The Dean

Where's the head-shaking emoticon? At least Pettine seems to be taking a stand (maybe too late) against this BS. I wonder what he would do if today's game meant more.

Typical for this poster. Wild exaggerations are the norm.

Wouldn't be the first time. At least he isn't selling this stuff as truth.

Indeed. Well, that's why they are rumors.

Agreed. But doesn't he have his own agency? Seems like a pretty small job for him. But perhaps he is doing it because he is Peg's friend.

Agent. Friend of Pegula. Can't really see him having football decision making input, but could see him involved with contracts and such. But have to wonder why he'd take the job if it didn't have more power. Maybe a Brandon replacement?

Does she give up her pink Caddy, too?

http://profootballta...s-front-office/

Yo, Lo---that link doesn't resolve to the article. Or, in TSW speak: Linky no worky Let's try this one. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24919509/browns-ready-to-part-with-josh-gordon-frustrated-over-johnny-manziel or this: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/28/report-manziels-friday-night-party-led-to-players-saturday-tardies/ Jonny defenders already composing posts saying JM is on the disabled list, so "who cares if he is blowing off his rehab?".

I love how you discount Marrone's OC stint by saying it was "in name only". He was also a very successful offensive line COACH in the NFL, but that doesn't count to you, I'm sure. The fact you say Marrone didn't have the balls to challenge defenses vertically shows your ignorance, I think. It was't balls that were lacking there. And balls are really a small part of coaching. They can be important at times, but if you coach from your balls, you become Rex Ryan. But anyway, this year, in Marrone's 2nd year as an NFL coach, he did a better job at HC than: Dennis Allen, Andy Reid, Ken Whisenhunt, Gus Bradley, Jeff Fisher, Jim Harbaugh, Lovie Smith, Sean Payton, Mike Smith, Marc Trestman, Jay Gruden, Tom Coughlin and your boy Rex Ryan. In fact THIS year, Marrone probably did a better coaching job than Chip Kelly. There are some pretty big names on that list. I'm not arguing Marrone is, or will be, a better HC than some of these guys, It's too early to tell. But THIS YEAR, in just his 2nd year, he was a better HC than those on this list. And while I think Mike Pettine did a pretty good job for a rookie HC, the way his team is coming apart off the field, make me question his long-term viability. I hope he figures that out.

I think that's my big question, too. :lol: :lol: :lol: Thanks for the morning laugh. Calling Rex Ryan a real head coach, might be the funniest thing I get to hear/read all day. Rex is a buffoon as a HC. Maronne was a far better HC than the foot licker, this year. Haley had, at best, mixed results at KC. Apparently he was such a great HC he is now, once again, an OC. He has done little to make it to "real HC status" IMO. Reich and Bowles have NEVER been head coaches in the NFL (with the exception of a short interim stint). It's so good to know you already know they will be successful. Thank goodness your football acumen is at such a level we can just rely on your hunches. Shanny and Cowher have both been successful as NFL HC (at least you got that right). I would have been happy with either back when the Bills were interviewing HCs in 2009 (it was 2009, right?). But Shanahan's horrendous team-killing stint in Washington gives me pause now. It was as bad of a performance by a HC as I have seen. That leaves us with Cowher. And yes, I'd take him in a minute. Even though he has only been the HC of one NFL team, he did it for a long time at a pretty high level. I'm a bit concerned he hasn't been involved with coaching for five or so years. But sure. I'm in. So you think Bill is interested in coaching the Bills?

I think saying ANY rookie sucks, based on his rookie year, is a premature judgment. Plenty of rookies haven't panned out right away, but later turned out to be OK, I admit, Kujo has been a giant disappointment, though. But you said two out of the three rookie OLs sucked. And so far Richardson hasn't looked great, but he was a 5th rounder. Just saying keep it in perspective.

When Chan was the HC the offense was pretty good--with the exception of Red Zone production. The plays were creative. You didn't know what play was going to be run simply based on down, distance or personnel. I actually think Chan would be an improvement as OC for this team, in some respects.

Isn't it a bit early to conclude these rookies suck? They are rookies, after all. Kujo certainly didn't perform to expectations. OTOH, I'd say Richardson performed about the way you would expect a 5th round rookie to perform on an otherwise weak offensive line. Dunno if he will pan out, but I'm not one to write off guys in their first year. Perhaps you are.

