BillsFan4

Actually, Babcock and Murray are friends. Tim Murray was a big part of Anaheim hiring Babcock for his first NHL coaching job in Anaheim and I guess they've been friends ever since. Babcock even made a point of saying at his Toronto introductory press conference that not choosing the Sabres has nothing to do with Tim Murray. He said he couldn't make Buffalo work with his family. I believe it was Bob McKenzie (IIRC) who said that Babcock's wife nixed the Sabres deal. I guess she didn't want to live in Buffalo (or would rather live in Toronto, since that's where she's from and still has family there). To be clear, I am still very much up in the air on Tim Murray. But I don't have nearly the hate for him that you do. He is very well respected in the NHL as a talent evaluator. I think we need to give him more time before we can make a definitive judgement on him. He's done some things I like and he's done some things that I hate, but every GMmis like that. The next 2 seasons will be big for Tim Murray. Some of his drafted players should be ready for the AHL and NHL, so we will get a better idea of things IMO. But he has to address the blue line in a meaningful way this offseason or everyone will be looking for new jobs in a year...

Yeah I didn't really understand what Ristolainen was so upset about. I watched the replay a bunch of times and all I seen was Kadri getting pushed into the goalie and then cross checked/slashed repeatedly by 2 separate Buffalo Sabres, but I didn't see Kadri actually do anything. Maybe something happened that we didn't see? Kadri is a bit of a pest, it wouldn't surprise me... Ristolainen was charged up all game though. He was one of the few Sabres that actually looked engaged in the game. Half the damn team looked like they had no interest in being there.

I haven't heard anything at all about the players not wanting to play for the Sabres because of Tim Murray. All I've heard is respect from the players for him. But there has been all sorts of stuff about how Bylsma has lost the younger players on the team and how half the team doesn't want to play for him, and how Eichel hates playing for Bylsma etc etc etc.

If you're going to be "that guy", then you should probably correct all the misspelled words in the sentence. (Our & Knot) lol j/k

Interesting he got another 1 year prove it type deal. Not all that surprising though, given his history.

Man, 3-0 Leafs already... Matthews with his 39th goal. 69 points. Just broke the Leafs rookie record. That's amazing. But man I HATE losing to Toronto. Buffalo needs to wake up here. I was expecting them to be fired up for this game and so far they are sleep walking. They literally don't even have a shot on net almost 10 minutes into the game. WTF

I ought most were saying Trubisky would need to sit for a couple years, no? Either way, none of these QBs are viewed as day 1 starters and all are being called projects. Maybe long term wasn't the right word. But I still think my argument holds up.

I've seen this argument a number of times here. But how true is it? How often do NFL execs actually get fired for passing on a QB who seems to be almost universally viewed as more of a long term project type? If Trubisky turns out to be a true franchise changing type QB, then yeah I could see it being one factor in some people's long term job security. But it will be years before we know what Trubisky is for sure, and Whaley and others could be gone by then anyway. Who knows. But the argument could also be made form the other side - if they drafts Trubisky at #10 (who is a huge risk with only 13 games started) and he doesn't turn out to be a true franchise QB, then that almost definitely costs Whaley his job IMO. You can't swing and miss on two 1st round QBs and keep your job IMO. Especially if you blow a top 10 pick on a QB. I don't know, IMO it seems like a much bigger risk to job security to take a project QB at #10 then it does to pass on a project QB at #10. How many GMs have been fired for missing on a top 10 pick as opposed to passing on a project QB who turns out to be good? GMs pass on project QBs every draft and I can't remember any losing their jobs because of it. I'm not saying that they shouldn't draft Trubisky or anything like that. Just looking at the premise of the argument...

