Buffalo Bills Review

I don’t have an official name for it yet, but I wanted to let you know of a new feature that will appear regularly here at BuffaloBillsReview.com. I had planned to begin today, but with the Mularkey news, I figured that was probably sufficient for today. 🙂

Starting next Friday (1/20/06) we’ll be doing a weekly round up of Bills news and happenings and posting that along with links to articles (where available) and my take on various things in the world of Bills. You can receive these updates (as well as anything else posted to this site) by subscribing to the XML feed in the side bar to your right. Click on the little XML box, and then copy that URL to your favorite XML/RSS reader. (e-mail us if you need further assistance…)

We don’t have a name yet for such a weekly offering, so if you are creative and have suggestions, just add your comments below and we’ll take your recommendations into consideration.

All for now. See ya next Friday!

In a surprise announcement Thursday, head coach Mike Mularkey announced his resignation from the position he has held for two seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Mularkey had three years left on his contract which would have paid him several million dollars. Apparently he has voluntarily forefeited that with this resignation.

Bills’ owner, Ralph Wilson, expressed his shock at the quick turn around from the organization’s affirmation of Mularkey as well as the coach’s own apparent commitment to the team. Just last week, Mularkey was reaffirmed by Wilson and new GM Marv Levy as the team’s head coach. Reporters and Wilson alike seemed baffled by the very quick change in thinking.

“He seemed very firm in his decision,” Wilson told the press, regarding Mularkey’s decision and their subsequent attempts to talk him out of such a decision.

There are a few names being tossed around to replace Mularkey such as former Bills’ LB Jim Haslett, who was fired this season as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Wilson reported that he and Levy have not spent much time discussing the specifics yet of who might be likely candidates for the vacant post.

Reporters asked Levy how he felt about this first week of being the new general manager for the Bills, and Marv’s response was, “When I took the position, Mr Wilson said it would be exciting…” He continued by saying that this is just a normal part of life in the NFL.

Both Levy and Wilson reported that many of the current assistant coaches will remain in their posts with the Bills. They were not specific about who would stay or go, but assured the press that many coaches would continue to coach for the Bills next season. Levy and Wilson also said quite firmly that he (Levy) would not be returning to the sideline to coach the team. (Though, with a bit of badgering from the reporters in the room, Marv did allow a little room for that option.)

To many Bills fans, this resignation is a late Christmas present. Many fans have been calling for Mularkey’s head after the very disssapointing 5-11 season his team put together in 2005. The verdict is still out on whether this will be good for the Bills football team, or not. Change is good, but there has been nearly wholesale change at One Bills Drive in the first few weeks of this off-season.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – In an expected announcement today, Ralph Wilson announced that former Bills coach and member of the NFL Hall of Fame, Marv Levy will be taking over the role of Vice-President of Football Operations for the Buffalo Bills. The press conference was the third in 24 hours from One Bills Drive. Wilson said yesterday that he intended to “take back the presidency (of the team)”, and he appears to be following through with some swift, early changes in this off season.

There was some speculation that Marv Levy would assume the role of General Manager for the Bills, but both Levy and Wilson emphasized that the job will be focused on football, and will be separated from the business administration, and Levy added he won’t be concerned with “fixing holes in the parking lot.”

“We’re bringing Marv back,” said Wilson, “so that he can bring a stability to the Buffalo Bills, which I am sure he can. Inject some stability to the organization, bring everybody together. He did that with his football team, they worked together as a team or else they would not have been able to do what they did.”

Levy took over the head coaching job for the Buffalo Bills mid-way through the 1986 season, and posted a 2-5 record. The team improved to 7-8 the following year, and then went 12-4 the following year, beginning a run for the Bills of six AFC East championships starting in 1988. And then of course, Levy’s Bills went to an unprecedented four-straight Super Bowls. A feat that has not been, and may never be repeated.

Wilson and Levy both were cracking jokes about their age. Ralph Wilson is 87 years young, and Levy will be 81 this year. As he introduced Levy, Wilson said, “I’m very proud to bring some youth to this organization.” Levy followed that up by saying he’s “an 80-year old rookie and looking forward to it with unbounded enthusiasm. Not just to get back into the football world, but to do it with the Buffalo Bills.”

“Our goal is not just to get back to the Super Bowl,” said Levy, “but to win it. And win it as quickly as possible.”

The move will hopefully bring a winning, team attitude to an organization that has become used to losing. As we have termed it on the Buffalo Bills Review – “Bengalitis”. Levy should bring not only enthusiasm, but aged wisdom, and a levity (pun intended) to a team that has been down for so long. Look for a rejuvinated Buffalo Bills squad in 2006.

Rejuvinated by an 80-yr-old rookie.

http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060105/1028910.asp

Hey Bills Fans. Intersting take on yesterday’s changes at One Bills Drive

(Posted by DRKMSTR)

Check out the winners of the first annual Buffalo Bills Review Awards!

