Bills fire entire staff + stealth meeting with Cowher = (hope?)

[Abe Sargent]

So the Bills, unable to pickup someone like a Cowher, instead of trying to find a hot assistant to be their new head coach, like the hires of Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin, Ken Whisenhunt, Jon Gruden and others, have instead elected to go with Chan Gailey? That just boggles my mind.

[RainMaker]

So is he trying to pull a Rachel Phelps to get the team out of Buffalo? This makes no sense at all for a franchise that really needs a spark.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Could have been worse I guess.. Rich Kotite must not have been willing to come to Buffalo


Maybe Cowher and Shottzie told them to wait a year so they got a one year body in there..Here's hoping

[Kodos]

Wayne Fontes is available still.

[RainMaker]

I'd offer up Mike Tice but the Bears just hired him as an assistant.

[RedKingGold]

You know it's bad when Lane Kiffen turns a trick down.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Wayne Fontes is available still.

Better than Kotite

[Samdari]

This thread made me wonder "whatever happened to Wayne Fontes?"

So I look up his wikipedia page, and find this nugget:

"Given the recent developments with the Florida Gators, he may also be a candidate for their head coaching position."

Some pretty good comedy writing there.

[Glengoyne]

So I'm just guessing, but for NFL fans. Chan Gailey != Hope

[Hoya1]

this is brutal.

I think I'd rather have Billick in there. Chan Gailey? really?

Let's go Buffalo!

[flere-imsaho]

My compassion for Bills' fans continues to only grow....

[boberot]

Well, that worked out just Billiciously.

I told my buddies as soon as I heard, "Well, the world will be laughing their asses off at us." And for good reason.

Apparently, it came down to Chan Gailey, Dave Campo and Hank Bullough.
I kid [I think].

Nix had the balls to say shit like they were looking for a winner and "we found that guy. This guy met more of the criteria that I ever hoped we'd find. This guy's won everywhere he's been" and "Chan was on the list from day one."

Apparently, he came "highly recommended by Bill Cowher."

I'm glad we fired everybody, including a few very well-respected assistants, so that he could pick his own staff.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Reggie Ball for QB Coach

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by boberot

Well, that worked out just Billiciously.

I told my buddies as soon as I heard, "Well, the world will be laughing their asses off at us." And for good reason.

Apparently, it came down to Chan Gailey, Dave Campo and Hank Bullough.
I kid [I think].

Nix had the balls to say shit like they were looking for a winner and "we found that guy. This guy met more of the criteria that I ever hoped we'd find. This guy's won everywhere he's been" and "Chan was on the list from day one."

Apparently, he came "highly recommended by Bill Cowher."

I'm glad we fired everybody, including a few very well-respected assistants, so that he could pick his own staff.

Unfortunately, they DIDN'T fire everybody.

The football operations department remains completely intact and having the same guys in charge of scouting and evaluating talent (ie: John Guy, Tom Modrak) means that the status quo is still in effect.

I'm ashamed to be a fan of this organization. This is NOT change. Gailey is the only guy they could get because no one wants to work for the Bills and Wilson, even though there are only 32 jobs like this in the WORLD.

It's a disgrace and the fans in Buffalo deserve so much better.

[stevew]

As laughable as the hire looks on paper, he's actually been reasonably successful at the pro level. Obviously the Bills will need to acquire a QB at the very least. I think if you were to go out and grab Kevin Kolb, it might turn out to be a decent teams.

But first off, they need to shitcan those jerseys, as they look like some sort of minor league team out there.

[k0ruptr]

Was Denny Green unavailable?

[larrymcg421]

Woot! It's celebration time for the rest of the AFC East!

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Woot! It's celebration time for the rest of the AFC East!

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Woot! It's celebration time for the rest of the AFC East!

Because the rest of the AFC East was already sooooooooo worried about the Bills...

[jaygr]

Originally Posted by boberot

Apparently, he came "highly recommended by Bill Cowher."

When Cowher left the Steelers he actually got the team to give an interview to Gailey as well-- which was really considered by most as a courtesy interview more then a legit one. I am sorry that it was not a courtesy interview for your team too

[DeToxRox]

Report: Ralph Wilson nixed potential return of Martyball
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 19, 2010 5:49 PM ET
Bills owner Ralph Wilson's affinity of football men of a certain age has its limits.

Tim Graham of ESPN reports that Marty Schottenheimer "badly" wanted the Bills coaching job, but Wilson was never on board.

Schottenheimer worked previously with G.M. Buddy Nix, and publicly soft-pedaled his interest in the gig. But his experience with Nix didn't matter because Wilson "wasn't comfortable" with Schottenheimer.

