Bills fans can rest assured that, a year from now, two years from now, and three and four years from now, the team will still be in last place in the AFC East. The Jets, Patriots, and Dolphins continue to make moves to get better while the Bills just tread water. There are good people who were very interested in that job, like Dave Gettelman, Scott Studwell and Doug Whaley that never got a chance. All those guys could have helped that team. The best hope for Bills fans is that the owner decides to sell the team and then someone who cares about winning takes over and brings in qualified people.
An NFL source to Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk.
about 2 years ago
MattRichWarren
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Well in fairness, Ralph and Russ just “scanned a list” didn’t see anyone they knew, and woila…Buddy Nix is your GM.
~Michael~
right the process absolutely stunk, that seems clear at this point.
let’s hope Nix turns out to be the guy.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
My response was based on what Ralph said during the press conference
where he made it sound like people were dismissed from the list because “I didn’t know them.”
Maybe that’s not what happened, but my god, if whether Ralph knew them was really a factor in the hiring, that’s trouble.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 1, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
What's said is only the tip of the iceberg.
There’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes.
Clayton reported that the Bills approached an agent that represented potential GM hires. Interest may not have been there.
And, Wilson is about trust. Nix had Wilson’s trust. Had Nix been San Diego’s Asst. GM now, he would have been considered a great hire. With that in mind, with Nix and potentially others on Wilson’s short list, Nix makes sense.
And, Wilson is about trust.
Right. This is my point. This is his flaw. He’s more comfortable with people he knows than with finding the right person for the job. Just because that is understandable (1. human nature, 2. Tom Donahoe) doesn’t make it ok.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 1, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
He’s more comfortable with people he knows than with finding the right person for the job.
Those don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
no they dont, but I'd argue that more often than not they are.
there are a lot more good football guys out there that Ralph isn’t friends with than good football guys he is friends with.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
Right. Bill Polian was an internal promotion. :-)
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
true, but he's also not the only good hire in the history of football
and for me, a decade of futility would indicate a dearth of talent within the organization, and thus probably not the best time to hire from within.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 2, 2010 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Just when I was starting to feel better, you had to post this.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 12:10 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I hate this kind of quote because we don't know who said it
If you are going to say something like that, have the balls to stand behind it.
"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf
by Joe P. on Jan 1, 2010 12:12 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
That quote could be from the agents of one of the guys mentioned, who is upset his client didn’t get interviewed. People who ran yack like that never have the onions to show their face.
~Michael~
by Michael_Necci on Jan 1, 2010 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Rec'd
Absolutely agreed. As soon as I saw “unnamed source”, I tuned out. But hey, let’s all give Florio a break here: it’s New Year’s Day. It’s not fair of us to expect him to do any actual work on a holiday.
;-)
by brooklynbuffaloboy on Jan 1, 2010 6:14 PM EST up reply actions
I agree. That quote sounds like Sullivan from the News. He would do something like this.
by Bob on Jan 2, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
I find it humorous that if the Bills had hired Nix one year ago when he was still with San Diego that everybody would consider him to be highly qualified.
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
I read a tweet this morning from someone who echoed that same thought. Very true.
by Michael_Necci on Jan 1, 2010 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
Could that tweeter have the initials MRW? :-)
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 1, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly, but since we hired him to a scouting job (presumably to promote him to GM if this season stunk) its now a bad move. A lot of these analisys guy are full of sh!t.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jan 1, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
shocking...................
this is kinda how I felt at first too…….we’ll see.
Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. - Peter Gibbons
by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 1, 2010 12:16 PM EST reply actions
me too
I was warming to the idea, Then, besides the quote above, the fact that they “scanned” a list and didn’t see anyone they knew made my stomach flip. There’s an old adage, “familiarity breeds contempt”.
I truly hope this isn’t another bogus attempt. As you say, we’ll see.
hahahah that was...
well that was like having all my worst fears comfirmed…
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
All he messed up was the “selling” part—that’s not happening. We all know our only way out with Ralph
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 12:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
It certainly isn’t. I was saying that simply because we have no clue who it was that Florio supposedly talked to who said this, if anybody even did. I could have been you for all we know, until you ruled yourself out that is and since it wasn’t me that is two we can rule out.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
no comment.
:)
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 1, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
I trust Clayton's opinion
more than Florio’s. He said Ralph did far more than scan a list. He also had some other good things to say…
Give a listen….
http://audio.wgr550.com/m/audio/28155357/12-31-john-clayton-w-mike-schopp.htm
Not a huge Clayton fan, but
His opinion carries more weight than Florio’s due to inside knowledge. Florio seems to just generate headline stories and webpage hits than pure facts.
Let the offseason begin
Is Jerry Sullivan this “source”?
Jeez. People can be so ridiculous. Read the whole article, and that source sounds like any average fan capable of typing an email without spelling errors.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Jan 1, 2010 12:31 PM EST reply actions
I thought about Jerry, too. :-)
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 1, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
You got me… I was the “source”!
"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards
by Jason from OH-IO on Jan 1, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
Well, that eliminates me too, I CAN write emails, but don't hate the move entirely
So I’m out…
As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Ralph, get the Front Office in order, THEN worry about who your HC is....
