GG Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I'd say the merger. After that, the Bills couldn't feast solely on AFL patsies anymore. Pun intended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrFishfinder Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Actually, I think it started when Polian was fired. There was just a lot further to slide from at that point.... That was certainly a turning point. Whether it was the whole kaboodle or not, it was definitely the kit. Also, after Levy retired, it was a succession of failed experiments at HC. The loss of Kelly, Thomas, Reed and Bruce didn't help, either. The team never seemed to regain the same cohesiveness it had under Levy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 In quickly reviewing the drafts for the past 10 years for another thread, I would say it all went down hill with TD. Man, his drafts were horrendous. Aside from 2001, the drafts under his tenure were just plain bad. There's no way you can win consistently when you miss on so many draft picks for so many years. Sure, no one is perfect and all teams have draft busts. But, wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 ... we drafted Willis McGahee in the first round of the 2003 draft. That was a bad pick. The current malaise may have begun there. That was the point where they started treading water by dumping good personnel then using high picks to replace them. The Bills have basically spent the last 4 offseasons dumping good players, then using premium picks to replace them and it has contributed greatly to their inability to get better. Draft McGahee then feel they have to trade Henry as a result Let Pat Williams walk for no return Dump Milloy.....draft Whitner #1 and trade pick acquired for Henry to move into round 1 to draft McCargo to replace Williams Dump McGahee and let Fletcher and Clements walk for nothing....draft Lynch #1, Poz #2 then McKelvin #1 the next offseason! They did get Trent Edwards with one of the picks acquired for McGahee, but in essence that is all they have to show for losing Henry, Pat Williams, Milloy, McGahee, Flether and Clements. Not f'in good. They were mediocre when they started this cycle and they've stayed that way because they can never get ahead. The system is set up to promote parity and the Bills continue to defy it with self inflicted wounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphean Bills Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Agfree. We had residency established in Suckville by the time we draft Willis McGoofus. That said, let's maintain some perspective. As frustrating as multiple 7-9 seasons can be, we never sank to the depths of the Detroit Lions or Oakland Raiders. PTR There have been Bills teams every bit that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sen. John Blutarsky Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Actually, I think it started when Polian was fired. There was just a lot further to slide from at that point.... How about when Lou Saban quit...the first time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dog14787 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 RJ over Flutie Yup Flutie was the last best thing we ever had and we pulled him for RJ, thats when it all began... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollars 2 donuts Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 When the last of the Polian team (John Butler and AJ Smith) left town in 2000. Regardless of what some people around here say about Butler and the cap mess that we were in, we made the Playoffs 2 out of his last 3 years. Polian, Ferguson, Butler, Smith...10 trips to the playoffs in their last 13 years (88,89,90,91,92,93,95,96,98,99) Honestly...HONESTLY, do we even need to look any further? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 It started earlier than that. The start of the descent was John Butler's last draft - 2000. You know, the one with Corey Moore, etc. You can't blow a draft like that and recover quickly, especially if you follow it up with a couple more mediocre drafts. A draft with ZERO starters isn't something you can recover from quickly. 1 Erik Flowers Arizona State 2 Travares Tillman Georgia Tech 3 Corey Moore Virginia Tech 4 Avion Black Tennessee State 5 Sammy Morris Texas Tech 6 Leif Larsen Texas-El Paso 7 Drew Haddad Buffalo 7 DaShon Polk Arizona ... we drafted Willis McGahee in the first round of the 2003 draft. We were coming off an 8-8 season, we had all the tools to be a prolific offense (the 2002 version was easily the best since the Kelly/No huddle days ... and Donahoe drafts a player who wouldn't help us at all in 2003. When you're poised to take the next big step, from average team to playoff and Super Bowl contender, you don't take players who can't help you immediately. The window of opportunity in today's NFL is open far shorter than it was 10 years ago, or before free agency. If you're in the no-mans land of the NFL (7-9 through 9-7), you simply cannot be using your first-round picks on the future. We absolutely blew it with that pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeJuiceSimpson Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Erik "frigg'n" Flowers! Bulter's last draft in 2000 (and subsequent departure) was the turning point, IMO. Year-by-year W/L Record 2000 was when it all went down hill. You can't have every player in your draft be a non-factor. Drafts are what have killed us these past 9 years. People care so much because they mean so much. See Patriots, Steelers, Ravens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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