cale

AJ Smith was a great pro personnel guy. He sucked as a GM and was arrogant to boot. He only got the gig cause Butler passed away. He couldn't work with Marty and brought in a coach who was subservient to him. I'd take Buddy over him any day. We got a bright young GM in Whaley. We need to give him a shot. C

That was bad ass...Holy cow...Bobby April for Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills...

I'm not sure what embarrasses me more. The fact that our owner and GM won't hold this team accountable or the fact that Bud Adams is the guy to show us what an owner is supposed to do.

Just be aware that he has his own publicist. Wouldn't surprise me if all of this is just damage control to justify his lack of production the first half of the season. Just sayin'...

Seems Bills were one of the last to know about Mario's surgery. http://espn.go.com/nfl/conversations/_/id/8564085/mario-williams-texted-buffalo-bills-surgery-sources I wonder who's running this joke of a franchise...

Tyler Bray is a joke. He simply isn't an NFL caliber QB. I'd be surprised if he was picked up by the Arena League.

Maybe the ownership situation changes it, maybe not. I think the Mario Williams deal as bad as it now appears, changed perceptions in the league as to what the owner will do or not do. I think a good to great coach (think Cowher, Gruden or similar) or GM brought in and given full total control in a GM/Coach situation (Parcells anybody?) would do the same and change the culture. Not that I think any one thing is the answer, but right now the Bills are an incestuous inbred dysfunctional family. Time for blood letting and chlorinating the gene pool. The only real answer is to go outside and hire from a winning culture. The three franchises that come to mind are New York, Green Bay and Baltimore. I think the NE success is an aberration and attributable to one guy - Belichick. Even Pioli is having trouble in KC. In that sense ownership is the issue. Even the Rams and Lions saw this. Ralph needs to do the right thing before he passes on. Frankly, with all the talk of his health, I'd be surprised if he's around a year from now. Not that I wish him ill or worse. I like the guy. But that's what I think needs to happen... C

Right now. http://player.streamtheworld.com/_players/citadel/?sid=2963&nid=2920

Relatively speaking - I'm new to American Football. I only started watching the game after I came to go to school at RIT in late 80s/early 90s. It was hard not to admire not just the team on the field - but the coaches (who else had a Harvard educated Lit. major as coach?) and the front office. I'm sure some of you will disagree, but the rot began with the John Butler & Wade Phillips fiasco and the way they were both dismissed. Sure we can blame Ralph and at the time Butler alluded to how difficult Ralph was to work for and yet still appreciative of the opportunity. Something "happened" way back then and has ingrained itself into the organizational structure. I along with most folks here would like to think that if we just fired this coach or signed that player and just reshuffled the FO, that we'll be on our way...again...There have been signs along the way - the Tom Donahoe/Mularkey transition was a royal clusterfrought. When Buddy Nix was put in charge I was hugely optimistic. But it's apparent that there isn't an innovative mind or creative thinker in the entire FO ala Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore or Jerry Reese in New York or Ted Thompson in Green Bay. Coaching is just one part of the equation. Maybe Asst. GM Whaley is the way into the future. But even he is tainted now. It's easy to blame Ralph and make him the boogeyman. And for sure in the time since '99 he has to shoulder a lot of the blame. But I keep thinking the Bills are very comfortable, maybe even scared to enter and compete in the new NFL. That is trickling down onto the team and onto the field. I commend them for signing Mario. At the time it was seen as a really bold move and no more "Old Bills." As awful as the investment has been, at the time it was the absolute right thing to do. But I still think it was the equivalent of a two legged stool. Until someone - hopefully Ralph before his death - brings in a knowledgeable neutral party to do a comprehensive analysis to revamp the organization - we are going to have more of the same. This is about the culture and the way they do business at OBD, there needs to be a relatively new bright, eager and innovative mind who is well integrated into the new NFL in charge of this organization. And I mean a complete handing over of the keys... I nominate these two - Marc Ross and Eric DeCosta. Ross even went to the Giants from the Bills. So he would know a little about the existing culture and perhaps bring some of the organizational systems and know how from NY/Reese. There have even been reports that Ross would love to come back to Buffalo. http://www.giants.com/team/staff/marc-ross/b3f10aa5-b99b-4517-8abd-ea613a65d0de http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/staff/Eric-DeCosta/f9720ac4-2e1d-4155-85df-d8f1ba782a54 If Ralph and the decision makers don't even talk to these guys (presuming they're still available) the next go around, we'll at least know there is no desire within the organization for real change.\ Until the Bill do something along these lines the ghosts of the past will continue to walk the halls and fields of OBD and be the evil that keeps us from being successful into the future. C

We blew it up after Jauron. We ended up with Gailey, Nix and Wannstedt. I like the assistant GM Whaley. But even he is tainted now. The problem is a lot more systemic. We need to hire someone from within the Ravens, Giants or Packers organization and give them the keys to the kingdom. I hear Polian is available.

