Archives for January 15, 2010

‘D.O.A. … Doomed on arrival. That best sums up the Bills’ 2009 season in which dubious decisions made by the front office and coaching staff in the months and weeks leading up to kickoff made missing the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season and the firing of coach Dick Jauron a foregone conclusion.’

‘Fitzpatrick was signed to be Edwards’ backup but wound up starting eight games after Edwards’ early struggles and his inability to shake his injury-prone label. Fitzpatrick did admirable work (1,422 yards passing, 9 TDs, 10 INT) but nobody’s kidding himself into believing is a viable NFL starter with his limited athletic talents. Edwards’ career is clearly at a crossroads but could be resurrected under the right coaching staff. Brohm, a former second-round pick signed off Green Bay’s practice squad, lost his one start against Atlanta but showed signs that he could challenge for the position in training camp. With rebuilding the offensive line and the defense the top priorities, Buffalo’s new coaching staff may have to live with this trio for a year.’

‘"There are a lot of factors into us finishing that low, but we have some pieces in place and we have the talent to move forward, but the fact of the matter is that if we can’t keep guys healthy, none of that matters." — DT Marcus Stroud, on the Bills’ 6-10 season, which was doomed by a team-record 20 players landing on injured reserve.’

‘The Bills signed three players from their practice squad to future free agent contracts. Buffalo signed defensive tackles Rashaad Duncan and Lonnie Harvey and OT Jason Watkins.’

‘Speaking by phone from his home in suburban Buffalo on Friday, Evans said he doesn’t have “a sense of desperation” after Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer rejected the team’s interview request.’

‘"Buddy Nix is obviously a friend of mine, having worked together," Schottenheimer said. "It’s not about the Buffalo Bills, it’s about the New York Jets and how I feel about this organization, the way I see the direction of this team going under Rex, the fact that [owner] Woody [Johnson] and [GM] Mike [Tannenbaum] stuck by me last year. All that is stuff I took into consideration. At the end of the day, I felt really good about the decision."’

‘That’s why I have no problem with the Bills considering Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and trying to talk to Schottenheimer and Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm. No one knows if any of them are any good, but the Bills wouldn’t be the first or the last team to give an assistant coach a shot. Besides, we all remember the last time the Bills went for the experienced coach. So how did the Dick Jauron hire turn out?’

Former Bills Coach Picked to Revive Giants’ Defense (New York Times)

Perry Fewell accepts New York Giants defensive coordinator job (New York Daily News)

Coughlin hires his first choice as D-coordinator (New York Post)

Fewell’s job: Make Giants’ D respectable again (New York Newsday)

NY Giants officially hire Perry Fewell as defensive coordinator (Newark Star Ledger)

Giants name Perry Fewell as new defensive coordinator (Bergen Record)

Giants hire Perry Fewell as defensive coordinator (AP)

Perry Fewell named D-Coordinator (Giants.com)

New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will wait for right head coach job (New York Daily News)

Staying loyal to the Green (New York Post)

Schotty’s decision had to do with Jets, not Bills (New York Newsday)

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is “happy” to stay with NY Jets (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets’ Schottenheimer ‘went with my gut’ over Bills (AP)

Eagles hire new special-teams coordinator (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Eagles replace special-teams coach Daisher with April (Philadelphia Daily News)

April in to fix special teams (Bucks County Courier Times)

Eagles add big name to coach special teams (Cherry Hill Courier Post)

Eagles change special teams coach (Delaware County Times)

Eagles hire Bobby April; fire Ted Daisher (AP)

Eagles Tab Bobby April New Special Teams Coordinator (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Steelers’ coaching turnstile continues (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

New coach in a better spot with Steelers (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Steelers hire former Bills assistant to coach O-line (Beaver County Times)

Steelers line gets new coach (Washington Observer Reporter)

Steelers hire Kugler as offensive line coach (AP)

Steelers Hire Kugler as Offensive Line Coach (Steelers.com)

‘After the hearing, Smith said he thought he had a 50/50 chance of beating the DUI charge but then still would have had to face the charge of refusal to take a breath test. “The risk versus the reward was not in our favor,” he said.’

‘”As I have said, I was having some wine at dinner with friends,” Smith said of the night he was arrested. “I thought it was in my best interests to take ownership of that evening.”‘

‘”There are so many stories in the league of guys that started off slow, cut numerous times, out of the league for a few years and have come back to have great careers. Especially at the quarterback position,” Brohm said. “One day it’s going to come together with all that hard work. You just have to believe in yourself and that’s what I’ve been doing.”‘