I agree with this guy writing this. Until we get an owner that cares about winning, which Ralph obviously doesn’t, we won’t improve, because he’ll handcuff a guy like Nix from making any moves he wants, because old senile Ralph thinks he knows anything about football, which past has shown he doesn’t.
If this doesn’t work out, I would hope Ralph sells the team, even if it means we move to my home town, Toronto, because there we’ll get somebody with a ton of money with a willingness to win. You can say whatever you want about the likes of Snyder and Jerry Jones, but they spend a ton of money on their football team, because all they want to accomplish is winning; the same isn’t the case with Ralph. He’s just an old cheap-scate that loves mediocre football, and he has yet to prove that isn’t the case.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 1, 2010 12:32 PM EST reply actions
I think Ralph wants to win. He surrounds himself with incompetent yes men and if he’s lucky enough to land a good one he drives them out with his meddling. He’ll spend money on occassion but predominately in the wrong places. He has to go one way or another for the franchise to improve in a meaningful way.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 12:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
How does Ralph handcuff his GM from making moves? The Bills have spent the 12th, 16th and 4th most of any team on players in the last three years. Ralph just let Jauron and co. sign TO. In what way is Ralph Wilson a handicap other than him being a really old annoying guy to work with? Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder mandate that certain FAs must be signed and Jerry Jones actually makes draft picks for the Cowboys. If anything, working with those guys is like being handcuffed.
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 Jan 1, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 14 recs
Everybody needs to read this response and rec it. For the love of God this cheapskate stuff needs to stop.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 1, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
it's not about him being cheap.
for me at least. It’s about him not being able to run a successful football team.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 1, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s about Ralph not always spending his money in wise ways. Signing players and coaches should be like stocking up your exotic car collection. Just because you live in Buffalo and can afford a Ferrari, doesn’t mean you should own and drive one with the roads the way they are. Owens is a good example. He has all the tools, but his road was never paved in Buffalo. No QB, no line, and no clear offensive gameplan doomed his on-field performance, and the 6.5 million wasn’t repaid in production.
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"Am I a hero? I really can't say, but yes - I am."
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 1, 2010 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
"shouldn't" be like stocking up...
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
"Am I a hero? I really can't say, but yes - I am."
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 1, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a very valid criticism. He’s made lots of questionable decisions over the years and some of them were considerably worse than questionable. It’s not that I think Ralph is a good owner or anything, I just annoyed by the misconception that the Bills failures have been the result of Ralph Wilson being unwilling to spend money.
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
that we agree on.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 1, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Ralph is not cheap. He just has made poor decisions based on his comfort level. He has let the FO get the players they targeted, Dockery/Walker, Mitchell, TKO. It’s not like the team doesn’t spend money.
I just think he has let the Donahoes and current FO guys make decisions, but found out after the fact that those decisions have destroyed the team. IE. Donahoe letting P Willams and Winfield go for chump change, Current FO deciding to ship out Peters because he realized he deserved more than Dockery.
Let the offseason begin
You assume people actually read stuff.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 1, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
You’re right in the current tense which I guess is what counts— but make no mistake about it—Ralph Wilson is inherently CHEAP. Fortunately he’s figured out he won’t live forever and is spending money of late like a drunken sailor, trying to win one before he goes. Unfortunately he hasn’t had anyone around him with a football clue of where to spend it—EG—we’ve got Edwards texting Brandon to go get TO and our marketing genius does it. Bottom line, I agree money isn’t currently the issue.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 4:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
What are your facts to back up for “cheap” thoughts? Show me where he’s been cheap.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 1, 2010 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
You want me to recite 50 years of holdouts, lost free agents, draft choices going to USFL and CFL ? Let me give you a non football example that provides the best evidence of the man’s thriftiness. And if you don’t think that extends to the way he’s run the team you’re dreaming. I know for a fact that Ralph charged relatives for rooms @ Country Club of Buffalo where he stayed on game weekends. Think about a guy worth a billion dollars doing that ! He didn’t even buy a condo in Buffalo for game weekends till a few years ago. THE MAN IS CHEAP !
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 5:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
PS—and the condo has no furniture—- but a couple beds, a couch, and a TV
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 5:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Aren’t beds and couches furniture? :-)
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
We’re talking about a billionaire’s condo. I’m very serious—that’s all that was in there.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 10:06 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I guess I shouldn’t have said anything… since it really doesn’t matter to me.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed......it is Ralph's money and this is America
"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf
Yeah, cause the Bills are the only team with holdouts and lost free agents. The Pats traded Deion Branch after he held out and lost Asante Samuel a few years ago. Those cheap Krafts are ruining the Pats!
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
You’re right. Ralph’s a virtual Bob Kraft. Kraft has football people who know how the spend money and make decisions. Ralph never has.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 6:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
My complaint about the Ralph haters is simple. He spends as much money as the Krafts do. On coaching, front office people, equipment, you name it and Ralph spends. Criticize him for spending on the wrong people all you want, but the guy is not cheap and never has been.
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
In my opinion he always has been and it’s only the mortality issue and embarrasing team performance that has loosened him up of late. Let’s hope it lasts and some better decision makers surround him. Ralph disliker I am for sure.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 6:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ralph disliker I am for sure.
really? I hadn’t caught that at all.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
Didn’t like being referenced as a hater and thought I’d clarify
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 7:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
FYI Radan....
