Ralph Will Never Fire This Regime

[NaPolian8693]

The current front office regime will never change, as long as Ralph Wilson remains alive and owner of the Bills.

 

When it came time to find a new GM, the Bills promoted from within. Familiar faces like Littman/Overdorf/Brandon/Modrak all remained in the front office. Ralph just didn't have it in him to search for a new GM in earnest and then turn the reigns over someone new this close to the end.

 

These guys all know they are just riding this thing out until the inevitable happens with Ralph, and then and only then true change can take place. Hopefully the team remains so fans can enjoy it.

 

The scary part is that if Ralph lives to be 100, this whole sham of a franchise will continue to twist in the wind year after year. Some people believe that Ralph is still sharp as a tack, but even if that is true, at some point he will begin to lose it. As he begins to slowly succumb to dementia, who will the front office be accountable to? It seems that no matter how poor their performance, at some stage Ralph won't any longer to be able to effectively do anything about it. My personal opinion is that we have already reached that point, and they are taking advantage of Ralph.

[billsfan89]

They have lasted this long so I will tend to agree with you. Although I would like to see this team get taken over by a young hungry assistant GM who is given autonomy to fire and hire whoever he wants and to make whatever roster moves he wants even a guy who can hire/fire whatever coach he wants, I just don't see that happening.

 

Even if this team goes 1-15 I don't see much change in store for the franchise overall. They will claim that this season was a bottoming out of sorts a evaluation process and that a turnaround is going to take time and hard work and that this is the group capable of doing it and blah blah blah.

 

I hope Ralph comes to his sense and realizes that 11 years is long enough and he just isn't getting any younger and that he should just try to capture lightning in a bottle with a up and coming assistant GM and let someone clean this house. But usually if you live in a mess for so long you just don't notice how messy things are and you just sit in your own filth.

[santoro770]

Call me optimistic, but can't we just take solace in the fact that Nix does have a plan? I mean yeah he is turning over the roster but I see so many posts about how they need to get rid of dead weight...patience my friends...we've waited 11 years for a playoff team, what's 2 more? I mean granted it could just be another turn of the wheel, but if Nix and Gailey do start to show improvement (which won't be this year and honestly it's a fantasy for anyone to think they would show promise in the 1ST YEAR of the new front office regime) will those that are critical start to recognize what is going on?

 

I'm workin on my PhD in Organizational Leadership right now and doing a dissertation on Organizational Leadership structure in the NFL and what I can tell you is that the current structure that is in place (leadership talent not taken into account) is one that is historically successful in the NFL both in win/loss record and fan devotion.

 

Patience is a word we have heard for way too long...but these are different people (I know I know, Modrak is still there among others) but should we not be more patient then less than half a season?

 

I love this board! Please go easy on me guys, just sayin...it's been a long time, but I'm hopeful. Silly me!!!

[thewildrabbit]

Call me optimistic, but can't we just take solace in the fact that Nix does have a plan? I mean yeah he is turning over the roster but I see so many posts about how they need to get rid of dead weight...patience my friends...we've waited 11 years for a playoff team, what's 2 more? I mean granted it could just be another turn of the wheel, but if Nix and Gailey do start to show improvement (which won't be this year and honestly it's a fantasy for anyone to think they would show promise in the 1ST YEAR of the new front office regime) will those that are critical start to recognize what is going on?

 

I'm workin on my PhD in Organizational Leadership right now and doing a dissertation on Organizational Leadership structure in the NFL and what I can tell you is that the current structure that is in place (leadership talent not taken into account) is one that is historically successful in the NFL both in win/loss record and fan devotion.

 

Patience is a word we have heard for way too long...but these are different people (I know I know, Modrak is still there among others) but should we not be more patient then less than half a season?

 

I love this board! Please go easy on me guys, just sayin...it's been a long time, but I'm hopeful. Silly me!!!

and yet your avatar shows a dying Buffalo...

 

i get the distinct impression that this owner doesn't trust anyone under 60....Anyway, the one thing that motivates this owner is his fans, if his fans keep showing up to games and buying merchandise he figures he is doing it right.

 

To the OP, Should the fans stop attending in doves and the game stop selling out and the villagers start storming OBD with torches, I have no doubt that change will come to the FO

[Punch]

They have lasted this long so I will tend to agree with you. Although I would like to see this team get taken over by a young hungry assistant GM who is given autonomy to fire and hire whoever he wants and to make whatever roster moves he wants even a guy who can hire/fire whatever coach he wants, I just don't see that happening.

