BigBuff423

I apologize if it came off as dismissive or argumentative, I was just saying that even with all the projections and "experts" on the topic it rarely works anywhere near where we think it might. Teams usually "find" money for the players they want. That said, I can see the Bills taking a moderate approach to FAs. And I don't think they keep Tyrod.

Please understand I appreciate your intent to deviate the conversation from the same re-tread, tired discussions here over the last couple of weeks - so thank you. However, I just want to point out that all of the cap projections rarely if ever come out to be anything close to accurate because there are so many creative ways to shift the money. For God's sake, the Saints were OVER the cap to START the year and somehow worked through it.

In sports terms, I would define accountability this way: personal ownership for your actions, words, and attitudes while representing the franchise or professional sports organization that employs you. Additionally, accountability connotes the idea that each player is willing to be taken to task for his actions, words, and attitudes while playing on game day, during locker room exchanges, voicing opinions to the media, conducting themselves in the community and how he handles his personal issues related to his health and family. I include the notion of personal actions off the field because as we've seen with Dareus on the Bills and multiple other players, if you do not accept responsibility for your actions even when such actions are done in private, they can have game day implications and adversely effect the team as a whole. Furthermore, I am of the belief that sports is a medium by which more than just a score is communicated and in fact, they are a microcosm of our society's social agenda. It is an extension of what our local communities and the larger construct of social norms expect adult behavior to be and we use sports figures as icons or role models. Regardless of whether we think they "should" be or not, point in fact is they are. Evidenced by lucrative endorsement deals, commercials, and social networking sites, our young people do in fact view them with a different lens and perceive them as people, usually men, they admire and respect for the person they are and for what they achieve. However, accountability is not a rigid entity, rather it lives in the way it relates to all things tethered to the sports organization, thereby making it a required aspect of fundamental philosophy. There must be synergy of accountability and a clear structure of hierarchy within the organization or else there is an unspoken belief or understanding that accountability does not exist, despite the vocalized statement that such accountability is to or does exist. The structure of accountability must be clear, reinforced in multiple means of communication, and stated routinely to all levels of participants from the figurehead and leader of the organization. Accountability demands frequent clarity and a balance between constructive criticism and positive affirmation...

To me, Toub should have been on the Bills list to interview...his STs have been absolutely stellar since going to KC and so good, his ability to coach that portion of the team - that truly makes a difference should get a look.

All good - I meant it in jest....I don't give a rat's turd if it's freaking Elmo out there, if they're winning - all that matters to me.

What was I thinking - silly of me really. Given Sean Payton, Gary Kubiak, Adam Gase (at least playoffs this year), Bill O'Brien, McAdoo, Mike McCarthy. --- I am clearly delusional.

But to be fair John Harbaugh was a Special Teams Coordinator. He's done fairly well.

And I do NOT understand the infatuation with DCs as HCs??? You can have a great Offense who can develop a QB -- AND - a hire a DC that lead a talented Defense to actually defend the field and score your Offense just gained.

Add another DC to the list: https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/816050814087294976 I just don't understand the propensity for Defensive coaches. Get an Offensive minded one who can develop a QB for God's sake!!

And again: https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/816009034021085184 Dear God....all these DC interviews but Bevell & Shanahan remain unlinked to Bills.

And he should....football is great, and I love the sport...but NOTHING is more important than your family. He's young and would probably have several opportunities available to him where he doesn't have to risk permanent paralysis to take care of his family....do it, and don't look back. The game is a cold-blooded killer that will take everything from you if you don't know when to walk away...

What is it with this team and Defensive Coordinators as Head Coaches?? Why isn't this team leaning towards coaches with an Offensive bent and who've shown the ability to develop QBs? I mean, if you're going to go with the out of the box scenario, why not Toub out of KC? One of the best Special Teams units in the NFL since he arrived in KC a few years ago.

Dear God NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Again, you may be right - but IMHO, that only adds to the complexity in prognosticating which QB will be a quality NFL QB. In my mind, avoid them altogether and locate the Pro Style QB who passes from the pocket without running. They're there, but your Scouts have to find them, unearth their tools and then you must know the value to Draft properly.