If you haven’t like the way Ralph has run the team for 50 years then maybe you should have taken over since you can obviously do a better job. With regards to charging relatives for rooms…..Were the “close” relatives or were they those types of relatives that like to decide, oh, uncle ralph has a condo, he will let us stay im sure. Although we havent sent as much as a xmas card to him for 20 years.
Ralph Wilson has made some bad decisions over the years. Everyone does. But since he has brought this team to Buffalo he has done everything in his power to keep them here. Im tired of listening to guys like you speak about him just realizing he needed to step up with money. Give me a break. By the way, dont the Bills still have the cheapest seats available in the NFL. The reason is because he doesnt want to price the fans out of coming to games. Hmmmm….Now thats a cheap owner if I ever saw one.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
I honestly think I could have done a better job as could hundreds of rumblers based on what I’ve read from them. Ralph spent the money, took the risk, and has brought a lot of enjoyment to Bills fans, no question. I’m glad you’re a fan of his. I’m not and I don’t feel at all alone.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 10:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Im going out on a limb and stating that I dont believe that anyone that is on this blog should be making any type of statements that they could have done a better job than Ralph. If that was the case you would be putting together a party of folks to purchase the Bills so you can show us your stuff. Instead you are sitting somewhere in your home, like the rest of us, pretending to think you understand how to make the “proper” business decisions. Amazingly ridiculous statement in my opinion.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
One good gm and 2 good coaches in 50 yrs. I’ll take my chances of bettering that.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 12:20 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I completely agree with you Radan, and I, too, think Ralph is a cheap-scate that is committed to being mediocre.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 6:32 AM EST up reply actions
I believe you both need lessons in business. I will leave you both with the thoughts of Ralph being cheap. Thats your opinion. BUT, when things actually turn back around I dont want either of you being the first to be on the bandwagon and saying….See, “this is how it should have been done” To call him cheap is not the answer. To say bad decisions have been made is another. Enough said.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
Things won’t turn around, until Ralph stops being a cheap-scate settling for cheap mediocre coordinators like Gregg Williams, Dick Jauron, Mike Mularkey and now perhaps Ron Rivera.
You might say: You can’t buy success.
That’s right, but money can buy you a damn good HC, which we haven’t done for years with naturally awful results.
I understand the situation with Shanahan, and I respect that we pursued him hard and he turned us down, but I just want to see Ralph being committed to bringing a winner to Buffalo, like we all thought he would this off-season after all these crappy years of cheapness.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 10:39 AM EST up reply actions
Things won’t turn around, until Ralph stops being a cheap-scate settling for cheap mediocre coordinators like Gregg Williams, Dick Jauron, Mike Mularkey and now perhaps Ron Rivera.
Jauron was a head coach before.
Coordinators like Mike Tomlin, Mike Smith, Ken Whisenhunt and Rex Ryan seem to be doing fine with their teams. Position coach Tony Sparano and special teams coach John Harbaugh are doing great, too. Why does it matter that he hires coordinators?
Who the hell do you think the Bills should hire?
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
Allow me to also add the following….Do you really believe that a Mike Shannahan would have turned this team around? If I am not mistaken he was let go. One reason if I am not mistaken is because Denver wanted to go in a new direction as it seemed a bit like time was passing Mike by. Prime example….Do you remember a coach named Joe Gibbs? One hell of a coach in his glory years. The skins gave him another shot and we all found out that the new NFL has just passed him by.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
Bill Cowher or John Fox, if he’s let go by the Panthers.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
You’re in favor of hiring Fox when he is being let go by his current team? Taking another team’s scraps? Man it sounds like you’re willing to pay for mediocrity.
I don’t really believe that about Fox and I like the idea of Cowher but not his interest in a complete rebuild. He’s about the only candidate out there that hasn’t failed yet.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
If you claim John Fox is a mediocre coach, you don’t know football imo. He’s a terrific coach, who turned an awful 1-15 Panthers team into a Super Bowl contender, and though they’ve struggled with consistency, they have been quite successful with him as HC. I don’t deny he has flaws, but so does every coach, and of the HC-candidates out there, he ranks on the top of my list (if Cowher doesn’t accept the Bills gig).
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
I said it in the post:
I don’t really believe that about Fox
I don’t understand how hiring a guy who gets fired (Fox if he’s available this year) is seen as a safer bet than a coordinator. People are blasting the Bills for all their decisions yet they want to hire another failed HC.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
You’re truly clueless, if you think Fox is a ‘failed HC’. The guy is a winner in this league and build that Panthers team. I thought I was the one being unreasonable, geez.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
if you get fired, you probably failed at some point.
Fox is a good coach, but he’s not vince lombardi, he’s had 1 winning season in the last 4. It seems his team feels he isn’t a failure, and that’s why he probably won’t get fired…
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
by JPH on Jan 2, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
PEOPLE. STOP WITH THE “TRULY CLUELESS” TYPE COMMENTS. I’M TYPING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE I’M PISSED OFF.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Jan 2, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A lot of those coaching hires can be explained by the Donahoe situation though. Tom Donahoe was given all the power and as a result, he wanted to hire guys who would coach and only coach and would clearly be below him in the power structure. So Buffalo hiring coordinators like Williams and Mularkey were Buffalo’s only option. And Buffalo was paying Donahoe huge money to run the FO during that time. Juaron was hired on the advice of Marv Levy. Before that the hires were a cheap, but very successful Levy (who wasn’t always cheap and Ralph paid the man once he started taking Buffalo to Super Bowls) and then an experienced and not particularly cheap Wade Phillips.
