Red

I like Pike, too. Perhaps a 2nd or 3rd, after our needs are somewhat addressed at LT and DT/ DE.

I'm sure you understand WHY divisional games keep going north of the border- it's a slick marketing thing forcing us to pay attention because its a divisional opponent. In the formula, this forces us Bills fans to support it. In normal cases of 2 competitive teams battling for an edge towards the playoffs, the formula makes sense. I think we can also agree, that from a marketing standpoint, it would be much harder to sell Lions vs Bills than Bills Dolphins, Patriots, etc. We can see that even the NFL has jumped on board now, by making this a "prime time" game on the NFL Network. All in attempt for more $$. I don't pretend to know what the Bills bottom line is in relation to the rest of the league. In other words, if this is truly a move out of need or merely a power grab of greed. All I can say is that there is something extremely hollow in playing these games in neutral territory (as close as Toronto is to the border, it ain't Buffalo!). Especially division games. Again, I don't know if the region can support the Bills, but Toronto reeks of a sell-out (to Bills fans).

I just read the article in Buffalo Rumblings about beefing up the run d being the big priority in the offseason. One of the great insights was to move Poz to the outside, where he played at Penn State. Then it dawned on me, perhaps we have the bulk of the LB's needed for a move to the 3-4. A new coaching staff, and perhaps a new philosophy to a 3-4 'D'. Poz on the outside, along with Maybin moved to OLB on the other side. Mitchell as one of the ILB's, and perhaps a big, rugged, block-shedding MLB or ILB signed for the other spot. Our secondary is solid, and this would allow Maybin and Poz to be in positions of strength. The only moves besides that ILB (boy, I miss Fletcher), would be on the defensive line. Roughly, we're talking about 4-5 free agents here (ILB, NT, DE). Thoughts?

I still believe, Kelly be damned (can't believe I said that), that Edwards has the tools to succeed. The problem is, that I believe that he needs time to learn and grow under the tutelage of someone who knows what they are doing. He was thrown into the fire against a-then Super Bowl team in the Patriots, and was able to showcase his accuracy and completion percentage. He also displayed his penchant for not turning the ball over- something that plagued both his predecessor (Losman) and he who came pre- Losman (Bledsoe). He plays (and has played) on a team that does not have an offensive line. He is still learning. He is best in a high precision attack; something West Coast offense-esque. I don't believe that the late Walsh and Levy were wrong about him. Look at all of the Losman lovers, coming out of the woodwork now because the Colts gave him a try-out. For his sake, I hope that he does well. But if he does, there will be something extremely bittersweet about it all. The Colts, for their undefeated record, have not only a world-beating QB, but also have an OFFENSIVE LINE! If he succeeds, I will be happy for him, but extremely sad for the Bills. I do not want to repeat the same thing with Edwards. I say, relegate Edwards to the bench either as a #2 or a #3. When the regime change occurs this offseason (hopefully firing Modrak and Guy and obtaining a real football GM), then someone will also hopefully be brought in to develop Brohm AND Edwards. Perhaps an offensive line can begin to be built. A veteran QB maybe signed or traded for that can establish some credibility until the next Kelly is found. I am not saying Edwards WILL be something, but I DO believe that he has been thrown into the fire with little schooling and protection to truly allow him to develop.

He did have this Bledsoe-esque habit of hanging onto the ball too long and staring down his receivers, as well...

Not so fast, speedy. The information cometh from Tom Modrak. He is in charge of assembling the information and assimilating the draft board. Besides, blaming it on Marv would assume that our picks mattered pre- Levy. BTW- they didn't. Between 2000-2005, the Bills had 50 picks. 6 are still with the team. Modrak has been with the club for 8 seasons now. Sounds like Modrak is the problem...

I'm an absolute College Football novice, but Pike from Cincy looks good, too.

For the Buffalo Bills, it is a Left Tackle. With that being said, how is this Pike kid from Cincy? He looks like a pretty good QB at a #5 school, and the offense looks very pro-like. I admit to knowing nothing about college football, but he looks like a pretty good prospect from a colder weather/ northern climate school.

Are you serious?!!?!? Are you claiming that there is no difference to playing outside in 80 degree weather and sun, or playing in a wet snow, 40 mph swirling wind 35 degree day? Have you ever played football?

None of them 'like' these coaches and front office personnel. The key trait in successful franchises, is that if the men in charge of the talent demonstrate an extreme inability in selecting said talent (ie. do their jobs), then they would be out alot quicker than 8-9 years. No one has said that anyone wants fragile QB's. I have stated that we need to select 1 thing, and do it better than anyone else. Have an identity. Something that makes practical sense, and just so happens to have a proven history of winning, too. That something is called a run game. There are certain ingredients needed to have a dominating run game. 1st, I believe an offensive line that can dominate is a priority. I think we are ok at RB. On defense, we need a big, tough defensive line to wear down opposing teams and stop their running game. This will put them into situations where they have to pass. Then we can worry about getting turnovers. The smallish, Tampa 2 defense is not the correct philosophy for a cold weather environment.

