2016 Bills: BRexit

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

6 years straight of Rex' teams winning the offseason and stepping on their own dicks during the regular season.

If the Pegulas were capable of feeling shame they ought to be feeling it today. They should have hired Jim Shwartz. They naively fell for the snake oil Rex was selling and thought that hiring him would put asses in the seats. They were stupid enough not to understand that results are the only thing that matters, and that Rex is incapable of providing them. I don't feel bad for the Bills at all, because this was entirely forseeable.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

@Smiling Joe Hesketh will love this.


“@MatthewFairburn: Rex Ryan said he's "not sure" why the defense isn't where it needs to be.”

Jesus H. Christ on a goddamn pogo stick. You're damn right I love this.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Some sad team will hire him. He won't be out of a job for long.

6 straight years of missing the playoffs. Jeff Fisher's already got a job, so the token "Completely Incompetent Coach Hired Against All Sensibilites" spot has been filled for the near future.

 

[Garshaparra]

I think this is it for Rex as a head coach. It would not at all surprise me to see him as a DC in some regime with decent talent looking to improve. A perfect fit next year would be the Bengals, once they fire Lewis and hire Urban Meyer.

 

[Al Zarilla]

I think this is it for Rex as a head coach. It would not at all surprise me to see him as a DC in some regime...

A regime sounds like a government. How about Lower Slobbovia?

 

[The Needler]

I can't see Rex's ego allowing him to become an undersecretary after so many years as supreme leader. He's bound for the TV studio unless he decides to try his hand at college football.

 

[DanoooME]

It's a shame Adam Gase is doing so well. I could see Rexy wanting to complete the AFC East Revenge on Belichick Tour.

 

[dbn]

It's a shame Adam Gase is doing so well. I could see Rexy wanting to complete the AFC East Revenge on Belichick Tour.

Bowles might be on the hot seat...

 

[TFisNEXT]

I can't see Rex's ego allowing him to become an undersecretary after so many years as supreme leader. He's bound for the TV studio unless he decides to try his hand at college football.

He really should go into the college scene. It is tailor-made for him. Head coach being the center of attention in college, control over his players/recruits, etc, etc.

 

[Garshaparra]

This made me wonder how many AFC East head coaches has BB outlasted. Presuming Bowles and Ryan get fired this year, and Gase does not (seems plausible), including interim coaches, the number is a staggering 21:

BUF: 8 (7 FT, 1 interim) - Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, Dick Jauron, Perry Fewell, Chan Gailey, Doug Marrone, Rex Ryan
MIA: 9 (6 FT, 3 interim) - Dave Wannstedt, Jim Bates, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles, Joe Philbin, Dan Campbell, Adam Gase
NYJ: 5 - Al Groh, Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini, Rex Ryan, Todd Bowles

Honorable mention:

IND: 4 - Jim Mora, Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, Chuck Pagano

 

[Ralphwiggum]

It's amazing that the Jets are a model of stability compared to Buffalo and Miami.

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

He really should go into the college scene. It is tailor-made for him. Head coach being the center of attention in college, control over his players/recruits, etc, etc.

Has Rex ever really given a rat's ass over maintaining control of his players and organization? He'd be an AD's worst nightmare.

 

[tims4wins]

Vic Carucci ‏@viccarucci 14m14 minutes ago


DT Marcell Dareus said it's "a guarantee" the #Bills will not become the first team to lose to the #Browns this season.


UH OH

 

[BigSoxFan]

Lol. I guarantee you we will beat an 0-13 team! Take that to the bank!

 

[Norm loves Vera]

While I love the Rex clown show, a move for Fisher would be fine with me.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 13m13 minutes ago


Bills preparing to move on from HC Rex Ryan, per league sources:

Per Schefter, Bill preparing to move on from Ryan per league sources.

 

[RedOctober3829]

They are keeping Doug Whaley. Idiots.

As Buffalo tries to prevent Cleveland from winning its first game of the season on Sunday, Rex Ryan is probably coaching his final games as the Bills' head coach, according to league sources.

