Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

Every year before the season starts, people are lamenting how this years schedule will be tough, then the season plays out and teams everyone thinks will be going to the Super Bowl end up in last place and other teams come out of no where to become winners. So to worry about next seasons schedule now is a waste of time and energy and proves nothing.

Didn't the Bills do that about 5 or 6 year back and whomever the coach at the time was decided to leave right then but had been given the option to complete the season. Think it was when Bobby April was ST coach and he got mad that they didn't make him the interim HC as his title was assistant HC. I believe both Bill Pollian and Tom Donahoe knew they weren't coming back at seasons end. Granted they were both GM's a bit different. Hmmmm.... Maybe this is the Buffalo way!!

Now I always thought it was more Brady found Bellichick, but maybe not?? Could be Bellichick learned from his mistakes and Rex still hasn't or could be all Brady. Though whenever Brady has been out, the Pat's still won which was why I thought it all Bellichick. Also why I'm very suspect of signing either of the coordinators from the Pat's or Jimmy Grap

In other words the same things the Bills have been doing for a long time. Trying different guys, but they just didn't work out. I do think there's a good shot they get Romo as Dallas will likely give Romo the choice of where he'd want to go. Of all teams looking for a QB, Denver is closest to winning a SB so would guess that may be his first choice. And saw how it worked with Manning.

Didn't this happen a few years back, Maybe Dick J or someone was given the option, and he did leave?

The league average is 94%, the Bills are at 89%. Worse, but not terrible compared to average. When you consider weather being worse in Buffalo, can account for some. Could we do better, yes, but also could do worse overall including field goals.

I clicked on this only because the title said "You can fire one person", then open it and see it states "You can fire one person in the organization". I was all excited to vote for Jerry Sullivan!!

Rex makes the decisions on who's active on Sundays. Rex likely figuring if we win out, we're 9-7, makes it tough to be fired with that record, can't blame him for that. Rex from everything we've heard reports directly to the Pegula's so unless they specifically tell him to make TT inactive, it doesn't happen. The only other option would be for Whaley to cut TT, but doubt he'd want to do that. And if that was the only way to stop Rex from playing TT, would be much easier to just fire Rex. Maybe even take a play out of the Ralph Wilson playbook and and argue Rex disobeyed him so was fired for in subordination and doesn't need to be paid. That worked out well the last time!

And do the Jets know if any of them are any good? Hacklenburg hasn't even seen the field. Smith through little fault of his own hasn't played much in close to 2 seasons. But maybe Hacklenburg is really the guy or even Smith, but they'll never know if they've already moved on to the next guy.

I don't from what I've seen over the years most GM's are given a crack at hiring at least two coaches. IMO seems more GM's have been allowed multiple hires than fired after one.

OK, thought they both signed right before the start of FA. So agree then more a typcial FA signing. But still is a back and forth thing with gives and takes.

Probably not, but you also wonder if he's bored with the cushy TV job. Marino left the cushy TV after years to go back to Miami. Believe he's still there, though you never hear much about him. Maybe a job like that would also appeal to Cowher where he's not the one dodging the bullets . Yes they do have the same philosophy except Cowher has succeeded with where Rex hasn't. And I'm not looking for Cowher to be the leader, just want to give Whaley someone else to run things by and get a second opinion, but the person has to be someone who he'd respect the opinion of. Probably Tom C (Not going to try and spell his name. Good reason for him to stay away as would hate to have to learn how to spell that one) of the Giants would also fit that bill. But in reality none of them were completely based off his decision. How do most coaches, GM's coordinators get their first head job, by being a lower level assistant prior. And likely in that position they likely were involved with hiring and firing of others, but more behind the scenes. So probably anyone you were to bring in, would have just as many notches in his belt as Whaley. And frankly not so sure I'd even want someone without the notches as how would that person know what to look for without having gone through the process a few times and likely failed more than succeeded. Lets face it, anyone who's succeeded more than failed likely wouldn't be available to begin with.