 

4 weeks? Why would they not have lasted 4 weeks into the first season of a major rebuilding project?

 

As for the young hungry GM I believe Doug Whaley was brought in from Pittsburgh as Assistant GM to be groomed as Nix's replacement when he eventually (probably sooner rather than later) retires. He has been mentioned as one of the best young General Manger "prospects" for a few years now, in fact, some of the critiques levied at the Bills when they hired Nix was that they should have hired Whaley. The fact that Nix brought him in as the de facto 2nd in command indicates he is more than likely the natural successor for the position. I can't imagine a better man for the job.

 

Don't be fooled by blowhards like the OP--- the Bills appear to be in good hands for the first time in a long time. I think it's pretty clear from the way they've been handling business, from both an evaluation and coaching standpoint. The fact that the team on the field still sucks is only indicative of the 10 years of crappy management. It takes time. More than 4 weeks, anyway.

[bowery4]

and yet your avatar shows a dying Buffalo...

 

i get the distinct impression that this owner doesn't trust anyone under 60....Anyway, the one thing that motivates this owner is his fans, if his fans keep showing up to games and buying merchandise he figures he is doing it right.

 

To the OP, Should the fans stop attending in doves and the game stop selling out and the villagers start storming OBD with torches, I have no doubt that change will come to the FO

 

UM Chan is only 58

 

4 weeks? Why would they not have lasted 4 weeks into the first season of a major rebuilding project?

 

As for the young hungry GM I believe Doug Whaley was brought in from Pittsburgh as Assistant GM to be groomed as Nix's replacement when he eventually (probably sooner rather than later) retires. He has been mentioned as one of the best young General Manger "prospects" for a few years now, in fact, some of the critiques levied at the Bills when they hired Nix was that they should have hired Whaley. The fact that Nix brought him in as the de facto 2nd in command indicates he is more than likely the natural successor for the position. I can't imagine a better man for the job.

 

Don't be fooled by blowhards like the OP--- the Bills appear to be in good hands for the first time in a long time. I think it's pretty clear from the way they've been handling business, from both an evaluation and coaching standpoint. The fact that the team on the field still sucks is only indicative of the 10 years of crappy management. It takes time. More than 4 weeks, anyway.

 

Good post

[DanInUticaTampa]

This front office and coaching staff has changed so much over the last 10 years it is ridiculous not to consider it changing again before ralph passes. For all we know, whaley could get offered a GM job somwhere else and nix retires and we get someone new people in here.

 

Like I said, the front office and coaching staff changes like a revolving door. The problem is, no matter how many times we change the coaches and the GM, they always fail. Always.

 

I am not going to call Nix/Whaley failures just yet. So far, the team looks terrible and they better do more in the offseason to make this team at least watchable. If next season the team doesn't look improved, it will be obvious that their plan isn't going to work. I am not saying they have to make the playoffs next year.... but the team needs to have some significant improvement. something that actually shows this team is heading in the right direction. Because right now, even though it is early, it don't look good.

 

 

 

Also, I have to say I really like the whaley hiring and I have hope that he will make our free agency offseason more exciting. but that is the optimist in me. Ralph can always ruin that.

Edited October 8, 2010 by DanInUticaTampa

[Green Lightning]

The current front office regime will never change, as long as Ralph Wilson remains alive and owner of the Bills.

 

 

 

Why should he? It's year one of a total rebuild. What the Hell did you expect? Ten years of bad decisions and drafts and you end up with what we have. I fully expect to see Nix live up to what he just said and you'll see his picks and rooks playing significant time in the weeks ahead. This is a project and not a one year turnaround. It's just nuts that you would look to clean house in year one. Besides, the future was brought in with Nix. His name is Whaley.

[Sisyphean Bills]

Ralph may live longer than Nix.

[JohnC]

 

I'm workin on my PhD in Organizational Leadership right now and doing a dissertation on Organizational Leadership structure in the NFL and what I can tell you is that the current structure that is in place (leadership talent not taken into account) is one that is historically successful in the NFL both in win/loss record and fan devotion.

