Archives for January 18, 2006

‘Changes at the top in Buffalo finally did Mularkey in. Although he showed the utmost respect for Levy, the beleaguered coach was weary of the Bills direction. First, he learned of the team’s plans to make decisions by committee, with Levy and Assistant General Manager Tom Modrak collaborating on scouting and player personnel issues. Then Mularkey learned of another change that promised to sap more authority from him. “I’m going to take back the presidency,” a frail Wilson said, 5 years after handing the title, and too much of the team’s control, to Donahoe.’

‘Jauron and Sherman are considered the front-runners, providing team owner Ralph Wilson and new general manager Marv Levy a clear choice of whether to go with an offensive- or defensive-minded coach. Jauron, a former Pro Bowl defensive back, is a defensive specialist while Sherman has solely coached offense.’

‘Sherman’s troops have also been among the league’s least penalized teams in three of his seasons, ranking third in 2003 following fifth- and eighth-place finishes in 2000 and 2001, respectively.’

Kelly had talked to Dylan Hunter and Knights goalie Adam Dennis, both Buffalo Sabres draft picks, about the city. “He lives there and he told us about where to go to find the good places to eat,” Hunter said. “It was great to meet him.”‘

‘Those four candidates should not just be interviewed for a head-coaching job because they’re minorities. They ought to be interviewed because of their qualifications. Unfortunately for these men, the Bills are about as likely to hire one of them as I would be to eat calamari. It just isn’t happening.’

‘It appears the Bills are leaning toward hiring someone with prior head coaching experience.’

‘The Bills are expected to speak to no more than a handful of candidates, with former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman expected in Buffalo today.’

‘Buffalo also was said to be interested in former Saints coach Jim Haslett, who spent the bulk of his NFL career as a Bills linebacker. But Haslett apparently is close to being hired as the Lions’ head coach.’

‘The important thing — the most important thing for anybody hoping to become a head coach in the NFL in 2006 — is to be an FOB, a Friend of Bill. Or CUB, as in Coached Under Bill. That’s the key to success these days. Especially in the former AFC East — soon to be the Belichick Division.’

‘Bills fans simply don’t want to hear about the upside and potential of another brilliant young coordinator. Been there.’

‘Jauron got his coaching start in Buffalo as an assistant in 1985. He was the head coach in Chicago for five years and was the interim head coach in Detroit the last five games of this season after Steve Mariucci was fired by the Lions.

‘It is expected that former Packer’s head coach MIke Sherman will be in town on Wednesday.’