In what is sure to be the most unpopular move in the history of Buffalo Bills football, the team fired Dick Jauron on Tuesday... is a sentence no one will type this afternoon.
The Bills are done with Jauron, and while people will tell you not to have fun with a man losing his job -- especially in "these tough economic times" -- this particular man made millions of dollars coaching football, and he wasn't even very good at it, so develop a sense of humor if it bothers you.
What did he do wrong? Well, first off, he didn't win. His offense was abysmal and when you rifle through coordinators like Jon Gosselin through Ed Hardy tee-shirts, well, in the immortal words of college hockey fans to the opposing goalie after a goal, "It's all your fault! It's all your fault!"
Jauron watched Steve Fairchild and Turk Schonert fail, and Alex Van Pelt struggle mightily, under his watch. Fairchild's Colorado State squad has regressed under his watch (3-7 this year after a bowl appearance a year ago), while Schonert is unemployed. Good picks, Dick!
It's not just coordinators. Three quarterbacks were garbage. Four offensive lines produced little. His team was as injured-plagued as any in the league. That's not necessarily snake-bitten, as Pro Football Talk said. It could be the guys were unready to play football. Maybe he forgot to tell them to stretch. Whoops!
7-9, 7-9, 7-9-, 3-6. See ya.
After he was fired, I tweeted: "I'd go after Bill Cowher, then Bill Cowher and if neither are available: Bill Cowher." I've been told this won't happen because this isn't what Ralph Wilson does. True, but he also usually doesn't fire his coach in season and approve the firing of his offensive coordinator right before the season. Can a tiger change its stripes? No, but it can temporarily lose its bearings and fall into a vat of orange paint? If you provide the vat, and years of losing could've just done that for Wilson. We don't need another "almost" coach, much less a "could be" coach.
As Bills fans, we have to live in a fun world right now. Here's something I guarantee is going to happen: you're going to hear that the players love playing for Perry Fewell and that, to a man, they believe he deserves a shot to be the head coach. Why? Because they are football players and that's what they do. Don't even think of buying it unless the Bills go 7-0 or 6-1 or even 5-2 with the same injury-riddled troops Jauron couldn't rally. In that case, it will truly have been solely DJ's fault.
I have news for you: it isn't actually all him, but the guy had to go. No, it's not his fault Leodis McKelvin fumbled away hope in Week One, and it's not his fault Trent Edwards became gunshy after a promising start. The personnel may not even be his fault, but let's be clear -- the best thing that could happen to this team is a clean house. An actual GM to go with actual powers. You could even call him "general manager" and let the other guy do what he does well. He can still keep his title, too, if he wants.
So feel free to be happy, and embrace the opportunity to speculate. Think about what "Hire Bill Cowher" parody is your favorite idea: Snap!'s "I've Got the Cowher", Huey Lewis & The News' "The Cowher of Love" or Bob Dylan's famous "All Along The Coach Cowher."
Maybe you think Jon Gruden will break his new, multi-year ESPN contract -- It'd be cool, but he won't.
Maybe you think the Bills will give Tony Dungy and Mike Vick a shot -- it's possible.
Maybe you want a guy who looks like ex-President George W. Bush and want to go after Mike Shanahan -- I would've been all for it before a high school kid and a guy with a neckbeard took essentially the same team and started 6-0. Now, I'm just okay with the idea.
Maybe you want Marty Schottenheimer -- If he chokes in the playoffs, at least you're in the playoffs (They happen after the regular season if you're good enough. We should start calling them the "irregular season" here).
Maybe you want Pete Carroll, Mike Holmgren or Bugs Bunny. Let's talk about it. The Buffalo Bills have taken the very-near impossibility of making the playoffs and replaced it with the idea of an actual future. Huzzah!
Pardon my glee, but the Bills officially need a head coach, and I'm pleased. By next year we could be talking about Colt McCoy running an offense under Bill Cowher while Brandon Spikes learns his trade as a middle linebacker in the NFL. Make it a mad libs, I don't care.
Here ya go: 2010 Buffalo Bills general manager __________ selected his new head coach, ________. The new coach said he plans on dedicating his resources to drafting quarterback ____________ and promising defensive stud _____________.
Best of luck to a solid, nice man in Dick Jauron. Now, let's get back to the business of winning -- we checked out for lunch almost a decade ago.
and a collective sigh goes up from the city of Buffalo.