And you may be right. However, Kirk Cousins comes to mind, Dalton, Carr, Luck (for the most part), Matt Ryan, Roethelisberger, Flacco....list goes on....basically, the best QBs in the NFL tend to be ones who remain in pocket and actually QB the team. As much as Brady is an outlier to the "you can find a good QB in the 6th round" argument, so is Russell Wilson in respect to this discussion. +1

I don't want a running QB, I want a pocket passer that never runs, like - ever. One who uses his mental acumen, accuracy, and throwing capability to score and move the chains. No to Watson....

OP makes a compelling case, and one that honestly, I believe I could support. I'm hoping the Bills can find an innovator and one who has shown they can produce Offense and QBs, because this team needs a QB they can identify with for the next decade or more. QB development comes as one the top two things they need to be able to do in my mind and while there will be much debate as to who that QB could / should be, and no I personally don't think he's on the roster right now, I think we can all agree developing the next great Buffalo QB, MUST be a priority....and in my mind, there's nothing more salient to Buffalo's future success than that single factor alone. They need to improve the Defense yes, they need to find depth at WR and TE, yes, and they need to find a kicker who doesn't get a case of the Yips every time the wind blows more than 5 mph, but QB development will set the course of this franchise, as it's absence already has, for the next 10 to 12 years.

Presuming this info is accurate - it explains the statement the following day that it is Doug Whaley's direction and ultimately, his decision. A public statement to alleviate all doubt and innuendo, as well as assigning responsibility for better or worse, right from the beginning.

I don't like the delivery - seems too Fitzmagic for....all his effort and body motion for a short pass, fast & zippy, but relatively short.

Personally, I don't like Watson. But if the team WERE to Draft him, I would hate the idea of doing so in the 1st round. I don't think he is worth that kind of investment. However, just like E.J., if the BILLS do draft him, I will pull for the guy to be successful because he wears the Bills' colors. I'm hoping the Draft a QB in the 2nd round, using a 1st on a Safety or Defensive Lineman based on the value once the pick is there....but, I can also see the value in the Bills selling out for everything to get "their guy", even trading UP, if there is a QB they so wholeheartedly believe in to be the future of the Franchise. In other words, sell out for everything to get the face of the franchise, or wait until the 2nd round to get your QB.

^^^ conjures the image of T.O. with the popcorn at Dallas stadium.

I agree....but tyranny also has it's downside....I like Coughlin, not sure I'd want him as a HC at this point, but Strahan during his NFL Football Life documentary indicated Coughlin came in tough as nails, and it helped, but it got much better when he relaxed just a smidge to allow the players to be people as well....fine line.

I'm not in the "tank" faction, but I still think there are good QBs to be found but they do have to be "found", they don't walk in off the street. For all the talk about highly touted QBs, people seem to forget there are a number of mid-round QBs playing quite well for teams...they don't have to be 1st round QBs and I think if the BILLS scouted properly, it can be done in this year's Draft and still locate a QB to play for 2017 such as Glennon or another guy, ala Foles, etc. Someone who can pass the ball, but doesn't have to carry the team.

Your final statement in parentheses is exactly the problem with many of us as Bills fans: "we could do a lot worse"....whereas successfully franchises see this, "we can do a lot better", as in - mediocrity is not much different than total failure, we need to significantly improve and such improvement is EXPECTED, not squandered on "we could do a lot worse"....please don't take this a personal attack, since I think most of us have been in this mindset for far too long. But this off-season and Tyrod embodies what needs to change at One Bills Drive and from the fan base: we need to EXPECT excellence, not be surprised by it....just my .02

Have to agree in principle with OP's general statement and begs the question: what do all of the great HCs have in common? Is there some way with careful consideration to history, that one can reasonably predict future success? I don't have the answer but what does strike me is, many of the successful HCs "came out of nowhere" until they started to win and got noticed. That alone tells me, while a GM / Owner need to identify a man who can do the job, they also need to be willing to take the risk of a relatively unknown commodity. An unpopular path to take in these times.