Steelers Win - Bills need to fire Modrak

by BuffaloWhiner on Jan 13, 2009 4:25 PM EST Comment 17 comments

Steelers are proof that if you have a good front office, like the Bills once did when Bill Polian and A.J. Smith were household names, and know how to draft good players then small market teams can win.

A look at their current starters shows that most of them were drafted as Steelers. The real shocker is that Defensive MVP, James Harrison, was signed as an undrafted free agent from Kent State. Noticeable number one picks are Big Ben, Heath Miller, Santonio Holmes, Casey Hampton, and Troy Polamalu.

A real steal was Lamarr Woodley in the 2nd round, and why teams passed on him coming out of Michigan because of his size,(including the Bills), is beyond me. He makes plays all over the field. The only two starters on their team were free agents, James Farrior and Justin Hartwig. Another undrafted signee was Willie Parker out of North Carolina. They also drafted Pro Bowler Larry Foote in the 4th round and Aaron Smith in later rounds.

Bills need desperately to get rid of Modrak and get a whole new scouting department. 9 years without making the playoffs, the longest of any team in the NFL means that we need changes in front office more than any other need!!!!

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You do realize that Modrak was once in Pittsburgh, right? He ran their scouting department under Tom Donahoe. So not sure where you’re going with this…

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by Brian Galliford on Jan 13, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yeah

no kidding. Plus they have Dick Lebeau who is pretty damn good at what he does as we saw here in Buffalo in 2003. Not to mention Bruce Arians, a great ownership group and a great tradition.

Modrak is a good talent evaluator and no one can convince me otherwise. He is a sharp guy, with a great background and is highly thought of in league circles. The problem is his voice isn’t the only one in Buffalo, and Ralph continues to horde the team rather than open it up to fresh voices. I’m convinced Ralph’s inability to to trust anyone after Polian, AJ Smith, Levy left and Donahoe screwed him is why the Bills continue to flounder. I just hope DJ and Modrak can make good decisions in an environment that is not conducive to winning. Its asking a little much, but I guess we can all hope

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Jan 13, 2009 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Modrak then went to Philly and drafted McNabb, not too shabby!! I agree, this guy is good but the fact that DJ has always had last call during the draft is where the problem lies. Hopefully, Modrak will have final say this year. Brian, do you get any confirmation?

The problem is not Modrak, the problem is that Modrak is not officially driving the bus!

BEAST MODE, During the week plan on it & on game day thrive on it!
GO BILLS!
Section 336 Row 13

by keysh67 on Jan 13, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The last 3 drafts were pretty good if you ask me. I know that people have issuses with the last draft, but as we all know you need at least 3 years before you can properly grade any draft.

To blame Modrak because the Bills didn’t sign an undrafted free agent like Harrison, a guy who would be out of position on the Bills because they don’t play a 3-4 , is just silly to me. 30 teams besides the Bills passed on Harrison also, he would have fit better on some of them then he would have on the Bills. I don’t see the Jets firing their GM because he didn’t sign Harrison.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jan 13, 2009 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

and I still will not agree that DJ has this final say on all the past 3 drafts. Marv was there for the first 2 remember and I also believe Ralph has a hell of a lot more say than people think…..which is why DJ was brought back despite many in the FO in an uproar after that play call in the Jets game. remember the front office was “split.” That said if Modrak is given more say, especially with respect to the philosophy of building a team, aka a GM we would be so much better off

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Jan 13, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And on Woodley

The Bills took Poz that year. Not many people had Poz ranked lower then Woodley, if any. I will never kill Modrak for taking Poz over Woodley.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jan 13, 2009 6:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Had he taken Woodley over Poz, I think I would have exploded on draft day. Like, left a crater and everything.

I really don’t think Modrak’s the problem. I don’t think he’s even close. There are so many bigger fish to fry.

John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jan 13, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Modrak is really the only player personnel guy in the inner circle.............

and you wanna get rid of him?

Hmmm…….no thanks

12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 13, 2009 8:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I like Modrak and what he brings to the organization....

I personally think Modrak should hold the title of GM.

