drhockey

oh, you guys forgot to insert a footnote for all of those years of data......"DJ did not have any talent" That seems to be the common excuse for DJ now. Well, unfortunately, he's not exactly rolling into a wealth of talent here either. Sure, we have some pieces, but we still have quite a few holes to fill. Not to mention everyone is going to be a year older next year (ahem....Milloy and Vincent).

Listen, i'm not saying that's what i expect or that is what they will do. We all know that they end up doing the opposite of what we, as fans, want. But the reality of it is that they seem to be aware of the local backlash for the head coach selection, so it would be in their best interest to sooth the public in some way. Making a big splash with the coordinators, in my opinion, would be the way to go. I'm also not saying that we could attract someone that high profile, but in order to keep up with the Jones' so to speak, there needs to be some proven commodity on this staff. Will they do it, probably not. I'm getting numb to all of this anyway. I hit a low yesterday when the news first broke, so now i'm in a damage control state of mind. More or less, a "what can they do to make a positive out of this mess" way of thinking. Right now, this move is a snowball (a large one at that) that is starting to quickly grow in size. With the addition of unproven coordinators, it could grow exponentially and run right over the admin building at OBD.

Listening to that press conference was definitely interesting. I'm glad that the media finally had the stones to press the Bills a bit on their supposed logic in their choice. I think that's why they cut it a bit short. Anyway, DJ has to hire a couple of great coordinators to have any chance at this. He/They need to make a big splash with the two in my opinion. I mean, just look across the way at the fish. They have now installed Capers and MM on their staff. Say what you want about MM, but in a reduced role in Miami he just might be much better off and able to do some damage. He'll certainly be familiar with dismantling the Bills swiss cheese D. And, Capers is a fine DC; we all know that. So, Saban has appointed two former head coaches to his coordinator positions. I feel DJ has to try to do the same in essence. Not to say that this is the way to go or that it would even work, but something on the level of Bates as DC and Martz as OC would certainly send a message to the fans that the Bills mean business this time around. No more experiments with unproven guys. If DJ and Co. end up bringing in a couple of no names from DJs past or guys that have been "recommended" to Marv based on some crappy connection he has, then we're in complete trouble. I'm not too optimistic to say the least....

No crap, this is what really starts to get at me. Here we (meaning the Bills) are fumbling around and finally deciding on DJ, which is disappointing to say the least. Then, one of the more attractive DCs out there goes to the enemy, of all teams. If the Bills and/or DJ don't come up with some kick a$$ assistants, this is going to get ugly in a hurry. After watching some of the teams, and their staffs, in the playoffs this year it reminded me how far away our coaching staff is from being playoff caliber. Now, i don't think Capers is the second coming, but the one thing he is good at is being a DC. The Bills cannot misfire on this staff (although, i believe they have already with DJ) or it really will be a long 3 or so years of pure pain.

That Jerry Gray is still part of the leftovers??? This is getting worse by the friggin minute for me. The statement from the article is below with the linky below that. "The Bills retained nine of Mularkey's assistants, a list that includes defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who previously has said that he doesn't expect to be back. Offensive coordinator Tom Clements was among five assistants released earlier this month" ESPN If he is retained on DJ's staff, i'm going to curl up in the fetal position and go on sick leave from work. I forsee a coma in my future.....

I, for one, also cannot wait to hear the creative ways they try to spin this one to the fans and media. Problem is, these introductory press conferences are more lovefests than a grilling forum. I suspect a lot of throat clearing noises from Ralph, one liners from Marv (accompanied by giggling media members), and obvious, but uninspiring answers from DJ. I can see DJ saying something along the lines of "we're going to get this thing turned around quickly", "there's a ton of talent here", "Buffalo has a great tradition of winning and we plan on bringing that back to the fans", etc.... I'm so excited already.....ugh

That the Bills were going to be so bad that they would let go of TD and MM at the conclusion of the season, and then replace them with Marv and DJ, I would have recommended that person for an emergency lobotomy. But, now that it's reality, I desperately want the lobotomy in advance of this coming season to avoid the pain and frustration of witnessing coaching ineptitude and utter mediocrity. I can't believe my beloved team has come to this point.......