 

 

Success in any organization starts at the top. The owner and most influential person in the NFL franchise located in western NY is a 92 yr old man who has owned the franchise for half a century. Associating the word leadership to its current archaic owner is an absurdity. There is no energy, innovation, accountability and wisdom coming out of the organization. Another way of putting it is that the Bills are a reflection of this most ridiculous and laughable owner.

[Gabe Northern]

Why should he? It's year one of a total rebuild. What the Hell did you expect? Ten years of bad decisions and drafts and you end up with what we have. I fully expect to see Nix live up to what he just said and you'll see his picks and rooks playing significant time in the weeks ahead. This is a project and not a one year turnaround. It's just nuts that you would look to clean house in year one. Besides, the future was brought in with Nix. His name is Whaley.

 

John Guy never made a pro personnel move as dubious as bringing in Cornell Green for $3 million per year.

[PromoTheRobot]

If you mean Overdof and Littman I believe you are correct. If you mean Nix and Gailey then be glad because firing those guys now would set this team back even further.

 

PTR

[JohnC]

John Guy never made a pro personnel move as dubious as bringing in Cornell Green for $3 million per year.

 

You are right that the Green acquisition is very dubious. The reality is that Cornell Green is a very short term stop gap pickup. Don't be surprised that within this season someone else will be playing RT.

 

The fact of the matter is that Nix is not only right but also wise in adhering to his strategy to rebuild this team primarily through the draft. Assuming that he drafts well it is going to take a few years to turn this roster over. The shame of this situation is that the foolish owner wasted three years with the Levy and Brandon fiasco.

 

A lot of people want Nix to do something dramatic to get this franchise out of the ditch. That is not going to happen. What is going to happen is a steady shedding of players, Edwards, Lynch, Hardy, Meredith and soon McCargo etc. and replacing them with his own selected players.

 

A lot of fans are going to be frustrated at the pace of change and the mounting losses. There is no other way for this particular franchise to do things. Without a doubt some personnel mistakes are going to be made. But if the body of work is good then this sinking ship can be righted.

 

If you mean Overdof and Littman I believe you are correct. If you mean Nix and Gailey then be glad because firing those guys now would set this team back even further.

 

PTR

 

Overdorf and Littman are attached to Ralph's hip. They will never be cut loose by the owner. They are his trusted business and finance associates. The best that one can hope for is that Nix/Gailey/Whaley are allowed to do their jobs without major interference from the Michigan clan.

[Rico]

Ralph Will Never Fire This Regime

No, but the new ownership will wipe the slate clean, I think only some players and maybe a low-level clerk or two will remain.... have faith, it's coming.

[bkc]

you know it is a good thing to have stability in the fornt office, it is a good thing to have a system in place year after year after year. Now all they need it the right players. It will get done\

 

In budyy we trust

[flmike]

The Kelsay extension eroded my faith a bit. Green was probably the only experienced tackle on the market that was willing to come to Buffalo at the time.

[Green Lightning]

John Guy never made a pro personnel move as dubious as bringing in Cornell Green for $3 million per year.

 

Green was a stop gap signing. Likely for depth and I trust he will be a back-up by season's end. Bad as he is, he's better than our reserves last year. The only move that has given me pause is the Kelsay extension. That, as the King once said "is puzzlement" and I will never buy it. What I need to see from Buddy now is shedding more dead wood and do a few more trades for picks - even if it means moving Stroud, Donte and even Evans if the price is right. We need to see the young guys and rooks play. Wood needs to be at center after the bye. Green needs to be on the bench.

Edited October 9, 2010 by Green Lightning

[PJBrown]

4 weeks? Why would they not have lasted 4 weeks into the first season of a major rebuilding project?

 

As for the young hungry GM I believe Doug Whaley was brought in from Pittsburgh as Assistant GM to be groomed as Nix's replacement when he eventually (probably sooner rather than later) retires. He has been mentioned as one of the best young General Manger "prospects" for a few years now, in fact, some of the critiques levied at the Bills when they hired Nix was that they should have hired Whaley. The fact that Nix brought him in as the de facto 2nd in command indicates he is more than likely the natural successor for the position. I can't imagine a better man for the job.

 

Don't be fooled by blowhards like the OP--- the Bills appear to be in good hands for the first time in a long time. I think it's pretty clear from the way they've been handling business, from both an evaluation and coaching standpoint. The fact that the team on the field still sucks is only indicative of the 10 years of crappy management. It takes time. More than 4 weeks, anyway.

