Archives for February 9, 2001

‘[Requires Free Registration] Harris was most recently the offensive backfield coach for the Buffalo Bills in 1998 and 1999, when he was on the same staff with the Jets’ new defensive coordinator, Ted Cottrell. Harris was out of football last season, after being fired by the Bills at the end of the 1999 season, apparently over philosophical differences with the former coach Wade Phillips and the offensive coordinator Joe Pendry.’

‘I was looking around and i found a site that has the info on the 46 Defense.’ [This isn’t really a news piece, but it does provide technical details surrounding the infamous defensive scheme.]

‘Williams said when he was hired he wanted a staff well-schooled in teaching fundamentals and Graves seems to fit that mold. Bills president Tom Donahoe echoed those sentiments and he also noted this week the club would not be hesitant to hire college coaches to attract the caliber of staffers it wanted.’

‘"Nobody’s going to give up something to absorb a burden on their cap. If I’m the new coach, I’ll stay with the 27-year-old with upside and two years of contract left and hope he becomes a leader and gets better. I don’t care how good Flutie is right now at his age."’

‘Smith, who has joined Butler in San Diego as assistant general manager, said owner Ralph Wilson "dictated" what took place in Buffalo. "John has taken unwarranted hits on all those things concerning Buffalo’s salary cap," Smith said. "Just ask Mr. Wilson. He was the one involved with that."’

‘Graves, a Ute assistant coach since 1982, will work under new Bills Coach Gregg Williams, who played for Graves at Northeast Missouri 25 years ago, and offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard, a former New Mexico coach and Brigham Young graduate assistant.’