Campbell: "It's not the coaches"

[markshark84]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/red...e-coaches.html

The hiring of offensive consultant Sherman Lewis is not an indication that Coach Jim Zorn and his offensive staff have performed poorly, quarterback Jason Campbell said today.

"I don't think so. Not at all," he said. "I think Coach Zorn and all our coaches have done a good job, we just haven't done the things we need to and execute the way we're capable of as a team. I mean, it's not the coaches.

"Coach Zorn puts us in the right position to be successful, but we don't do what we're supposed to do all the time and that's on us. You can look at the film and see where the mistakes are made. That's not on them."

A longtime assistant in West Coast offenses, Lewis is expected to provide "a fresh set of eyes," Campbell said. "I don't think that has to be a bad thing. As long as everyone understands what their roles are, I think it could help.

"Coach Zorn still calls the plays, coach Sherman Smith is the offensive coordinator. We believe in what our coaches are doing. That hasn't changed."

The Redskins are 27th in the league in scoring with an average of 14 points.

"It's not the plays and it's not what our coaches are doing," Campbell said. "Again, we see the mistakes on film. We just need to execute better."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements. This is a perfect example of his blatent inabilty to be a team leader. Leaders take accountability for the actions that take place on the field. It is apparent that JC is unwilling to step up and take any sort of accountability for the feeble offense he runs.

Under JC and his 40 NFL starts, he has only won one game by more than one TD and only has 2 games where the team has scored over 30 points. Both of these stats are NFL RECORDS. I think it is time for JC to articulate the obvious and make himself accountable for the lack of scoring that has been widespread since his arrival.

[crazyhorse1]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/red...e-coaches.html

The hiring of offensive consultant Sherman Lewis is not an indication that Coach Jim Zorn and his offensive staff have performed poorly, quarterback Jason Campbell said today.

"I don't think so. Not at all," he said. "I think Coach Zorn and all our coaches have done a good job, we just haven't done the things we need to and execute the way we're capable of as a team. I mean, it's not the coaches.

"Coach Zorn puts us in the right position to be successful, but we don't do what we're supposed to do all the time and that's on us. You can look at the film and see where the mistakes are made. That's not on them."

A longtime assistant in West Coast offenses, Lewis is expected to provide "a fresh set of eyes," Campbell said. "I don't think that has to be a bad thing. As long as everyone understands what their roles are, I think it could help.

"Coach Zorn still calls the plays, coach Sherman Smith is the offensive coordinator. We believe in what our coaches are doing. That hasn't changed."

The Redskins are 27th in the league in scoring with an average of 14 points.

"It's not the plays and it's not what our coaches are doing," Campbell said. "Again, we see the mistakes on film. We just need to execute better."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements. This is a perfect example of his blatent inabilty to be a team leader. Leaders take accountability for the actions that take place on the field. It is apparent that JC is unwilling to step up and take any sort of accountability for the feeble offense he runs.

Under JC and his 40 NFL starts, he has only won one game by more than one TD and only has 2 games where the team has scored over 30 points. Both of these stats are NFL RECORDS. I think it is time for JC to articulate the obvious and make himself accountable for the lack of scoring that has been widespread since his arrival.

JC's statement was generous and proper, if not truthful in regard to execution and playcalling. No way he should be blamed for not saying "I."
His attributing losses to himself is beyond the team concept and would have been arragant, an over-estimation of his importance, as well as something he's not supposed to do by team policy. None of the Skins are pointing fingers at themselves or anyone else. Nor should they. So far, everyone is on the same page with this-- which shows self control and discipline. JC in four games has played one horrible half and only one. I'm sick to death of this relentless and senseless battering of a single player. It is not justified. I say this as one who has never, ever liked Campbell as a player or even as a prospect. I would have started Collins last year and this one and expected a playoff berth both years. I would start Collins now, immediately, if I could because I believe his quick release, smarts, etc. is a perfect antidote for the fact we have maybe the worse OL in football at the present time, not because Campbell is quilty of anything this year-- because he isn't. He simply is not the guy to have in there right now. He needs time in the pocket, he needs WR's who can get at least a foot or two of separation, he needs time to find open receivers. He's not good at throwing with defenders in his face. In short, he's not good at doing the things most NFL quarterbacks are also not good at.

