Two Bills Drive

‘Crennel interviewed with five teams for their head coaching vacancies during the bye week, but three of those – the Giants, Falcons and Cardinals – filled their openings. He remains alive with Chicago and Buffalo, although the Bills are said to be favoring Pats offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.’

‘”Pittsburgh is like home for me,” said LeBeau, who is a native of London, Ohio. “People were always exceptionally good to me in that town. They have great sports fans.”‘

‘If Mularkey doesn’t get the Buffalo job, he has an edge in preparing for the Bills, who are one of the Steelers’ opponents in 2004. “I studied a lot of film on them, so I know their personnel pretty well before I go in there (for the interview). So, I can talk about each guy and have a good feel about every guy on the roster and their schemes. They are very close (to succeeding). Their defense got better and was stout at the end of the year. Their offense struggled, and if you can get those two to complement each other and get a little more ball control with the offense, they got a chance. They are not far away at all.”‘

‘Mularkey has emerged as one of the leading candidates to become the head coach with the Buffalo Bills, but it does not appear that is the reason he declined the interview with the Raiders.’

‘It’s considered a good possibility that defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who still is under contract for the coming season, will be back. However, if the new coach has a confidant he wants to bring along as defensive coordinator, Gray could be let out of his contract.’

‘According to other sources, the key question is whether the Bills want their next radio voice also to be their voice in the community, speak to area groups, host TV shows and do public relations. If the Bills decide their voice will hold a full-time job, Murphy’s chances could diminish. He is the sports director at the local ABC affiliate, Channel 7, and certainly is making more money there than the Bills would offer for a full-time position.’

‘Gray is considered a long shot to land the Bills job, but it’s believed the new coach will be urged to keep him on as coordinator. Gray would not be interested in making a downward move by rejoining Williams. The Texas job does intrigue him.’

‘It will be interesting to see if pass-happy quarterback Drew Bledsoe would accept such a drastic change in offensive philosophy. For the sake of the Bills and his career, Bledsoe should buy into it 100 percent.’

‘According to a source, Williams wants to hire his former defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, defensive line coach Tim Krumrie and linebackers coach Don Blackmon. But those coaches remain under contract with the Bills, who so far have given the Redskins permission to talk only with Jackson and Smith.’

‘Williams is interested in other Bills staffers but remains in a holding pattern while Buffalo searches for his replacement.’

‘The Oakland Raiders have received permission from the Steelers to speak to Mularkey about replacing former coach Bill Callahan, who was fired at the end of the season.’

‘He was assistant head coach with the Buffalo Bills in ’03 and is hoping to return to Buffalo this season. He is tempted by the Steelers’ job possibility, but he might want to stay in Buffalo if his close friend Dick Jauron is hired as head coach. Jauron is one of seven candidates in Buffalo, including Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.’

‘Coughlin is interested in hiring Jauron to be his assistant head coach, in part so he can work with Lewis. But Jauron’s availability isn’t clear, since he’s still a candidate to be the head coach of the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Jones said Buffalo Assistant General Manager Tom Modrak told him Thursday that he remains unsure whether he wants to interview for the position.’

‘Smith is the Bills special teams coach, and his unit finished third in the league this season in kickoff coverage. Jackson is the Bills safeties coach and third-down specialist.’