BuffaloinLA

Great article. Really shows how the NFL needs to crack down on agents and make them lose their accredidation if they break the rules. The only people who suffer are the universities and the players who come afterwards (see USC, Reggie Bush). Along the same lines, there are definite violations committed by the universities themselves. Tnhis past year, a friend of the family was recruited by a major conference football team. At the weekend for all of the recruits, they were entertained by the current players who (legally) were given $ to take them out. However, our friend said that he was asked: do you want drugs, do you want women? The coach had left by then, but was surely cognizant of what was being done.

Is he going to visit the college, watch the practices, and work out the QB's. I don't think so. He will only be able to see 2 games in person - one each week? Not quite sure why this is better than just watching the game on TV?

As someone stated earlier he did not say anything significant, did not address selling the team, what got us into this position in the first place,... So What does "taking the blame" really mean? NOTHING!

If we had not drafted Spiller, there would have been no need to trade Lynch

Even If I agreed with extending Kelsay, I would say that that is a pathetic "best move" for a front office.

Aside from cutting Trent, can anyone name ONE positive move that the Bills Front Office has made in the past year? I don't consider drafting Spiller a good move because a) we did not need a RB b) he has not contributed much this year c) even if he was best player available, we could have traded down and drafted a LB and OT.

If there are teams willing to trade with us, keep trading down and stockpiling draft picks. If we get lucky and play our cards right, we could probably trade our 1st picks in round 1 and round 2 and end up with 5 picks in the first 2 rounds. That is HOW YOU BUILD THROUGH THE DRAFT! (assuming we don't draft Maybins, McCargo's, Whitners,...!)

Well, since we have not won a game this year, we HAVE to be better. Plus the examples you cite from the 70's and 80's are irrelevant since thee was no free agency, no salary cap, and balanced schedules in those years. You are willing to "contend for the division" in 2012? Having gone through the glory years of the early 90's, contending is not sufficient, Winning the Super Bowl is the ONLY goal!

In response to point 3, it is very easy to get a very good serviceable running back in later rounds or via trade: See Jets, Eagles, Texans (Jets getting Thomas Jones, Seattle giving up a 4th for Marshawn). Also, running backs have short shelf lives (Terrell Davis, Earl Campbell, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson,...) so not wise to use high draft picks on them. We should have traded down from that pick and drafted 2 OL who combined would probably have cost less than Spiller. According to Marv Levy, the Bills had Poz rated ABOVE Willis! That lack of talent evaluation is the reason for our abysmal drafts.

I have been a Bills fan since 1967. I remember trying to pick up Rochester TV as a 5 year old and watching Monte Ledbetter catch a touchdown pass against the Oilers. However, those days were before salary caps, unbalanced schedules, and free agency so it was much harder to turn a team around. Additionally, even in those horrid times, we NEVER went 11 years without a playoff berth. Also, in some of those years, at least the games were entertaining and there were highlights to watch. The games now are unwatchable - there are only so many 3 and outs that one can stand! Lastly, we did not have the sword over our heads of moving the team. Unfortunately, I am positive that unless Ralph decides he wants to sell to a Buffalo investor group for a significant discount, that the team will be in Toronto or (more likely) LA.

Totally agree that teams WAY OVERVALUE draft picks. If you look historically, most 1st rounders are mediocre or busts. The way to build a team is to do 3 things: a) trade down to stockpile picks b) trade your picks for established veterans (w/out having to pay signing bonuses) c) use the cash saved from the high 1st rounders to sign FA's These are things (surprise, surprise) the Bills don't do. In fact, they do just the opposite, trading up to get Losman, McCargo, Poz ...

if there were no OT's or QB's available they could have easily traded down and gotten a tackle (Bulaga) and another pick. They also could have traded out of their 2nd round pick, and still picked up Troup. In the end, we could have had Bulaga, another pick, Claussen, and Troup. If the Bills want to "build through the draft", then they have to accumulate picks and draft people where they should be drafted and not higher. Remember, they also mentioned that they had Levi Brown as the top rated QB in the ENTIRE draft. Either they think all QB's stunk or (surprise, surprise) they misjudged the talent

I heard today from a former NFL quarterback that the Seahawks wanted to trade for Marshawn Lynch and our 1st round draft pick but Bills "Nixed" it. Not sure what they offerred, but the way to "Build through the draft" is to stockpile picks. IMO, if the Bills had kept trading down we could have had Claussen, Cody or Williams at NT, as well as a LT instead of Spiller and Troup. I think that most people would have graded that draft an A versus the C that most gave the Bills.

And don't forget Travis Henry in the 2nd round

THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE TRADED DOWN!!! Nuff Said

EXACTLY - Why didn't they wait a few more minutes to listen to offers as opposed to putting their pick right away!!!

No, since they put the pick in right away

Terrible Pick! Nix is no better than Marv There is no need for a RB: Jackson and Lynch are good enough and running backs are a dime a dozen and have short lifespans. Plus, there is no O-Line for him to run behind. Should have gone OLine or Dline Does anybody expect anything different. We could have traded down! I give up on this team - at least when they move to LA I can get take over my dad's season tix!

May be we should hire the following OFFENSIVE coordinators: #9 on the list - Mike Mularkey (Oh that is right we already fired him). #15 on the list - Kevin Gilbride (Oh that is right we already fired him). #19 on the list -Dan Henning (Oh that is right we already fired him). May be we should hire the following DEFENSIVE coordinators: #6 on the list - Dick LeBeau (Oh that is right we already had him). #7 on the list - Gregg Williams (Oh that is right we already fired him). #17 on the list -Wade Phillips (Oh that is right we already fired him).

Of course, you are more likely to get inured when a) you don't practice in pads during the week b) you design your team around SMALLER quicker players c) you fire Rusty Jones the strength and conditioning coach d) you have inferior talent getting beaten up by bigger, better, stronger players Jauron in chicago also was beset by a rash of injuries. Coincidence? I think not.

Marty has buffalo connections and has won EVERYWHERE he went. Look at San Diego AFTER he left. Yes, he may be 5-13 in Playoff games - but that means he has been in the playoffs 13 seasons (More than the Bills in the last 40 years?) He is not my 1st choice, but I would prefer him to Holmgren (won only because of Favre) and Shanahan (won only because of Elway). Would love to get Cowher but not going to happen.

At this point, TO brings nothing to the team, and I am sure that he does not want to be in Buffalo anymore. Why not let release him, give him a chance to sign with a contender and see what the young WR's can do?

Agreed. Usually players who will amount to something show flashes of brilliance but not consistency. He is unable to even get on the field, and when he does, he is invisible. The big question is why do the Bills, with so many glaring needs, draft a situational player?

Let's not forget that the Bills traded up to draft him and stated that "they had him rated higher than Willis!" - shows a bit about their talent evaluation abilities.

I have been a Bills fan since I was a kid the 60's, and my dad has had season tickets since 1961. I now live in LA and [unfortunately] made my 12 year old into a Bills Fan (whuch means he has not seen a playoff game since he has been out of diapers]. Not only have I lost all emotion for the Bills (Last night I took the Bills magnets off of our fridge) I actually root for them to lose - because that is the only way that Ralph will make any changes. I feel no obligation of loyalty to a team that feels no loyalty to its fans. As one person so aptly commented [paraphrased]: "How can a bunch of no-nothing fans no MORE than so-called experts at OBD!