Pegula press conference today

[Jerry Jabber]

Terrific post. You are astute and perspicacious.

 

When you are a new owner and it is new endeavor for you it is wise before being actively engaged with your new purchase to get input from as many people as possible outside of the lagging business that you are acquiring. There are plenty of successful people in the business whose thoughts and insights you can draw from.

 

Ralph Wilson had an insular approach to running his business. It was very parochial and outdated and those flaws became more accentuated as the NFL changed. To a much lesser extent it seems that the Pegulas are being too insular with how they are running their businesses especially when critical hiring decisions are to be made. An egregious example of that was the hiring of Rex. This was a huckster who was run out of town of his last job and was well known for his lack of substance and depth. Relying on a person such as Brandon for advice was a stupendous mistake. That made no sense.

 

As you stated I'm thankful to have the Pegulas involved as owners and appreciate their grand investment in the community. I just wish they would accelerate going through the learning curve and learn from their glaring mistakes.

You are 100% correct. Hopefully the Pegula's learning curve is about an end and we start seeing real results in both teams.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Tanking in football doesn't work. There are a lot more misses in the draft than NBA/NHL and more guys to dilute the impact of any one.

Edited April 22, 2017 by Benjamin Franklin

[JM2009]

You are 100% correct. Hopefully the Pegula's learning curve is about an end and we start seeing real results in both teams.

If this is true, then Whaley shouldn't be there. Maybe even Brandon.

[Bill_with_it]

If this is true, then Whaley shouldn't be there. Maybe even Brandon.

One can hope!!!

[Straight Hucklebuck]

So far the Pegula's are almost as bad as Jimmy Haslam at building a football team.

 

One Bills coach quit, Rex was a snake oil salesman, now we have dry McDermott.

 

The Sabres have blown through Reiger, Lindy, Nolan, LaFontaine in the FO for 2 months, now Murray and Bylsma.

 

Pegula just saying over and over discipline, communication, structure, character doesn't really do anything. Like he knows the formula now for winning?

 

YOU NEED TALENT TERRY AND KIM! TALENT!

[jeffismagic]

So far the Pegula's are almost as bad as Jimmy Haslam at building a football team.

 

One Bills coach quit, Rex was a snake oil salesman, now we have dry McDermott.

 

The Sabres have blown through Reiger, Lindy, Nolan, LaFontaine in the FO for 2 months, now Murray and Bylsma.

 

Pegula just saying over and over discipline, communication, structure, character doesn't really do anything. Like he knows the formula now for winning?

 

YOU NEED TALENT TERRY AND KIM! TALENT!

 

Pegula got his buzz words from Sean The Wrestler.

[JM2009]

So far the Pegula's are almost as bad as Jimmy Haslam at building a football team.

 

One Bills coach quit, Rex was a snake oil salesman, now we have dry McDermott.

 

The Sabres have blown through Reiger, Lindy, Nolan, LaFontaine in the FO for 2 months, now Murray and Bylsma.

 

Pegula just saying over and over discipline, communication, structure, character doesn't really do anything. Like he knows the formula now for winning?

 

YOU NEED TALENT TERRY AND KIM! TALENT!

Get rid of Brandon.

[Jerry Jabber]

If this is true, then Whaley shouldn't be there. Maybe even Brandon.

I agree with both guys. Whaley is good at finding free agents, but no so good on draft picks. Brandon is great at marketing and the business side of the Bills, but terrible when it comes to the personnel/football side of things.

[JM2009]

I agree with both guys. Whaley is good at finding free agents, but no so good on draft picks. Brandon is great at marketing and the business side of the Bills, but terrible when it comes to the personnel/football side of things.

I agree. And it seems Brandon can't keep away from the football side of things.

[Jerry Jabber]

So far the Pegula's are almost as bad as Jimmy Haslam at building a football team.

 

One Bills coach quit, Rex was a snake oil salesman, now we have dry McDermott.

 

The Sabres have blown through Reiger, Lindy, Nolan, LaFontaine in the FO for 2 months, now Murray and Bylsma.

 

Pegula just saying over and over discipline, communication, structure, character doesn't really do anything. Like he knows the formula now for winning?

 

YOU NEED TALENT TERRY AND KIM! TALENT!

The Pegula's definitely made mistakes. They should have fired Regier first as the Sabres had no Center's and a bunch of wingers that would be on other teams third and fourth lines. Murray gave Nolan a raw deal. Murray didn't want Nolan as he was LaFontaine's guy. Murray did a good job at drafting/acquiring Centers, but didn't properly address the defense and traded away too many draft picks/prospects that the team built up during "the tank." Trading a first round pick for Lehner was horrible.

[Buddo]

While I know next to nothing about the Sabres, people saying 'I wish the Pegulas would learn from their mistakes', appear to me to be repeating a tired mantra.

 

With the Bills, and now the Sabres, it looks to me like the Pegulas are trying not to make the same mistakes, in moving on from HCs etc., who just weren't up to the job.

 

You can't have it both ways - either they are doing something about failures, or they aren't. The evidence is that they are, or there would be a lot of guys who still had jobs in either the NHL or the NFL.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

I think the Pegula's will always be seen somewhat positively because they saved Buffalo sports.

 

But I have to say they are becoming increasingly unlikeable. Both franchises are becoming harder and harder to root for behind these owners. Another Coach fired, scouts fired, GM fired. Pegula is paying Rex not to work, now Murray and Blysma, LaFontaine quit, as did Marrone. Yet Pegula stands up there today and lectures about what it takes to win?

 

No decision was made before Wednesday, even though there were reports. No comment about Rex, then he was fired mid-sentence, no Whaley/communication involved.

 

They are 1/2 step ahead of Jimmy Haslam in my book when it comes to running the team.

