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Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Can't Stop Discussing Quarterback

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If you ask me, it could not be any clearer that Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson would like it very much if his team picked a quarterback early in the 2011 NFL Draft. Wilson can't stop broaching the subject whenever he's contacted by media.

It started in October, when after the Bills' 0-5 start Wilson said that finding a franchise quarterback was his team's top priority. It seemed odd at that point that an owner would pay lip service to his team's draft plans, even half a year in advance of the event and regarding a plan that was very obvious - and months later, in late January, Wilson was much more politically correct about his quarterback situation and the team's draft plans.

"If there is not a quarterback at No. 3 we like, we're not going to reach and take him," Wilson told The Buffalo News on January 27. "We're going to take the player we like best."

On Thursday, however, Wilson was again championing the belief that the Bills wouldn't be a playoff contender until it had a new quarterback in an interview with AOL Fanhouse.

Star-divide

"I've made a lot of mistakes with my team in the last 10 years," Wilson told Thomas George. "I think I'm rectifying that. We'll see. We almost won some games last year against teams that were certainly more talented than us. Buddy (Nix), the scouts, the coaches, they are working. I know it's not going to be an instant turnaround. I think it will take two or three years to have a playoff team -- and that's if we get a quarterback."

For good measure, George asked Wilson about Auburn's Cam Newton.

"Well, he's very athletic," Wilson said. "But it's the intangibles. We've had a number of quarterbacks that could throw the ball 100 yards and right into your stomach. But then they got into games and threw it 100 yards into the other team's stomach. There's time. We'll learn more about him."

Over the years, and particularly in the last decade-plus without a Bills playoff berth, Wilson has earned a reputation as being slightly meddlesome regarding his team's football operation. Fans should want this to be Buddy Nix's ship, even if he is ultimately the Bills' latest front office flop - if it's his ship, and he's running the operation unencumbered, then it's already progress from previous regimes. Wilson's continued commentary on the quarterback position does quite a bit to undermine the idea that Nix has final say.

As I said up top: it could not be clearer that Wilson wants his team to draft a quarterback, whether that be Newton or someone else. Wilson is not wrong on this in the sense of team-building philosophy: they won't be playoff-caliber until they have a QB that can win them games and make plays on a weekly basis. His is an opinion that many Bills fans share.

The problem comes if Wilson strong-arms his GM into drafting a quarterback that Nix and Chan Gailey aren't sold on. Forgive me, but I rather trust Nix's scouting abilities more than Wilson's - and more importantly, if Wilson's opinion is the last one that counts, nothing will have ultimately changed in the way this team functions up top. Knowing what we (think we) know about Wilson's desires, this year's draft will be an interesting gauge of Nix's true influence. If the team takes a quarterback, we'll wonder if Nix is truly sold on that player's upside; fans might actually be relieved if they don't, as it would signify that Nix has enough influence to sway his owner.

Buckle up.

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I'm on board with Cam Newton

If Buddy Nix is on board with Cam Newton

Did I mention the tank is a tank?

by ArenZimm on Feb 18, 2011 9:11 AM EST reply actions  

you may never know if he is…I think that’s the point of this article.

by Slick Shifty on Feb 18, 2011 9:29 AM EST up reply actions  

For a man well into his nineties...

He’s very with it. It’s clear to me at this point that he gets it. His willingness to reveal what many hoped he realized is a refreshing development.

I thought at the time, when he said what he said about not reaching for a QB – I thought he meant that they’d make sure the QB they found wasn’t a reach. Not that they won’t necessarily be drafting a QB because so and so expert Joe states that QB X isn’t worth his weight in salt as a 1st-round prospect.

The dice are in Ralph’s hands right now. Time to roll another number.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Feb 18, 2011 9:13 AM EST reply actions   1 recs

Also,
He’s very with it. It’s clear to me at this point that he gets it.

It shows there is no communication gap between Wilson, Brandon, Nix and Gailey. As Brian mentioned it will boil down to the power struggle in the organization, which many reference as our major down fall.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Feb 18, 2011 9:16 AM EST up reply actions  

Well, being that Wilson has admitted his toiling has led to many mistakes with the team, i’m willin to give him an opportunity to prove us all wrong. I do think he gets it – that he doesn’t get it when it comes to making the most important on-field decisions.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Feb 18, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions  

He may have been insinuating that he hired the wrong GMs and coaches, not that he didn’t force the 1st round picks down the GMs throats.

by cencalclassics on Feb 18, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions  

We’ve had a number of quarterbacks that could throw the ball 100 yards and right into your stomach. But then they got into games and threw it 100 yards into the other team’s stomach

hahahahahaha just go ahead and say JP Losman here Ralph.

