May Day 10

Not yet. He fancies himself a football man. Just read that article/interview on page 2 or 3 of this thread from Syracuse. He says the disclaimer that he doesnt touch anything football... then goes on to list his biggest influences as Levy, Butler, Nix, etc who showed him the ropes and sent him on scouting trips and such. Give it time with the Sabres. Before long he will be interviewing potential GMs and coaches and will start carving a bigger sphere of influence. As of now, the Sabres have that "czar" in Tim Murray

The problem is, these choices don't fall out of the sky and magically plague the Bills. Brandon has been at the forefront of most major decisions. I don't understand the lack of desire here to try someone from outside the organization to take the reins

Here is an article from when the "hired" Buddy Nix. It is a good read and shows you how nothing has changed. Also, these discussions were happening before then and became so loud, they were 'forced' to hire a GM. Its not a "blame game" for me. I have had this point of view for about 10 years now. (the article is funny too because it mentions Whaley as a guy who should have gotten consideration). http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/01/bills-decision-to-hire-nix-draws-criticism/ “Russ [brandon] and I scanned a list of possible candidates,” Wilson said Thursday, per Sullivan. “We didn’t know them. I didn’t know them. I don’t think Russ did. We narrowed it down to two candidates for the job of general manager of football, two in-house candidates.” And we wonder whether Wilson took into account the fact Brandon has a strong interest in avoiding an outsider whose first order of business might have been to marginalize Brandon and/or eventually lobby for his termination. It’s a common dynamic in situations like this; last year in Detroit, for example, an 0-16 finish resulted in Martin Mayhew being promoted to the job of G.M., likely due to the significant influence that Tom Lewand has over ownership."

Its the whole organization and he has been at the front of it and is to blame. Since Donahoe was sent packing, this organization circled the wagons around Brandon and they kept everything very internalized with people Ralph Wilson could trust. They have insulated the team from outside influence and as a result, have insulated the team from entering the 21st century. Brandon is still involved in the football dept. It was just revealed he was right there in the cut-meetings. He has whiffed every time he has been in on a decision or hire. I don't mind if he remains in a high role with One Buffalo or the Bills or whatnot. They just need someone from the outside to run the football program. Brandon needs to be completely walled off from influence on that side. I know "One Year" and all that... but this 16 year pattern is in no way a coincidence or a run of misfortune.

I hate to call a game 2 a "must win" by definition. They need to go into that brutal middle of the schedule well clear of .500. 0-2 would be a pretty massive hole

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/01/bills-decision-to-hire-nix-draws-criticism/ Looking back at this. We are still at the continuation of this "hire". They still havent looked outside

I am venting a lot, but i agree with you. I speak based on a blown season which is not a sure thing. I just saw a lot of "symptoms" i have grown accustomed to.

Every team has plenty of talent. It is all about preparation, roster makeup/chemistry, and depth. This franchise continually proves that they cannot succeed in more than one of those areas at a time. Rebuilding in the NFL does not need to take years. Wasnt too long ago seattle picked in front of the bills, blew the pick on a bust (we would excuse years of futility on that player), and quickly became a power. Same with denver. KC brought andy reid in and got with the program rather quickly.

No thanks to Whaley too. He is a continuation of the failed Nix regime. If Nix had a great performance here and passed the baton... then yes. But he stunk. The team still stinks. Whaley and Brandon seem to get free passes left and right and blame is conveniently outsourced to others. Why is anyone putting value on anybody involved with this football team? At the very least, we need someone from the outside brought in with full authority/autonomy to re-create this thing. If this person liked Whaley, I would be fine with it. This whole internal nepotistic Bills family that has run this team into the wall the past 10-20 years needs to be broken up. Since Donahoe was sent packing they 'circled the wagons' internally and have fallen into complete irrelevancy.

I think a lot of angst comes from witnessing the patriots sunday night and coming to the realization that they are just a well oiled football program, and they will be just fine after brady is gone. That is who the bills need to strive for. Rex is the opposite of belichick in almost every way. I dont see whaley, brandon, or pegula getting us there. The bills will likely never get to belichick level... but why cant they get to the ravens, broncos, cardinals, seahawks level? Those are all teams who have bottomed out lower than buffalo in somewhat recent history. At least then its a fair fight. How can the bills ever see a home playoff game if they struggle getting the plays in on time?

Yeah... i want change more than anybody... but dont go there yet. I was there with the sabres a few seasons before the tank and its a bad/conflicted place to be and it isnt fun. Week 2 is way too early.