We now need a QB who can live with an incredibly lousy OL. We also need a fan base who will knock off the ridiculous Campbell hating rhetoric and place the blame where it should be place-- squarely on the heads of Redsking management, which has defied all logic and operates under the notion that any old spare part can play on the OL without effecting the
performances of those playing the "skill" positions. Any fool should know that offense starts and sometimes ends with the OL. If we, overnight, had an NFL quality Center, right guard, and right tackle we would score over twenty a game even with Campbell and our broken WRs.

[Snout]

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements.

Of course not. According to the conventional wisdom these days:

It's Danny's fault.
It's Vinnie's fault.
It's Campbell's fault.
It's Zorn's fault.
It's the line's fault.
It's the receivers' fault.
It's Portis's fault.

In that order. So many people are to blame, maybe we should start identifying the people who aren't at fault. The only one who gets a pass on the offensive side seems to be ey.

[VetSkinsFan]

It's a team sport. Yes, he shoulders some responsibility, but last time I checked, it's not JC missing blocks to allow D lineman in to collapse the pocket. It's not JC that doesn't fight for a jump ball. There's enough non-execution for blame to be passed around and I don't see where JC should be shouldering all the blame.

[roybus14]

While it is admirable for JC to say what he said, it's not time for him to step up as a leader of the offense hold these guys accountable for not executing the offense. He's needs to stop being "Mr. Nice-Guy" and start getting in people's faces when they don't hold their blocks or run the right routes.

Jason is becoming his own worst enemy by being to "by the book" and being to nice. They tried to get Cutler, then Sanchez because obviously the management of this team felt that you are not it, so now, it's time for Jason to do what he has to do to play for a job if not to keep it here but for the next one with another team.

[DEHog]

It's a team sport. Yes, he shoulders some responsibility, but last time I checked, it's not JC missing blocks to allow D lineman in to collapse the pocket. It's not JC that doesn't fight for a jump ball. There's enough non-execution for blame to be passed around and I don't see where JC should be shouldering all the blame.

Agreed...one thing this TEAM isn't short on is blame...

[Redskin in Canada]

Let us analyze his language for a second. I am going to highlight the parts of a quote that caught my attention:

"I don't think that has to be a bad thing. As long as everyone understands what their roles are, I think it could help.

I am a person who analyses language very carefully in my career as a means to understand the logic and intentions of various people (when I am not drafting poorly in THN ). So let me reformulate the three statements as impartially as I can as:

1. The hiring of the new "consulant" has serious risks but they can be avoided. How? see 2 below.

2 The success of this move is conditioned upon the premise that each role is assigned to be performed by the most qualified individual.

3. It is a potential aid but no more and no less.

Hardly a confident endorsement and support for the move to bring "a fresh set of eyes". Obviously, the players, like the media and fans, see this move as an expression of lack of confidence by the FO on Zorn.

This is a defense for the HC out of loyalty by JC. JC is a very decent man BUT bringing these additional "fresh set of eyes" has been corectly interpreted by players, fans and the media as a DESPERATE move and interference by the FO to try to save a season already in a deep hole.

I agree with JC on all three premises but I think that among all three, number 2 will be the most difficult to achieve. Cerrato himself could not tell what exactly would be the role of the new "fresh set of eyes".

[frankcal20]

Look. You can't call out your players on TV. If you do, that is only going to cause all types of trouble (see T.O.) in the locker room. I'm sure he is talking to guys in the huddle, on the sidelines, in practice and film study. I don't think he needs to go public and put the player on blast in the media. That's no way to be a leader in any organization. I would hate to have a company meeting and my manager say out loud that I am not pulling my weight in front of everyone, and I would imagine that we all would too.

