Red

For as small town as Buffalo is, and for as much a part UB is of the sports community in WNY, you would think that a nationally televised game would have been a priority. I wouldn't only fault those 2 bozos, as the stations producers would also seem to deem it not enough of a priority worth of discussion. A perfect example of what ails the area. WNY is too divided to truly grow and succeed. There needs to be a complete and united approach to marketing the area. Clearly, Simon does not get it.

Exactly. This has been my only addendum to fans calling for Jauron's head at season's end. That being, it is not all his fault. There are 2 individuals in the front office that have been the biggest constant this decade besides Ralph- and that would be Tom Modrak and John Guy. My concern is that if people only call for Jauron's ouster, then Ralph will not hear the outcry that it is really organizational change in the front office that we need; in addition to a new coaching staff. Bobby April and Sanders do atleast appear to be retainable. Everyone else can go. Combine the lack of success Modrak and Guy have had since coming aboard at OBD with the marketing ploys of wannabe-GM-Brandon and you have a recipe for the decade of futility that we have been a witness to for this decade. Solely firing Jauron at seasons end, and bringing in anyone at HC will only go so far. Bring in Shanahan, Cowher, whomever. With Modrak, Guy, and Brandon still having a hand in the football operations the results will remain the same.

uh, NO! Never liked the guy. Too much ego. Can't stand him. My list is still: Gruden, Holmgren, Shanahan, and Shottenheimer. My darkhorse would be Dungy. Now, Shanahan would most likely be headed to Dallas or Washington. Dungy would probably not come out of retirement with Brandon, Modrak, and Guy running the show. Gruden is intriguing, but I think he will have free reign to patiently field offers and decide what is best for him. I don't see Gruden leaving the warm confines of a southern team, though. That would leave Holmgren and Shottenheimer. I have a feeling that when Holmgren was stating he wanted to coach on the east coast, he was referring to the the Bills. I know, I'm dreaming. But Walsh was high on Edwards before we drafted him. He saw him as a good QB who could fit in a West Coast-style of offense. Now, both Holmgren and ultimately Gruden hail from that system. I could see Holmgren happy with Buffalo if the front office was cleared out and he had more of say. If Holmgren did not work out, Shottenheimer would be a perfect fit for this club. He is proven to get teams playing hard and atleast making the playoffs on a consistent basis. He, too, has a no nonsense attitude that holds players accountable and would be something that this Bills team desperately needs. He is familiar with the Bills organization and Ralph Wilson as having been a former player. And he would most likely come at a relative bargain considering the other higher profile names that are out there. Finally, Marty-ball is a perfect fit for the cold weather, late November/ early December Buffalo Bills. Grounding and pounding in the cold. Talk about wearing down a defense. This could all change, of course, if Jeff Fisher were to be fired. But with the Titans set to get on a roll (and win again this Sunday), I'm starting to think about Fisher being on the hot seat may be a tad premature. So, I'm for Holmgren or Shottenheimer.

Billick is overrated. Wouldn't want him.

Woa! Easy there, tiger. Where do you get off predicting the Bills having such an offensive "explosion" of 13 points?

Yeah, I actually spent some time watching football. Big difference between that and what comes out of OBD these days...

Huh? We made Vick a dog-killer? We made him, a free, supposedly college educated, "man" choose to have butchering rings at his home, despite what the laws of the land said about it? You're trying to claim that he was the victim?

I could not agree more. I would add that a mistake is something that is just that; something not thought out, something that was too hastily said, done, etc. "I acted in error", "I'm sorry, I did not know" are examples of mistakes. Vick was far from acting as though his behavior was a mistake. Premeditated acts of murder, which also happen to be against the law, are not mistakes. They are deliberate actions. We are talking about a huge business, that makes millions, upon millions of dollars for its participants, and required vast amounts of planning (since he staged the events). He knew the risk. Yet he took it anyway. That is not a mistake. He is only saying that it was a mistake because he got caught. This is who you would want running your football team? This is the "leadership" that one can count on? You make a great argument, aussiew.

As I alluded to earlier, arguments of the ignorant abound! Population in the US has not grown to explain the increase in body weight based upon a higher pool of people with which to pull. The other question, is how is all of this bodyweight suddenly transferrable to muscle? I don't question a large framed, basketball-type player being capable of eating himself to 350 lbs. What I do find highly suspicious, is then how this basketball-framed individual weighing 350 lbs is then able to find a way to actually move that mass, at such a level so as to actually play an entire game of football at such a high level as in the NFL. Clearly, you have little to no personal experience with training. I do not mean that as an insult, but rather unless you have attempted to do it with your own physiology, you would know not that which you speak. You have introduced an interesting furthering of what is out there, though- that being how college athletes are now demonstrating physiques and weights that were unheard of a mere decade ago. NCAA rules prohibit student athletes from working, and pretty strict on how these athletes can gain any source of income. How are they paying for their drug bill? Who is paying it? Agents? Parents?

