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I'm a fan of Stevie. But when Amendola is playing on one foot, SJ needs to make that play. Of course, Amendola has one of the best QBs and coaches lighting a fire under his ass. That's what SJ needs. Somebody to hold him accountable.

Nice article on how Bills D just confused Ponder with new philosophy. Not exotic game planning. The All-22: Christian Ponder’s confusion against Buffalo’s defense speaks to a larger issue C

True. Except in the case of our Bills. At least in the negative. Remember when they sucked in the preseason the last couple of seasons and still sucked during the season. All the while claiming "it's just the preseason. we'll fix it." or "we didn't game plan." I for one am glad that even if they end up sucking during the actual season, we at least got to watch some damn entertaining football. Even if it is the preseason. I hate it when they lose. But hate it more when they're boring, don't seem to know what they're doing and lose. I think this team will at least be half way entertaining... C

I thought he was impressive. Sure he was playing against their scrubs. So we need some perspective. But at the same time, he was playing with "our scrubs" too. The kid has a presence about him and definitely seems to have a grasp of the offense. I think he ran an up tempo, quick hit offense in college too. So this scheme suits him.

Bray is a loser. That is all you need to know. Great physical attributes with absolutely no intangibles.

So no one thinks this is inappropriate given the fact that she was a PA and he was the on screen celebrity? What if she resisted his advances? No one thinks it's odd that this hasn't come out prior to this? One thing if they weren't working together. But she was not even a senior producer on equal footing with him. I'd like to think it was consensual. But Bobby Petrino lost his job over something similar. Why does Marino get a free pass?

Thank God. Saves us from picking him up...again.

I hope they stick to their board as much as possible. I see them trading back into the second half of the 1st to take him. Or at least I hope they do. I'd much rather have a LB taken first unless Geno or Glennon falls to us.

There's audio of an interview with Nix on WGR55 - where Scott Simon asks him - why did you trade for TJ if you weren't going to play him. And Nix says something to the effect of "well we get the players and the coaches decide who plays. You can't just walk into the coach's office and say, 'play the guy' just 'cause you traded for him." I thought it was very telling. I like that they gave the coach autonomy. But why did they did trade for him in the first place, if the HC was "really not that into him" as far as TJ was concerned?

I'm more curious to see who he hires as staff. If the "I know the guy" wins over the "this guy is really a great coach" mantra.

Lowry will probably end up in St Louis with Fisher. Short drive from here. Gray is a fraud.

I had posted a link earlier in this thread that it Pettine's "system" is actually predicated around the players he has at his disposal. I think good DC's in today's NFL play a hybrid system that is based around their core personnel and adjusts to the situation on the ground. I like the Pettine hire...a lot. Here's hoping he turns out to be a super aggressive version of Wade.

This has been floating around the 'net. They were playing a hybrid for a while. Pettine wanted to transition to a 4-3. He has obviously coached a 3-4. I love this. Find the system that fits your players. Not the other way around. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/15/jets-shifting-to-more-4-3-defense-to-try-to-generate-sacks/

Now this hire, I LOVE! Good coach. Strategic advantage in the division. I have a feeling we'll be drafting a linebacker in Round 1. Or getting one in FA. Or both.

John, I'm trying. But it's infinitely different calling plays in a vacuum than it is with Belichick, Ryan or Coughlin on the other side. You know, you need to be battle tested a bit. I don't doubt Hackett has the acumen. Look at his pedigree. But to turn over the keys to the offense to someone who is a relative neophyte, I don't know. I predict the "O" will look like world beaters within the relative safety of camp and pre-season. Then we'll struggle while our coordinator learns to adjust on game day in a cauldron of screaming fans and behemoths clobbering his boy, Nassib. I like the kid, but he's gonna be a relative project. He just doesn't set his feet well under high stress. Anything more than a mid second, and we're gambling high stakes poker. I like the nepotism comment. We don't need any of that. I hope we get someone like Pettine, a balls to the wall D coordinator - who is gonna bring an attacking style D. Not digging the first personnel move so far. C

Scott is not a good locker room guy. At least anymore...

These evaluations are all moot and/or academic at this point. Geno's stock has dropped. Glennon's has risen. We won't know much about what the FMV or inflated value of the QBs in the draft would be until the Senior Bowl and/or the Combine. Only then can you reasonably deduce if it's better to trade up or trade for a QB on another team. Given RGIII's injury, I just don't see the Redskins trading Cousins this season unless the asking team is offering something ridiculous. Realistically, I think we're looking at the Alex Smiths and Matt Flynn's of the league. I'd like for us to keep Tavaris around to see what he can do and give him a real shot. C

Interesting reading if you haven't seen this. Like the attention to detail. Almost Belichick-ish... http://www.dailyorange.com/2009/04/the-plan-doug-marrone-prepared-for-his-return-to-syracuse-with-a-detailed-strategy (link from ESPN comments section of Walker's blog)

It's apparent that they went for a Jim Harbaugh Lite (NFL experience, College HC, innovative thinker) type hire. I think the Bills would have pulled a trigger on McCoy if he didn't blow them off.

I was underwhelmed too until I read Scott Pitoniak's blog this AM. I didn't go through the 30 pages of posts, so apologies if this has been posted here: http://scottpitoniak.blogspot.com/2013/01/marrone-good-choice-to-rebuild-buffalo.html At the very least, it's an outside the box hire. I am intrigued. Gonna see how this plays out. Would have much preferred McCoy. But...this makes it interesting. Also sounds like we're going after Nassib at some point.If there is some kind of conspiracy angle, it is that the Bills are gonna milk one regional franchise (SU) to prop the other (Bills). Something may be that they should have done with McNabb. At any rate, this isn't boring. That sound you heard was that of a whole bunch of folks cancelling their season tickets... C

The guy is gonna be a great NFL Head Coach. He is versatile and fits the system to his players. Super smart and gets the most out of his players.

Oh, please. How can this post be pessimistic compared to 13 years of futility? Now *that's* real pessimism. Until this front office even with changes shows us that they can turn things around. Right now the only real data and proof is that this franchise can screw things up pretty well. I'm an optimistic realist. Until this thing moves in the right direction, there is plenty of cause for pessimism. And just because I want this team to be accountable to it's failings, doesn't mean I love it any less. Agree or leave? Yeah, right... C

Kyle Shanahan is a figment of his dad's imagination. That and that he has RGIII.

I'm an analytics guy. I love this forward thinking approach. It's more than just saving money. It's using big data to drive how you strategize the approach of an organization.

The best thing about this restructuring is that Brandon becomes Littman's boss. Does anybody have video of the PC? Or at least audio?