Edited April 22, 2017 by Straight Hucklebuck

[GunnerBill]

McDermott's scheme has evolved into a zone, non-blitz setup. He hired Leslie Frazier to run our D and that makes sense. Frazier was Dick Jauron 2.0 whose defenses were so simple opposing QBs would call out the plays called by Frazier. I assume we will run a bend but don't break defense that takes away the big play. So if you enjoy that you're going to love McDermott.

But the link between McDermott and Frazier is Jimmy Johnson. I think it is a much safer assumption to assume they run a variety of that defense rather than some variety of a Tampa 2.

[oldmanfan]

So far the Pegula's are almost as bad as Jimmy Haslam at building a football team.

 

One Bills coach quit, Rex was a snake oil salesman, now we have dry McDermott.

 

The Sabres have blown through Reiger, Lindy, Nolan, LaFontaine in the FO for 2 months, now Murray and Bylsma.

 

Pegula just saying over and over discipline, communication, structure, character doesn't really do anything. Like he knows the formula now for winning?

 

YOU NEED TALENT TERRY AND KIM! TALENT!

Talent. And structure . And character. And discipline. And communication. And accountability. And commitment to processes that are effective. All of these are tantamount to any successful organization.

 

If Pegula, McD ET had not said such things you'd be on here asking why not.

[May Day 10]

I thought he did a good job. How embarrassing was the taking semantics argument? What a waste of time. Thet cry pegula isnt always available, then waste time with that garbage... for what end?

 

Anyways, his identification of an experienced gm who will build an organization from the top down hits the spot, and frankly, is what both franchises sorely need

Edited April 22, 2017 by May Day 10

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Talent. And structure . And character. And discipline. And communication. And accountability. And commitment to processes that are effective. All of these are tantamount to any successful organization.

 

If Pegula, McD ET had not said such things you'd be on here asking why not.

Pegula has bought both Buffalo sports teams in a time where if you don't have state of the art stadiums, or you are deemed too small, you get moved. And he has invested money into the city of Buffalo. For this, he will always have the support of the fans, as he should.

 

I guess the better way to state my opinion is - I have been surprised 6 years in the Sabres and 2+ with the Bills, how disorganized Pegula Sports has been. Reiger gets extended, then fired, LaFontaine picks Murray then resigns, Murray just got an extension, now fired, how quickly they have bought Russ Brandon and made him President of the entire operation, the Rex Ryan show, hiring his brother, firing him 2 years into his 5 year deal.

 

Constant stories of dysfunction and infighting. I am surprised at how disorganized all of this has seemed. Our reputation in both cities has been 2 years and you get fired. Whaley is hanging on by a thread now.

Edited April 22, 2017 by Straight Hucklebuck

[Buddo]

From purely the Bills side of things, I think they have made mistakes, and are making positive strides to rectify them, generally. However, in their defense, I think you can argue that the intentions and rationale were largely right, but that they picked the wrong guy, due to listening to the wrong person.

 

Marrone thought he had all the cards, and so tried to bolster his position by laying down conditions. You can't do that to billionaires, as a few million either way doesn't even scratch an itch. So they had to find a new HC.

 

The problem then becomes, who to look at, or what to look for. It was decided they then wanted a guy with previous HC experience, as they didn't have much experience of running an NFL team themselves. Not exactly a terrible approach. Unfortunately, they fell for the charms of Ryan, after listening to Brandon tell them they would know the guy when they met him. That was the really big mistake, as anyone with a clue, should have realized that Ryan wasn't ever going to be a detail orientated guy when it came to running the team.

 

Realistically, they needed a Parcells/Coughlin/Belicheck type of personality, who would look at all aspects, and not be afraid to ask for stuff they didn't like, to be changed. Now, I'm not sure who might have fit that bill, but there were certainly other viable candidates around.

 

This time around, I think they have got exactly the type of guy they need in McDermott, who is so detail obsessed, that if they spend much time with him, they will find out about just how everything is supposed to work.

 

As to how well the team does under McDermott, that is yet to be discovered, but it won't be for the lack of ensuring that all the I's and T's aren't crossed.

 

My view on Whaley, is that he's good enough at his job, to be worthy of being retained, and, imho, for the foreseeable future. His 'style', generally, as a GM, is that of a facilitator, in that he seems to me to genuinely try to get players of the type that the HC wants/needs, and I think that he and McDermott can work well together. I'd also say that his approach, suits the way in which the Pegulas have things set up, with both GM and HC reporting to them.

 

I think in respect of the Bills, that the Pegulas have really only made one truly bad decision, but as that was hiring Ryan, it becomes a howler.

 

This sort of conversation might not even be taking place now, if, as rumored, an alternative 'ticket' of Hue Jackson and Schwartz had been the way they had jumped.

[CardinalScotts]

If this is true, then Whaley shouldn't be there. Maybe even Brandon.

81% of Whaley's picks are in the NFL...player selection hasnt been the problem.

[CodeMonkey]

With the Sabres, at least there was a vision/plan, tank for a few years, get high draft picks to get elite players and rebuild

FWIW, Pegula vehemently denied, and got mad when pressed on it, tanking with the Sabres during the presser.

[YoloinOhio]

I thought he did a good job. How embarrassing was the taking semantics argument? What a waste of time. Thet cry pegula isnt always available, then waste time with that garbage... for what end?

 

Anyways, his identification of an experienced gm who will build an organization from the top down hits the spot, and frankly, is what both franchises sorely need

yep he really needs to bring in an experienced GM for the Sabres. When you are newish owners running two teams and no czar (for lack of better term) on either side, you need someone who has been there. I do think this was a factor in hiring Rex, too bad he was just not good enough as a coach. With McD, they surrounded him with experienced assistants.