JoeF

Ronnie, Sorry you had to post on the off the wall forum. I just read my PMs. Giving everyone some context. Ronnie and I have a mutual friend, Dr. LeRoy T. Walker. Dr. Walker died this past spring at 93 years old. We both had the pleasure of working with him a lot. Rather than post everything Dr. Walker did in his life...here's his Obit from the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/sports/olympics/leroy-t-walker-us-olympic-committees-first-black-president-is-dead-at-93.html?_r=0 Ronnie--thanks for PMing me and making the connection. I think about Doc every day and what I learned. I was blessed to be part of his life. Stay well my friend..hope our paths cross sometime. JoeF

I am in the wait and see camp but cautiously optimistic. Would you rather have a guy on the rise or a guy at the end of his coaching career trying to capture greatness he never had? Any transition like this is hard and those expecting Gruden or Cowher were sure to be disappointed -- but I see the logic here -- Lovie Smith is a really good coach but he never won a super bowl and missed the playoffs in the majority of his years; same with Whisenhunt. Reid was not a candidate for the Bills job. Marrone knows what a great QB looks like (Brees) he also knows how to use talent we have (Spiller). Welcome Coach Marrone!

Permission to steal it, with proper citation of course?

The terminally cynical.....Nice! Good job -- you and Jay are so good at this media stuff....

http://deadspin.com/5972378/jadeveon-clowney-decapitated-vincent-smith-then-palmed-the-football

Jesus H. Christ -- its football not frickin tiddlywinks. That was nothing. Overofficious jerk.

Brad Pitt plays Russ in the movie? Others have explained it well -- but its return on investment as analyzed by key stats. Its more complex in football than baseball because football is more team oriented. One of the stats in football may be the % of time you lose gap control for a D-Lineman or LB or failure to pick up a stunt for an OL. For QB's it may be YPA and/or completion percentage. For RB it may be first downs rushing, yards to first contact (elusiveness) or yards after contact (strength). Its a whole new way to look at film and chart plays. You make $ investments only on players that meet your standards on the metrics. PFF does a great job..but they don't apply it to specific systems -- offensive and defensive philosophies they do a general analysis. Bills will apply to the systems of the incoming HC, OC, DC, STC. Look for us to hire Jonah Hill next week.....

Wilson's personal secretary Rosemary Wood commented: "I know nothing of such a tape, but just look at Ralph's hair and fingernails!"

Look at that 94 year old mans coiff--dang good looking man!

Damn right....

As stupid as this sounds -- I bet they play a message from Ralph at Noon. This may not be so crazy. This is a true transition of power and a removal of the WIlson input from the franchise. Its a chance to say thanks to Ralph for 52 years of loyality to a small market.

This is not a bad thing. Its the first major step in transition to new ownership. It also means that decisions can be made without calls or visits to Detroit. What NFL owner other than Jerry Richardson played in the league? Russ becomes a functioning owner who will give the last approval to football decisions rather than Ralph. I think it makes the job of coach more attractive. No weekly calls to Detroit, its in the building at OBD. The team will be able to function quicker.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter Bills naming Russ Brandon president/CEO with full authority. GM Buddy Nix is staying, with team transitioning Doug Whaley to GM at some pt.

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora Sounds like there will be transition period and front office restructuring w/ assistant GM Doug Whaley eventually taking over for Buddy Nix

He already has a good staff in place...this is a huge plus....Get him on the phone. He was making about $4.5M a year. Offer him $5M and pay his assistants -- and lets get this thing rolling. For once lets take advantage of another team's mistake. He won without a serviceable QB for 6 of the 9 years.....the guy can coach.

If its Az and the Bills -- you have to consider that Bidwell still wants to see if Kolb is serviceable and the Bills will allow their coach to choose a QB without regard to Fitz's contract. Advantage Bills. Lovie has a really good staff in place from top to bottom. Most folks pan Mike Tice -- but he will use Spiller -- he knows the line positions and the TE position. Marinelli can coach and motivate -- the biggest focus will be upgrading the MLB and WillLB positions. I think Bradham can play. We would likely get Rusty Jones back.

Scalding coffee and the shredder are dangerous. Go get a messy chili dog or greasy hamburger and let it accidently drip on it. Tell her it was your favorite but the dry cleaner couldn't get the spot out......

It goes beyond the team K. Its loyalty to a region and a city that provided me an upbringing to which I attribute a lot of my professional success in life. Its a place I hold dear and the Bills are a very integral part of that place. I end up giving most of the tickets to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County and use 2 or 3 games a year (some have accused me of being a child abuser for this act :-) ). The Bills are more than just a product on the field -- sans about 15 years of the 52 -- they have been horrible or also rans -- but they represent Buffalo more than any other person, thing or product. The area will truly take yet another death blow if the Bills were to leave and I don't want to be even a small part of making that happen. Its $1500 bucks a year -- I would piss it away on something far less worthy anyway. It goes way beyond football. I know its hard to get past the product on the field and believe me I hate that aspect of what is going on just as much as anyone, it goes to loyalty to a region that I feel desparately needs this team.

He can block as well.....outran the secondary on the TD. We need playmakers no matter what the position.

That's what it's come to? Two !@#$ing years? We aren't worth two !@#$ing years of your life? STFU. WTF? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year you sack of ****.... PS--I feel the days being added as I type--awesome!

deep down it still smells the same Rubes......unless of course you flush the turd -- but not sure what flushing looks like in this case.....

I understand the critcism and skepticism. Its yet another attempt to again spray febreze on this turd. The goal is two-fold -- make the franchise attractive to a buyer who will keep it in Buffalo -- Jim is one of the best assets the Bills have to do this. Second is to find a franchise QB -- that we haven't had for now almost 20 freaking years. There is some crazy logic to having the last guy who held the role help find one..

The only position that would do this is to give Jim a small equity stake in the franchise and name him chairman...I am all for that. Mr. Wilson becomes chair-emeritus. Jim's role is two-fold--First, with Littman, sifting through the groups who want to buy the franchise post Mr. Wilson's death and working with the NFL office to provide the best ownership group for the franchise to remain in Buffalo; Second, find the Bills a franchise QB. Send him on the road scouting -- have him lead the process. Other than that-- he becomes the ass-kicker when things aren't going well on the football side and the glad hander when things are going well.

I know the Bills can't continue to live in the past and that this move will be criticized as trying to spray febreze on this turd of a franchise, but I would support this move. Jim would bring an attitude of both accountability and winning that the team sorely lacks. He understands that games are won Monday to Saturday with study and hard work rather than just winging it on Sunday. He learned this the hard way from 1987-1990 and then reaped the benefits of this the next 5 years. While individuals on the current team get the importance of preparation, its not the whole team. The disclpline and work ethic to win doesn't permeate all 53 on the roster -- and it must to be able to win. For all the talk of hard work and being close -- this team doesn't have a winning attitude and focus. Jim would help like Elway helped the Broncos. Elway's work in Denver helped attract Peyton Manning -- Jim's work here will help build a winning culture that hasn't existed since Wade Phillips, John Butler (God rest his soul) and AJ Smith left. Again--its a move that appears cosmetic but I believe it will help. I posted earlier in the year about giving this regime a pass for this year--I was hoping that the second half of the schedule would end like the season began last year. Instead I have seen a team fall apart -- there is no excuse and changes should be made. This one would be positive.