SouthernMan

Finally, somebody with a brane!!!

I don't necessarily think anyone, coach or player, has to be the annointed as a rah-rah "leader" to motivate the squad, though obviously it's the coach's job to steer the team and I believe the QB is accurately regarded as the field general on offense. As far as anyone being a motivational guru for others, I expect each individual to be their own leader and have that intense competative burning desire to give it their all have the will to beat the living snot out of the opposing player they're matched up against on every snap. Those are the players we'll be watching this weekend. Take note Bills. A few former Bills who come to mind who fit this description would be Andre, Thurman, Bruce, Spielman, Kelly, Flutie, Tasker, Hull, Talley. Competitors who didn't take losing lightly. Who comes to mind from the current roster that has the same perceived level of intensity? Maybe Kyle Williams. Who else?

Agree. There are some coaches that are animated (think Bill Cowher) and it may be an asset, or others like a Landry or even Belichick who don't wear their heart on their sleeves. Coaches or players? Kind of a chicken-egg question, since a coach often hand picks players who may have a temperment more akin to their own. I don't know. But ultimately, it's the players who are on the field making or not making the plays. One of the follow-up posters suggested the coaches have to fire up the players. Couldn't disagree more. The coaches job is to prepare them for the game, not be a cheerleader. At this level of competition, the players should be self-motivated. This ain't Pop Warner. And to reach back to my original sentiment, I don't think it's an attributed trait that can be brought out by a coach. Not saying there can't be motivational speeches by the coach or teammates in the locker room that bond them and temporarily give them an adreniline rush, but in my opinion, the "I absolutley f-ing hate losing" mentality is a character trait that you're pretty much born with and is apparent through childhood games into adulthood. A recent series on The History Channel (I think) called The Men Who Built America profiled America's wealthiest industrialist entrepreneurs beginning in the 19th century: Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockefeller, JP Morgan, Ford.... fascinating viewing if you're into history. You know what their one commonality was? Super competativeness. Their impact on the marketplace as innovators and industrialists, and the resulting wealth and power that came along with it were motivated by their intense ego-driven desire to be top dog as both the richest and most influential (powerful) man in America. It still goes on today with the likes or Forbes and Trump. Belichick and Brady are meant for each other, as they both have that winning temperment. Meanwhile the Bills seem to think they can compete on the same battlefield with the likes of Williams/Losman,Jauron/Edwards, Gailey/Fitzpatrick, et al. Time to take stock One Bills Drive and bring not the most cerebral, most athletic, or highest score on the Wonderlic. You need competitors - an entire team of them to share the load - not just one or two figureheads. The Patriots don't have players that are that much better than The Bills* - they just have 100% of their players giving 100% of themselves for every second of every game. That's the culture the Patriots have manifested. Once that culture is established, it feeds and perpetuates itself by being attractive to the best free agents who help continue the tradition alongside decent draft picks. Give me a somewhat above average talented team made up of "winners" and I'll kick the asses of a group of NFL Indy combine standouts who don't live and bleed for football and their team 365 days a year. Once you have a majority of players like that, they hold accountable those who don't share their vision and intensity. Those without are replaced. *Brady excepted

After watching this year's playoff teams and reading the Tom Brady thread, it had me once again thinking about what it is that make the Bills perrenial losers. I truly believe they have the raw talent on the team to be a lot more competative, but more than anything else, in general, I think they lack that fire in their belly that defines the difference between champs and chumps. I watch these playoff teams and look at the players' body language and the look in their eyes on the sidelines. These are guys who absolutely hate to lose. I'm sure their hefty paychecks are a nice bonus, but don't think that's what drives these kinds of players. The Bills haven't had a team that exemplifies that competative spirit in years. At the risk of starting a Flutie/Johnson debate (please don't), the one trait that divided those two in my opinion and observation, was that Flutie seemed more adverse to losing. Ego? Probably, but so what? Ego has been a great motivator throughout history. The Bills rosters from their glory years were filled with players who had oversized egos. Marv's greatest asset as a coach wasn't in his genius with x's and o's, but in his ability to keep this group of egomaniacs working towards a common goal. This is just my opinion obviously, but I really don't think the Bills have enough players who are driven enough. If asked, of course they'd say they want to win. Who doesn't? But how badly? To what degree? In their search for new roster positions, I hope the personnel people put a good deal of emphasis on the psyche of their prospects, and find the right combination of talent and ego that it takes to be champions at this level. I don't care if they are world class A-holes. There's never been astrisk in the records books or on the Lombardi Trophy that noted that character trait. Bottom line - the Bills need their A-holes on the field and not in the offices at One Bills Drive where they've presided for more than a decade. :-)