[Irn-Bru]

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements.

Yes.

No, he didn't say "I am the biggest screwup on this team," which I'm convinced is the ONLY way he's going to make the haters the least bit happy. But he's clearly shouldering responsibility, and anyone who reads those quotes with a modicum of objectivity sees that.

There have been times recently when JC did say things like "I made mistakes" or "I didn't get things done." A thread was posted in Hogwash covering that. Check the blind spot in your memory; you may find it there.

This is a perfect example of his blatent inabilty to be a team leader. Leaders take accountability for the actions that take place on the field. It is apparent that JC is unwilling to step up and take any sort of accountability for the feeble offense he runs.

No, it's not. Although this post was a blatant example of fishing for another way to be down on JC. I think we get it: you don't like him and think he's a huge problem.

[RedskinTexan]

The coaches are always the first to take the blame. They are considered geniuses if they win five or six games in a row and bums if they drop two or three in a row. All coaches are dead men walking. Zorn and his staff are on the plank it's just a matter of time.

[Redskin in Canada]

Look. You can't call out your players on TV.

He is trying to cover the back of his coach at a low time. I agree with you that blaming the players is not a good thing. But he is is in a no win situation.

If he blames the coaches .... bad.
If he blames the players ... bad.
If he blames himself ... bad.
If he blames the FO ... suicide.

Look Frank, if you ask me, the best thing to do is to say nothing and tryto improve on the field. That is the only way to get some pressure off everybody's shoulders. They need to buy time and this "win" against Tampa did not do that.

[El Mexican]

Look. You can't call out your players on TV. If you do, that is only going to cause all types of trouble (see T.O.) in the locker room. I'm sure he is talking to guys in the huddle, on the sidelines, in practice and film study. I don't think he needs to go public and put the player on blast in the media. That's no way to be a leader in any organization. I would hate to have a company meeting and my manager say out loud that I am not pulling my weight in front of everyone, and I would imagine that we all would too.

It all dependes how you reprimend some one, Frank.

Players don't work in closed environments like we do, where rules and correct behavior yield a good place to work. These guys operate differently. They play a violent sport, so articulating violent verbal and non verbal expressions is not out of the norm.

Practically in every game I see Manning, Favre, even Brady shouting and gesticulating at his teammates and those teams have achieved success.

So why can't JC do it? Because it's not his style. I would support the attitude he has displayed on the field up until now, but we have seen it has not produced good results. Time to change.

[frankcal20]

Most of us watch the game on TV. So the camera's are on the field. I have heard on the Sports Reporters say that JC has had team huddles with the WR's on the sideline and things have gotten testy in the past. The camera's have not caught it. Usually, when JC comes off the field, he has to go talk to JZ which if there is a bit of frustration acts as a buffer and probably puts him in a less frustrated mindframe.

We at home don't have a buffer at home. I've tried to find one in Jack Daniels, Cold Coors Lights, and the occasional Red Strip or Newcastle. It hasn't worked to well for me.

[mastdark81]

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements.

Of course not. According to the conventional wisdom these days:

It's Danny's fault.
It's Vinnie's fault.
It's Campbell's fault.
It's Zorn's fault.
It's the line's fault.
It's the receivers' fault.
It's Portis's fault.

In that order. So many people are to blame, maybe we should start identifying the people who aren't at fault. The only one who gets a pass on the offensive side seems to be ey.

Nope!! Not so fast, when ey improves on his blocking then he'll get a pass. He seems to take plays off on run downs to get enough energy on the passing plays. Been doing this since day one. He's beat 50% of the time. We dont' have a pure blocking te on the team. Should at least have one.

[frankcal20]

Your crazy!!!!

What they ask ey to do is too much for a TE of his size. He should never be asked to hold a block on a D End one one on with run plays on his side. Sure, he could beef up or whatever but it will take away from his best asset - his ability in the passing game.