I Billieve in Dungy.

"Brutal" 9'ers fans? I've been to a game in San Fran, and this is the home of the fans whom clap. Perhaps it is the proximity to Napa and the cultured folk who travel to the vineyards, but I would hardly classify those fans as "brutal".

Yeah, after watching yesterday's game, the Bills will be eaten alive by the Titans. There was a play near the goal line where I believe it was Patrick Willis caught a scrambling Vince Young for a minimal gain. I saw that play, and realized that we will probably be gouged by Young on a play just like that all day long. The announcers were also speaking about how the Titans don't see anyone left on their schedule whom they don't think they can beat. This coming Sunday is certainly no different. 34-10 Titans.

"physical freak of nature". Pssh. More like physical user of dianabol, HGH, etc.

Still is prevalent. How is it that in the 1980's, perhaps 1 player ("The Fridge" Perry), weighed in over 300lbs, and now it is unheard of for an offensive lineman or interior defensive lineman to weigh less than 300 lbs? Linebackers, running backs, and even wide receivers who look like bodybuilding Mr. Universe's?!? Go back and look at the videos of games from 15 years ago, and look at the physiques of the players. Compared to now, they are sprouts. Now, the ignorant will say that training has improved, nutrition has improved, etc, etc, etc. All baloney! There have been a total of "0" (read: zero) revolutionary advances in training, nutrition, etc that would cause such a dramatic overall average shift in both the playing weights and physiques of NFL players. As someone who is schooled, degreed, and certified in athletic training, these physiques are clearly unsustainable without heavy dosages of human growth hormone, anabolic steroids, and the like. You at that training camp picture of Pozluzny from this year. I don't care how much weight training you do. Your mandible (jaw bone), forehead, and nose don't grow from lifting weights. Those are telltale signs of anabolic steroid abuse. The NFL touts sports strongest drug test, and I do believe that players pay it respect. But the drug test occurs in season. What you can see, is that the players circumvent this by juicing in the offseason, then tapering off during the year. Read the books out there. It may have been one of Canseco's, but he talks at length about HGH and its healing properties for an athlete. Now looking back, I believe that it was written by a former steroid dealer/ "trainer". Why is everyone so blind to it all?

There are psychological studies that have demonstrated a connection between people who disregard the life of an animal and inflict torture upon said animal tend to lean on the side of a psychopath and sociopath. Though I agree with your point that ultimately, people are more important in the grand scheme of things, I would have to steadfastly disagree that all he did was "fund a dog fighting ring"; as if it was some minor occurrence equivalent to, say, killing a spider. Dog fighting, rooster fighting, gambling...last time I checked, these were all illegal activities.

True. Which I don't understand. Is it perhaps that the generation has changed, and the younger generation now working cares less for fielding a winner than the previous one? The culture of "15 minutes of fame" is more enamored with HAVING a professional franchise than fielding a winner? Or perhaps the way in which today's fan makes his/ her money is easier than the older, manufacturing generation of old? Working in a plush, white collar office is sure different than busting your a$$ every day in a sweat shop factory as my Dad used to do. I surmise that it may tend to make one appreciate money more. Just a theory... On a side note, I do like the Russ "PT Barnum" Brandon tag.

Well, put. And wasn't he supposed to stay suspended longer? I thought it was amazing as how the NFL seemed to gradually reduce his suspension and punishment by allowing him to be signed, then allowing him to practice, then...at just about the same time McNabb goes down..wouldn't you know who suddenly gets clearance to play...none other than the Godfather himself, Michael Vick. There was a tremendously researched and backed story out of Seattle the week before the Bills played the Buccaneers about their TE-Jeramy Stevens. I apologize for not having the link, but it talked at length about his history of rape, drunk driving, and violence and how they all seem to be erased, no matter where he goes, no matter what state they occur in. Look at Marshawn Lynch. He was so drunk that not only hit a woman, but he then fled the scene. "Pacman" Jones. Chris Henry. The list goes on, and on, and on... There clearly is a certain gutter mentality with alot of players these days. Clearly, there have always been character issues with athletes in sports. But those tended to be smaller, centralized characters rather than a general lack of a moral compass as evidenced by so many professional athletes of our modern era. And before you start parading Baseball as an example, let us not forget that it should be forever tarnished for its blatant use and abuse of anabolic steroids in destroying such an American original. Cheating with performance enhancing drugs is just as criminal as rape, drunk driving, etc. Baseball still has not made right IMO. I was, in fact, surprised to see the NFL allow WR Plaxico Burress to be punished like they did. But who are we kidding? That was about Nanny-State, liberal, NY Mayor Bloomberg getting his face time by making an exemplary case over guns. I applaud Goddell for being the first Commissioner in any major sport to actually step up and start enforcing some sort of personal conduct policy. At some level, if allowed to go unchecked, this unruly and dangerous behavior will at some point affect the bottom line. But it is somewhat depressing to see how low sports have become. Principles such as the joy of the game, teamwork, and competition have been replaced with win at all costs, no matter who gets hurt along the way. It's all about the money.