I was wearing a color rush jersey, and the color was so intense, the jersey burst into flames. I had to kump through a table and my friends poured beer on me to stop it

IMO just swapping out the coach is a mistake and continues this cycle. They need to change the structure of this organization. Cant have the coach 'coaching' and reporting to Pegula, with a GM 'picking players' reporting to Pegula, along with Russ Brandon marketing his way all over the decisions. They need a much more cohesive structure going forward (if Rex fails). For one, it doesnt look like a sustainable/cohesive structure, two, these guys have had enough chances at choosing coaches, and three, I am not sure a lot of good head coaches or head coaching prospects would agree to come work here under these conditions (think marrone and Mularkey walking away). It is time to become a big-boy franchise and get past Ralph Wilson's MO. So I am against firing Rex in short. I would tough it another 1 or 2 seasons if it meant the sorely needed organizational shift.

When does continuity kick in for the Rams? Because they look worse than the bills

I like the hull choice

Anyone do voice verification on that interview? Sounds doctored. The bills are really good. Its a conspiracy to hide it

Sign of a bad organization: every time someone breaks wind it gets leaked into the media. Sign of a good organization. A player knocks revis out cold with a punch in practice, united team wins superbowl. Public finds out about the incident 18 months later.

Good post

1. We agree, 2. I agree with you. There has to be someone there who would like the opportunity to sculpt a football program and legacy. Offer plenty of money and plenty of autonomy and budget. 3. A good coach may be willing to come to Buffalo with new management and a large window where their job is safe and they have an opportunity to install their schemes and acquire personnel 4. Yes, I agree. Trading and unloading is hard. Any opportunities though should be explored anyways. 5. We agree. Trade down, get quantity 6. As far as Cardale goes... the "mobile" quarterback was in and out of style in 2012. This teams' new leaders would/should recognize where the league is going and set the trends or keep up with them. The bills historically always seem years late to the party (Wild Cat, mobile QBs, run and stop the run, passing league, etc). *If the team bottoms out, they will not commit those huge sums on money to Tyrod. He'll be gone. Ultimately, my biggest issue is #1. Wholesale systemic change is desperately needed. This Franchise in 50 years has 1 NFL playoff win outside the Jim Kelly years. Nothing is worth salvaging and they are in such desperate need for an Outside executive/voice. Changing out Rex Ryan and allowing Pegula/Brandon/Whaley select another coach again is getting us no closer. I would rather just ride it out with Ryan.

If they bottom out 1. Purge the front office and start anew. If Brandon needs to stay, he is business only and has no contact or influence with football ops. Zero. No draft rooms, cut meetings, on the field at training camp arguing with coaches, commenting to the media about the makeup of the roster. 2. Bring new leader of the football program. Someone who has experience in a winning program, but also is in tune with modern times, advanced stats, risk management, etc. Maybe hire Polian or someone of the like from outside the organization to help identify candidates for interview. 3. New football president carefully select head coach. Long term commitment. Will be able to remain through bad years, as the fans, media, and ownership will understand. Like the Sabres, people will generally undestand and support an intelligent full-rebuild. The systems will be able to be installed and take root. Players will be scouted and brought in to custom fit the system. 4. Sell off anything you can within reason for picks. 5. Unless you know its an andrew luck/payton manning slam dunk, trade down, and trade down again. 6. Spend a lot of resources in QB search. High and low for the next 2 years. Will probably finish bad for a few seasons so basically pick of the litter. If not drafting a QB, trade down. Quantity.

to me, the Bills season every year is like the Presidential Election. It seems the Bills usually clean up against the bottom feeders of the league. Conversely, they get cleaned out by the best teams in the league with very few exceptions... It seems fairly predictable, and it has been a pattern almost every season through this drought. They should beat the Rams, 49ers, and Browns, and lose to the Patsx2, Cincy, Seattle, and Arizona. But then you have the middle games against the AFC teams. They are the "swing states" of the schedule. Very important because A) these teams you are in direct competition for the wild card, and B) these games are winnable. This loss feels like the Bills "just lost Ohio". Now they will be forced into having less margin for error against KC, Pitt, NYJx2, MIAx2, OAK, and JAX. Like almost run-the-table unless they "flip" one or more of their "Californias or Texases".

Imo this will not bring change. Only the injury excuse

dont forget the "marketing guy" standing next to Whaley and clapping when the move was made

Losing... is a disease

more attacking the media, for reporting on this team.