Two Bills Drive

‘"If you think of the guys who were most responsible for the success of this team over the last several years, John Butler, Wade Phillips and Ted Cottrell are the first three names that come to mind," said defensive end Marcellus Wiley. "It’s tough for me personally because I feel like my network has been taken out of the situation. Those three names as well as Bruce (Smith) and Phil (Hansen) were key as far as my progress as a player.’

‘Both Parker and Zeigler refuse to say "I told you so" to those in Buffalo who doubted them.’

‘The wife of former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas will have charges related to a bar fight [in a Franklin Street bistro] dropped if she stays out of trouble for six months, a judge ruled Tuesday.’

‘A year after signing Buffalo Bills free-agent defensive end Bruce Smith, the Washington Redskins are ready to announce the signing of offensive coordinator Joe Pendry as their offensive line coach and possibly fired head coach Wade Phillips as their defensive coordinator.’

‘"Wade and Ronnie both said they’d want me back, but they’re both gone so that’s all out the door," said Christie, one of the NFL’s most reliable placekickers. "I’m pretty confident somebody will pick me up."’

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston: “two highly ranked Ravens officials said yesterday that Lewis and the Bills are each their No. 1 choices and want to make the deal happen.” Preston also speculates that Lewis will bring with him “secondary coach Donnie Henderson and Chip Morton, the Ravens’ assistant strength and conditioning coach.” Finally, Preston also notes that “when he first came to Baltimore, Lewis tried to teach the ex-Browns the Steelers’ way. Big mistake. In the past two seasons, he has won over the players.”

‘In Buffalo, Fox’ main competition will come from Marvin Lewis, the Ravens defensive coordinator. Fox has extremely strong ties with Tom Donahoe, who was recently hired as the Bills general manager, from their days together in Pittsburgh. Lewis also has ties to Donahoe and the Steelers.’

‘Lewis is considered the front-runner in Buffalo because he worked with new Bills GM Tom Donahoe during his 14-year tenure in Pittsburgh. Black assistants are no longer being interviewed by strangers, a factor that should help minorities gain a fair chance in the process.’

‘So far, the score is Marvin Lewis 3, John Fox 2, in the matchup of Super Bowl defensive coordinators. That’s three head coaching interviews lined up for Lewis and two for Fox after the Super Bowl.’

‘Ted Cottrell, the new assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, has a three-year contract that allows him to opt out if he is offered the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching job, for which he already has interviewed.’

‘"We don’t want to lose him because he’s a great coach, but this has been his dream and we want him to have his dream. He’d make a great had coach, I think everyone knows that. You see how he prepares us each week. There are a lot of teams in the league who could use a head coach like John Fox."’

‘It has been reported that Cottrell has an out clause in his contract in case Buffalo wants to hire him as its head coach. But the Bills also will interview both Super Bowl defensive coordinators — the Giants’ John Fox and Baltimore’s Marvin Lewis — early next week.’

They are really cleaning house [at OBD]. They are downsizing and even let Adam Lingner go. He was one of the most visable PR types in the office. We [the Booster Club] will meet the new GM at the April meeting. I did ask about the injuries and there were a lot of offseason surgeries. We talked salary cap issues with someone inside the organization, but not in control. He fears that the older, well paid guys are going to get the chance to test the waters. Hansen, Washington, Jones, Fina were just some of the names mentioned. Also it is almost a shoe in that the Ravens man [Marvin Lewis] is our head coach and Ted Cottrell is #3 man on the list. It was mentioned that Eric Moulds may end up in New Orleans where he will be close to home.

‘Lewis and Fox are up for the head coaching job in Buffalo, with both expected to be interviewed by the Bills next week, and Lewis is the early favorite.’

Mr. King seems to think that the Bills will NOT land Marvin Lewis. Here is a quote from his article: "I think the more I hear about coaching vacancies in the NFL right now, the more I think Marvin Lewis will sign with Cleveland a week from today for the most money and the most responsibility he can get from any of the teams still with an opening."