This kind of talk among Bills fans slays me. If a Bills coach had the record Rex has with the Jets, he would be reviled. Sure Rex has had QB issues. Guess what? So have the Bills, and I don't see anyone giving the Bills HC a break. I suppose we are hardest on our own. Like his father, Rex is a great HC, but a questionable HC at best. It really doesn't help that he is a blowhard, who draws attention to himself. Think about it. Most of the great HCs deflect attention---not revel in it. Clearly his players do not seem to play hard for him and his ex-players and coaches seem to pass on opportunities to sing his praises. Based on this year, you have to wonder why the guy had a job in the NFL. QB issues? The Jets QBs have more pure talent than the Bills QBs, no? People here wanted the Bills to trade high draft picks for Mike Vick. I've read countless posts saying Gino is far better than EJ. But even if his QB sucks the guy is a defensive genius. How in the world can his team be 3-12 if he he is even a "good" HC? He took over a 9-7 team from Mangini (by most accounts a terrible HC) and has only managed to better that record once. Four times, in his six years, his record has been worse. The support for this guy on this board is completely inexplicable to me.

So now Johnny Foosball gets find for being late for his treatment, just days after saying he needed to take the job more seriously. I'm not sure this guy has a clue. But add to that Gordon's suspension and one has to wonder" Does Pettine have any control over this team? I won't make a knee-jerk assessment here, but it isn't looking good for Mike at this point. I don't see his players rallying around him in the way I expected.

I didn't realize defense was the Bills major problem. Apparently I haven't been paying attention. And Cower? Why hire an proven SB winning coach? Terrible move! (Was this some sort of a joke post?)

You guys do understand Sammy has been playing injured for virtually the entire season---don't you?

Not relevant to the conversation, but Pete Banaszak is a client of mine. Great guy.

Actually a community organizer might be more like what a President needs to do than running a business. When you run a business YOU get to make the decisions. The President only gets to set the agenda and negotiate for cooperation---something a bit like a community organizer. Thinking a successful businessman is fit for President is probably a mistake, IMO. The jobs are VERY different. The country is NOT a business and the President is NOT a CEO. But with that said, I have no idea why you would interject your political agenda into a football conversation when they have very little to do with each other. I guess some people just can't help themselves.

I can't disagree with your assessment the Bills O-line has regressed. But your hyperbolic example of assembling a Pro Bowl caliber line, only to have Marrone destroy it with coaching is simply idiotic, based simply on the regression of this year's line, IMO. First of all, Marrone is NOT the O-Line coach for the Buffalo Bills. And he has had some real success in the past as an OL coach. He does seem to be more interest than many HC in the coaching of the OL--I'll give you that. Is this year an aberration? Should he be more, or less, involved with the coaching of the OL? Perhaps the OL coach is the issue. I happen to think the issue with the OL this year is a combination of several things: poor QBing, injuries to the starting RBs, poor play calling, guards who didn't perform at their predicted level, etc. It seemed like a perfect storm to the detriment to the OL and the offense overall. My point is, the problem is complicated and a simple solution like "fire Marrone" doesn't seem like an well thought out solution. Do you think the next HC will be an OL expert? Do you even have any idea who they might hire as a HC? Might the next HC do better with the OL but destroy the defense? The knee-jerk response to the Bills issues is understandable (for fans) given their years of failure, but it is rarely a good management strategy. I'm not arguing Marrone is the answer for this team and should be retained. But I would think long and hard before firing him. The constant changing of HCs, particularly when the team is making strides in the W column, seems like a bad idea to me. But if there is a proven NFL HC, whose strength is offense waiting to take the job, perhaps a change should be considered. But would Schwartz stay with a new HC? If not, who would be brought in? Would that DC need to change personnel to match his "system"? My point being a HC change changes more than just the OL. I believe this team has far fewer holes than in past years. Plus the needs are pretty specific this year. And I'd like to think that Whaley, and Marrone know what those needs are. Fortunately one of the biggest needs is also supposedly Marrone's strength. A concentrated effort by Whaley and Marrone should be able to improve this problem in the offseason. It seems like an area that shouldn't be too difficult to improve (I mean it would hard to be worse, no?). After all, aren't serviceable guards easier to find than tackles? One might think that experience should help Richardson, if he has any talent at all. The question I have re: Marrone is, will be be willing to change OC and OL coach? If not, that is a real problem, IMO. I'm not saying he should make a knee-jerk decision, but he needs to be open to the option, should the FO conclude those coaches are the biggest problem.

Outstanding, gentlemen.

Those examples sound like things you learn with experience, not a lack of "natural athleticism", IMO.

Long Black Veil (not written by, but a great song performed by The Band). Actually most songs by The Band qualify for this thread, IMO. The Royal Scam. A song about Puerto Rican immigration by Steely Dan. From the same album. Kid Charlemagne. Actually most songs by Steely Dan qualify for this thread, IMO.