The news helps to explain why Marty's son Brian turned down a chance to interview. But it's unlikely to calm the anger of Bills fans or change the perception that Chan Gailey was a fallback choice.

Bills fans would probably prefer a coach with Schottenheimer's track record if the team was looking for someone with head coaching experience.

Bills shoulda taken Martyball if the other option was Gailey. Awful.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Because the rest of the AFC East was already sooooooooo worried about the Bills...

We would've been worried about them if Cowher was hired.

[larrymcg421]

Haha, they passed on Marty to go for Gailey?

[boberot]

I'm going to rename this thread:

Buddy Nix + Chan Gailey = Dynasty



I have to joke, so I can barely choke down the disgust.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by stevew

But first off, they need to shitcan those jerseys, as they look like some sort of minor league team out there.

This coming from a fan of a team whose uniform is more suited to a college team than a professional one? Bold. Stupid, but bold.

[boberot]

Nah, Bills unis really suck. As much as I love the throwbacks, the "new" ones are just godawful.

[cuervo72]

Seriously...those Bills unis are horrible. The throwbacks on the other hand are very nice.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by RendeR

This coming from a fan of a team whose uniform is more suited to a college team than a professional one? Bold. Stupid, but bold.

Zubaz went out of style in 1992, perhaps Mike Brown should get the memo?

[stevew]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Seriously...those Bills unis are horrible. The throwbacks on the other hand are very nice.

exactly. Just keep the throwbacks, or if you really have to, go with the old school buffalo on the orange helmet. And then the classic throwback top.

[Cringer]

I am pretty certain that in three years the next coach of the Bills will be Mike Tice. Jauron followed by Chan Gailey, very odd choices to me.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Seriously...those Bills unis are horrible. The throwbacks on the other hand are very nice.

The throwbacks are better on just about every team that wore them this year.

Jets, Patriots, Chargers, and even the Raiders should stick with them. Love the Broncos old uniforms in the Elway era and the Falcons red helmets. Only throwback that is bad is the Tampa ones and I'd even take that for pure comedy.

[MrDNA]

Getting more off topic, but it seems like to many (most?) sportsfans (and myself included here) throwbacks>current unis. Why is that? Nostalgia? It's not even teams I necessarily root for that I feel have better throwbacks, I just like the style in general so it's not like I'm hearkening back to the "glory days" or anything.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Report: Ralph Wilson nixed potential return of Martyball
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 19, 2010 5:49 PM ET
Bills owner Ralph Wilson's affinity of football men of a certain age has its limits.

Tim Graham of ESPN reports that Marty Schottenheimer "badly" wanted the Bills coaching job, but Wilson was never on board.

Schottenheimer worked previously with G.M. Buddy Nix, and publicly soft-pedaled his interest in the gig. But his experience with Nix didn't matter because Wilson "wasn't comfortable" with Schottenheimer.

The news helps to explain why Marty's son Brian turned down a chance to interview. But it's unlikely to calm the anger of Bills fans or change the perception that Chan Gailey was a fallback choice.

Bills fans would probably prefer a coach with Schottenheimer's track record if the team was looking for someone with head coaching experience.

Bills shoulda taken Martyball if the other option was Gailey. Awful.

Stupid choice. I would take Marty in a heartflash over CHAN GAILEY

[RendeR]

Don't look my way. I think 99% of throwbacks should be. Thrown back that is.

The bills standing cow on white is disgusting, even Bills fans say that here. Unless you lived then its fucking horrible.

As for other teams throwbacks I've seen very few I liked. Atlanta's red helmets are a definite winner though. Loved those.

And anyone that says they don't adore those old Bucs Creamsicles is a LYING WHOREBAG!

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Because the rest of the AFC East was already sooooooooo worried about the Bills...

Good point. But the Gailey hire should ensure that this remains the case for a few more years.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Good point. But the Gailey hire should ensure that this remains the case for a few more years.

I told Telle, "Just assume you'll be dead last for the next 2-3 years and then if yer not, BONUS!"



She didn't speak to me for about an hour....

[boberot]

*this is not a bad take on the hire. *

Don't fret Bills fans, Chan Gailey's resume speaks for itself
Mike Florio


Once upon a time, Chan Gailey occupied a spot near the top of the "A" list for NFL head-coaching candidates.

He was running the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, a hard-nosed attack with a penchant for trick plays and, as of 1995, one of the first Wildcat-type looks, with rookie Kordell Stewart taking periodic snaps en route to a Super Bowl berth.

In four seasons with Gailey on the staff, the Steelers qualified for the playoffs four times.

