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Posted: Wednesday, 20 January 2010 9:51AM

Graham: Many wanted the HC job



(WGR 550) -- ESPN's Tim Graham joined The Howard Simon Show on Wednesday morning to discuss his report that Marty Schottenheimer wanted the Bills head coaching job but was shot down by Ralph Wilson, and a whole new barrel of monkeys poured out on the airwaves.

"Mike Martz wanted the job, I know that for a fact. Jim Fassel wanted the job, I know that for a fact, and I think Marc Trestman, I’m fairly certain wanted the job," Graham said, also reinforcing his report on Schottenheimer, and throwing Brian Billick in the mix.

So Ralph Wilson had several names to choose from, and went with Chan Gailey. Graham explained his Schottenheimer rejection thoughts further:

“My sourcing on this is about as solid as it gets," Graham said. "I belong to some of the Bills message boards and I’m taking a lot of heat for this report… it reminds me of the time I reported that Joe Mesi had the brain bleed, and let’s just say I’ve never been more confident in my sourcing.”
“I’m sure the next time Marty is on his radio show, he’s going to say he wasn’t interested in the job, and that doesn’t mean the report isn’t correct. He did want the job… You don’t want to get labeled as unwanted.”
“I don’t know that Marty was actively calling the Bills and lobbying for the job, but it’s been made perfectly clear that he was wanting the job and hoping for an interview."

For the entire conversation, head to our Audio Vault. Stay tuned to WGR for the most complete Bills coverage.
Email: nick@wgr550.com

