Sam Adams...

[Bill from NYC]

I found this link on the TBD homepage. Apparently SA's agent, Angelo Wright, came out swinging against Coach Mullarkey.

 

Does anybody know what usually happens in this situation? Is the active roster generally named earlier? Do players usually stay, or was this a form of desertion?

 

I would really appreciate it if someone could/would chime in and shed more light upon what is common practice in this situation.

 

As I recall, SA has once before challenged the coaching staff. Unless one of you tells me something that I don't know wrt players staying with the team or leaving, my inclination is to hope that MM throws Adams off of the Buffalo Bills Football Team.

Many here do not like MM, but he is still the coach. Open defiance (if there was in fact any) or open hostility is probably distracting to the young players.

Sam Adams is still a decent player, but that is about all imo. The Bills are going nowhere this season with or without Big Sam. I know that Bannan and Anderson are pretty lousy, but maybe they can improve just a little if they don't have to share playing time with Adams. I am not counting on this mind you, but it is possible.

 

Again, if what SA did was an established procedure of sorts, no big deal I suppose. If not, my position is that MM should step up, take charge of the football team, and terminate his contract.

 

Are you guys fed up with Adams?

[DeeRay]

I don't know what the drill is. But, I find it hard to believe that a veteran, not hanging around on the sidelines to mentor his teammates and offer moral support during a home game simply because he's inactive shows a lack of committment to the team. It actually demonstrates contempt. If the coach had any balls whatsoever, at the very least, Sam should be "Keyshawned". Sent home and told that he's inactive for the rest of the year. At some point, the HC has to make a statement to not only Sam Adams, but his team. Mike Williams should be next, but at least he keeps his mouth shut... that's about it.

[zow2]

These guys get paid alot of money to at least show up and be supportive of their teammates. Adams is a real prick if you ask me.

[ch19079]

they benched him for a while last season.

 

i dont think he was benched this week due to an injury. i think he isnt doing what the coaches want him to do. they probubly want him to not rush the passer, and just stop the run. but thats not what he does.

 

the coaches just got fed up and benched him. i dont expect him back next season.

 

which means we will need 2 FA run stopping DTs. those will be expensive.

[OnTheRocks]

he should be cut.

or pull a T.O. on him. Suspend him for four games and deactivate him with pay for the final week.

[GG]

Angelo Wright is also Ted Washington's & Pat Williams's agent. It's not like he's had a love for the Bills in the last 5 seasons.

[KOKBILLS]

I dont know who saw it a couple weeks ago on The NFL Network, but Sterling Sharpe ripped into ol' Sam pretty good and had the Film to back it up while discussing the Bills pourous Run D...Before I saw that little segment I just assumed the Bills were better off with Sam in there... purely by default. After I saw it I knew exactly what problems MM had with Adams...

 

Sharpe's comments (while showing an OG escort Sam exactly where he wanted him to go) were something to the effect of "And Big Sam Adams is going to let the OG get on his Hip and push him right where he wants him to go because Sam really does not feel like Playing Football on this day..."

 

Spoke volumes if you ask Me...I'm not the biggest MM Fan, but I have a feeling he's doing what is best for the Team in this case...And I think after Pat left, and Edwards got hurt, SA simply did not want to give much of an effort anymore...

[BRH]

There was a play a month or so ago, I forget against whom. Might have been the New England night game. Anyway, Big Sam just got absolutely pancaked by his blocker. I mean, literally flipped upside down and on his back. That should never happen to a 380-pounder who is just one season removed from the Pro Bowl. It wasn't long after that when Sam came out and stayed on the sidelines for much of the rest of the game.

 

What we're seeing now is hardly surprising. I think Sharpe was right. When Sam is up for the game and he's on, he's unstoppable. But dude just doesn't feel like playing football. He's the DL's equivalent of Mike Williams. Get them both out of here and get some guys in here who will give 100%.

[X. Benedict]

Adams, Williams, Clements can all pack their bags.