 

SSSHHHH.....don't interject any common sense in any of these "we suck and always will" rants....it'll just slow down the rodeo

 

FWI I am with you....for the first time in a long time I feel that there is a definite plan and it's being executed...these guys seem to be winners and expect to win....it may be rough this year but I am enjoying the show...it feels like we are having a boring appetizer but know that tthe 2 lb lobster tail is coming soon...

[Helpmenow]

RW thinks their 4-0, why would he!

[NaPolian8693]

If this regime doesn't turn it around and the team suffers several dismal losing seasons in a row, I'm saying Ralph is now too old to do anything about it. The Bills can win four or fewer games for the next three or four seasons and if Ralph stays alive there will be no consequences for failure.

[ConradDobler]

If this regime doesn't turn it around and the team suffers several dismal losing seasons in a row, I'm saying Ralph is now too old to do anything about it. The Bills can win four or fewer games for the next three or four seasons and if Ralph stays alive there will be no consequences for failure.

Good point, MPL! Do you have any other original thoughts?

[DanInUticaTampa]

If this regime doesn't turn it around and the team suffers several dismal losing seasons in a row, I'm saying Ralph is now too old to do anything about it. The Bills can win four or fewer games for the next three or four seasons and if Ralph stays alive there will be no consequences for failure.

 

If he is alive after they go three seasons with no more than 4 wins a year, I am pretty sure there will be plenty of changes, including nix not being here. I don't even see nix staying more than 5 years, by his choice.

 

But I find it very hard to believe that this team only gets 4 wins 3 years in a row. With all the crap this team has done, in recent years there has only been one year they went 4 wins. I don't see them doing that three years in a row.

 

But if they are that bad, and ralph is alive, he will make changes. And if he dies, the new owner will. Eitehr way, if we have 3 years of only 4 wins, the organization will change again. That isn't like 7-9 when we were just mediocre. 4-12 is bad, and not improving on that after three years means changes, and it will be made whether or not raplh is alive. But I doubt the team is that bad for that long. we probably get back to the 7-9 mark by year 3 at least.

 

 

 

Really, you don't know what you are talking about. You are implying that this organization hasn't changed in 10 years. It has changed a lot. People have come and gone several times. It hasn't made anything better, but one thing you can count on, when the team looks bad, someone has to be the scapegoat. Like donahoe, jauron, or whatever. The only exception as far as football operations go is modrak.

Edited October 10, 2010 by DanInUticaTampa

[akm0404]

the Bills appear to be in good hands for the first time in a long time. I think it's pretty clear from the way they've been handling business, from both an evaluation and coaching standpoint.

Are you serious or is this just a joke post?

 

We appear in good hands? We were a terrible team that, by any objective measure, is getting WORSE. This team is literally worse than they were under Dick Jauron. Much worse. But yet we are in good hands? Our pathetically feeble offense over the last 5 years is MUCH worse this year under the stewardship of Chan 'The Offensive Genius' Gailey. Dead last in offense, with more than 20 ypg fewer yards than the worst Jauron offense. Ouch.

 

And your claim that this regieme are such great talent evaluators???? This is the part that convinced me you were trolling this thread. CUTTING your starting QB, who you evaluated painstakingly over the course of 9 months after two games. Really evaluated the heck out of that one. It only left every NFL person scratching their head wondering WTF these clowns are doig.

 

Oh yeah and they extended Kelsay. Way to evaluate talent and lock up your horses.

 

HAHAHHAA. We are in great hands!

 

Really, you don't know what you are talking about. You are implying that this organization hasn't changed in 10 years. It has changed a lot.

Nix was a promotion from within. Same same culprits that have driven this franchise into the ground are still there. A cosmetic change here and there doesn't cover up the fact that the same core group has ruined this thing, and the majority of them are still fleecing Old Man Ralph. It is pretty sad - this is definitely a case of a group of shrewd men taking advantage of the trust of a very very old man.

[DanInUticaTampa]

Nix was a promotion from within. Same same culprits that have driven this franchise into the ground are still there. A cosmetic change here and there doesn't cover up the fact that the same core group has ruined this thing, and the majority of them are still fleecing Old Man Ralph. It is pretty sad - this is definitely a case of a group of shrewd men taking advantage of the trust of a very very old man.

