That’s interesting news. I like Gruden the person and think that he’s a good coach, but I’m not really sold on the WCO scheme that he likes to run. Buffalo needs a blue-collar team that is built around a strong running game and solid defense – not a dink-and-dunk offense.

That said, it is dissapointing that Gruden turned the job down. Hopefully, this doesn’t turn into a trend w/ these big name coaches. Every individual is different, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

According to a WIVB report, you can add Jon Gruden’s name to the list, too. Then you can go ahead and cross it off again.

I bet you’re that kind of person, Brian. Add something to your to-do list that you’ve already done and then cross it off. Therapeutic really.

I would have loved Gruden, but like all the big names each has there bright spots, superbowl ring(s), and the negatives.

But did he really turn the Bills down, or was his contract with ESPN already renewed?
I heard this was the first year he was able to see all of his sons football games and that he enjoyed the family time he was getting with being a commentator opposed to a coach.

I just can’t believe Jauron didn’t finish the season. Not that I think he is a quitter, but maybe he knew he had lost the team from a coaching perspective, and not as a personal perspective.

The problem is not just a head coach problem; it is the entire organization. Plugging a coach into the existing organization will not work, unless of course you consider 7 and 9 a success. Someone new and dynamic has to be put in charge of all things football, including the hiring of a head coach.

I’d be more than happy with a solid GM with a proven track record and history of running an effective front office team, and a coach who has been a part of a WINNING Super Bowl team…..something our last 3 coaches have not had.

His first act would be to resign Hamdan so we could have the minimum 4 QBs on the roster……

Not the best, but there’d have been no monkeying around with the front office just to get him to sign.

Its sort of strange how I feel about it. I mean, I’d enjoy us to have him as our coach but I don’t think he would coach them to a super bowl, so in that sense it’s a good thing. With him we’d probably stay a Tampa-2 team, which can be successful, but I don’t like that identity for the Bills. I’d rather see a much more agressive/dominating defense like back in the beginning of the decade.

I do love him on MNF though, so in sort of a weird, selfish way I’m glad I get to watch him every week. Jon and Jaws are the best duo I think today.

are using the Bills as a bargaining tool. The fact they are a desparately desired quantity gives them wicked leverage. I watched something on JImmy Johnson, Howie Long and a couple of guys talking about the Bills’ coaching situation and it was clear that Buffalo is not the most desired location—btw, neither is Cleveland.

“Should I accept the HC position with the Bills….ummmmmmmm… NO!”

Yes, Wilson helped to create this disaster by not bringing in a real GM in the first place. He also (at a minimum) signed off on hiring a coach who had had exactly one good season.

However, Wilson is apparently at least trying to lure what is generally regarded (wrongly, in my view but that’s a different issue) as top shelf talent to Buffalo. Can we officially retire the “Wilson is cheap” and “Wilson doesn’t want to win” lines?

i’ll stop calling Ralph cheap, which he has been in terms of hiring HC’s so far, until he actually pays big bucks to a proven winner. What this team needs more than anything is a PROVEN WINNER.
The great thing about hiring guys like Cowher or Shanahan is that they have been there and done that, and know what it takes to get it done, unlike our last three HC’s.
In terms of hiring a GM, I’m a little iffy. Unless, we’re hiring a proven winner in Mike Holmgren, I’d much rather have that powerful HC than a rookie-GM in DeCosta for example.
We just can’t afford to miss this time and the best way of avoiding that is by finding a guy, who has had success in the past.

he report also indicates that Wilson offered Jauron the opportunity to finish out the season as the Bills’ head coach, an offer Jauron quickly declined. Perry Fewell will make his debut as the Bills’ interim head coach tomorrow afternoon in Jacksonville.——Since Ralph has to pay Jauron his money why not make him be the defensive coach? most people seem to believe that he was over reaching in wanting to be number one, but was good a a DC. But I read this grouping because I do not have near the knowledge the rest of you have, so I am probably way off base

Before talking about a “NEW” guy?

I want a coach that wants to be in Buffalo and wants to return this team and franchise to the playoffs and win a superbowl. It sounds like Ralph does not want to hire another coach in his lifetime, so he is looking for someone who knows what the heck they are doing and can hire a staff of coaches who will complete with the top coaching staffs in the NFL. DJ had experience, but was not a motivator or a winner. The other guys (mularkey, williams) were motivators, but had no experience at being winners or proving they can do it long-term. If the report is true, it sounds like they were weighing a few things with a next head coach…

First as mentioned prior the Bills will want a proven coach that knows how to win consistently. Sounds like they will kick the tires of all the successful coaches on the market. I would think that this leaves out the likes of the Haslets of the world because they are experienced but not proven winners.

Second, I could see the Bills rank the Offensive coaches hire because of their strength in developing a QB in this league. Trent will have one last season with Buffalo next year and if a proven offensive coach can’t change him, or develop Brohm, then we will need one that will develop Plan B (draft pick or free agent)

Third, it sounds like they are looking for a motivator who instills confidence in players. Having watched DJ for the past 3.5 years I think everyone is ready for a change. Even though the players liked DJ and would play hard for him, often times, their mistakes and lack of execution were not good enough for them to play with confidence. For all of DJ’s good and coaching techniques and whatnot… could never get the players to play up to their potential or with continued confidence. Edwards more than anything needs confidence to play this game. Our entire offense runs through him and his lack of confidence is the prime reason he is benched and we are looking at Fitzy going forward or Brohm as the future. Edwards lack of confidence isn’t entirely DJ’s fault since he had plenty of other OC’s and QB coaches that couldn’t help him either. We just don’t need another QB lacking confidence in the future…. Losman now Edwards are QB investments, now mistakes we can’t afford with the next QB investment.

Third, I hope they find someone that will WANT to be a HC in Buffalo and make it their team for many successful years to come. Gruden didn’t want to be here. I wonder who will be the next person to say “no thanks”.

So who will it be?

IMO, hopefully Shanahan, but he is a controlling coach that might want too much. Personally, I’d like to see him here with Cowher being the 2nd choice to that. I think either of these guys would want to have a lot of power and control to be HC/GM type of coach in order to come here and stay. This hasn’t always worked before, but with Russ running the show on the business side, the GM could be more of a player personnel chief and could work for us…