2003Contenders

Actually, I don't think Ralph played a big role in this decision other than ultimately signing off on it. I honestly believe that Gailey turned out to be the guy that Nix wanted -- and Ralph merely gave his ultimate blessing. So, if you are unhappy with the Gailey selection, blame Nix.

Funny how all the negative press just a few days ago was all about the candidates who kept turning the Bills down -- and how there was no way that the team was going to even convince a quality candidate to seriously interview for the job. Now these same dirt bags are now ridiculing the Bills for NOT interviewing the likes of Billick, Marty, Martz, etc. Sometimes team dynamics play an important role in hiring decisions. Billick is a good coach, but he comes across as a condescending ass, and I doubt that he and Nix would have been compatible. I get the impression that Gailey wasn't even on the radar when Nix started his search. In discussions with Cowher (not necessarily a genuine interview), Cowher suggested that Nix talk to Gailey. Modrak seconded the nomination -- and once Nix spoke with Gailey, the two probably hit it off very well. In a way, it is similar to what happened with Marv and Jauron -- only now instead fo a couple of Ivy leagues, we have a couple of good ole boys -- a couple of good ole boys who know a lot about football.

I look at this one of two ways: 1. Graham's article is hogwash. If that is the case, don't lose any sleep over it for obvious reasons. 2. Graham's article is accurate. If that is the case, then Marty was clearly playing games with his public comments about not wanting to come back to coach again. Was he expecting the Bills to come begging him to coach? I think what happened in San Diego is that he got caught playing games with the Chargers. Remember after the Chargers lost, there was speculation that Smith would fire Marty. Instead, Smith not only gave Marty the vote of confidence that he could keep his job but that the team was interested in signing him to a long-term contract. When Marty said thanks but no thanks, Smith realized that Marty was playing ego games, so he fired him. Maybe Ralph didn't want to have to kiss anyone's ass to come to Buffalo to coach.

That tells me that he probably does already have his staff lined up -- but gauging the fan backlash in the announcement of Gailey as HC, the marketing folks told him not to roll the assistants out just yet.

Insinuated that he may hire an OC, but he (Gailey) would be the one calling the plays -- at least at first.

To be honest, I am willing to give both Guy and Modrak a bit of a pass, since I have too much of a feeling that Jauron had way too much say on the guys they drafted and acquired in free agency. We have heard way too many stories of players that Modrak recommended that the coaching staff (or someone else) overruled. Modrak supposedly wanted Cushing last year, Revis the year we took Lynch, and Cutler the year we took Whitner. All of this may be wives' tales, of course -- but where there is smoke there is fire. Somehow, I think the combination of him Nix and Gailey will do a much better job of assessing talent. I don't think it is any coincidence that Nix's involvement last year helped guide one of the best drafts we have had in a decade -- even with Maybin under-performing as a rookie. Guy's responsibility is to recommend free agents and bring them in. Afterwords it is up to the coaches (and bean counters) who they actually sign. Remember all the players that passed through Orchard Park the past few years -- and left WITHOUT contracts?

Well, in fairness, he was let go just a couple of weeks before the season started. Teams around the league pretty much have their systems, packages, etc set by then. Also he wasn't let go by KC because of his coaching abilities. It was a matter of Haley (a former OC) wanting to run his own offense.

Maybe ESPN can send a reporter to interview Ralph live on TV -- and start asking for his opinion on wildly outrageous topics (like Adolf Hitler). That was enough to convince MLB to come in and seize control of the Cincinnati Reds from Marge Schott back in the 90s.

Head coaching experience, offensive-minded... It actually doesn't sound so out-of-the-realm-of-possibility. Not saying I approve, mind you.

Since I question the validity of Casserly's report about Harbaugh, I do not believe that the Bills are necessarily itching to name their new HC prematurely.

I wouldn't put too much stock into this assertion. The Bills are not talking, period.

While I suspect that it may be true that Harbaugh declined an interview -- I highly doubt the Bills actually offered him the job. There could be a variety of reasons why Harbaugh would decline, too -- some of them completely unrelated to the Bills themselves. maybe he just didn't want to be grouped in with Lane Kiffen.

Well, Ralph did fire Lou Saban and re-hire him years later...

Mort also said that Polian came VERY close to naming Frazier HC over Caldwell last year, even though Caldwell had been hand-picked by Dungy as his successor.

Wonder what these message boards would have been like back in 1985 when the Bills had the #1 overall pick and decided to invest it in Bruce Smith. There actually was considerable discussion at the time that maybe that pick should be spent on Doug Flutie!

If the Bills are unable to land a legitimate veteran starter (McNabb?) in the off-season, I can live with Fitz going into the year as a starter until a youngster (Brohm or a rook) blossoms.

Garrett and Frazier face off this weekend. May the best man win!

Agreed, but with some better breaks in the health department and a significant upgrade at LT, I may be in the minority in believing that the Bills' OL could be pretty darn good in 2010.

It would take elite (Shanahan) money to entice Garrett, who already makes $3 M per year as an OC in Dallas, to come here. I don't think that the Bills feel that a first-time head coach is worth that kind of money. Moore is in the autumn years of his life and had to be lured out of retirement to come back as OC for the Colts this year. Cameron may deserve another shot one of these days, but the stench is still in the air from the 1-15 season he lead the Dolphins to back in 2007. Of the guys listed, Schottenheimer really is the most attractive candidate, especially if Papa Marty comes along too. Remember, the Jets had the #1 rushing offense this season.

Not defending or advocating Clausen -- but it's not his fault that the defense at Notre Dame sucked while he was there. Would you disavow Aaron Rodgers because the Packers lost to the Cardinals on Sunday?

Well, he is making $3M in Dallas to be a coordinator, so it would take a considerable pay raise to get him to come to Buffalo to be a head coach. I'm just not so sure that a first-time HC would deserve to be paid like one of the elite head coaches in the NFL.

Clayton's motto: throw enough dung at the wall and it's bound to stick.

I know it sure looks like Trent Edwards has played his last down in Buffalo, but I think that he is a real wild card for what the Bills' plans are for the off-season. There are still some talking heads out there (like Mike Martz) that really like him. Depending which HC and OC come in, there is a chance that someone could view him as a reclamation project, believing that a new philosophy and improvements on the OL can help him thrive. It seems to me that Fitz and Brohm will probably both be with the team: Fitz as the journeyman backup and Brohm as the developmental 3rd string. Trent could be the odd man out -- replaced by a rookie or another veteran -- or he could be the starter.

Yep. And had a 700-page playbook. Can you imagine going from a 4X6 note card to a 700-page encyclopedia?