Ryan is aware of what's ahead, sources said, which creates an awkward situation surrounding the Bills until the change is made.

While Buffalo is preparing to move on from Ryan, the organization is expected to retain its general manager Doug Whaley, who is expected to be given a chance to hire his third different head coach, after having a hand in the hirings of Ryan and former Bills head coach Doug Marrone. But the cycle of change in Buffalo is expected to continue.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18301314/rex-ryan-likely-coaching-final-game-buffalo-bills-head-coach

 

[Don Buddin's GS]

Dan Wetzel asks the question "Why do people love to hate Rex Ryan?"

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-do-people-love-to-hate-rex-ryan-225711880.html

 

[mwonow]

Dan Wetzel asks the question "Why do people love to hate Rex Ryan?"

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-do-people-love-to-hate-rex-ryan-225711880.html

Already getting the popcorn ready for the SJH response

 

[InstaFace]

Do we have any actual Bills fans here? Would love to know how they feel about him, and the prospect of replacing him.

 

[Van Everyman]

Dan Wetzel asks the question "Why do people love to hate Rex Ryan?"

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-do-people-love-to-hate-rex-ryan-225711880.html

I feel a bit torn when it comes to Rex. On one hand, I find SJH's rants on him to be both entertaining and fairly accurate. Rex loves attention and seems to absolve himself of responsibility at every turn. His coaching record is pretty mediocre. And I think there's a pretty good argument to be made that he made this Bills team worse.

OTOH, his 2010 Jets team was pretty damned good – and the shortcomings with that squad—namely their shitty quarterback and wafer thin window due to the salary cap disaster awaiting it—were Tannenbaum's fault, not Rex's. If they had been able to keep that crew together and found a way to get a competent game manager under center—say, Alex Smith—I think that team—and Rex's own legacy as a HC—would have been remembered very differently.

Beyond that though, I have a hard time believing some team won't be snookered by this guy again if he is fired from Buffalo. Chicago would be a killer stop for The Rexy Show.

 

[johnmd20]

I feel a bit torn when it comes to Rex. On one hand, I find SJH's rants on him to be both entertaining and fairly accurate. Rex loves attention and seems to absolve himself of responsibility at every turn. His coaching record is pretty mediocre. And I think there's a pretty good argument to be made that he made this Bills team worse.

OTOH, his 2010 Jets team was pretty damned good – and the shortcomings with that squad—namely their shitty quarterback and wafer thin window due to the salary cap disaster awaiting it—were Tannenbaum's fault, not Rex's. If they had been able to keep that crew together and found a way to get a competent game manager under center—say, Alex Smith—I think that team—and Rex's own legacy as a HC—would have been remembered very differently.

Beyond that though, I have a hard time believing some team won't be snookered by this guy again if he is fired from Buffalo. Chicago would be a killer stop for The Rexy Show.

That 2010 team backed into the playoffs and were lucky to be there, with prime Revis and a defense that was stacked. His record is what it is, which is pretty lousy. Without those two lucky years where they backed into the playoffs and won a couple of games, Rex wouldn't even have a job.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Already getting the popcorn ready for the SJH response

So you're saying we should get a god damned snack?

 

[Rudy's Curve]

That 2010 team backed into the playoffs and were lucky to be there, with prime Revis and a defense that was stacked. His record is what it is, which is pretty lousy. Without those two lucky years where they backed into the playoffs and won a couple of games, Rex wouldn't even have a job.

The 2010 Jets were the sixth seed at 11-5. The first team out was 9-7. How the hell did they back in?

 

[Toe Nash]

OTOH, his 2010 Jets team was pretty damned good – and the shortcomings with that squad—namely their shitty quarterback and wafer thin window due to the salary cap disaster awaiting it—were Tannenbaum's fault, not Rex's. If they had been able to keep that crew together and found a way to get a competent game manager under center—say, Alex Smith—I think that team—and Rex's own legacy as a HC—would have been remembered very differently.

