Archives for January 2006

‘Bills sources tell seven-sports that Sam Wyche the veteran quarterbacks coach for the team will not be back next year.’

‘"It’s a great honor for the Bills and especially our special teams," Schneck said upon learning the news. "Brian is the big reason I’m going. If Brian doesn’t make the Pro Bowl then I don’t go either."’

‘Schneck originally turned down an offer from Moorman to attend the week-long NFL festivities but in light of the recent news he has reconsidered. "Brian had offered to pay for me to fly over there, which is the customary move of a punter or a kicker and it was very grateful of him, but we have a nine-month old baby boy and the thought of us flying 11 hours… I didn’t think we could figure it out. I told him laughing that if I got selected to go as the snapper, with no intention of it happening, then I would go."’

‘Schneck had joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in 1999.’

‘Bills punter Brian Moorman, who led the AFC with a 45.7 gross punting average, is the other Buffalo representative in the Pro Bowl.’

‘Schneck handled Buffalo’s long-snapping duties flawlessly all year after being acquired before the season from Pittsburgh, where he spent the previous six seasons.’

‘"It’s a great honor for the Bills and especially our special teams," said Schneck. "Brian is the big reason I’m going. If Brian doesn’t make the Pro Bowl then I don’t go either. It’s a reflection of everything everybody does as a whole to help get Brian there and I get to reap the benefits of that as well."’

‘Former East Carolina coach Steve Logan and former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Tom Clements appear to be the two candidates for the Green Bay Packers’ opening at quarterbacks coach…Former NFL quarterback Alex Van Pelt, who played for McCarthy at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently quarterbacks coach at the University of Buffalo, also is on McCarthy’s list of candidates but appears to be a long-shot for even an interview at this point.’

‘Meanwhile, the Bills also have offered their defensive coordinator job to former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jim Bates, according to a league source. The Bills were waiting to hear if Bates would accept the job.’

‘The real golden boy in the Bills’ organization, however, is Russ Brandon, the team’s top business official.’

‘Marv Levy is putting his legacy on the line, and I for one think we should be willing to trust his judgment until he gives us reason not to.’

‘Fairchild’s work with Bulger made him attractive to Jauron, who needs to develop struggling former first-round pick J.P. Losman or build an offense around veteran Kelly Holcomb or another veteran quarterback the club may sign in free agency. Bulger, a former sixth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints who joined the Rams as a free agent, blossomed into a Pro Bowler in 2003, Fairchild’s first with the team as quarterbacks coach. He threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Rams won the NFC West with a 12-4 record. The Rams were not nearly as successful the past two seasons, but their offense and passing numbers remained strong.’

‘For the past five years, former team president Tom Donahoe ran both the football and business departments, but Wilson made it clear when he fired Donahoe three weeks ago that he wanted to split those duties.’

‘Steve Fairchild might turn out to be a fine offensive coordinator for the Bills, but if I was going to take someone off the St. Louis Rams coaching staff to run Buffalo’s offense, Mike Martz would’ve been the man. Of course, the Bills couldn’t court an offensive coordinator who would expect to make significantly more than the head coach.’

‘Despite the title of offensive coordinator, Fairchild didn’t call plays in St. Louis until the final 11 games of the 2005 season, during Martz’s leave of absence for endocarditis. Fairchild’s work as a play caller was mixed at best.’