He has always been a pass catching TE similar to Clark @ Indy. They do not ask him to block one on one against d ends. On those plays, we should be running a jumbo package with Yoder. After last game, I never really too interest in watching Fred Davis blocked be he was asked to block a D End and he just 100% whiffed on the play.

One player I will 100% stand behind is ey.

[roybus14]

Most of us watch the game on TV. So the camera's are on the field. I have heard on the Sports Reporters say that JC has had team huddles with the WR's on the sideline and things have gotten testy in the past. The camera's have not caught it. Usually, when JC comes off the field, he has to go talk to JZ which if there is a bit of frustration acts as a buffer and probably puts him in a less frustrated mindframe.

We at home don't have a buffer at home. I've tried to find one in Jack Daniels, Cold Coors Lights, and the occasional Red Strip or Newcastle. It hasn't worked to well for me.

Try Corn Liquor Frank....

[VetSkinsFan]

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements.

Of course not. According to the conventional wisdom these days:

It's Danny's fault.
It's Vinnie's fault.
It's Campbell's fault.
It's Zorn's fault.
It's the line's fault.
It's the receivers' fault.
It's Portis's fault.

In that order. So many people are to blame, maybe we should start identifying the people who aren't at fault. The only one who gets a pass on the offensive side seems to be ey.

Nope!! Not so fast, when ey improves on his blocking then he'll get a pass. He seems to take plays off on run downs to get enough energy on the passing plays. Been doing this since day one. He's beat 50% of the time. We dont' have a pure blocking te on the team. Should at least have one.

This has got to be in the top 10 stupidest things posted here. I guess a TE who's capable of leading your team in receptions and setting club records is expected to be a freakin superior blocking TE as well? Wow...what a well thought out post.....

[DEHog]

Article from the Buffalo news...replace Bills with Redskins

Once again, this town is in a funk about its football team. Four games into the season, and already the Bills are diving headfirst into the dumpster.

It matters. In a small city with few connections to the big time, the Bills are more than a football team. Their success or failure colors the communal mood. There was a sense of gloom in the air Monday morning, as many folks returned to work with sagging shoulders after Sunday’s 38-10 rout at Miami.

I hated to see it. We have enough to get depressed about around here without having a lousy football team.

Buffalo has had just one winning season since 1999, prompting fans’ invariable complaints about various coaches and players. It is like saying the problem with General Motors was bad cars. No. Bad cars were simply the byproduct of bad ownership and poor management (“Ladies and gentlemen, the Chevy Vega!”).

So, too, with the Bills. The faces change, the results stay the same. The chronic mediocrity is compelling evidence that the Buffalo team’s core problem is its ownership and management. The management structure, put in place by 91-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, consistently misjudges talent, fails to spend wisely on personnel and does not hire capable coaches to direct players and create innovative strategies.

In Corporate America or in the NFL, management counts.

“Management is the elixir that produces consistent results over time,” said Tony Ogorek. “[Successful] corporations tend to be managed by deep teams of people who . . . understand what is happening in the marketplace and constantly innovate.”

Ogorek is an Amherst-based financial adviser. He evaluates corporations for their investment-worthiness. A prime consideration is quality of management. That is why I called him. The Bills’ lengthy mediocrity is ultimately not a failure of individual players and coaches, but a consequence of flawed management.

Despite a salary cap and shared revenue that largely level the playing field among 32 NFL teams, Buffalo has not made the playoffs in nine seasons. It has not won a playoff game since Bill Clinton’s first term. It has, in corporate terminology, consistently underperformed.

“Other teams obviously are doing a better job of allocating capital to the right people and in replenishing the talent pool,” Ogorek said.

It is no coincidence that the Bills’ last stretch of success, from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, coincided largely with the tenure of talented CEO—er, general manager—Bill Polian and his people. It is no accident that Polian has since built successful teams –and management structures—in Carolina and, currently, Indianapolis.

