Archives for January 2006

‘NFL sources tell 7News Sports Director John Murphy that Mularkey has said his goodbyes to staffers and is ready to resign just eight days after owner Ralph Wilson reaffirmed his support for the coach.’

‘A source tells us that much of the discussion has been about working out a financial settlement for Mularkey, who has three years left on his contract. Another source tells us Ralph Wilson would not be interested in keeping a coach who expressed a desire to quit.’

‘Clayton said that Mularkey’s family is starting to feel the pressure around the head coach. Also, he explained that Marv Levy wanted to keep Offensive Coordinator Tom Clements.’

‘According to a source close to Mularkey, he stepped down because of disagreements with the direction of the organization. He didn’t feel as though the setup for hiring assistant coaches and recruiting free agents were conducive to winning.’

‘Reached by The Associated Press later in the evening, Mularkey declined to comment on the report, except to say: “Right now is not the best time to talk.”‘

‘The Bills have called an 11 am news conference on Friday, where it’s expected it will be announced that Mike Mularkey has resigned as head coach.’

‘There’s still a good possibility that Reed will be enshrined some day in Canton. Perhaps Reed and former Redskins receiver Art Monk can start their own wing in Canton, “The Hall of Very Good.”‘

‘”Some of the team unity things that we used to do back when we played would be to have team get-togethers during the season,” he said. “We used to have a Friday Club where 10 to 20 of us would go and have chicken wings and we’d talk about things. I’d have get-togethers at my house after games. A lot of team members would go over to Ilio DiPaolo’s with their wives and families. No one has done that.”‘

‘But if the Golden Boys want to show a real commitment to the coach, they ought to go after some players, too. They should get rid of the two prominent veterans who challenged Mularkey’s authority in a big way this past season. They should show Eric Moulds and Sam Adams the door – and save the organization about $9 million on the cap while they’re at it.’

‘Fairchild, 47, did not call the Rams’ offensive plays for most of his St. Louis tenure. That duty was held by Rams head coach Mike Martz. However, after Martz left the sideline this past season on a medical leave of absence, Fairchild handled the play-calling duties for 11 games. The Rams’ attack was decimated by injuries this year. Starting quarterback Marc Bulger played only eight of 44 quarters after Martz left the team.’

‘The final 25 pitted Reed against two receivers who had been finalists before. This is the sixth straight year Monk has made the final 15. Irvin was a finalist last year.’

‘Mularkey is spending this week arranging interviews with potential candidates to remake his staff. Many of those will take place at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., the week of Feb. 22-28.’

‘No more than six candidates can be elected in each year but it appears Thomas’ chances are very good. Not only are his career credentials impeccable – he’s the only running back to lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons and was a vital part in Buffalo appearing in a record four consecutive Super Bowls – he’s the only running back up for consideration.’

‘Levy’s return to the Bills was put in motion when Wilson called him at his home in Chicago about two weeks ago. “Ralph said he was looking for a new general manager, and he asked me if I had any suggestions,” Levy said earlier this week by telephone from his North Side apartment. “I dredged up three or four names of people I believed could do a good job. Then he said to me, ‘How about you, Marv?”

‘The Buffalo Bills have received permission from the Rams to interview offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild for the same position in Buffalo.’