Playing Devil's Advocate at Buffalo Rumblings since 2007.
Eternal optimist.

by MattRichWarren on Jan 13, 2009 8:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

same here......................

12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 13, 2009 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Draft do not compare to Polian's

My point is that Polian, as evidence by Colts success as well as A.J. Smith with Chargers, shows that Modrak does not match up against there drafts and the way they build an organization. Bills have neglected to draft offensive linemen except Mike Williams, when they should have taken McKinnie. Polian drafted Jim Ritcher and Will Wohlford and Howard Ballard, two of which became Pro Bowlers. Polian traded for Cornelius Bennett, he also went out and got Lofton, Kenneth Davis, etc.

It’s been 9 years since we made the playoffs, the longest of any team in the NFL. And I don’t see that changing next year. The Bills really do not have that much talent, plain and simple. 24 sacks all season!!!!!!! Bruce Smith could get that by himself.

When we make the playoffs or start blowing teams out, instead of winning by narrow margins with help from special teams scores, then I will become a believer in Modrak. He came with Donahoe, that should say enough right there.

by BuffaloWhiner on Jan 14, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You’re making different arguments trying to prove the same point (Tom Modrak sucks), and it’s not working.

- First you claimed that a good front office can make a small-market team win, referencing the Steelers as an example. Tom Modrak was part of a Steelers front office that made a Super Bowl appearance and won several division championships and playoff games with Tom Donahoe steering the ship.

- You’re working under the assumption that Modrak is making final decisions, and that’s not the case. Modrak runs the scouting department, and he makes suggestions based on his department’s work. But in terms of guys doing the actual drafting, point your fingers at the likes of Levy and Jauron. Modrak, up until recently – and that’s only speculation – had NO final say in who the Bills drafted.

- Then you referenced Polian’s Colts and Smith’s Chargers and compared them to Modrak… which doesn’t work on two fronts. One – if you’re talking about Modrak with the Bills, he has no decision-making power. Two – if you’re talking about Modrak with the Steelers or Eagles, well, they did pretty well for themselves when Modrak was a part of those organizations, so you’re really comparing apples to apples there.

- Then you say this:

He came with Donahoe, that should say enough right there.

By that same logic, Bill Polian is an idiot because he came with Terry Bledsoe. That logic just doesn’t fly.

In short, you’re right in the sense that Buffalo’s front office is a mess. But saying “Bills need to fire Modrak” is the LAST thing that’s going to fix the issue, because Modrak is the BEST guy we have in the front office. He’s proven that he can find good talent, and he’s been a part of winning organizations. If anything, he should have MORE power. It’s either give him more say or clean out the entire front office, but if you’re trying to prove that Modrak should be fired, you’re not doing it well.

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by Brian Galliford on Jan 14, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well said Brian!

BEAST MODE, During the week plan on it & on game day thrive on it!
GO BILLS!
Section 336 Row 13

by keysh67 on Jan 14, 2009 9:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t beleive that nobody has mentioned pro personel director John Guy. If anybody has a track record of failure, it’s him and not Modrak. Guy was Marv’s FO #2 when we had the terrible FA offseason of 06 (Fowler, Royal, the contract extensions). He seriously overpaid for Dockery, and that isn’t a hindsight thing, EVERYBODY said that no other team in the league was going to even approach 7 mil a year for him. Sure the drafts have had some early round misses, but they have also had some late round finds, which shows me that the guy putting the lists together for Marv and DJ is doing a good job. FA has been littered with misses and overpays with only a few good choices.

by kaisertown on Jan 14, 2009 10:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, precisely. In fact, expanding beyond guy, [insert name here] is infinitely worse than Modrak. I have no idea why Modrak is getting the blame from anyone.

To me, the epitome of what Modrak does is a guy like Reggie Corner. Dude didn’t even go to the Combine, but the Bills snag him in the fourth round, we’re all ticked off, and he makes some big plays at the end of his rookie season. Argue about the position he plays all you want and where and when he was drafted, but Corner’s a good football player.

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by Brian Galliford on Jan 14, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs