Two Bills Drive

‘Ex-Bills coach Gregg Williams, now the defensive coordinator in Washington, would like to hire most of his old assistants, but Buffalo president and general manager Tom Donahoe wants his new coach to have the opportunity to pick who stays.’

‘Mularkey wants LeBeau to stay in Buffalo as his defensive coordinator and would like to hire Steelers tight ends coach Ken Whisenhunt or quarterbacks coach Tom Clements as his offensive coordinator.’

‘The ripple effect of Mularkey’s hiring by the Bills will be felt in Pittsburgh where Steelers coach Bill Cowher already must replace fired defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and wide receivers coach Kenny Jackson. Mularkey may fill his coordinator positions with Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements (offense) and Bills assistant head coach Dick LeBeau (defense). LeBeau, who was the Steelers’ defensive coordinator when they went to Super Bowl XXX after the 1995 season, met with Cowher yesterday about replacing Lewis.’

‘The NFL Coaches Association recently sent a letter to Bills owner Ralph Wilson and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue asking the club to release coaches or guarantee their return. The Bills are apparently waiting to see if Williams’s replacement wants to retain his former staff members. Tagliabue doesn’t intend to get involved, according to Greg Aiello, the NFL’s vice president of public relations. “The coaches are under contract to the club,” Aiello said yesterday. “It’s not a league issue.”‘

‘A published report mentioned the NFL Coaches Association sending a letter to the Bills regarding their blocked assistants. NFLCA executive director Larry Kennan said the letter is standard operating procedure; this year it also was sent to the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders, two other teams waiting for head coaches and not allowing assistants to interview elsewhere. The NFLCA’s primary goal, Kennan said, is to alter current rules regarding benefits for coaches. If a coach is fired, he receives his salary for the remainder of his contract but does not receive medical benefits or accrue years toward his pension.’

‘”I coordinated last year, but not completely. I think this would be a better situation,” LeBeau told reporters at Steelers headquarters Tuesday. “I didn’t call the game. I had input but didn’t really call the game. That’s the part of the game that I missed.”‘

‘Mularkey emerged from an all-day meeting with owner Ralph Wilson and started calling Bills assistant coaches to let them know that he had taken the job.’

‘Mularkey traveled to Detroit on Tuesday to meet with Bills owner Ralph Wilson one final time to discuss the job vacancy. He met with the Bills last Wednesday to first discuss the coaching vacancy.’

‘Clayton also told WGR Sports Radio 55 that Mularkey is expected to offer the defensive coordinator job to current Bills assistant coach Dick LeBeau. He may also pursue current Steelers quarterback coach Tom Clements to be his offensive coordinator. Western New York native and New York Giants offensive line coach Jim McNally is also quite possibly on his way to work on Mularkey’s staff.’

‘Much of the credit for the revival of Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox’ career in Pittsburgh goes to Mularkey, along with Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. There is already speculation Mularkey will bring Clements with him to Buffalo as his offensive coordinator, which would have to be considered a positive for Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe.’

‘Mularkey was likely able to sell himself with his ideas on how to fix the Bills 30th ranked offense. He is not expected to completely blow up the Bills coaching staff, in fact he may keep Dick Lebeau as his Defensive Coordinator.’

"All indications coming out of Buffalo continue to point in the direction of the Bills hiring Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as their head coach, and an official announcement of the move is expected Wednesday, league sources close to the situation said Tuesday."

“The 42-year-old Mularkey won the job because of his past relationship with general manager Tom Donahoe and his bright offensive mind. Mularkey was a candidate for the Falcons’ job and has been considered a hot assistant coach for the past couple of years.”

‘Still quiet on the coaching front as the Bills continue to speak with Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey over the phone.’

‘All indications coming out of Buffalo continue to point in the direction of the Bills hiring Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as their head coach, as soon as Wednesday, league sources close to the situation said Tuesday.’