I think these are just the musings of an owner who wants a QB, nothing more. I dont think it means he’ll strong arm Buddy Nix. Buddy seems like a tough guy and Ralph seems like he genuinely gets it

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes with my team in the last 10 years,” Wilson told Thomas George. “I think I’m rectifying that. We’ll see.”

Now he can prove that he gets it by letting Buddy do what Buddy does.

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Feb 18, 2011 9:13 AM EST reply actions  

Agreed
Now he can prove that he gets it by letting Buddy do what Buddy does.

Nix’s first move was hiring Chan Gailey. Chan came in with the resume of orchestrating an offense and developing a QB to run that offense. We have seen similiar production with the Bills this year although our record would argue that point.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Feb 18, 2011 9:20 AM EST up reply actions  

Strong arm Nix/Chan

While I don’t think Ralph would force them to take a qb totally against there will, I do think he will force them if they have a qb 5-10 spots lower on the big board.

by eze on Feb 18, 2011 9:43 AM EST reply actions  

Prediction

My money says the Bills will draft a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Either Ponder / Locker, or Kaepernick / Dalton. $$$ in the bank, son.

by RBbills on Feb 18, 2011 10:10 AM EST reply actions  

All aboard the Ponder Express!

The Buffalo Bills, finding new and exciting ways to lose since January 8th, 2000.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 19, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions  

To be fair

he didn’t say they had to find that QB in this draft, only that they needed to find one to have success withing the next few years. You could even interpret that to include find one from someone already on the roster like Fitzpatrick.

I really don’t think he’s meddling as much anymore. I think he just likes talking about hs team and wants the fans to know he understands.

Ryan FitZpatrick - The Inconvenient Truth.

by kgun201 on Feb 18, 2011 10:31 AM EST reply actions  

I don't think

Newton is worth a #3 (at least for Bufffalo). Talent might be there, but, “a fit” is not. I can’t see him playing(well) in the Ralph(or wanting to).

 I wanted a OL man in ‘10 with our #9. I’d be happy with a DL man at #3 and a QB at #34. I don’t think Gabbert will last that long, but, I could warm to the idea of Kaepernick. I’m not a fan of Ponder or Locker. Dalton, maybe, but not at #34.

"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside" - ELP

by fansince60 on Feb 18, 2011 10:38 AM EST reply actions  

Where do you get the idea Newton doesn’t “fit” in Buffalo? Why would that be the case? Can he play? If that’s the case then he would “fit” in very well. And why wouldn’t he want to play in Buffalo? Did he ever say anything that would lead you to believe that?

Let the process play out. Newton might not last to pick 3.

by phaze1 on Feb 18, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions  

Where do you get the idea Newton doesn’t "fit" in Buffalo? Why would that be the case? Can he play? If that’s the case then he would "fit" in very well.

This

by go_buff on Feb 18, 2011 7:34 PM EST up reply actions  

Tell that to Cleveland Cavs fans

For my own personal sanity, I am officially banning myself from reading/saying anything about Cam Newton.... starting the day after the Bowl game until the start of the combine.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein

by Joe P. on Feb 18, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions  

had to laugh at that one…..“my ego is too big for this city”.

by blknites on Feb 19, 2011 6:34 AM EST up reply actions  

yeah....so many examples of players who didn't fit with the team that drafted them.

For my own personal sanity, I am officially banning myself from reading/saying anything about Cam Newton.... starting the day after the Bowl game until the start of the combine.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein

by Joe P. on Feb 19, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions  

Not that you can blame the Cavs for drafting him though.

The Buffalo Bills, finding new and exciting ways to lose since January 8th, 2000.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 19, 2011 6:59 PM EST up reply actions  

dont think

Ralph is going to strong arm Buddy ‘draft the bpa in less than 3 seconds’ Nix.

Do think Ralph acknowledges the correlation between post Kelly & the W/L column.

by Blood, sweat & Win on Feb 18, 2011 10:45 AM EST reply actions  

I have this feeling

That Cam Newton is coming to Buffalo. Ralph has quarterback on the brain. My sense of it is, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. If they pull the trigger on Newton I don’t think I’d be that upset. It’s not the choice I would make (there are plenty of lower risk players out there), but he has the athleticism to be the next big thing. ALL draft picks are gambles, the Bills are due for a pay off. This might be it.

by The Adam Bomb on Feb 18, 2011 12:05 PM EST reply actions  

I get the opposite feeling from Ralph’s comments. About Newton…“he’s very athletic, but…”

by JapanJohn on Feb 19, 2011 12:00 AM EST up reply actions  

I think that Ralph is looking for a more traditional pocket passer QB with good mobility, as opposed to a running QB.

