Two Bills Drive

The Buffalo Bills have a new head coach..Mike Mularkey. 7 Sports has confirmed that Mularkey, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator was offered the job after meeting with Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson earlier tonight.

“The Bills have agreed to terms on a contract that will make Mike Mularkey the 13th head coach in team history.’

Team owners Art Modell and Ralph Wilson Jr. did not make the list.

Neither did Steve Tasker, Bills special teams star.

‘”There is no deal that is done,” Bills’ spokesman Scott Berchtold told The Associated Press on Wednesday. He would not say if Mularkey was the favorite to replace Gregg Williams.’

‘He spent the 2003 season as the assistant head coach for the Buffalo Bills, and while he was involved with the defense, it wasn’t at the level he wanted it to be. “I coordinated last year, but not completely,” said LeBeau. “I think this would be a better situation. 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.”‘

‘LeBeau, a former Ohio State star who’s been in the NFL 31 years as player or coach, wants the chance to call his own plays as a coordinator. Ironically, LeBeau may be a candidate in Buffalo if the Bills hire Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as their new head coach. Or LeBeau may return to Pittsburgh, where the job is apparently his if he wants it. “I had input but I really didn’t call the game,” LeBeau said of his duties in Buffalo. “That’s the part I missed the most. So I think this would be a better situation (in Pittsburgh).”‘

‘Is he just what the Buffalo Bills need? It looks like Bills fans may get to find out, because Mike Mularkey is close to a deal that would make him the Bills’ new head coach.’

‘It’s believed Mularkey will try to retain Bills assistant head coach Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator. LeBeau interviewed for the defensive coordinator post in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. If LeBeau stays in Buffalo as defensive coordinator, that would leave no room for Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. However, if Gray were not retained by Buffalo, he may be a candidate for another defensive coordinator job in the NFL.’

‘This does not mean Mularkey is another Gregg Williams – a great interview who went bust, a strong assistant who rose to his level of incompetence. But fans in this town have every right to be wary of the man who appears to be Tom Donahoe’s latest hire. Having suffered through three years of Williams, they’re not about to give knee-jerk approval to an unproven coach.’

‘Attended the University of Florida and finished Gators career with 55 receptions. Has dual bachelor of science degree in kinesiology/sociology from University of Minnesota.’

‘People close to Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. say he has no interest in moving the team under his ownership, and Bills officials suggest they’re looking at a long-term partnership with Western New York.’

‘Mularkey started coaching in Tampa Bay after a nine-year career as a tight end. The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Mularkey last week before hiring Jim Mora Jr.’

‘”It’s close, but there’s nothing I can talk about now,” said Mularkey, reached at his Pittsburgh-area home Tuesday night. “I feel I’d like to keep my word to the people who have entrusted me. I will talk at the right time.”‘

‘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.’