JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I know they would not put people on the spot like this, and paint Ralph in a worse light, but to point out how things might be different now I wonder what decisions were made recently where Russ would have gone one way but was overruled by Ralph or someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I know they would not put people on the spot like this, and paint Ralph in a worse light, but to point out how things might be different now I wonder what decisions were made recently where Russ would have gone one way but was overruled by Ralph or someone else. Someone posted something about reading between the lines. I think it's fairly obvious without being said that Ralph was a boat anchor to the franchise. Even just getting his okay on something hinders you when you are trying to close a deal. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPS Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I wouldn't be surprised if former players like Thurman, Tasker, and Brown--who were at the PC, helped influence Ralph's decision. No good coach wants to be told by an owner what to do, and Ralph had a history of meddling. I think they got Ralph to take one for the team, and he was wise enough to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTO Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Look the way i see it is, once Wilson dies the team will be sold and the new owner(s) will not retain Russ. My advise to Russ, work quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2020 Our Year For Sure Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Bottom line is we have zero indication that Ralph has made a single decision within the football operation since Buddy Nix became General Manager. The change isnt really from Ralph to Russ-- Ralph by every indication has been out of it for some time. The change is that the football operation will be headed by Brandon rather than Nix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBD Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 It was difficult to hear the questions during the press conference, but I believe the first couple asked were with regard to exactly what Ralph was responsible for, which were sidestepped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 (edited) Bottom line is we have zero indication that Ralph has made a single decision within the football operation since Buddy Nix became General Manager. The change isnt really from Ralph to Russ-- Ralph by every indication has been out of it for some time. The change is that the football operation will be headed by Brandon rather than Nix. Other than a huge press conference announcing that Ralph will no longer be involved in managing the team. Other than that nothing. When did Ralph announce he was making a decision in the past? PTR Edited January 2, 2013 by PromoTheRobot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2020 Our Year For Sure Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Other than a huge press conference announcing that Ralph will no longer be involved in managing the team. Other than that nothing. When did Ralph announce he was making a decision in the past? PTR Yes, I'm sure Ralph Wilson in an unhealthy state in his Detroit home has been deciding draft picks, coaching hirings and roster cuts for the last three years. Oy vey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Bottom line is we have zero indication that Ralph has made a single decision within the football operation since Buddy Nix became General Manager. The change isnt really from Ralph to Russ-- Ralph by every indication has been out of it for some time. The change is that the football operation will be headed by Brandon rather than Nix. Yes, the face to face meeting. The emotional conversation. The press conference. It was all staged to announce nothing has really changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Cubed Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Other than a huge press conference announcing that Ralph will no longer be involved in managing the team. Other than that nothing. When did Ralph announce he was making a decision in the past? PTR Yea, but that was all just a cover. Come on man, get your tin foil hat on. Brandon just held the press conference to appease the fans and sell tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haven Moses Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 I can see both sides of the argument. The proof will be in what they do, not what they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2020 Our Year For Sure Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Yes, the face to face meeting. The emotional conversation. The press conference. It was all staged to announce nothing has really changed. I don't doubt the meeting took place, I don't doubt it was emotional for Ralph to officially step down. But every indication we've gotten the last three years is that Buddy Nix has been completely in charge of coaching and players. We have reason to believe Ralph chose Johnson over Flutie, we have reason to believe Ralph wanted that 4th round RB during the Jauron years. We have no similar reports that Ralph has interfered with Nix' GM run in this manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Playoff Bound Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Shame on all of you who don't think anything has changed at OBD. Clearly Ralph was making all of the decisions the past 13 years and more importantly the last three years. Nix didn't hire a lame