Do we need to go back to the Polian or AJ Smith trees for a GM?

by Rome Billiever on Dec 15, 2009 11:58 PM EST

Going through each teams' front office page (the ones that display backgrounds, at least!), I've noticed there are a few directors of player personnel and pro/college scouting left in the league who have ties to Bill Polian or AJ Smith and Buffalo (either the city or the team itself).

Tom Telesco, director of player personnel (4th year) , Indianapolis Colts -

He's worked under Polian going back to 1995 with the Carolina Panthers starting as a scouting assistant. He was born and raised in Buffalo and summer interned for the Bills from 1991-94 while in college. Graduated from John Carroll University in 1995, which is also the alma mater of Colts VP of football ops/GM Chris Polian and Broncos coach Josh McDaniels.

Bob Ferguson, special assistant to the director of player personnel (4th year), Indianapolis Colts -

34 years of NFL personnel experience. Ferguson worked in Buffalo from 1985-93 (basically the exact same time when Bill Polian was GM of the Bills), including 1989-93 as assistant GM/director of pro personnel. He was director of player personnel for the Broncos from 93-95 and GM for Arizona from 1997-2003. His greatest success on his own came when he was GM of Seattle from 2003-05.

http://www.colts.com/images/news_photos/communitydynamic/2009_mediaguide_sec1.pdf

David Caldwell, director of college scouting (2nd year), Atlanta Falcons -

Very similar career path and background as Telesco's. Began as a scouting assistant working for Bill Polian in 1996 while with the Panthers. Moved onto the Colts in 1998. Born in Buffalo and graduated from John Carroll Univ. in 1997.

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Staff/Scouting/David_Caldwell.aspx

Dennis Abraham, director of pro scouting, San Diego Chargers -

Followed John Butler and AJ Smith to SD after the 2000 season. Born in Buffalo, worked in the Blls personnel department from 1996-2000.

http://www.chargers.com/team/staff/dennis-abraham/7d75c594-ec56-4475-9c71-5ea773eea0b3

Mike Biehl, assistant director of college scouting (2nd year), SD Chargers -

Also followed Butler & Smith west after 2000. Worked in the Bills personnel department from 1998-2000.

http://www.chargers.com/team/staff/mike-biehl/d610304c-fd7d-44f3-8d3d-ee45b804ac79

We also brought in Buddy Nix last year from the Chargers as National Scout, hard to tell if there is more to the story there. He followed Butler and Smith to SD from B'lo and served as assistant GM under AJ until 2007.

Good organization and good coaching are so important to success in the NFL and always will be. Indy and SD's rosters are also known for being primarily made of purely drafted talent instead of other team's free agents. Are we better off going with one of these guys rather than a high priced big named coach/GM? If there is anyone with any "insider info", would we even have a shot of bringing these guys back after Polian and Smith left the team rather unceremoniously?

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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I’d say we definitely do not need to go back to a protege of a former Bills GM, but these are some very interesting names.

It would be awesome if Buffalo could hire a big time GM prospect and then have that guy pull one of these names back to Buffalo to be his number two. A Buffalo guy back in the FO, in any capacity, would be awesome.

I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute

by kaisertown on Dec 16, 2009 12:17 AM EST reply actions

What Big Time GM Prospects are there now?

Everyone I thought was big time got hired the last two years.

Bob Ferguson would be interesting though since Chris Polian seems to be the one to take over in Indy, when Bill calls it quits.

The question is would he come here?

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 16, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions

My avatar.

Bill Polian and AJ Smith are gone, so there's not the usual balance between "sane" and "others." Ralph has mentally checked out since 1994. It's a very dangerous time. The coalition for reason is extremely weak.

by thatguy34 on Dec 16, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

The problem I have with Decosta.

Is both of Ozzie’s last right hand men have failed big.

I don’t consider him big time, he might be, he might not.

Look at some of Ferguson’s drafts in his last 2 shots at GM.

