Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/20

by MattRichWarren on Nov 20, 2009 7:44 AM EST in News Comment 12 comments

Stefanie Spielman dies at 42 | ProFootballTalk.com
Former Buffalo Bill Chris Spielman's wife has died after a very public battle with breast cancer. She beat it four times but the fifth was too much to ask after 12 years. Heartfelt condolences to the Spielman family.

The Associated Press: Bills owner tells AP big changes could be coming
"It's not about money, it's about winning," Wilson said by phone from his home in suburban Detroit. "If it was about money, we wouldn't have brought in and paid for somebody we know was a great player [Terrell Owens]. Anybody that says I'm cheap is looking down the wrong side of the street."

Scott unlikely to bump Levitre from LT – Inside The Bills
Jonathan Scott practiced at every position except center yesterday in preparation for what Chris Brown terms a "backup role". Coach Fewell did leave the door open for Scott to start at LT.

Search for a Coach
Bills' head start could force Snyder's hand | ProFootballTalk.com
Mike Florio speculates that the Bills entering the fray for Mike Shanahan could force not only the Redskins to make quick decisions but the Bears as well.

An adjustment for Fewell – Inside The Bills
Coach Fewell will have to adjust to calling his plays from the sideline this week.

Bills' job might be tough sell : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan outlines the hurdles to hiring a big name coach like the small market, lack of quarterback, and tight purse strings.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - John Clayton On Bills Coaching Search
ESPN's John Clayton was on with Schopp and the Bulldog yesterday. Here's what he said about the coaching search.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Tasker, Lodish dish
Former Bills Steve Tasker and Mike Lodish talk about Dick Jauron, GM candidates, and potential head coaches moving forward.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - OPINION: Fear of Fewell
Joe Buscaglia is afraid that if Perry Fewell puts together a 4-3 run over the next seven games that Ralph Wilson may remove his interim title.

Scott Pitoniak: Sounds like Ralph Wilson means business
Scott Pitoniak doesn't think the Bills should wait until the end of the year to get their new coach in place if he is available.

Bills-Shanahan summit savvy for both sides - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham speculates that Mike Shanahan may be using the Bills as leverage (then why didn't he do that with the Redskins?) and the Bills may be using Shanahan to placate the fan base.

POLLOCK: Way more than change of coach needed by Bills | Olean Times Herald
Chuck Pollack questions and defends the Bills over a myriad of issues related to the organization.

Memo to Shanny: Just say no to Buffalo | All Things Broncos
Jim Armstrong gives the usual "there's nothing in Buffalo" routine imploring Shanahan to stay away from Buffalo because of "snow".

Non-Coach News
More on the QB decision – Inside The Bills
Alex Van Pelt discusses benching Trent Edwards and promoting Ryan Fitzpatrick.

McGee’s knee taking longer to heal – Inside The Bills
Terrence McGee is already past the expected 14 day healing time window on his knee scope. He says there have been no setbacks but he doesn't want to push it.

Touchdown Turkeys helps Food Bank | BuffaloBills.com
The Buffalo Bills Women’s Association comprised of Bills player and staff wives, fiancées and girlfriends did some early Thanksgiving food shopping for the Food Bank of Western New York on November 12th.

Levitre set to man left tackle | BuffaloBills.com
The timing couldn’t be better for Andy Levitre as the Bills are facing the worst pass rush in football.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- Bills interim coach Perry Fewell on DT Kyle Williams participating in individual work today: "I was very encouraged. It's always good to have him on the football field. Just to have him in a limited fashion was good."
- After learning of Buffalo's offer to QB Brian Brohm, the Packers offered a deal of their own to the QB. But Brohm thought it would be better to part ways with Green Bay. "I just wanted a fresh start, a new start and I think Buffalo gives me that," he said.

Brohm signing could push Edwards out : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Allen Wilson profiles new quarterback Brian Brohn and his impact on the future of the QB position in Buffalo.

Bills notebook: Defense aims to be sharp against Jags' "ball of butcher knives' : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Maurice Jones-Drew is fourth in the league in rushing and will be trying to plow through the Bills defense this week.

Why the Bills signed Brian Brohm - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Brohm gives the Bills the longer-range prospect they were lacking and the hope they no longer see when they consider Edwards' future.

Root of Buffalo's problem easy to tackle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham traces the timeline of the left tackle position from the trade of Jason Peters to Dick Jauron's firing.

Sunday's Jaguars vs. Bills game will be blacked out | Jacksonville.com
It's the fifth regular season game and the seventh, counting the two preseason games, that has been blacked out.

Bills looking for turnaround against Jaguars - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Marcus Stroud and Perry Fewell both got their starts in the NFL in Jacksonville. They are both featured prominently in this game preview.

Bills' receivers give Fitzpatrick a thumb's up : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
His receivers seem genuinely excited about him taking over again. And Trent Edwards' chances to ever become "The Man" in Buffalo appear all but over.

