Building a franchise in the NFL is widely considered the toughest job in professional sports. There are so many variables that go into constructing a team that many try and fail on a yearly basis.
The Bills have come flying out of the gates this season and look like a complete football team for the first time in over a decade. The players and coaches should be given credit for their amazing performance thus far, but the success of the franchise is owed to one man: Marv Levy.
Many people were skeptical when owner Ralph Wilson when he re-hired Levy in January 2006. At the age of 80, critics worried Levy may be too old to still operate at a high level.
He wasted no time in beginning to mold the team to his vision. He hired Dick Jauron two weeks into his tenure, a move questioned by fans across Buffalo. He then started building his offensive line, which was a staple of his '90s Bills teams, whom he coached to four straight Super Bowl appearances.
He, along with coaches, made the decision to move All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters to the offensive line from tight end. This move may have been the most instrumental in the resurgence of the line.
He followed, the next off-season, by adding respected league veterans Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker. In 2007, he drafted starter Brad Butler and signed free agent Kirk Chambers who have both made contributions this season.
To see Levy's true imprint on the Bills, one must look no farther than his two draft classes.
Quarterback Trent Edwards and strong safety Donte Whitner, both team captains, are the leaders on their respective sides of the ball.
Whitner was the first pick Levy made as GM and it has paid big dividends that Bills fans would have never dreamt of. One of the best young defenders at his position, Whitner consistently brings intensity to each play. He is the heart of a defense that ranks seventh in total defense this season, up from second to last a year ago.
Edwards is the talk of the league after guiding the Bills to three consecutive fourth quarter comebacks. Five quarterbacks were drafted ahead of Edwards and the only one to have seen any type of success is Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell.
Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny and running back Marshawn Lynch have developed a cult-like following in only their second year in the league. Take a look around Ralph Wilson Stadium on game day and you will be hard pressed to find a row without either a Posluszny or Lynch jersey being represented.
One of the biggest difficulties for Levy was changing a culture that had forgotten what it was like to be a winner. He brought back a mentality of confidence and responsibility to a team that needed it badly.
The NFL goes through coaches and general managers like a dog goes through bones. The longevity and success of his career, both on the field and in the front office, is a testament to the ultimate professional Levy has been.
The Bills go on without him, but the players and fans that got a chance to be a part of his era will always appreciate him. He has made the fans here in Buffalo remember the words, "Where would you rather be than right here, right now."