And over the last decade when Buffalo has hired those coordinators, how many teams actually hired experienced head coaches during that time span and how many of those hires actually worked out? It’s easy to look at all the candidates now and assume that there were always guys available, but that wasn’t the case. There were guys like Coughlin and Holmgren who were huge hires and had success, but it’s a pretty short list of experienced head coaches who have been hired during the last 10 years.
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
Amazing the thoughts of such simple minds.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
Offer up some facts oh one of complex mind.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 7:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Do you really sit down and read any of what is posted on this site? Do you understand fully the business side of things? Or do you just base your thoughts solely on the fact that we have been on a horrible losing streak and feel that is is all because of money? Heres a fact…..Ralph allows the GM’s he has to spend quite often during free agency….Example, when Marv returned the spent a boat load on the o-line…..Although it didnt work out (In my point of view thats an example of bad decision)….They forked over quite a bit for TO this year…a fact…..What you need to do is post your 50 years of what you are calling facts so everyone understands where you are coming from. In my eyes, I think you attempted to get Ralphs autograph and he turned you down so he could sign a little kids instead and you are still holding a grudge. Buck up little camper. Go Bills!!!!
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
If you read my comments I’ve NEVER said our current mess is because of money—it’s because of Ralph. If you find something in my comments that contradicts that you can have my autograph from Ralph.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 8:08 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
If you read my comments I’ve NEVER said our current mess is because of money
You want me to recite 50 years of holdouts, lost free agents, draft choices going to USFL and CFL ?
What was that supposed to imply, then? Conceivably if he spent more money we wouldn’t have had those problems with holdouts, etc. and the team would have been better for it, right?
When Tom Donahoe was hired the Bills were in the middle of a salary cap nightmare. That was because they overspent in the back end of the 90s under John Butler, someone considered an excellent football mind. Under Bill Polian and immediately after he left the Bills had one of the top three highest payrolls in the league. Ralph has proven he will pay the players. His problems have never been not paying for GMs either. So the condo thing, while a great story, has nothing to do with his willingess to spend money on the football team.
Radan – you are wrong. It’s not an opinion. You can say you would have spent more but the Bills had less than 4M against the cap this year. He can’t just circumnavigate that little rule.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 9:12 AM EST up reply actions
Given that I’ve hit a nerve on this topic, I’ll work on a list of events over the years, that were at the time,
known to everyone to be unilateral/buck stops here Ralph Wilson decisions. Most of them were single player/high profile and set the Bills back in terms of morale, competitiveness, and fan support. They were all money related. Most of these were in Ralph’s hayday vs now or the time period of some the examples you reference when I would characterize Ralph’s fiscal state of mind in lockstep with the rest of his senility—I can’t get a handle on it.
It will take a bit to do the job justice.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 9:54 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
That’s fine. Post it as a fanpost. If it’s good I’ll even bump it to the front page. We’ll have plenty of time over the offseason. :-)
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 9:57 AM EST up reply actions
Is the fan post process self explanatory—I haven’t even figured out the "blue hightlight/cut and paste process.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 10:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
It’s just like typing a word document. It’s fairly straight forward.
The highlight thing… just highlight the stuff you want in the box with your mouse and click on the little quotation symbol after the B I and S.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks much. I’ll be even more dangerous now.
by radan on Jan 2, 2010 11:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Some more facts for you about what I said in response to MRW yesterday on his call to end the cheapness comments
“You’re right in the current tense which I guess is what counts— but make no mistake about it—Ralph Wilson is inherently CHEAP. Fortunately he’s figured out he won’t live forever and is spending money of late like a drunken sailor, trying to win one before he goes. Unfortunately he hasn’t had anyone around him with a football clue of where to spend it—EG—we’ve got Edwards texting Brandon to go get TO and our marketing genius does it. Bottom line, I agree money isn’t currently the issue.”
Get you facts straight
That simply isn’t true. He’s never been afraid to spend money.
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
Why does everybody in the league then consider Ralph frugal? Every time I hear news that the Bills contacted some big name, everytime they’ve gone: “This would be rather unusual for the usually frugal Ralph Wilson”.
Until he goes out and consistently spends big money on this team, I’m not going to consider him anything but cheap.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
This year the Bills spent $ 111,956,066.
The Colts? $ 101,203,115
Vikings $ 99,806,040
Patriots $ 97,565,413
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/teamresults.aspx?team=3
Money does not equal results and the Bills (and supposedly cheap Ralph Wilson) have spent with the best of them.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Very well put MRW. I love those stats you are able to put out. I only helps back up what I am assuming you and I are on the same page with.
I would also like to know what everyone believes cheap is, if in fact we spent that much this year. It amazes me to no end that people dont also give consideration to Buffalo being a small market team as well.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
~Vince Lombardi~
Because the Bills are one of the smaller, poorer markets in the league. They consider Ralph Frugal for the same reason that people think Paul Brown and the Bengals are frugal. Ralph is constantly fighting for more revenue sharing and complaining about the state of the league and the differences between the richer and poorer markets too.
