Marketing Department SNAFU
by Ron From NM on Mar 21, 2010 4:57 PM EDT
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PrintPFT has linked to a deadspin story about Buffalo's latest attempt to entice season ticket holders to renew for the 2010 season. The photo on the letter features Brian Moorman punting out of Buffalo's end zone in the Cleveland game. (I believe it was a 6-3 loss snoozefest if I remember correctly.) OBD has tried to defend the flyer by saying that it was one of the only pictures that featured the scoreboard--on which their photoshopping skills were used for something other than a Trotskyesque treatment of fired staff members. OBD really wanted the scoreboard in order to put the ticket holder's name and a cheesy line about returning the punt/plea. In reality, the team simultaneously highlighted the futility of the 2009 campaign and acknowledged the painful truth--the punter is the best player on the team.
At some point could this sort of stupidity get Russ Brandon canned?
Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.
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Theres not really any way to polish this turd...........
The only cure for a bad today is tomorrow.
by norcaliangelsfan on Mar 21, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions
that's no way
to talk about Russ :-)
"huge, big, fast, nasty...all those terms"
Amazing
But should we really be surprised? I am still truly amazed about how many “rumblers” have had the proverbial wool pulled over thier respective eyes. Stop calling OBD a complete overhaul, because it is not, this off-season was a reshuffling of pars… Brandon hangs around (and more amazingly) gets promoted… We internally hire Nix as our GM, Modrak retains his job… and most importantly Wilson still maintains (at least in some form) his mysterious “circle of trust”…
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 21, 2010 5:29 PM EDT reply actions
your spinning the tale
to make it sound like you want it to.
Buddy Nix only spent one season in Buffalo before we “internally” hired him and hes 70 years old. Its not like the man is a Ralph cronie who has proven his loyalty through years of service to Ralph. He’s an accomplished outsider from a winning organization who is respected around the league. It is most certainly more of an outsider hire than an insider one.
So now Wilson isn’t allowed to have close people that he trusts? I’m pretty sure you have a “circle of trust” too. Whats important is that the “inner circle” has been discarded and a General Manager has been put in place who is a football guy. One man is making the calls now. I dont care if Wilson has people he confides in so long as the “inner circle” has been destroyed as a part of the team’s infrastructure – which it has.
You make it seem like Brandon hangs around for no reason, you bash his marketing skills and ridicule his decisions and yet he still gets you to watch every game on Sunday. The Bills have been terrible for ten years and Brandon has done his job beyond what should be expected – games sell out, jerseys get sold, people tune in to watch.
John Guy was fired, we let go our head coach, all three major coordinators (special teams, offense, defense) and brought in an outsider in Chan Gailey as opposed to hiring internally with Perry Fewell. He in turn hired a defensive coordinator with the clear intent to drastically change the defensive scheme to the point that players on the roster wouldn’t be able to fit in anymore and would have to be replaced.
Please be more specific as to how this is all just a reshuffling?
"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
Russ Brandon has had no effect on why I watch the Bills
you bash his marketing skills and ridicule his decisions and yet he still gets you to watch every game on Sunday.
I am not saying Brandon isn’t good at marketing in most cases, but you don’t have to convince me to watch the Bills. What I have stopped doing is going to Bills games (easier now that I live out of town, but I do visit family) and buying Bills stuff. I demand a better product before I start spending my money on this team again. In my case, Brandon has failed miserably.
I voted the more pathetic option. With CHIX on board, Russ should be able to focus his energy on what he is supposed to be good at. Unfortunately, his grasp of football (or lack there of) has come back to bite him in the a$$ again. The scoreboard angle was more important to him than the emotions that the pic would bring back for fans.
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
Sure, I’m not defending this clearly botched move and the Bills do dumb things from time to time – well, a lot of the time. But I really think the front office structure has changed more than just a reshuffling.
When was the last time you went to a game Joe? Whether I’m in DC or NYC next year depending on work, I always make the trip for one game in Buffalo, Bills at Pats in Boston and then Bills at Jets in NJ. I gotta tell you, the ticket prices are brutal in the Meadowlands.
"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
Whats important is that the "inner circle" has been discarded
No, it hasn’t Who has been discarded? Russ is still around…
he still gets you to watch every game on Sunday
Let me tell you Russ Brandon has NOTHING to do with why I watch the Bills… I am a fanatic… That is why I watch the Bills… The reason games sell out, merchandise is purchased, etc. is simply due to the fan base… I think it speaks volumes to how loyal the fans are in western NY that they will still follow a team that has been, let’s call it like it is, pathetic for over 10 years.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 21, 2010 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont get it?