The Buffalo Bills, finding new and exciting ways to lose since January 8th, 2000.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 19, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions  

When all is said and done, this is Ralph’s team and if he wants a franchise QB, I’m betting Buddy will provide him one. Fitz is by no means a franchise QB – he’s a okay starter but not the type who’ll lead you to the Super Bowl. We need a true franchise QB who can be one of the best QB’s in the league and if the front office finds Newton, Gabbert or Locker to be that, then they’ll make the pick. That being said, if the front office deem there’s no QB worthy of being picked in the top five, they need to do whatever it takes to find the most impactful player they can find, preferably on defense.

Personally, I want a franchise QB more than anything. This franchise has been plagued by mediocrity at that position for so long and the results show it: 11 years without a sniff of playoffs. It’s about time that changed and it’ll change when we get a QB who can consistently lead this team to victory and Fitz is not that guy if you ask me. He’s way too inconsistent and makes way too many erratic passes at critical moments to be that.
I like Newton a ton, especially in the scenario that he sits for a season or two behind Fitz while learning from Chan – arguably one of the best guys in the business to have train your QB.
Of course, both Gabbert and Locker have great ability, too, and I wouldn’t mind them either. I just don’t view them as top five picks. Gabbert hasn’t been productive enough in college and there are stills questions about his ability to play under center, though that’s a minor issue and the very same that Newton has to deal with. Locker is a kid whom I like a LOT; the kid’s extremely athletic, is very strong-armed, is tough as nails, played in a Pro Style offense, has all the tools you’re looking for and though he’s a relatively raw prospect, as well, he’s a kid who could blossom under a coach like Chan imo. However, his accuracy remains a legitimate issue and though it’s probably correctable, I still see more upside with Newton and I just think he’s the type of guy who’ll carry the Bills to victory Sunday after Sunday.

by BuffaloBeliever on Feb 18, 2011 12:18 PM EST reply actions  

ummm...

I’m sorry I don’t like this article.. Because now you have me thinking that if a qb were takin in the draft, that raplh had a lot to do with it and that maybe buddy and chan don’t really think highly of the guy ESPECIALLY if we end up taking cam at three.. I’m gonna need.a whole lot of convincing from those two after reading this.. At least ralph unserstands intangibles. And that just because a guy can throw a hundred yards doesn’t mean he’s gonna be very good.

Thurman Thomas literally deleted me on twitter..... i laughed then cried....

by OC-BILLS-FAN on Feb 18, 2011 12:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

how does ralph’s statement tells he understands intangibles? anyone of us could have said that… doesnt mean we know to scout…

and whether we like it or not, if we pick a qb in at #3, we would never be sure if it was ralph or nix

by statcruncher on Feb 18, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions  

Maybe I didn’t word it right. But doesn’t it make u feel a lil better knowing that he understands that he has f-ed up in the past with qb’s because he prob. Falls in love with their arm and athletisicm before he thinks about how football smart they are? Doesn’t it make u feel better that he aknowledges the fact that the organiztation needs to make sure the dude isn’t an all world qb in shorts and a spread offense.. And Im pretty sure intangibles. Doesn’t mean u know how to scout.

Thurman Thomas literally deleted me on twitter..... i laughed then cried....

by OC-BILLS-FAN on Feb 18, 2011 2:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

LOL – my sincere apologies. But that’s the reality of the way this team functions.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Feb 18, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions  

hahaha

Well I thank you for planting that terrible seed in my head now… I read that and was like WWHHHAAA…. NNNNOOOOOO.. But this is the kind of article u mentioned in ur fanpost. So kudos to u.

Thurman Thomas literally deleted me on twitter..... i laughed then cried....

by OC-BILLS-FAN on Feb 18, 2011 2:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

putting 2 and 2 together

in january ralph said we wont reach for a qb

now he said,
we need a qb to go to playoffs

cam is very athletic but it is about intangibles. we will know more about him…

that statement in no way tells he is high on newton… only that they are researching and are still unsure…

no way anyone can say today with those statements that bills are going to draft cam newton… only that they might draft a qb in the first 3 rounds…

by statcruncher on Feb 18, 2011 12:39 PM EST reply actions  

McElroy in the 5th or 6th

We have plenty of other issue than QB. Fitz was one of the few bright spots last year and I think he has a few good years to come. I’m sure there will be a QB drafted this year but McElroy could probably be had in the 5th or 6th round. He doesn’t have the typical cannon arm that everyone loves but he’s a winner and has those intangibles. All he did was go 24-3 as a starter in the SEC with a National Championship after an undefeated Senior year with a State Championship. Tom Brady wasn’t a first round pick and I don’t think we need to take a QB with our 1st or 2nd round pick, too many needs on defense.