This Bud Says F* You - Front Office Fans
Front Office Fans, a SBN blog, openly mocks Bud Adams' double-barreled salute as outdated.

SB Nation's Week 11 NFL Picks - SB Nation Bloggers Pick Jags
Maurice Jones-Drew will be the latest beneficiary of the Buffalo Bills' generous rush defense. Buffalo interim head coach Perry Fewell will have to wait to get his first win, according to our bloggers.

BallHype - NFL/Pro Football Blog Rankings
Every once in a while I check in at Ball Hype to see how Rumblings is doing. Buffalo Rumblings is currently ranked 13th on the internet as the most-linked to NFL weblog. Among individual team blogs, BR ranks fifth by an owe-so-slim margin.

Bills Tweets
Terrell Owens
2day ws a good day! A lil insight as 2 wht new head coach Perry Fewell's thought process is...it is 2 practice & play w/a purpose!!

Fake Perry Fewell
If I can go 4-3, I will have the 4th highest winning % in the history of Bills HC's. Sounds like $3 million/year to me. When I go 5-2, I'll be #1. Bills fans, I think you found your big-time coach. It's me!

Jodn DiTullio
I was told today my a source that Shanahan encouraged the Bills to sign Brian Brohm away from the Packers. More on this at 3:00 at WHTK.com

Aaron Maybin
Today was a good day. A great day of practice and good vibe in the locker room. Today was a good day. A great day of practice and good vibe in the locker room.

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Jodn DiTullio – I was told today my a source that Shanahan encouraged the Bills to sign Brian Brohm away from the Packers. More on this at 3:00 at WHTK.com

Well that would certainly be interesting.

by Pistol on Nov 20, 2009 8:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t listen to his show and he hasn’t written anything about it either.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell

by MattRichWarren on Nov 20, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Brohm

This signing is getting lost in all the other news, but I started googling, and I’m intrigued.

Interesting that Shanahan might have recommended him – a whole lot to unpack with that tid-bit, but Trent came highly recommended by a highly respected football mind, too…

Anyway – can you guys apply your knowledge and analytical abilities on this signing and put a little something together about Brohm? I am very interested to see where this might be going…

by oompaloompa on Nov 20, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that can’t be true that shanahan had anything to do with this

by quantumuprising on Nov 20, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RIP Stephanie.......

Stay Strong Chris!

Pass the chocolate cake!

by norcaliangelsfan on Nov 20, 2009 9:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amen

She was a fighter. I lost my wife the same way and admired Stephanie’s courage and attitude. I feel really bad for Chris and their children. They are young.
It puts this whole sports thing, with the prima donnas, etc. into perspective. These women are the real warriors.

by fansince60 on Nov 20, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry to hear about your loss.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell

by MattRichWarren on Nov 20, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Matt

by fansince60 on Nov 20, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very interesting comment on the Florio piece about Shanahan.

As stated earlier by several sweet and kind posters, the Broncos are on the hook for the difference in salary. If Shanahan takes a position that pays him less than 7 million, Bowlen coughs up the rest.

But the real story is this…. as stipulated in the original contract language with the Broncos, Shanahan must actively seek employment elsewhere to receive any compensation next year from the Broncos. He cannot just sit back and collect the 7 million. He has to look for a head coaching job, and he has to have a really good reason for not accepting a job if an offer is tendered, in order to continue to be paid by the Broncos.

This is why he is compelled to respond to the Bills’ overtures even before the 2009 season is over, even though he surely has no real intent to take a position with that franchise. If he were to rebuff the Bills overtures he could jeopardize his additional guaranteed money from Bowlen and the Broncos. Every owner knows this, and that’s why every owner with a head coach opening will most certainly get at least a cursory interview with Shanahan if they request it. His feet are being held to the fire on this. He cannot say no.

Shanahan may actually be an extremely attractive candidate, as far as compensation goes, to these other franchises as he has two more years on his Broncos contract and they will be able to sign him for less than market value initially, and he will still get his 7 million per year for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, as the Broncos must make up the difference.

Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.

by TheAfghanTwilight on Nov 20, 2009 10:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sooooo

Let me get this straight. If the Bills offer Shanny 6 M per year, the Cows must pay him 1M to equal 7 M. What if Shanny wants 8 M ? Then the Bills have to pay the whole 8 M, correct? Seems like if Shanny wants to stick it to the Cows, he could sign a bargain rate two year contract, with the “understanding” that he would get a nice extension after two years. Trouble with that is he would not have any long term security. My guess is greedy will trump revenge.

"Are the Bills better than we think, or do they just suck the life out of most teams they play and drag them down to their level? - oompaloompa

by Joe P. on Nov 20, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

PFT has been saying Pat Bowlen would throw a poop fit in the a team offered him a 4 year, 28M contract but backloaded it so he made like 2M in the first two years and a huge salary in the back just to stick it to the Broncos.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell

by MattRichWarren on Nov 20, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs