MRW

I guess I would say I fault Bills' management for playing a key role in driving relations with Peters down to that point. I agree with you, once things have deteriorated to the point where a guy says he'll just play out his contract, getting what you can for him may be a good deal. But I don't think it had to be that way, if the Bills had been open to extending his contract earlier (i.e. at the time of his holdout), bringing him up to the level of other talented LTs. But the Bills instead opted to play hardball, got an unmotivated Peters to come in and play eventually, and set the tone for his acrimonious departure. I guess I should be happy they didn't just cut him outright. So while you make a good case that the situation was unsalvageable, I don't think it had to be that way. And it's worth looking at because the same management team that (IMO) badly bungled things to begin with is still in charge now.

Losman instead of Ben R is not a good example. The team wanted Ben R but could not find a trade partner. It's not like they had the opportunity to draft Ben but opted to reach for Losman instead.

I doubt we'd net a first for him. If we could, you'd have to consider it, but it wouldn't be because I expect a drop-off in his play. There's no reason he couldn't continue to be a productive player into his mid-30s. I justified the Bills letting Pat Williams go because I thought he'd decline, but I'm not going to make that mistake again. Unless the deal is in fact for a first rounder, I wouldn't want to see it happen. And I don't think anyone will offer that.

Yeah, it's hard to say, but I think you raise a good point about motivation. That's not to excuse Evans if he really is getting down and letting it affect his play - but it does mean that everyone should be cautious about thinking he couldn't do well with different pieces in place. Evans's speed is an asset, but that doesn't mean the only way to use it is to send him long. Why is it I see NFL games all the time where receivers are able to make catches (relatively) short because corners fear their big play ability, yet the Bills don't do that? Is that on Evans, on the coaches, or on the QB? Or all three? My greatest fear is we don't have anyone on staff who can begin to untangle the tremendous mass of suckitude that is the Bills' offense right now.

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"

Please stop.

If you get outmaneuvered by Jauron you deserve to be fleeced.

I suppose so, but I'm having a hard time seeing untapped revenue streams for the NFL at this point. Internationally they're making efforts to expand their fanbase, but it's very much an uphill struggle right now. There is sufficient coverage of the league that I don't think networks can justify astronomical increases in the price they pay for TV rights. They could monetize coverage of games on the internet, that's probably the big remaining market. But I've been completely unimpressed by their efforts to broadcast games on NFL.com. It's never worked adequately for me, so I question whether they can actually get people to pay for it. It's extremely possible that I'm wrong on this, I just know that if I were a potential NFL team buyer, I'd be very wary when looking at past growth.

How much longer can that kind of growth persist? The NFL is so huge now it seems to me it's poised for a fall. I think the monster-sized egos of the league could easily make decisions that start to damage the popularity of the game.

Or Dennis Green.

I'm open to correction, but is this sort of thing even possible anymore, with the advent of the Rooney Rule? I don't think you could make a commitment to a coach like that without going through an interview process that included minority candidates, and I think the NFL would need to consider them "serious" candidates.

This team is pretty bad.

No, it doesn't matter all that much, except if you buy the idea that Jauron's personality has rubbed off on the team. I don't expect anyone on the staff to turn this bunch into winners, but maybe April can remind them that they are human beings with emotions.

There is no way in hell this Bills team wins an AFC East game.

A loss next week and I think it's possible Jauron is gone immediately or at least by the bye. A win and he may make it to the end of the season. I know Wilson doesn't like paying out coaches' contracts after he's canned them, but at this point he has to be aware of how close he is to losing the majority of the fanbase.

Astounding. I don't know how Brandon did such a successful sales job on the fanbase.

What if they started with a naked cutout of Ralph and got to cover more of him back up with each win?

Perhaps it's time for America to step up its research efforts to find a cure for this "3-4 concussion". Its debilitating effects will cause suffering for more and more people as the 3-4 defense grows in popularity around the NFL, so I don't think you should joke about it.

$$

I have my doubts that there is anyone on staff who will make the team better. On the other hand... I think Jauron is actively hurting players' development now. I think he is training them in his passive, keep-it-close school of play, OK-we-lost-now-let's-learn-from-that mentality, and the longer he's around the more work the next coach will have to do to untrain everyone. So get rid of him, roll the dice, hell install TO as player-coach, who the hell cares at this point.

Allow me to make a prediction, the posters interested in defending Jauron will point to the horrible play of the tackles today as if he played no role in the makeup of this team.

I can't wait to hear all the TSW geniuses tell us how Walker Bell Scott can play just as well at a fraction of the cost! And with the money they save, they can bring in impact free agents like TO!

I don't buy it. Edwards has stood in there and taken some big shots. He's not afraid of getting hit.

If anyone could... My question is, if Jauron manages to go 7-9 again this year but Ralph fires him, will he be criticized for not allowing Jauron the chance to extend his streak? I mean, that would be a pretty remarkable run.

That's only a 50% chance!