I genuinely asked you to be more specific as to why you think it was a reshuffling and you focused on Russ and whether he gets you to watch games? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and in terms of marketing the Russ hasn’t hurt the Bills at all and they’ve maintained a good level income and attraction to the fans despite ten years of being pathetic. We are the best fan base but that doesn’t change the fact that Russ has done his job over ten years of trying to sell a turd product.
If I’m not mistaken, the inner circle was Dick Jauron, John Guy, Modrak and Russ right? These four were in charge of football decisions collectively. Dick was canned, Guy was fired, Modrak has his duties reduced by Nix’s presence, and Russ has no say on football matters anymore outside of the business side of things.
I still don’t get why you dont think things have significantly changed in the front office?
"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
Agreed....if nothing else, we have a GM again....that is change from the circle of crap approach
The only thing one could argue, is that the names at the head table have changed and the chairs have been reshuffled, but the same captain (Ralph) is in command of a ship that is circling the North Atlantic at full speed. I don’t think it is fair to make that call right now. The moves CHIX have made so far have been good ones, IMHO.
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
I can definitely
see some people thinking that Ralph is still Ralph and maybe meddling but I’m going to have to suspect that Nix can keep him in check until I see otherwise.
"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 genuinely asked you to be more specific as to why you think it was a reshuffling
Specific
1 – Nix was an internal hire (no excuses, by DEFINITION, he was).
2 – Russ Brandon receive a promotion
3 – Modrak still maintains his job (Modrak as far as I can tell did not receive a demotion).
4 – 50% of the “inner circle” remains.
5 – We can only SPECULATE on whether Nix has final say on all football decisions. I have my doubts, Wilson would not relinquish that kind of control overnight.
There you go. To me a complete overhaul would mean cleaning house, and by cleaning house I mean NO ONE keeps their managerial type jobs… This simply was not done.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 21, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
the way I see it
Buddy Nix is 70 years old and getting his first GM job after spending a long time paying his dues. I can’t imagine he’s going to let Russ and Modrak have a major input into how to build his team that hes waited a long time to run. Nix is a football guy, Russ is not. That alone will lead me to believe that Russ will have minimal football input with Nix.
You also forget that Doug Whaley was hired – something I think indicates that Modrak’s role has been marginalized quite significantly even if they arent telling him outright that this is the case.
I can certainly understand your doubts that Wilson would ever relinquish total control but I hope that isnt the case because if he is unwilling to let his GM do his job then we’re just in trouble because the owner isn’t going anywhere.
Dick Jauron, Russ Brandon, John Guy, Modrak were making football decisions last year, this year its Whaley, Nix, Gailey and Modrak as far as we can tell with one of them actually designated as a top dog. I respect your skepticism, we all know its more than warranted, but I’m holding out hope this is truly a new regime.
"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
Another thing to consider with Modrak is his current situation. He’s a pretty old guy who has been living and working in Jacksonville for a huge majority of the year. He’s turned down interviews for GM jobs in the not too distant past. You don’t have to demote a guy like Modrak to lessen his significance or influence in the organization. And you’re spot on that hiring Whaley is essentially a demotion for Modrak. Adding another strong voice to the draft process is obviously going to lessen the impact that everybody else in the room has.
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
great point
It slipped my mind that Modrak works remotely and spends a large part of his time in Jacksonville – it just makes sense that his role is reduced.
Another thing with Whaley, you dont leave a class act organization like the Steelers unless your sold that the Bills are a good situation to be a GM in waiting in. If he felt there was an inner circle that reduced the power of the GM, Whaley could have waited for better jobs to be offered to him.
"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
No, it hasn’t Who has been discarded? Russ is still around…
The concept is what has been discarded. There are no more group decisions at OBD. Most owners run the day to day business stuff of their teams (or have children in the FO who run it). But Ralph Wilson is super old and can’t handle that job. So, Russ Brandon handles all the decision making on the business side of things.
Buddy Nix is the GM. And he works hand in hand with the head coach to handle all of the football stuff.
It’s basically the exact same set up that every team currently and has always employed. I can’t make it any simpler than that. I really have no clue how you can disagree.
