Archives for November 18, 2009

‘What did Levy have that interim head coach Perry Fewell does not? Well, he walked into a locker room featuring a young Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Kent Hull, Bruce Smith and Darryl Talley. The next two years saw Cornelius Bennett, Shane Conlan, Nate Odomes and Thurman Thomas arrive via the draft or trades. Levy had a general manager named Bill Polian. Fewell inherits a regressing Trent Edwards, an over-the-hill Terrell Owens, an equally aging Aaron Schobel and an injured Keith Ellison.’

‘Wilson needs to hire a proven NFL winner as director of football operations and let him hire a dynamite coach.’

‘”The Bills should have done this last January. You wonder what finally made Ralph Wilson pull the trigger since he chose not to after an embarrassing loss to Cleveland. I would like to say that this is going to be the start of a quick rebuilding process since they do have some valuable players, but until they clean house of the entire front office I think we will be going through this same thing again in three or four years.”‘

‘2001 – Posted his lone winning record as a head coach, a 13-3 mark as the Bears won the NFC Central division, but then lost in the playoffs at home to Philadelphia.’

‘But he will be best remembered for an offence that never finished a season ranked above 25th in the NFL (it is currently 29th) and which was characterized by a lack of big-play potential, first with former quarterback J.P. Losman and now Edwards.’

‘With a new coach, Bills fans can bank on a new quarterback under center next season. The Edwards era could end as early as next week if Fewell opts for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.’

‘Some of the Bills’ followers were pretty pragmatic in wake of the decision and reasoned that Wilson would watch his wallet, something the Bills’ only owner has been criticized for in the past.’

‘”There are a ton of quality coaches out there,” Yung said. “There’s Denny Green, Jim Fassel, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher … I like Bill Cowher. I think he’d go in their and bust the guys’ chops.”‘

‘”I lost a head football coach who I’ve worked with the last three and a half, four years and that I’ve known for quite some time. And then I’ve been granted an opportunity to become the interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills. It’s my first opportunity to be head coach in a football game on Sunday, so it’s an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s been up and down.”‘

‘"Perry has done a great job with our defense and has demonstrated excellent leadership skills as defensive coordinator," Wilson said in a statement. "Our players and staff have a lot of confidence in him and that is important as we look forward to these next seven games."’

‘But, there are reasons to think Ralph C. Wilson "gets it", and is actually willing to do "what it takes" to turn his sagging Bills franchise around. A source tells me C.O.O. Russ Brandon has already started the search for a respected football man to head up football operations, and that person would be in charge of bringing in the next head coach along with all other changes in the personnel department, and changes there will be.’

‘”Perry Fewell will be our Interim Head Coach," said owner Ralph Wilson in a team statement. "Perry has done a great job with our defense and has demonstrated excellent leadership skills as Defensive Coordinator. Our players and staff have a lot of confidence in him and that is important as we look forward to these next seven games.”‘