Bills contact Shanahan about coach opening
 

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By Adam Schefter
ESPN
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One day after firing Dick Jauron, the Buffalo Bills have wasted no time identifying a potential replacement.

Buffalo has contacted and is in the process of arranging a meeting with former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, according to two NFL sources.

Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Broncos, is said to be willing to listen to the Bills. He has said in the past that he is determined to return to the NFL next season.

While Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Broncos, is viewed within the Bills organization as a desired candidate, there are other names at or near the top of the team's wish list.

For now, the Bills have appointed defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as interim head coach. Fewell is well-respected within the organization and will be given every opportunity to earn the full-time job.

The Bills also will investigate options expected to include Florida Tuskers coach Jim Haslett and New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, both of whom has ties to the Bills.

Haslett played linebacker for Buffalo from 1979 to 1985. Gilbride was the Bills offensive coordinator during 2002-03, when quarterback Drew Bledsoe had his most productive seasons with the team.

Another candidate on the Bills radar is Marc Trestman, coach of the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, who posted a CFL-best 15-3 regular season record and has his team one win from the Grey Cup final. Ironically, Trestman once succeeded Shanahan as the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

Adam Schefter is an ESPN NFL Insider.

Wow what a shitty list of candidates

THE DEAL IS DONE firsties

The Bills would certainly give him full control so I could see why he would be interested.

This list of candidates is full of FAIL.

Haslett?
Gilbride?
Some CFL coach?

The only one on that list that has credibility is Shanahan.

I think Shanahan would be a good fit there. Ralph Wilson would probably give him a lot of leeway, which seems to be what Shanahan likes.

well ... shannarat was used to living in cold.

Shannahan is a washed up coach hopefully he goes to Dallas

I can't think of a worse situation for Shanahan.

I don't know if Shanahan would go to Dallas. I doubt he likes the idea of Jerry Jones constantly looking over his shoulder.

This is a joke, I take it?

Shanahan in Dallas would be scary. Their offensive weapons are outstanding.

Buffalo just seems like a bad place for Shannahan. Besides he is still under buyout with Broncos for like 7 million a year no need to go to someplace crappy like Buffalo. He would go to someplace That is farther along the process of building a team i would say.

LOL.. That's what I was thinking.

No Dane its not a joke. Whens the last team Shannahans team made the playoffs? He's just like Dicky V. All offense ignore the defense.

Dude, his team was in the AFC Championship just a few years ago against the Steelers. With Jake Plummer as QB. The Denver Broncos were number two in total offense just last year.

Their problem was defense and he just wasn't able to solve it the past few seasons. He fired coordinator after coordinator, he drafted, traded and signed defensive players but none of that got him a championship defense. But it wasn't for a lack of effort.

The guy is a high quality NFL coach and he'll succeed somewhere else.

And he certainly made Jay Cutler look to be a much better QB than is actually the case.

2005 4 years ago. Reguardless his defenses have sucked for awhile now yes his offenses were good, I do however question how much is left in the tank. He's coached forever and look at how his teams have finished down the stretch the last few years. Its a fair question Dane. I prefer going for a young coach re-treads don't work that much.

Lets see, Denver ownership owes him many millions of dollars, and Shannahan just finished a bazillion dollar home, so friggin big, it has it's very own bowling alley, located in the Denver area.

I see no reason why he wouldn't want to move to Buffalo. ROFL

Well actually, it was just 3 seasons for Shanahan, as he is not coaching this season.

You must also take into consideration the fact that he decided to go young mid-season, benching Plummer in favor of getting Cutler some game experience.

Look, the guy has three Super Bowl rings. He's an offensive mastermind. Do I think it was time for him to leave Denver?

Absolutely.

But he will land on his feet somewhere and he will coach a competitive team.

He got two as the Coach of the Broncos, where did the other one come from? Ass't Coach? Player? Just asking, I do not know.

Offensive coordinator of the 49ers in 1994.

Pete Carroll was the defensive coordinator of that team.

Yeah, right Buffalo.ROFL

:banghead: Thanks, I knew that, damn memory!

There has also been some talk the bills may look at Marty Schottenheimer..

Well, hes got a proven track record of turning around wayward programs. That actually wouldnt be a bad choice.

Not too mention he also played for the Bills so he knows Ralph pretty well.

Hmm, go to Siberia or stay retired?

Enh, it's a small market team... same division as NE, not a lot of great 'youthful' options and not that appealing for FAs. I just don't see it happening.

Okay you other owners wanting to make a head coaching change. You better get your offers ready.............

Not really, they don't buy the Rat going to Buffalo either.

I can think of one.

I hope he goes to the NFC.

Kevin Gilbride?!?
:Lin:
I was so happy when Buddy Ryan kicked his ass.

This!

Here's how I hope the conversation went.


(Ring, ring)

Mike Shanahan: Hello?

Ralph Wilson: I'm looking for Mike Shanahan.

MS: Who's calling?

RW: Ralph Wilson. I own the Bills.

MS: Oh, okay. This is Mike. Your voice sounds a lot like Al Davis' voice, so I was screening.

RW: Understood.

MS: So what can I do for you? You want to me to make an amateurish jewelry store ad? I do those all the time.

RW: No, no. We don't wear jewelry in Buffalo. It freezes to the skin.

MS: Really?

RW: Yeah. Check out Terrell Owens' jewelry next time you see him at a home game. It never moves. But anyway, I have a question for you. As you may know, we have a coaching vacancy now.

MS: Yeah, yeah, Dick Jauron. Can't win with Dick Jauron. He plays by the rules too much. You never see his linemen going low.

RW: Um, yeah. Okay. So anyway, we know that you have a lot of connections around the league, and....

