All_Pro_Bills

They should trade down in the 1st round and acquire a few extra picks. This team has too many major holes for one top pick to make any significant difference. Trade down into the middle of the 1st and an OT like Bulaga would likely still be on the board and depending on the terms of a draft choice swap, maybe with an additional 2nd rounder they can look at LB and DT. Obviously, to pull off any trade you've got to find a partner. While I like the idea of getting a franchise QB and solving that problem after what seems like forever, going into 2010 I can't see many scenarios where that is going to tranlate into any real improvement without first upgrading the lines on both sides of the ball. Put a rookie QB behind this O-line without any upgrades at tackle and he's on IR before week 6.....

Your point on meddling is valid. Look at two of the better known meddlers. Snyder and Jones. They may be meddlers and you can question their results, but you can't question their passion and commitment to doing what it takes to build a winning team. This is what Bills ownership lacks, commitment. The team talked a good game about evaluating the organization and making changes but in the end came up small.

Your post is excellent and drills down the issue of 'market size' to the detailed level needed to understand what kind of interest a transplanted team would garner. Measured purely by individuals interested in a local pro football team, I'd wager the Buffalo market would fare pretty well in terms of 'relative' market size (football fans divided by total population).

Are you saying we might have a coach that evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of his players then develops a scheme/gameplan that emphasizes the strengths and avoids the weaknesses? Wow. Maybe there is hope?

Sounds like you're describing the script of Major League. A story about a baseball teams young female owner's attempt to create a team so distasteful to the fans that it would justify moving the team to another city. The team realizing they are a bunch of second rate losers, rally around each other and win the penant. In our case seriously doubt we'll get the happy ending that the movie provided.

Completely agree. But ask this, would football-intelligent people been forced into a situation of having to make this choice? Or would potential candidates have viewed the opportunity in a better light? A strike/lockout in 2010 is looking like the best option for next season.

They have been better off keep Jauron (never thought I'd even contemplate this), or giving the job to Fewell, or April.

Agree. What's wrong with having somebody that's got a pair for a change? As I posted earlier, my belief is commitment to winning is the root issue, or lack of it. That’s the ‘elephant in the room’ that no uninterested candidate speaks of directly. There was talk earlier of ‘doing whatever it takes’ (I’m paraphrasing) but so far all we’ve seen out of the front office is a superficial rearrangement of the reporting relationships but no real changes in the power and decision structure. As long as marketing and finance sit at the head table with the owner and football operations is at the kiddies’ table nothing is going to translate to winning on the field.

I like your analogy but I'll take it a step further. The problem is if Jessica and Heidi find out that you asked Scarlett out, and she said no, they are likely to rebuff you too. They will figure if he's not good enough for her why should I date him? Fact is, the easiest time to find a new girlfriend is when you have one already. Just like in football, the best time to find a coach is when a lot of people want the job. In the Bills situation, perception or reality (and I'm not saying I agree), it appears they are desperate. How many potential candidates already said no thanks? IMO, there is nothing wrong with the city of Buffalo or prospects for improving the team. They way the league is structured all 32 teams have pretty much the same chance of success. The issue is with ownership, past decisions, and a reputation for interference. But even with meddling, you have that elsewhere in sports, Jones and Snyder in football, Steinbrenner in baseball, maybe Cuban in basketball. On the other hand I cannot question any of them for their commitment to winning. Can you say that about Ralph? He’s committed to winning? I think that is the main concern for potential head coaches. The owners lack of commitment, real or perceived, to winning and how that impacts the job. Not money, not organization. No high profile candidate with a drive to advance is going to take a chance on a head coaching job that will make them look like a failure and stifle their career.

That and a lot of undisplined penalties did them in. Kicking the challenge flag, 15 yards? C'mon man! Get your head in the game. Several personal fouls, after the play. Ryan had his team focused and you didn't see the Jets do anything stupid the entire game. Disipline is a area where the coach counts...

Ralph is running a basic command and control management system. He calls the shots. I suspect its the same with all his business interests. The GM may have the GM title and the official accountabilities that go along with that position, and the pro personnel director, and the director of college scouting, and so forth. You're not really the GM, or the pro personnel director, or the director of college scouting. You are an information gathering assistant to the owner. No decision of importance is made without final consent of the owner. Some might think this is okay, even the way it should be. After all, its his football team, isn't it? But for an organization to function well, the owner needs to set the basic parameters and objectives for the operation and the employees, the budget, strategy, goals, marketing, and financial objectives, and for on-the-field performance. Then get out of the way and let the people hired to do the football and operational jobs do their jobs. Ralph isn't going to change, he won't do what I suggest above. In most instances, highly skilled and experienced people won't work in a highly directed environment where authority is not delegated to them. This is true in any business field not just football.

I have no visibility into the decision making process at One Bills Drive. But if I was in the position of either Guy or Modrak, and my input was consistently ignored (whether its true or not, who knows for sure?), and as a result I acquired a reputation as a poor evaluator of talent it would not sit well with me. I'd either let it be known publicly through whatever means was available that the draft selections and free agent signings were not my recommendation or simply quit. Because if my intent was to continue making a living in a football front office, somewhere, I'd do whatever would be necessary to protect my reputation and livelihood. Since neither of the above has happened, IMO you've got to assume they've had a heavy hand in the selections and the decision making process.

My concern with the coordinator route has nothing to do with the qualifications or potential of any of the candidates. Some of them will probably turn out to be great NFL head coaches. The problem is the Bills simply stink at identifying coordinators to hire as their head coach. In the 50 year history of the Bills, I cannot remember former coordinator they hired to be head coach that was successful. The 3 most successful coaches I remember, Saban, Knox, and Levy were head coaches in the league (Saban at least on his second tour).