I like the Ben Watson and Aaron Kampman possibilities...

yeah, and all that razzle-dazzle may work great in a dome, but out in the frigid confines of Buffalo, in late November and December, its not the best strategy for getting it done. a Vick signing would really put the brakes on a Gruden or Schottenheimer signing, too. I'm starting to see that Brandon at GM is a huge mistake. If the Owens signing is any indicator, he is thinking that signing the hottest "sizzle" every year is going to have fans crashing the gates at OBD, salivating at the newest sideshow (ok, maybe 40,000 will buy into this). The issue with this approach is that it has nothing to do with an actual PLAN, a GOAL of how to build a team. They will never win with this approach and with a marketing guy calling the shots of the football team.

And just a question to all in Bills nation, why, after Vick was released from prison, when asked about the Bills being interested in Vick, Brandon was so insistent that the Bills were not interested in him? I understand not tipping your hand to your opponents, and they were probably not sure of what Vick they would be getting since he had not played football for like 3 seasons. Not to mention the bad PR with signing such a player recently released from prison. So I can understand the "poking" and proverbial "kicking of the tires" that may have been going on. But with all of that being said, why was Brandon so sure that they were not interested, but then now we learn that the Bills were interested and may be indeed interested again?

And doesn't that just infuriate you? I was excited when I read this this morning. I thought that a real QB (who once was the poster boy of the NFL prior to his dog killing ring broke news) could really be an exciting thing. I then went so far to think to myself: "hmm...Dungy as personal advisor for Vick...Jauron most likely gone after this season...Bills sign Vick...also will be looking for head coach...Dungy is "retired"...Bills may then hire Dungy!!!!!" Ofcourse, then I came on here, and was slapped back to reality that with Brandon making the call, and him being a marketing guy, and being similar to the Owens contract, a Vick signing would be another ploy to sell seats. A strategy to sell more suites in Toronto. But NOT a strategy with which to build a team. I know that some will come on here and be staunch supporters of such a move. All that I can say is that time will tell. But if Owens signing for a 1-year deal is an indicator, and now the rumors will be flying about the Bills in the market for Vick, is this what we will be? A town with a marketing guy-turned-GM who sells the team like some circus, with a new gate attraction every year ("look at the 4 armed man! What a great WR he could be...")? And if Modrak and Guy were to stay entrenched for another year, with no change in the front office, then a marketing ploy is all that it would be.

You know, I have been looking at this as a positive until I read this post. Unfortunately, with a marketing guy making all of the key football decisions, I think that you are right. Cynical as it may be, and until the Bills get a real football man at GM, methinks that this reeks of another marketing ploy to sell seats and attract Toronto fans than it is to field a real TEAM. I was excited about the possibility, but then realized who is doing the talking. Brandon. I'd feel much better with a real football GM making the call, and with Modrak and Guy gone, and perhaps Dungy as head coach.

For some reason I can see the Patriots signing him, getting a good 4 years out of him, and pounding out butts yet again two times every year.

If the NFL needs to intervene with the Bills organization, it has to be at the top with the removal of John Guy and Tom Modrak. This is not in defense of Jauron, rather, it is clear that Ralph feels comfortable with those 2 baffoons to the point that he allows them to stay on even after the factor that brought them onto the team- Tom Donahoe- has not been with the team for a few years now. I am growing concerned that Ralph is having more of Al Davis moments these days. But instead of Davis' unfortunate case of what appears to be dementia, Ralph is clinging too much to a false sense of continuity at the expense of fielding a strong product on the field.

Well, Holmgren has said recently that he would like to coach on the east coast. I think that it would be fair to say that after the Zorn incident in Washington, that the Redskins are clearly out of the running so long as Cerrato is the GM and Snyder is the owner. Cleveland could be a possibility, and I love the way that Lerner is being swift and decisive. He's not dawdling, he's not consulting some "brain trust". He is going out for proven NFL talent, and that is to be commended. I wish the Bills would do the same. But I am concerned that Ralph does not see a problem with Modrak, Guy, or Brandon running the football operation. Clearly, the GM-by-committee does not work, and has done nothing for the Bills this decade. I would be completely renewed as a Bills fan if at some point this year, Ralph could see Modrak and Guy for the useless poison that they have been since brought in to the Bills organization. I would be floored if Ralph hired a real, proven, NFL GM to come in and fix the football product. But there I go, dreaming again...