Two Bills Drive

‘The Bills weren’t good on first downs. They weren’t good in short-yardage situations. They weren’t good in the red zone. They were awful on third downs. They threw too much in a lot of key situations.’

‘That might explain why Mike Mularkey, the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, is emerging as a hot candidate. The Bills had further discussions with him by phone on Monday. It doesn’t seem fair to the New England coaches, or to the Bills, for the Pats’ playoff status to play such a big role in the decision.’

‘The 66-year old LeBeau would welcome the chance to return to Pittsburgh. “I feel good about having the opportunity,” said LeBeau. “As far as my chances, you would have to ask Bill.”‘

‘The Washington-based NFL Coaches Association has sent a letter to Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue asking the club to immediately make a decision on the fate of the coaching staff of fired head coach Gregg Williams. The letter’s intent is for the Bills to either release the remaining staff members from their contracts or guarantee the coaches will be retained for next season.’

‘Williams, the recently deposed Bills coach, hopes to bring several of his old assistants to Washington, but Buffalo won’t grant most of them permission to interview at least until the new coach gets a chance to retain them.’

‘If Mularkey gets the head coaching job in Buffalo, it’s possible he and Cowher will be bidding to hire the same man as defensive coordinator. LeBeau was assistant head coach in Buffalo last season and he remains a favorite of Tom Donahoe, the Bills’ president and general manager.’

‘”I could see more people getting upset if it ends up being Mularkey,” said Dan Cave, news anchor for WGR, a sports radio station in Buffalo. “A lot of people have soured on Donohoe. If he brings Mularkey in here, they will see it as a Pittsburgh connection, Donohoe just hiring his Steelers buddy.”‘

‘He’s a nice guy – they often finish last… Get the picture?’

‘Meanwhile, Fassel’s failure in Buffalo could end up costing Coughlin a valuable assistant. Coughlin wants to name Chicago Bears coach Dick Jauron his assistant head coach with the Giants. But Jauron is believed to be the leading candidate to coach the Bills, who are also considering Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.’

‘The Bills can hire Jauron and Mularkey anytime, but Weis is unavailable until the Patriots are out of the playoffs. Since the Bills haven’t made any decisions yet about a head coach, speculation continues to mount that they are waiting for Weis and the Patriots to wrap up their playoff run.’

‘Donahoe has said he wanted a man with previous head coaching experience after swinging and missing on Gregg Williams, whom the Bills fired on Dec. 29 after a 17-31 record and no playoff appearances in three seasons. That would seem to indicate Jauron was in the driver’s seat. However, with the quarterback problems in Buffalo, it is believed the Bills would like to hire an offensive mind — and Mularkey is believed to have the inside track, especially if the Patriots beat the Colts in the AFC title game, which would tie up Weis for another two weeks.’

‘”Recognition of the passing game, stopping the pass, defensing the pass. Coach Don Blackmon has really helped me to better understand the passing game.”‘

‘The Steelers could be seeking two coordinators if offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is chosen as the Bills’ next head coach. Mularkey interviewed last week in Buffalo and was awaiting word Monday whether he would be hired. Mularkey turned down a chance to meet with the Raiders about succeeding coach Bill Callahan, a decision that apparently wasn’t related to his pursuit of the Bills’ job.’

‘Chad Kelly of Grand Island, a nephew of Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, was the winner in the boys 8-9 division in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick national finals.’

‘Williams is Gibbs’s only defensive coach because Gibbs has been stifled by NFL rules that bar a team from interviewing an assistant under contract without receiving permission. Williams, the head coach of the Buffalo Bills the past three seasons, has wanted to hire a slew of his former assistants. He has received permission to interview Bills special teams coach Danny Smith and safeties/ third-down coach Steve Jackson. The Redskins are expected to hire them both this week.’