This seems to imply that Rex had nothing to do with drafting and developing said shitty QB...I don't think that is true.

 

[Van Everyman]

That 2010 team backed into the playoffs and were lucky to be there, with prime Revis and a defense that was stacked. His record is what it is, which is pretty lousy. Without those two lucky years where they backed into the playoffs and won a couple of games, Rex wouldn't even have a job.

Yes and no. 2009 felt like they backed into the playoffs--with Rex's statement that they were eliminated from the playoffs midseason when they actually weren't--but they actually won 5 out of their final 6 games. That team kind of stank, though -- so, yes, they were lucky to get to the AFCCG.

2010, as I had forgotten, was the Year of the Buttfumble. And yes, they started that year 9-2 and ended up going 2-3 the rest of the way to end up 11-5, which included that 45-3 humiliation in Foxboro.

But the job they did to the beat the Pats that year in the playoffs in New England was pretty impressive (which followed them beating Manning's Colts). Of course, in classic Rex style, they shot their wad against the Pats--Rex's Super Bowl--and were completely gassed the next week against the Steelers and put up a terrible effort. Still, that 2010 team was pretty good. In addition to having prime Revis and a stacked defense, they had LDT still playing pretty well, a dangerous Santonio Holmes, decent role players like Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards and a really, really good OL anchored by Mangold and Ferguson.

The biggest problem with the 2010 team was Mark Sanchez, not Rex.

This seems to imply that Rex had nothing to do with drafting and developing said shitty QB...I don't think that is true.

I wouldn't say "nothing," but it's pretty clear today that Sanchez wasn't mishandled -- he just wasn't very good. And while Rex probably had a say, drafting Sanchez wasn't his call -- it was Tannenbaum's. I actually think as obnoxious as Ryan's schtick is, there's a pretty good case to be made that his antics with the NY media kept the heat off of Sanchez for as long as possible and, hence, gave his team more of a chance to win those years than they probably had with Sanchez at QB.

 

[dbn]

The 2010 Jets were the sixth seed at 11-5. The first team out was 9-7. How the hell did they back in?

He must have been thinking of 2009, when Rex (incorrectly) announced that their playoff chances were over after their week 15 loss, then won out against two teams resting starters to sneak in as the 6th seed.

 

[johnmd20]

I was thinking of 2009 and 2010. I thought they backed into the playoffs both years, so I was off on 2010.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Already getting the popcorn ready for the SJH response

I can't believe how misguided that Wetzel column is, and this from a guy who usually does good work. It's like Wetzel doesn't see the prime problem: Rex talked big when getting hired in Buffalo and now two years later the team is in worse shape than when he got there. And it's not like they were barn-burners to begin with, but at least Marrone and Schwartz had the 4th-ranked D in the league their last year there and had gone 9-7 with the forgettable Kyle Orton at QB. Rex doesn't even have that anymore (18th this year, 19th last year), and that was supposed to be his specialty. He had room to grow that team and instead they've gotten worse.

At some point Rex had to STFU and win. Or at least win as much as his mouth allowed. He didn't do that, hasn't done that in 6 years, and the act is beyond tired.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

This popcorn stinks.

 

[Stitch01]

I don't know how he wasn't fired when he pitched his brother as the solution on defense.

 

[reggiecleveland]

That column should be retitled "The NFL needs colorful coaches, no not him, a good one"

The writer admits Rex is not a very good coach, admits he shoots is mouth off and fails to back it up, but bemoans the other coaches are boring. He could just as easily said, too bad Rex isn't good.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

This popcorn stinks.

I'm trying to be charitable, it's the Christmas season and stuff.

 

[dcmissle]

I can't believe how misguided that Wetzel column is, and this from a guy who usually does good work. It's like Wetzel doesn't see the prime problem: Rex talked big when getting hired in Buffalo and now two years later the team is in worse shape than when he got there. And it's not like they were barn-burners to begin with, but at least Marrone and Schwartz had the 4th-ranked D in the league their last year there and had gone 9-7 with the forgettable Kyle Orton at QB. Rex doesn't even have that anymore (18th this year, 19th last year), and that was supposed to be his specialty. He had room to grow that team and instead they've gotten worse.