 

Bills can trade down in the first round to get blue chip players,

They should aim for 7 picks in the first three rounds. And

we should have a playoff team by 2008.

 

Relax everybody.

[ganesh]

He is probably going to be deactivated for the rest of the season...

[ganesh]

 

Spoke volumes if you ask Me...I'm not the biggest MM Fan, but I have a feeling he's doing what is best for the Team in this case...And I think after Pat left, and Edwards got hurt, SA simply did not want to give much of an effort anymore...

514285[/snapback]

 

I think the guy has stopped playing since game 1......Adams is probably most

responsible for why we are stinking at stopping the Run...Of course having

ineffective DEs against the Run doesn't help too.

[X. Benedict]

That must have really sucked....

Game is just starting and there is no Sam Adams, just Labatt's.

[jester43]

Adams, Williams, Clements can all pack their bags.

 

Bills can trade down in the first round to get blue chip players,

They should aim for 7 picks in the first three rounds. And

we should have a playoff team by 2008.

 

Relax everybody.

514617[/snapback]

sounds good in theory but it really doens't help us...after all, who do you think will be MAKING these picks?

 

oh yeah.....donohoe.

[BillsWatch]

Sam tried to last year tell they had to keep Pat Williams (by giving him the contract his agent demanded) or defense was going to go to hell no matter what the Bills did. Then Sam did not perform arguing with coaching staff and now wants to be released so he can get another signing bonus from some team only planning on keeping him part of the contract.

 

Sam's complaint (his agent's really, always remember the agent is usually feeding players words) before he joined was he did not want to be signed to a contract which he could not complete due to raising of salary each year. Now HE is the ne trying to back out of contact.

 

I think Pat Adams is playing for personal stats and that is why defense is so bad. He has as bad attitude as T.O.

[Coach Tuesday]

Here is what I'm pretty sure happened, it's simple:

 

Adams freelances, takes plays off, and gets into fights with the coaches.

 

A few weeks ago he was benched because of the above.

 

All of a sudden, he claimed to have developed nagging injuries, which he used as an excuse so he wouldn't have to practice.

 

Then, he demanded to play this week (and perhaps last week). Mularkey said, "How do I know you are well enough to play? You have claimed to be injured, and you refuse to pratice. I can't activate you if I don't know that you're healthy, and I don't know if you're healthy if I haven't been able to watch you pratice all week. We have a better chance of winning with healthy players."

 

Adams said, "Fine, @#$%$#^, I'll be at home." He then told his agent to blame his poor attitude and absence from the lineup (which stand to cost him a lot of $$ this offseason) on Mularkey.

 

Fug you Sam.

[BillsWatch]

Sam tried to last year tell they had to keep Pat Williams (by giving him the contract his agent demanded) or defense was going to go to hell no matter what the Bills did.  Then Sam did not perform arguing with coaching staff and now wants to be released so he can get another signing bonus from some team only planning on keeping him part of the contract. 

 

Sam's complaint (his agent's really, always remember the agent is usually feeding players words) before he joined was he did not want to be signed to a contract which he could not complete due to raising of salary each year. Now HE is the ne trying to back out of contact.

 

I think Pat Adams is playing for personal stats and that is why defense is so bad.  He has as bad attitude as T.O.

515004[/snapback]

 

Great post.

 

Who is posting under your logon and how did he get access you your account?

[rockpile]

In other events, RB Lionel (ZigZag) Gates was activated when the spot was opened by Sam Adams being deactivated.

[BuffOrange]

I really disagree with the consensus here, as well as everything Jerry Sullivan said on the radio this morning.

Of course I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but on the field they're not better off without him. I don't know what it means when I hear "he doesn't fit into the coach's scheme". I'm not sure what scheme they're referring to, but I'm all for a guy who actually gets penetration as opposed to getting pushed back 5 yards. I couldn't believe that Sullivan specifically referenced the Jets game when SA damn near dominated that game.

[Guest BackInDaDay]

In other events, RB Lionel (ZigZag) Gates was activated when the spot was opened by Sam Adams being deactivated. 

