Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

OK you are technically correct, but prior to the date they need to exercise the option they can talk informally with TT, "we need to redo the contact to this amount, will you agree?" If yes then the Bills void the contract so for about five minutes he's a FA, then they sign the new one already agreed to. Now it would be possible, during that five minutes, TT could say Ha Ha fooled you, I'm not signing it, but that doesn't happen at this level as an agent isn't going to lose all credibility

I hope you're joking?? I mean someone with over 11,000 posts can't be this ignorant about basic NFL football contracts can you?? You are however 100% correct, contracts can't be broken and TT could sue for breach of contract. Except for one little tiny problem. All the bills have to do is say, we're now cutting you prior to I believe it's 3 days after the start of the new calendar year and there is no contract that was broken. It no longer exists and everyone goes their merry way. Well TT goes his merry way with slightly lighter pockets.

Does bring up one good point, in the two years with the Jets that the team played well and went to conf championship game, I wonder if there were few injuries on the defensive side? Maybe as long as the starters are out there and have good talent, they know what's going and they are able to learn the defense, but once you start bringing in subs due to injury, everything falls apart.

Think it's just the nice political thing to say now, he'll be considered, probably even will interview him as it also is a check box for the Rooney rule. (aware others on the rumored list would also take care of this too)

Think it was a combination of these things. Once the Bills were eliminated made sense to fire him. The Bills didn't want to expose TT to injury and be forced to pickup contract. Doubt they are certai nwhat they will do, but don't want anything to force their hand either Then Rex comes out on Saturday and states he's playing TT which if the rumors are true that Rex already knew he was being let go, then likely he did it just to stick it to the Bills and force their hand to fire him now. Maybe Monday they went to Rex to try and get him to agree to go with EJ, he refused so today he's fired.

He should try it every week!

They need a win or an Oakland loss to wrap it up, so their starters likely will play. Thought I saw the NE game was switched to 4:00 so the same time played as the Oakland game so both team will be playing to win at least in the 1st half and likely beyond.

Assuming the articles written about Rex being canned at year end are all true, as was questioned here, I do think Rex has been told he'll be gone at year end, or if not outright, reading the tea leaves he knows he's gone. So what's Whaley supposed to do, support Rex state the articles are all false then fire him in ten days, or even worse, publicly NOT give him a vote of confidence. If the rumors are all true, I think silence by Whaley makes the most sense. Reading the PFW article, sounds like the Bills are parting ways more as it said they've grown tired of Rex's act than based on actual coaching, so again makes most sense to say nothing. If the Bills are officially eliminated this weekend which likely will happen, wouldn't be surprised to see them can Rex on Monday as the questioning will be relentless, particularly if Rex has already been told he's done at the end of the year. Maybe that was part of Rex's deal, let me stay until we're officially out of it.

Ummm..... they do need someone to snap the ball.

He probably was fantasizing about next season in LA

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?