Speaking on NFL Network's "Around the League," Michael Lombardi reported late Thursday night that the Buffalo Bills are "very close to making a decision" in their head coaching search, and that they "have their guy in mind."
The video segment is up at NFL.com. Here is Lombardi's quote in its entirety:
You know, Buffalo has been quietly going underground, they're doing their interviews, interviewed Leslie Frazier, they're talking to a lot of people in the league, but somebody I spoke to in the organization tells me they're very close to making a decision, they think they know which way they want to go, wouldn't tell me which way they are gonna go, but I think they have their guy in mind.
To this point, the Bills have officially conducted interviews with only two candidates: former interim head coach Perry Fewell and, as Lombardi mentioned, Vikings assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
Rumors have run rampant all week, however, that the team has been most active in its pursuit of former Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher. Marty Schottenheimer has also been linked frequently to the job thanks to his well-established relationship with GM Buddy Nix, but Schottenheimer has been adamant that he will remain retired - a notion that his son, Brian, confirmed in recent interviews.
Let the speculation begin, folks. If Lombardi's source is accurate, who do you think is "Buffalo's guy"? (Tip of the hat to RIP058 for breaking the news here.)