 

Nix was only here one year from the last 10 years. The other years he was in SD with a team with a winning record and a lot of talent. People dismiss Nix saying he was just a scout... but he was actually an assistant GM. So yeah, you are crazy if you are blaming Nix for the bills failures in the last 10 years, unless you are saying it is his fault that he helped a franchise draft good players that the bills didn't because he was working for an enemy.

 

And Whaley is in his first year here in buffalo brought in from pittsburg. So from the last 10 years, the two top football guys have a total of 1 year combined in the last 10 years.... so yeah, these are not the same old guys. Just different guys finding new ways to lose. Apparently, there are a million different ways.

Edited October 10, 2010 by DanInUticaTampa

[IronyAbounds]

The constant refrain is "we have a plan and will stick to it." Frankly the only real plan seems to be to say we have a plan. If the plan is to improve utilizing the draft, then the concern is the last draft was awful - not only did they not draft for need but the guys they drafted stink. They sign Green, who is awful. They extend Kelsay, an awful move. They start Edwards and he is cut in week 3. They barely use Spiller. So far the real plan appears to be to suck as much as possible.

[Gabe Northern]

Nix was only here one year from the last 10 years. The other years he was in SD with a team with a winning record and a lot of talent. People dismiss Nix saying he was just a scout... but he was actually an assistant GM. So yeah, you are crazy if you are blaming Nix for the bills failures in the last 10 years, unless you are saying it is his fault that he helped a franchise draft good players that the bills didn't because he was working for an enemy.

 

And Whaley is in his first year here in buffalo brought in from pittsburg. So from the last 10 years, the two top football guys have a total of 1 year combined in the last 10 years.... so yeah, these are not the same old guys. Just different guys finding new ways to lose. Apparently, there are a million different ways.

 

Nix is a joke. No one every gave him a sniff as for a GM job when he was in his working career. Now he's 70 years old and his only competition for the job was John Guy -- the worst pro personnel director in the NFL.

 

Now, we sign some guy Doug Whaley that no one has ever heard of. Everyone assumes he must be a great hire because he's from Pittsburgh, but the only moves we've seen from him thus far are Cornell Green (worse than any stiff John Guy ever brought in), Dwan Edwards (is he really better than McCargo, who is inactive every game because of Edwards' contract), and Andra Davis (looking washed up, aside from great pic today).

[IronyAbounds]

It really is difficult to point to a single personnel move made with the "new" regime in place that has improved the team. There was absolutely no need to draft Spiller. The draft was just awful, other than maybe Spiller it is hard to see anyone from the last draft being a quality NFL player. The FA are a wash out and the Kelsay signing may be the dumbest move of all.There is a reason Nix didn't get a GM job before hitting 70. There is a reason Gailey was no longer in the NFL. Both reasons aren't that they are great football people who can lead a terribly run franchise to the promised land. Whether it's Ralph or the other football (cough) people in the organization, terrible decisions are being made with discouraging frequency.

[Red]

The current front office regime will never change, as long as Ralph Wilson remains alive and owner of the Bills.

 

When it came time to find a new GM, the Bills promoted from within. Familiar faces like Littman/Overdorf/Brandon/Modrak all remained in the front office. Ralph just didn't have it in him to search for a new GM in earnest and then turn the reigns over someone new this close to the end.

 

These guys all know they are just riding this thing out until the inevitable happens with Ralph, and then and only then true change can take place. Hopefully the team remains so fans can enjoy it.

 

The scary part is that if Ralph lives to be 100, this whole sham of a franchise will continue to twist in the wind year after year. Some people believe that Ralph is still sharp as a tack, but even if that is true, at some point he will begin to lose it. As he begins to slowly succumb to dementia, who will the front office be accountable to? It seems that no matter how poor their performance, at some stage Ralph won't any longer to be able to effectively do anything about it. My personal opinion is that we have already reached that point, and they are taking advantage of Ralph.

 

 

I've been crying for the tar and feathering of Modrak for over 2 years now. He should have left with Donahoe, and CERTAINLY should have been forced out with Guy last year.

 

One of the announcers said on the air today, that the Bills talent-wise are sub-par. Surely, the scouting department and the Head of such department (the aforementioned Modrak) have done such a terrible job of stockpiling this team with talent, that they should no longer be employed.

 

But the role both Littman and Overdorf play should not be dismissed. There were stories of political infighting for Ralph's favor when Polian was here. Something tells me that Littman and Overdorf are atleast as responsible for this disaster as Mr. Modrak himself.