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
No one here can definately tell you how OBD runs… That is your opinion Kaiser… I am not convinced that Nix is not handcuffed by Wilson and/or Brandon. We simply do not know. All we can do is SPECULATE. I am not disagreeing with you necessarily, just stating that we don’t (and might never know) how Wilson captains his ship… It is his perogative.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 21, 2010 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
More or less, I agree
I’m angry that Modrak is still employed by the team following the lousy high draft picks Buffalo has chosen over the last 5-7 years. I’m ok with Nix’s resume as the GM, but I am angry that no outside candidates were considered. I’m furious that there’s an increasingly strong sentiment out there to keep the status quo at QB out of a defeatist attitude that it’s hard to find QBs and since it’s a major chore, it’s better to put off for some year (when it will still be a major chore)…I’ll reserve judgment until I see how the QB issue is addressed. We know for certain that Edwards and Fitzpatrick can’t play in this league. If OBD brings either of them back at the top of the depth chart, I’ll officially agree that this overhaul was just another re-shuffling.
Just say no...to Trent Edwards at QB.
If Buffalo doesn’t pick up a new QB it won’t be due to CHIX being thrilled with the guys currently on the roster. Rather, it will be due to CHIX not wanting to give a rookie QB the David Carr treatment. I won’t be upset if the Bills address the offensive line instead of taking a QB this year.
It can always get worse. Let me tell you how.
I’m not saying they absolutely HAVE to draft a QB w/ the 9th pick (and even if they do, I’d prefer they sit him for the first 12 weeks of 2010 or so). But I am saying they ABSOLUTELY have to change the QB situation starting now, rather than the passive Mark Gaughan/ Chris Brown approach of address other areas in 2010 and wait to start the QB search in 2011. Whether it’s a young veteran on some other team that the people Wilson is paying to fix this mess believe can be the answer or whether it’s a top prospect in this draft, something needs to be done NOW and not later. Edwards and Fitzpatrick are not the answer in even a stopgap capacity and wasting all of 2010 on them behind center would make CHIX a big fat failure in my opinion.
Just say no...to Trent Edwards at QB.
I don’t agree. I’d rather see the lines fixed than the QB position. A year of playing together would help the line solidify and hopefully protect the QB. I can’t see the logic of putting a rookie out there (even late in the year) to see him possibly ruined. As far as vets go, there aren’t a lot of options for Buffalo to pursue. OBD dug the hole over a period of several years and it will take more than one for the team to claw their way out of it.
It can always get worse. Let me tell you how.
I don’t see how “the lines” will be fixed in one year either. It’s going to be a arduous process, but waiting to fix the talentless depth chart at QB on delays moving forward…I’m also not a believer in the QBs getting “ruined” by external circumstances theory either. I honestly believe that most of the onus on the players at that position who don’t develop falls on their not being talented enough to succeed in the first place. It’s OBD’s job to find some talent at the games’s singular most important position. As of right now, the cupboardf is completely bear and whether it’s a needle in a haystack chance of fixing it or not, they have to try. If NIx was the right guy to hire (miraculously found without looking outside of OBD), he’ll be able to handle the task of identifying a legitimate QB.
Just say no...to Trent Edwards at QB.
CHIX will stand or fall based on how well and quickly they turn the Bills around. Unless the Bills do take a QB early they seem content to stick with the guys on the roster. Time will tell if it’s a viable strategy.
It can always get worse. Let me tell you how.
by Ron From NM on Mar 21, 2010 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll spoil the suspense for you
Sticking with Edwards and Fitzpatrick is not a viable strategy. Why wait until October to rehash this story?
Just say no...to Trent Edwards at QB.
I totally agree. I’m a long term thinking fan, but the development of young players on offense needs to start now. And I don’t think it can happen with Fitz or if Edwards plays like he did for most of last season. Banking on a bounce back season from Edwards is a huge and unneccessary risk. When there were so many other options out there for a stop gap QB, even if they were all mediocre, why Buffalo didn’t add one completely baffles me. Buffalo dosn’t need to find the long term solution this offseason, but they need to start looking and they need a better short term option than what they’ve got too.
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
Yup
I’m in agreement with that as well.
~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."
Im with Port Royal on this one as well.
"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 agree with Ron here… Fix the lines… They are much easier to translate college guys into NFL players.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 21, 2010 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
So?