I can't figure out what happened to him. Is it solely because of the special teams players that we have lost via injury and free agency? Do we have inferior talent now on punt returns, as well? Or is it all Roscoe? All I know is, Mr. NFL Punt Return Leader ain't playin' like one this year.

I don't think so. The optimism was that a breath of fresh air came into the team, and the Bills should have won in Jacksonville. Then we had the 'Fins game. If they beat the Jets and Chiefs (which they should have), it would do alot toward leading this team back into respectability. That is why I got excited. As much as I want to believe, I know that this team would in no way beat Atlanta and Indy. The Patriots dynasty is beginning to crack, but I don't think we could beat them either. My excitement was in seeing a competitive team again.

Yeah, please think. Foreign concept to some, but it could come in handy. An undersized defense with a pop-gun attack is a recipe for disaster. or hurry-up pop-gun. P-gun, if you will. This team is a mess. It has to hire and fire. Modrak and Guy, need to be fired. A real, competent and proven GM, hired. Promote Nix. Reshape the scouting department. Get a future GM to be in charge of Pro Personnel and learn through experience. Someone who has been in charge of someone's draft and has PROVEN SUCCESS AT THE POSITION. Only he should be considered. Whomever that is. Give football GM authority over football operation. Football GM can hire his own coaching staff. These men, should all have the same plan and work to maximize the Bills based upon strengths (i.e. the environment, blue-collar nature of WNY, etc). Players drafted should fit into a system and a plan, not "best player available garbage". For instance, mauling, dominating offensive/ defensive linemen, are at this point, an extreme priority over any member of a secondary, WR, etc. Marv Levy was often quoted as saying: "To win, you have to be able to run and stop the run". This team can do neither. Start with the run on both sides of the ball. Chances are, in WNY and with an outdoor stadium, a grinding, dominating running game and a stout defense will be more key to turning this franchise around than any 'cadillac', glitz and glamour wide receiver. Finding a QB who will lead this team further and take over where Jimbo left off will take time, and luck. Maybe we already have him with Brohm. But I am not convinced that we have a coaching staff that will allow for the grooming of a QB. Bottom line: to be successful, we need to be able to do one thing (1) well. Let that be the run. We can build from there. Right now, the Bills can't do anything well.

Evans is paid handsomely, and is a premier talent. His shortcomings are more of a result of the overall suckitude of the entire offense, than just him. Owens, for all of his hype, is overpaid.

Mentioning Special Teams...what happened to our return game and what happened to Parrish? Even our coverage units are not as good. There was a time, not so long ago, when once the opposing player got the ball they advanced maybe 5 yards and were on the turf. That has been gone all season. But Parrish looks like a shell of his former self. Is our blocking scheme this bad, or has he just stopped trying?

Good call. Without a GM, it does not matter who is coach. Modrak & Guy should be run out of town. Brandon should be back in marketing.

You've obviously never played football in either warmer weather or very cold, wet, and windy.

Yes! I, having accepted the scorn all of the "big" name coaches turning down my beloved Bills, have come to the reality that a real, big name GM is 10x more important that any head coach at this point. Shanahan was fired in Denver for exactly what this post mentions. At this critical point in the future of the Bills both now and in the long term, is a strong, viable front office headed by football MEN (note: plural) who can lead this franchise back to the promised land. I don't need bells and whistles. Just get me the second coming of Polian...

That is an incredibly un-American thing to say. Next you'll be proposing that the First Amendment was a waste of time.

Absolutely. Vinny Cerrato is our Tom Modrak/ John Guy.

Not only that, but Kampman is also rumored to be interested in returning to DE in a 4-3 front; not being used as an OLB in a 3-4 alignment. Kampman, IMO, is a much better version of Kelsay. And I believe younger. Get 'em both done.

Thank You!

Yeah, let Wolf come in, assist with cleaning house and searching for, hiring, and acquiring top talent for the front office. I don't trust Brandon to find his own replacement. Wouldn't there be some attempt to save face?

I agree. Ralph does not hold back on paying for players. In fact, the front office OVERpays for production (see Kelsay and Parrish contracts). Where Ralph does sell the team cheap, or has in the past 10 years, is where it directly hits the pocketbook and profit of the team- the front office and coaching staff. Do I believe that we need to have a $10 million per year coach to be successful? NO. But I do believe, that we need to re-invest in the front office, and if that means paying an experienced GM top dollar, than I all for that. But those that see Ralph as some miser don't make much sense.

HAHAHA, now that has to be the comment of the day