Archives for January 6, 2006

‘Don Blackmon (Linebackers), Tom Clements (Offensive Coordinator), Tim Krumrie (Defensive Line), Frank Verducci (Offensive Line), and Steve Szabo (Defensive Backs).’

‘Whether or not on-field success is achieved immediately, Bills fans

can expect a tougher, united brand of football in 2006 and as long as

Levy is running things. He is a great person, a great leader, and

someone who has earned the utmost respect in every room he’s ever

entered.’

‘How tough is it to turn around a 5-11 season in the NFL these days? Two teams, the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Bucs, were 11-5 after going 5-11 in 2004, and the Washington Redskins were 10-6 after going 6-10 the year before. All three teams did it with the same head coach. Which reminds me, didn’t a lot of people think Joe Gibbs was too old after that 6-10 season proved the game has “passed him by?”.’

‘Wilson believes the Bills’ front office needs more teamwork, more cooperation, more constructive conflict and more voices involved in the decision-making. Wilson believes some of that somehow was lacking over the past five years with Tom Donahoe in control as the team’s president and general manager. “I think we need to come together a little more as a team,” Wilson said. “The administration, everybody. It can’t be a closed-door deal. Maybe this department over here (for instance) has a better idea.”‘

‘Punchlines are nice, but the Bills need to get better at punching the ball into the end zone. Levy will have a honeymoon period. He’ll deflect attention from the wretched football team. But soon enough, Levy will have to prove himself as an NFL personnel man.’

‘Gray said by phone Thursday that he has not resigned, and if he has been fired it is news to him. “Unless they come out in a news conference and say it, I’m still employed by the Bills,” he said. “We’re on vacation for 11 days. I left as a defensive coordinator, so we’ll see if I come back as one. But I haven’t been contacted yet.”‘

‘”With Marv’s contacts around the league and conversations we have on a weekly basis with people around the league, it’s pretty easy to keep your pulse on what’s going on in the league,” said Tasker, who works as a NFL color commentator for CBS and did preseason Bills games with Levy. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem with him stepping in and helping out immediately.”‘

‘The biggest complaint from fans Thursday was the retention of head coach Mike Mularkey. “I do not have any faith in Mularkey whatsoever,” said David P. Fiut, 52, a computer programmer from Lackawanna. “I think [his coming back] will undermine the whole plan. Basically, I think he’s a lame duck.”‘

‘”We all have a great deal of affection for him and even at the most basic level I think this organization is better with him than without him. He has a great mind, he has a lot to contribute, he has a lot of energy, and I know he has a great deal of expertise and integrity.”‘

‘Out with the new; in with the old.’

‘”I hope I act his age when I’m his age,” said Steve Tasker, one of Levy’s former players.’

‘”I’m the general manager/director of football operations, and I’m savoring that role,” Levy said. “I’m looking forward to working primarily with (coach) Mike Mularkey and his coaching staff and with the people in the personnel department … areas that relate to football.”‘

‘”I’m happy to see Marv Levy back. That’s obviously a name from the past and he did a great job when he was here,” he said. “I think his success will carry over and kind of resonate through the team. I saw him speak a moth ago. He’s still as sharp as a tack.”‘

‘”They say two things happen when you get older,” Levy said. “One is that you forget things. And I can’t remember what the other one is.”‘

‘He told a story of lying about his age being 58 instead of 61 when the Bills first hired him in 1986, so not to raise concerns he might be too old for the job. And when asked why he thought he had the stamina and mental acuity to be general manager at age 80, he deadpanned back in a slow voice, “Would you repeat that please?”‘