They are much easier to translate college guys into NFL players.
Are you talking about instant impact guys? If so, why? How does that really matter?
I agree with Port Royal. Why shy away from fixing the biggest problem on the team because the lines also happen to need work?
~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’d be all for investing in the trenches, but I’ve never liked the logic of avoiding risk positions in the draft. You need a QB and avoiding it because it’s a high bust position only pushes risk down the road. You’re not avoiding risk by passing on QBs, WRs or defensive lineman/pass rushers (which, believe it or not, bust at a very high rate, almost as high as first round QBs). All you’re doing is waiting to take the risks that the team will inevitably have to take at some point. It might as well be the NFL draft version of procrastination. You need a QB. You need WRs and/or TEs. You need guys who can get after the QB. Avoiding them because they’re safer or make an earlier impact only helps in the short term.
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 think that the Bills should avoid addressing the QB position, simply because there are not any great options this year… If they like one of the players out there, great… but it looks like a very weak draft class….
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Mar 21, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, their defense of it was the most pathetic.
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/03/19/bills-season-ticket-photo-is-more-than-meets-the-eye/
I’m pretty sure anyone with a brain could have figured all of that out. It doesn’t mean that it’s not pathetic. Want to showcase Moorman and play off the idea of “awaiting your return?” Go with awaiting your return to your seats. Stage a photo showing a packed section of fans going crazy with one empty seat. Next to that seat is Moorman staring directly at the camera and pointing/inviting you back to your seat.
So instead of showcasing a negative (punt) return it’s a positive return. Instead of showcasing a photo from a horrible football experience it’s a positive one showing everyone cheering. Sure, you don’t get the scoreboard with it but that idea is straight out of a Miles Kimball catalog.
Of course, all of this would have required the Bills to show some creativity and common sense. Like that’s going to happen.
I finally got mine.
I think I’m going to frame it and treasure this memory forever….
www.Foundation58.org - "Helping Those Who Help Us" in the fight against cancer.
if the Bills were smart
they would have put a pic of Jairus Byrd making one of his awesome interceptions. It would remind the fans of the only good memory from the season (Byrd single handedly gave me something to look forward to every Sunday) and it would depict youth and make you think of a better future ahead.
"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
Par for the course
~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."
The Bills haven't made 9 holes in a game in years.
by twoeightnine on Mar 21, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's try that again.
The Bills haven’t hit 9 holes in a game in years.
by twoeightnine on Mar 21, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Par is about 200 on the course the Bills are playing here
~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."
Guys, there is no way this comes close to the Jauron photoshop. Moorman is a great player. The picture is actually a pretty amazing photo is you take out the circumstances. This is lightyears ahead of the Jauron photoshop fiasco.
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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I think this is worse
But neither was that bad. This is just dumb, sending out a personalized image hoping to get the person to renew season tix is perfectly fine, but using a picture of the Bills punting out of their own endzone in a game they lost at home 6-3 to a terrible team is just asinine. Bills fans may be drunks, but they aren’t dumb (well most of them!). I never found much fault in the Jauron photoshop. He was no longer the coach of the team, so why is it such a big deal that he was cropped out?? The problem was the team sending out the photo so late in the season, and to a lesser extent, not taking out a few players who were no longer on the team. Big deal. The Bills took out the guy that the fans were thrilled to see gone.
~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 personally found it beyond classless to photoshop a legit member of the team out of a picture especially when it was done so poorly.
At least this is a cool picture (regardless of the final situation).
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Mar 24, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
legit member of the team out of a picture
wasn’t DJ gone though?
We got the tools, We got the talent
Except he wasn't a member of the team
~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."
Well
It was one of the few games where they actually scored points at home and weren’t completely embarrassed last season. Okay, harsh; not really true…but not really far off.
Brandon’s doing something right: he’s sold people enough on those hideous uniforms that sales continue to roll in.
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Song recommendation of the week: Ween - Bananas & Blow
"...BUT anyting is possible come draft DAY HOW many times we all say this is the guy we ae getting and BANGGGGG EVERYbody is in a state of SHOCK CAUSE frutty Pebles snack BANG bang CEREAL Coach just went the other way COCCOA PUFF nutty NUT craker Umpa Lumpa on all of the FANS Band wagon Kraken Dibede POP" - abayarde
by TheAfghanTwilight on Mar 22, 2010 7:22 AM EDT reply actions
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