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Perception of the Team. From an Ex Bills Fan


Dr. Trooth

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First, no attempt here to disparage or launch an assault on you Bills fans or team in any way. Just my honest unbiased perception of the current state of the Bills. So, please, don't be offended. Some of it may be your own perception.

 

After being a fan as a kid, going way back to the mid 60's, and even attending one of the Bills four Super Bowls, I'd become disgusted with the ambivalence of the Bills ownership and what I'd been seeing for several years, especially from 2010 forward. It just was not my Bills anymore. So, I'd had enough, looked at it as a good marriage gone bad and finally run it's course. I divorced and flipped from being a Bills fan to being a Steelers fan. I still very much enjoy football and follow a few teams, but I'm done with the emotional investment in the Bills. The Steelers are what I wished the Bills were or could become. I mean, come on, what Bills fan wouldn't enjoy, on average, a legitimate expectation of the Bills being in the playoffs 63% of the time and a 20% expectation that they will get to the Super Bowl each year... one every eight years (8 Super Bowl Appearances in 40 years). And, I believe the Steelers will either be in the playoffs again this year and have a meaningful game in week 17.

You guys are dealing with considerable uncertainty in the Post Ralph era. The ownership, front office, coaching staff, and the potential for either relocation or a new stadium. It does make me a bit sad about any potential for relocation, but for you it's got to be gut wrenching as highly engaged Bills fan. I feel for you and I'm pulling for you to get the right owner and for the stadium thing to work out if that's what it takes.

Even if a new owner takes over tomorrow, though, and is committed to Buffalo, there's likely to be another purge & rebuild, this time perhaps from top to bottom... which may not a bad thing long term, given their performance over the past umpteen seasons. I do hope you Bills fans get an owner that is committed to winning instead of continually pulling at your heart strings and picking your pockets. You're long overdue. If anyone deserves a winner it's you Bills fans. But, it's going to take some time for the new owner to right the ship... example... new NFL owners Khan and Haslam. How are Jacksonville and Cleveland progressing right now?

As for the Bills team right now. Believe it or not, I actually do see some good things, which I hope new ownership spots as well. But, I also see some big question marks, namely...

  • Brandon. Brandon has been a good soldier for Ralph, just like Littman. He's a good guy that did his best to operate within the confines of Ralph's parameters. The question is, if the new owner makes the "W" a top priority does Russ have what it takes to meet those expectations? After 17 years in Ralph mode (no win mode) does he really know what it takes to win?

  • Whaley. Good football mind, great professional. Like Brandon, he too operated within Ralph's parameters. Except for the drafting of Manuel (some blame it on Buddy Nix) he appears to have done a pretty darn good job of drafting, but as far as bringing in good veteran free agents... Legursky, Chris Williams, Alan Branch, Moeki, Rivers... it seems like Ralph mode to me, although Spikes seems to be a good one. Mike Williams seems to be a good aquisition, but who was behind that, Marrone or Whaley? Whaley does have a track record with a winning organization (Steelers). If the drafting of Manuel doesn't define him though, it may be the fact that he thought Sammy Watkins was the answer instead of being hell bent on getting a real QB. Watkins may well be very good, but will the new owner hold Whaley accountable for not having a QB that can get him the ball?

  • Roster... seems solid. Potential top 5 defense. If there are holes it would seem to be OLB and OG... but a huge one at QB.

