May Day 10

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

With a healthy Fitzpatrick the past 2 seasons, what do you think the results would be? I really think we could have been on a 2 season playoff streak right now

I dont disagree that he handled the death of Mr. Wilson and the months following "well" and with class (dont know how else he could have handled it)... but IMO he had little to do with the result of the sale. Say he "sold his soul" to Jones and Kraft... what exactly does that entail and how would it have prevented Pegula from bidding on the team at an NFL record pricetag? And that's also assuming kraft and Jones were in the market for souls and made an offer

Brandon had little to do with the team staying... unless he built a time machine, and went back in time to advise Terry Pegula on how to build a mega billion dollar portfolio. Those with billions of dollars make all the rules. Pegula made an offer that couldnt be refused. Without Pegula, this franchise would have been hard-pressed to find a local bid rich enough. Maybe that would have given an opportunity for Brandon to organize a group of Golisano, Rich, Jacobs, the guy from California that kind of looks like Billy Corgan, etc... but thats not how it went down and we will never know if it would. Pegula was buying this team no matter what.

Im beaten down at this point. I watch the games, but dont get too down after losses. Im so used to them. I actually think it is funny at this point and laugh sometimes during their worst losses. They invent so many ways to botch things up I could author a book. So I guess Im detached a bit. I gave up my Browns and Packers tickets because I thought it was obvious this team didn't have it. I remember when I took wins and losses so personally. My week's mood would depend on the Bills' result in large part. I miss being engaged by this team like that.

Ill take Briles and RGIII

well the new proposed structure of the playoffs would make that possible. Bottom 4 playoff teams are reseeded. And no, I dont see them passing New England by anytime soon

15 years is a long time. Next Tuesday will be the 19th anniversary of their last playoff win. I do hope that when it does happen, the playoff game is a home one. The amount of hype and excitement for the 1st playoff game in a generation being at home will make for a very rare atmosphere. I also really hope the Ralph gets at least another playoff game before she is done.

the fact is, there is always something with this organization. It is flawed. They never get it right, and Russ Brandon has presided over this mess for a long time, has probably been the most influential/powerful member of the front office since Donahoe was relieved. A whole new football program that can and will sustain itself must be built. Staying "in the hunt" longer doesnt appeal to me as success.

You would think that if a consultant is going to be hired, he has already been doing his homework, and would have a plan that would begin immediately. I also dont think its out of the realm of possibility the new Football Pres. would retain Whaley, Marrone and co., at least for a year.

All I am hoping for is the outside man brought in who knows what a winning football program looks like.