BenchBledsoe

Our only hope to have success with Jauron is that Chicago and Detroit were just BAD football teams. . . and it wasn't his fault. There clearly is evidence of this, as Detroit has never been good, and Chicago just had their first good year since Jauron's 13-3 season. One gets the feeling that next year the Bears could slip to 6-10 or so, just like Jauron's team did the following year. I'm praying that this was the case. . . however, there is always a fly in the ointment. . . our team is a bad team right now as well.

I have mixed feelings about Dinger's offense. I definitely believe that Denver is taking a step down going from Kubiak to Dinger.

"Woe is me" makes it sound like I'm talking about just myself. I feel bad for all Bills fans. Even before this hiring. Four Superbowl losses in a row? Wide right? Home Run Throw Forward? I can't think of too many fans who've been through all that. (Cubs? But, they almost always stink) Even the Red Sox and White Sox got their championships.

Woe is me? Where do you guys keep coming up with that? I'm making the point that I feel bad for real Bills fans, who desperately want a winner, and are not getting one any time soon.

Wrong again. The reason people "leave WNY and don't move in" (it's called declining population) isn't because of "my attitude". It's largely because of the local economy, government and weather. New corporations (and existing ones)find better business conditions elsewhere, especially regarding taxes. Also, "Blue Collar" is a term that actually refers to a person's occupation. "White Collar" is another. I've never heard anyone confuse these terms as meaning personality traits.

What the heck are you talking about? 13 winning years out of 38? No playoff wins since 1995? In today's era of free-agency, a 5 yr plan gets people fired. There's got to be 2-3 yr plans and instant IMPROVEMENT. Improvement is the key. Going backwards in year number 5? People should get fired as they are not doing their jobs well. It is a competitive industry, obviously.

Oh, make no mistake about it, it isn't my pitty party. I feel bad for all Bills fans who really want a winner. Because they obviously aren't getting one any time soon. Dick sucked in Chicago, Dick sucked in Detroit, Dick will suck in Buffdom. (There is going to be a Beavis and Butthead type joke coming from this sentence, I do believe.)

Not true. If Sherman was named HC, I doubt there would have been many negative posts at all. 80% of the fans wanted Sherman over Jauron, per the polls and article "Bad News Bills at it Again?" The complainers would have been a tiny minority.

Read the article, I didn't write it, I just told you it was there.

Ut oh, you're setting yourself up for a big disappointment. . .

Did you guys read that article? WOW! It said that Ralph and Marv basically "just gave a big middle finger to the loyal fan base", as 80% of the fans wanted Sherman. Also, the Bills didn't hire Sherman "because that would have made too much sense. . ." The article acknowledges how badly most fans did not want Jauron, and how angry they are now, but that the team's leadership doesn't care about an angry fan base. They'll care when the stadium is half-empty, I bet.

Haven't you been reading the posts on this board in the last couple of days?

Clearly, you are not a Buffalo resident or native. You don't have a clue about the way the community lives and dies with their teams. Bills fans are nothing special? Well, I'm surprised nobody else has ripped you for that comment. . . so I will. You're not a real fan. You're a cookie-cutter, dime a dozen out of towner pseudo-fan who probably started rooting for the Bills when they were going to four Super Bowls in a row. You give your f'in rhetoric a rest. That's all. I'm done with you

Yes, I would have been optimistic with Sherman, guarded, but optimistic. Especially since he likely would have brought Jim Bates with him. And feeling true-life anguish wasn't mine, it was a feeling sweeping over this entire board. I've become somewhat numb, so I'm not completely feeling it.

Why did this have to happen to us Bills fans? As a die-hard Bills fan, I can only say to other die-hard Bills fans that I'm sorry. . . I feel your pain. Reading this board today I see real, true-life anguish out there. I concur with your sentiments. I wish this didn't have to happen to us. Bills fans are the most fiercely loyal, live and die with their team, blood, sweat, and tears fans I can ever imagine. The town they live and play in is a testament to the gritty, blue-collar work ethic that they want from their sports teams. If they ever won a Super Bowl, it would be a day that time stood still for an entire city. The city virtually revolves around its teams. No other city (except maybe Green Bay) could possibly have its citizens lives so intertwined with the fate of its professional sports franchises. But, it appears it just isn't meant to be. For that, I say sorry to all of those die-hard Buffalo Bills fans whose hopes and optimism are as crushed as mine are this day.

Sorry, folks. but this is the same stuff we heard when MM and Gregggg were hired. . . you know, "Hope for the best, give him a chance, etc." Well, the last two hires didn't turn out well. Now, we're to go down the road of blind faith and optimism a third time? Third times a charm? Jauron is a proven non-winner. We don't have much talent to work with already. The odds of this turning out well are virtually zero. Most of the fans on this board realize this. It'd be a miracle if this guy can turn this team around, given our roster, and his history.

Where exactly is rock bottom for this franchise? I get the feeling we haven't hit it yet, unbelievably. What is the board's thoughts on where rock bottom is, and if/when we start to climb again?

No. I'll still be a fan. But, heck having no reason to be optimistic or hope for the future really sucks.

Brokeback Mountain? Then aren't we talking the "anals" of football?

so sad, but, alas, so true. . .

You can't seriously put us in the same boat as the Pats, can you? Their coaching and scouting against ours? We need all the help we can get. You're not advocating us avoiding free agency this off season are you?

Cannot agree more! He'd be on the short list with Dom Capers, Mice Tice, and Mike Martz. Although, no kidding, I'd rather have Martz. At least we'd be entertaining at times, and would score some points.

drawing conclusions that Jauron was chosen over Sherman based solely on money is foolish? Yes. It wasn't solely the money, Marv's buddy needed a job.

Yes, exactly. And other teams will show them more of it.

I heard brave talk about us making a big splash in free agency this year. . . Are you guys kidding me? Well, you are kidding yourselves if you believe it. This team is widely considered a joke right now. If the money is about even, they'll go anywhere else. We'd have to overpay FAs to come here, at this juncture. That's not good for cap purposes, obviously. Also, do you really think, after a cheap HC hire like this, that Ralph is going to go all out and really open up the wallet this off season for FAs? Please. Ralph's going to add a few mid/lower level FAs to pacify the angry mob a bit. . . nothing more.