I can’t believe we all had to watch the Sabres first period against the Senators.  They were outshot 19-1 (17-0) at one point.  It was ugly, and the fans at the Arena rightly booed them off the ice.  The look on Lindy Ruff’s face said it all.  Why does this seem to happen too often?  Why don’t the Sabres come to play?  Is it that hard?  Even with emotional leaders like Grier and Rivet, there are too many players who coast through too many periods?  Sometimes they’re talented enough to overcome those putrid periods, and maybe they will be tonight.  But that doesn’t excuse them from failing to show up too often.

It’s been a rough ten years, maybe the worst ten years in Bills history. No playoff appearances-just one winning season. The Bills have two games left this season with no shot at a winning record. And they may be forced to go with Brian Brohm at quarterback this week with both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards hobbled with ankle injuries.If he plays, don’t look for Brohm to act as a savior. He’ll be faced with the same handicap Fitzpatrick and Edwards have battled–a terrible offensive line. 

For that matter, don’t be surprised if Brohm fails. He would join a long list of quarterback failures this decade for the Bills–Johnson..Bledsoe..Losman..Edwards..Fitzpatrick. How can it be that the Bills could be stuck with such a string of subpar quarterbacks?

Well maybe, it’s not the quarterbacks who are at fault.

Maybe the Bills have set up their quarterbacks to fail this decade–not providing them with offensive line support, a strong running game, good game-day coaching-decisions–any number of factors.

For that matter, their coaches have been set up to fail. Without a strong football man in charge the last several years, Bills coaches have had to make do with questionable draft picks, overpaid free agent linemen, and rosters dangerously thin at key positons.

That’s why the process of finding and hiring the next football man for the franchise is so critical.

Just like they did at the end of the 1970s, the Bills need a strong football figure to take over–Chuck Knox was the answer in 1978. Bill Polian and Marv Levy were the key figures in the early 90s. Now, it’s time for a new regime.

Here are my picks for the football department–Charlie Casserly as general manager.  Russ Grimm as head coach. Bring ‘em on.  Turn ‘em loose And let’s get started on a new decade.

The Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday that it will explore adding a team in the next year.  This could ultimately have an effect on U.B.  If the Big Ten takes Pittsburgh, Syracuse or Rutgers, as rumored, that would leave the Big East looking for another team.  They currently have eight, and wouldn’t want an uneven number.  Even eight is a bit light, because it leaves them unable to have a conference football championship game. 

So how does U.B. fit in?  I’d have to think that they would consider the Bulls for that open spot.  U.B. is in a good-sized media market, is close to many of the other schools, has an emerging athletic program and is a major university, the largest in New York State.  Why would the Bulls be interested?  Money, for one.  They would share in the Big East’s TV and BCS bowl money.  Prestige, exposure and rivalries would also be selling points for them.  A yearly game/rivalry against Syracuse would really get WNY’s fans excited.  Geographically, the Bulls never really fit into the Mid American Conference, being over two hours from the nearest school.  I always thought U.B.’s goals were higher than the MAC, anyway.  It would take some upgrading of budgets and facilities but the increased fund would help that. 

It a ways down the road, but something that should excited all Bulls fans.

Do you think the Big East would be interested?  Do you think its the right fit for U.B.?

AP Photo

Mark Mangino’s expected departure as Kansas head football coach should worry all Buffalo Bulls fans.  This is one of those jobs that could be a perfect fit for Turner Gill.  Last year, he was a candidate at Syracuse and Auburn, but those never seemed right to me.  Kansas does seem right for a number of reasons.  Its early, so there’s no idea if Kansas would consider Gill.  But its a Big 12 conference job, and that’s where Gill spent his time with Nebraska.  Its close to his native Texas, which means he can recruit there successfully.  If there’s any part of him that would like to get back at Nebraska for not hiring him two years ago, he’ll get his chance every year.  Plus, and maybe most importantly, Turner’s daughter attends Kansas.

The athletic director, Lew Perkins, is formerly of Connecticut.  Which means he’d be familiar with Buffalo’s program, its move-up to bigtime football, and will still have Eastern contacts that can give him an idea about Gill. 

So keep your eye on this opening.  Gills says there are only a few openings that he’d be interested in, and we don’t know if Kansas is one of them.  But based on the reasons I laid it, it very well could be.  If the interest is mutual, Gill may be headed out of town.