515123[/snapback]

 

Now that's a football name!

Thanks for that.

[Guest BackInDaDay]

As far as the Adams stuff goes... Desperate Housewives has nothing on the soap opera unfolding at OBD.

 

Let's see... we have an OC that no longer call plays, a 1st round RT playing LG, the best RB in the league without a long run, a QB of the future whose only playing because the journeyman of the present can't remember his own name, a QB coach who can't speak, a WR who can't shut up, a HC with no balls, a GM with no clue and an owner with no time.

[rockpile]

Now that's a football name! 

Thanks for that.

515128[/snapback]

I named him in training camp, and hope someday he will get enough attention for the name to catch on.

[Dwight Drane]

I really disagree with the consensus here, as well as everything Jerry Sullivan said on the radio this morning. 

Of course I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but on the field they're not better off without him.  I don't know what it means when I hear "he doesn't fit into the coach's scheme".  I'm not sure what scheme they're referring to, but I'm all for a guy who actually gets penetration as opposed to getting pushed back 5 yards.  I couldn't believe that Sullivan specifically referenced the Jets game when SA damn near dominated that game.

515125[/snapback]

 

I agree. Adams played well this year. Bruce Smith used to play the same games every year as Sam with not practicing and little injuries forcing him to skip camp. If the coach had a clue, he'd play a 3-4 so our 400lb NT and 5'7" ILB could actually be used the way they should.

 

Mularkey is just trying to hang on to what thread of power he has left over these players. I would rather have Wyche coaching this team. Enjoy your potent Sape-Anderson duo the rest of the year.

[nick in* england]

As far as the Adams stuff goes... Desperate Housewives has nothing on the soap opera unfolding at OBD. 

 

Let's see... we have an OC that no longer call plays, a 1st round RT playing LG, the best RB in the league without a long run, a QB of the future whose only playing because the journeyman of the present can't remember his own name, a QB coach who can't speak, a WR who can't shut up, a HC with no balls, a GM with no clue and an owner with no time.

515131[/snapback]

Damn you couldn't WRITE that stuff! too funny...

[Gavin in Va Beach]

As far as the Adams stuff goes... Desperate Housewives has nothing on the soap opera unfolding at OBD. 

 

Let's see... we have an OC that no longer call plays, a 1st round RT playing LG, the best RB in the league without a long run, a QB of the future whose only playing because the journeyman of the present can't remember his own name, a QB coach who can't speak, a WR who can't shut up, a HC with no balls, a GM with no clue and an owner with no time.

515131[/snapback]

 

Jake Blues: "Hit it."

[X. Benedict]

In other events, RB Lionel (ZigZag) Gates was activated when the spot was opened by Sam Adams being deactivated. 

515123[/snapback]

Its always an improvement when you trade an overweight dude that tries to time snaps on defense for a more motivated dude named after rolling papers.

[Billsjunkie]

I cant believe no one is talking about Mularky LYING to all the Buffalo peoples faces. On the news last night he basically called Sam and his agents liars and said that it was because of injury and that he has no problems with Sam. I don't know about you guys but that pissed me off right there. I know you dont throw a player under the bus but to lie about something that you really did do is stunnign to me. I'm a guy that likes people to be straight up with. I just lost a TON of respect for Mike. He is a joke and I wish him AND Sam out the door.

[Bill from NYC]

I cant believe no one is talking about Mularky LYING to all the Buffalo peoples faces. On the news last night he basically called Sam and his agents liars and said that it was because of injury and that he has no problems with Sam. I don't know about you guys but that pissed me off right there. I know you dont throw a player under the bus but to lie about something that you really did do is stunnign to me. I'm a guy that likes people to be straight up with. I just lost a TON of respect for Mike. He is a joke and I wish him AND Sam out the door.

515222[/snapback]

 

I don't really understand this post.

Having seen others similar to it on different topics, I can never figure out how a fan feels entitled to access to the inner workings of a football team.