Agreed. I'm sick. Even though DJ is an Ivy league guy, i shudder to think of him matching coaching wits with BB and NS. People are talking about the fact the BB started off in a similar fashion as DJ record wise, but BB was also an integral part of a couple of super bowl victories with the G-men. I don't think Jauron has that on his resume. I'm so glad we tapped into our past by getting Marv for these critical decisions.... Anyone want to meet me at the nearest bridge???

Problem is, what is DJ gets off to a rough start, say 1-5, then it's going to be over. The town will completely implode, if it hasn't after the news today. With MS, i think there would have been a lot more excitement for the fans, which is better marketing, and therefore, a bit more slack if MS started out slowly. With the fans, DJ is going to get no slack whatsoever. It's unfortunate, but very true. This could get really ugly quickly in '06. I'm just so disappointed with the direction though. I wanted TD gone and MM for obvious reasons. But this is not the outcome that i wanted. If somebody presented this outcome to me prior to the firings/resignation, i may have been inclined to keep TD and MM. That is SAD.

Don't we already know who the coordinators will be?? It looks like DC could be Capers and OC could be Caldwell. I started to get a sick feeling in my stomach when the Bills interviewed those two becasue it signaled to me that these would be DJ's choices for coordinators, whereas MS would probably have brought Bates in for DC and would most likely have his own list to bring along. It shows me that Marv now has a guy in DJ that he can keep under wraps and MS would have been a stronger candidate that Marv may have been threatened by. Marv has a puppet in DJ and MS wouldn't have been that. The Bills needed MS not another @%$#! puppet. Thanks Marv!

Well, that was certainly a craptastic move digging into our past to grab Marv for these key decisions. I mean, i'm not going to pretend to know nearly as much as any of the NFL front office types, or Marv for that matter, but come on......enough of the cronyism for cripes sakes!!! Hire the BEST man for the job, and i have serious doubts that DJ was the BEST coach for the job. After watching the Steelers completely out-coach the Broncos, i thought that game stressed even more the importance of a top notch staff. Personally, i thought that hiring MS was the start of that staff. I'm sick to my stomach and SO disappointed with these events. What a bad marketing move too. This franchise despearately needs some real guidance. ugh.....

That's the funny thing about all of this. RW got his way with MM leaving and eating $3 million of his contract. Then, Sherman gets canned in GB and still has two years left on his deal, which pays him about $3.2 mil per year. The deal is that the Bills can pay him anything under that and GB makes up the difference. So, essentially the Bills could pay him $1.5-2.0 the first couple of years and Sherman will still get his $3.2 as GB ponies up the remainder. It makes too much sense, which is the scary part. That is where they usually screw up.

Apparently, Ralph is sockless....and Marv is clueless

Just passing along what i have read elsewhere. I didn't hear it myself, but apparently Jeff Morrison of WGR has told the MS & Bulldog that a source inside OBD says Marv wants Jauron and Ralph wants Sherman. We'll see who's really running the organization now....

That certainly was the happiest day of my life. I went with a few guys and we couldn't believe that we were finally going to the SB. At halftime, we were all in total amazement. I remember that nobody left the stadium and after the game was over 80+ thousand people were having the time of their lives. I was also part of the FANDEMONIUM!! picture that was plastered on the back of the newspaper the next day. I was partially blocked though by a dude with a big Bills hat. My buddy was in full view though. Plus, that picture ended up becoming a football card, which i would love to have for old times sake. Anyone happen to have that photo or at least a link of where i might be able to find it?????

No help here, but i did break my Coccyx..... Well, not really, i just like the word.

Am I the only one getting ready to tie on my cement shoes and jump off the golden gate bridge in the event DJ is hired????

Ugh...I feel your pain man. I'm in CA and I'm glued to the boards waiting for something good to come out of all of this. Not that this is done by any means, but if Jauron does indeed have the "inside track" and gets the job, how much different it this situation than TD hiring one of his Pittsburgh cronies?? I mean, Marv is tight with DJ from the Chicago days, he's intelligent, a good guy, blah, blah, blah.... But, I want the BEST for the job. I'm not convinced he is it just becasue of their previous ties. I'm starting to feel sick again......