11/17/2009 5:46PM
why now?
why do it now,should of done it before the bye week you idiots, can't even do that right! who's running this team a bunch of 5th graders! well its a start anyways!
11/17/2009 5:48PM
2
wuwho
11/17/2009 5:52PM
Cheezer
So the Bills NFL season starts today! Finally Ralph has done the unprdictable and fired a coach in the middle of the season now all he needs to do is complete the whole process and hire the right coach and that is a coach who has a Superbowl ring and nothing less!
Even if that hire is at the end of the season I don't mind! Just no wanna be coach and no he will be a great coach ...
11/17/2009 5:56PM
The State Of The Bills
-Fire the entire football front office
-Give the keys to Mike Shanahan as GM/Coach
-Move Russ Brandon back to the box office
-Fire the entire coaching staff less Bobby April and Chuck Lester
-Cut all three QB’s – replace Hamden with Drew Willy, replace Fitzpatrick with Tim Tebow, replace with Edwards with Jeff Garcia to bring Tebow along
-Cut Kelsey, Denney, McCargo use that money to sign Julius Peppers
-Switch to the 3-4
-Trade Lynch & Whitner for picks
Jauron may be a nice man, but it could easily be argued that he is the worst coach in modern NFL history.
Knowing the luck of buffalo sports this team will probably be a Superbowl contender again just about the time they are relocating.
11/17/2009 5:58PM
COWHER POWER!!!
NOW!!!
11/17/2009 6:03PM
A good man
Jauron is a good guy, a class guy, and hopefully he will get a defensive coordinator position someday. But, the reality is he was not an effective head coach, mainly due to his inability to understand the importance of an offense that can win games.
11/17/2009 6:09PM
C'mon man...
What about Brian Billick or Jim Fassel? These are guys that are 2nd tier coaches and billick has a ring. he was an offensive genius w/ the vikes (most points scored in a season). Fassel won an NFC championship in his day...
We can do it, Buffalo...
11/17/2009 6:16PM
Ok
Alright, so you now have taken me from "who cares" to interested again, at least for the moment.
11/17/2009 6:25PM
2010
is it February yet? i can't wait for the offseason now. excited for possible new front office and coaching staff, not to mention the Draft!
11/17/2009 6:29PM
Re:C'mon man...
You forgot to mention that Billick had that record setting offense with a receiver named Randy Moss. You also forgot to mention that Billick never ever ever ever ever got any sense of an offense going in Baltimore. Fassel will never leave his dream job UFL Seriously though, I don't see Fassel being a good fit. Ironic you mention two people who were friends, and then Billick fired Fassel. Not long after, Billick is fired.
11/17/2009 6:35PM
Marty!
Bring in Marty as a GM - he knows how to build a winner. And he knows who can coach a winner.
11/17/2009 6:51PM
FORGET ABOUT THIS COACH STUFF
WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE BYRD MAN ISNT ON THE PROBOWL VOTING BUT THAT BUM WHITNER IS??? THATS SOME BULL SHIT
11/17/2009 6:55PM
The New Head Coach
Romeo Crenell. I'd bet money on this unfortunetly. MN
11/17/2009 6:57PM
The Mustache and Chin
Cowher Power all the way
11/17/2009 7:04PM
Holmgren and Gruden
Sound like a winning combination.
11/17/2009 7:06PM
give me some News
bring me some Cowher of Love
11/17/2009 7:06PM
Holmgren and Gruden
A winning combination. Just do it
11/17/2009 7:07PM
Yah Baby
The journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single firing!!!
11/17/2009 7:24PM
Someone PLEASE ask Mike Schopp...
What New England would be without Bill Belichick. Schopp cannot be serious suggesting head coaches don't matter and it's all players. Of the major sports, coaching is MOST important in the NFL. To suggest otherwise or imply that coaching inthe NFL (especially salary cap era) doesn't matter is insulting.
11/17/2009 7:28PM
New Coach
I hear Mangini could be available soon.
11/17/2009 7:45PM
Christmas Comes Early
This needed to happen. Should've happened before this season.
11/17/2009 7:49PM
THANK YOU RALPH!!!
Screw the pro bowl. I hope they never put any Bills players on the ballot. Then they won't ask for $10 mil a year
11/17/2009 7:56PM
Cowher now!
And in August, two-a-days everyday for two weeks straight next August. He'll train and condition these guys so they're ready in week one, not filling up the IR by week 2. Get a guy with a winner's attitude, get a bunch of player's who will execute. Cowher's they guy to do it.