 

Trust me, I am not trying to sell you on MM, although I do think that he will be a good coach as he gains experience. That said, do you think that he has a responsibility to you, me, or fans in general to tell us each and every thing that happens in the locker room? He was after all hired to coach the football team, which is probably tough enough with TD pulling the strings.

 

Actually, I tend to give MM credit for not dragging Adams through the mud, which he probably deserves. Imo, it showed control and restraint.

 

If the fans or of course TD make MM the scapegoat and drive him out of town, be assured that he will land on his feet and make an impact someplace else.

It is easy to point the finger at MM, but imo the bulk of the blame for the state of this team belongs higher up the ladder than MM.

[Billsjunkie]

Then if you dont want to tell the fans the truth, he should be saying no comment or thats private business, etc. Don't lie to our faces and continue to tell us its because he was injured. Thats crap. Were not stupid like this organization tends to think we are. I mean who took his comments seriously on the news last night? Not me.

[nick in* england]

Then if you dont want to tell the fans the truth, he should be saying no comment or thats private business, etc. Don't lie to our faces and continue to tell us its because he was injured. Thats crap. Were not stupid like this organization tends to think we are. I mean who took his comments seriously on the news last night? Not me.

515262[/snapback]

Ohhh you want the truth... I'm afraid you will not get any truth out of any NFL coaches... It's all a carefully managed PR exersize. Take whatever you hear from coaches and players with a degree of caution - it's normally a version of the truth, modified for the audience.

[Spiderweb]

they benched him for a while last season.

 

i dont think he was benched this week due to an injury. i think he isnt doing what the coaches want him to do. they probubly want him to not rush the passer, and just stop the run. but thats not what he does.

 

the coaches just got fed up and benched him. i dont expect him back next season.

 

which means we will need 2 FA run stopping DTs. those will be expensive.

514198[/snapback]

 

To me, you're pretty close to the real issue. Sam likes to attack, not sit back and tie OL's up play after play. Clearly the Bills wanted him to become a two gap run stuffer, but that's not Sam's game. Sam, even with his size, can pressure a QB. His tremendous quickness, especially at his size, is amazing. He can disrupt plays before they get started, yet the Bills want to stifle this unique ability, a play makers ability, to be the run stuffing two gap DT that Sam never has been. Note, he was very sucessful with the Ravens (with Siragusa being the two gap guy), and his first two years here (with Phat Pat being the two gap guy).

 

The back drop to all this is now the board seems to think we need to make a statement with Sam?

 

To me this mostly points right back at TD and MM. It's more of the same old story of trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Use his talents, not try to make him into something he's not. Yet hey, that's what all the great coaches do, right? They have a scheme and come hell or high water, you play it. To heck with scheming to their players strengths, it's all about the scheme. Sam's not blameless in all this, but MM looks like the fool to this observer. Sam's upset about not playing, and he should be. I'd be more upset with Sam if he wasn't.

 

I wonder if the bad press from Phat Pat and what's going on now with this quality veteran player will do little more than to put hesitation in the minds of other FA's considering coming here in the foreseeable future. Money talks, but it still often comes down to intangibles in close bidding wars and that's where we'll lose.

 

No matter how you slice it, Sam Adams is our best DT and if healthy enough to go, he adds to our chances of winning, much more so than Bannan or Anderson.

[Guest BackInDaDay]

To me, you're pretty close to the real issue. Sam likes to attack, not sit back and tie OL's up play after play. Clearly the Bills wanted him to become a two gap run stuffer, but that's not Sam's game. Sam, even with his size, can pressure a QB. His tremendous quickness, especially at his size, is amazing. He can disrupt plays before they get started, yet the Bills want to stifle this unique ability, a play makers ability, to be the run stuffing two gap DT that Sam never has been. Note, he was very sucessful with the Ravens (with Siragusa being the two gap guy), and his first two years here (with Phat Pat being the two gap guy).

 

The back drop to all this is now the board seems to think we need to make a statement with Sam?

