and commit long term cap money... or kick the can with the franchise tag. I don't think WR is a position you should (or is necessary to) hand out a mega-deal to.... especially a rebuilding team looking to define its core from the inside-out. Maybe if you have a WR who has the ability to dominate a game.... only a few I can think of.... maybe Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones.... TO in his prime?

Dont get me wrong... i was (incorrectly) in support of the original trade... and i would have picked up the option. Nfl players arent worth what nba players are making. It is not the wage scale. The way things were, with no option... and a strong possibility of a rough season... i foresaw a messy contract battle. Would rather make the trade than ride him off a cliff

Watkins was already talking about the 'be paid like NBA players' thing. It was probably going to get messy no matter his performance.

I don't see it as tanking as much as it is clearing the deck a bit and re-aligning your team. A side effect is, you will likely have a couple lean seasons... but if done right/well, it only needs to be one or two. For two decades, the Bills have 'traded up' and not have enjoyed full value for their assets in order to speed short-term returns. Spending foolishly in relation to the cap (or cash to the cap)... and also letting key players walk/retaining the wrong ones. Beane and McDermott seem to have turned the rudder away from this. 6 picks in the first 3 rounds is a great start. Need quantity in the draft instead of trading up for Raglans. Scouts have to do their job. Maybe we will have the Bills slotted to pick Josh Allen? That would be fantastic. As it is, this team, even with Watkins and Darby is fatally flawed (IMO). The secondary is complete mush... depth issues pretty much across the board. Best realistic case is 8-8 and worst case probably 4-12. Why not accept reality and focus on 2-3 seasons down the line and built a solid foundation of a football program that can compete for a decade, while replenishing roster players via draft picks? I don't want the one wild card berth and playoff loss. I want this team to beat the hell out of NE in Brady's final years and into retirement.... which would mean home playoff games. Change the 'stigma' attached to the franchise. Make players happy. Make it a place to win and sign for slight discounts. Also, I look at guys like McCoy, Tyrod, Kyle, Wood, etc and ask if I picture those guys contributing in 2019 and beyond. If the answer is no, I would see what I can get, or wait for injuries to happen and a team to get desperate before the deadline. Get what you can for those guys. It seems like 'tanking', but to me it is accepting reality for 2017 and maximizing your assets.

I have said it before... but IMO these leagues will eventually figure out how to condense the content into somewhat continuous action. It might require having 'live' advertising in broadcast, and maybe ads on playing fields and/or uniforms. But it will be a tradeoff. Games are longer than ever, and attention spans are shorter than ever. People circumvent commercials for the most part.

Yes. I do not believe it starts and ends in the lockerroom though. Its the entire organization. It usually gets passed down from the owner, team president, coach. You are never going to have a perfect group of 53 millionaire players. You need to somehow get them on enough of a commitment to win. It comes from culture. Players in ne, pittsburgh, denver, seattle, gb, etc know that a championship is an attainable. Jax, buffalo, tampa, miami, jets, etc... it is probably seen more as a business/profession/stepping stone

The "marketing move", the bills circa 2002-2016 was different than this. They would have rode watkins through the season chasing a 9-7 wild card berth and a 1st round loss. Watkins, assuming he stays healthy would almost certainly lose trade value at the end of the year. Probably likely to have a messy contract/franchise tag situation. He said that he wants players to get "nba money' It is frustrating, looking at the price brandon and whaley paid for him... but that needed to be ignored by beane. Focus on the future. 6 pix in 3 rounds can be a HUGE shot in the arm for the franchise