Archives for January 2004

‘”What I had to get used to on the set was asking questions instead of answering them,” Spikes said. “I think the experience of having to come up with questions really made me realize what it is like to be a T.V. reporter. I have a great respect for the people on T.V. stations now, because I know what they have to go through. At times, they may be taping and at other times they may have to go live. You don’t have a lot of room for error in a lot of those situations.”‘

‘While Hanifan heads to the family ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo., Buffalo should be in line for great things in 2005 with the hiring of 24-year veteran line coach Jim McNally. Consider that Cincinnati reached the Super Bowl in McNally’s second season there (1981), Carolina made the NFC title game in his second season (1996) and the Giants went to the Super Bowl in his second season (2000).’

‘Lester is a survivor. He was first hired as an assistant by Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy in 1987. He’s now working under his fourth head coach.’

‘A native of Madison, WI, Studesville (pronounced “STEW-dus-vill”) spent the last three seasons coaching running backs with the New York Giants. He broke into the NFL coaching ranks with Chicago as the Bears quality control coach from 1997-2000. Prior to that, he worked in the collegiate ranks from 1991-96.’

‘Studesville spent the past three seasons coaching the New York Giants running backs.’

‘Williams did not get fired … he merely wasn’t renewed. But even as his tenure fell apart, Williams declined to blame his assistants, particularly offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride whose stubborn, inflexible philosophy and play-calling did more than anything else to cost his boss the job.’

‘April’s reputation took a hit in St. Louis, where his units allowed 10 special teams touchdowns while scoring only one the last three seasons. He lost control of kickoff coverage (ranked 30th this season) in 2002, but he did oversee the punt coverage unit, which finished last this season (15.1 yards per return). His kickoff and punt returns finished in the middle of the pack.’

‘Although she did take Donahoe’s remark as an attack on fans, she said she doesn’t see Mularkey’s greeting as a makeup call. Rather, with her $390 season ticket bill coming in the mail soon, Babiarz said it’s simply a case of the team buttering her up, high-tech style. “I thought more that Tom Donahoe would make sure he was touching base with his season ticket holders as soon as possible to get them pumped, because that bill is coming next week, I know it is,” she said.’

‘Gilbride, a 29-year coaching veteran, has spent the last 14 years in the pro ranks, including two seasons as a head coach and 11 others as an offensive coordinator. Known as one of the preeminent offensive minds in the game, Gilbride has spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, which he led to offensive rankings of 11th and 30th in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, respectively. Prior to his stint in upstate New York, Gilbride served as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Oilers (1990-94), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-96), and Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-00), where his teams were perennially ranked near the top of the league in passing offense.’

‘”There are some guys that you can’t ask them to do things they aren’t capable of,” Mularkey said. “There are great schemes and ideas that go on across the league every Sunday, but if you don’t have the personnel to do it, you’re asking for failure. It starts with the quarterback but it’s coordinated across the board. That’s my philosophy with it.”‘

‘Gregg Williams could’ve saved his job and Kevin Gilbride’s too had they given Henry the football eight to 10 more times a game.’

‘The Bills are keeping close tabs on University of Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald eligibility ruling for the draft. They are in need of a talented wideout, and while they pick 13th, might consider doing whatever it takes to move up into the top 10 for a chance to grab Fitzgerald.’

‘Many NFL head coaches are so consumed with their jobs they’re known to sleep in the office and forget the name of the family pet. Mike Mularkey says he will not be one of them. He believes balance is the key to success, both on and off the field. He says he will be passionate about coaching the Bills, but says he will also always make time for his wife Betsy and two sons. Mularkey, however, does admit the hectic pace of his new job is consuming him right now.’

And while we’re at it, everyone is comparing the Philadelphia Eagles (losers of three consecutive NFC Championship games) to the Buffalo Bills.

Now, wait a minute. The Buffalo Bills won a ton of huge playoff games. They never lost a championship game in their house-much less two in a row. In fact, Jim Kelly was 9-1 at home in the postseason! As Philadelphia has found out, it is very difficult to reach one Super Bowl-never mind four in a row. Before anyone finds an easy way of comparing the Eagles failures with the Bills-check the facts. Those Bills defeated Dan Marino’s Dolphins and Joe Montana’s Chiefs and John Elway’s Broncos in the postseason. They won AFC Championship games at home and on the road. They won them with offense, and they won them with defense. So, to Eagles players, fans, and media; enough already with the Bills bashing. Today’s Eagles would be fortunate to have one Hall of Fame player like Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, or Jim Kelly.

‘The Bills retained Don Blackmon as their linebackers coach. Blackmon completed his first season in Buffalo, coaching a revamped corps that featured two new starters — Pro Bowl selection Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey.’