Buffalo news reporting JAURON IS STAYING

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/536303.html

Dick Jauron is back as the Buffalo Bills head coach.

Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. told The News this afternoon that Jauron has a contract extension with the team.

"Dick's going to be retained," Wilson said from his home in Detroit.

Wilson had no further comment on Jauron but the team will be releasing a statement later today.

Jauron's extension is for three years, sources told The News back in October.

Jauron flew to Detroit today to meet with Wilson.

Lets hear it

From national football post and Michael Lombardi's opinion on the situation in Buffalo:

FROM MARK GAUGHEN OF THE BUFFALO NEWS… Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. said Monday afternoon the team would make a decision on the future of head coach Dick Jauron on Wednesday. Wilson met in Detroit today with Russ Brandon, the Bills’ chief operating officer, Tom Modrak, the Bills’ vice president of college scouting, and Jeff Littmann, the Bills’ treasurer. “I have nothing definitive tonight to give you,” Wilson told The Buffalo News by phone from Detroit. “We had a meeting today. We’re going to have a meeting tomorrow and the next day, and then you’ll have your answer.”

When I read what Mark had written, it was clear that Ralph Wilson wants to shake up the staff and bring in new coaches on one side of the ball or the other.  He wants to keep Jauron, but it’s clear to me that he doesn’t want to keep some coaches (losing five games in a row is tough for anyone to take).  Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, I am sure, is the main topic in these meetings.  The Bills have too much talent to be 25th in the NFL on offense. More important, they have too much money invested in their offense to be this bad.  The meetings are about learning what Jauron will do to shake up the staff.  What is his plan to make changes and get the Bills’ offense on the right track?  Normally, he is very reluctant to make any changes to the staff, but this time he has to be realistic and accept that Turk is not getting it done.  However, Jauron can be stubborn and might be willing to walk the plank rather than fire some coaches. 

This time of year, front offices and coaching staffs have to evaluate three areas of their teams: scheme, coaching and players.  Those areas will also provide the answers that lead to improvement.  When I watched the Bills, I liked their talent for the most part, but I did not like their scheme and wondered at times about their offensive coaches. 

A lot of interesting points Lombardi makes.  This sheds light on what Sal Cappacio already commented on today. 
We know it comes to down to Schonert.  Wilson wants a plan from Jauron to get the offense on track.  Who is that guy?  I am not sure.  I think if this gets blown up it will be because Wilson does not see a willingness from Jauron to change.  Schonert I sense is disliked by most players, and they are pouting about the offensive philosophy and play calling.  There needs to be better chemistry on offense and that starts with a game plan that can be executed and puts players in positions to succeed.  Jauron has no clue on offense.  If he has no clue to fix the problem we will have no clue stuck in the unemployment line. 

So given what you know, that the players love Jauron, they play hard, the personnell decisions over the last 3 years, and knowing that if Jauron brought in a new OC, could you guys live with this?  Let's discuss this further as there is no point moving on until the state of our HC is decided tomorrow.

From Peter King's iMMQB column: 

Buffalo. Going winless in the division, blowing a field-goal try at the end of the first half Sunday because of undisciplined pushing and shoving with the Patriots, going 2-8 down the stretch. Those things have to infuriate Ralph Wilson, who is not a patient man. I could see him keeping Dick Jauron or firing him. It's 50-50.

The words that keep coming up when noted football men I hear talk about the Bill is they lack toughness, aggressiveness, discipline, nastiness, and execution.  All of you know that I have tried to defend DJ as much as possible.  I love his personality as weird as that sounds.  He takes after Coach John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, in believing that after every game that you lose, all you can do is have a short memory and get back to work.  I truly believe he has a great work ethic and gets his players to work.  However, he doesn't have the ability to run schemes to matchup against top coaches and his assistants don't have the brains either.  Every play New England ran yesterday was the right play and they executed it to make it the right play.  Every play for us is an adventure.  The execution is not there.  We all know we have many front office failures.  We have yet to have a real impactful FA come year in the last 3 years.  We have drafted pretty well, but we need a new overhaul. 

Here it here first.  MARVelous is officially on the can Dick Jauron bandwagon.  It took me 17 weeks, and three 7-9 seasons to get there but I am here.  I want toughness, aggressiveness, and competency on gameday.  I don't care about personality, press-conference ability or any of that garbage.  Belichick is the most depressing, dry personalities in the business.  But he wins.  I want to win.  Ralph is 90.  He better want to win too.  He better make the change today.  It's Black Monday.  But if Dick Jauron is fired, it will be a memorable Monday for Bills Nation.  The bigger question will be who can Ralph get to replace this man and how does he restrucutre his FO?  Will he bring anyone from outside to at least consult? 

