Two Bills Drive

‘Wade Phillips refused to fire special teams coach Ronnie Jones and it cost him his job.’

‘Buffalo Bills coach Wade Phillips was fired late Sunday night by owner Ralph Wilson. His unwillingness to make changes in his assistant coaching staff was reportedly a factor in Wilson’s decision.’

‘Bills assistant coaches whose jobs could be on the line include offensive co-ordinator Joe Pendry, special teams coach Ronnie Jones and offensive line coach Carl Mauck. All three are close friends of Phillips.’

‘Wade Phillips’ three-year head-coaching tenure with the Buffalo Bills will end Monday. Team owner Ralph Wilson is expected to announce Phillips’ firing, in a move that was not expected to be decided until Buffalo filled its vacant general manager position.’

‘Apparently, a new general manager isn’t the only thing the Buffalo Bills need.’

‘Phillips’ reluctance to fire some of his assistant coaches apparently led to his dismissal. The team has no comment at this time.’

‘And late Sunday night, it became the bitter end for Phillips, who was dismissed by the Bills after he steadfastly declined to make staffing changes suggested by owner Ralph Wilson last week and then reiterated in the past 48 hours.’

‘"We have no comment at this time," said Scott Berchtold, Bills vice president of communications.’

‘They look at me like I’m crazy, or making the whole thing up. They don’t understand how anyone could go to the extremes that a Bills fan will go to in order to feel like part of a team.’

PFW recently wrote, "Some Bills observers are beginning to be concerned over wide receiver Eric Moulds’ impending free agency. These sources say it is not absolute that Moulds will return to Buffalo, especially if offensive coordinator Joe Pendry remains." Listening to talk radio and reading the Stadium Wall message board, Moulds may not be the only person not present in RWS next season if Pendry remains. Some fans may elect to stay away too!

‘Phillips was happy being a defensive coordinator, but his dream was to be a head coach again. He insisted he didn’t come to Buffalo to be Levy’s successor. But that’s what happened shortly after Levy announced his retirement on Jan. 31, 1998.’

‘The firing apparently was a result of Phillips’ refusal to release three of his assistant coaches – offensive coordinator Joe Pendry, offensive line coach Carl Mauck and special teams coach Ronnie Jones.’

Former Bills LB Jim Haslett (’79-’85) has landed The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award. Haslett is only in his first year of coaching the Saints and he guided them to the division title, despite a rash of injuries to his skill players. This is not the first AP award Haslett has won. He was the recipient of the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1979. An interesting side note is that NFC coaches have received the Coach of the Year award 17 times in the past 20 years.

‘But Bills owner Ralph Wilson let Butler go last month when negotiations for a new pact stalled. "Don’t say fired," Butler asked. "That sounds like you didn’t do your damn job."’

‘"I’m overweight," he says. "And I love football."’