1997

Jake Plummer (10 years)
Chris Dishman (8 yrs)

1998

Michael Pittman (10 years)

1999

L.J. Shelton (10 years)

2000

Thomas Jones (STILL PLAYING)
Darwin Walker (9 Years)

2001

Leonard Davis (STILL PLAYING)
Kyle Vanden Bosch (STILL PLAYING)
Adrian WIlson (STILL PLAYING) WOW AAA++++ PICK

2002
WHIFF

2003

Calvin Pace
Anquan Boldin (STILL PLAYING) AAA++++ PICK

Those are some pretty good picks for the first go round as GM.

There are more he drafted at AZ, that are still playing or had good years, as well as ones who contributed to last year’s sb run.

Ferguson is much less a risk than Decosta I think especially considering how Savage and Kokinis worked out.

Ferguson seems to me more of a Butler type.

But look who Butler drafted when he left us at SD.

This is why Ferguson intrigues me.

My main question is after what happened to Polian here, and his apparent loyalty to Polian, could we convice him to come here, If we could, I would be for it.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 19, 2009 10:32 PM EST up reply actions

I know.

I’ll do the seattle picks later if anyone cares.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 19, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions

My bad

2003 was not Ferguson, for the cards with Calvin Pace and Anquan.

It was the Seahawks w/ Marcus Trufant (Great pick)

Also drafted Grant Wistrom/

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 20, 2009 12:20 AM EST up reply actions

Boulware

Don’t forget him,

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 20, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions

I’d rather the Bills be a place where names are made, instead of already made names coming in to fix things… and that goes for GM and coach…

these names are interesting and I am not against it… so lets see what happens.

It's not all that bad.... Go Bills 2010 !!!!

by killascript on Dec 16, 2009 10:04 AM EST reply actions

I don't know.

Eric Decosta is high risk, high reward like Savage and Kokinis, Could be the next Polian, could be the next Savage/Kokinis……

I need more sell to convince me he is a good choice.

I’d go Ferguson if we could get him here

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 20, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions

New GM

In a search for a new GM. Can we offer the job to someone who is currently employed at a lower position, like Assistant, or do we have to wait until the season ends.

by Bob on Dec 16, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions

I’ve asked this question about 14 times now, without a response, so I decided to man up and research it myself. Here is the NFL anti-tampering policy. And my understanding of the ruling in cliff note version is:

A team employee (non-player, non-coach) that does not currently hold the title of President, General Manager, or a position with similar responsibilities, CANNOT be contacted by another team for a vacant position until after that employee’s current team’s season is over. Definitively, 12:01 A.M. on the second Tuesday following that team’s final game.

However, if that employee’s current team is participating in the playoffs, an inquiring team can request permission to speak to that employee if they will be interviewing for President, GM, or similar. The employee’s current team can, of course, deny the request.

So, to answer your question, we have to wait until the end of the season…or wait until the playoffs, and request permission from the team the “Assistant” works for.

For example, if the Bills wanted to offer the General Manager position to Eric DeCosta (the Director of Player Personnel for the Ravens) the Bills would either have to wait until the Ravens season was over OR if the Ravens make the playoffs, the Bills could ask the Ravens for permission to interview DeCosta. The Ravens could allow the Bills to talk to DeCosta while the Ravens were in the playoffs or force the Bills to wait until the Ravens season was over.

by thatguy34 on Dec 16, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Thanks for looking that up. I’ve been very curious about it as well.

by kaisertown on Dec 16, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for the link. One interesting point – you can trade draft picks and/or cash for the GM/President position as well as head coaches.

by Krenn on Dec 16, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

GM

Thanks Have been wondering about that for some time

by Bob on Dec 16, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

GM = Gettleman

Get this dude. I’m telling you. He will gladly leave the Giants to be Grand-puh-bah.

If not him: Bob Ferguson, special assistant to the director of player personnel (4th year), Indianapolis Colts -

Who could ask for anyone more qualified????

"A failure becomes just one time at bat if you refuse to let it defeat you." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Dec 16, 2009 10:18 PM EST reply actions

That's why I kinda like Ferguson.

Looking through his drafts, at Arizona and Seattle, he picked a bunch of players that had long careers for the NFL and a bunch still playing in the NFL, third time could be the charm.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 16, 2009 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

who exactly is Gettleman? and what position does he hold with the Giants?
I know one thing though, Reese with the Giants has been hitting absolute monster home runs in the past few drafts. That guy is fantastic.

by BillsfanDan on Dec 20, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions