Very good article. I was just a little homer back then, but I never considered Patulski to be a bust, just disappointing.
One thing though, Graham is dead wrong about Emtman, he would've been great if not for his injuries.
It doesn't have to be "Super Bowl MVP's". As much as I liked Bobby Chandler, I thought bringing in Phil Villapiano was a GREAT move for those Chuck Knox-era Bills. Bledsoe was a disaster for TD, but Lawyer Milloy was another nice move. True culture change has to start at the top though. No, bottom line is that MD needed to go to a team that had someone to mentor him who was legit & coaches to keep him in check + I don't think he got that here.
I love Fred & like KW, but all they ever knew in this league was how to lose. If you're relying on them to be the main leaders on your team, you're in trouble.... unless you think moral victories count. I don't want to slam either of them & I'm not blaming them either, but it is what it is.
I'm not totally excusing MD, but he's had no true veteran leadership on the team & undisciplined coaching staffs for the most part. Bruce turned it around big-time, and I think having players like Talley around played a big part.
Sorry chump, it appears you don't know what being a GM is all about. If DW can't hire his own HC and he can't veto sections of a contract before it is approved, then he's not a real GM. Maybe he's just an idiot & let that contract slide. Anyways, time to move on.