 

To me this mostly points right back at TD and MM. It's more of the same old story of trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Use his talents, not try to make him into something he's not. Yet hey, that's what all the great coaches do, right? They have a scheme and come hell or high water, you play it. To heck with scheming to their players strengths, it's all about the scheme. Sam's not blameless in all this, but MM looks like the fool to this observer. Sam's upset about not playing, and he should be. I'd be more upset with Sam if he wasn't.

 

I wonder if the bad press from Phat Pat and what's going on now with this quality veteran player will do little more than to put hesitation in the minds of other FA's considering coming here in the foreseeable future. Money talks, but it still often comes down to intangibles in close bidding wars and that's where we'll lose.

 

No matter how you slice it, Sam Adams is our best DT and if healthy enough to go, he adds to our chances of winning, much more so than Bannan or Anderson.

515368[/snapback]

 

Nice post. Putting your players in the best position to succeed is the coaching mantra. The fact that Sam isn't versatile and/or disciplined enough to play 2-gap should have been recognized prior to the start of the season. As you point out - alternative plans may have been discussed and enacted that allowed him o play ball the best way he knows how without paying outside of the scheme. The coaches job is to incorporate talent into a workable system.

 

Adams may be pulling a bit of a prima donna here, but the fact is, he isn't being used correctly. But hey - welcome to the '05 Bills team - where anything is possible. Is it time to move MW back to RT so Peters can play DT? Stay tuned!

[East Brady]

Then if you dont want to tell the fans the truth, he should be saying no comment or thats private business, etc. Don't lie to our faces and continue to tell us its because he was injured. Thats crap. Were not stupid like this organization tends to think we are. I mean who took his comments seriously on the news last night? Not me.

515262[/snapback]

Didn't see the news last night but I seem to recall Big Sammy Wammy not practicing much lately because of ankle and knee injuries??

[East Brady]

To me, you're pretty close to the real issue. Sam likes to attack, not sit back and tie OL's up play after play. Clearly the Bills wanted him to become a two gap run stuffer, but that's not Sam's game. Sam, even with his size, can pressure a QB. His tremendous quickness, especially at his size, is amazing. He can disrupt plays before they get started, yet the Bills want to stifle this unique ability, a play makers ability, to be the run stuffing two gap DT that Sam never has been. Note, he was very sucessful with the Ravens (with Siragusa being the two gap guy), and his first two years here (with Phat Pat being the two gap guy).

 

515368[/snapback]

Then I guess the coaches should just send him in on 3rd and long passing downs??

Or better yet maybe sammy wammy should become a player coach,,, then he could do whatever he wants on each and every play!!!!

[Bill from NYC]

Then I guess the coaches should just send him in on 3rd and long passing downs??

Or better yet maybe sammy wammy should become a player coach,,, then he could do whatever he wants on each and every play!!!!

515405[/snapback]

 

Very good point. It is not up to Sam Adams to dictate what his role is on this football team. He is not the coach.

[Guest BackInDaDay]

Then I guess the coaches should just send him in on 3rd and long passing downs??

Or better yet maybe sammy wammy should become a player coach,,, then he could do whatever he wants on each and every play!!!!

515405[/snapback]

 

A good 1-gap DT, playing next to a good 2-gap DT (or another 1-gap DT where a LB/SS has a defined gap responsibity which works in concert with what the DTs are doing) can penetrate into your backfield to disrupt your running game. Because the exchange between the QB and the RB are timed to coincide with the blocking scheme being executed, this style of aggressive defense can keep an O from finding their rhythm. Sam's best game is not limited to passing situations.

 

As one scholarly poster pointed out weeks ago, it ain't rocket surgey.

[Spiderweb]

Very good point. It is not up to Sam Adams to dictate what his role is on this football team. He is not the coach.

515414[/snapback]

 

That's generally agreeable, but Sam has always been an aggressive, attack type player, and when allowed to do that, he has been very successful. I don't hold Sam blameless in all this but to continually place schemes above the talents available isn't very sound thinking by the coaching staff. To this end, MM is ultimately accountable. Players are paid to play so if they run their mouths a bit, especially over playing time, etc., so what. I'd take a player who wants to play, even hurt, and wants to win yet whines a bit (ala Smith?) any day over coaches who are paid to think and can't (insert MM) any day of the week.