01/20/2010 10:01AM
Graham: Many wanted the HC job
Your comment here...
01/20/2010 10:15AM
Many had called...
...mediocrity is chosen.
01/20/2010 10:22AM
Whatever
If we hired Schottenheimer people would just be talking about how he has never had playoff success and is past his coaching prime. If we hired Cowher people would complain as soon as we lost a game because of, you know, that lousy team we have and peoplewould say we're overpaying him. This time is in a no-win situation.
01/20/2010 10:25AM
Why am I not surprised
I would have taken Schottenheimer or Billick over Gailey hands down. Marty would most certainly brought his son over from the Jets if he was head coach, and thats why Brian turned down the interview anyway. Billick was a top 3 candidate next to Shanahan and Cowher. I am willing to give Chan Gailey a shot. Buddy Nix didnt sell me on Gailey...Chan Gailey sold himself to me. He has the right mentality I want as a head coach and he seemed to answer every question in the press conference as I would have wanted to hear it. I know that we settled for Gailey, but I think we will made a solid splash in free agency and in the draft. We wont get the big name free agents, but we should get some solid and consistant players in FA and I am sure Buddy Nix experience and Gailey's in college football will help make this years draft shine over past ones. Also, I am pretty damn excited if we convert to a 3-4 defense finally! I have watched a crap product for 10 straight years, but I think we finally got a competent GM and head coach. Thank you for keeping your distance from this transaction Ralph! Just collect your money and let the real football minds handle this mess.
01/20/2010 10:27AM
Nobody wanted this job
I don't care what this guy is saying nobody wanted this job, except for Martz but that guy sucks anyways so who cares. All this guy is doing is he's trying to rile up the fans and cause problems. Hey it's ESPN they have no respect for Buffalo, shoot their power rankings have the Sabres at 6th and they lead the East. Go Figure.
01/20/2010 10:44AM
Ja
There were probably about 3 million reasons why Ralph bypassed marty - the difference between what he would have had to pay him versus Chan!
01/20/2010 10:53AM
furious
Bills fans should be furious over this. I am not saying that Chan is not the answer, but the Bills should have done a better job of evaluating other possibilities. Nothing ever changes on One Bills Drive
01/20/2010 11:01AM
Again...
Here we go again...in a town desparate for a winner, something to believe in that is good about the Bills, fans get shown the door. I am a solid Bills fan and want them to do well. I am uncertain just how reflected is that desire by those at the top of this organization. I am not happy with Gailey - do not feel he is the right guy for the job, but he is the "safe" choice because unlike a Shottenheimer or Billick, Gailey won't buck the system - even said so when asked about the 53 man roster, Nix would make the call. Again, when opportunity knocks, this backwards organization locks the door and closes the shade.
01/20/2010 11:09AM
Now I am angry!!!!!!
I guess we know why Buddy was silent on who was calling. It would further anger us fans to know who was willing to come here. BUT....it also makes me really question the validity of the reports media outlets like WGR were posting about what coaches were not interested (i.e. M. Shottenheimer. and Trestman). It now sounds like those reports were incorrect. I can't trust Buddy's word and I can't trust the media reports....might be time to tune you both out.
01/20/2010 11:11AM
I hate the media
We had to go months about them saying that no one wanted the job and that Buffalo is awful and nobody would ever want to coach/work here. Now that we have a coach they have to rip on us some more saying we could of had all these guys. I feel like they just write this stuff to sound interesting and be noticed.
01/20/2010 11:15AM
WHO CARES
Pick a name out of a hat. Any of these guys interested are decent coaches with experience, including Gailey. And they all have one more thing in common: none of them will win in Buffalo until we find a quarterback to lead this team.
01/20/2010 11:27AM
Nix is a yes man
Apparently we still have a meddling owner and Buddy has no power on OBD
01/20/2010 11:50AM
Same ole' Same ole'
Just another Bills SNAFU
01/20/2010 11:58AM
Coincidence?
Bills hold a presser and the Sabres snap their 10 game point streak...
01/20/2010 12:25PM
Nothing will change...
That is of course until Ralph passes the team on to someone who knows what they are doing. I get the feeling that Ralph is like the east coast version of Al Davis... Just not understanding of the times. When you hear of Ralph talking about mass overhaul,let me ask how many senior citizens you know who have changed, and he's as senior a senior citizen you can get...
01/20/2010 1:07PM
Lets face it...
Is anything good enough for Buffalo fans? No matter who they hired, there would be complaints.
01/20/2010 1:29PM
WHAT!!???????
I guess hitting the ball out of the park was choosing a couple of good'all boys! Yee Yaw!
01/20/2010 1:48PM
Re: Lets face it
Is anything good enough for Buffalo fans? No matter who they hired, there would be complaints. &&= Probably stems from the fact that we haven't won a play of game since the mid-90s and haven't been above .500 many times since the superbowl years. Chan is a nobody, Marty has over 200 wins and is over .600 overall with a few decades of experience. Given a choice between the two the correct choice is obvious. When has the FO done anything to inspire confidence in its abilities? I would be happy with Brian Billick, Cowher, or any of the Shottenheimers.
01/20/2010 2:07PM
OLD MAN STINK
Not buying tix any more...ths organization is tured.
01/20/2010 2:30PM
Jauron - The Sequel
I'm disappointed. Yet another fired, former NFL coach willing to take whatever Ralph pays him because he wants a job. Conservative-minded, fired as a head coach and coordinator, and never won anything. Sound familiar? I'm ready to jump ship to the Browns. At least they have made a committment to winning.
01/20/2010 2:31PM
What Do We Know
Everyone has an opinion. We just need to know that ours is the least educated. For the most part the fans of Buffalo know very little.
01/20/2010 2:31PM
all i am saying...
is give chan a chance
01/20/2010 2:40PM
ASK FOR IT
WhenI ever applied for a job I asked for it!!! Not implied I wanted it!!
01/20/2010 2:43PM
Same old Sh--- !
Ralph is totally clueless and there is nothing anyone can do about it! please tell me where a 91 yr old is still able to run a mutli million dollar company ?( besides Oakland) you know they say "only the good die young" folks we are in for long ugly ride!!!!!Those Browns are starting to look good to me!!!!!!!
01/20/2010 3:01PM
it never chnges
