Memo to Ralph Wilson: We Can Fix the Bills

Greetings, Mr. Wilson. We’ve never been formally introduced, but you have certainly seen enough of my money the past 10 years.

I’m sure you’ve heard of me. I’m a Buffalo Bills fan, and the purpose of this memorandum is to outline a new course of action for the product that I care too ardently about. I’m not gonna pull any punches, and I hope that you won’t either.

Here are five steps to take that will convince the people of Buffalo that you still care.

1. Remove the head coach with no sense of direction.

So...yeah. Done and done.

2. Hire a true general manager. Now.

Do not wait until the season is over. Do not wait until Christmas. Do not wait until the Toronto festival. Show us, Mr. Wilson, that you have a road map for success, and that you’re not running this team the way that Dick Jauron coached—by the seat of his pants.

A new general manager, hired immediately, would have seven weeks to evaluate his roster and determine who is worth keeping and who is leaving town.

3. Cut Terrell Owens. Now.

This is not a knock on T.O. Sure, he’s struggled this year, but Jerry Rice would have struggled this year. It kind of makes you have a brand-new respect for Lee Evans, but I digress. The Bills should release Owens for two reasons:

A. There are two young receivers on the roster, James Hardy and Steve Johnson, who are not getting any playing time. You need to know if they botched another high draft pick in Hardy, and I believe that Johnson has Owens-esque potential. Get these guys involved in the offense for the next seven weeks so that we know if there is a future worth building.

B. Owens has served his purpose. He saved the fiscal year for Buffalo by selling a butt-load of season tickets and jerseys. He brought national attention to the city. Financially, he has been worth way more than his $6.5 million contract.

So return the favor, Mr. Wilson. Give Owens a chance to sign on with another team and save his career. He’s playing for his next contract, and every week that he remains in Buffalo equals another foot of water over his head. A Hall of Fame career is sinking here, so let him prove that he can still play, even if it is for another team. You owe him that much.

4. Somehow, some way, lock in a permanent head coach before the season is over.

I’m personally torn between Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan, and that’s running on the assumption that you, Mr. Wilson, can convince either of those two to come to Orchard Park. Lie, cheat, steal, hold their Super Bowl rings for ransom. Just get one of them here.

5. Make Fred Jackson the feature back.

Whenever he’s been given the chance, Jackson has not only proven more than adequate; he also has shown that he possesses that rare ability to make those around him better. Were we not praising the play of the offensive line during the first two weeks of the season? Was Edwards not playing to his potential the first two-and-a-half weeks?

Now, I absolutely love Marshawn Lynch’s style of play. But if he wants to add 10 pounds of muscle and run head first into potential tacklers, then congratulations: You’re the new fullback. The scary part is that you’re a fullback that can gain yards on third and short.

There are some other things, but they are really for the next head coach to decide. The removal of the Tampa 2 defense, which quarterback to bring in next year, moving Eric Wood over to center, and buying a proven left tackle are all predicated on the successful implementation of the process above.

Sorry for quoting Jerry Maguire, but help us help you, Mr. Wilson. We want to give you our money, we really do. Now give us a reason to.

P.S.

I’d like to add that I was not one of those dopes that were intent on booing you during your ring ceremony. I can separate the glorious accomplishments of a 50-year career from a couple of seasons of unhappiness.