CodeMonkey

How much longer does the "everything was Ryans fault" parade go on? I seriously wonder if Russ orchestrates these types of stories to make the organization look better than it is to preserve season ticket sales next season.

Not hanging the players out to dry in the press is the sign of a good coach, not a bad one. Doesn't mean he wasn't holding the players accountable privately. In Rex's case however I suspect he wasn't in private either, but my point is a good coach doesn't air their grievances with players in the press, only petty ones trying to save their asses do.

EJ said he planned on playing the entire game, FWIW.

Tomlin just announced that Big Ben and several other starters won't play Sunday. Granted it is only the Browns they are playing but doing that admits that winning that particular game is not their top priority.

Why Lynn? He is already here and would probably take the job. But what in his body of work makes him someones top pick for HC? I'm not anti, just curious why this guy with less than a years experience as a coordinator would be a top pick?

Cardale apparently hasn't been doing anything all season but run the practice squad, so my assumption is he simply isn't ready or maybe they already know he sucks based on practices. Anyway, he is apparently getting 2nd team reps this week so who knows, maybe he gets in at some point Sunday.

CBS with Spread (Bills -6): 3 Bills 5 Jets. (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/against-the-spread/17) CBS Straight Up: 6 Bills 2 Jets. (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks/straight-up/17) ESPN: 7 Bills 2 Jets. (http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks) Microsoft Cortana: Went 56% week 16. Buffalo a 71% chance of winning. (http://www.cortanapredictions.com/) FiveThirtyEight:. Went 9-7 week 16. Bills 58% chance of winning. ELO point spread 2.5. (http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nfl-predictions/) Amos: Went 63% week 16. Buffalo a 53% chance of winning. (http://trevorbischoff.com/2016-amos-nfl-predictions/) For the season so far: FiveThirtyEight has called 64% of the games correctly. Cortana 63% Amos 56% If you did nothing but pick home teams you'd be at 57% for the season.

I'd shut him down too FWIW. He isn't getting any younger and has nothing to prove. Let Mike G. get some reps.

He is the interim HC for one meaningless toilet bowl of a game. Probably only because they need someone to decide whether to kick a field goal or go for it. 90% of his time will still be being the OC. EJ over TT was not a football decision, it was a business one. Nothing surprising about this to me.

Meaningful how? But yes, fecal fest seems appropriate.

Russ being in love with Rex makes sense for the marketing value. Ahhhh well, water under the bridge now I suppose. Here's to hoping they get their collective heads out of their asses this time around. So, will Rex be a talking head for one of the networks by time the playoffs come around?

What is so hard to grasp about having a GM who has been around a few years is definitely involved in picking the HC. Maybe in name he wasn't "leading the search" like it has been declared now. But he sure as !@#$ had input in the decision to hire the HC of the team he is the GM of. Either Whaley was greatly involved or the owners were incompetent, you make the call. Whaley apologists are a loyal bunch, I'll give you that.

My guess also. But we are talking about the Bills so who knows.

So he wasn't involved in hiring Rex? Hard for me to believe, and if true it really paints the Pegulas as really stupid bungling owners.. But, I do agree that the GM should hire the HC, as they need to be on the same page.

Yeah maybe, not sure. Maybe the average Bills fans just had enough for one season. Funny (sad, not ha ha) is even as unlikely as the Bills making the playoffs was, they would still be alive now had they taken care of their own business.

Apparently the Bills Fish game was the lowest ratings in the Buffalo market ever. This game is shaping up to beat that

He also stated years ago he would not go anywhere that didn't have a good QB in place as he didn't have the time or patience to wait it out.

Logic has no place in the thread fine sir.

The only thing that makes sense to me is that the ones that are upset only care week to week about winning that particular game. They don't think about, and/or don't care about anything BUT winning the next game. Winning the Jets game is the only thing that matters right now, In that context you start TT no question.

I don't read that this means TT is gone for sure. I read it as they are getting a new HC and possibly a new OC, and they will decide on a QB along with Whaley. If it is decided that TT is gone why risk the injury clause. And if TT stays why risk a Derek Carr happening to him in a meaningless game. Makes no sense to me to play him or even dress him. I suspect part of the reason Rex got fired now is that he was going to play TT simply to get him to .500 for the season so his record looked better.

They know what TT is. Playing this game against the Jets tells them nothing extra. They also know what EJ is. This is nothing more than running out the season and not risking TT, either for next season and/or the injury clause in his contract. Cardale might see some action, who knows. But I'd guess he is nowhere near ready to play. This is just the safest way to finish the season, IMO.

So the team is "retarded" for not risking TT's injury clause kicking in and paying over 27 million (I believe) to have him play in a meaningless game against the Jets? Playing TT this Sunday and risking that would lead you to believe the team is less dysfunctional?

It's because of the injury clause in his contract not to tank the game for a little higher draft pick.. Meaningless game not worth the risk even a little bit.. It's the smart decision.

It's pretty clear they are in over their heads. Anyone would be, new to sports ownership and owning two teams in different sports, and at the top level (not even including the Amerks). Plus trying to pretty much single handedly revive the city of Buffalo. The Ryan hiring, with that contract in particular, was far more concerning to me than the firing. We'll see how they do as owners as time goes on.

Never said a coach had to be all unicorns and rainbows. You were implying that a HC needs good people skills. I was just pointing out that is not the case with an example.