  • QB.... Manuel? The perception of Manuel around the league, media, and most fans of football is not good. The media consensus is that he's somewhere between 30-32 of starting QBs and there's a reason for that. I'd heard about his struggles, but I only caught a part of one preseason game and my impression is that he just does not have the QB gene or natural QB mental acuity. Does not have pocket presence. Sees the rush way too much instead of looking down field, which causes him to make a misstep in the pocket, allowing his protection to break down. Result, sack or errant throw. He also does not get the ball out on time, and has a huge accuracy problem. A QB must make their decision and get rid of the football within 1.8 -3.0 seconds from snap to release 90% of the time. Check the stopwatch on your cell phone the next time Manuel plays . Better yet, have that cell phone stopwatch handy the next time you see Brady, Brees, or Manning play. It's consistently under 2.5 sec. And, Marrone's recent public discontent with the backup QB situation? That was brought up in a conversation with a couple of friends, one a Steelers fan, the other a Patriots fan and it was like whoa, all three of us thought... wasn't that a veiled shot at the QB situation in general, including, and specifically, at Manuel? Was it publically and emphatically directed as much at Whaley? I mean, what coach bitches publically about his backups if he's got an established starter? Does John Fox voice displeasure over Osweiller when Manning is his starter? Is Sean Payton worried about not having a good backup for Drew Brees? If Matt Ryan or Phil Rivers were the Bills starting QB right now instead of Manuel, do you believe Marrone would have expressed his displeasure with the backup QB situation publically, like he did? If either Ryan or Rivers were the Bills starter going into the season, would you care if the Bills backup QB was Tuel? Isn't the backup's job for an established QB to take a knee and once in a while hold the fort down for a game or two if the #1 goes down? If you have to bring in competition at QB, you have a problem. Roethlisburger, Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Brady, Wilson, Rivers, Ryan, Stafford, Luck.... do any of those guys have competition? So, I get the vibe that Marrone doesn't believe in Manuel as a bonafide or established QB and was behind the aquisition of Kyle Orton, not so much to be a backup as to be a lifeline for the team when he pulls the plug on Manuel.

  • Marrone. Is he a good HC, and more importantly the right HC for the Bills? Well, he was hired when the team was in Ralph mode, so it was only fitting, and true to form, that soon after he was hired, the Bills FO would proceed to emasculate him by getting rid of a vet QB that was serviceable (until a better option was available) then serving him up two vet QBs, one being a concussion or doormat away from ending his career (which happened) and another vet that never accomplished anything. If that wasn't enough, they draft EJ Manuel... a 4-12 year project, if ever. It's like out of the gate Marrone was set up to fail (that's about the time I'd had enough and bailed as a Bills fan). Will the new owner recognize what the FO served him up, or will Marrone take the fall because of the FO's ineptitude in handling the QB situation? I see Marrone as a HC that is in "win now mode". I can't say I see the same from the FO, or maybe they just don't know what it takes to win after being in Ralph mode for so long. In your eyes, has the FO demonstrated they know what it takes to win? I get the feeling that Marrone has a better feel for whether a guy can play at a high level than Whaley. Marrone seems to want high functioning players and Whaley seems to just want to plug holes. Is it just me, or do you see the same? Marrone wants a QB.... so give the guy a QB and then assess his ability as HC. Does Marv Levy go to the playoffs without Jim Kelly? What's the common denominator of every playoff team in the last several years? QB, and a few of those teams have great ones. It wouldn't surprise me if Marrone gets canned if the Bills don't make a quantum leap this year. Personally, and stating this as an ex Bills fan removed from the emotional attachment, I think that would be a big mistake, but hey... it's your team. If he does get canned I believe it will work out for Marrone. I can see him being the successor to Tom Coughlin as the next Giants HC in a year or two. Bills loss, Giants gain.

Right, wrong or indifferent, but respectfully, that's my perception of the Bills team, without bias. I do wish you a successful season (please beat the snot out of the Patriots Dolphins and Jets). I may check in with you guys once during or after the season. Peace be with you. Go Steelers, but Go Bills too.

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go away?

 

like i don't understand: if you're an EX-Bills fan stay that way and go away. Why are you here?

 

QB.... Manuel? The perception of Manuel around the league, media, and most fans of football is not good. The media consensus is that he's somewhere between 30-32 of starting QBs and there's a reason for that. I'd heard about his struggles, but I only caught a part of one preseason game and my impression is that he just does not have the QB gene or natural QB mental acuity. Does not have pocket presence.

 

OK. Thank you for a damning assesment on OUR QB after a portion of one game on the pre-season. As a heads up most of the media hasn't watched more than 10-15% of his snaps. I guarantee you that.