MS: I have a staff ready to roll in an instant. Romanowski's coaching high school ball, Elway's just killing time with his Ponzi scheme, and I think I could even get Jake Plummer to be a player-coach.

RW: Actually, we're thinking more about Bill Cowher.

MS: I don't think Cowher could be a player coach. But I'm glad to have him on my staff.

RW: No, you don't understand. We know you have connections. None of us can find Bill Cowher's phone number, and we were wondering if you have it. Sorry to call so late.

When I saw Marty's name wasn't on the list, I wondered if it was one of AJ Smith's old associates in Buffalo trying to keep the man down.

ROFL Rep.

Marv Levy was the HC for the Montreal Alouettes before getting hired by the Chiefs, and ultimately by the Bills.

Just sayin'.

Also, while Buffalo may not be the center of the NFL universe, the Bills this season are starting 4 rookies on the O-Line.

Guys that many of us here discussed and thought highly of in last Aprol's draft.

If only two of those guys develop, then they will be in good shape, if three or all four deveop, then they'll be in great shape.

That would be a great foundation for a guy like Shannahan to take over and build around.

That team, as far as I'm concerned, is way ahead of the Chiefs in the building stage.

Nope, they all suck and we desperately needed another Corner and an RB.

M. Shannahan - J. Elway - T. Davis = Same 'ol shit.

They need a QB. Trent Edwards is not the answer.

The defense isn't bad. A qb and stud lt and they would be competitive if they can keep lynch on the field.

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that Cassel is not the answer here at QB.

Would you rather have an O-line that included 4 talented, promising rookies, and a solid 5th year center, moving forward or an aging guard, a 4th year center that clearly isn't getting the job done, and questions everywhere else on the line?

Marty would fit right in. Bills are used to losing in the postseason. :D

There's a lot of people who really liked Demetrius Bell as a late round project at LT going into last year's draft.

He's starting there this season.

If he does have the potential that many think he has, then they very well could be set there.

No, they are used to winning more games than they lose in the postseason.

They are just used to losing in the SB.

Call when Marty gets that far.

I won't hold my breath waiting for the phone to ring.

Ill reserve judgement until i see what moves Pioli does with our O-line in the offseason.

Marty knows how to rebuild a program. Id fire him after year 3 if i was GM. :)

Regardless of what Pioli does this offseason, the Bills are ahead of him if those guys develop.

I think them getting there had more to do with them being in a terrible division that year, and one of the luckiest and worst ref'd playoff games.

ROFL That's always the answer.

That was a terrible game, all the way around. Sure it was a win, but nothing I would hang my hat on as a great achievement.

Yeah, I'd be pissed if the Chiefs were in the AFC Championship recently as well.

Shanahan will coach in 2010, but I doubt it's in BUF... he's a solid coach and knows how to win. His final years in Denver were just products of time and being worn out, he lost something... but it happens to a lot of coaches. He'll be back and he'll be successful.

Shanahan took a team with Elway and a few other nice 'foundational' players, but he built that team into a championship team. And, while they didn't get to SB after Elway, they still had solid success... he was asked to do something that few HC's achieve... get back to the SB a third time with an entirely new set of players. Just compare the 96-99 teams with those from 2001-2005 ... lots of change, but they were successful even with Plummer. Compare the team that he built from 2005 to 2008 and it was again vastly different, his issues were defense... he could never find the DC or stick with one long enough to make it work. So, he was shown the door.

Ok..

Actually, I have no doubt if we looked like them in that game that you would be saying what a fluke it was.

Edit - Especially if it was surrounded by the rest of the seasons he had.

Can rats and buffalos inter-breed ....

shefter now says that shannarat had a 7 hour meeting with Buffalo this weekend
and then came back then next day and talk some more.

I bet they put him in a maze and tested to see whether he can find the cheese.

LMAO It's gonna' be Levy all over again.

Frozen Rat.

That's where raiders fans come from.

I went to college in Buffalo. There's rats all over the city. He'd fit right in.

4 superbowl appearances?

shit I hope not....

Hell, i would have absolutely 0 issues if the Chiefs got into the Championship game on a fluke or a lucky fumble, or a left handed pass by a right handed quarterback.

I would be ****ing jumping for joy.

Refresh my memory on the number of victories again?

Well, if the Bills are the AFC representatives for 4 Super Bowls, why would it matter to us whether or not they actually won those games?

Marty would be perfect in Buffalo.

That will be the choice, IMO.

Here is how that works...
Phone rings (enter unemployed coaches name here) answers.
Agent: Its me guess what I got a offer! (said boldly hoping for approval)
Unemployed coach: Really this great how much? (smiling waving arms at wife excitedly)
Agent: lucrative! (proudly yet dreading details)
Unemployed coach: Great from who? (winking at wife with thoughts of new job sex dancing in his mind)
Agent: Buffalo! (eyes closed hoping for the best)
Unemployed coach: really Buffalo...wow (turning his back to his wife with new job sex thoughts quickly fading)
Agent: They are offering a lot of money!
Unemployed coach: Dude have you ever been to Buffalo? (wife walking off thinking I wouldn't give him any right now if we were both under water and he had the oxygen)
Agent: Wait the rumor is Cable is going to get fired in Oakland...its warm there! (wondering if the guy at the car lot still needs a used car salesman)
Unemployed coach: Call the networks and call me back on my cell phone I will be at the Super 8 (deciding if he should pack or maybe there might be enough gas in the car if he shuts the garage door and takes a nap)

"Bills" stands for:
"Boy I Love Losing Superbowls!"

They'd be lucky to go to one Super Bowl if Rat-Man were their coach, statistically speaking.