Jim Haslett

Friday, the UFL holds its championship game as the undefeated Florida Tuskers play the Las Vegas Locomotives. Bills fans should pay attention to the coaching matchup.  Both Jim Haslett (Florida) and Jim Fassel (Las Vegas) could be candidates to be the next Bills Head Coach.

Once the dances end with the big names like Shanahan and Cowher, the Bills are going to have to drop down to the second tier.  Both of these guys are former NFL head coaches, both are interested in getting back into the NFL, and both appear to be interested in coming to Buffalo.  Haslett has obvious ties as a former Bills player.  Fassel has been a candidate for past Bills openings. 

Jim Fassel

Fassel may actually have the upper hand, no matter who wins the UFL title.  The Bills appear set to hire an offensive-minded coach, and that’s Fassel’s specialty.  Even if it is the UFL, anybody who can get a J.P. Losman-led team to a title game must know his stuff.

So will you watch the UFL game to scout out Haslett or Fassel?  Do you think either would be a good choice for the Bills?

Jon Gruden

As we reported Friday night, the Bills targeted Jon Gruden as their first choice to replace Dick Jauron.  He turned them down, and decided to remain with ESPN’s Monday Night Football.  Gruden signed a contract extension with ESPN this week.

Gruden’s rejection may be the first of many for the Bills.  There are a number of reasons why the big name coaches may not view Buffalo as their best step back into football. 

1.  The Bills need a front office overhaul.  2.  They are limited financially.  3.  They have a hard time attracting free agents to our small city.  4.  They have an owner who can be meddlesome.  5.  They have no quarterback.

All of those reasons are enough to make any candidate think about taking a job here.  Now some will consider it because they want to coach again, and there may not be many other openings.  But much like Gruden, those with TV jobs may decide to stay off the sidelines until the right job opens up.

Good for the Bills for going after the big names like Gruden and Shanahan.  Getting them to come here appears to be a much tougher job.

The news that the Bills are committed to hiring a football czar is welcome news.  They need one.  The news that they’ve already contacted Mike Shanahan–even better. He’s the type of man the Bills need to steer their football fortunes.

But whether or not they get Shanahan, the important thing is that they’re committed to an overhaul of their football fortunes. They need an experienced football man–whether he’s the general manager or director of football operations–the title doesnt matter. And here are a couple of realistic suggestions for the Bills new football czar.

How about Bruce Allen–George Allen’s son, who spent nine years with the Raiders and the last five years as general manager of the Tampa Bay Bucs. He would get the blessing of Marv Levy.   And Allen built winners in Oakland and Tampa Bay.

Another name–Buffalo native Greg Gabriel, the Bears director of College Scouting the last nine years.  He learned from the Giants great George Young, and he has a total of 28-years of service in the NFL.

Both Gabriel and Allen are solid, respected football men. They’d be affordable.  They’d most likely be interested in the job. And both would come with extensive football contacts and would be able to provide meaningful input into the selection of a coach.

If the Bills land Shanahan, that would be great. But Shanahan figures to attract a couple of other NFL offers. The future of the franchise hangs in the balance.  The Bills have to get to work now and find the right man to steer the ship.

Sunday night on NBC’s pregame show, Tony Dungy said the Bills could be a darkhorse location for Michael Vick in 2010.  Dungy, who advised Vick before he signed with Philadelphia, said the Bills did have some conversations with Vick before he signed with the Eagles.  Dungy says Buffalo would be a “good spot” for Vick. 

Obviously, the Bills QB situation will need to be addressed in the offseason.  If Trent Edwards doesn’t make major improvements in the second half, the Bills will almost certainly be looking for a new starter.

What do you think about Vick potentially coming to Buffalo?

The numbers continue to tell the story of this historically bad Bills offense.  Just 9 first downs against the Texans, just 204 total yards.  Its been almost three years since a Bills quarterback threw for 300 yards, an regular accomplishment on most NFL teams.  

But leave it to an opponent to put some perspective to what the numbers say and what our eyes have seen. Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans was asked how the Texans defense (ranked 21st) was able to throttle the Bills offense.

“It was easy,” Ryans said. “They kind of had the same formations, they didn’t give us a lot of motions and things. So it was a simple offense to go against.”

Wow.  Makes you realize just what the rest of the NFL thinks about the Buffalo offense.  Of course, we know why.  The offensive line’s issues don’t allow any fancy formation or motions.  They can’t even block for basic plays.

Oh how I long for the days of Langston Walker.