Agreed. I've been saying this for a while now. People like to say that this is only Toronto's 2nd (or 3rd) year rebuilding, and I just don't see it that way at all. Look at all the players they have from previous rebuilds - Rielly, Kadri, Bozak, Gardiner, JVR, Connor Brown. Those are all guys that are big contributors to the Leafs current success, and all of them have been with the Leafs longer than a couple/few years. Kadri was drafted in 2009... The Leafs just didn't tear it down the same way the Sabres did. Sabres went scorched earth, total rebuild. The Leafs current rebuild is more of a re-tool of previous rebuilds. They kept a lot of talent from previous teams. Buffalo didn't do that. The other MAJOR difference is coaching (and probably management IMO). Babcock blows Bylsma out of the water. It's not even close IMO. And Shanahan is proving to be a top, top end NHL exec. I am very impressed with him. He's done a fantastic job in Toronto. The book is still,out on Tim Murray, but I think he may have screwed up by trying to speed hints up so much and trading away so many assets. Thinking about what could have been from just that 2015 draft alone really bugs me some days. Toronto definitely went flying by us in their rebuild. But I also think maybe people thought Toronto was going to continue tearing down the team this year. I kept reading how JVR, Bozak and more would be traded away. But they kept them instead and they've been contributing more than anyone thought. Their rookies have been very surprising as well. Auston Matthews is about to hit 40 goals! Who would have ever thought that?! Man that's nuts! Marner and Nylander have also been fantastic. Nobody thought they'd come in and contribute so much. I get it. It's hard not to be jealous of Toronto. I know I am at times. They still have some nice talent in the pipeline too, and their rookies look miles ahead of some of ours. But I am willing to be patient with the Sabres. Our rebuild was just different than theirs, and their coaching is far superior. I do like what Toronto is doing though. They are drafting for speed and skill. Talent is their #1 priority. Buffalo is drafting for size and toughness, along with speed and skill. I feel like Tim Murray is building a team more in the Western conference mold and Toronto is building a team that seems to fit the direction the East is currently going (but NHL trends are constantly changing). We will see which works out better. Ultimately, you have to beat a western conference team to win a Cup. But you have to go through multiple eastern conference teams to get there...

I was just going to post a new thread with this info. Glad I looked here first. lol

Not surprising. I bet he will get a huge raise in a few years when the Pegula money dries up... (assuming he lasts that long).

I just read the other day that the local Arizona Sports Radio show that covers the Cardinals said that Arians was referring to Deshone Kizer.

Me too. But he was the guy I wanted from day 1. I've been a fan of his for years now. So I was thrilled when I seen him on the Bills coaching interview list, and even more thrilled when I heard he was the leading candidate. I think McDermott is exactly what this team needs. I don't expect that everything will be perfect. There will definitely be rookie mistakes, and it'll take some time to reverse this losing Bills culture that's been so ingrained here. But I really think we got the right coach for once. I honestly haven't been this excited about a Bills coach in a very, very long time (I was never on the Rex hype train) and I also really like the coaching staff he's put together (I especially like that he hired 2 of the best line coaches in the NFL IMO (Waufle & Castillo)). Can't wait to see what this guy can do. I just hope he is given time. The Bills can't keep changing coaches.

No, I'm not nervous. I am actually hopeful, more than anything. We've seen Brady pick apart the Bills D on many occasions. Brady put up what, like 5 or 600 passing yards(?) in a single game on Rex Ryan's defensive scheme. I figure it can't get all that much worse than that, right...? (knock on wood). Hopefully McDermott will be able to do better, even if it doesn't happen immediately. I know he will put everything he has into getting it figured out, and I can't ask for much more than that at this point. I also think/hope that he's the type of coach who will learn from his mistakes and adjust. So I'm willing to give him some time to get it figured out.

