May Day 10

glad to see ryan out of the division. Oakland/Ryan would be a match made in heaven

While I dont see any of those guys going into coaching... or maybe even straight up GM. But a high paid President position where they merely set the chess pieces, golf a lot, and sit in the owner's box is a good gig and also scratches the competitive itch

From orchard park. Major agent/rep for pegulas ageny he had to sell. I think he is about 36 years old

It's one factor for sure. Many factors though most of which are self inflicted

Since Brandon crossed over from marketing and has been gm or aboverwhelming we are looking at 6 last place finishes and a 3rd. He is at the head of the table. Shouldn't he be scrutinized? I can see if people are really encouraged this season and think we are on to great things. I ask myself: are we closer to a sustained regenerable run of playoffs, maybe seeing Terry and Kim handed the Lombardi trophy on the podium next to brandon? Or is it closer to falling apart? It seems there have been indications that these 3 aren't all on the same page. To me, the old wilson structure here and marrone-whaley-Brandon can't get it done other than maybe catching lightning for a season and getting into a wild card game. I believe pegula's aspirations are higher. Of course people believe 2 years ago when brandon "took over". He said 100% to win... no stone... no financial... but then turned around and things were done that was indicative of same old same old. Renewing of the Toronto series, ugly squabble with Byrd handled poorly, being under the cap, spreading fitz's contract out instead of eating it one year and being able to improve next year. Refusing to stock the cupboard of any able qb to protect the "psyche" of manuEl and protecting the team from any qb contraversy... not only that but burning an extra 1st and 4th on the best receiver in the draft to try to prop that guy up. Ej tuel lewis is a comedy clown college of a tandem. Is there any close to that?

The Sabres have a brutal month and a half... and finally injuries are happening. The Oilers are due to win some games. My prediction is the 2 are within a couple points at the end of January and everyone else has pulled away for the most part.

What if they installed Bill Cowher as President and gave him a clean slate football department to do as he wishes?

Im still a huge fan of the idea of Briles

Not a playoff team IMO They lost nearly every game vs. the teams battling for the playoffs in their conference: NE, Houston, KC, San Diego, Denver, and Miami. Beat Miami and Cleveland who were also proven to be pretenders.

like this?

how about a situation similar to Carroll in Seattle? Give Harbough control and basically GM duties with a "GM" of his choosing that is in the vein of Scouting and some money background.

is it really shocking that people get the impression that Russ Brandon has and continues to be a major influence and voice on the football team? I dont get how people just dismiss others who have that perception. Tim Graham even said Brandon continues to have heavy influence in football matters the other day (on twitter). Heck, Ive seen people make arguments that when he was named General Manager he still wasnt making any decisions, lol. The equipment manager may get to go in the draft room, but is he front and center with materials in front of him? http://proplayerinsi...-pic-of-day.jpg http://www.buffalobi...elegate-714.jpg http://www.buffalobi...c0-06e835414672 http://www.buffalobills.com/photos/photo-gallery/Inside-the-Bills-Draft-Room/af5ab3f5-3e98-49af-a306-1d23ba1cda0d#d66e9b21-64f4-4e04-8e73-747f909bea2d Is frustration and discontent with Overdorf really unwarranted too? The guy is in charge of negotiating contracts... so many have gone so well. Peters, Byrd, Pat Williams, Winfield, etc... At least we locked in Kelsey for so long. The team has a history of squeezing out the wrong (best) players. The team is in great cap position for playing "cash to the cap" forever. I just cant wrap my head around why any Bills fan is/would be satisfied with the status quo here. This franchise has not been good with Ralph's management. They have a grand total of 1 playoff win without Jim Kelly. I do not want to see a continuation of that legacy. Im sure Pegula has a higher vision for this.

well the previous speculation pointed to Accorsi, Wolf, and I believe Holmgren. Apparently Pegula and Acorsi already have a Penn State connection?

we did have Fitz to fill the Ivy League quota Basically, there are various threads on this, and there has been for years, really. The truth is, nothing said makes a difference, and it all will become clear if/when Pegula brings someone in from the outside to oversee the building of the championship football program.

"When you mistake mediocrity for progress, you’re actually stuck in reverse." -Jerry Sullivan

Good post. Had the same thoughts/trepidation

@fear the losing They never announced anything regarding a consultant. It was speculated/scooped by some media and it is known the nfl urges new owners to bring on a consultant. When directly asked about it, pegula dodged, only saying the team was doing well and he cant/won't do anything mid stream to upset that.

I like the idea of Rex ryan because no individual will hate and want to bury new england or the jets more.

He has never deferred a football question to my knowledge. Along with being all over the playing field at camp, meeting with prospective coaches and free agents, being front and center in the draft war room with materials scatiered in front of him, being shown at the hof game with an open laptop in front of him very deeply concentrating on the field, and just the fact that they had the audacity to try to crowbar him in as the gm in 2008. Can anyone fault anybody for gaining the perception that this guy carries heavy influence and opinion on the football side? I mentioned in a different thread I went to school for sports business for awhile. Pretty much everybody there including myself were there because our athletic careers were over or almost over, and we wanted to someday be a gm of a pro sports team. There is no way brandon is passing this opportunity up. I don't dislike the guy really or blame him. I just think the organization needs to wall off the business side completely with brandon behind the wall. I really don't believe he is a very good communicator through the media and/or burned a lot of his goodwill defending the Toronto series. Do we really think the bills can attract the harboughs, chip kellys, gruden of the world if they need to run everything through a business guy?

I dont think its unexpected. They probably got pretty good advice that they shouldnt do anything in-season, especially while the team is in the race. wouldnt be surprised if the consutant has already been lined up and doing work, to be announced December 29th

I like Briles.... and obtaining RGIII

its basically the same old same old. Its always something. Like BNiH said, its especially bad having a meaningful game and laying an egg vs a 2-12 team. Other really meaningful games against KC and Miami were blown. This team is 11th in the Conference out of 15. Only the Raiders, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and the Jets are behind them. This, a year that they pushed the chips to the center of the table. A few things break their way and they can improve. A few things go against them and they can get worse. Its where we always are. Its frustrating.

anyone remember life when we didnt have a Center at all and even trivial snaps were an issue?

yeah, I was agreeing with you. Contrast the runs Fitz had to secure a critical victory over the Bills vs Orton not even getting hit and going down and sliding short of the 1st down vs the Broncos. Fitz is not great. But he would have been much better than the garbage that was rolled out here the past 2 seasons. Also frustrating to think they were paying him as well