 

I've watched 100% of every snap of a QB who went 4-6 and 5-5 if you give him Atlanta. He wasn't Johnny Unitas, but he wasn't Blaine Gabbert either. You're just saying stuff to say stuff and I don't know why. I don't value your uniformed and speculative opinion; and i don't know why anyone else should.

 

Go away. You left this fanbase and we don't need any more mouthbreathers talking out of their ass like you.

 

At least MitchMurrayDowntown, Kelltyto83TD, and BuffaloBarbarian WATCH the games AND troll us.

Edited by buffaloriles
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Anyone that "flips teams" has no credibility as you are a bad fan. I didn't bother to read past that. I feel bad that you spent any time writing it. Your time would have been better served researching a new team in case the Steelers run into some adversity. I heard that Pats are accepting applications. That organization is full of fake fans like you.

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By the length of your post - which I doubt most will read....you seem like you are trying to validate your decision to become an ex-fan. I am not sure how anyone becomes and "ex" Bills fan if you were one to begin with....

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I actually thought it good and insightful. Once removed from the Kool-Aid Bills fog, what you have written is about right. It all hinges on Manual - like going into his SR season at FSU, he has to prove it...and, if he proves it like he did his SR season, we'll be OK...on the field at least. As to the ownership, everyone had better hope for the best...

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thank you for this. you've inspired me to become a seattle fan.

 

...

 

as a seattle fan, i thought you buffalo fans would be interested in hearing an outsider's perception of your team. you might find the insight surprising:

 

we outsiders have serious questions about your quarterback situation. we're just not sure if ej has the "it" factor. also, we are unsure about your coach. this is his second year, so we will have to see how he does. have you devoted any threads to these topics?

 

good luck to your team this year, bills fans! i hope you beat everyone you play (unless it's seattle in the super bowl lololololol).

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I can associate with someone getting so fed up with the past owner that they jump ship to a different team, and If I had moved to a different locale I might have done the same.

 

It has been a very difficult 14 years, and knowing that the owner wasn't vested in winning over the team making a profit. His downright refusal to draft a QB with a first round pick, build a proper O line, hire a top NFL head coach.

 

Lets hope the new owner wants to win as badly as the greatest NFL fans on earth :D

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Anyone that "flips teams" has no credibility as you are a bad fan. I didn't bother to read past that. I feel bad that you spent any time writing it. Your time would have been better served researching a new team in case the Steelers run into some adversity. I heard that Pats are accepting applications. That organization is full of fake fans like you.

 

+1. I moved from Binghamton, NY to Pittsburgh at age 12. At that time the Bills had just lost their 4th straight Super Bowl. To make matters worse, the Steelers would make the AFC Championship game that year and (thankfully) loose to the Chargers. (imagine a bunch of middle school kids finding a Bills fan just moved into Steeler land. Thankfully a very very small minority actually liked the Bills because Kelly is from nearby).

 

Prior to moving I made a bet with my 6th grade teacher. He figured I would become a Steelers fan within a matter of years. I need to find that teacher to collect! Go Bills!

Edited by RyanC883
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I don't understand. You don't get to choose these types of things. Being a Bills fan is the equivalent of having a 50-pound iron ball chained to your leg by your dad when you're 2 years old. And all he says to you is, Sorry, I've been carrying this around my whole life, now you've got one too, best of luck with it. And there is no key. Choose? There is no choose.

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thank you for this. you've inspired me to become a seattle fan.

 

...

 

as a seattle fan, i thought you buffalo fans would be interested in hearing an outsider's perception of your team. you might find the insight surprising:

 

we outsiders have serious questions about your quarterback situation. we're just not sure if ej has the "it" factor. also, we are unsure about your coach. this is his second year, so we will have to see how he does. have you devoted any threads to these topics?

 

good luck to your team this year, bills fans! i hope you beat everyone you play (unless it's seattle in the super bowl lololololol).

 

This is great. :D

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Illl be a bills fan until I die or the team moves away, its not by choice, I was born into it. Dont kid yourself, you were never a fan of this team

 

 

and please, dont jump on the bandwagon when were good again and act like you were there for the whole ride.

Edited by TallskiWallski83
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