Chan Gailey is introduced as the Bills' new head coach Tuesday.
Eventually, Gailey got his shot at running a team, with the Cowboys. But two playoff appearances and no playoff wins weren't good enough for Jerry Jones, and he was bounced after two years.

Gailey landed in Miami as the offensive coordinator, where, despite the retirement of quarterback Dan Marino and the departure of coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins went to the playoffs in each of the two seasons Gailey was there.

And that opened the door for Gailey at Georgia Tech, where in six years as head coach, Gailey's teams qualified for a bowl bid six times. Unfortunately, he could never beat Georgia, and he eventually was fired following a 7-5 season.

Gailey's 14-year string of postseason play ended the next year, when he agreed to become offensive coordinator of the Chiefs. But without much talent to work with, Gailey quickly became a forgotten man. And when Herm Edwards was fired and Todd Haley arrived, Haley initially decided to keep Gailey around. Then, only days before the start of the 2009 season, Gailey was demoted, reassigned, and forgotten again.

Forgotten, that is, until his former boss in Pittsburgh recommended Gailey to the Bills. It wasn't the first time Bill Cowher had gone to bat for Gailey. In 2007, nearly a decade after Gailey had left Pittsburgh, Cowher submitted one name to the Rooneys as he was leaving the job.

Chan Gailey.

With other candidates not interested and with the Bills wanting an offensive specialist and a guy with head-coaching experience, Buffalo has decided to entrust the franchise to Gailey.

Not Brian Billick, who possesses both of those primary qualifications and a certain piece of finger jewelry that only Super Bowl winners receive. But Chan Gailey.

Bills' fans aren't happy, in large part because Gailey has become largely anonymous after one year of bad football and another year of semi-exile in Kansas City. But it doesn't mean the guy suddenly can't coach.

Who comes up with the "A" list of NFL head-coaching candidates, anyway? It's devised largely -- if not exclusively -- by the media, based on input from league insiders, some of whom are influenced by what other members of the media are saying.

And when one or more of the candidates are working in the media, it's a lot easier for the candidate to continue to be mentioned for jobs.

So with this year's short stack composed of guys like Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren and Jon Gruden, with only one of them returning to coaching, it's no shock the Bills dug a little deeper -- especially since many of the assistant coaches from playoff teams weren't interested in the job.

On one hand, the decision of the Bills not to leak word of Gailey's candidacy blocked a billboards-and-blogosphere revolt from fans before he could be hired. On the other hand, the backlash surely is coming.

Before Bills fans go bonkos, however, it would be wise to take a broader view.

As mentioned above, Gailey's teams qualified for postseason play in 14 straight seasons. That's a streak four years longer than Buffalo's current playoff drought.

Plus, Gailey succeeded with quarterbacks like Neil O'Donnell, Mike Tomczak, Stewart, and Jay Fiedler. And while Gailey had it easy in Dallas with Troy Aikman as the signal-caller, can any non-Ramblin' Wreck aficionado think of the name of one quarterback with whom Gailey made it to six straight bowl games?

So the guy has been successful and, more importantly, he wants to be in Buffalo. Combining those realities with the official Bill Cowher spittle-secured seal of approval, Bills fans should be feeling right now a few emotions that don't involve gloom and/or doom.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

[Apathetic Lurker]

I have changed my mind..Gailey is better than some of the candidates bandied around and worse than some of them..I'm willing to give him some time. Let's see what he can do in Buffalo.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

I have changed my mind..Gailey is better than some of the candidates bandied around and worse than some of them..I'm willing to give him some time. Let's see what he can do in Buffalo.

Hey, if you aspire to mediocrity, he might be just the guy.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Hey, if you aspire to mediocrity, he might be just the guy.

If all your first choices dont want to be there you really have no choice.

Who knows, maybe Ralphie boy has some serious issues with Marty from the time Marty played here....Personally thats why I think he wasnt invited.
Who did you have in mind after the so-called "A" listers declined?

Marve Levy wasnt exactly a super coach in Montreal and KC before coaching the Bills

[Kodos]

The Red Falcons unis from the 80s were the best uniform of all time. Love the classic Falcon logo, hate the new one.

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Hey, if you aspire to mediocrity, he might be just the guy.

mediocrity would be a step in the right direction for the Bills

[boberot]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

mediocrity would be a step in the right direction for the Bills

bullet, I take umbrage with that statement.

We have been PLENTY mediocre, thank you very much.

Isn't 7-9, 7-9, 7-9, 6-10 the very definition of mediocrity?!

[Apathetic Lurker]

Originally Posted by boberot

bullet, I take umbrage with that statement.

