My biggest issue with Ralph Wilson's comments

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 24, 2011 7:46 AM EST

There has been a lot of issue taken in the past few days with Ralph Wilson's comments. A lot of that has been a hand wringing that it means the Bills will pass on a franchise signal caller because of his comments relative to Ryan Fitzpatrick. I don't think those comments really mean anything (what do you expect an owner to say about his current starting QB?) No, my issue is with something else that Wilson said.

Via the National Post:

Wilson said his only message to fans was "patience" because he projects it’s going to take several more years to build a contender after the team essentially started from scratch two years ago under new general manager Buddy Nix and new coach Chan Gailey.

Now, is there merit to the fact that they "started over"? Yes there is some. But an analysis of major contributors would show that many are holdovers of the old regime: Fitzpatrick, Jackson, Wood, Levitre, Bell, Johnson, K. Williams, Kelsay, Wilson, Byrd, McGee, Moorman, Lindell (before the injury) and I know I'm missing some others. I'm sorry. They overhauled a lot of the roster, but they didn't start from scratch. But, there is an argument to be made, so that part doesn't really bother me, but I think it can be debated about the degree they've "started over".

No, my biggest problem is that Ralph Wilson is asking me for patience. Many commenters keep mentioning a 5 year plan and we need to be patient. I get it and again that is open for debate (although I think 5 years has been pulled out of a hat b/c the team has only said three...as you will see below). I also hope that those people understand why some of us don't want to hear that argument. It's like finger nails on chalk board. Buddy Nix can ask me for patience. Chan Gailey can ask me for patience. I understand when THEY ask for patience, but it still annoys me. But, I've been more than patient with Ralph Wilson. 12 years Mr. Wilson. There has been one factor of stability during that time: you (OK, and for a lot of it, Chris Kelsay). I'm sorry, I'm out of patience for this team. This team has effectively gotten me excited for almost every season opener. Maybe this will be the year they do it. But then, it turns out basically the same. No more. If some feel that being pessimistic about the chances of this team makes me less of a fan, so be it. However, I ALWAYS want the Bills to win. I just expect them not to.

Plus, quit moving the goalposts on me Mr. Wilson. You lose all credibility (via ESPN last October emphasis mine):

Calling himself "a realist," Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson warned it might take as many as three years to rebuild his team, and added drafting a quarterback next year is the club's top priority.

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

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Patience wears pretty thin for me too. Rec'd

Nice post…

Somebody in this organization needs to give fans a plan of action to fix this thing. Say something more than we need to get a WR’s, TE’s, RB’s (and as you pointed out Wilson said a QB last year)… Totally agree! It annoys me because all it sounds like is “lip service”. Say something to just get people think you are doing something more, then keep doing the same things… status quo!

Yeah, they took their QB Nix said they were going to add… If you want to say that Brad Smith and Josh Nesbitt were guys they were going to develop. Wowzer!

Merry Christmas Bills Fans!

by dabillsr1 on Dec 24, 2011 8:15 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I agree with this post - Rec'd!

The sad part is we’re going to see Robert Griffin III at least twice a year – as the star QB of the Dolphins! Our mediocrity continues…

"Teams that don't deserve to win.... usually don’t. Today is no exception." -- Mr Huge Pecs
"Nick Barnett is everywhere. He is behind you right now." -- Munchausen

by ChuckBuffInFlo on Dec 24, 2011 8:37 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I don’t mind Wilson asking the fans for patience. That’s the ideal thing for him and the organization right now: more patience. So, whatever.

My biggest issue is that Wilson said that if the Bills get weapons for Fitzpatrick, they’ll be “OK.” That’s exactly right, Ralph – and if “OK” is the goal, so be it. But you should, almost by default, be aiming much higher.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 24, 2011 8:39 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

Let's just get this post out of the way right now.......

Blah Blah Blah……Wilson only cares about money….harumph harumph harumph….he is to cheap to get good players…..Blah Blah Blah…..Bill Polian………..grumble grumble grumble……Bills move to LA…..Blah Blah Blah…….CHIX suck……GO BILLS!!!!!!

"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

"Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances." - Sun Tzu

by Joe P. on Dec 24, 2011 8:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Hey!

I already have that copywrited!!

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Dec 24, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

LOL.....you got to read the fine print....I used "hurumph" :-)

"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

"Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances." - Sun Tzu

by Joe P. on Dec 24, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

Please also note that at no point did I call him cheap.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 24, 2011 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

lol

But he’s something and cheap hasn’t been eliminated.

If you didn't like my last post wait till you read the next! :) Until we draft/acquire franchise QB we'll be setting records for losing soon!

by buffalobacker on Dec 24, 2011 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

My biggest issue was saying that one of the things we must do is “get him some runners”… please stop drafting running backs in the 1st 5 rounds!!

by LetsGoBflo on Dec 24, 2011 8:46 AM EST reply actions

^

That was the scary part……I cannot believe he said that.

by Xebache on Dec 24, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

part of the 5 year talk came from me – someone I know who works at OBD said ad much and that was over a year ago.

Ralph comments there don’t surprise me cause that was always the plan – whether we like it or not

by J2 on Dec 24, 2011 9:48 AM EST via Android app reply actions

Ralph Wilson says what?

He said what he always says, were going to be good just wait and see, I don’t like this losing, but if we just make one small move we’ll be ok. Ralph has no ideal just how many Bills fans are almost most former Bills fans. Everyday I hear young people who not Bills fans and never have been and they’er making their friends feel ashamed, and embrarrassed to be Bills fans.Most Bills fans are older or grow up in a strong Bills home. Kids want a team they can be proud of, a team they can brag about, a team they can bet on, a team that is obviously trying to win year in and year out. We already have young people leaving the Buffalo area for warmer climates, and bigger better job markets, oh bye the way the owner of our football constanly tells anyone who will listen that this area is too small of a market to compete with other ares of the country. So short of saying that he’s selling the team I don’t think Ralph needs to say anything else publicly as though he’s speaking on our behalf. He has shown us over and over again that he thinks he can fix the Bills losing ways,yet at every turn he’s proven that he can’t nor has he been able to find or land anyone that can fix it. Which is why he can ask for pateince, he truly believes that the Bills fans thinks that he’s trying everything in his power to win. He just doesn’t get the fact that he’s the problem, which is why to believe this team is to accecpt mediocrity at best, and absoulte failure as the norm. The saddest thing of all is that I’m a life long Bills fan, I could walk away but alas I wont, just as so many of you wont either. Kudos to Ralph he has us just where he wants us, those of us that are left that is.

by atsnigduh2u on Dec 24, 2011 12:43 PM EST reply actions