So far the search for the Bills next head coach is filled with high profile names - Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Tony Dungy and Marty Schotteneheimer.  The reason for this is these guys are currently unemployed and the Bills can talk to them now instead of waiting for a teams season to be over before they can talk to currently employed personnel. 

The problem I'm having is Buffalo is showing it's hand too soon and just throwing money at the issue - instead of seemingly building the team the right way.

Now, I don't know what the Bills plans are - not many people do i'm sure.  However, it seems like right now they are just going to throw money at a HC position.  If we could land one of the proven coaches it sure would look good on paper - but would it really work out for the Bills?

These proven coaches had front office personel help build teams for them - who's to say that they are capable by themselves of building a playoff calibre team?  Cowher had LeBeau, Shanahan had Elway and rushing, Gruden had Dungy's team, Dungy had Peyton but still seems to get it -but they all had front offices helping them.

I'm not saying that these are bad choices - but i'm not sold that, by themselves, they can do what we want them to do.

I honestly think the best way to build this team is with Brians (and others) method of getting a GM.  I think that should be priority number 1. 

GM's build you your team - they pick the coaches and players.  They have the vision.  To me - this is more important than picking a HC - if you have a GM that is good at picking good players and picking coaches you are going to win a lot of football games.

I certainly am not sold on any of the big name coaches ability to do any of these things.  I would be more sold on a personel guy that works for a successful franchise (DeCosta, Polian).  These guys would have a history of seeing the process from a GM perspective - from a successful perspective.  Having your HC/GM make all of your decisions is a very risky proposition if you ask me.  Wearing too many hats can dull down the true effects a good HC can have.

I'm nervous that we are just going to throw money at a Shanahan type of HC/GM - have him run the ship - and have that ship sink because he took on too much.  The separation of duties allows both parties to focus on their specific tasks - which allows them to focus on their tasks with greater concentration - and hopefully greater results.

Having a high profile named HC sure would sell tickets and help palacate a fanbase - but would it ultimately win games?  That's the issue i'm having - because i'm not sure.

I also think we are showing our hand too soon - everyone knows that Ralph is going to spend big money to get a HC. 

First - is that going to hinder our ability to sign FA's in the future because of money tied up by the organization?

Second - If the current high profiled coaches know that he is willing to dish out big money - who's to say that they won't wait until after the season when a bidding war can start?  This way they can get more money either from us or from another franchise.

I'm happy that they have decided to change this ship - but I don't want them to persue a high profile HC without a plan or vision in place - I think that's misguided.  I think having a GM with a vision and plan then a high profile HC to compliment that strategy is more important.  I'd even be willing to have that GM bring on an up and coming coordinator as long as the plan is in place.

There is a lot riding on these decisions - namely years worth of fans time, energy and money.  The Bills have screwed the pooch too many times in the past for me to be confident they are going to do this the right way.  The current way of thinking already has me nervous and i'm already on the fence on the high profile coaches because of what I stated above.

One way or another - I think a great GM should be our plan - then go from there.  We need a plan - we need a path - we need a vision.  What we don't need is a HC that may or may not pan out while wearing too many hats and collecting his large paychecks.