Ogorek cited the corporate analogy of the Big Three automakers. Bill Ford saw the tsunami coming, brought in innovative managers and survived.

“Ford . . . redid its entire car line. GM and Chrysler didn’t,” Ogorek said. “Rick Wagoner [at GM] oversaw perhaps the greatest destruction of capital in American history. The difference? Ownership and management.”

The Bills consistently bring in big-bucks free agents who disappoint and high draft picks who do not produce. They fail to pay premium value for exceptional players, who then leave the company—er, team. They habitually acquire marquee names who are on the downside of their careers.

Master investor Warren Buffett “calls it ‘buying a company with only a couple of puffs left on the cigar,’ ” Ogorek said. “It is not a good long-term investment.”

The faces change; the story stays the same.

Welcome to the Bills, the General Motors of the NFL. With no government bailout in sight.

[VetSkinsFan]

Article from the Buffalo news...replace Bills with Redskins

Once again, this town is in a funk about its football team. Four games into the season, and already the Bills are diving headfirst into the dumpster.

It matters. In a small city with few connections to the big time, the Bills are more than a football team. Their success or failure colors the communal mood. There was a sense of gloom in the air Monday morning, as many folks returned to work with sagging shoulders after Sunday’s 38-10 rout at Miami.

I hated to see it. We have enough to get depressed about around here without having a lousy football team.

Buffalo has had just one winning season since 1999, prompting fans’ invariable complaints about various coaches and players. It is like saying the problem with General Motors was bad cars. No. Bad cars were simply the byproduct of bad ownership and poor management (“Ladies and gentlemen, the Chevy Vega!”).

So, too, with the Bills. The faces change, the results stay the same. The chronic mediocrity is compelling evidence that the Buffalo team’s core problem is its ownership and management. The management structure, put in place by 91-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, consistently misjudges talent, fails to spend wisely on personnel and does not hire capable coaches to direct players and create innovative strategies.

In Corporate America or in the NFL, management counts.

“Management is the elixir that produces consistent results over time,” said Tony Ogorek. “[Successful] corporations tend to be managed by deep teams of people who . . . understand what is happening in the marketplace and constantly innovate.”

Ogorek is an Amherst-based financial adviser. He evaluates corporations for their investment-worthiness. A prime consideration is quality of management. That is why I called him. The Bills’ lengthy mediocrity is ultimately not a failure of individual players and coaches, but a consequence of flawed management.

Despite a salary cap and shared revenue that largely level the playing field among 32 NFL teams, Buffalo has not made the playoffs in nine seasons. It has not won a playoff game since Bill Clinton’s first term. It has, in corporate terminology, consistently underperformed.

“Other teams obviously are doing a better job of allocating capital to the right people and in replenishing the talent pool,” Ogorek said.

It is no coincidence that the Bills’ last stretch of success, from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, coincided largely with the tenure of talented CEO—er, general manager—Bill Polian and his people. It is no accident that Polian has since built successful teams –and management structures—in Carolina and, currently, Indianapolis.

Ogorek cited the corporate analogy of the Big Three automakers. Bill Ford saw the tsunami coming, brought in innovative managers and survived.

“Ford . . . redid its entire car line. GM and Chrysler didn’t,” Ogorek said. “Rick Wagoner [at GM] oversaw perhaps the greatest destruction of capital in American history. The difference? Ownership and management.”

The Bills consistently bring in big-bucks free agents who disappoint and high draft picks who do not produce. They fail to pay premium value for exceptional players, who then leave the company—er, team. They habitually acquire marquee names who are on the downside of their careers.

Master investor Warren Buffett “calls it ‘buying a company with only a couple of puffs left on the cigar,’ ” Ogorek said. “It is not a good long-term investment.”

The faces change; the story stays the same.

Welcome to the Bills, the General Motors of the NFL. With no government bailout in sight.