Another factor is that the Bills have completely lacked big money superstar players recently. They havn’t given out a monster contract in awhile.
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
They gave Lee Evans a pretty hefty contract.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Derek Dockery's contract was quite a monster.
The total value was the same as Steve Hutchinson’s, which was a record for guards.
by twoeightnine on Jan 2, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, but like MRW’s mention of Lee Evans, those guys aren’t considered to be that type of big money player around the league. Nobody really remebers that Buffalo gave a huge contract to an average Derrick Dockery. It’s like JPH points out down below about Buffalo’s inability to land a superstar in the draft. If this team had drafted some guys who are always in the Pro Bowl, had a decent team and gave those guys big contracts nobody would think Ralph was cheap. Basically, people think Ralph is cheap because the teams havn’t been good. I doubt there were people calling Wilson cheap in the early 90s, but a crappy superstar lacking team from a small market certainly has the appearance of a cheaply put together roster. If Buffalo spent less than they did now, but actually won, nobody would think the Bills were cheap.
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
i'd say that's more because of their inability to draft a superstar than anything else.
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
I’m pretty sure you’ve just repeated the same post 4 times in a row now without any actual evidence to back it up.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 1, 2010 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not just lately that Wilson has been spending. He started the Bills franchise and bailed out a couple of teams to make sure the AFL stayed afloat. It was Wilson who first started to sign household names away from the NFL in an attempt to prop up the AFL. He paid huge dollars to keep the Bills roster together during the Super Bowl runs and I doubt that Polian and Levy were cheap to keep around during that time too. He offered John Butler a contract that would have made him one of the top 5 highest paid GMs in football (even though he inexplicably fired Butler after he didn’t accept it) and after that he gave Tom Donahoe huge amounts of money and power to come in and run the team. He’s never been a cheap owner.
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
I’d have to research your point on outbidding the nfl—I honestly can’t remember a single example. Of course he spent money during Polian’s super bowl runs—I didn’t say he was stupid. He has flurries of spending when team performance and intense fan pressure force him too. I’ve got 50 invested in him and admittedly stubborn, but I’ll tell you I think perspective counts. Let’s agree to disagree. I had a boss who used to say “I know I’m right”. Sounds like we’re both from that school.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 7:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He can’t attract or hold on to quality football people. Brandon’s the perfect example and he’s steering our future. Its ridiculous
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 12:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Brandon is good!!!!
He has been selling ice to Eskimos for the past few years!!!!! The attendance backs that comment. Brandon is steering our marketing and parking costs. Not football decisions.
Let the offseason begin
Brandon is bad!!!!—- and you’re giving him way too much credit for a full stadium. Buffalo’s fans and the rest of the NFL owners creating an incredible product deserve the credit for that. Brandon realized there’s a city with 7mm people and hour away, found a dumb cable tv owner, and parlayed that into millions in Ralphs pocket—I’ll give him that much credit.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 3:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
when has a game in buffalo been an incredible product for fans to spend hard earned money on? I can watch it on TV!!!! Brandon has filled the seats with marketing……The team play is pathetic at home and not worth spending money to watch an “incredible product”
The only one I can think of recently is the Monday night game against Dallas 2 yrs ago.
Let the offseason begin
Marketing?
Which marketing got you into those seats? Was it the games in Toronto? The official Bills ice cream? It’s partnership with Tops Markets? The buy a jersey get two free tickets? Wait, that one might have actually gotten people into the stadium.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep on saying it. Bills fans buy tickets because of two things. Hope and results. The Bills have had a lot of one of those and none of the other for the past decade. And unless major (positive) changes happen this offseason they’re not going to have the first one anymore.
And while we’re at it, if Russ gets credit for selling the team so well then he also gets credit for the 3 or 4 blackouts in 2005 when he was essentially in charge of the same things on the business side.
Marketing has never put me in the seats
TO was a marketing move this year. Marketing has gotten more ticket buyers from the Rochester area. Wouldn’t you say fans bought tickets this year out of HOPE because TO was on our roster? The average fan sees the TO signing and says….wow…… we can be really good this year. Most of us on this blog said, without an Oline TO does nothing. Marketing targets the fair weather Kool-Aid drinking fans. Extremely level headed football fans, it takes years of discouraging results to finally cave in and give up hope. Case in point, if you went to a game this year, The number of TO jerseys that sold completely shocked me. Why would a fan by authentic jerseys($200+) of a guy who was on a 1 year deal? I have no clue other than to realize maybe alot of people drank the Kool-Aid this summer.
Personally I live near NYC, but am a season ticket holder. Why, because I do what I can to make sure the team stays in Buffalo. Besides, Tailgating is so much more fun (lately) than watching the games.
Yes give Russ credit for the Blackouts in 05’. I’m just really trying to say the Bills as an organization (Russ get alot of the public credit) have been able to sell out games with one of the worst NFL teams of the decade. Yet Jacksonville has had a playoff or near playoff teams over those 10 yrs and cant sell out. I think even the Chargers have hard times selling games out.
