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Let me clarify...I am not saying he is completely hands off. In order to develop and run the entire program he has installed in Seattle (as a 62 year old) he would have to set the tone and place a very high degree of trust in his coaches to carry the message. That is what might be most intriguing to teams interested in Quinn; maybe they see him as a mini-Carroll. Quinn would seemingly be the closest assistant on his staff. Also, it is difficult for a HC to stay plugged in as much to the entire game if they lean too heavily towards one side of the ball. It seems Carroll is always on the money with things like the trick plays we saw tonight. My stated concern about Ryan is his game management. My suggestion was designating an assistant and creating a dedicated channel in his headset for discussing game situations. I wondered if Ryan would have went for two tonight like Seattle did or if he would have already turned his focus towards how to stop Green Bay's two minute offense. Make sense?

And I agree with all of this...and I will add that Rex does not appear to be power hungry. I hope he proves to be what we seem to both think he is - an experienced, stabilizing piece to keep the team moving in the right direction. I also think the fifth year was a differentiator. Maybe a "We know we don't have a first round pick and a proven QB in 2015 so we will give you an extra year to get things humming."

I get the sense that Carroll is more willing to delegate at this stage of his career than Rex currently does. Also, there is a certain cache over hiring someone away from the Super Bowl champions and if Seattle wins it again it only helps. Seattle's formula is one of a few in the NFL worth emulating...that's for sure.

It doesn't change anything YOU said. However, I would invite you to go back and read my original post. The comparison is not random coordinator against random HC being candidates for two different teams. I found it interesting that both candidates were defensively focused and up for the same job. One, the Bills hired, and one was "worth waiting for". Another factor is that it was a foregone conclusion that Rex was going to Atlanta. So...why did it not go down as everyone except the Falcons had predicted? On a side note - I doubt that if I had made a similar error that you would just let it go. Like most people on this board I favored an offensive minded coach but I took it one step further - with HC experience (like Pat Shurmur or Gary Kubiak - REALISTIC options for the Bills). Never did I see Ryan coming here. Once it went down I actually warmed up to the hire and explicitly pointed out in detail in more than one post why.

Dan Quinn is a defensive coordinator. So... Also...I appreciate the tip. I will change my avatar. I was never aware of the mask.

I am not sure if anyone said Quinn was a giant... I know it wasn't me. Personally, I have stated that Ryan was the right choice for the Bills right now - experience is a key factor... #1 on my list actually. Other posters have morphed my original post. Things happen. I just thought it interesting that they passed on Rex... Twice.

I think some of the barriers have definitely been knocked down. Actually, no. The point was the job was actually more difficult in Seattle because there is more competition for people's entertainment dollar. Now that money should not be a barrier this should be an exciting time for Buffalo residents. And, actually, the onfield win-loss record of the Bills should factor minimally in the overall impact of the region.

And Ryan could be considered one of those coordinators who has had limited success as a HC. Where else was he going to be hired?

Jay Glazer has already reported it.

yes...0-0

OH...OK...well the answer is still there. His record is 0-0. So far he has been hired. So there's that...which is nice.

Well...true...very true.

Could be... That's the popular, highly reported version of the story. I am not espousing one over the other. Not looking to bash or criticize anyone. But, to answer your question, Quinn's record as a HC is 0-0 which, assuming 0 is a number is a .500 winning percentage. Ryan is 50-52...less than .500.

In the mid-1990's Seattle was clearly a baseball town at risk of losing their NFL franchise. The entire state of Washington literally begged Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen to step in and buy the team. Approximately 20 years later on the other side of the country.................. Let's hope the comparisons don't end there!

I agree that players are ultimately the difference. My main point was was pretty specific. Given their choice, Atlanta clearly chose Quinn as the better Head Coach option over Ryan. Atlanta's FO has decades more football experience than the Bills. It will just be interesting to see it all play out. Granted...too many variables to make a direct comparison. Who knows, maybe Quinn came out and flat out told the Bills (through his agent) "Don't bother."

Good thing one game does not make a career and three quarters don't make a whole game. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_rating_career_playoffs.htm

Atlanta definitely decided that Quinn was the better HC option over Rex Ryan. Two defensive minded coaches. Rex was seemingly a lock to go to ATL. It will be interesting to watch each of them progress over the next few years. I really like Quinn especially due to the fact that he has been a big factor in Seattle's recent success.

Every team had a right to claim him via waivers. Sometimes it is smart to make a claim to keep someone away from a division rival. The Bills FO had to have a sense he would go to NE.

Ha-Ha....:-)

Sorry guys...correct. College and CFL.

I am not sure of the details of Blount's contract but every team had an opportunity to claim Blount and pay him as per his agreement with the Steelers. Only after that was he free to negotiate with other teams. The Bills could have contacted his agent after he cleared waivers to try to negotiate with him and you will never know. If he wanted to go to NE there is very little the Bills could have done.

Interesting fact about that play. The score is 21-20 SEA. If GB intercepts the pass and runs it back, they are awarded 2 points - 22 -21 GB. The interesting thing is that SEA (the TD scorer) kicks to GB. So, GB goes up AND gets the ball back. That play was riskier than most would realize.

Well said...I agree. Winners never have to apologize for how they played. Winning is ALL that matters. As I stated in the other thread - Russell Wilson is a winner. For those of you in love with stats as an indicator of greatness - enjoy the Pro Bowl. I prefer wins as the ultimate indicator. *Even though Wilson has the stats as well.

Enjoy the Pro Bowl. Winning is ALL that matters.

I was not high on either of the coordinators as HC candidates. I am now. The Seahawks on the field, led by Carroll and the coaching staff, just never ever ever give up. They are the best staff at making adjustments. AND Pete Carroll is the consummate game day Head Coach. Whether it was the fake punt, two point conversion, onside kick...that's why the HC HAS to delegate and trust the coordinators and be able to make the risky calls as needed. I hope Rex was watching.