BillsVet

The NFL has become a stadium building league, which ultimately creates bigger revenue. Look around the NFL and there are or will be new digs built in NYC, Washington, Dallas, New England, and many other cities in the past 15 years. There is zero chance of a new stadium built in WNY, what with the financial problems at the state and local revenue. And we know the current owner won't privately finance anything at his advanced age. People will say RWS is fine, but with the NFL helping to finance the new NYC Giants/Jets place, it's clear they want more new stadiums to create more revenue. Buffalo already has one of the oldest homes in the NFL. If there's parity in the NFL, then why are the Giants, Eagles, Chargers, Colts, Steelers, and Patriots in the playoffs every season? If half the playoff teams are perennial, that speaks to something.

Merry Christmas to you as well. There's no question a decade of losing has taken a toll on Bills fans. Re: Schobel. I don't think any of us know how much pain he's in, but if John Wawrow says he's had back problems, it's probably true. And while he has a high salary, I think most athletes fit into that category. My gut tells me that Schobel's injuries, combined with a full-on rebuild coming up in 2010 might be enough. We'll see, but I'd want him back, if only as a part time pass rusher at a reduced rate.

For the record and because you won't look it up, I said Sanders lost almost every year. But you're correct in that Detroit had 5 playoff appearances in Barry's 10 seasons with a mere 1 playoff win. Too many posters, yourself included, deal in absolutes. As in, Team A was bad with Player A, therefore Player A was bad and didn't help them win. This sort of mindless logic is tiresome and intellectually lazy. But go ahead, attack people to cover up for your lack of knowledge and for having to actually think. You truly are an asset to this board.

Tell me who is it that picks QB's? Because each team with a solid QB also has a good to excellent GM. The point is simple: the NFL cannot equally distribute the human effect, i.e. talent evaluators and front office personnel, to each team like it can salary cap dollars and draft picks. It's human nature that some people are better than others at football management and this means teams stuck in the doldrums (OAK, STL, BUF) while others win nearly every season (IND, PIT, NE, NYG).

You're closer to the team than most of us, but I was surprised to hear Schobel question the direction of the team after the Tennessee blowout last month. He's the type that if he's saying things are bad then it really is. And if I'm on the Bills, I have to hope for a rebuilding, even though it probably means more losing.

The point is not that there's a huge middle of teams with 6-7 wins at this point. It's more so the fact that the same teams are above the pack, especially in the AFC. You've got NE, IND, SD, BAL, and PIT in the playoffs seemingly every year. Over in the NFC, NYG, PHI, and GB come to mind. Sure there might be a team that squeaks into the playoffs, but it's the same teams that are winning 10+ games every year. And while there are exceptions and down years, the bad teams like STL, CLE, DET, BUF, and OAK aren't moving ahead at all. This is much bigger than QB's and rules associated with hitting them or interfering with WR's. It's the fact that: a small elite group of teams is out-pacing the rest.

Tim Keown has an article in the recent ESPN the Magazine which makes the point that parity ended this season. As an example, he points out the top 5 teams in the league going into Week 14 had a .714 advantage in winning percentage over the 5 worst franchises. Along with attendance being down (probably in part to the recession) fans are remaining home in cities where teams are losing. He cites the Raiders, who drew a mere 40,720 against Kansas City. Regardless, there are several issues on the horizon for the world's most popular sports league: an uncapped year, probable CBA issues in 2010-11, a decrease in several teams values, and the shift to an uneven league with perpetual winners and losers. Good read if you get a chance.

Do you think this retirement talk is the result of perennially poor teams and his slowing down or the thought of having to be part of a rebuilding project in 2010 in his 10th season? If Buffalo decides to make a change at HC, I'm not sure he'd fit into any defense as a DE besides the Cover 2.

Good point. His career thus far has been a flop, but he came to Buffalo to get a shot at playing. He's the definition of "taking a flyer" on a player if there ever was one. GB decided he couldn't beat out a 7th rounder, so he's got a lot to prove. He'd been available for 2+ months for any team, and no one took a chance. I get the impression his game doesn't translate to the NFL, despite his gaudy college stats. The chance of him being the answer at QB is minimal, but what the heck at this point.

There'll always be the fans who go because it's a chance to party and watch NFL football. But I agree, there's growing animosity among STH's that won't be solved with acquiring a UFA or naming a former HC as the GM. Gimmicks just won't work anymore. Yet here we are trusting Brandon to lead a search for a GM. It's as if they can't possibly allow anyone to see into their house, for fear someone would find it dirty. Well, it's falling down and everyone knows it and I'm not even sure anyone of a decent reputation will want to come in and clean it up.