At some point Rex had to STFU and win. Or at least win as much as his mouth allowed. He didn't do that, hasn't done that in 6 years, and the act is beyond tired.

The work can be reconciled with the author. Here is the money quote:

It’s a funny photo. Everyone will laugh – laugh not just because of the absurdity of the scene but to laugh at Rex Ryan because he’s somehow become a joke these days, an example of big talk, little action that football finds worthy of scorn. There is nothing the NFL likes more than to snuff out the non-conformist.

(emphasis added).

Wetzel's rage against the NFL is 24/7/365. In the vast majority of cases, I share it. But you have to pick your spots, and here Wetzel lacks discipline and judgment.

If Rex is clipped, it's easily justifiable. Defense has been his forte, and he made a good defense bad while not improving the offense. And so far as I can tell, he's had free rein in Buffalo. Finally, if you're going to go down nepotism road, things had better work out.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Are people so desperate for entertainment that they're willing to have a shitty product on the field so long as they have a carnival barker for a coach who gives good mic?

That's your problem right there.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Are people so desperate for entertainment that they're willing to have a shitty product on the field so long as they have a carnival barker for a coach who gives good mic?

That's your problem right there.

The media doesn't care about the product on the field. A Carnival Barker, however, is easy writing.

 

[joe dokes]

The media doesn't care about the product on the field. A Carnival Barker, however, is easy writing.

Exhibit A:

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

The media doesn't care about the product on the field. A Carnival Barker, however, is easy writing.

But even the fans, players, and owners bought and are buying into it. Eric Wood just made a public plea this week not to fire Rex because "they're so close." The owners hired this guy because they bought the bullshit he was slinging. They even let him hire his brother despite coming off a historically awful performance in NO. The fans went nuts when they hired him, buying a ton of season tix.

It's like they forgot all the lessons that were learned from his Jets tenure. Bullshit only sells if the wins follow.

 

[Tony C]

Rex Ryan is the Donald Trump of the NFL. You think it's all a semi-amusing joke -- a blowhard ignorant moron whose sole ability is to play to the cameras and the homebound idiots who watch cable tv, but everyone knows he isn't a serious professional regarding the issue at hand -- and...what? what's that? He got hired/not fired? How the f did that happen???

It does say something undoubtedly heavy and deep about our post-modern/post-truth society, but will leave that for another time....

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Rex Ryan is the Donald Trump of the NFL. You think it's all a semi-amusing joke -- a blowhard ignorant moron whose sole ability is to play to the cameras and the homebound idiots who watch cable tv, but everyone knows he isn't a serious professional regarding the issue at hand -- and...what? what's that? He got hired/not fired? How the f did that happen???

It does say something undoubtedly heavy and deep about our post-modern/post-truth society, but will leave that for another time....

This this this - a thousand times THIS.

 

[dcmissle]

The media doesn't care about the product on the field. A Carnival Barker, however, is easy writing.

A thousand times this.

As noted in another thread, the sports mainstream media thought for the longest time that Richard Sherman is so effing amusing, smart, enlightening and cutting edge (and, IMO, Sherman is many of these things much of the time).

But then Sherman committed an unpardonable sin. He took a run at one of their own. And now in some quarters he is Idi Amin.

I would not put Wetzel in this category -- but God, these media people suck in the main. They love to create and take pleasure in misery -- but they are the thinnest skinned sons-and-daughters of bitches you will ever find.

