BillsVet

I must say that the comparison of changing your favorite NFL team to a veteran "turn(ing) your back when things get tough" takes the cake. If that isn't the height of arrogance and sophistry then I'm not sure what is. Same can be said for those who invoke the name Judas in a serious manner to draw the same type parallel. This isn't war. This isn't religion. It's a freaking football team. Now we've got people preaching what "loyalty" is based on which team you follow in a sport played by people most of us don't even know. And it's worth noting that several good posters no longer come to this board because this is the type of in-fighting we see when people can't just agree to disagree. I guess this is the "new" civility. And I could give a damn that someone ignores me. I don't really care.

Because banning things is how we solve issues and debate in modern society. How about actually debating someone rather than taking the easy route of suppressing their argument through force? Or is that too difficult? There's a lot of intolerance of others opinions around here. As Patton once said, "if everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." I frankly don't care who you ignore because it's clear that you can't tolerate anyone who thinks differently. If you accept failure in the name of fan-hood, more power to you. I don't and if that's worthy of your bluster here, so be it.

Thanks Trooth, been a long time. Good post. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, specifically those they can back up. I wonder if the discussion between Marrone and Whaley on the practice field last week had to do with the front office debating paying Orton given the uncertain QB situation. Who knows, but Marrone could not have been excited about Manuel after his pre-season performance. DM also doesn't seem like the kind of guy who plays soldier when he's fighting a losing battle and made it known he was not pleased.

If he channels his inner Sonny Jurgensen as much on the field as he does off, it, well, we're gonna be OK.

And I think, by signing Orton, that they admit EJ hasn't developed as quickly as they'd like. So many factors are contributing to the decision to sign Orton, namely the idea they must win this year. There are no excuses left with Sammy on board combined with the other offensive weapons. It's a good sign, albeit late, that they acknowledge the QB position wasn't appropriately addressed. I'm guessing that's why Marrone and Whaley were at odds on the field while Trusst Brandon looked on.

Does that idea make one an "EJ hater"?

Not until it became painfully obvious that the options (now released) weren't suitable. And after the starter struggled as well.

Why stop there? Whaley and company should get credit for signing Kolb to be their starter in 2013 and deciding he should start over a 1st round pick And, when Kolb inexplicably was injured they recovered and brought in Thad Lewis, he of 1 NFL start in 3 NFL seasons to backup Manuel. This is a completely different front office, despite having many of the same senior management, personnel directors, and scouts, They're changing the culture. If only they'd been in place since 2010.

729 touches from scrimmage in 4 seasons, producing 17 TD's and 4,091 yards. I suspect they'll let him walk given that he'll be 28 when the 2015 season begins, hasn't produced, and is frequently nicked up.

I'm glad this organization has dedicated itself to winning and is finally getting down to business after the last 14 seasons.

You mean the same guy who it took more than a year to get a backup QB?

Marrone obviously agrees.

I believe OBD has been terrified of a having anyone threaten their anointed one at QB despite the re-arranging of people in the front office. Happened with Fitz and it's happening again with EJ. They even went out of their way to say Fitz wasn't going to challenge Trentative in '09 when the former was signed. There's been no competition at that position while they preached about it at other positions. At a minimum the QB controversy will crop up when EJ struggles, because as we all know, the backup QB is the most popular guy in town. At the same time, this is move to send a message to EJ that his play is unsatisfactory (despite how delusional EJ is post-game when he says he played well) and he can be yanked by someone better than Jeff Tuel or Thad Lewis.

QB controversy here we come.

John McCargo (in trade for a 2nd and 3rd), Ashton Youboty, Trent Edwards, James Hardy, Aaron Maybin, Torrell Troup, Alex Carrington, and Kelvin Sheppard. And those are the guys picked while Tom Modrak (who amazingly served under Donahoe, Levy, Brandon, and Nix) was college scouting director. That's 8 1st-3rd round picks that busted in 6 drafts. Every team makes mistakes in evaluating talent, but few have dropped to the depths Buffalo has. Just hitting on a 1st or 2nd every now and then isn't enough. Small market teams need to win the draft and the Bills haven't/aren't.

EJ's got his own personal QB coach, Bills QB coach Todd Downing, Senior Offensive Assistant Jim Hostler, the new backup Palmer, Hackett, and Marrone in his ear. That's as many as 6 guys giving him advice. And EJ is apt to say he doesn't think he did a bad job last night. Is he delusional or are his handlers doing an emperor has no clothes type thing with him?

Are the Bills better with Jairus Byrd and Aaron Williams at safety or Aaron Williams and one of Duke Williams/Da'Norris Searcy/Jonathan Meeks? How will they replace the turnovers, particularly in a new defensive scheme? We will soon find out. No one player make a team playoff worthy, except perhaps the QB and that's being discussed elsewhere. The Bills allowed Byrd to walk and saved some money in the process. They then signed Chris Williams, Keith Rivers, and Corey Graham in UFA. We'll see if this plan works.

Italian Catholics are fast talkers?

If the play call is right for the situation, each receiver runs the right route and great protection, the QB can still destroy the play for a variety of reasons. Misreading the defense, a bad throw, failure to feel the rush, etc. I saw throws in last year's TB game that were dreadful...and he wasn't under pressure. EJ has a lot of potential and athletic ability. Whether he brings it all together is another matter entirely.

Art Modell was too busy cheating the city of Cleveland off the field for Belichick to do too much of the on-field variety.

Belichick's a cheater and he probably cheated with the Browns and Giants too. His drafting Brady in 2000 was pure luck and he's, frankly, cheated and lucked his way into 3 SB wins and 2 more appearances as a HC. And Bob Kraft is a bad owner because he wants a team in London and L.A After all, Greggo, Mularkey, Jauron, Gailey, and Marrone would have the same record with Brady. No question.

The HC search was conducted by a team led by Brandon, and while Nix was in the room, it was clear neither he nor Whaley's voice out-weighed Brandon. Marrone's introductory press conference was led by Brandon, who days before had assumed the role of team president. It was clear RB was taking control after his promotion. I think Marrone was RB's guy and the others supported his hire This is a nuanced topic, but after the debacle in 2009-10 hiring a GM and HC, I think Russ wanted a little more control. And far be it from the outgoing GM and the then Assistant GM to tell the team president they didn't want his guy.

It's the NFL...no one's got much patience given the mandate to win ASAP. It's already too late for them to make a move for a starting QB, HC, OC, etc, so mid-season is way beyond the point of no return. Yep, he is. But they handed him 3.1M guaranteed in December and signed him for 4 years total. Not a big contract, but for them to sign a guy to decent money and then said player is cut after such a poor off-season. You would expect better from a NFL pro personnel department.

Just a thought, but I don't think this is the first time the there have been differences. In February we learned the coaches wanted a new training staff. And it was vetoed from on high by presumably senior management. Coaches leaked their displeasure, forcing Brandon through Chris Brown to say there was no issue and the trainers would remain in place.