No while not completely unique, he is different in that many FA sign extensions before their present contract runs out and games are still being played, thus the risk on the players side of injury. Or they hit the open market and sign with whoever they want which gives the player advantages to get the best deal, but also gives the team the ability to move on quickly to another option.. Dareus signed after final season, but before the March 1st (or whatever the exact date is) beginning of FA season. In that window if time all the advantage goes to the player as teams can't yet sign other players, but player has option to say yes or no. Just like this past year Glenn signed within that same window of time. So your statement of hundreds that came before him is probably correct over maybe the past 25 years, but dwarfs when compared to the thousands and even tens of thousands who fell into the other two categories that I described. Whether you believe it or not, there's a big difference between who has the leverage in those different situations.

I wouldn't mind seeing Cowher come in as some type of oversight position. I think Whaley overall has done more good than bad, but sometimes overvalues and could use someone to sound things over with before pulling the trigger.

Not defending Rex at all, but I'd call that a stretch. We had no QB, defense was good on paper, but still managed to allow teams to score go-ahead points at the close of games. Likely would have lost FA's over past two years on the defensive side, while I think they could have played better than they have, we'd still have the same issues on offensive. Also not sure without Rex's run first offense, would we have scored as many points as we have?

In the case of Dareus, he was about to become a FA, so much easier for him to dictate the terms. That's the risk you take in not signing earlier when team has more leverage, but the opposite of that is you worry about player regressing after signing (see Trent Edwards and Fitz) So very easy to blame Whaley and point out how other teams were smarter, but depends on how much you value the player and who has the leverage. If the Bills had refused the clause he may have walked. To Wiz's comments "the Bills put in a clause" Highly doubt that was the case, more Dareus demanded the clause and the Bill's a greed or risked losing him. If they'd have known he'd be suspended twice, they likely wouldn't have agreed, but hindsight is easy, particularly around here.

Would think not as the first comment, someone putting self interests could be about Brandon. It could be the cab driver?? Isn't Berman retiring year end, so now the cab driver is giving the info to LaCanfora??

No, don't want another HC from the defensive side. the way offenses are going want either a guy who came up on the offensive side, or think I'd be fine with someone with a ST background, and let him hire to top coordinators, less meddling that way. When Chan Gailey was HC here, he was very involved with the offense, put a ST guy in there, that probably doesn't happen as much.

Funny you should ask, I know of one time that happened was this guy named Marv Levy, took over around half way in, think I recall he lasted a couple years or so. Back then in season firings were more common than today. But you're also very limited in who you can bring in as no one on existing staffs would be available, even colleges. So probably mid season firing/hiring aren't worth it

H,,,,..... Which two??

But yet a year ago, can recall reading threads here how Jax made such a smart move in hiring Bradley. And there were multiple threads throughout the year praising Bowles.

So answer me this, who should be involved? I guess you're OK with Terry and DW. Who else? While I'll agree that RB doesn't have anywhere near the football knowledge compared to Whaley, he still has more knowledge that Terry or Kim, or almost everyone on this board. Think you'd want more than two people talking to him, in fact if I were Terry, I'd tell DW, once you know who you want to hire, I want to talk with him , but it's 100% your choice on who to hire. So then who else should be involved? Overdolf?

Maybe they hurried up and fired Fisher as they heard Rex was going to be coming available, so wanted to be first in line!

He's wound way too tight for the NFL. I'd go for a five year deal as that's about all he'd last.

Don't know if it's really a cancer as much as impatience, constantly changing direction, coupled with years of RW being cheap when it came to coaches and front office, led to years of decline. Coupled with terrible luck in finding a QB which they certainly aren't alone in, half the teams in the league suffered the same fate. Assuming the rumors are true that Whaley wanted to hire Hue Jackson, but Pegula over ruled him, would be reason to keep Whaley around and let him hire the next coach.