11/17/2009 8:00PM
Does it matter?
We all know cheap Ralph is not going to pay the money for a top notch coach. He'll get some cheap coordinator to be the next coach, just like he has done so many time in the past. The next jerk coach will be somebody that we probably never even heard of. Ralph is the cheapest owner in the league, and doesn't belong owning the team.
11/17/2009 8:00PM
the new defensive Boss next yr is????
Charlie weiss,you know the guy thats about to be out of a job at Notre Dame
11/17/2009 8:01PM
It does not matter!!
We all know cheap Ralph is not going to pay the money for a top notch coach. He'll get some cheap coordinator to be the next coach, just like he has done so many time in the past. The next jerk coach will be somebody that we probably never even heard of. Ralph is the cheapest owner in the league, and doesn't belong owning the team.
11/17/2009 8:08PM
AVOID the Super Bowl Champion Coach
No head coach has ever won the Super Bowl and then won it again with a different team. Hiring a Cowher, Shanahan, or Holmgren may make you feel good, but if your goal is to win a Super Bowl, history says you'd be better off hiring someone who has arecord of achievement but has not yet big one. For example, the Dolphins with Shula, or the Rams with Vermeil. Think about it.
11/17/2009 8:17PM
Romeo
Crenell has the best Coors Light press conferences
11/17/2009 8:37PM
It was time
While it was time to make a change, I wish Dick Jauron all the best. He is a family friend of one of my friends at college. Coach Jauron gave my friend a signed photo of Marshawn Lynch for me and Marshawn even took the time to write my name with a nice message.
Good luck in the future, Dick Jauron.
Now, welcome to Buffalo, Bill Cowher...
11/17/2009 8:41PM
Hope it's not Fewell
Who the heck is he have you seen our d?Ranking in the bottom all over.Give me an offensive guy who can develope a qb.Gruden, Shanahan, or Holmgren,lastly Shotenheimer.Then let them clean house please.Start with the scouting and player personel dept. 10 years enough already !!!
11/17/2009 8:46PM
Find a real coach and players.......
If you cannot do better than .500 over 3 years, it's probably time to find another career. The guy wasn't a winner in Chicago, so that wasn't going to change here. A temporary coach to be sure, just like the QB's over the years. Here's to watching the rest of this miserable season.
11/17/2009 10:27PM
Guys!!! Guy!!!
Let's all settle down now. I have been looking for a change with this team also..FOR THE PAST 20 yrs!!!and I know false hope when I see it. The Root of the problem was never a bad coach or players, it was the fact that Ralph would never spend the money for a good coach and players. This decrepit old fart need to make amends for his sins and spend the GODDAMN MONEY!!
11/17/2009 10:27PM
YEAH MAN!
YEAH MAN!!!!!!!!
11/17/2009 10:30PM
How about Lindy???
The Bills should hire Lindy Ruff to be there next coach, maybe the Bills can "buy in to the system" like the Sabres! hey if Neon Deon and Bo Jackson can moonlight as players, why can't coaches do it????
11/17/2009 11:09PM
irregular season!!!
perfect!!!! bills fans have been constipated with bad football for 10 yrs!!!
11/18/2009 1:03AM
Whats wrong with you Nick?
You would want Colt McCoy as our QB? Do you know anything about football? BARF!! I'd rather keep Edwards.
11/18/2009 7:27AM
delusion
First off it's not the coach. This team is just bad.
Secondly, what top coach would come to Buffalo.
11/18/2009 9:42AM
Blindsided?!?!
Did I hear that DJ was "blindsided" by the decision? How can that be? This team has no identity... NONE! I have spent the last 10 years trying to understand what this team stood for and they just don't. Sorry, the firing doesn't fix this!
11/18/2009 10:49AM
shanahan a good bet
great offensive minded coach,good assessor of player personnel. He will bring in coaches and players he KNOWS can do the job. We don't need front office people who hope and guess on coaches and players abilities.
11/18/2009 11:36AM
Shanahan/Marty/Cowher
Just pick one. But I am very interested to see how Perry does. I believe he deserves a shot here
11/18/2009 1:06PM
EVERYONE WITH A CLUE HERE...
SHOULD BE SCREAMING:
COWHER POWER!!!!!!
11/20/2009 1:50PM
2nd That
COWHER POWER
11/20/2009 4:41PM
Re: State of the Bills
To the person who wrote the "State of the Bills" post above... YOU should be running the team! You hit every single nail right on the head.
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