by Jake 1976 on Feb 18, 2011 12:44 PM EST reply actions  

I really just hope Ralph hasn’t turned into Al Davis, I know that’s a terrible thing to say but I really do worry about it. As far as drafting a Qb, I hope they don’t reach and I think any QB drafted in the top ten this year is a reach. It’s way to early to say it and I know that people hate the wait till next year mantality but , man I hope they find a way to draft Andrew Luck next year and not reach for one this year.

by cencalclassics on Feb 18, 2011 3:17 PM EST reply actions  

A backup QB for 2yrs should not be the #1 priority with pick 3

Carolina at one could take cam due to clausens ineffectiveness (not his fault). Denver could take Cam a they have said tebow maynot be the future. So he maynot even be at three. Also think of what the bills are paying for. They could be paying top dollar for a 2 yr backup based on previous cba. I am not sure if cam would stay here after 4 yrs. How about we get someone with talent who wants to be known for turning the bills around. How about we get someone who is willing to work. If they are going to sit on the bench for 2 yrs as I believe most of te QB’s in this class will why pay top dollar for it. Only Qb’s seen I like is ponder as a third or mcelroy as a 4th or 5th. Gailey is supposed to be great at making something out of nothing (I don’t believe the QB’s listed above are nothings). Ponder shows great intangibles and mcelroy and team seems to get the job done. Get someone later to wok with pay less and then compete with levi brown. If people think levi can’t play then i blame the scouting personal for not taking a kicker. At least then the kicker may have seen the field. These people train to be professionals. People taken later should have more drive to succeed. Coaches should do theirjob and coach. How about we take a person in the first that the nfl can fear when the boys line up. let’s find someone who wants to be great and become alegend for turning an organization around. Jim Kelly or bruce Smith anyone?

by billleve on Feb 18, 2011 3:35 PM EST reply actions  

They could be paying top dollar for a 2 yr backup based on previous cba.

They could be paying top dollar for a 2 year backup and then a twelve year starter that takes the Bills to the playoffs multiple times. I would pay top dollar for that.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 18, 2011 5:14 PM EST up reply actions  

if Wilson’s opinion is the last one that counts, nothing will have ultimately changed in the way this team functions up top

That just about sums up the past, present and near-term future of the franchise. Well stated sir…

"They're Killin' Me Whitey. They're Killin' Me" -- Lou Saban

by NJBill on Feb 18, 2011 5:21 PM EST reply actions  

You gotta be kidding me. If Sanchez can take the Jets to the AFC Championship 2 years in a row there is no reason Fitz can’t if he has the O-line that the Jets have and a good defense and solid run game to back him up. Sanchez has his moments of greatness just like Fitz, but his INT numbers should be way higher if a lot of defenses (namely the Dolphins) could just hold on to the ball when they make plays on it. There is no way that Sanchez is just that much better than Fitz is, build the tools around him first, see what happens, and then need be you take a QB in like 2 years if he can’t get it done with a solid core around him like the Jets have (or if one of those once in a generation QB’s comes around, you take him). Defense at #3

by trademark on Feb 18, 2011 6:24 PM EST reply actions  

Excuse me, I mean there is no way Fitz can’t take us to the playoffs (not necessarily the AFC championship, but perhaps that too). The Jets didn’t beat the Pats in the playoffs because Sanchez had a great game, it’s because they had a defense and coaching that shut down Brady.

by trademark on Feb 18, 2011 6:26 PM EST up reply actions  

It is all misdirection. Talk up QBs to mask the real intentions.

The right (draft) move sometimes might be to strengthen a strength. Filling holes in the 1st round leads to grabs and busts. by Steve_Chiefs.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Feb 19, 2011 5:22 AM EST reply actions  

“Well, he’s very athletic,” Wilson said. “But it’s the intangibles. We’ve had a number of quarterbacks that could throw the ball 100 yards and right into your stomach. But then they got into games and threw it 100 yards into the other team’s stomach. There’s time. We’ll learn more about him.”

This line gives me hope. It tells me that Wilson, and possibly Nix, aren’t buying into the hype and will actually do their homework. I’d rather have a Qb wit good athletisism and great intangeables than the other way around.

The Buffalo Bills, finding new and exciting ways to lose since January 8th, 2000.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 19, 2011 5:43 PM EST reply actions  

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