Saint Doug

Just because Smith improved doesn't mean EJ will improve. That's like saying we should've given JP or Edwards or Collins more time. Problem with having that sort of patience is (1) that it's the exception, rather than the rule, that a QB improves after starting 5 years, (2) if they do become decent, they're certainly not elite, and (3) you miss many opportunities to get that elite QB (which we undoubtedly have experienced here). Anyways, I'm all for Foles coming here. He would automatically become the best QB we've had since Kelly.

I'm sorry, but if the interview is not about what QB you're going develop, be it EJ or another young QB, then the interview shouldn't even take place. Do you think we haven't been to the playoffs since forever due to poor defensive play, the wrong WRs, or a poor running game? Like it not, we already own the rights to EJ, so we better see if we can make it work or move on.

It would be a fantastic finish to the week if he suddenly decided to unretire again.

That's true and I don't understand when his name isn't being linked to their HC search. Imo, he would be a better choice than Reich.

I'd also be fine with Schwartz. The way I see it is that we had no offense last season and everything on defense. We were a top 5 defense and our offense ranked 26th. Our offense was never going to improve while Marrone was here, so now we have the chance to get an offense and our team with an offense in the top half is a playoff team. Let's keep our defense (in Schwartz) and go get ourselves an offense.

That, and the "Saint Doug" story many of us thought was too outlandish to be true was actually true. That is gold.

I would love if they just made Schwartz HC with Chan as OC. It would keep the defense intact and we would be picking up a guy who actually knows how to run an offense.

Maybe this is all for the best. There was major drama when Pat LaFontaine came and even more when he left. But, the Sabres are in a much better place now. Perhaps Pegula should gut the team and hire the hottest young football mind out there to fix this place, just like what Tim Murray did.

It's different. Orton retired so he could spend more time with his family and probably to also walk away with his brain intact. None of that applies to Marrone.

Too bad they just didn't let him go to Cleveland. We could've picked up Pettine as our HC and Marrone could've been out of the NFL by now.

Wrong. D'Alessandris could. Again, wrong. Chan did. So, are you telling us only the defense had the ability to execute? Doesn't that tell you something? Truth is even Watkins probably underperformed considering WRs drafted after him outplayed him too.

This is no big loss. He rode the success of our defense without reciprocating on the offensive side. Any coach could've achieved this year's record because every win was a result of our defense.

So, if I go to my boss on Friday to tell him I should get a raise and quit if he says "no", I really got fired?

Great post. Dude was a fraud and he knew it. So he took the money and ran.

Why would you hope Marrone kicks our ass? He just quit on the Bills. Are you are Marrone fan or a Bills fan?

Pegula does have a questionable track record for hires, I'll give you that. People seem to forget he offered the Sabres GM position initially to LaFontaine, a guy with zero front office experience. Even Patty was dumbfounded and turned him down. But, we also shouldn't forget that the "St Doug" story probably was true and he was an arrogant ass who made the decision to quit (likely perfectly confident as to gaining another NFL HC job). Again, he's the one who quit, but it's almost certain all is well because he really wasn't going to lead the Bills anywhere and likely would have been fired next season anyhow.

As much as I like Whaley and think he's excellent at identifying talent, he's not GM material. He should not be the face of the franchise. I think he knew St Doug was leaving during the Monday presser and all Doug's lies were bothering him.

The problem was he was the OC, he was the OL coach because he was the one who made all offensive decisions. He was never going to fire Hackett. That would be like firing himself and then hiring his own replacement. It was never in the cards. The only way that we were going to fix this offense, which dragged this team out of the playoffs, was by letting Marrone go. He was never a good coach, but just rode the success of the defense.

God only hopes he heads to NY. The guy's a fraud; they won despite him. The only reason they were 9-7 was due to the defense, which he had nothing to do with.

He said he won't do it again. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/vikings/2014/11/20/adrian-peterson-roger-goodell-child-abuse-switch-minnesota-vikings/70025476/ We good here?

The ironic thing is Jimbo Fisher said the same about EJ and....

I thought this was kind of strange too. It's smacks of "look at me boss, I know everything". This should have been a discussion between Pegula and Whaley.

Funny thing is the same thing happened with Cowher, but with Cowher winning out. Cowher goes on to win a Superbowl but right now Harbaugh is being labeled the hot head and being "difficult to work with".

He won 3 more games than last year and unfortunately that's enough to give him more time, especially with a guy like Pegula. That said, I think he has to fire Hackett and the OL coach. But since he has held those positions in the past, firing them would be an indictment of himself. Therefore, I don't see changes happening and I'll be surprised if he's still our coach in 2-3 years.

True. But no one knew that at the time.