Little harsh on the skins aren't ya?

[brad7686]

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements.

Of course not. According to the conventional wisdom these days:

It's Danny's fault.
It's Vinnie's fault.
It's Campbell's fault.
It's Zorn's fault.
It's the line's fault.
It's the receivers' fault.
It's Portis's fault.

In that order. So many people are to blame, maybe we should start identifying the people who aren't at fault. The only one who gets a pass on the offensive side seems to be ey.

Nope!! Not so fast, when ey improves on his blocking then he'll get a pass. He seems to take plays off on run downs to get enough energy on the passing plays. Been doing this since day one. He's beat 50% of the time. We dont' have a pure blocking te on the team. Should at least have one.

This has got to be in the top 10 stupidest things posted here. I guess a TE who's capable of leading your team in receptions and setting club records is expected to be a freakin superior blocking TE as well? Wow...what a well thought out post.....

He's less at fault than most but he can't block for crap. Watch the steelers game from last year.

[CanesSkins26]

The Bills are better than us right now.

[DEHog]

Article from the Buffalo news...replace Bills with Redskins

Once again, this town is in a funk about its football team. Four games into the season, and already the Bills are diving headfirst into the dumpster.

It matters. In a small city with few connections to the big time, the Bills are more than a football team. Their success or failure colors the communal mood. There was a sense of gloom in the air Monday morning, as many folks returned to work with sagging shoulders after Sunday’s 38-10 rout at Miami.

I hated to see it. We have enough to get depressed about around here without having a lousy football team.

Buffalo has had just one winning season since 1999, prompting fans’ invariable complaints about various coaches and players. It is like saying the problem with General Motors was bad cars. No. Bad cars were simply the byproduct of bad ownership and poor management (“Ladies and gentlemen, the Chevy Vega!”).

So, too, with the Bills. The faces change, the results stay the same. The chronic mediocrity is compelling evidence that the Buffalo team’s core problem is its ownership and management. The management structure, put in place by 91-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, consistently misjudges talent, fails to spend wisely on personnel and does not hire capable coaches to direct players and create innovative strategies.

In Corporate America or in the NFL, management counts.

“Management is the elixir that produces consistent results over time,” said Tony Ogorek. “[Successful] corporations tend to be managed by deep teams of people who . . . understand what is happening in the marketplace and constantly innovate.”

Ogorek is an Amherst-based financial adviser. He evaluates corporations for their investment-worthiness. A prime consideration is quality of management. That is why I called him. The Bills’ lengthy mediocrity is ultimately not a failure of individual players and coaches, but a consequence of flawed management.

Despite a salary cap and shared revenue that largely level the playing field among 32 NFL teams, Buffalo has not made the playoffs in nine seasons. It has not won a playoff game since Bill Clinton’s first term. It has, in corporate terminology, consistently underperformed.

“Other teams obviously are doing a better job of allocating capital to the right people and in replenishing the talent pool,” Ogorek said.

It is no coincidence that the Bills’ last stretch of success, from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, coincided largely with the tenure of talented CEO—er, general manager—Bill Polian and his people. It is no accident that Polian has since built successful teams –and management structures—in Carolina and, currently, Indianapolis.

Ogorek cited the corporate analogy of the Big Three automakers. Bill Ford saw the tsunami coming, brought in innovative managers and survived.

“Ford . . . redid its entire car line. GM and Chrysler didn’t,” Ogorek said. “Rick Wagoner [at GM] oversaw perhaps the greatest destruction of capital in American history. The difference? Ownership and management.”

The Bills consistently bring in big-bucks free agents who disappoint and high draft picks who do not produce. They fail to pay premium value for exceptional players, who then leave the company—er, team. They habitually acquire marquee names who are on the downside of their careers.

Master investor Warren Buffett “calls it ‘buying a company with only a couple of puffs left on the cigar,’ ” Ogorek said. “It is not a good long-term investment.”

