Mediocrity is a tough sell at ticket-renewal time
January 4 Buffalo News columnist Larry Felser
"Woe to the person in Buffalo Bills’ management who is assigned to write the annual letter to season-ticket buyers about renewing for the 2009 season.
How would you start? “We have re-established our commitment to mediocrity?”
Or, “We promise we won’t mangle game management in ’09?”
Or, “Our players will no longer get into a fracas 20 seconds before halftime while the clock runs out on a probable tying field goal?”
How about, “Our coach is already practicing how to throw the challenge flag without worrying that he might disturb the concentration of the zebras?”
Three weeks ago owner Ralph Wilson stood outside the Bills’ dressing room in the New Jersey Meadowlands after the team ceded what appeared to be a slam-dunk victory to the Jets and proclaimed that “we just don’t have the talent.” Now he’s saying that there is enough talent on his team for it to emerge from this dark decade, that it just needs another draft similar to those of the last few years.
Ironically, the franchise’s Wall of Fame committee will meet this week to begin sorting out who will be honored as members of the Bills’ 50- year team. The fans will have their say later. I don’t know how the fans feel, but from this vantage point the only players who were in the Buffalo lineup in the last four seasons who will even get a mention are punter Brian Moorman, middle linebacker London Fletcher and wide receiver Eric Moulds. Fletcher and Moulds have been gone for two years.
How does this team get better when the entire football organization is loaded with the usual suspects?
Don’t hang your hats on a mother-lode draft in 2009. In the last four drafts the Bills have selected just two players you might consider game-changers — Lee Evans and Marshawn Lynch. Evans’ receiving skill is largely wasted since they can’t get the ball to him often enough or when he isn’t blanketed with coverage. Lynch has been a 1,000-yard rusher in his first two years, but with much better blocking he might be in the 1,500 to 1,700 category. Trent Edwards? Eventually, maybe, if he survives physically.
Game-changers often arrive as pass rushers, interceptors, wide receivers and pass-catching tight ends. With Aaron Schobel lost for most of the season, the Bills had no reliable pass rushers. With no Buffalo pass rush, opposing quarterbacks were at their leisure to find open receivers, which severely limited the interception possibilities. This season was another lost one to exploit Evans’ skills. "Link
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