 

It's like taking your top IT guy and having him wash windows, when your servers and network has just crashed.

[Guest BackInDaDay]

Very good point. It is not up to Sam Adams to dictate what his role is on this football team. He is not the coach.

515414[/snapback]

 

No, it's up to the coaching staff to determine where a player of Sam Adams' caliber can best be used.

 

If the coaches approached Sam with this (possibilty of taking on PW's old 2-gap responsibilities) during the off-season and he agreed - fine - it's all on Sam.

 

I get the idea that this was thrust upon him a few weeks ago, and he subsequently failed at assuming the role. He then was benched to motivate him into performing better.

 

A hard-ass -but entirely justified - approach by the coaches can be to send him packing. He's being paid a lot of money, circumstances change, and everyone has to pick up the slack.

 

But look at it from his side.

 

He signed on as a 1-gap DT. The guy he signed on to play next to was shipped out, and the coaches miscalculated the talent level of his replacements. So as another poster pointed out - no immediate need was announced to the GM. Now, about 3-4 weeks into the season you tell him it's his job. He's not good at it. You embarrass him to motivate him. It doesn't work, it makes it worse.

 

I believe the coaching staff is working under a mandate of 'make it work'.

This would account for two things.

First - the coaches aren't stupid. They recognized the risks before the season started but had no recourse. No cry for help to the GM.

Second - Mularkey hasn't the experience to 'make it work'.

[East Brady]

A good 1-gap DT, playing next to a good 2-gap DT (or another 1-gap DT where a LB/SS has a defined gap responsibity which works in concert with what the DTs are doing) can penetrate into your backfield to disrupt your running game.  Because the exchange between the QB and the RB are timed to coincide with the blocking scheme being executed, this style of aggressive defense can keep an O from finding their rhythm.  Sam's best game is not limited to passing situations.

 

As one scholarly poster pointed out weeks ago, it ain't rocket surgey.

515431[/snapback]

Maybe sammy wammy should go all out and be the big assed 2 gap guy that we need and let somebody become the penetrater...I just think we have to many veteran coaches and they don't have to be named.....coach says play 2 gap then play allout 2 gap...many people keep giving these vets the benefit of the doubt,, they're the all knowing all seeing vets,, they know who should play when , where , and why....well then maybe they should follow mario lemeuix and buy themselves a team and they can make alll the calls......neg. all contracts and decide when and if they'll play or practice today....All these great vet. players got spanked buy a bunch of back ups last year,,IMO that says it all!!!! They have not shown up to play solid consistent winning football this season,,,that is their fault not the coaches,,,like marv used to say if you need me to motivate you at this level then you need to find another job!!!!!

[krazykat]

Sam Adams is still a decent player,  Are you guys fed up with Adams?

514181[/snapback]

Says who?

 

He's OK, but not great no matter how you slice it. He's overpaid for what he gives.

 

TD's pissed off Henry, Travis Brown, and several other players, a S if I remember correctly and one or two more. Now Moulds is pissed. So is Adams. Who knows who else is. Edwards is a free agent. Why would he want to come back.

 

Hell, why would anyone want to come here now with a team, GM, and coach that only seem to piss players off? What, because they can win the Super Bowl here? Right.

 

This team doesn't know what they're doing. If you're a top employer, like Wegmans for example, then you can afford to be picky. But when working for you is pure drudgery, then you have to make some compromises.

[krazykat]

Oh yeah, and from another thread:

 

Pat Williams was asked if he had an explanation for Buffalo's decision to allow him to hit the free-agent market after last season.

 

"They are dumb," he said. "That's all I can say. They are dumb as can be up there."

 

Stuff like this gets around the league pretty quickly. While Williams wasn't worth the money he got, his assessment is dead on.