Please, can be drop the Tyler Bray talk. He is already damaged goods at the college level. Inconsistent, bad decision making - he's not even JP Losman.

The blocking scheme they're using now is different. But Chris Johnson is also a headcase. His line doesn't have his back. He keeps throwing them under the bus at every opportunity. His sub 50 yards/game carry ave for the number of gms is almost less than what someone off the street could do.

Our OL coach is the real stud here. Glenn credits Joe D'Alessandris with his development.

Nope. Having said that. I think he brings an added dimension. And he typically doesn't need many carries to have an impact. I'd be for him being asked to carry the rock around 15 judicious times.

That was Boomer Esiason. Boomer is neither an expert nor does he like the Bills. So I would take it with a pinch of salt.

Can we trade for Joquie Bell and get him back from Detroit?

Great insight, Bill. As I've said before, we need to live and die by the play action. This coaching staff sometimes tries to outsmart it's self. That being said, Chan played to our strengths today. We have a stud RB and a mauler OL. This is our identity. I was a Fitz supporter. But he isn't right. Time to scout starting QBs for next year. Per our draft class this year, Glenn on OL and Gilmore at CB are studs. Gilmore has a steeper learning curve, but he's gonna be great for years to come. C

If you listen to Fitz's PC from yesterday, he says the Jets didn't do anything exotic on defense and that they were pretty vanilla. This does not bode well for our "O" C

Dudes, I meant for our team. The preseason is (and was) a pretty good indicator of how this team will probably fare in the regular season. I obviously need a writing refresher course The Jets at least have a history of some success with their team in the last few seasons. We have none. Ergo, those of us who say the preseason means nothing with respect to this Buffalo Bills team are whistling "Dixie" It does mean something with this team. They weren't able to show us much cause they were just playing "vanilla." Our QB said "we'll get it straightened out." When it's obvious they had no idea how to do so. Tonight our coach says, "He won't admit the sky is falling..." When it's apparent he was out coached and the team was just plain out played. As they say, the first step to recovery - is admission. I'm sure next week we'll play better against KC. But there are some fundamental problems with this ball club that will be in the way of long term success. C

I don't give a flying leap about any other team's win-loss in the preseason. For this ball club, they need to prove they are for real in every game - preseason or not. Some on this board think this is the Bills of the 90s playing Club Marv ball in the preseason. This team is nowhere close to that team. If this coaching staff can't impress that upon these players nor coach like their lives depended on it in every game. They need to pack and leave. The only guys on offense who looked liked they cared were Nelson, Jackson, Spiller and surprisingly Jones. Time for this coaching staff to step up and use the personnel they have to play the kind of game that fits them. Not the kind of game they dream they can play. Again, I say - just run the ball and use the playaction. C

Agreed Chandler#81.

With this team, every game preseason or not, is an indicator of this team's commitment to winning. Turns out the preseason was just where this team was picking up where it left off last season. At least on offense. We've gone 9 months and our "O" is still offensive and impotent. There is no baby here to show. And dear Buddy Nix please field a viable team before trash talking the Patriots and the rest of the division. C

You know what - offensively speaking - we continued where we left off last year. This is a true indictment of the front office that couldn't see the ineptidude that half the folks on this board could see with their eyes closed. It's not that we lack talent - we have talent on this team that half of the coaching staff in this league could better leverage. We do have deficiencies in some key positions - but this inability to evaluate our roster honestly and coach and recruit appropriately is simply killing us. You coach to our strengths. We have two (maybe 3 - but maybe with Freddie's injury - two again) running backs that are more than adequate. Yet we insist on running empty backfield options - telegraphing pass with a QB who has a gunslinger mentality with a journeyman's arm. Run the damn ball and live & die by the playaction. I just don't get this coaching staff. C

I'm not sure how else to say this. This guys sounds like the second coming of JP Losman. And he is going to supplant Thigpen *and* Young. What does that say about the way this franchise evaluates and develops or doesn't develop QBs?

I saw how Vince Young single handedly dismantled a pretty good Titans team and screwed over a great coach. If he is anything like what he was here in Nashville, our season is over before it begins. He is nowhere near the team guy Fitz is. In terms of his physical gifts he is an order of magnitude above Fitz. But in terms of his intangibles and leadership, it ain't even close. Fitz is so much better. All QBs struggle during the season. They need to play and work through it. Unless Fitz totally screws up this season, I hope they are patient with his shortcomings. I just hope this doesn't turn into Flutie v Johnson II. We're so close.