It hurt for me to say it.  I think the world of Dick Jauron.  He is a class act.  He never threw anyone under the bus.  But he didn't win.  His 3 year plan didn't work.  He gave us Whitner, Lynch, McKelvin, Poz, Edwards, Stroud, Mitchell, Dockery, Walker, Robert Royal (JK) and others that will be good young talent to build around.  But at the end of the day, it wasn't enough, and now it's time to dump the coach, restructure the FO, make some hard, tough personnenl decisions in FA, and have another stellar 2009 NFL Draft with the #11 pick.  There is room for hope Bills Nation.  I always Billieve.  I just hope Ralph finds clarity of thought and makes the right decision. 

I mentioned Coach Wooden.  I am taking a personal course in Coach Wooden as I played College basketball and am a high school coach now.  Coach Jauron I believe took a lot of "Woodenisms" into his coaching.  Tireless work ethic, never blame anyone, and always look at yourself.  I believe Jauron will be able to live with himself because he knows he gave it his all.  I really believe that, and if somehow Ralph keeps him, Jauron will be no worse for the wear and will continue to strive to get us to the playoffs.  But if not, he will move on and keep his head held high and $6 million dollars.  Our next coach should have these "Woodenisms" in his teachings and the Bills will become a perennial contender. 

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.

I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but what you should have accomplished with your ability."

I see the light.  I am more concerned with how to fix this mess thought then berade Dick Jauron.  So feel free to leave your criticisms to a mild hum, and voice any other opinions you have.  The "inner circle" is in session this morning.  Nine season of no playoffs is at the center of the discussion.  Models from the Dolphins, Ravens and Falcons in 2008 are out there.  How can we turn this around in 2009?  Let's hear it Buffalo Rumblings.  Time to really vent it out.  I'm ready to wipe the slate clean, but what all do we need to see from old Ralphy?

Accordint to Michael Lombardi of national football post.

FROM JOHN WAWROW OF THE ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE… Dick Jauron’s future as coach of the Buffalo Bills will be determined in the next two weeks. Bills owner Ralph Wilson told the Associated Press on Monday he still hasn’t made up his mind, but he will use a series of end-of-season meetings with his top executives to come to a conclusion  “The decision will be made shortly,” Wilson said, referring to the yet to be scheduled meetings. He said he’ll seek input from chief operating officer Russ Brandon and chief scout Tom Modrak, and added that Jauron will also attend the meetings.   Speaking by phone from his home in suburban Detroit, Wilson declined to say which way he’s leaning. Wilson also declined to say whether Jauron had already agreed to or been offered a contract extension. Jauron is in the final year of his three-year contract and is firmly on the hot seat after the Bills (7-8) lost seven of eight games prior to a 30-23 win at Denver on Sunday. In stopping short of providing Jauron a vote of confidence, Wilson said he was impressed with how the players haven’t given up on the coach. “I don’t know why he hasn’t had a better record,” Wilson said. “He’s a heck of a good guy. And the players, I haven’t seen them not play hard for him. They have played hard in the wins and the losses. I’m optimistic about our future.” Buffalo will miss the playoffs for a ninth straight year, and closes out the season hosting New England on Sunday. Jauron has declined to discuss his future or contract status except to say he anticipates he’ll be back next season.

The Bills do play hard for Dick, who is a very good coach, but they must find a way to become more physical and more creative with their offense.  They have too many pieces to be so inconsistent, and they must define some roles for the players this off-season.  However, they must get stronger and more physical in their offensive line and must find a tight end who can control the end of the line of scrimmage.  They are a cold-weather team and must put more emphasis on becoming tougher and more physical.  That needs to be the off-season mandate for the coaches. 

Take this for what's its worth.  He says Dick Jaruon is a very good coach.  For all you haters out there.  But he also acknowledges there inconsistencies.  We need to get bigger and stronger and tougher.  We need to draft or bring in some OL to bring toughness.  I think brining in a FA center or other OL position to bring toughness would do wonders to spark that group.  Defensively, we undoubtedly need some tough guys to play in the front 7.

