Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Bills need some Lovie

After parting ways with head coach Chan Gailey and his entire staff, including former Super Bowl winning Defensive Coordinator Dave Wannstedt, Monday, the Bills are now looking for a new leader. I certainly don't know everything about the NFL and what it takes to build a winner, but I'd quite frankly love to see Da Bills go after Lovie Smith, who was dismissed by Da Bears Monday as well.  His record isn't exactly impressive, at 84-66 including playoffs, in his nine seasons in Chicago, but he was a defensive coach before taking the top job in the Windy City.  That's perfect for a Bills team that has a lot of defensive talent, but still has some big holes to fill.

Smith, by the way, has been to a pair of Super Bowls, one with Chicago, in which he lost to Peyton Manning and the Colts.  The second was as a Defensive Coordinator with the Rams, when they lost to Tom Brady and the Patriots in my favorite Super Bowl, number XXXVI.  (I wonder why it's my favorite?)  He's rumored to be considering the job in snowy, cold Buffalo, though he's also reportedly interested in Arizona as well, which if Smith goes by warmer climate, is obviously a no-brainer.  But hopefully that won't be the determining factor.

Smith is likely the leading candidate for any of the other six head coaching vacancies.  Seven teams, including Buffalo, Arizona and Chicago, fired their coaches on 'Black Monday,' with the others being the Chiefs, Browns, Eagles and Chargers.  The Eagles finally divorced themselves from Andy Reid, after 14 seasons and a grand total of ZERO Super Bowl titles, though he did lose one to the Pats.  But then again, I feel bad for Reid, after his son's death back in August.  Norv Turner in San Diego,  however, I don't feel bad for at all.  His six years with the Chargers were actually better than either of his previous head coaching stints, with the Redskins and Raiders, finishing 55-40, but just 24-24 and ZERO playoff appearances over the last three years.  Turner's actually a decent Offensive Coordinator, just not a good head coach.

Neither should be in the Bills immediate plans as Lovie, Ken Whisenhunt, the now former head coach of the Cardinals, as well as current Arizona Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton are the top candidates so far.  Apparently Buffalo will also talk with Broncos Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy as well as the one and only Doug Marrone, head coach of the Syracuse Orange!!  It would be fantastic, as someone who covers SU on a regular basis, to see Marrone make that jump, though if it's a choice between Smith and Marrone, I'd go with Lovie, since he's got the NFL head coaching experience.

In any case, Russ Brandon is the team's new President and CEO and will oversee GM Buddy Nix, who for now is still employed in Buffalo.  Hopefully the two will get together and find the right person for the job!

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