Two Bills Drive

‘This is as close as he’s ever been to a head job. Although speculation in Buffalo has Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis as the frontrunner, Fox remained hopeful based on his feeling about his interview with Bills GM Tom Donahoe.’

‘Fox had to put on a good face Tuesday, as he met with Buffalo GM Tom Donahoe for nearly five hours at the airport Hyatt Hotel near Pittsburgh. Fox came away feeling good about his interview but he knows he faces stiff competition for the Bills’ vacant head-coaching job.’

‘As of 9 p.m., Fox had not heard from the Bills, but earlier in the evening, another top candidate, Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, was told there would be no decision until today at the earliest.’

‘Schonert, who played for the Bengals and Falcons, joins Carolina after serving the past three seasons as Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach. With the Bills, he tutored Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson.’

‘Buffalo’s WIVB-TV, citing an undisclosed source in Nashville, reported Wednesday night the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator is the choice of Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe.’

‘Williams has been on the Oilers/Titans’ staff since 1990, when he was hired as a defensive aide.’

‘But with more time to prepare for interviews with both Cleveland and Buffalo, Williams may have outperformed the competition.’

‘The underpublicized defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans has emerged as a surprisingly strong contender, and he could be offered the job this morning by Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe.’

‘Schonert spent the past three seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Considered among the most affordable in the NFL, Bills season tickets will continue to range from $30-46 a game — up to a $7 savings off individual game-priced tickets.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team’s ticket prices, already among the most affordable in the National Football League, will not increase for the 2001 season. Once again, Bills tickets will range in cost from $30-46 per game for a season ticket…’

Is Lewis in or is Lewis out? WGR55 previously announced that the AP in Baltimore was reporting that Lewis was hired as the next head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Only a short time later, WGR retracted that statement. Mass confusion in Buffalo! Hide your lawn ornaments to prevent the looting!

Sports talk WGR55 is reporting that Redskins’ head coach, Marty Schottenheimer, has taken a pass on the services of Bills’ former head coach Wade Phillips. Phillips had just completed an interview for the defensive coordinator position this week. Schottenheimer selected his brother, Kurt, to fill the position instead.

‘While we sit and wait… Art Modell recently said the Ravens are $14 million above the cap and will have to restructure some contracts. Unrestricted FAs include QB Dilfer, LB Sharper, S Herring, P Richardson, G Flynn, C Mitchell, FB Gash, RB Holmes.’

‘The urgency of a quick decision by the Bills was lessened somewhat by Cleveland’s choice of Butch Davis as its head coach on Monday. The Bills now are the only NFL team searching for a head coach. But given the fact teams still are in competition for quality assistant coaches, Donahoe is unlikely to want much delay in the decision.’