Lombardi and Mike Mayock raved about the talent the Bills have accumulated over the last few season, and entering 2008 thought they had what it took to be a playoff team.  Looking back on the season missed opportunities, poor coaching, poor play from Edwards, etc led to our demise.  But we have to get tougher.  Do you agree with this assessment?  How do you think we go abot being a "tougher" team to contend in a cold-weather city like Buffalo?  And firing Dick Jauron is not an acceptable answer:)

From nationalfootballpost.com Michael Lombardi gives his take on the play and is a refreshing look at it.   Just read

FROM SAL MAIORANA OF THE ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE… Simply put, it seems quite logical that owner Ralph Wilson and (Dick) Jauron came to an agreement back in October when the Bills were riding high at 5-1, and they were just waiting for the right moment to make the announcement. Only the right moment never came as the team’s collapse began shortly thereafter and the free fall still hasn’t stopped. In fact, it gained precipitous momentum thanks to the inconceivable way the Bills lost to the Jets at the Meadowlands with Jauron playing a starring and blundering role in the debacle. If Schefter is correct and Jauron has signed a new contract, it seems clear that the Bills are trying to put off making the embarrassing announcement of Jauron’s return for as long as possible, which means until this promising-turned-woeful season is complete  And then things will get really interesting. Will Wilson, who is clearly disgusted with what has taken place the last two months, eat the contract — perhaps worth as much as $6 million in total — in order to rid the Bills of Jauron? Wilson was asked again Sunday about Jauron’s mysterious deal and he ducked the question by saying “Did you see that fumble? It was terrible, wasn’t it?” Well, yes it was, and while it was quarterback J.P. Losman coughing the ball up, it was Jauron who put him in position to lose the game. Jauron took the blame for calling a rollout pass with 2:06 remaining that ended with Losman’s fumble being recovered and returned for the winning touchdown by the Jets’ Shaun Ellis. Jauron’s performance this season has been poor, and there is no debate on the issue. This was merely the newest chapter. His team feasted on an early-season schedule to get off to a 5-1 start, and then once the competition started getting stiffer, the Bills had about as much chance for survival as a cheap chair does under Langston Walker.

The reality here is that Eric Mangini made the wrong call in the game, not Dick Jauron.  You never call a timeout when the clock is under 2:10 because part of the reason for calling a timeout is to force a specific play call.  When the clock is under 2:10, then the run/pass option is in play, and as a defense, you have to defend the whole playbook.  Had Mangini let the clock run down to the two-minute warning, the Bills would have been forced to only run the ball at that point since the clock and the Jets were the opponent.  Now, the Bills made a mistake because putting the ball in J.P.’s hand was a bad play. But in the reality of game management, they did the right thing.  They should have spread the field and forced the Jets to have to declare their hand and then maybe taken a shot down the field. But as mad as Bills fans are at Jauron, he fundamentally made the right decision — but they did make a bad call.  

Regardless of how you feel, it was clearly a smart football decision.  The execution was wretched but the play was logical and sensible.  Bottom line is JP has to get rid of the football.  He holds the ball for like 5 secs every play which is unfathomable.  How he doesn't turn it over more I have no clue.  Let's put this to rest, but for all you out there that think the play was absolutely ludicrou, just realize it was as smart, calculated decision based on time on the clock

Nothing better than being the laughing stock of the NFL this Monday morning.  Last night on Football night in America, Collinsworth described JP as "incompetent."  That might as well go all around the organization right now.  5-1 to 6-8.  I don't know how that happens.  Here is his expert:

Goats of the Week

Dick Jauron, coach, Buffalo, and Turk Schonert, offensive coordinator, Buffalo. Not quite a Miracle of the Meadowlands redux, but a dunderheaded call late in the fourth quarter probably cost the Bills a stunning victory and led to a loss that will jeopardize the jobs of the entire coaching staff.

Buffalo was protecting a 27-24 lead with 2:06 left in the fourth quarter. The Jets had two timeouts left. The Bills had run the ball well all day, and their last four carries had gone for four, five, three and five yards. On 2nd-and-5, Jauron called for J.P. Losman to roll right and look for fullback Corey McIntyre, and if that wasn't there, just run. Jauron figured that the even if McIntyre wasn't open, Losman could either run or throw it away, and because the clock would stop at the two-minute warning, a run play wasn't essential. Schonert agreed.