And a prophet too! The same envious Bills fans here who have trouble admiring Brady and try to downplay his greatness citing chery picked statistics, are the same ones that would be doing backflips if he suddenly became a Buffalo Bill. As a Bills fan I hate the guy. As an NFL fan who recognizes greatness, Brady is probably the best QB in NFL history. He studies the opposing defenses and knows them like the back of his hand. He makes perfect reads under pressure. His passes are on the money. (he could teach Fitz a thing or two about hitting a receiver on target with the long ball) Like all teams, the Patriots have gone through attritional changes over his 13 year career. In 12 seasons from 2001-2012 the Patriots have won 10 division titles. 1 of the 2 in which they didn't, Brady was put no IR after game 1. The only constants through coaching and player changes - Belichick and Brady. Until Brady retires or become physically inefficient, the Bills (and the rest of the AFC East) will have an uphill battle being anything more than a wildcard contender in the AFC playoffs. Brady should get a pass on the HOF waiting period. Maybe he can have Bills 2000 first round draft pick Erik Flowers valet park his car for him at the induction ceromony.

Every superbowl contending team is strong at the QB and LB positions. The Bills have neither. These both need to be addressed. Right behind those postitional needs are a complimentary receiver to Johnson and maybe another TE, though I think Chandler has a lot of upside. Sad how the Bills have "just missed" having the opportunity to take LBs Von Miller and Patrick Willis, and of course they could have had Matthews the year they instead chose Maybin. Their current defense with those 3, and minus Dareus (who was taken in the spot after Miller) would be dominating with the right defensive mind running the show. Watching the other playoff teams in post season action, it's clear Fitzpatrick's skill level is inferior to those who made it to the playoffs. He's serviceable - nothing more. The Bills need a force at Linebacker and maybe make a move for someone like QB Alex Smith in FA, since I don't believe there's actually a sure-thing franchise QB in the first round of the draft. Reaching for a QB in round 1 would be a mistake IMO. The last thing the Bills need is to waste another season with an experiment. About the time that guy might be up to speed, the proven talent on the team will be taking FA offers, and then it's rebuilding time again! Yippee! The future is now.

In the pre-internet olden days, access to information wasn't as immediate or accessible, and the pre-game shows were more tolerable as a somewhat necessary evil for information starved fans. Other than weekly sports rags, brief newspaper blurbs, or national sports radio talking heads, keeping current for a specific team was not as instant. This was especially frustrating for those (most) of us who follow the Bills, but are not based in WNY. With everything and anything now at our fingertips 24/7, no matter where we are, what can the Fox or CBS panel tell me that I don't already know? Maybe a tidbit here or there, but not enough to justify spending precious time fixed to the "tube" while they act like delinquent frat boys, fawning over the latest media darling. Only thing missing is the togas and beer kegs. If ever there's anything remotely controversial, they rehash it incessantly like some gossipy old hens at the sewing club. Ughhh. The pre-season nonstop Tebow coverage was enought to make me puke. Talk about a non-story! With the Bills being little more than the very occasional mention or logo graphic on any network coverage, I'd have to be a huge fan of all things NFL to even consider having the TV on prior to kickoff.

