BuffaloWings

In this case, why let them score when you have a 5-point lead? You can still stop them and win the game right there. I understand the thinking, but I wouldn't have done it then. With this offense (even though they were better yesterday), what makes you think they'd be able to drive into FG position? The Jets tried to let them score last week and MJD took a knee at the 1 - when they were still behind. Jacksonville knows how to manage the clock. The best thing to do was to try and stop them.

Let's let it go, please. Peters is gone...he's in Philly.

That "management" was Donahoe & Co. at the end of the 2003 season. Yes, Ralph was probably part of it, but since we're probably going to have new people running the football operations, you never know what may happen. Plus, if I recall correctly, rumors were floating around that Fassel was sick and didn't interview well anywhere he went during that time. All of that said, Fassel is probably low on the list. Looks like Ralph is going after a big name this time.

Plus he's an offensive guy and makes all of his players accountable for their actions. I wanted him when the Bills hired Mularkey and I wouldn't be upset if they got him now.

Exactly...

Fewell will interview, but part of that interview will be how the team performs for the rest of the year.

Dick "chose to leave on his own" when Ralph told him he'd be fired at the end of the season....that's PTR's point.

I'm sorry.....NFL Network???

Generally, I've seen teams underachieve when the head coach is also the GM....Holmgren in Seattle, even Shanahan in Denver. But think about this - I thought I read somewhere that Jauron had a ton of say in personnel while he was here (which is why we saw plenty of DBs drafted in the early rounds). Clearly, it didn't work in this case, but as others have mentioned, it's not like guys performing both roles have not succeeded at all. I'd more prefer that there's a GM (respected one) who comes in to hire his own people, including the coach, but right now, I'll take a big-name coach that has some clout and knows plenty of people around the league. The football side of this organization is in such disarray, I'll take a change like this.

I wouldn't call it an automatic hire, but he'd certainly garner a lot of consideration. If Ralph is going to make sweeping changes to the organization, it all depends on who runs the football operations.

Agreed, 100%. However, I think there's some fire with Shanahan. Nobody expected him to be fired in Denver (certainly including himself) and he openly said he was going to coach again someday. Both of these factors make me think that he's been itching like mad for an opportunity to come along and ready to prove to Pat Bowlen that he didn't deserve to be fired. Both Cowher & Holmgren retired on their own accord. That says to me there was either some mild case of burn-out or they were ready to live a life other than being a coach. Either way, I see less fire in those two than I do in Shanahan. Cowher has never officially said that he'll come back and coach, so it would seem to take a lucrative offer for him to do so. Holmgren has hinted at it, but never come out and said so. I'd think a lucrative offer might be required for him to coach/GM, also. Based on the need for "fire", I think Shanahan is probably the best choice to start with. Not that there wouldn't be fire if a coordinator was hired, but Shanahan certainly has the experience. Ralph & company seem to be requiring that, as well.

Cameron had his shot in Miami. Granted, he had 1 year and went 1-15, but he didn't fare well at all.

Old news...and they're not officially being interviewed yet. There is only "interest" and they can't interview Gilbride right now, anyway.

Now my dwindling fantasy team is officially shot.

Again, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. For now, I just want improvement and consistently good play. Besides, do you really think one year of Shanahan would get this team to the Super Bowl?

Like many of us, he probably wasn't expecting it until approximately 5:00pm Eastern time on January 3rd.

This is just the start of things. Getting Jauron off the sidelines is the first step. The next step needs to be a new head of football operations, a la what Parcells is in Miami. Get that side of the house straightened out with plenty of time before the draft.

They emailed me last week to say group tickets were still available for the last 2 home games. I finally responded last night telling them if the product on the field improved, I might consider it...but as long as Jauron was the coach, I wouldn't be buying any tickets.

I don't mind this idea, unless it's a Shanahan/Cowher/Holmgren type who wants to coach and GM. If Fewell's taking over, let him finish the season. I don't see the point of bringing in a coach from the outside right now.

No, and I don't think salvaging this year was the point of all this. I've been advocating Jauron's pink slip as soon as humanly possible - if only to show the players, fans, and the rest of the organization that the team's performance is beyond unacceptable. But now we at least see that things are moving at OBD...like molasses, but they're moving.

People can always change their minds.

I've liked him for a long time - he's a consummate professional...just goes about his business, works his tail off, and wins. He doesn't get photo shoots for GQ or anything, either (except for a handful of commercials). The guy is a winner, period. We can only hope the Bills have a QB that's half of his stature.

Tim, Based on Vic Carucci's chat from Friday saying he thinks the Bills will be making big changes to the organization, when would you anticipate this starts? Many of us on this board feel that Dick Jauron won't be let go until the season is over, but I wouldn't mind having that start any time now - at least telling the fans and the rest of the team/organization that the performances under Jauron's watch are unacceptable. I wouldn't expect whoever is the interim coach to run the team to the playoffs and I realize it wouldn't be anyone from the outside. I know there have been some teams that fired their coach during the season (usually with about 2-3 games to go), but not necessarily the front office. Is there a precedent for this? How do you anticipate the situation playing out with the coaching staff and front office personnel? Many thanks again!

Well, I wouldn't count him out anyway. This extension certainly makes it look likely that he'll stay in the booth for at least another year, but he's a coach. He'll have the itch to return at some point.