‘”I did feel like it was my responsibility and my fault that I brought in a guy who didn’t have any experience with special teams,” Phillips said two days after being fired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills.’
BillsBeat - January 10, 2001
JONES HOPES BILLS' STINT DOESN'T RUIN HIS SELF-IMAGE
‘”The only thing I can contend is I know I can coach football,” Jones said. “I probably will never coach special teams again. But I feel like I’m a good football coach. Our last three years in Philadelphia (from 1988-90) we were 31-17. I went to the Houston Oilers and we were 12-4 and won the AFC Central. I went to Arizona, and my first year there we were third in the NFL on defense.’
WILSON'S TEFLON IS WEARING THIN
‘But Wilson outdid himself Monday in an interview with The News. Once again, he came across as out of touch and in a state of denial about his responsibility for his team’s failures.’
BillsBeat - January 9, 2001
A miracle he stayed this long
‘Phillips will never again be offered a head coaching job in the NFL. In fact, if he ever does receive and accept another bid, I will eat this column.’
Phillips given bum's rush
‘Phillips was not a complete disaster as a coach. Most of his players liked him and he usually had his players ready. It was on game day that he most often fell short.’
Loyalty costs Phillips his job
‘"He told us, ‘They’re going to get me eventually and it’s because I’m loyal,’ " said backup quarterback Alex Van Pelt, referring to Phillips’ pregame speech in the locker room before the Bills’ final game at Seattle Dec. 23.’
Cottrell lets credentials speak
‘However, as of yesterday, Cottrell had not heard from owner Ralph Wilson and the highly respected career assistant was going ahead with plans to interview with the expansion Houston Texans tomorrow for their vacancy.’
Patient Donahoe unfazed by changes
‘"This is unexpected, but it’s something that Mr. Wilson has to deal with today," said Donahoe when asked about Phillips’ dismissal. "We’ll see where it goes."’
Phillips pays for choosing friends
‘I would have asked Wade Phillips to fire not only special-teams coach Ronnie Jones, but also offensive coordinator Joe Pendry and offensive-line coach Carl Mauck.’
Phillips' decisions left Wilson with little choice
‘My report card on Wade Phillips: Overall record — B.’
Chan Gailey signs new contract
Miami Dolphin OC, Chan Gailey, signed a 2 year extension on Monday with the Dolphins. It had been rumored that if Tom Donahoe was hired that he might seek to bring Gailey into the Bills staff. That rumor is now squashed unless Gailey is offered the head coaching position (or assistant head coach). This would appear to be unlikely due the recent deal Gailey signed.
Wade's World: A Chronology
‘A look back at the highs and lows of Wade Phillips’ Buffalo tenure..’
Phillips' Faulty Loyalty
‘Despite a record that would earn most coaches a contract extension instead of an unceremonious dismissal, Phillips’ own shortcomings cost him his job.’
QB controversy doomed Phillips
‘Wade Phillips didn’t lose his job as head coach of the Buffalo Bills this weekend. He lost it a year ago.’
WILSON TURNS THE PAGE OWNER SAYS CHANGES ARE FOR THE BEST
‘”We’re going to be OK. We’re going to be better than OK. We’re going to go forward. We’ve got a difficult salary cap situation that got completely out of hand under the old regime. We’re going to take a hit. But we’re going to get it right, and we’re going to be back where we were a few years ago.”‘