ORCHARD PARK, NY – Well, it’s official. As of 2:30pm Wednesday, Ralph Wilson annouced that Tom Donahoe has been fired as the Bills President and General Manager. Wilson said Donahoe’s replacement will be announced shortly at a press conference in the near future.

In the question and answer time following Wilson’s comments, reporters peppered Mr. Wilson with questions about former Bills coach Marv Levy’s potential involvement in the organization next year. His response was a bit hesitant, saying, “Coach Levy… I can’t tell you right now who [the new GM is] going to be.” That obviously fuels speculation that Levy might be named to some oversight role of the organization, General Manager or otherwise.

“This is difficult for me,” explained Wilson, “because Tom and I are good friends. When Tom came here… he … had to release many of our old veteran players. He did a great job. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anybody work as hard as Tom. He’s here at the building at 5:00 in the morning. He takes trip to colleges in the fall to scout players for the team. He flies back to Buffalo for the games on Sunday. He has worked very, very hard, and I thank him for it.”

Wislon was visibly frustrated with the results of the 2005 season obviously, and he mentioned that there had not been very much progress over the past 5 years of Donahoe’s tenure as Bills’ GM. He made very clear that he takes all the blame for any poor performance of the team, and said, “I take responsiblity for this organization, and if there are any bullets to be fired, I want you to fire them at me. However… there’s going to be a restructuring of the organization. On the football side, and the administration side of the club.”

Wilson closed his opening comments by saying, “I want to apologize to the fans of Buffalo – who are great fans – who we haven’t done a very good job for over the last couple years – who we haven’t given a very good product – and I want to apologize for that.” He also apologized for some security personnel taking team protest signs from fans. He said, “That is not the policy of the Buffalo Bills,” and later added emphatically, “I checked on [who it was that made that happen] and it was somebody in this building, but it was NOT ME!”

As far as the coach Mike Mularkey is concerned, Wilson said, “Mike Mularkey and I have had a visit and we’ve talked over what is best for the team and we’re going to continue to talk about it annd there will be a decision made very soon.” There was no definite time table mentioned, but Mr. Wilson seemed to hint that any decision regarding Mularkey’s future with the team would be within a week or so.

During the questions and answer period, Wilson raised his voice a bit as he commented on possible candidates for the role Donahoe had filled the past five years, saying, “I am taking back the presidency. I am going to be the president, and I am going to be much more active than I have been in the past five years!”

Look for more restructuring in the coming weeks from One Bills Drive. We haven’t seen the end of this yet. And if we’re lucky, we might be seeing a few familiar faces around the Bills’ organization in 2006.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – As the Pro Bowl players were announced yesterday in a nationally televised news conference, not everyone was celebrating. The players, like Buffalo’s Rian “No Foot” Lindell who were not chosen to represent the best of the best we left feeling a bit rejected by their fans and colleagues alike.

“With our putrid offensive production this year, and my numbers still being respectable, I thought for sure the players and coaches around the league would have voted me in. I’ve had a great season, in my opinion. I mean, you can always do better, you always push yourself to do better, but hey, I think these are Pro Bowl numbers,” explains a frustrated Lindell.

Indeed, Lindell has posted some impressive numbers this year. His extra point attempts have been flawless, hitting all 20. His field goal percentage is among the best in the league, hitting 22 of 27. All of his misses came on attempts of less than 50 yds. He was a perfect 2 for 2 from beyond the magic 50 yard mark.

“Yeah, how many kickers were perfect from over 50 yards this season? Not many!” argues “No Foot”, incredulous at this obvious oversite by the NFL and it’s fans.

“It’s just really sad,” he continues, “I got beat out by a guy from the Bengals! The BENGALS! Have you seen their record over the past 15 years?! They’ve been consistently the worst in the league! Well, we are pretty close to that this year… so, again, I ask you, with my numbers on a horrible team, shouldn’t I be shown a little respect? Sure, he’s hit 22 more XPs this year than me, but who couldn’t do that in Cincinnati? I have to kick in Buffalo!”

Lindell is looking forward to the opportunity to display his kicking prowess on the same field this week as Graham who beat him in this year’s probowl balloting. He has said that he will “make sure to let the league know this week who should really be going to the Pro Bowl in February!”

“No Foot” had no comment when asked how he felt about his kicking partner, Brian Moorman being selected as a starter in this year’s all star event in Honolulu.

Here is the article Josh talked about in this week’s Review. Sam doesn’t sound all that happy about his “injury”…

Buffalo News – Adams hates view from the bench

Here’s a link to the audio press conference with Mike Mularkey on Monday. He talks about Sam Adam’s “rehab”… hmmm…

Listen here.

Stay tuned…