The faces change; the story stays the same.

Welcome to the Bills, the General Motors of the NFL. With no government bailout in sight.

Little harsh on the skins aren't ya?

No harder than you are you Jason

[VetSkinsFan]

Did anyone hear the word "I" in those statements.

Of course not. According to the conventional wisdom these days:

It's Danny's fault.
It's Vinnie's fault.
It's Campbell's fault.
It's Zorn's fault.
It's the line's fault.
It's the receivers' fault.
It's Portis's fault.

In that order. So many people are to blame, maybe we should start identifying the people who aren't at fault. The only one who gets a pass on the offensive side seems to be ey.

Nope!! Not so fast, when ey improves on his blocking then he'll get a pass. He seems to take plays off on run downs to get enough energy on the passing plays. Been doing this since day one. He's beat 50% of the time. We dont' have a pure blocking te on the team. Should at least have one.

This has got to be in the top 10 stupidest things posted here. I guess a TE who's capable of leading your team in receptions and setting club records is expected to be a freakin superior blocking TE as well? Wow...what a well thought out post.....

He's less at fault than most but he can't block for crap. Watch the steelers game from last year.

Yeah, I fault ey about as much as I fault Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, or Antonio Gates for their subpar blocking skills. And to fault ey for not being able to block Harrison, the defensive player of the year, is laughable.

[VetSkinsFan]

Article from the Buffalo news...replace Bills with Redskins

Once again, this town is in a funk about its football team. Four games into the season, and already the Bills are diving headfirst into the dumpster.

It matters. In a small city with few connections to the big time, the Bills are more than a football team. Their success or failure colors the communal mood. There was a sense of gloom in the air Monday morning, as many folks returned to work with sagging shoulders after Sunday’s 38-10 rout at Miami.

I hated to see it. We have enough to get depressed about around here without having a lousy football team.

Buffalo has had just one winning season since 1999, prompting fans’ invariable complaints about various coaches and players. It is like saying the problem with General Motors was bad cars. No. Bad cars were simply the byproduct of bad ownership and poor management (“Ladies and gentlemen, the Chevy Vega!”).

So, too, with the Bills. The faces change, the results stay the same. The chronic mediocrity is compelling evidence that the Buffalo team’s core problem is its ownership and management. The management structure, put in place by 91-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, consistently misjudges talent, fails to spend wisely on personnel and does not hire capable coaches to direct players and create innovative strategies.

In Corporate America or in the NFL, management counts.

“Management is the elixir that produces consistent results over time,” said Tony Ogorek. “[Successful] corporations tend to be managed by deep teams of people who . . . understand what is happening in the marketplace and constantly innovate.”

Ogorek is an Amherst-based financial adviser. He evaluates corporations for their investment-worthiness. A prime consideration is quality of management. That is why I called him. The Bills’ lengthy mediocrity is ultimately not a failure of individual players and coaches, but a consequence of flawed management.

Despite a salary cap and shared revenue that largely level the playing field among 32 NFL teams, Buffalo has not made the playoffs in nine seasons. It has not won a playoff game since Bill Clinton’s first term. It has, in corporate terminology, consistently underperformed.

“Other teams obviously are doing a better job of allocating capital to the right people and in replenishing the talent pool,” Ogorek said.

It is no coincidence that the Bills’ last stretch of success, from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, coincided largely with the tenure of talented CEO—er, general manager—Bill Polian and his people. It is no accident that Polian has since built successful teams –and management structures—in Carolina and, currently, Indianapolis.

Ogorek cited the corporate analogy of the Big Three automakers. Bill Ford saw the tsunami coming, brought in innovative managers and survived.

“Ford . . . redid its entire car line. GM and Chrysler didn’t,” Ogorek said. “Rick Wagoner [at GM] oversaw perhaps the greatest destruction of capital in American history. The difference? Ownership and management.”

