Posted on 01/13/2006 2:11:59 PM PST by mainepatsfan
Levy doesn't rule self out for coaching job NFL.com wire reports
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (Jan. 13, 2006) -- Coach Mike Mularkey's abrupt resignation came as a shock to the Buffalo Bills. An even bigger surprise might be who refused to rule himself out as a candidate for the job -- Marv Levy.
A week after taking over as the Bills general manager, and despite owner Ralph Wilson insisting Levy wouldn't be considered to replace Mularkey, the 80-year-old Hall of Fame coach declined to say he wasn't interested.
"I really, sort of, don't even want to comment," Levy said Jan. 13 at a news conference. "I can't answer it because I want to talk the whole situation over. But we're going to address it swiftly."
Levy added that he didn't plan on being the coach when he accepted the GM's job, but said the situation has changed with Mularkey's unexpected departure.
His comments, however, contradicted what Wilson stated minutes earlier after announcing Mularkey's resignation. Asked whether Levy, who was standing off to the side, would be a candidate, Wilson said: "Absolutely not."
Wilson had a chance to restate his position after listening to Levy, but declined to do so.
What might seem curious to those hearing Levy contradict his boss is becoming par for the course for an operation that can't get its story straight since Wilson fired president/general manager Tom Donahoe last week.
Upon luring Levy out of retirement, Wilson and Levy couldn't agree on a title before eventually settling on general manager/football operations.
Now comes Mularkey's resignation, which came eight days after Wilson said Mularkey would return.
Something changed, Wilson said, when Mularkey first approached him Jan. 11 to inform the owner of his intention to resign.
The two met again Jan. 12 when Wilson accepted Mularkey's resignation.
"Of course I was completely surprised by his statement. He seemed very firm about it," Wilson said. "It's an abrupt setback. But we're going to move forward."
Wilson said Mularkey expressed concern about Bills fans who criticized him last year.
And despite Wilson's assurances, Mularkey's future beyond next season remained in doubt. Mularkey dismissed five assistants last week and his uncertain status made it difficult for the coach to hire experienced replacements.
Mularkey was 14-18 in two seasons and had three years left on his contract. The move leaves the Bills searching for their third coach in five years.
Not known is why Mularkey didn't raise his concerns after he met with Wilson twice last week.
"I did not reach this decision lightly," Mularkey said in a statement released by the Bills. "But after much thought, I have concluded that for my own personal reasons and in the best interests of my family, on balance, outweigh any future benefits that may accrue to me by continuing in this position."
Mularkey did not return a message left by The Associated Press.
Wilson and Levy declined to list any potential candidates or provide details as to the type of coach they're seeking.
Among the early front-runners -- besides, perhaps, Levy -- are Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who completed his fifth season with Buffalo; recently fired New Orleans coach Jim Haslett; Dick Jauron, Detroit's interim coach; and Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
Haslett has ties to the Bills, a former linebacker who played for the team from 1979-85.
Reached by telephone, Haslett said he's interested but has not yet been contacted.
"Obviously, I have great interest in the job, there's lot of good things about it," Haslett said. "I know the organization, I know Mr. Wilson. And it's a great place to live."
Mularkey's resignation, while unusual, is not unprecedented. Bobby Ross abruptly walked out as the Detroit Lions coach midway through the 2000 season. Former Bills coach Lou Saban twice quit on the team in the 1960s and early 1970s.
A former NFL tight end, Mularkey was a first-time head coach who joined Buffalo after serving as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. In his first season, the Bills rebounded from a 1-5 start to finish 9-7.
Maybe he can bring Scott Norwood out of retirement as well..
I'll say this, I'll take 80-year-old Levy than McCarthy (or Wile E. Thompson, suuuper genius) up here in the land of cheese and beer.
So I take it Packer nation hasn't warmed up to their new coach yet?
I wonder how much weight the Packers put into getting a "Favre friendly" coach? I'm not disrespecting Favre but it does seem like the Packers are almost being held hostage by Favre's approaching retirement.
It seems like the front office is very concerned that the don't do anything that might frustrate Favre and hasten his retirement.
It depends on whether they're fans of newspapers (they love the move, even the ones that said that Sherman shouldn't be fired) or not (they pretty much dislike it).
Which is odd because the front office (namely, Ted E. Thompson, suuuuper genius) spent the entirety of 2005 trying to drive Favre out of town.
They need Favre to make up his mind for the good of the team.
I'm still scratching my head over that pick.
Just out of curiosity, who was the oldest head coach in NFL history? Bud Wilkinson?
I don't know. I wonder how old Halas was during his last stint with Chicago?
Let's see...
Bud Wilkinson, born Apr. 23, 1916 -- coached St. Louis football Cardinals, 1978-79, went 3-10 in 1979 season...only 63...oh well, I think he was oldest head coach in the league at the time, but obviously not in history.
Marv Levy, born August 3, 1925 -- coached Buffalo Bills, 1986-97 (72).
George Halas, born Feb. 2, 1895, coached Chicago Bears, 1955-67. (72).
So apparently, Halas was the oldest head coach in history.
He was the only one I could think of.
How about George Allen?
Not sure how old he was when he last coached in the NFL. He was in his eighties (i think) when he coached in college - he died of pneumonia after his players doused him with Gatorade after a big win.
Favre is an interception throwing machine. Let him retire and be done with it.
I like Favre, but I don't like how his is drawing out his decision. I also don't like it when a team has to walk on eggshells in fear of rubbing their legendary coach or player the wrong way and him bailing on you.
Dick Vermeil and Bill Parcells are the same way. Every year they have to be begged to come back. Of course their motivations are different, Vermeil is emotionally unstable and Parcels just loves to be begged, but still is very disruptive to a team and ties the hands of the front office.
Michael Jordan also became that way later in his career and it got really old.
If he retires, he can go on that dance competition show with Dan Patrick and Jerry Rice.
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