If You Re-Build It, They Will Come

Have always recognized that a QB is an integral part of the team, but Trent Dilfer was always the best argument for "you don't have to have a great QB". More and more I'm thinking that was just an anomolly that should not ever be used to bolster that argument. The Colts, Broncos, Redskins, Seahawks all have something in common that has sent them in a positive direction this year. They all made the commitment to improve their QB position with someone other than a journeyman signal caller that is "just adequate". Look what happened when Cinci finally found their QB. Brees, Matt Ryan, Schaub, have had similar effects on turning their teams around. By the same token, teams like the Packers have maintained their status as a playoff contender with a good sucesstion plan, having replaced one HOF Qb )Favre) with someone (Rogers) to make the transition seamlessly. Meanwhile teams like the Bills, Browns, KC, et al continue to "settle" for 2nd tier talent as they endlessly "build" their teams. I've always thought you build from the trenches outward, but I don't think in this pass-happy NFL a team will succeed without a superior QB. Fitzpatrick is a very likeable guy, but he's not a top tier QB that will win those 3 or 4 close ones for you.

Steelers: (7) different 1,000 yard rushers. (23) 1,000 yd rushing seasons Of course I knew this off the top of my head :- )

Barring injury, it looks like Spiller is on his way to becoming the 12th Bills runner to hit the 1000 mark for a season. Gilchrist (1) Simpson (5) Miller (1) Bell (1) Cribbs (3) Thomas (8) A. Smith (1) Henry (2) McGahee (2) Lynch (2) Jackson (1) If not for injury, Fred Jackson almost certainly would have hit that mark last year, only falling about 70 yeards shy. That's 11 different runners, 27 times, in 52 seasons, with Spiller poised to up each of those figures. I wonder if any other team has had such success with so many different backs. I know for a while Denver seemed to be able to plug anyone in to their backfield and have prolific numbers. Conversely, during the Marino years, I don't think Miami ever had a 1,000 year rusher. Historically, are the Bills the best running team? Can you think of any others that compare?

Buffalo has a lot great advantages over other big cities. Really great place in many ways. The ease of getting around is amazing compared to (for example) Atlanta. I always tell anyone that in WNY, there's more sights to see and more recreational destinations within a 2 hour drive of Buffalo. Far more to do than there is here in Atlanta. If you're lucky enough to have a secure job with decent pay in WNY, there are few better places to live. The problem is that nobody's figured out a way to make it an attractive locale for larger Fortune 500 level companies to operate. Most of my previous comments were a mocking response to a really cheesey video with all the usual cliche footage of Lake Erie, Frank Lloyd Wright, Albright Knox, etc etc. Thought it was odd they didn't show any major sports teams or chicken wings. Perhaps the narrator succumbed to cardiac arrest before they could finish production.

Ummmm,,,,,very gay Chamber of Commerce style video with what sounds like one of Ralph Wilson's classmates narrating. What - Hal Holbrook or Morgan Freeman not available? They should show some of the beat down properties in the fruit belt, east side, or UB district, and then a resident in Amherst (where most businesses and business owners have actually moved) opening the mail and revealing their property tax bill. Those are all very nice images in the video, but for the sake of fairness, they could run the Buffalo episode of COPS on a split screen next to it. Before I get slammed for being negative, how many of you elected to stay in the Buffalo area? Buffalo was once a great place, but the "set in their ways" mentality of the locals have kept them in a time warp while the rest of the world marches into the future. Maybe someday I'll go to visit, if for no other reason than to listen to some colored musicians.

Polian's biggest strength IMO was that he recognized players that not only had football talent, but had a strong competitive streak. The thing the 90s teams possessed were players with big egos who hated to lose. Polian also understood that part of the winning formula isn't just about the individuals, but how to assemble the right group of people that have good chemistry as an ensemble. As good as Smerlas was as at nose tackle, he missed out on the Bills superbowl runs because he was getting older and they wanted the faster Jeff Wright, but also partly because Polian recognized that he was a a divisive force that could undermine the chemistry of the team, especially if he were forced to keep the bench warm for Jeff W. The big question I always have about retreads is: has their time passed? Maybe what worked in the 90' or 00s isn't a winning formula today. (think Dave Waanstadt) I think Ralph was looking for some younger and more innovative minds to run this team. Unfortunately, Ralph thinks Buddy and Chan fit that category. Would I want Polian back? I suppose - if he were still the best choice willing to go to Buffalo - why not? One of the interesting angles to this saga is that there have long been rumors about the Jim Kelly group (whoever they are) making a bid for the team when Ralph passes, which will in all likelihood occur within the next 3 years, if not sooner. Presumably, Kelly is tight with Polian, just as he is with Levy and that may be a factor.