The Bills consistently bring in big-bucks free agents who disappoint and high draft picks who do not produce. They fail to pay premium value for exceptional players, who then leave the company—er, team. They habitually acquire marquee names who are on the downside of their careers.

Master investor Warren Buffett “calls it ‘buying a company with only a couple of puffs left on the cigar,’ ” Ogorek said. “It is not a good long-term investment.”

The faces change; the story stays the same.

Welcome to the Bills, the General Motors of the NFL. With no government bailout in sight.

Little harsh on the skins aren't ya?

No harder than you are you Jason

I've actually been one of the bigger JC supporters here. I may have irrational fits of frustration, but I still think JC's a average or better QB, he's just in the completely WRONG system for his skills.

[DEHog]

Article from the Buffalo news...replace Bills with Redskins

Once again, this town is in a funk about its football team. Four games into the season, and already the Bills are diving headfirst into the dumpster.

It matters. In a small city with few connections to the big time, the Bills are more than a football team. Their success or failure colors the communal mood. There was a sense of gloom in the air Monday morning, as many folks returned to work with sagging shoulders after Sunday’s 38-10 rout at Miami.

I hated to see it. We have enough to get depressed about around here without having a lousy football team.

Buffalo has had just one winning season since 1999, prompting fans’ invariable complaints about various coaches and players. It is like saying the problem with General Motors was bad cars. No. Bad cars were simply the byproduct of bad ownership and poor management (“Ladies and gentlemen, the Chevy Vega!”).

So, too, with the Bills. The faces change, the results stay the same. The chronic mediocrity is compelling evidence that the Buffalo team’s core problem is its ownership and management. The management structure, put in place by 91-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, consistently misjudges talent, fails to spend wisely on personnel and does not hire capable coaches to direct players and create innovative strategies.

In Corporate America or in the NFL, management counts.

“Management is the elixir that produces consistent results over time,” said Tony Ogorek. “[Successful] corporations tend to be managed by deep teams of people who . . . understand what is happening in the marketplace and constantly innovate.”

Ogorek is an Amherst-based financial adviser. He evaluates corporations for their investment-worthiness. A prime consideration is quality of management. That is why I called him. The Bills’ lengthy mediocrity is ultimately not a failure of individual players and coaches, but a consequence of flawed management.

Despite a salary cap and shared revenue that largely level the playing field among 32 NFL teams, Buffalo has not made the playoffs in nine seasons. It has not won a playoff game since Bill Clinton’s first term. It has, in corporate terminology, consistently underperformed.

“Other teams obviously are doing a better job of allocating capital to the right people and in replenishing the talent pool,” Ogorek said.

It is no coincidence that the Bills’ last stretch of success, from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, coincided largely with the tenure of talented CEO—er, general manager—Bill Polian and his people. It is no accident that Polian has since built successful teams –and management structures—in Carolina and, currently, Indianapolis.

Ogorek cited the corporate analogy of the Big Three automakers. Bill Ford saw the tsunami coming, brought in innovative managers and survived.

“Ford . . . redid its entire car line. GM and Chrysler didn’t,” Ogorek said. “Rick Wagoner [at GM] oversaw perhaps the greatest destruction of capital in American history. The difference? Ownership and management.”

The Bills consistently bring in big-bucks free agents who disappoint and high draft picks who do not produce. They fail to pay premium value for exceptional players, who then leave the company—er, team. They habitually acquire marquee names who are on the downside of their careers.

Master investor Warren Buffett “calls it ‘buying a company with only a couple of puffs left on the cigar,’ ” Ogorek said. “It is not a good long-term investment.”

The faces change; the story stays the same.

Welcome to the Bills, the General Motors of the NFL. With no government bailout in sight.

Little harsh on the skins aren't ya?

No harder than you are you Jason

I've actually been one of the bigger JC supporters here. I may have irrational fits of frustration, but I still think JC's a average or better QB, he's just in the completely WRONG system for his skills.

My bad Vet...It wasn't directed at you...misread the poster