The Lions lost just about every year with Barry Sanders. Therefore he is garbage. New Orleans stunk with Archie Manning, therefore he stunk. Chicago was horrible with Dick Butkus, ergo, he was horrible. I'm just amazed those teams kept these players.

Reminds me of the Barry Sanders retirement after the '99 season. Certainly doesn't carry the weight of a HOF RB, but it's telling about this team. Schobel doesn't normally speak much, but his comments after the Tennessee game were indicative that there are major problems and most likely another rebuilding project to start next season.

TO=2009 Marketing Tool Vick=2010 Marketing Tool? Anything to sell tickets and cover up a product which defines mediocrity this decade. That is, if it happens.

Those 7 or 8 guys have to be wondering what it takes to make the big league roster after what's happened. I think it speaks to the amateurs running the personnel side of the house at OBD. I'm sure they'd say the younger guys aren't ready, but Manalac isn't someone with any experience either. There is no reason for a PS if those guys aren't being developed to play.

Russ has already started the marketing campaign for 2010. It'll feature the IR report, how bad DJ really was, and reveal that 7-9 isn't good enough. Question is, when TO leaves, will they be able to show the 98 yard TD pass which fits the requirement for showing their one big play of the year?

I'm sure other teams' practice squads are close to the phone throughout the season as well. On any day they could get the call to start or at least dress for a real NFL team and make much more than being the scrubs most of them will always be.

I've never felt Childress is even in the top half of HC's in the NFL. He has arguably the most talent in the NFL, but isn't the type who makes it better. Remember, he lost to the 6th seeded Eagles last year in the first round. I'd think that recruiting Favre meant giving up some control over his new QB. Guys like Mangini, Childress, and Haley simply don't get it. You can't bully pro athletes and act like a disciplinarian because it doesn't work in the NFL.

1. For RW to stay the heck out of anything to do with personnel, besides signing checks. 2. For RW to hire a GM with complete personnel authority. 3. For Modrak, Guy, and Overdorf to be fired. 4. For the new GM to hire a HC versed in offense. 5. For the GM to hire new pro personnel and amateur scouting directors who've worked for successful franchises. 6. For Buffalo to hit with their first round pick, so long as that pick isn't a WR, DB, or RB. 7. For Russ Brandon to never ever handle personnel.

The options are a guy who's never been more than a third stringer and another one who was essentially available for 2+ months this season until Buffalo signed him. Either way, Perry is screwed.

I'll give RW some credit for hiring a real GM in 01. Good initiative, bad judgment on TD. But he followed that bad decision up with having Levy and Brandon as top football man, both of whom relied on Guy and Modrak for personnel advice. It's no surprise they haven't figured out who can coach and play QB. And then hoping DJ would mentor a QB was another laughable assumption, given that he'd never found a decent QB in years. For the life of me, I can't understand why RW is cheap when it comes to front office management. They're responsible for finding the players that make the big bucks, particularly the top draft picks and big money UFA's that have busted.

There aren't a whole lot of guys who'll command 10M per, and if it's true Shanahan is going to Washington or elsewhere, only Cowher remains. The bigger issue is the unattractiveness of the franchise and both HC and GM jobs. The roster is nearly bereft of talent, the owner is 91 and his team's future is very uncertain, not to mention they've sold a home game to a non-NFL market that may or may not support the team. Established types who may command 10M per aren't attracted to complete rebuilding projects. This is why Buffalo will struggle to find someone, anyone. The Bills are only a half-step above the Raiders as a dysfunctional NFL franchise.

He's the most conspicuous absentee in recent weeks, perhaps months. But what does he say when Whitner gets cut in February?

The NFL off-season will be interesting, perhaps more so than previous years given the CBA situation. Or it could be completely boring if teams aren't tendering those guys in their 4th and 5th seasons as RFA's. The owners may choose to collectively spend less, retain bad coaches, and cut player salary in preparation for a lockout in 2011. Either way, the Bills had better come up with something because I don't think enough fans believe in their BS. They wore out their trust with the fans this season.

Don't know if you heard Bullfrog and Thurman this morning. TT said that for an 8th overall pick four seasons into his career (and I'm paraphrasing) he should be in a Pro Bowl or 2. It was interesting, but he mentioned DW doesn't really have a position, given that Wilson and Scott are SS types and of course Byrd will be the FS. DW ain't a Mike Williams caliber bust, but he's never done enough to justify being a top 10 pick. I, too see him released in the off-season. It frees up money to address positions that matter more than DB's.

I can't believe I thought Dick Jauron was a good Head Coach. Never should have listened to him.