wilson is as stubborn and out of touch as it gets. time to get ready for another year in the toilet.
01/20/2010 3:14PM
If This is True...
Then I am royally pissed! Chan over Marty? Really??!!??!!
01/20/2010 3:30PM
See the stadium next season...
and the 20,000 souls in a sea of empty seats. You did it to yourself Ralph. You owe the fans something in the form of Tebow and Vick or McNabb. You've gone cheap on everything else.
01/20/2010 3:55PM
Ralph Lied
He had no intention of spending more than a certain amount for a head coach, it was all bull.
01/20/2010 4:07PM
Ralph couldnt say
Schottenheimer. As long as Ralph owns this team it will go nowhere. Marty's a winner with a great record and coached hard nosed football. Brian wouldve come and been OC under Dads watch. Go figure a former Bill who actually WANTED the job and Ralph says NO. Way to go Ralph. Im about as ecited now as when they extended Dick J. Wont be renewing the season tickets this year either. We'll see what the Cletus and Jethro show team concots I guess, with John Guy and Modrak still bringing in below average talent. Im more excited about UB!
01/20/2010 4:19PM
Ralph saved Marty
Ralph knew that not even Marty could save this franchise. He saved Marty from tarnishing his record. Ralph has no plans on "spending what it takes to win." He knows what it takes to sell tickets and make money. The team wasn't as making enough money? Play games in Toronto for $74 million profit. The team's season ticket sales are down? Sign T.O. That stopped working? Fire Dick Jauron and say change is on the way. It will be interesting to see what his next budget move will be to sell some season tickets.
01/20/2010 4:43PM
Buddy System
I guess Buddy was right! He did get a lot of calls for the job! And you guys dissed him, you Sully worshipers!
01/20/2010 5:25PM
Bills' CraigsList Ad: Wanted Mediocre Coach
Here's the real list of all the people who wanted the Bills HC position. 1) UFL Headcoaches 2) CFL Headcoaches 3) Tom Cable 4) College Football coaches who beat/torture their players.
01/20/2010 5:26PM
bait and switch
The Bills never had any intention of hiring any sort of coach with winning credentials. That whole upwards of 10 million and a possible intrest in the team was all about keeping the fans hopes up while finding another coach that could get the back to mediocrity. If the Bills can get back to almost making the playoffs then there is always hope for the next year and the fans will keep coming.
01/20/2010 5:45PM
Typical
What else should we expect from Wilson, we could have had marty and martyball. This owner needs to sell this team and stop the long suffering fans from suffering more. This is nothing more than one big dysfunctional mess and Ralph is the ring leader
01/20/2010 5:47PM
I agree
Most of you fans do listen to the likes of Jerry "I Hate Buffalo" Sullivan.Think for yourselves you bunch of sheep
01/20/2010 7:02PM
We just lowered the expectations
With the hiring of Gailey, we lowered the expectations. We achieved respectability. Our offense will be decent, and our defense will be competitive. This will be heralded as a big deal for us fans, but it does not mean a Super Bowl is on the immediatehorizon. Respectability, yes. A trip to the Super Bowl, no. Until this franchise gets new ownership, we will not see the likes of another Super Bowl run like we saw in the early '90's
01/20/2010 10:19PM
Bills will stink until gone
Chan Gailey was a filler pick, bogus pick for a coach, however you want to word it. Truth is anyone could be hired, even the perceived very best coach, and it is still the same old leaky ship. Nobody can coach an inferior team to success. Chan said in a news interview on Ch 7 that he has won with players in the past with less talent than the Bills. Hard to believe. Anyway, I am pretty much done wasting my time with this cast, no more watching games for me until they get their stuff together, and that will probably be when they get sold and leave town. When I really think of it, this town does not deserve a good football team, the whole area stinks, no good jobs means your average person cannot even go to games. On top of it, high taxes, bad weather, and no real future for anyone who lives here. If any city deserves what it gets, it is this hell hole, worst place to live in US. The sports teams reflect what this area is about--LOSERS.
01/20/2010 10:44PM
Someone Saved the Bills
Mr. Wilson don't care about the fan of the Bills.Its all about green, He may screw us to make sure he family get every doller for the team. Do we have the group and the money to buy this team. Jim Kelly if you have anyone in a group that can buy the team please do it , can't bare to see them leave for LA.
01/22/2010 12:08AM
Sell The Team
No Estate Tax in 2010
01/22/2010 12:22AM
Ralph A Slumlord
Too bad the man has no pride in his team and is content to be the laughingstock of the NFL. What do you expect from an absentee owner? You can thank Bill Polian for your HOF ring
01/23/2010 10:07AM
doesn't matter
Buffalo fans are quick to judge people. Honestly gailey has never coached a down on this team yet and people are wripping him apart. I think its more important who he hires as play callers. Yea they have to go with his coaching scheme, but he's not going to be the one making the calls on 3 and 8. At least we may not have to deal with anymore screen passes on 3rd and long. I heard that Dan Reeves wants to come here to help gailey out, that would be the big name everyone wanted here. Stop complaining so much about what they are doing because you can't do anything about it and if you could youd own the team
01/23/2010 9:30PM
As I've said before -
Wilson never intended to hire a big name, because big names cost big bucks and demand more power than he was actually willing to give up. So wilson claimed to be willing to offer big money, but the first person he supposedly talks to is shanny who was well known to have taken the redskins job and was simply waiting for the season to end, so the bills knew he wouldn't call their bluff. Then they hire buddy as GM which would make the job unattractive to any big names that really might want the job because they'd have to accept not only wilsons imput, but the imput of wilsons gm. Now we find out some big names actually STILL wanted the job and ralph didn't even consider them. How much more proof do you need that wilson wanted another cheap 'yes' man like chan gailey?
01/25/2010 12:58PM
Business as Usual
I was a DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber for 10 years. I cancelled it when the Bills gave Jauron a contract extension in 2008 instead of firing him. The hiring of Chan Gailey sure didn't persuade me to sign up again. I'll continue to just listen to the radio broadcasts online and save a few hundred bucks.
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