 

It's almost as if they have been scouting for sub-par players so that they would not have to pay them down the line. Draft lesser impact players who will fit in our small market model.

 

It sounds stupidly crazy, but drafting Whitner ahead of Haloti Ngata was pretty dumb. Spending 2 1st round draft picks within 3 years at the QB position (trade to NE for Bledsoe then drafting Losman), only to lose them both with little production was idiotic. Then trading back into the 1st round for McCargo. Oops. Missed on that one, too. Maybin instead of Oher or Orakpo.

 

Who, in the history of the NFL, drafts a project player with their #1 pick?

 

In my 20 years of being a Bills fan and NFL fan, I have never seen that before. I mean, if we had just come from dominating in the Super Bowl I might, MIGHT see drafting a project player like Maybin in the 1st as a smart thing since I was stocked everywhere else.

 

It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but in the case of the Bills I can't believe that we can be that bad, for that long, without someone in a position of influence directing the course of things.

 

10+ years of doing things on the cheap has taken its toll.

[Punch]

Are you serious or is this just a joke post?

 

We appear in good hands? We were a terrible team that, by any objective measure, is getting WORSE. This team is literally worse than they were under Dick Jauron. Much worse. But yet we are in good hands? Our pathetically feeble offense over the last 5 years is MUCH worse this year under the stewardship of Chan 'The Offensive Genius' Gailey. Dead last in offense, with more than 20 ypg fewer yards than the worst Jauron offense. Ouch.

 

And your claim that this regieme are such great talent evaluators???? This is the part that convinced me you were trolling this thread. CUTTING your starting QB, who you evaluated painstakingly over the course of 9 months after two games. Really evaluated the heck out of that one. It only left every NFL person scratching their head wondering WTF these clowns are doig.

 

Oh yeah and they extended Kelsay. Way to evaluate talent and lock up your horses.

 

HAHAHHAA. We are in great hands!

 

is definitely a case of a group of shrewd men taking advantage of the trust of a very very old man.

 

Is there really a need to be such a gigantic !@#$? Seriously, why don't you just go !@#$ yourself? It would be more useful than the gutless posturing you waste your time on with your posts.

 

It's not like there can ever be a winner in these fake conversations that total strangers are having on a football message board. Our opinions are different, and you're a !@#$ing crybaby.

[NaPolian8693]

The problem is Ralph is too old to change anything. He is surrounded by leeches in the front office that will just keep the status quo until he finally dies.

 

Look at the last two GMs, bringing in an old friend like Levy even though he is not qualified for the job, and then just promoting Nix from within and keeping everyone else like Brandon/Modrak/Littman/Overdorf, etc.

 

He's a dying old man, he is not capable of performing a search for a new GM even if he wanted to. I mean, who is even going to make the phone calls and do the interviews? It would be one of his Yes-Men, like Russ, and the leeches would never let anyone come in here that would shake things up too much.

 

It's sad, but it's really just a group of front office executive vultures preying on Ralph for big salaries with no accountability.

[Red]

The problem is Ralph is too old to change anything. He is surrounded by leeches in the front office that will just keep the status quo until he finally dies.

 

Look at the last two GMs, bringing in an old friend like Levy even though he is not qualified for the job, and then just promoting Nix from within and keeping everyone else like Brandon/Modrak/Littman/Overdorf, etc.

 

He's a dying old man, he is not capable of performing a search for a new GM even if he wanted to. I mean, who is even going to make the phone calls and do the interviews? It would be one of his Yes-Men, like Russ, and the leeches would never let anyone come in here that would shake things up too much.

 

It's sad, but it's really just a group of front office executive vultures preying on Ralph for big salaries with no accountability.

 

That's actually a really good point.

 

Who can Ralph trust?

 

Clearly, he has been trusting Littman, Overdorf, and Modrak to the detriment of the team.

 

If he axes these guys, who comes in to fill their stead?

[Fan in San Diego]

Call me optimistic, but can't we just take solace in the fact that Nix does have a plan? I mean yeah he is turning over the roster but I see so many posts about how they need to get rid of dead weight...patience my friends...we've waited 11 years for a playoff team, what's 2 more? I mean granted it could just be another turn of the wheel, but if Nix and Gailey do start to show improvement (which won't be this year and honestly it's a fantasy for anyone to think they would show promise in the 1ST YEAR of the new front office regime) will those that are critical start to recognize what is going on?