Let the offseason begin
Well to be fair to T.O. and Brandon the Bills were on pace to sell more season tickets than any year since the Glory Years before they signed him.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
A lot of variables involved in attendance. I personally wouldn’t rank Brandon high among them.
by radan on Jan 1, 2010 7:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Wow, a bunch of 7mm high people? Someone call the scientists! They will want to know about the Pygmy People of Ontario!
Sorry, couldn’t resist….
As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Ralph, get the Front Office in order, THEN worry about who your HC is....
Its not about money
Its about perception.
The Buffalo Bills are handcuffed by their reputation within the league as a small market, losing team with inept ownership. Even our club’s brightest highlights get overshadowed, witness: the Kelly Era/four lost superbowls, OJ Simpson/murders, Flutie lightning in a bottle/Music City Miracle, awesome fans/Zubaz pants-wearing rednecks, etc. We’re not an outright laughingstock like, ahem, Oakland, but we’re not far off. It hurts.
I’ve talked myself into the Buddy Nix hiring. It was a sensible decision. But it does nothing to change anyone’s minds about our franchise. That is huge. Anybody who looks at this decision making process without disecting the minutia like we do is going to think it was a JV move by a JV franchise. I think that Nix has the tools within himself to succeed, but he is handicapped by the fact that free agents and coaches don’t want to come here. Rookies are not as excited to be drafted by us. We have to pay players a lot more to stay here. Fans of other teams are not intrigued by us enough to care, watch on TV, go to away games, etc. Of course that doesn’t go for everyone, but it makes a difference.
There is no way of knowing whether the anonymous source that was quoted is right or wrong, but unfortunately the perception affects us.
by k8 on Jan 1, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Take back the negative comments on Zubaz pants.
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 1, 2010 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
YAAA!
I’ve been a Zubaz wearing member of that club for 10+ years now, and love them. : )
by Circling Wagons on Jan 1, 2010 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, that’s crossing the line. Make fun of Ralph Wilson, make fun of us who defend him, but leave Zubaz alone!
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
That’s a good post and a great argument. The Bills certainly do not have the best reputation and it does hurt them when trying to bring in players. But I do think it gets a little overblown. I don’t think the Bills have had problems bringing in free agents over the past decade. Guys like London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes signed here with Donahoe around. Bledsoe sure seemed happy to land here and guys like Dockery, Walker and TO have come in recently. I know it’s not the best list, but we’re not exactly the Lions either.
We’re definitely not the ideal spot for rookies to end up and that is a problem, but I don’t think Buffalo has issues retaining their draft picks and locking them up long term. Only McGahee and Peters have forced their way out the door while Buffalo has resigned Butler, Williams, Stroud, McGee, Evans and Jackson in the last year or two. It seems like the big names that have walked (Fletcher, Clements, WIlliams, Winfield) did so because Buffalo choose to let them go and not because they pulled a Drury and took a similiar deal that Buffalo offered them with a different team.
I’m not sure how much meaning there is to this, but Buffalo has had a lot of luck signing guys after the draft. Seems like they get an undrafted guy to make the team at least every other year. Ashlee Palmer was at the top of Kiper’s draft board around the 6th round this year and Buffalo nabbed him after the draft. Jason Peters was a mid or maybe even early/mid round pick who went undrafted because of character and other concerns and Peters choose to sign with Buffalo despite receiving a whole bunch of offers.
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
Absolutely right
Lets face it gentlemen, our owner is very, very old. My grandmother is 92 years old and my grandfather is 86 years old and let me tell you, I certinaly would not let them decide anything of real importance. They are beautiful people and they actually are very sharp for their age, that being said – they think like 90 year olds!! They’ve lived through recessions, depressions & several wars. Everyone they knew has died, the actors and singers they loved are now dead also.
The older you get the more you miss the good old days, its absolutely normal but at the same time it also prevents you from keeping with the times and certainly affects your perspective on things. Mr Wilson has had a great ride but unfortunately he shouldn’t be running the whole show anymore. It would have been very nice to at least see some of the up & coming candidates get interviewed at at least get considered but it might have been too much to hope for given our owner. Still, given his limitations, I think Ralph made a decent choice with Buddy, I think when they first convinced buddy to come back this was the ultimate plan all along.
Ralph Wilson has never hid his feeling about paying for a coach, so today when he gets branded as “cheap” thats where it comes from. In recent years he’s been anything but cheap when it comes to FAs but when it comes to hiring GMs and head coaches he still has something to prove before I am willing to remove the “cheap” tag. When he fired Jauron and publicly said that he’s willing to pay whatever it takes I was happy and I am willing to believe until proven otherwise.
Nothing left to say...
One could say you think like a young person and list a bunch of stereotypes about young people. Ralph owns the team. He was smart enough to buy it so he gets to make the decisions. Plus you do not really know who he talked to. I absolutely respect keeping the search process private.
Hey BF, those were not stereotypes – they are exactly what happened to my grand parents, my other grandmother who passed away 2 years ago at 89 and my great aunt who is still alive at 97. I have quite a few living examples of persons reaching that age group and I would not let any one of them run a company. They all become nostalgic of the good old days and specifically in the case of the Buddy Nix hiring, hiring someone he knew was probably quite important to him, like the hiring of Marv a few prior. Again, I am not complaining about the Nix hiring, i’m just saying that it was normal and to be expected. I think that he can do a good job, i’m willing to give him a chance before passing judgment.
Nothing left to say...
