Archives for January 12, 2006

‘The Bills have called an 11 am news conference on Friday, where it’s expected it will be announced that Mike Mularkey has resigned as head coach.’

‘There’s still a good possibility that Reed will be enshrined some day in Canton. Perhaps Reed and former Redskins receiver Art Monk can start their own wing in Canton, “The Hall of Very Good.”‘

‘”Some of the team unity things that we used to do back when we played would be to have team get-togethers during the season,” he said. “We used to have a Friday Club where 10 to 20 of us would go and have chicken wings and we’d talk about things. I’d have get-togethers at my house after games. A lot of team members would go over to Ilio DiPaolo’s with their wives and families. No one has done that.”‘

‘But if the Golden Boys want to show a real commitment to the coach, they ought to go after some players, too. They should get rid of the two prominent veterans who challenged Mularkey’s authority in a big way this past season. They should show Eric Moulds and Sam Adams the door – and save the organization about $9 million on the cap while they’re at it.’

‘Fairchild, 47, did not call the Rams’ offensive plays for most of his St. Louis tenure. That duty was held by Rams head coach Mike Martz. However, after Martz left the sideline this past season on a medical leave of absence, Fairchild handled the play-calling duties for 11 games. The Rams’ attack was decimated by injuries this year. Starting quarterback Marc Bulger played only eight of 44 quarters after Martz left the team.’

‘The final 25 pitted Reed against two receivers who had been finalists before. This is the sixth straight year Monk has made the final 15. Irvin was a finalist last year.’

‘Mularkey is spending this week arranging interviews with potential candidates to remake his staff. Many of those will take place at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., the week of Feb. 22-28.’

‘No more than six candidates can be elected in each year but it appears Thomas’ chances are very good. Not only are his career credentials impeccable – he’s the only running back to lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons and was a vital part in Buffalo appearing in a record four consecutive Super Bowls – he’s the only running back up for consideration.’

‘Levy’s return to the Bills was put in motion when Wilson called him at his home in Chicago about two weeks ago. “Ralph said he was looking for a new general manager, and he asked me if I had any suggestions,” Levy said earlier this week by telephone from his North Side apartment. “I dredged up three or four names of people I believed could do a good job. Then he said to me, ‘How about you, Marv?”

‘The Buffalo Bills have received permission from the Rams to interview offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild for the same position in Buffalo.’

‘Ask Kelly what he enjoys most, though, and the answer comes quickly. “Hunting, fishing and spending time with my kids,” said Kelly, who has two daughters. “I have that on my schedule, too. My wife made me listen to a CD a few months back and it talked about businessmen who have their agenda and schedules and when someone calls they say, ‘Can’t because he has this.’ I’ve put my family on my schedule so when people call, I say, ‘Sorry I got kids this weekend, I’m going on vacation, going here, going there.’ “‘

‘”The one thing I would interject into the personnel department that I would push very hard is picking players with high character,” Levy added. “Don’t confuse personality with character. Ability without character will lose. The Buffalo Bills are going to be a team of high character, that’s something I will push for very hard.”‘

‘Williams is prepared to renegotiate his contract, realizing that guards earn on average less than tackles. His original deal could’ve been worth as much as $44 million over six years had he hit his escalators and incentives. His cap number for 2006 was scheduled at around $10.8 million.’

‘Buffalo’s offense showed statistical drops in 10 categories. Starts were split between first-year quarterback J.P. Losman and veteran Kelly Holcomb, but Losman’s taking the brunt of the blame. “I think, certainly, J.P., he matured this year from the time the season started. That’s something to build on,” WR Lee Evans said. “You can’t have a good offense without a good quarterback and I think he certainly matured and took some steps, and with a good off-season, it’ll help him even more.”‘

‘Thomas was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and was named the NFL’s most valuable player in 1991 after rushing for 1,407 yards and catching 62 passes, but perhaps his most well known legacy is that of a “Dolphin Killer”.’