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The excuses posted at the top of this thread is exactly the type of dreaming that Ralph is counting on to sell tickets next year. The REAL reason DJ is still here=$$$. $6 million to get rid of him, and aprox $1-2 million more for all the assistants. Period. As for all that other stuff: flip it around: If Seattle hadn't been down to their 5th and 6th recievers; if Hardy's foot is called "out of the end zone" in Jax, which it may have been; if Oakland doesn't fall apart late in that game; St Louis led us at half time; both the second jets game and the Denver game, we were getting totally killed into the second quarter; and we had one of the easiest schedules in history. But we were thisssssss close....

That was not his 1st post, it was his 9th post. That poor guy you jumped all over the other day for, OMG!, starting a thread, THAT was his 1st post. Way to make people, fellow Bills fans BTW, feel welcome...

Re: play action- Did anyone else notice that, frequently, on 3rd and one, we would go empty backfield? This is where play action could be so helpful. With an empty backfield, the D line says "thank you!", b/c now they've just got a free pass on worrying AT ALL about their run lane. All they have to do is tee-off on the QB. I've heard more than one analyst question why we do this. Am I missing something? Surely pro coordinadors (Turk) must be aware of this, no?...

Ah, Yes, it was directly related to # of posts. You, and a few other blowhards, regularly take it upon yourself to scold those of us w/ less than 10,000 posts for having audacity actually POST THEIR OPINION on a message board that you feel you somehow own. Get over yourself. This is a public forum, to, um, post opinions! I remember my very first post getting pillaried w/in minutes by one of you clowns. It's this kind of demeaning negativity that keeps lurkers from joining in WITH THEIR OPINIONS. Having said that, your opinionns are usually among the more well thought out and sensible on this board. But ease up on the "holier than thou", will ya?....

I've been a loyal Bills fan since the mid 60's (yes, I'm old). I've been on this and other boards almost non-stop over the past few days, and I strongly believe that, this time, Ralph has done something that would have previously been considered nearly impossible: He has finally, and abruptly, crushed the bond that many had w/ this team. I know this sounds overly dramatic, but this almost unbelievable thumbing of his nose at his long suffering fans has produced a desperate resignation that many of us thought impossible. To have this tin-eared owner not only tell us all that mediocrity is OK, but that "it wasn't a hard decision for him AT ALL", is so galling and arrogant that I really believe he has broken the trust, or the ever important HOPE, that we fans needed to keep on pouring our emotions into this operation. I liken it to a long time relationship that you knew was dysfunctional, but you tolerated the other person b/c there was more good than bad. Well, Ralph just kicked that relationship in the stomach, and many are now realizing, with stunning clarity and sadness, that there is now more bad than good. Most of us will remain fans, but from a distance, and w/ out the passion that used to make it fun/hard/painful/rewarding. Ralph has turned on his heel and walked out the door on his adoring Bills fan base...

Totally agree: Trent has the tools, but never recovered from that shot he took from Adrian Wilson. I believe that our biggest problem, statistics aside, is our woeful defense. Without any semblence of a pass rush, teams just move at will against us, particularly early in games where they get a lead and then can dictate. Of course we desperately need a center and a real tight end, but even w/ the tools we have, if we'd run the damn ball and run play action EVER, we can move the chains(if I see an empty backfield again on 3rd and 1 I'm gonna scream!). But w/ Kelsay on the field, and mediocre linebacking, and no creativity from Fewel to generate ANY pass rush, we are sitting ducks. I think we have been sold on Poz and Whitner as being special, when in reality they are both average at best. But the biggest flaw is the total lack of any pressure on the opposing QB. Kelsay is easily the biggest offender: he is simply awful. Period. But I think Trent can be not just good but very good. 2 plays come to mind: Against Denver, late, on the pass to Jackson for aprox 60 yards- he had to step into that throw w/ a blitzer bearing right down on him up the middle. He took a tremendous shot, but delivered a great ball on the "wheel route" to Freddy, who ran it down to the 5. 2 years ago, w/ the game on the line at Wash: less than a min to go. Ball at aprox our 30, us losing- Trent steps up w/ an absolutely beautiful throw to Josh Reed, between 4(!) defenders, to get us into position for Lindells game winning kick. I TIVO'ed it and watched that throw about 10 times. It was a sensational pass. Bottom line: Trent good, pass rush sucks. Our #1 pick, for sure, will be Kelsay's replacement. Cut Trent some slack....

