‘This year’s attendance is the lowest since 1997 (65,470) and is only the third time since 1990 that Buffalo finished below 70,000.’
BillsBeat - December 28, 2000
WILSON INTERVIEWS EX-STEELERS EXEC DONAHOE
‘Donahoe, 53, had a meeting with Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Bills are searching for a replacement for John Butler, who was fired last week after he and the team were unable to agree on a new contract.’
BillsBeat - December 27, 2000
Phillips reportedly to meet with Bills owner Jan. 5
‘Wilson, who gave Phillips a vote of confidence three weeks ago, has twice since refused to follow up on the endorsement.’
Has Phillips done enough to save job?
‘Yesterday, the Buffalo Bills’ head coach began meetings with team owner Ralph Wilson in Florida, presumably to save his job. At issue is the question of whether Saturday night’s impressive win at Seattle, and the fact he has a year remaining on his contract, is enough to bring him back next season … probably at the expense of a few assistant coaches.’
Coaching philosophy and Rob Johnson ruined Bills chances
‘For his part, Pendry has no gifts at all. His game plans stink. His use of personnel is useless.’
Disgruntled Smith wants out of Buffalo
‘"If it was up to me, I would like to move on because I wasn’t given a fair opportunity here. I wasn’t given a fair shot, and that’s all I really asked for."’
WILSON, PHILLIPS TO MEET JAN. 5
‘The meeting usually is held the week after the end of the season. But the timing of the meeting may allow the Bills time to get a general manager in place to take part in the review.’
BillsBeat - December 26, 2000
If Flutie returns, use him properly
‘A job you wouldn’t want: Director of season-ticket sales for the 2001 Buffalo Bills if quarterback Doug Flutie is traded or released and the current offensive line and special teams coaches are retained.’
FLUTIE SHOW IN SEATTLE MEANS LITTLE
‘While I don’t mind Flutie at all, his super loyalists give me indigestion. They’d all like to see Johnson disappear, leaving the field to Flutie alone, even though he will be 39 by mid-season next fall.’
BillsBeat - December 25, 2000
Butler's replacement faces critical decisions
‘"Somebody’s going to have to come in…and take hold pretty quickly."
Season recap
‘”It’s just frustrating that I get these little injuries,” Johnson said.’
Bills' offensive staff has got to go
‘Memo to Ralph Wilson: Just as you did to John Butler last week, it is time to send Joe Pendry, Max Bowman, Charlie Joiner, Turk Schonert, Carl Mauck, James Saxon and Ronnie Jones in search of other business opportunities.’
Quarterback controversy wore on Bills
‘”It wears on you when you guys just keep going over it and over it and over it,” defensive end Phil Hansen said Sunday, referring to constant media questions regarding Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson. “I guess, toward the end, you guys finally got what you wanted – a little controversy.”‘
BILLS' FUTURE POSES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
‘The Bills’ organization needs to find a new general manger, decide on the future of head coach Wade Phillips and his staff of assistants, settle a sticky quarterback situation, and make hard decisions that will allow them to get under the NFL salary cap in 2001.’
PLAYERS REFLECT ON SEASON OF TUMULT
‘”I think we stayed together for the most part, the best that we could,” running back Antowain Smith said. This year was kind of a rocky situation for the whole team. As soon as things started going wrong, they started blaming a lot of people instead of the team coming together. I think we still continued to fight, but we were still kind of falling apart a little bit.”‘