Frazier might turn out to be a great head coach. From what I've read (not knowing the guy personally) he seems competent and well respected by his players. But the right choice for the Bills right now is a guy with head coaching experience. IMO the choice of a coordinator is not logical, and perhaps lacks total common sense for the Bills. This is because of two thing, their current situation, and their history of failure with bringing coordinators into the head coach position. Its simply a matter of risk, you pick a guy with experience and a past of success and you know what you're getting. Right now, after all the fumbling and bumbling of the past decade, the Bills as a franchise cannot afford to miss on a coach again. Selecting a coordinator with no NFL head coaching experience is risky, and that's not a risk the Bills should be taking given the situation. The Bills are like a hunter with bad aim and one bullet. He sees two deer. One huge buck and another smaller one. The big buck is 300 yards away into the wind. It would take a great shot to hit him. An experienced hunter would have a better chance of making it but you have been down on your luck recently and your aim has been off. So what do you do? Take a big chance on hitting the big buck and probably going home empty handed, or take the easier more probable shot at the closer target? The Bills taking a coordinator right now for head coach is like the hunter with bad aim shooting 300 yards into the wind. Take the easier shot, hire a guy with experience. It's that simple.....

He always seemed like an odd choice to me because up until the Jets backed into the playoffs when the Colts and Bengals rolled over, most Jets fans I know wanted this guy fired because his play calling was terrible. Personally, I have no opinion of his play calling but find to disparity in perception strange.

On my drive to work this morning I was listening to the Boomer and Carton show on WFAN. Billick was a guest this morning. The discussion centered around the playoffs, notably the Jets, the match ups this weekend, and what Brian did during his tenure with the Ravens to prepare the team for the playoffs and Super Bowl. IMO, some interesting remarks, articulate comments and insight by the former coach. Carton asked him 'when will you be announced as the next coach of the Buffalo Bills'? To this Brian remarked the team appears to be going in a 'different direction' seeming to prefer the 'hot coordinator' route to fill the head coaching vacancy. After the interview, Boomer made a few candid remarks, to paraphrase what I remember, 'If you're a Bills fans you've got to want a guy like Brian, someone who knows how to build and manage an organization'. To continue, 'The Bills have good players on their roster and an experienced head coach like Brian is what that team needs right now.' Prior to the discussion I had no issue if the Bills hired Billick. And after listening to the discussion it didn't change my opinion. My fear with the 'hot coordinator' route is unless we get lucky, we go back to learn on the job mode for another 3 years and basically go nowhere.

Agree, and considering the heartbreak this franchise has endured any coach that brings the Super Bowl championship to Buffalo would achieve immortality, be revered as close to God as a man can get. Sure you can go coach Carolina or Dallas, or wherever, win it there. Who will care? But win it for the Bills and you'll be remembered forever in Buffalo, and in football folklore, as the guy that brought success to this suffering but proud city and franchise. What other head coach opening can offer that?

No problem with Nix, but IMO this is the first step in bringing this organization up to speed. Making a run for Cowher would make sense, and make him assistant GM along with head coach with the idea of grooming him into the GM positon full time in 3-4 years (then Cowher picks the next HC) when age and workload might catch up to a guy in his mid-70's. Putting a succession plan from full time coach to full time GM in place could be a real selling point and something other potential suitors may not be in a position to do at the moment. Letting Modrak and Guy go next would be progess too. Not saying this is the plan, rather what I'd like to see unfold in the next couple weeks....

I suspect the fundamental reason Holmgren took the Cleveland job was the level of automomy he was granted to run the entire show. Something other posible opportunities did not clearly provide. Citing tradition as a reason for accepting the job is just standard sports cliché.

I thought he faired well given the circumstances, say a 6.5. But IMO, rating Brohm's performance is like critiquing NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson in a Yugo at the Daytona 500.

Yes, if only the Bills offensive plan could utilize a parked car to screen off the defender we might stand a chance to put up some points. Seriously, Fitz has thrown for what? Under 100 yards per game the last 3? The upside with him running this offense is close to zero. Letting Brohm play would at a minimum give us a reason to watch the game. At least for the 1st quarter....

Miami also put a claim on Incognito. Keeping them from getting him is reason enough to sign him. And assuming he plays on Sunday maybe he'll give Mr. Wolfolk a taste of his own medicine?

I think you're right. As important as skill is, a great quarterback needs to be THE leader. The Bills offense lacks an identity which is manifested in its QB. TO is not a leader, Lee is a spokesman but not a leader in the truest sense. The Bills don't have a QB that's a leader right now. When I hear a QB say 'its all on me' and he starts using 'I' vs. 'we' when dicussing failures to execute then I know where headed in the right direction. A great quarterback enables the offense to dictate the play to the defense. The offense is consistently in down and distance situations where the defense has the edge (e.g. 3rd and longs all the time). That said we need to be realistic, an upgrade at quarterback without addressing the O-line during the offseason won't be enough. If QB is #1 upgrading the O-line (most notably OT) is #1A.

I do agree with this statment from Sullivan: "Wilson needs to nudge Brandon aside and do a serious restructuring of his football department". Looking for a coach prior to addressing the front office situation is illogical. A real football GM with experience at finding and acquiring pro and college talent is needed first. IMO we need a proven GM more than we need a proven head coach. Given that any accomplished GM would require hiring his own guy as coach as a term of employment, what does the search for a coach now mean? That Mr. Wilson has no intention of revamping the front office or more likely the current search for a new coach is being performed to identify candidates with an interest in the Bills position but we shouldn't expect any hiring of a new head coach until after the season when a new GM is named.

Just added TO to my Christmas card list! Assignment for TO: Next complain about Guy and Modrak....