Bills News, Sans GM/Offensive Coordinator Updates

by Brian Galliford on Jan 7, 2008 6:40 PM EST in News

Anybody getting the impression that the Bills don't have a clue who they're going to hire as the team's new GM? It has now been over a week since the resignation of Marv Levy became public; since that time, the only concrete evidence of progress that we have on the search is that Ralph Wilson came to Buffalo for some meetings. It's not that I doubt the team is strategizing behind closed doors; it's that I'm restless. The other teams with vacancies - most notably Atlanta - are interviewing candidates left and right. And we have no news. I'm irritated - if the lack of news doesn't mean we're promoting the GM in-house, I'll be even more irritated.

Same deal for offensive coordinator. I think it's pretty obvious at this point that Dick Jauron is going to be a part of this organization for the foreseeable future; where is the news of rumored candidates heading to Buffalo for an interview? We've already seen desperation from St. Louis and San Francisco, as they've actively pursued the big names (Martz and Cameron); all we've gotten is that Jauron has some names he "feels pretty good about". Oye. Make some news, Buffalo!

Nice read about Buffalo's excellent punt coverage units, who finished this season ranked #1 in the NFL in yards allowed per return. You have to give it to Bobby April - I, for one, was completely unaware that both John Wendling and Justin Jenkins had never been gunners before. They looked like old pros out there, and will probably be the front-runners to hold down the positions again next season.

Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News has a nice recap of the best and worst from the 2007 season. (We beat him to the punch.)

Mike Catalana - one of my favorite local reporters (hey, I grew up watching him on WHAM 13) - shares the same concerns I do about some of Buffalo's young veterans, most notably Schobel and Evans.

And finally, good ol' Connor Byrne has a nice piece about the genius that was the Willis McGahee trade. Good stuff, Connor.

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I feel the same way!

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON OVER THERE!!

There are six teams that are going through front office and coaching changes.

Atlanta (GM, Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator)
Miami (Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator)
Baltimore (Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator)
Buffalo (Offensive Coordinator)
SF (Offensive Coordinator)
St. Louis (Offensive Coordinator)

In Atlanta, Blank has been conducting an exhaustive search for a new GM, interviewing several candidates already.

In Miami, they are moving even faster. Immediately after the season they hired Bill Parcels to right the ship and he's hired a GM (Ireland) and apparantley has a head coach lined up as well (Soprano). At this pace, they'll have a new VP, GM, HC and OC before Buffalo even starts thier interviewing process.

In Baltimore they have already interviewed Rex Ryan for head coach and are expected to interview Jets OC Brian Schottenheimer this week.

In SF, Nolon fires his offensive coordinator and immediately names Billick, Martz, and Cameron as his top candidates as replacements. Martz interviewed on Monday and Cameron is soon to follow. Chan Gaily, the former Georgia Tech coach already interviewed.

Cameron has been rumored to be a candidate in St. Louis as well, even though thier OC was JUST fired.

There are going to be more OC positions to fill as well. If Garrett (Dallas' OC) gets the Miami Head coaching job or Schottenheimer (Jet's OC) gets the Ravens job, those positions are going to be filled as well. It is ALREADY rumored that Cameron would be a candidate for the job if that happens! (http://www.contracostatimes.com/raiders/ci_7902156?nclick_check=1).

Meanwhile in Buffalo... nothing. Absoultely nothing. At this point I expect them to spread the GM job between Guy, Overdorf, and Jauron. For OC it will be someone from the current staff or a Jauron crony that has no experience or a losing record, or both.

I am not the least bit encouraged. I hope we hear something, ANYTHING tomorrow!

By the way, if you are keeping tally, every team that is ready to hire an OC (SF, St. Louis) or may have to hire one (Jets, Dallas) have been rumored to be interested in Cameron. The only team not to be? Buffalo.

John I.

by jri111 on Jan 7, 2008 9:54 PM EST 0 recs

Me too

I am definitely frustrated as well, more so about the GM than the OC. I am hoping that the reason there hasn't been any movement on the OC front is because the person(s) Jauron likes are currently on staffs that are in the playoffs or something. That way it is more a timing thing than a complete lack of effort or of a plan. Like I said, I am hoping it is something like that and that hope lets me sleep at night.

As far as the GM, I am pretty ticked that nothing seems to have been done. If they are going to promote from within, which, by the way I am becoming more and more against, I wish they would just do it already. And if they are going to hire someone from the outside, HURRY UP and do something! Start interviewing some people, make some contacts, have a plan! I don't advocate hiring someone quickly just to get it done; take your time and hire the right guy. But you have to start before you can hope to finish.

At the end of day, I just hope that there has been action on the GM and OC fronts and just no public knowledge of it...

by fletcherjd on Jan 7, 2008 10:32 PM EST up 0 recs