Archives for January 2006

‘Dick Jauron will be the first to interview for the Buffalo Bills’ head-coaching position. According to an NFL source, Jauron is scheduled to meet with Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. and General Manager Marv Levy today.’

‘To western New Yorkers, disgusted with the Bills’ 5-11 season, only one fate is worse than having Ralph Wilson own the team: For him to croak and have his family sell.’

‘The team is expected to bring in ex-Buffalo linebacker and former New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett, Dallas passing game coordinator Sean Peyton and possibly former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman this week.’

‘Former Bills linebacker and recent New Orleans coach Jim Haslett tells 7 Sports that he’s had more "informal" contact with Bills officials but has no interview offer at this time. Haslett says he’ll have a second interview for the Lions head coaching vacancy late Monday or early Tuesday.’

‘A source tells Channel 2 the 48 year old Sherman, who was fired following the Packers just completed 4-12 season, was contacted by the Bills and quickly agreed to the interview. Sherman has already interviewed with the NY Jets and New Orleans Saints and is believed to be the front runner for the Saints vacancy.’

‘Gray also told The Associated Press on Monday that the Bills have given him permission to seek jobs with other teams, providing him another reason to believe he won’t be back with Buffalo next season. “I don’t think so,” said Gray, who has a year left on his contract. “If you’re a defensive coordinator and they want you, they’re not going to give you permission to go somewhere else. … So I’m pretty sure that means they’re letting you go be a D coordinator elsewhere because they’ve got other plans here.”‘

‘At the end of the promised exhaustive search, Levy may find himself unable to live up to his vow to find the best available coach, because Wilson won’t let him.’

‘Evans is a special player, a unique player, who needs his speed emphasized against the opposition. He’s already demonstrated the ability to burn helpless cornerbacks with his incredible rapidity. It’s time the Buffalo Bills throw in the occasional reverse or end-around as well. Evans should be one of the centerpieces of the Bills’ offense in 2006 and beyond.’

‘”I would point out to anybody who’s thinking of not renewing (season tickets) how important football is to the Western New York community – not only to business dollars in terms of revenue, but the intrinsic value and intangible value it has to Western New York business and our community,” said Jim Domagalski, president of the Bills’ Quarterback Club and a partner with Hiscock & Barclay LLP.’

‘With that in mind, the Coastal One cleared a few matters up for Ralph the other day when the Bills owner called. Surprised? Don’t be. On NFL draft day, the Coastal Institute always provides the Bills with can’t-miss selections. We’re the ones who came up with Mike Williams and JP Losman.’

‘Of course the Bills will talk to all of the coaches who have been fired since the season ended, including Mike Martz of the Rams, Jim Haslett of the Saints and Mike Sherman of the Packers. I don’t know who will end up with the job but I do know owners and general managers over-think the situation when it comes to hiring the man to lead their teams. Coaching football is not brain surgery. You do not have to go to school for years as doctors do.’

‘The best news to come out of the day for the Bills’ organization and fans is the fact that Levy and Wilson are finally on the same page. There won’t be any dissension or disagreements between the two, allowing the Bills to move forward and find the best possible replacement for Mularkey. They have already been rumored to be interested in a few jobless coaches on the market and should take their time in deciding on one.’

McCarthy also appears to have targeted former NFL quarterback Alex Van Pelt for the job of quarterbacks coach and USC offensive line coach Pat Ruel to coach that position group for the Packers, a source said.

‘”It’s a lot of pressure, a lot of pressure,” Wilson said. “I want him as GM. That was our agreement from the start and it still is.”‘

‘Considering the storms that Haslett weathered and the unfairness of Sherman’s dismissal as well as the pressure of coaching in a small market where the fans are even more crazed than those in Buffalo, either Sherman or Haslett would make a great fit here.’