Two Bills Drive

‘Cowher had grown unhappy with the lack of productivity in the Steelers’ passing game under Gilbride. Pittsburgh ranked 29th among 31 NFL teams in 2000. Besides juicing up the passing attack, Mularkey’s charge was to rehabilitate quarterback Kordell Stewart, who had suffered a complete loss of confidence and focus with Gilbride’s complicated schemes. Under Mularkey and new quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, Stewart had his career-best passer rating (81.7) and passing yards total (3,106), and had 14 TD passes and 11 interceptions in 2001.’

‘Bills fans aren’t sure what to make of Mularkey just yet, but those who played and coached with him in Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Tampa Bay say that will change once fans get to know him.’

‘He’s a native of Kenmore, a graduate of the University at Buffalo and a lifelong Bills fan.’

‘Time became a foe of teams seeking head coaches, and that was no fault of Donahoe. He’s facing the prospect of losing Dick LeBeau, his assistant head coach, to the Steelers, who want to make him defensive coordinator. Mularkey also is partial to LeBeau, and sources say Weis would have been, as well. The longer the vacancy existed the greater the chance LeBeau takes the sure thing and flees to Pittsburgh.’

‘Wilson, former Bills special teamer Steve Tasker and Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell were among the 25 semifinalists who did not make the list of 15.’

‘Buffalo chose Mularkey despite the Steelers’ drop in every major offensive statistic this season. A year after ranking fifth in the league in total offense, the Steelers were 22nd this season, including a rushing attack that ranked 31st. But Mularkey is also a favorite of Bills president Tom Donahoe, a former director of football operations for the Steelers. Donahoe signed Mularkey, a tight end, as a player in 1989, and also led the push for Cowher to hire him as a tight ends coach in 1996.’

‘”Hines Ward said great things about him,” Moulds said Wednesday after the Bills confirmed that Mularkey, the Steelers offensive coordinator the past three seasons, had been hired as the new head coach in Buffalo. “So I’m interested to see what he has to say.”‘

‘It’s known that most of Williams’ offensive assistants won’t be retained – the Bills ranked 30th in points scored. Beleaguered coordinator Kevin Gilbride has already interviewed for the head-coaching opening at Cornell University. Offensive line coach Pat Ruel and tight ends coach Pat Neal also will not be retained.’

‘I, like many of you, would have preferred a man with NFL head coaching experience – a Jim Fassel or a Dick Jauron. I still worry about the reputation – perceived or real – that Donahoe is unwilling to yield power. I hope that isn’t why he passed on an established coach like Fassel, because if that’s the case, Donahoe is putting his ego above the good of the franchise, and that would be bad.’

‘But add it up, and hiring the 42-year-old Mularkey was far from predictable and easy for Donahoe. In fact, it was rather gutsy given the fact he didn’t do himself any favors when it comes to changing the perception about his lording management style.’

‘Mularkey, 42, will take just one Steelers assistant with him, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, who will become offensive coordinator of the Bills. Mularkey, however, won’t wait until next fall to compete against Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Their teams will meet in Buffalo next season, but he and Cowher both want to hire LeBeau as their defensive coordinator and, as of last night, there was no word on who would get him. LeBeau was assistant head coach last year in Buffalo and was secondary coach on Cowher’s first staff and later promoted to defensive coordinator. Cowher interviewed Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache at the team’s headquarters yesterday and could hire him if he loses out on LeBeau.’

‘Mularkey, who was officially named Bills coach yesterday, also wants to take Clements with him to Buffalo as offensive coordinator. Clements has been with the Steelers since 2001 when he helped turn Kordell Stewart into the team MVP, working especially closely with his footwork and other fundamentals.’

‘”I’m happy for him but not surprised,” said Chip Shealy, who coached Mularkey at Northeast. “He was always a student of the game. He would spend extra time watching film and working on designing plays. You know that someone with that kind of interest has a future in the game.”‘

‘Daniel Snyder’s plane, Redskins One, flew to Buffalo to bring some Bills assistant coaches to Redskins Park yesterday, but sources said the aircraft left without one person Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs and his defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, want to hire: Jerry Gray.’

‘”Neither color nor age are factors if you are good,” he said by phone from his home in Chicago. “Numerical age is just as approximation of your functional age. Yes, I am disappointed that I haven’t been given another opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL.”‘