So much for the "exhaustive" search, huh?!?! Unless "exhaustive" means two candidates for a couple of guys in their 80s In all honesty though, it kind of sickens me that they didn't even get Sean Payton into Buffalo after getting permission to interview him. I mean, the NO position can't be any better off than what we have to offer right?!?!? Oh well, add another ulcer to my already deteriorating body.....

We are doomed, let's face it. I've never felt so ill about the potential coaching candidates. Every other year it seems as if there are one or two guys out there that most people are drooling over. But no, the year we clean house there doesn't seem to be a guy out there that is even worthy. Essentially, as it appears now, we'll be replacing a mediocre coach with another mediocre coach that may have a bit more experience. Ugh. I'm literally experiencing headaches just thinking about the possiblities. Did anyone read that PFW articel on TBD?? Yikes, that was slightly depressing. I know it was very gloom and doom, but if they, meaning the golden dudes, don't hit on this coaching decision, we could be in for a miserable few years. Especially, considering that the other two coaches outside of Belichick are from his coaching tree. At this rate, we might as well grab Pepper Johnson from the Pats just to make it a clean sweep in the AFC East. We're all doooomed......unless Dick Jauron coaches like his hair is on fire.

Fairchild a good option?!!??! Yikes; some on this board are really desperate to put a positive spin on things. Personally, if the Bills are going on the cheap and/or only able to get "up-and-comers" due to Mularkey's shaky status, then I would definitely try to raid the Belichick tree of coaching. I'm all for either Josh McDaniels or Pepper Johnson, or both, for the OC and DC positions. I'm not saying they would be at all interested, but that's where i would focus. At the very least, they know how to win and have been around one of the greatest coaches in recent memory during that span of time. You would think some of that would rub off, not to mention Weis and Crennel aren't looking too shabby at this point in their young head coaching careers. It's just simple logic in my mind given the circumstances the Bills are in right now...

I mean, i know this is rehashing what everyone else has been saying or beating a dead horse, but if the guy can't compile a team over a 5-year span that can compete with the upper level teams, then why continue with this experiment??? Ralph and the rest of the organization cannot possibly come up with any sort of positive spin to the fans if he/they decide to keep TD and/or MM next year. There would be a mutiny and I would be in the front of the pack. Obviously, i see no other option than cleaning the majority of the house, period. The problem is finding quality people to get this thing back on track. It seems as if this year is short on available, qualified candidates that would be attractive enough give the keys to the car, which is strange. It always seems as if every other year there are guys i would love to have in the organization, and right now nobody jumps out at me (that is available and/or possibly interested). ugh....

I'm actually stealing this information from another board, so i can't take any credit for doing the legwork or coming up with the evaluation tool, but i think it is so powerful i just had to pass it along for those who haven't seen it yet. By the way, i haven't double-checked the stated facts, so i'm only assuming these figures are correct. Basically, the numbers below show the Bills' record versus teams with winning records during the wonderful TD era. This explains everything anyone needs to know about this organization's ineptness over the past five years. In 2001, the Bills finished 1-7 against teams with winning records, which was labeled a rebuilding year... In 2002, the Bills finished 2-7 against teams with winning records In 2003, the Bills finished 1-8 against teams with winning records In 2004, the Bills finished 2-6 against teams with winning records This year, The Bills could possibly finish without a win against a team with a winning record. Currently, only the Chiefs and Dolphins have shots at winning records, but sit 8-6 and 7-7 with two games remaining... The only opponent left on the schedule with a winning record is the Bengals, which we all know is going to be a complete debacle. So, up to this year, the Bills have a stunning record of 6-28 against the tougher competition. ugh.....can we be done with this joke of a management team already?!?!?!

I just read this on WGR's front page......what's the deal?? "Buffalo, NY (WGR 550)- Bills second round pick Roscoe Parrish has had sucessful wrist surgery today in Buffalo. Parrish hurt it Wednesday night when he dove for a ball and Jabari Greer landed on top of him. This does not seem to be a season ending injury and Parrish could be back some time in September." I wish we could get the real story for cripes sake........