We have been PLENTY mediocre, thank you very much.

Isn't 7-9, 7-9, 7-9, 6-10 the very definition of mediocrity?!

As a Bill's fan I say NAY.... Mediocrity is 8-8... we are sub-mediocre. At least we arent the Lions......

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

I have changed my mind..Gailey is better than some of the candidates bandied around and worse than some of them..I'm willing to give him some time. Let's see what he can do in Buffalo.

The guy has been hired, that is really all you can do at this point. I didn't like the Mile McCarthy hire in Green Bay at all when it happened. While I still don't love the guy he hasn't done too bad.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

At least we arent the Lions......

Finally, someone with a little perspective.

[Galaxy]

The whole fuckin process was a joke. Wilson was touting change.

So what the rich bastard do?

Interviews a total of 5 Guys for both the GM position. Buddy Nix and John Guy, the two interviewers for GM position, were both already in the organziation.

The head coaches interviewed were Fewell (Bills coach), Frasier, and Chan. You fired Jauron two months ago and you're the first opening on the market.

So you don't even have interviews with Billick, Marty, Martz, and Jim Fossell (both were later to reported to be interested in the position). They didn't even talk to him. I was expecting that by hiring Nix, he would of brought in Marty and his son (to be the OC and maybe the head coach down the line). That is why hiring Nix gave me a very slight hope. Nix wanted Marty, but Ralph said no. Now that's a joke.

Basically, Wilson wanted a "yes" man and be in the control. Don't be a moron, touting wholesale changes (our drafts and free agency signings have been a joke) and you're serious in bringing a big coach, than interview just five guys (three already part of the team) and go cheap. The Bills have been running a "we don't owe you" relationship with the media in the last decade or so. Nix isn't helping.

Bottom line, it really isn't worth having the "Buffalo" Bills if you got an owner that is a cheap, control-freek. Why spend taxpayer money on the stadium and lease for that (and take away one of our games each year to Toronto, a city that has shown no interest in supporting the team and the NFL).

I mean, besides the run in the late 80's/90's, have the Bills ever really been great? I mean, Ralph fired the brain trust that put that incredible run together because they stole the show and wanted to paid fairly.

[boberot]

I'm right there with you, Galaxy.

Ralph is an egomaniacal, cheap, meddling bastard. Mr Wilson: You are 91 years old. Hire talented football people to make football decisions, and then stay the hell out of their way.

The most galling was when Ralph promised big changes, and that he was going to spend money to make a splash, and we wound up with Chan Gailey.

In this tiny market, how dare you have the balls and the hubris to name the stadium after yourself, leaving potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on the table in the form of naming rights.

And you're right, Galaxy, other than the 90s Bills and the 60s AFL Bills -- this organization has never gotten it right. Even when they did get it right, Wilson screwed it up -- sending guys like Polian and Butler packing.

He shows little gratitude or loyalty to the Bills fans who have loyally flocked to the stadium to cheer on a perennially inferior product in freezing weather year after year.

Like I posted earlier, I wish I didn't care. I'm tired of being outraged.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

The whole fuckin process was a joke. Wilson was touting change.

So what the rich bastard do?

Interviews a total of 5 Guys for both the GM position. Buddy Nix and John Guy, the two interviewers for GM position, were both already in the organziation.

The head coaches interviewed were Fewell (Bills coach), Frasier, and Chan. You fired Jauron two months ago and you're the first opening on the market.

So you don't even have interviews with Billick, Marty, Martz, and Jim Fossell (both were later to reported to be interested in the position). They didn't even talk to him. I was expecting that by hiring Nix, he would of brought in Marty and his son (to be the OC and maybe the head coach down the line). That is why hiring Nix gave me a very slight hope. Nix wanted Marty, but Ralph said no. Now that's a joke.

Basically, Wilson wanted a "yes" man and be in the control. Don't be a moron, touting wholesale changes (our drafts and free agency signings have been a joke) and you're serious in bringing a big coach, than interview just five guys (three already part of the team) and go cheap. The Bills have been running a "we don't owe you" relationship with the media in the last decade or so. Nix isn't helping.

Bottom line, it really isn't worth having the "Buffalo" Bills if you got an owner that is a cheap, control-freek. Why spend taxpayer money on the stadium and lease for that (and take away one of our games each year to Toronto, a city that has shown no interest in supporting the team and the NFL).

I mean, besides the run in the late 80's/90's, have the Bills ever really been great? I mean, Ralph fired the brain trust that put that incredible run together because they stole the show and wanted to paid fairly.

They were great in the mid 60's