Ralph Wilson, Jr. Gets a Bum Rap

It just so happens that by opening day 2007, the Bills ranked fourth in the NFL in team salary at roughly $108 million.

In that same year, the Giants won the Super Bowl with the lowest team salary in the NFL at roughly $75.8 million. That fact is kept way under the radar because it flies directly in the face of “ESPN wisdom,” which suggests that a bigger signing equals a bigger impact.

In 2008, the Bills ranked 16th in team salary at roughly $113 million. A paltry ranking, I'll admit—except that they ranked higher than San Diego ($111 million), Philadelphia ($109 million), Atlanta ($96 million), Indianapolis ($93 million), New England ($92 million), and Baltimore ($90 million).

With the exception of New England, who were left out only due to the NFL playoff structure, all of those teams made the playoffs in 2008.

(Note: Sort of makes you wonder what a franchise run by ESPN would look like, but one really has to look no further than Washington or Dallas to have some idea.  How have they fared over the last 10 years?)

Yes, there is clearly something wrong with the Bills, but spending definitely does not seem to be it. In my opinion, if you want to fault Wilson, you’ll have to get beyond the dollars and cents and look at his hiring record.  Here, Wilson has—unfortunately—not fared so well.

Of course, none of Wilson’s hirings have proven to be more damaging than that of Tom Donahoe. Here Wilson certainly, and by his own admission, dropped the proverbial ball.

To Wilson’s credit, Donahoe had—somehow—earned some credibility in Pittsburgh before single-handedly dismantling the Bills roster. Ahhh, Mr. Donahoe. What would the Buffalo Bills look like without your crafty stewardship?

Despite big-name ESPN style signings, the Bills managed a meager 31-49 record during Donahoe's tenure.

That probably had something to due with hiring quality coaches beginning with Gregg Williams and ending with Mike Mularkey. And while each of them deserves his share of the blame, they have one thing in common: Donahoe hired them.

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