I'd be very curious to know what caused his accuracy issues in 2016. He was so good with his deep ball in 2015, and he was pretty damn accurate on the short/mid throws too. Then in 2016 he seemed to struggle with his accuracy in general. He wasn't terrible or anything, but he did struggle at times and there was definitely a noticeable difference in his accuracy from 2015 to 2016. Was 2015 just an anomaly and 2016 the real Tyrod? Or did something happen? Like David Lee messing with his mechanics/footwork/throwing motion (etc) too much for example. Or was it as simple as not getting to play in preseason (doubt it) and/or all the injuries to his receiving corps? Maybe it was something else completely, or a combination of things. I don't know. This year should hopefully give us all some answers. It'll be everyone's first year in the system, so I expect some hiccups. But I think this season will give us a better idea of whether or not Tyrod has any type of future with his team. I'm not ready to give up on him yet, as he still is the best the Bills have had in quite a long time. But I also don't really expect him to be any type of long term solution either. I'd be very happy if he somehow turned out to be a franchise type guy. But I think the odds are pretty slim on that. I haven't completely ruled it out though, like some have. I also agree that the Bills still have to address the QB position either this year or next. I'm not too high on this draft that I'd take any of these QBs at #10, but I think there's some worth taking a shot on in the 2nd or later. But I also won't be mad if McDermott isn't in any rush to draft a QB in the first few rounds (or at all) in his first year as a new HC and wants to get to know his roster/team/coaches (etc) better first.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SabresProspects/status/848569350974058497/video/1 Alex Nylander with an absolutely amazing assist the other night. Check it out. Also, I heard he is supposed to be getting called up for tomorrow's game against Toronto. I haven't seen it confirmed yet, but that would be nice to get a look at him in the NHL. Pretty cool for Alex to get his first game against his brother's team too (if true).

Man, how did John Guy keep his job here for so long? I don't think he's ever had another NFL job since he was let go here, has he? Same with Tom Modrak I believe...

Would have been a better April fools joke if it was even a tiny bit realistic...

So sorry to hear this. My condolences to you and your family.

Yeah I remember hearing something like that too, now that you mention it. So I did a quick Google search and found this - http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/24/report-bills-coaches-want-changes-to-the-training-staff/ It appears you were right.

I'm not the type that usually likes to see anyone lose their jobs, but I am all for whatever changes McDermott wants to make. Some of these guys were Ralph Wilson era Bills lifers - Berchtold. McMillen (21 years). Lancaster (16yrs). We are not in the building. We have no idea how these people play into the culture there. If our coach felt a change is needed, I support it. I am all for getting rid of Ralph Wilson lifers anyway... Some of these guys have lasted through multiple coaches and general managers. I find it very hard to believe that none of those coaches/GMs wanted to get rid of any of them and/or bring in their own people. So if we finally have a coach who can help bring some real change to OBD, I am all for it.

Well said. I agree. There was a small group at BB!B that would constantly argue this, and I'd always say the same thing you are saying. Reaching for a 1st round QB just to say you took a 1st round QB gets you players like EJ Manuel. That does the Bills no good. Actually, IMO it probably harms them more than it helps them, because then you live or die by that 1st round QB for years, while potentially passing up on actual franchise QBs in the following drafts like what happened with EJ. I absolutely do not want to reach for another 1st round QB, especially in the top 10. You can not reach for a QB with a top 10 pick. That is just insane IMO. That seems like a great way to get fired to me... If the Bills are sure that a QB is truly a franchise type guy, then by all means draft him at #10. But if they're not sure or there's too many question marks, then you go BPA and take a shot at a QB in a different round.

I really hope they do draft a QB at #6 this year. I know the Jets seem to draft a QB every year, but even them I can't see spending a high 1st round pick on a QB 2 years in a row. If they actually did use two 1st round picks on a QB in consecutive years (this year and next), they'd be the first team that I'm aware of that's done that. Has any team ever used 2 1st round picks in a row on a QB? (let alone 2 high 1st round picks?). So Hopefully that'd take them out of the running for one of the top QBs next year, if they do draft one this year...

I'd do that in a heart beat... But it'd probably have to be their 2nd this year and a 1st next year. I don't see any way Whaley doesn't get a pick back for this draft. I think the Jets will be picking top 3 next year though. That'd set the Bills up perfectly to draft a top QB in 2018. I don't see the Jets actually doing this. I'm sure they know they will likely suck this year. If they really want a QB, they will just take him at #6 IMO.

Like Doug Whaley with his "I look at it this way". But if you drank every time Whaley said that during his interviews, you'd probably get alcohol poisoning...