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To be fair it's the same two posters that always come to Russ' defense. Most people had your back. It's easy enough as a fan to make sure our pitchforks are sharp and ready to go. I reapect the overall opinion of the guys that disagreed with you, I just think they're off base with regards to Ol' Rusty.

Had Tyrod not ran to his left for a loss and stayed in bounds on our final drive we actually would've been able to get the ball back. It's been years of watching humiliating clock management, but let's not kid ourselves. The Steelers spanked us. We were only in it because they went full on prevent defense, and McCoy and Clay were able to take advantage of the open space.

Well he definitely has to be a me-first kind of guy in order to have gotten where he is, especially with the new regime and him maintaining his position. Someone posted in another thread how he has so easily thrown other people under the bus. As for the "cool kids" theory and the idea that he's more of a yes-man...I'm not so sure. I think he hires people that he doesn't feel threatened by (Whaley, Nix, Marrone, Rex, etc.). He likes to position himself near people that are not strong enough to undermine his role with the team. I think he's done a great job distancing himself from the crap on the field in press conferences, but he always comes off very snarky to me in those season-ending interviews. He uses too many buzz words like, "no stone left unturned" and other crap that's just begging for the question, "when will you finally be held accountable?" I will say, for the millionth time on these boards, I don't think Brandon is solely to blame for our futility, but he's been involved with way too many horrendous decisions that are to blame. At a certain point you need to self evaluate, and I hope Terry has the balls to do that sooner rather than later.

And here I thought you had turned a corner What part of calling Rex and telling him what bottle to bring to impress the Pegula's tells you that he's simply a facilitator...? I'm less... gullible I suppose is the word I'll use, and I'm sorry if it's offensive. I think Brandon is not simply a facilitator as you put it. I don't think he's master planning everything either, but he's definitely way too involved.

I've already decided that if Tyrod gets the nod against the Browns I won't watch. I would not enjoy for one second watching him beat one of the worst teams ever amassed in the history of the sport. It would do nothing for me. I don't even know how many games over the last ten years I've watched after we've been eliminated from the playoffs. For whatever reason I just don't have it in me.

Between the looming future of Tyrod, Rex, and Brandon, Russ is the only one that will for sure be here next year. He's way too involved. This article, your post, WGR rants...it all changes nothing. Brandon runs the ship now. He's the President or managing partner of the Bills, the Sabres, the Americans, the Bandits, and the whole Pegula Sports/Entertainment. His recent promotions probably makes it even harder to release him. If nothing else, he's taught me that when old salesmen tell you that networking is the most important skill in life, they weren't kidding around. Russ Brandon is talent-less when it comes to football operations. It would take a miracle and multiple owners to give him no accountability for him to get where he's gotten. Any other franchise would've locked him out of the draft war room years ago or simply fired him. WOW

You think Adolphus Washington is a comparable player to a healthy Dareus? Hold on, I need to figure out how to block users. Brutal take.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't CBS show that before today he was 3/6 on onside kicks? I remember we recovered a kick at home last year vs. the Patriots. Can't think of any other.

It's being mentioned in the other thread, but Tim Graham's piece today really nails home how big of a myth it is that Brandon is not involved in football decisions: Brandon was more than just in the meetings with Rex, he definitely was pushing for him. He hired Marrone. The bit about the agents and contracts is news to me and actually really sad. Why would Russ Brandon even have the time to handle player negotiations? Seems like a role he shouldn't be involved in at all. One thing rings true more than any other: There's no accountability in the front office at One Bills Drive.

I don't see that happening, but I would give Terry and Kim credit for that if they removed Brandon from the process and were vocal about it. I would prefer a new brain trust to figure out the search, this guy is batting 0% regardless of his level of involvement (which, save for the Marrone hire as you pointed out, is never going to be known). I don't like you separating me into a "disgruntled fan" category like I'm some sort of loony for not wanting to put up with 17+ years of this mess.

What game were you watching? Edit: I genuinely don't know how to evaluate the receivers on this team. It's very difficult to play that position when you hardly see the ball.

Brandon will be involved in the HC search. I have no idea where you came up with that bizarre hypothetical where he tells the Pegula's "no." You're dodging the massive argument here: This will be the 5th head coaching search Brandon is involved with.

Maybe. I think it would be more like that time Brian Brohm started a game.

No one brought him up but you, quit it.

Stop trying to argue semantics with me, I don't even know what you're getting at. On this matter, this is all I have to say: Russ Brandon will be involved in the HC search. For that I am being critical. I don't have the energy for your back and forth about 1997 advertising contracts and crap that has no value to me whatsoever. I'm glad you're hopeful that Brandon will help them get it right in his 5th search. Seems like you have a lot of faith in the guy.

I don't really think EJ is very good. I just also don't think he's terrible. I definitely wanted him to start more than 4 games into his 2-2 sophomore season. After putting up with 26+ games of Taylor, we're no better off than we would have been with a developed EJ. Maybe he would never have amounted to anything, but he was unnecessarily jostled within the organization. I am frustratingly ready to move on, but have even less expectations for Jones at the moment. Sadly the 2017 starting QB is not on our team.

He was really smart to take a Jonathan Williams kneel to get Carpenter back on the field before half-time in Seattle. That was about the only time I can remember defending him.

I've seen a lot of measured responses on the matter, but it's always the, "he's the worst" guys that seem crazy to me. Explain again just how bad EJ was, I'm all ears.

Yeah but you're living in fantasy land. He's not going to relinquish any power and will continue to be involved with football decisions. I don't think this thread would exist at all if it was clear Brandon is simply a business side-of-things guy.

I've been fairly critical of Gilmore during games but it's mostly because of his general demeanor and his lack of ball play chasing down throws over his head. He's actually been pretty alright, I just don't think he deserves top money. He's deifnitely not as bad as people make him out to be, it's just incredibly easy to notice him because he has such a hard time tracking the ball on deep throws.

Prove it. Edit: Also...I said Brandon would be involved. Don't put words into my mouth. Sorry if I misinterpreted your posts. It seemed to read that you were in favor of Brandon moving forward with his current role, which has also included making sure Rex Ryan doesn't leave the building during the previous HC search.

I would leave even if just for a true no. 2 spot if I were him. He got screwed by this franchise.

To those at the game...was there any notable booing?

The same? Edit: ...but with a little more passing yards?

100%. If the goal is to truly develop Cardale, please do not play him or his fate will be the same!