Archives for December 30, 2003

‘Tom Donahoe’s initial list for Buffalo Bills coaching candidates includes New England assistants Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, and St. Louis assistant Lovie Smith.’

‘The Bills could take a major step toward closing the gap between themselves and the Patriots by luring one of the coordinators. Buffalo’s major weakness this season was offense, and Weis worked with Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe as New England’s offensive coordinator in 2000.’

‘”He was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end,” Donahoe said. “I have no complaints. I can’t say anything publicly bad about the guy except we didn’t win enough football games.”‘

‘The front office thinks highly of New England’s offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Both he and Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel are considered head-coaching candidates this winter. However, if the Bills want to interview either of them, they must do it by Friday or wait until after the Pats are knocked out of the playoffs. Neither Weis or Crennel have major head-coaching experience. Other highly regarded assistants include St. Louis defensive chief Lovie Smith and Pittsburgh offensive chief Mike Mularkey. Neither has been a head coach.’

‘”He came in being a hard guy, so I was a little suspect of him,” Pat Williams said. “But slowly but surely he became a guy we felt good about. I think the rest of the guys liked him, too.”‘

‘”I screwed up,” he said. Fine, now stop talking down to the customers and get to work on the product.’

‘Williams’ 5-15 record against AFC East teams did not help his cause. His teams were able to beat the Miami Dolphins twice last season, but the Bills’ most hated rival swept the season series this year and in 2001. Williams was also 2-4 against the New York Jets.’

‘”There isn’t any one thing, other than we didn’t win enough games,” Donahoe said. “But obviously we had our problems on offense. We ended up 30th in offense, so there was a tremendous drop-off on the offense this year, and that contributed to some of our problems.”‘

‘Irked at being characterized as a control freak, Donahoe went out of his way to take swipes at the western New York media during Monday’s press conference at One Bills Drive. Deflecting the blame from yourself by shifting it to the media is an age-old strategy, but not a very wise one. I’ve never seen it work.’

‘Speaking before a packed house over in the team’s media center, where there are plenty of team logos, Donahoe, as always, looked in control. But on this eventful day, looks were deceiving.’

‘”It will take as much time as we feel it takes to get the right coach. It could be a week; it could be a month. There’s no real timetable.”‘

‘Gregg Williams is through as coach of the Bills, but Drew Bledsoe remains and the top priority of Williams’ successor should be rejuvenating the career of the shell-shocked quarterback. Bledsoe isn’t as bad as his most severe critics contend, but he clearly no longer is as good as team owner Ralph Wilson and general manager Tom Donahoe are trying to tell us. The truth is somewhere in between and Bledsoe probably isn’t good enough to take the Bills deep into the playoffs unless a top-notch running attack becomes the top offensive priority. He should be a complement and not the centerpiece.’

‘While he was supportive of Williams personally, Donahoe admitted that he has to “do a better job” with his next hiring and said all logical candidates will be considered.’

‘The Dolphins are expected to seek permission Tuesday to interview current Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Tom Modrak. It is all but a given that Bills general manager Tom Donahoe will grant permission.’

‘Donahoe cited his coaches’ inability to adjust as part of the problem. “Players change, circumstances change, and you have to be adjusting all the time to that,” Donahoe said. “We could’ve done a better job in some areas of making these adjustments.”’