Jauron-a-go

It feels like the same old thing. It doesn't have to.

Marshawn Lynch's dejection, a perfect snapshot of the Buffalo Bills 2008 season captured by the Buffalo News, may say all there is to say about the Bills' latest heartbreaking loss; latest heartbreaking season.

Can it all be a good thing?

As we prepared to enjoy a Bills upset against the New York Jets Sunday, my parents and my brother and I started reeling off the successes of the afternoon: beastly running game, stingy second half defense, dynamic special teams.

And then we realized. "Wait. Seven wins. That could just keep Dick Jauron in town."

For while the guy had proven a reliable caretaker and upstanding representative of the organization, his track record as a mediocre game day coach had also been demonstrated for three season.

And then came the nail in Jauron's head coaching coffin. He (and his staff) put their least reliable player in a position to lose a game the Bills had every right winning. And when J.P. Losman failed as he's done his entire career to feel backside pressure, and the Jets scooped up his fumble and scored the winning TD, it should not have felt like a blindsiding. Just a conclusive, 10-second review of the organization's shortcomings: unreliable quarterbacking and unsatisfactory head coaching.

So instead of a heartbreaking defeat, opportunity presents itself. Jauron will leave and the Bills will roll the dice again. Doesn't matter whether they hire Bill Cowher or Bill Coward, everytime a coach is named, no matter the pedigree, success and failure is a crap shot. Ask Cleveland fans about Bill Bellichek. Ask Falcons fans about Mike Smith.

But at least Bills Nation gets the chance. Yes, there's no championship this year, but keep in mind, before the 5-1 September start, had anyone banked on one? Yes, the playoffs remain the goal. This may be the most wide-open NFL in 30 years. Same for the AFC East. Would have been nice. But if you don't have coaching or quarterbacking you can count on, you don't get to dream those dreams.

We think this because western New Yorkers who want to paint themselves as being cursed or victimized by Ralph Wilson or Jauron or Losman or Scott Norwood or Ronnie Harmon, feel comfortable stewing in those juices; just another thing to keep Buffalo down.

Don't waste a minute.

This is a region proud to tell you it can take a punch and keep coming at you. Not only because it's taken plenty, but because it's made that way. Another meltdown in the Meadowlands is no reason to spend a second pining for the title that's yet to arrive. You can't miss what you've never had.

So instead of losing faith, find it in the renewal of the season. New coaches, players, managers. And don't get turned upside down in feeling the Bills are running out of time here. They're not going anywhere. We have billionaires. They'll take care of business.

And allow for the four-month autumn festival the region calls Bill season to unify us.