What they didn't count on was the blitz of backside safety Abram Elam, who leaped on Losman's shoulder and stripped the ball, allowing Shaun Ellis to recover and stumble in for the winning touchdown.

Here's the problem this creates: Owner Ralph Wilson doesn't want to change coaching staffs again. He doesn't want to hire another coach and his SEVENTH offensive coordinator of the decade. But if the Bills fall at Denver and at home to New England in the next two weeks, that would mean they'd finish the year losing nine of 10. Wilson is 90. He is impatient. You connect the dots.

I still believe that we have to wait until we hear a public statement from Wilson in the next 3 weeks confirming that Jauron will be the coach in 2009.  The extension could not be for that much money.  Tops $3 mill a year?  I doubt event that much.  So there still is a possibility Ralph could can him.  However, unlikely.  Thoughts?

So Jerry Sullivan on WGR this morning when he asked Ralph outside the team's locker room about his team's performance in Canada...Sullivan said the 90 year old Wilson "laughed."  He said "i'm used to it."

Joe D commented its simple....we have no QB and the conversation ends at that.

I think regardless of what your thoughts on this team are, today as a Bills fan you are completely discouraged.  The Bills are 6-7, one may ask how did they win 6 games?  The display in Toronto was wretched.  The future of the franchise is in question.

I come to this fanpost today saying.....this is rock-bottom in a different way.  The 3 year Jauron experiment has come to a frustrating and bitter end (or seems to be the end).  With 3 games to go, the season is over, and it can't get over soon enough for the Bills players (most notably the admirable players doing their job like Bryan Scott, Kyle Williams, Brad Butler, Lynch, Jackson, Jason Peters, Posluszny, and many others)and Dick Jauron.  Regardless of what anyone says, this team has talent.  We need a QB, we need confidence, and we need a leader. 

Today as Bills fans, come to this fanpost and just do one thing for me.  Give me 3 reasons for hope for 2009.  Please, help all of us have hope, and reason to have any faith?  Let's brainstorm here.  THis franchise will be in Buffalo for at least 4 more years.  How do we make the most of it?  How do we turn this frown upside down?

All of us have our stories.  How we grew up with the team, our father's that bleed Bills colors, our social gatherings that all revolve around the Bills, so many memories.  But here today, not only is our season over, but for the first time, the reality that our franchise disgraced us yesterday was appauling.  It hurts.  It's personal.  It should be.  We deserve better.  And if all us Bills fans have the passion to get our team right in the winning ways, why can't our owner and front office do that as well???

I like how on the countdown to kickoff brian you have "until toronto steals a home game from us"  Just caught that....good stuff

I've heard so many bad things this week regarding the Bills its really disturbing:

1)  John Clayton stated what I believe to be true on wgr last night, that Trent Edwards is hurt, is questionable but the Bills have already decided JP will start cuz it might be beneficial for Edwards to sit being how bad he has been.  Clayton also said if Losman wins Sunday, expect him to start next week against the NYJ as DJ is coaching for his job.  he says he would play Edwards if healthy, and if the Bills don't its harmful to his confidence

2) Thurman Thomas also said on wgr that "until the owner is gone things won't change."  How does that make us feel?

3) No one is happy with the Bills game in Toronto.  This is shaping up bad.  Jim kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bills players and coaches, I think they all feel terrible about having to go up there to play.  Mark my words, when you let distractions like this get to you, you never win these games cuz they're more worried about bitchn about playing in Toronto than beating the phins

4) What the heck is with DJ's contract?  Does he have one or not?  What a weird situation.  I think it speaks to the dysfunction of Ralph Wilson and Russ Brandon running this franchse.  I love Ralph and all he has done.  But undoubtedly, he needs to go to let this team win

5) Does anyone really think Jim Kelly & his investors can get $800-$1billion together to buy the team when Ralph passes and who knows if the NFL will even let them?  And how can a town like Buffalo, which will have to build a new stadium to keep up with the Jones', fund a $800-$1 billion dollar new stadium????

I'm depressed.  The present of the 2008 Bills is dismal, the future of the franchise is in deep doubt, no one knows the status of Dick Jauron.  Ralph is so attached to the team, I don't think he knows how to be able to let go and hire the right people to provide a winner.  I'm an optimistic guy....I guess all we know for sure is the bills are in Buffalo through 2012 and after that who knows....

Any thoughts, comments, or anger like I feel this Friday morning before our team heads to Toronto to play the fish?