Here's the thing . . .
I don’t mind the Nix hiring. At least I don’t know enough about the guy to really say anything good or bad. He seems like an experienced football guy. It may work out.
But I don’t disagree with the premise that a year, two years, three or four years from now we are still going to be in last place in our division.
People keep saying we’re rebuilding. But here’s the point: New England, New York, and Miami are all in the middle of rebuilding plans too. Brady and Belichick aren’t going anywhere. NE has been stockpiling draft picks and even snagged Oakland’s #1 for 2011. New York has what looks to be their quarterback of the future with a year under his belt now and a solid young offensive line. Miami lucked out with Henne and were in the middle of Parcell’s rebuilding plan, and he knows how to build a team.
We don’t have a QB or a coach yet. Not to mention talent deficits across most of the board.
So . . . what exactly is the plan that is going to make us competitive in this division?
Oh yeah, according to Nix (and most others) we’re going to “build through the draft.”
Good idea that. We better keep it a secret so the other teams don’t find out, just in case they decide they might want to build through the draft too.
Or I guess we’ll just draft way better than NE, NY and Miami. We’ll hit home runs with all our draft picks and they’re going to keep picking Vernon Gholston clones.
Yeah, that’s a plan for winning.
Yes, the draft is important. But it’s also a crapshoot. And everybody drafts! So how does that get us ahead of them?
We need to bring in some talent. Trades or free agents or whatever. Otherwise, this anonymous voice is right. We are going to be last in this division for a while.
we get ahead by drafting better than them!!!!! And drafting what makes our team better. Keeping and developing guys we draft.
Let the offseason begin
Uh-huh
I was afraid that was the . . . um. . . “plan.”
we have no choice but
to wait and see if he makes any changes within the front office between Modrak or Guy.
Let the offseason begin
Except, there's one question?
In which ways did New England and Miami rebuild their teams? Both teams purged players and then began rebuilding through the draft, with key free agent signings.
We get better then same way Miami got better: get a good coaching staff and draft players that fit your team’s culture and system. They built a culture of tough, smashmouth football and got the players that fit the system. They also found a QB that can play. That made them competitive and gave them a chance in games. Now Miami is in the mix for division titles.
Nothing is guarenteed, but that’s the only way to win.
Key signings were indeed the key
The other teams in our division have made very key free agent signings that have made big impacts. They didn’t just rebuild through the draft. New England didn’t draft Moss or Welker or Thomas. New York didn’t draft Scott or Jenkins or Edwards (yeah, I do think Edwards was a good pick-up for them). Miami didn’t draft Porter. Etc. I agree there has to be a mix. I just scratch my head at the comment that we’re going to build a competitive team through the draft, especially given the fact that the other teams in our division are all better than us and ahead of us in the rebuilding stage. I love the idea of getting better through good drafting. I don’t want to trade draft picks. But we have to be thinking beyond the draft, unless we’re just hoping to get crazy lucky, if we want to own this division. If I was Wilson the first thing I’d ask my new GM is “What is your plan for beating the Patriots?” And if he told me “We’re going to build through the draft” I’d be going, “Uh-huhhhhhhh.”
You're reading way too much into the comment.
Nix is saying that the team isn’t going to act like the Redskins, for example.
And New England added Welker and Moss well after the team was competitive. The initial moves that Belichick made were through the draft and minor UFA signings (Mike Vrabel is a great example of what Nix is talking about. A guy Pittsburgh drafted and released and NE saw that he fit a need).
Miami made a few more moves in UFA than NE did initially, but the bulk of the Parcells changes have been through the draft: Henne, Ginn, Long, their DE’s and CB’s. They made a few smaller trades (Fasano and Adoleye) and signings (Ferguson, Wake, Pennington). Porter wasn’t even that big of a move, as he was wasn’t wanted back in Pittsburgh.
Again, I think you’re reading way too much into this.
Porter was a big move, but he was a leftover from the previous coaches and FO. He wasn’t a Parcells acquisition.
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
And with the emergeance of Cameron Wake, Porter will most likely be released this off season.
by CanadianBillsFan on Jan 2, 2010 1:18 AM EST up reply actions
Got to stick up for your CFL boy, huh? :-)
"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 2, 2010 9:18 AM EST up reply actions
Why wouldn’t I? He’s single handedly pushing Porter off the Dolphin’s roster by playing better then him. :-)
by CanadianBillsFan on Jan 2, 2010 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
Is he playing better?
Take away his 2.5 sacks against the Bills and he has just 3 others on the season.
Porter has 8 sacks on the season.
How is Wake playing better? He hasn’t unseated him in the starting lineup, either.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
I kind of agree, but not totally
it’s not going to be impossible, but a strong PLAN needs to be in place. There was no plan with Levy, at least no apparent plan. Instead of stockpiling picks, they were trading them for the likes of McCargo, Poz, Stroud, etc. Nix needs to do the opposite…..
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
I mostly agree. I think the couple things to understand are that every team says they are going to build through the draft. Nobody is out there talking about how the best way to build a team is by handing out big contracts to 28 year old players. So you have to take a comment like that with a grain of salt because Belichick and the Pats and Parcells and the Dolphins all talk about building the team through the draft too.