 

[Super Nomario]

Two items in defense of Rex:
1) Buffalo's recent draft history is lousy. In 2013 their first-round pick was E.J. Manuel. In 2014 they took Sammy Watkins, who has been good but injury-prone; and they traded their 2015 first-rounder to get him. Their top two picks this year have both been hurt. This is not a team that has a ton of talent.
2) At some point, this franchise has got to get some continuity. In 2014 they had a good defense under Jim Schwartz. Then they hire Rex. Both Schwartz and Rex have had success with their defenses at times, but they run very different schemes. The result? Useful players who aren't a fit in Rex's scheme get kicked to the curb: Kiko Alonso, Mario Williams, Ross Cockrell, Leodis McKelvin, etc. It's hard to win this way. The Bills have seemingly spent much of the last 15 years waffling between 3-4 and 4-3 defenses and every time they switch, they throw some baby out with the bathwater.

Rex has a lot of warts as a head coach, but cycling through coaches every two or three years isn't getting Buffalo anywhere.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

But even the fans, players, and owners bought and are buying into it. Eric Wood just made a public plea this week not to fire Rex because "they're so close." The owners hired this guy because they bought the bullshit he was slinging. They even let him hire his brother despite coming off a historically awful performance in NO. The fans went nuts when they hired him, buying a ton of season tix.

It's like they forgot all the lessons that were learned from his Jets tenure. Bullshit only sells if the wins follow.

Yes and no.

He's a "players coach", so no doubt the players want to continue running the asylum.

The owner/fans bought his shit 2 years ago, but they weren't the only ones. Hell, plenty of people on this board thought Rex was a good defensive mind and deserved a 2nd chance. The owners couldn't can him after one season so they gave him enough rope to hang himself this year (and he did). It doesn't feel like the fans or owners are buying his shit after 2 pretty quick years.

 

[Leather]

2010, as I had forgotten, was the Year of the Buttfumble. And yes, they started that year 9-2 and ended up going 2-3 the rest of the way to end up 11-5, which included that 45-3 humiliation in Foxboro.



.

Buttfumble was 2012, on Thanksgiving.

Shame on you.

 

[pdaj]

I think Rex's wins vs. New England, especially his playoff win in '10 when with Jets, bought him a lot of clout with certain NFL folks. It's no wonder his next job opportunity happened to be in the same division. "He's proven he can best Bill Belichick". Of course, he's still only 5-11 vs. Brady/BB overall at this point; and even if you've been more successful than others at beating the Patriots, you still have to win most of those other games, too.

I think he's a very good defensive coordinator, but being a successful head coach requires additional skill-set he probably doesn't have.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

Of course, he's still only 5-11 vs. Brady/BB overall at this point; and even if you've been more successful than others at beating the Patriots, you still have to win most of those other games, too.

While I agree with your overall point, technically he's 4-11 against Brady / Belichick. The last win came with Brissett at QB.

 

[pdaj]

While I agree with your overall point, technically he's 4-11 against Brady / Belichick. The last win came with Brissett at QB.

Ah, my bad! Thanks for catching that.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

I'm not trying to be snarky, but he's actually lost to them 12 times, not 11 (4 - 9 as Jets head coach). But again, I agree that Rex is still someowhat living off that road playoff win with Sanchez at QB.

 

[Van Everyman]

Buttfumble was 2012, on Thanksgiving.

Shame on you.

Oh my god, shame on me is right. I had naturally assumed it was in that 45-3 thrashing in NE. Alas, it was the 49-19 ass-kicking in NJ. I need to keep my thrashings, ass-kickings and humiliations straight.

 

[dynomite]

Oh my god, shame on me is right. I had naturally assumed it was in that 45-3 thrashing in NE. Alas, it was the 49-19 ass-kicking in NJ. I need to keep my thrashings, ass-kickings and humiliations straight.

The incredible thing about the Butt Fumble is that it was just the 2nd of THREE touchdowns in about a minute for the Pats.

Vereen took a screen pass for a 70 yard TD, then the Butt Fumble happened, and then on the kickoff the returner got crushed by McCourty, the ball popped up in the air and Edelman caught it and took it to the house. I laughed out loud for a solid 3-4 minutes.

It just never gets old.


Also here's someone weirdly narrating the whole sequence:

 

[E5 Yaz]

And yet, it's only fifth worst