Triplets - Craig Ramsey, Robin Williams, & Bono

As much as I am not a conspiracy theorist guy, it seems the Bills have had their share over the years with this type of scheduling. Don't they almost always get the Patriots coming off a bye week? I'm not going to do it, but it sure would be interesting to see a scorecard for the different teams and how many times they get the extra day advantages. Obviously, the better teams get Thur and prime time games more often, so naturally, they have more games with extra prep time. As much as this might be a partial excuse if the Bills getting killed next couple of weeks, they're still a team in a state of chaos with the perennial issues of: coaching, GM, QB play, porous defense, injuries, and a losing record. Same old, same old. I propose the team change it's mascot name to "the groundhogs"

Considering the decimated offensive line, and the other much-discussed shortcomings (bad QB, unmotivated D-line, no line-backing, bad DBs, horrible D-coordinator), I'd give better odds to the Mayan prediction that in December we'll see the world come to an end.

As far as begging for obsequious apologies ..etc No. It was the fact that I was the bad guy when all I was trying to do was have an intelligent dialogue and say "hold on a minute fellas..not so fast", and I was subsequently insulted by numerous regulars from TSW. Yeah, "I told you so" feels pretty good. Guess I'm just insecure.

"I'm sorry you're so stuck on yourself" - this from the guy with almost 37,000 posts.

A few months ago, everyone was still giddy following the signings of Mario and Anderson, and with other off-season moves and a draft that were supposed to make this defense unstoppable. The origin of my post was prompted by my years of seeing the same pattern over and over, along with the unbridled adulation being thrown at our heroes, Nix and Gailey by the users of TSW. I thought it was premature. I even compared the situation to Peguala and the Sabres from last year. We know how that ended up. I used the analogy of Charlie Brown having the football always pulled by Lucy as he attempted to kick the ball. Reality sucks, eh? Every year there's some new enticement (Bledsoe & Mike Williams, Aaron Maybin, T.O., Dareus, Mario, etc) used to sell tickets that gets that faithful all geared up for the revamped team. So far, the Bills haven't sniffed the playoffs, other than the Mike Mularkey team that had only to beat the Steelers 2nd stringers to make the playoffs. Of course they lost. I stated that I was also happy to see some aggressive moves during the off season, and it all sounds good, but "the proof is in the pudding" and "show me the baby" were 2 phrases I used to temper my optimism. I changed my avatar to the "on-paper" trophy. BUT....I was called a troll and blasted for being negative and trying to rain on your parade. When you've been Bills a fan for 45 years, you come to expect the kind of season we're now experiencing. It's not the end of the world. I'm not going to change my allegiance. I just try to keep my expectations realistic and enjoy some football on the autumn months. We're from Buffalo. We're not supposed to succeed. Buffalo will always be the half-wit brother "Fredo" to other cities where teams win championships and the economy attracts Fortune 500 companies. Our legacy is: wide right, no goal, 4 straight losing superbowls, Tim McVeigh, OJ Simpson, John Wayne Bobbitt, and a U.S. president shot to death at a fair. I know better than to expect more out of the Bills with castoff hiring with the likes of Wannstadt, Nix, and Gailey. I'll always love them and they're my team, but like Fredo, they're always going to break your heart and I don't have unrealistic expectations that they'll ever be more than the bag man for the Rooneys, Maras, and Krafts of the NFL family. Reading today's posts tells me a lot of you have turned tail. Hmmm...guess I was right after all. Apologies accepted.