Great post. Like many others, this is me too. I grew up "Talkin' Proud" and remember when Chuck Knox's Bills finally broke the Dolfags oh-for- the 70's malaise. I went to Pasadena and Atlanta to watch our beloved Bills lose those Super Bowls. I fly up at least once a year (I live in Tampa now) to watch a game, and I have Sunday Ticket just to follow the Bills. But since about mid season, I would settle in for each game w/ little to no enthusiasm, expecting a poor quality game and always getting one. Even against the Jets and Broncos, early in both games we were getting killed. They say a fish rots from the head down. Well, Ralph is all about the benjamins, not about the wins, and his team reflects this. Look at his "inner circle": Himself, his accountant Littman, Russ Brandon the marketer. And, oh yea, the part time scout who lives and works in Florida, Modrak. That's 3 non-football guys and one part time scout running the team. We are stuck w/ this set up, and there is absolutely no reason to expect the on field product to improve. It's depressing, but them's the facts. The many thousands of local and far flung Bills loyalists deserve a better fate, but I'm afraid we are at the whim of a totally dysfunctional organization, and the ultimate kick in the stomach will come soon when Ralph dies and the team moves. It is depressing.....

Outstanding post. To think that Ralph "doesn't want to win" or that he couldn't cash in and haul millions by moving the team is just wrong. He is simply old school: this is HIS team, and he enjoys the meddling and the "being involved" part of it, a lot. Hence the inability of others (Polian, Chuck Knox, Butler, AJ Smith, even Marv this last time) to tolerate him. He WANTS TO BE INVOLVED. Unfortunately, his football smarts are right up there w/ the Brown family in Cinci and the Fords in Detroit. But the point is, w/out Ralph, there are no Buffalo Bills. Period. So we do owe him. Has he enriched himself at our expense? Yea buddy, a ton. Could he make more elsewhere? Yea buddy. I say enjoy the Bills while we can, 'cuz the fuse is lit....

I believe that they are trying to figure out the cheapest way to force DJ out w/out having to pay him. Probably some ultimatums about who he has to fire, knowing that DJ won't go there. They've probably given him (DJ) a buy-out offer that he has to respond to by Weds....Remember, Ralph's main confidant is his ACCOUNTANT, Jeff Littman. And his second in command is a marketing man. So of the top 3 guys (RW, Littman, and Brandon, NONE are football men. This will not end well, no matter if DJ stays or goes. Ralph will always insist on final say over everything, and no top flight football man would need to come here under that prerequisite. I think Modrak will take over as GM, but he has been shakey lately too, so...More of the same coming, I'm afraid...

I saw the same thing: Poz had the chance to hammer Cutler at the goal line, and didn't even hit him! He went over the top of him on purpose! Now, he would NOT have prevented the TD. BUT, he would have given their QB a real, legal shot. He passed it up. I was shocked, and bummed.

I kept thinking: THIS is the Turk we saw early in the year. Where has this play calling been? I guess when they execute, the play calling looks a lot better. And I agree: With a reasonable pass rush, we w/b a pretty good team. Also, Trent got his mojo back today too, despite getting creamed early and often. I still think the kid has got what it takes....

No, my screaming friend, YOU are wrong. The second replay clearly showed Stroud grab the OL's jersey and pull him. It was brief, but it was legit. Far worse were the TWO missed facemask calls w/in about 4 plays near their goal line. The second, on Jackson, would have given us first and goal at about the 4 yard line. With the non-call, we settled for 3. It could have been the game, and it was a VERY obvious. I really figured that, being the Bills and all, that would cost us the game. Thankfully, it didn't. BTW, a lot a heros today: Marshawn, Jackson, Trent, Josh, the OL, McGee. And man, do we suck at rushing the passer (unless we blitz). Kelsay is stealing money getting paid for his "performance". He is so totally a non-factor every week, on every play. It's amazing. If we had a pass rush, we'd be a different, and far better, team.

If they "FRANCHISE" him, they w/b on the hook for aprox $20-25 mil of their salary cap AT ONE POSITION! Then, of course you would trade the QB, Brady, that has absolutely made the Cheatriots what they are, which is the dominant team in the league for, I don't know, the past 5-6 years? Yea, this is a really well thought out plan. Now, they might TRANSITION him, allowing them to get something for him (Cassel) when he leaves. But leave he will. Bank on it.

Cowher has connections in Cleveland, having played there, etc...They also have an owner willing to pay for quality, which we obviouly do not. Re: Billick: Last year, when the Ravens played here, we were up by 3 (I think) with aprox 4 mins left in the game. They had 1st and ten at their own 41. McGahee had well over 100 yards at the time. They ran for 9 yards on 1st down, giving them 2nd and 1 at mid field. Well, thankfully, on 2nd and 1 AND 3rd and 1, Billick (The Genius) had rag armed Kyle Boller attempt to pass for the 1st down, both incomplete. Then they punted, and never saw the ball again. Are you SURE you want Brian Billick coaching our team? Be carefull what you wish for. BTW, there will be multiple coaching vacancies at the end of the year (Det, Oak, St Louis, Cleveland, others). Why would any top guy want to come here, to work for minimal income and a meddling owner? Things don't look too promising, I'm afraid.....