 

I'm workin on my PhD in Organizational Leadership right now and doing a dissertation on Organizational Leadership structure in the NFL and what I can tell you is that the current structure that is in place (leadership talent not taken into account) is one that is historically successful in the NFL both in win/loss record and fan devotion.

 

Patience is a word we have heard for way too long...but these are different people (I know I know, Modrak is still there among others) but should we not be more patient then less than half a season?

 

I love this board! Please go easy on me guys, just sayin...it's been a long time, but I'm hopeful. Silly me!!!

 

One thing I do like about these guys is they cut a guy a when they think he cant compete. Who's next?

[TheChimp]

The problem is Ralph is too old to change anything. He is surrounded by leeches in the front office that will just keep the status quo until he finally dies.

 

Look at the last two GMs, bringing in an old friend like Levy even though he is not qualified for the job, and then just promoting Nix from within and keeping everyone else like Brandon/Modrak/Littman/Overdorf, etc.

 

He's a dying old man, he is not capable of performing a search for a new GM even if he wanted to. I mean, who is even going to make the phone calls and do the interviews? It would be one of his Yes-Men, like Russ, and the leeches would never let anyone come in here that would shake things up too much.

 

It's sad, but it's really just a group of front office executive vultures preying on Ralph for big salaries with no accountability.

If that is true, then the courts need to get involved, because this borders on illegal activity, namely fraud, by these men, and a psychiatric evaluation of the old man is in order. If the same thing was happening at a toy factory, the toys would have obviously killed a bunch of kids by now with the shoddy workmanship and dangerous parts, and we wouldn't bat a single eyelash at the courts getting involved and shutting the whole operation down. That's what it sounds like needs to start happening at OBD, and Ralph's family is the group who needs to climb out of the shadows here and do something.

[NaPolian8693]

That is the whole problem, Chimp.

 

In NFL ownership families, normally the owner's heirs would have taken the reigns by now, and would have been heavily involved for most of their lives.

 

Ralph only had one child that had an interest in football, and sadly she is no longer with us. He has no surviving family members with any interest in this franchise or the NFL, except to line up and collect their paycheck when Ralph finally passes.

 

It is a very sad state of affairs.

[TheChimp]

That is the whole problem, Chimp.

 

In NFL ownership families, normally the owner's heirs would have taken the reigns by now, and would have been heavily involved for most of their lives.

 

Ralph only had one child that had an interest in football, and sadly she is no longer with us. He has no surviving family members with any interest in this franchise or the NFL, except to line up and collect their paycheck when Ralph finally passes.

 

It is a very sad state of affairs.

Whoever is in charge if and when Ralph's mind goes, and at his age he almost assuredly has made a Living Will by now and set up his POA, needs to be pressured into action at this point, provided it's true that Ralph can't make his own decisions anymore and the real possibility exists that the folks he's left in charge are bilking him out of millions while sinking his company. If Ralph's stupid !@#$ing family doesn't care, then the !@#$ing NFL should, because this is disgraceful.

[BuffaloWest]

4 weeks? Why would they not have lasted 4 weeks into the first season of a major rebuilding project?

 

As for the young hungry GM I believe Doug Whaley was brought in from Pittsburgh as Assistant GM to be groomed as Nix's replacement when he eventually (probably sooner rather than later) retires. He has been mentioned as one of the best young General Manger "prospects" for a few years now, in fact, some of the critiques levied at the Bills when they hired Nix was that they should have hired Whaley. The fact that Nix brought him in as the de facto 2nd in command indicates he is more than likely the natural successor for the position. I can't imagine a better man for the job.

 

Don't be fooled by blowhards like the OP--- the Bills appear to be in good hands for the first time in a long time. I think it's pretty clear from the way they've been handling business, from both an evaluation and coaching standpoint. The fact that the team on the field still sucks is only indicative of the 10 years of crappy management. It takes time. More than 4 weeks, anyway.

You are absolutely right. The thing is that when you go 7-9 you are always sort of "In it" each season until about week 12 or so...They are blowing this thing up, and I believe there is a blueprint there for player personnel down the road. I wonder about front office and coaching though. Despite the record, there are some very good players on our team-nevertheless, Modrak has failed. The defense is horrid. No way you could go into 2011 with this DC and be taken seriously. The organization is one big enigma from top to bottom.