When Nix was in San Diego they brought Marcellus Wiley with them from Buffalo, gave an almost historic contract to David Boston and even after that failed, they still went out a year or two later and gave Donnie Edwards a huge deal. And I’d bet that John Butler and AJ Smith spent a lot of time talking to the press about how important it is to build through the draft though.
And the thing that all Bills fans need to realize is that this has to be a long, slow process. And it’s because of the reasons you mention, namely that we don’t have a QB. Without a quarterback, I don’t see a point in spending much money on free agents. I think the best way to build a team is to find some guys to build around through the draft and make those guys the pillars of your scheme. You surround them with solid vets and hardworking late round picks. And obviously you need to develop a quarterback. Once you’ve got that QB and those pillars, that’s when you go out and add a name FA. I think you build around draft picks and finish the team with FAs.
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
let those with eyes see
’m convinced that if we don’t and we don’t succeed that it’s not Mr. Wilson’s fault," said Nix. It’ll be our fault. But I think we can bring one in— this is what Cousin Buddy wrote in talking about bringing in a new Head Coash. He said it will be a EGO thing rebuilding a team he means. All these things tell us besides being to old for the job He will not try to spend any money. Be accepting in that it is all going to be THE SAME OLE THING. Maybe worse because now Brandon knows that he is untouchable in Uncle Ralph’s play ground
I will listen and learn
my new years wish
I wish that I can live long enough to see the Bills become a winning team. It took a severe him with the promotion of Nix as Brandon’s scape goat. Next worse thing will be Buddys ?? pick for coach. Then to make matters worse we will lose Ferells as DC and that is the only part of this team to grow. Where as Mad Al is crazy Uncle Ralph is slimy. Brandon has conquered a empire and his position is impregnable
I will listen and learn
This is in the category of reality bites… Happy freakin’ new year!
"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards
by Jason from OH-IO on Jan 1, 2010 1:55 PM EST reply actions
I'm gonna puke
when Nix names Charlie Weiss to be the Bills next HC. I hope I’m wrong, but it just fits with this program. Depression is quickly setting in.
most of my posts get deleted :(
There may be a plan?
Buddy Nix, is a football man and talent evaluator. At his age it would be wise to bring a young football big name in to replace Modrak or Guy to acclimate himself in role to replace Nix through the transition to work work with him to rebuild.
Agreed
I was just thinking that. Are there some young “up and comers” that an Asst. GM position would be a promotion they would be seeking?
by BillieverSince89 on Jan 1, 2010 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
Assistant G.M.
See above for a few and there plenty others out there from winning organizations.
We don’t bring people in… We only promote internally (see all decisions made by Ralph Wilson).
"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards
by Jason from OH-IO on Jan 1, 2010 9:27 PM EST up reply actions
F--- Mike Florio, and your callous source
That’s really quite a statement. How dare you say something like that at a time like this. Buddy Nix isn’t some kind of subhuman bottom feeder. Unless someone knows the future, Nix is just as capable of running an organization as anybody listed in that comment. Wow.
Mmmph rrgh prrmf! - someone with his mouth gagged
Yeah mister “unnamed source” is pretty bold with his criticism when his name isn’t made public.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
Normally I'd agree 100%
But there are situations where going on the record is impossible. I’ve known a few cases, professionally. So I don’t know if whoever it was was being cowardly.
That said, a comment like this from an anonymous source really isn’t worth anything. It’s just background buzz.
Unnamed source
In Claytons interview on WGR550, he stated that all the “potential” exec’s were represented by only a couple of agents. Basically, one agent had more than a few of these guys as clients. Sounds like the “agent” could be the unnamed source.
Let the offseason begin
Sounds about right.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 1, 2010 7:15 PM EST up reply actions
This source could be anybody! It could very well be a Patriots official saying something like this to scare away potential free agents or even big name coaches from coming to Buffalo. Terrible job by Florio for putting this to print.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
This just in.....
Unnamed source says Mike Florio is a JACK A$$, this has been confirmed by many other unnamed sources.
Why do today, when it can wait til tomorrow; the games on!
by UtahBillsFan on Jan 1, 2010 8:11 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
Anyone think about contacting the Chargers blog to get there opinion on Nix?
Let the offseason begin
Good Idea
Why don’t you do it Brian?
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 Jan 1, 2010 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Brian already does plenty
if your curious just go over there and put up a fanpost then report back to us with a link to it. I put up a fanpost on the Texans blog to ask their thoughts on Charlie Casserly and I got better info than any major sports publication. No one knows their team like the fans.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
I had thought about.
But with the five questions from other blogs, I figured he knows the guys who run it, and they know the people who post there, so the would be able to find out from the ones who run the Chargers blog who the more qualified posters are.
Yes, I definately thought about doing what you said, the reasons listed above is why I didn’t, will do so now.
Thanks Poz.
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 Jan 1, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
nice!
I’ll definitely check that out and keep tabs on what Charger fans are saying. You probably wont get as much info as asking about a former GM but they should know quiet a bit if he was the number 2 guy there for a while. Good stuff BK.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
At least, he’s not our GM. That’s got to count for something, eh?
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Jan 2, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
sure does my European friend
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
by poz on Jan 3, 2010 2:12 AM EST up reply actions
Bet you change your mind!
You are going to be taking that quote back when he hires a big name coach!!
Go Bills!!!
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