I was in the bar at the Bills hotel late the night of Pasadena Super bowl loss. These 2 older men, neither of whom I recognized, were talking about Polian about to be fired, as he lost a power struggle w/ Ralph's personal bean counter, Jeff Littman. I was puzzled, b/c there had been no public talk of this. A few days later, Polian was canned. So if you need to know where Ralph's passion is ( winning vs not spending money), there you are. We had just appeared in our 3rd straight Super Bowl, but Ralph considered that less important than his accountants opinion.

One more: Reggie Corner blitzing untouched from the blind side late in the Browns game. Quinn never saw him, and he had an easy sack, maybe even a sack/strip, that would have likely won the game. I don't know how he didn't make that play....

I totally agree: He has not been himself since he took that wicked hit, and subsequent concussion, in AZ. And, on the last play of the first half against S.F., he got slammed to the ground so that his head bounced off of the turf. He hasn't played since.

I remember that play well; what a preview it turned out to be. JP rolled right (against NE, first pass ever), and threw a 5 yard pass right into the gut of a startled NE defender. There wasn't a Bill in the area. Back to Sunday, after many further reviews, it looks to me that JP was actually trying to underhand a pass forward after being hit by the defender. It is too bizarre: he gets hit high, allowing him awareness that danger is on his back, but if you look look at it in slow motion, sure enough he is trying to UNDERHAND a pass forward, I think. BTW, no one was there to catch it. He is a nice guy and all, I guess, but I really do believe now that he is, to be unkind, stupid. And he will NOT be playing elsewhere next year. No other team will put their future in this guy's hands, not even as a third QB. No way. He is done in my opinion.

Yes, I TIVO'ed this several times and it's plain to see: the defender first touches JP up high, allowing the moron to realize that he is about to be sacked. So, instead of just securing the ball, he allows it to be stripped, but AFTER HE HAD TIME TO SECURE IT. Check it out...

Sorry, but "the fine quality of Whitner's play?". Are you kidding? The guy has not made one major, important play in his career. Ever. He was a #8 overall pick. He is supposed to be a franchise corner stone. He is average at best. Go watch the first quarter again if you think otherwise.

I agree: There was no time benefit as a run or pass were going to get the clock to 2 mins. A roll out is a really safe play there, unless you have a brain dead moron at QB, which we do. And did you notice that, EVEN AFTER JP CAN FEEL the defenders hands on him, he puts both hands on the ball, AND STILL ALLOWS THE BALL TO GET AWAY!! I've TIVO'ed it several times: Even after the guy has him, he STILL has a chance to protect the ball, but just doesn't. This guy is maddeningly horrible as a QB. He lost the game today. Period.

I totally agree that TE has not been at all the same since the AZ concussion. But I don't know if he or the team even realize it. To see him totally melt down agaist the Browns was almost bizarre. His strength had been quick decision making and protecting the ball. Since "the hit", he's not done either at all. If you look at the last play of the first half in the SF game, he gets slammed to the ground on the play, with his head bouncing off the turf. Presto- the second half begins and he's not playing. Now, he may well have a groin injury, but I think it's the concussion that is the bigger issue.

Totally agree. This kid was fantastic early in the year (comebacks at Jax, vs Raiders), but has been a shell of himself since the hit in Az. I think he still has effects from it that even he, and the team, are unaware of.

One more time: The team that scores first has a statistically significant advantage in winning. IF you feel your defense can get a 3 and out, or even has a reasonable chance to stop the other team, defering is reasonable. When you have our defense, defering is a losing strategy. I.E.: San Fran was ripe to get beat: west coast team flying east, poor record, nothing to play for. We had a chance to put 'em down early, get our crowd into the game, make it tough for 'em. Instead, we GIVE them the ball, they march it down our throats, gain enthusiasm, and never trailed in the game. So do we learn from that? No. We did it again against the Fins. Only this time, it took 2 possesions, as we held 'em, then they held us, got field position, and scored. Defering is not a no-brainer when your defense routinely gives up early scores, as ours frequently does. Having an "extra" possesion in the second half is less helpful than scoring early and gaining momentum, in my opinion.

Very good point. TE has gone from really good to god awful. I think it was that shot he took in AZ. He hasn't been the same since.