coach like Gailey, Ralph did. Nix doesn't draft running backs in the First Round only to trade them for Fourth Round picks. Nix didn't hitch the team to Fitzpatrick, it was Ralph. That was Ralph. Its all good now since Ralph is stepping out of the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Who was it that demanded that the Bills cut Dwan Edwards on the eve of this season, and trade Lee Evans on the eve of last season? Who decided to cut Langston Walker (instead of benching him) on the eve of that season? I don't know for sure, but my hunch is that it was Littman behind all of these moves. Those are just the obvious decisions, and probably just the tip of the iceberg - based on the circumstantial evidence that has accumulated over the years, economics have played a role in many short-sighted decisions made over the years. No I cannot prove it. But I can hope that it will now change. It won't guarantee a winning season, but it will help. We'll see soon enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Yes, I'm sure Ralph Wilson in an unhealthy state in his Detroit home has been deciding draft picks, coaching hirings and roster cuts for the last three years. Oy vey Uh yeah, maybe he was. Do you know for sure he wasn't involved? How much effort does it take to pass a message to Buddy or Russ? PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Look the way i see it is, once Wilson dies the team will be sold and the new owner(s) will not retain Russ. My advise to Russ, work quickly. Brandon would most assuredly be retained. But on the marketing side, where he's done a tremendous job. Who was it that demanded that the Bills cut Dwan Edwards on the eve of this season, and trade Lee Evans on the eve of last season? Who decided to cut Langston Walker (instead of benching him) on the eve of that season? I don't know for sure, but my hunch is that it was Littman behind all of these moves. Those are just the obvious decisions, and probably just the tip of the iceberg - based on the circumstantial evidence that has accumulated over the years, economics have played a role in many short-sighted decisions made over the years. No I cannot prove it. But I can hope that it will now change. It won't guarantee a winning season, but it will help. We'll see soon enough. Evans and Walker were good moves in retrospect. Edwards prior to being cut, hadn't done much and wasn't making all that much anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPS Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Bottom line is we have zero indication that Ralph has made a single decision within the football operation since Buddy Nix became General Manager. The change isnt really from Ralph to Russ-- Ralph by every indication has been out of it for some time. The change is that the football operation will be headed by Brandon rather than Nix. That's not what Brandon said at his presser. He specifically said the football operations will be headed by the General Manager Buddy Nix and Buddy will make all football decisions as he has over the past 3 years. I don't think there is any change at OBD, but they'll package it as one and hope they get lucky on a coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2020 Our Year For Sure Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 That's not what Brandon said at his presser. He specifically said the football operations will be headed by the General Manager Buddy Nix and Buddy will make all football decisions as he has over the past 3 years. I don't think there is any change at OBD, but they'll package it as one and hope they get lucky on a coach. But even if you believe Nix is still the GM, he now answers to Brandon. So for football ops the buck now stops with Brandon. Good or bad, that is at least different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPS Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Yes, the face to face meeting. The emotional conversation. The press conference. It was all staged to announce nothing has really changed. Hey.....that's sarcasm, isn't it! But even if you believe Nix is still the GM, he now answers to Brandon. So for football ops the buck now stops with Brandon. Good or bad, that is at least different. I watched the whole Brandon presser this morning and I recommend everyone do the same. Watch it and let me know if you still feel the same way. The only thing Brandon mentioned adding to the football equation is "layering in" a Bill James sabremetrics element to their scouting and player evaluations. Buddy Nix is the king of the football castle. Buddy officially answers to Brandon, but really, he answers to the fans. If he doesn't put a good roster together, the Bills will continue their losing ways and Brandon will be pressured to make a change. Then it will be Whaley. That is why Nix will remain the GM and Whaley the assistant. If Nix screws up again, Brandon has the next GM in house. He can say they made a change. So I expect Nix to the the GM for at least 2 more years, unless they further bottom out next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAWNDO Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Look the way i see it is, once Wilson dies the team will be sold and the new owner(s) will not retain Russ. My advise to Russ, work quickly. With the job that Brandon has done selling this team to his fans despite their record over the past 13 years, I can see Brandon staying on in a business capacity if he chooses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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