Conversely, teams like The Giants, Steelers, Ravens, Patriots, et al., seem to have bad seasons when attrition and age deplete their winning teams, but always seem to find a way to rebuild and get back into superbowl contention, even with a total change of the roster. Yep, it all starts at the top with the decisions made in the front office. The difference is that those winning teams find ways develop top notch personnel departments who recognize prospects that have the mentality and temperament to contribute to a championship team. Since Polian's departure (and to some extent John Butler's), the Bill's personnel decisions have been average Their W-L record over the past 11 years is a perfect reflection of that. They've somehow managed to find some good FA prospects and low to mid round players, but have been incredibly bad with how they've utilized their high draft picks. Those are the picks that should be the catalysts and game changers helping to win those close games. It can mean the difference between 7-9 and 11-4. Ralph deserves credit for keeping the team in Buffalo, but as an owner who has the skill to build a winning franchise, he's inept. His record is laughable. He ran off the best football minds to ever wear Bills colors - Lou Saban (twice), Chuck Knox, Wade Phillips, Polian, Butler, with replacements like John Rausch, Jim Ringo, Hank Bullough, Kay Stephenson, Gregg Williams. Their post-Bills records speak for themselves. Ralph and his beancounters were instrumental in jettisoning great players like Cookie Gilchrist, Ahmad Rashad, Daryl Lamonica - who wanted to be paid according to their skill level. It wouldn't be so ridiculous if he hadn't overpaid 2nd tier or washed up free agents, as he did recently with some of the offensive lineman from a couple of years ago. I can hardly remember their names. I always maintained that If Ralph were truly smart, he'd open the checkbook for top personnel people who could find great players, and Ralph and Co would still save millions by not wasting time and money on Aaron Maybin, Mike Williams, JP Losman, Rob Johnson, etc. etc. Ralph Wilson is respected by most in the NFL club and certainly by the Kelly-era players, but I still think it's an accepted fact that he doesn't make the best choices for his front office. Nix and Gailey are typical examples of people who know football and are very experienced, but they're not superbowl caliber employees. The Rooneys have won superbowls with 3 different coaches. Unlike RCW, they know how to assess a front office staff.

I rubbed one out before the Jets game, but not before the Browns or Chiefs game. Guess what I did yesterday?

Just a guess, but thinking he was put on ice by The Stadium Wall moderators for using technique and moves already being discussed on TSW.

There's no perfect blueprint for building a championship team, but the Falcons are 4-0 and their rebuilding project was enhanced by drafting an elite QB to steer their ship, and giving him elite receiving threats to compliment his skill. The Bills have done almost the exact opposite, "settling" on a journeyman QB and surrounding him with a 7th round draft WR and free agent WRs as their starters. Stevie is a good receiver - not great. The rest are just very average. Even if the receivers were great, Fitz doesn't seem to be able to lead a receiver with his throws. Even the one that are caught are usually the result of the receiver slowing down to adjust to the pass. When's the last time you saw a nice over the shoulder rainbow catch (in stride) by a Buffalo Bill? I honestly can't recall one in recent memory. The Bills have addressed their positions in the trenches the last couple of years with mixed results, but it's time to shore up the biggest weaknesses on this team which start with the passing game and extend into the Mickey Mouse linebacking corp. And yes...I realize the defense blew it yesterday. That's a whole different thread. One at a time.

It's interesting to watch teams like the Patriots who are naturally super competitive. They want it more - it's that simple. I don't know that the Patriots have that much more talent, if at all, other than the obvious (QB). In the glory days of the Bills Kelly-led teams, guys like Thurman, Andre, Bruce, and Jimbo just hated losing. These Bills go to work like it's just another day at the office, la-tee-da. This isn't accounting - it's like any art form and has to be done with passion, otherwise you fall short. I don't know how much of this starts with coaching, but when you see a Mike Tomlin, Belichick, Coughlin, etc - they look like they want to be out on the field tearing heads off and their players reflect that intensity. When is the last time the Bills had a coach with that level of emotion on the sideline? Lou Saban? Most of the Bills head coaches in recent history are more like the dull blade you'd be avoiding at a cocktail party. Did anyone notice Brady on the bench after his touchdown run? The crowd was booing him, and he still had that fire in eyes and wasn't gonna let the Bills and their lowly fans steal this game from him. As he sat there contemplating his next dissection of the Bills defense, he was caught on camera responding to the boos of the Buffalo faithful with, "F You Bithc". Crude yes, but at least it was a display of an ultra competitive player who will not lay down and concede. Where are those players on the Bills roster?