Back in September, the Bills ship hoisted its masts and was ready to set sail for Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. But 13 weeks into the NFL season, the mighty red, white and navy blue vessel hasn't left the dock.
Front office personnel at One Bills Drive are in the shadows of their darkest days as they sit on a 4-8 season and stare directly into a decade without a playoff appearance,.
Ninety-one-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, Jr. has seen a team with potential quickly crumble to the bottom of the league's standings. The highly respected Dick Jauron has been thrown overboard into the sea of failed Bills head coaches, and the so-called 'franchise quarterback' has found a permanent spot on the bench next to the sideline heaters.
It seems like a century ago that Buffalo was a staple name in the elites of the National Football League. Powered by the 'K-Gun' offense and aided by a tenacious defense, the product on the Astroturf of Ralph Wilson Stadium was one that Western New Yorkers could be proud of.
Those days are long gone.
And guess what, Bills fans: It's once again time to wrap Ralph Wilson Stadium in caution tape and throw down a few traffic signs that read 'Under Construction.' The Bills have found themselves in rebuilding mode.
Sound familiar? It should.
The Bills have been stuck in the rebuilding cycle since their last playoff game in 1999.
Ignore the failures of Greg Williams and Mike Mularkey, and forget about the firing of Jauron. Buffalo's problems go much further than an unmotivated, simplistic and zombie-like head coach.
Ralph Wilson has failed to put together a competent front office since general manager John Butler flew the coop for San Diego in 2000. For five seasons thereafter, Tom Donahoe put together a roster that went 31-48 before resigning in 2005. The Bills even brought in Marv Levy to turn things around, but he could only muster consecutive 7-9 seasons before retiring in 2007.
After two general managers in eight failed seasons, you would think Wilson would have hired someone to give the franchise stability.
Wrong.
We sit here today with marketing mastermind Russ Brandon at the helm – a man with little experience in scouting and evaluating talent who was unexpectedly promoted to chief operating officer after Levy's retirement.
His production in the front office hasn't brought many wins, but don't worry. The Bills have made millions of dollars in revenue thanks to the Toronto initiative - and don't forget the boost in merchandise and ticket sales that came along with the Terrell Owens signing.
Now is the time to go out and hire a prominent general manager with enough experience and knowledge to build the foundation for the organization. Hire a man that's capable of salvaging a sunken ship.
Find me the next Bill Polian. I want a general manager that will draft the next Jim Kelly and hire the next Marv Levy. I want a general manager that can trade for the next Cornelius Bennett or Darryl Talley. Give me a guy that can take a team in the dumps and turn it into a Super Bowl contender.
Finding the next head coach should be a secondary concern. Forget about the seven-hour meeting with Mike Shanahan or the Mike Martz and Jim Haslett rumors. I don't care about the $10 million Wilson is willing to spend to hire an A-list head coach. I want a general manager that can find the right man for the job in Buffalo – not the one with the biggest name.
Believe it or not, Buffalo's roster has plenty of talent to build on, especially defensively. Bring aboard a general manager that can identify the team's weaknesses and make the necessary changes. Give me a guy that will draft Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford or Tim Tebow. The Bills need to discover their identity, and that starts with a franchise quarterback.
Enough is enough. Mediocrity in Orchard Park has worn out its welcome. Find a general manager to assemble the crew and a head coach to captain the ship. It's time for the Bills to lift anchor and get out of the harbor.
E-mail: joe.paterno@ubspectrum.com
